Reborn into flames, p.3
Reborn Into Flames, page 3
After gym, securely changed into my clothes, I found the boys waiting for me. I had all my books with me because I wasn’t positive where we would be going now that school was over. I knew I had homework, but I had never done any before, so I figured it was better to be safe than sorry.
“Come on,” Anani offered in a slightly dimmer tone than before gym. I could see concern sparkling in his normally playful eyes. His warm hand met mine and squeezed it gently. I offered him a bright smile that had the light rekindling.
“Nice car,” I offered. I knew nothing about cars. All I knew was that this one was shiny, big, and black. I struggled to get up into the seat so Ledger smiled and aided my effort. He walked around to the driver’s side as both other boys hopped into the back.
As the car engine started up, my smile grew. This was exciting. This was a freakin’ adventure. Maybe school wouldn’t be that bad.
Chapter 2
Maya
“So what are we going to do?” I asked curiously after a few minutes of driving. I felt excited to be hanging out with real friends. At least, I assumed we were real friends. I didn’t have any fake friends to compare them to.
“We wondered if you wanted to come do homework at our house,” Henry offered, “if you don’t want to, we can go to the library.”
“Either way, we have to get it done or Marco will flip,” Ledger sighed.
Marco? It couldn’t be the same one, could it? I had to know.
“We can do your place.” I beamed, my hands tangled together nervously. I wasn’t nervous because of them, but at the prospect of doing something my mother didn’t know about. What would she do if she found out?
The boys talked as they fidgeted with the heat and radio buttons. I took the time to examine the small coastal town I had found myself inhabiting. The sky was a cold gray color that reminded me of Henry’s sparkling eyes. A storm seemed to be constantly a minute away. The air smelled of water and brine with seagull cries echoing from every stone surface we passed. Small but expensive cars littered the driveways of coastal homes and jacketed individuals hurried out of the wind into store fronts. Despite the gloomy atmosphere, or maybe because of it, I felt at home. I had felt a connection to this place the minute I had arrived here. I had to wonder if it was connected to my new friends at all because I couldn’t imagine the place without them in it.
Something about all of this seemed unique. I didn’t think most people had friendships like this.
“Holy crap,” I muttered.
The house we pulled up to was as large as the massive church I had been locked up in. The slate gray walls and angular glass windows showcased a steely and cold front that complimented the natural environment. Thick lush greenery surrounded the building and reflected against the front windows. I immediately noticed that a familiar BMW sat in front of the house. After seeing Marco’s car, I had asked my mother about the brand. Jed had sneered and said it was ass stupid foreign car. The fact that Jed hadn’t like it made me like it more.
“It’s Marco’s home, but we all live here,” Henry explained softly.
“I’ve met Marco,” I admitted with almost certainty. “I recognize his car from the gas station the other day.”
The entire car went silent as Ledger shifted into park. I wish I knew how to drive. That was on my checklist of things to do. I wondered if my new friends would teach me.
“That bastard,” Anani finally chuckled, the sound making me perk up.
“Explains how he was acting,” Henry muttered in a dry, almost exhausted tone.
“Let’s go give him shit,” Ledger grinned, “come on, firefly.”
I frowned but followed after them. As I stepped up onto the slate gray stairs, I found myself peering into a massive stone door. It opened with an ease that I wasn’t positive was possible.
“What are you guys doing home?” A voice rang out. It was deep and accented. A figure rounded the corner. “Be careful, Marco is all caught up on some- Shit.”
“This is firefly,” Ledger offered quickly. “I have a feeling this explains that.”
“Explains what?” I asked as my eyes fluttered around the room. It was too much to take in. Modern. So sleek and modern. Filled with floral arrangements and dark comfortable furniture. Very masculine, yet comfortable. I loved it immediately.
“Maya?” The voice asked. I focused on its sender and felt my eyes widen.
“How do you know my name?” I wondered out loud. There was no way this man knew my name. No one that beautiful should speak my ugly name. My mother had said it meant ‘water’ because it was the opposite of the Hell fire that burned inside of me. She was a peachy woman. Really.
