AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My phone vibrated against my chest then, startling me, and thankfully giving me a much-needed reprieve from the strange tension enveloping us. Unbuttoning my coat, I dragged my phone out of my pocket, glanced at Joey’s name flashing on the screen, and quickly pressed ACCEPT.
“Shannon! What’s going on?” my brother demanded down the line. “Are you okay? Did something happen—” His voice broke off and he growled down the line, “If one of those posh bastards did something to you, I will lose my—”
“I’m fine,” I blurted out, interrupting him mid-rant. “I’m okay. Calm down.”
My eyes flickered to Johnny, who was still there, watching me with a considering look.
“I missed my bus,” I continued to say, turning my back on him to gain some much-needed composure. “And the next one’s not until quarter to ten tonight,” I quickly explained, keeping my voice low and hushed. “It’s already dark out and I don’t want to walk in case—” I stopped myself before finishing that sentence, then hurried on to ask, “Are you with Aoife? Can you guys come pick me up?”
Joey had his full license, but he didn’t have a car. His girlfriend, who was still on her provisional license, had a fourteen-year-old Opel Corsa. It was old and sluggish, but it worked. Joey was a named driver on her insurance and her dessy driver most days, and I knew she allowed him to borrow it whenever he wanted.
“I’m really stuck, Joe,” I added, voice small. “I wouldn’t ask you if I wasn’t desperate.”
“Ah, bollox, Shan. I’m working until nine,” Joey grumbled. “I got called in to cover for one of the lads, and Aoife works until half ten on Tuesdays so she has the car. Did you try Mam?”
“She’s working the late shift,” I mumbled. “And I’m not calling Dad.”
“No! Jesus, don’t call him,” Joey agreed, tone hard. He sighed heavily down the line and said, “Look, hang up and give me a few minutes. I’ll call around a few of the lads—see if anyone can pick you up. I’ll phone you back in a few.”
“No, don’t do that,” I was quick to interject. The thought of getting into a car with one of his friends, however tolerant they were of me, was not an appealing concept. “The school stays open late. I can wait here until my bus comes.”
A gentle tap on my shoulder drew my attention away from my phone call. Spinning around, I looked up and locked eyes with Johnny.
“I can take you home,” he said, blue eyes locked on mine.
“Huh?” I opened my mouth but nothing but blabbering came out.
“My car’s parked outside.” He inclined his head toward the entrance. “I can take you home.”
“I, uh, I…” Shaking my head, I sucked in a sharp breath and tried again. “No, no, that’s okay. You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t have to,” he replied slowly. “I’m offering.”
“Do what?” Joey barked down the line. “Shan? What’s going on? Who are you talking to?”
“Oh, ah, just this guy from school,” I explained, face burning with heat.
Johnny arched a brow.
I flushed bright pink.
My reaction brought a smile to Johnny’s full lips.
“Guy?” my brother demanded, drawing my attention back to our phone call. “What guy?”
“Just a guy I know,” I squeezed out, tone pitchy. Biting down on my bottom lip, I glanced up at Johnny and said, “Honestly, it’s fine. You don’t have to drive me home.”
“Hold up—who’s driving you home, Shannon?” Joey barked down the line, distracting me once more. “Why are you talking to guys old enough to drive you home? You’re fifteen!”
“I know what age I am, Joey,” I shot back, nerves frazzled. “Look, relax.” Pressing my palm to my forehead, I said, “I’ll wait here until my bus comes.”
“Put him on the phone,” Joey ordered.
“What?” I gaped. “Who?”
“The lad who’s just a guy you know with a car,” he spat out, throwing my words back at me.
I balked. “Why?”
