Page 99 of House of Bass

“That’s because you're a brat,” he said to her, a grin on his face. The overfamiliarity stunned Harley, especially the replicated smile on her sister’s face.

“I’m here for her today, I promise.” Raising her head, no longer leaning on the pillar she had been resting against, and nods to Harley.

“How do the two of you know each other?” Harley asked, looking back and forth between the two.

Lucas looks to Annabel, who simply rolled her eyes, before explaining “We’re friends.”

That confused Harley even more, “Friends? You’ve never once mentioned him before.”

“Wow. It’s like I’m nothing to you,” Lucas said, humour written all over his face.

“Shut up,” she said to him, then she looked back to Harley, “He helped me a couple times before that is all, but that’s enough of me, you need to go do what we came here for.” Harley was still a little lost, especially at the way Lucas was gazing down at Annabel with a strange fondness in his eyes.

However, she was right about one thing, Harley did come here for a reason. “Alright, I have to go find her. But I expect an explanation about all this later.”

Annabel nodded.

“Will you be okay on your own?” Harley asked, her eyes flickering to Lucas because she just didn't trust him at all.

“Yes, now go.” She gently pushed her to leave, then pointed to a cheesing Lucas and said, “He can look after me.”

“Hear that? I’m her guardian angel.” Annabel jabbed him in the stomach and he crouched over dramatically in jest. “See, I’m fine. Now, go get your girl.”

“Second door on your left,” Lucas called to her. She turned back to nod her thanks, but he and Annabel had already begun squabbling again. It was utterly bizarre but she did know that Annabel’s charming personality always led her to the most unusual of places.

Harley found her target in the kitchen, Scarlett was talking to Bloss and Jeremiah with a plastic cup in hand. She was in a frilled purple halterneck minidress that complimented her tan skin and her hair was in her natural curls again, she was the prettiest person here by a mile.

Bloss spotted her first and immediately tapped Scarlett by the arm to alert her of her arrival. She turned around and completely froze at the sight of Harley. They stared at one another for a minute without saying a word then Harley moved closer to her.

Bloss and Jere promptly started to exit the room, taking the other stragglers who had been hanging around with them. The former waved before leaving and the latter gave her a wink and a high five. Then it remained just the two of them.

“Hi,” Harley said, some of the bravado she had just minutes ago had dissipated.

“Hey,” Scarlett replied, her eyes wandering everywhere but at Harley. She walked around her to the fridge and got apple juice out. She poured it into a cup and passed it to Harley, “Thanks.”

“Have things been alright at the cafe without me?”

“We managed. How is the princess?”

“She’s alright. I brought her with me actually, left her with your cousin.”

“Luke?”

Harley nodded then revealed what she had found out moments ago, “Apparently they know one another. Friends.” She said the last bit with air quotes.

Scarlett nodded, “He’s always liked her.”

Her brows and lips dipped simultaneously, “You knew about this?”

“We did go to the same secondary school.” Harley knew that much but she felt like there was something being left unsaid. She ignored the voice in the back of her head and tentatively asked, “Can we talk?”. Knowing she couldn’t skirt around the topic any longer.

“About what?”

“Don’t play dumb. We don’t do that with each other.” Harley reprimanded, then she sighed and said. “You kissed me.”

“Yes, I kissed you and you practically ran away like I burned you,” Scarlett gritted out, anger seeping through. “What did you want me to do?”

“I’m sorry I ran. I got a little scared but you have been avoiding me .”