“Marco mentioned you, but he left out that you’re our-“
“Friend,” Anani interrupted. “She’s our friend Maya, aka peanut, and is very unaware of our family dynamic, Sai.”
“What family dynamic?” I asked curiously.
Sai stunned me. He had beautiful obsidian hair that hung to his shoulder in soft curls and sparkling black eyes. There was an element to his face that spoke to fire and passion. Maybe it was his structured jaw or stunning white smile. His entire demeanor was smoky and hot. It was like someone had lit a flame and it had turned into this muscular tall man. Even his skin was burnt into a beautiful deep tan.
“Just that we all live together,” he muttered with darkening eyes and stepping forward. The scent of cinnamon surrounded me like warm flames. I swayed toward him as those large hands grasped my shoulders gently. I hissed just slightly under the pain, but it almost didn’t matter.
“Why do you have bruises?” He demanded with a spark of temper I hadn’t expected. I snapped out of my trance and stepped back. I swallowed and spoke my lie.
Sai frowned and met Henry’s eyes. Both of them exchanged a look.
“Marco,” Anani finally called out. Even his name sent shivers through me.
From somewhere upstairs, a door slammed open. I cringed. The house had an open square ground floor that had cool slate flooring and massive ceilings. Everything was cold except the furniture that was styled in dark comfortable textiles. I couldn’t see more than the corner of the kitchen from where I stood. Although, a massive staircase led to the top floor and through the open steps I could see a massive glass panel view of the forest. I could hear footsteps echoing down onto the landing.
I snapped my head up and found a familiar pair of mint green eyes.
In a movement so quick I knew it wasn’t normal, my body was pressed into the scent of vanilla and pine. I sighed into it. I was even okay with the pain from his massive hands biting into my back. The room was still except for the deep rumble that echoed through Marco’s chest and up my spine. His nose trailed in my hair as my knees buckled just slightly. A flame that I didn’t know existed roared to life inside my small heart. I could barely breathe. Tears collected in my eyes slightly as I gripped his shirt, feeling a burst of pure joy at seeing him again.
“Holy shit Marco,” Sai mumbled, “you could have told us.”
Marco didn’t respond, but instead tugged me tighter against his body. My hands curled into his crisp soft buttoned shirt even further. He was so much larger than I remembered. Was this normal? My reaction didn’t feel normal, but at the same time, it was natural.
“Be careful Marco, she has bruises and you’re holding her pretty tight.” Henry’s words brought a sound from Marco that sounded like a growl. I knew that sound, I growled sometimes. I pulled back to see if he was frustrated.
Those green eyes looked down at me and all the composure that had been there yesterday disappeared. His massive hand smoothed the back of my neck in gentle strokes as my eyebrows shot up. What in the heck was going on? My pulse was moving like butterfly wings and an infusion of warmth saturated through me.
“Are you okay?” He asked, his brow dipped in concern. There was a tightness in his jaw I didn’t like. I brought my hand up to smooth his clean-shaven jaw.
A rumble started up in Marco’s chest that had my eyebrows raising. Instead of lying, I continued to smooth my hand on his neck. I could feel myself melting into him as certain parts of him grew harder against me.
Now that I had read about in Cosmo. Oh. Also, after reading about Adam and Eve, mother had graced me with the birds and bees conversation. I didn’t want to tell Marco I noticed, but I was pretty damn sure it meant he liked me. It was the physical equivalent of hitting on me. I wish I could warn him that I wasn’t even worthy of friendship.
“Are you purring?” Anani chuckled so hard he gasped, holding his stomach.
“Shut it,” Ledger smacked his head, “you were practically shifting at gym.”
Henry smiled, “accurate.”
“How about I make you some tea?” Sai asked me from next to Marco. I looked away from the massive man and peered at Sai. Marco made a frustrated noise as if he was upset I looked away from him.
“What’s tea?”
The room silenced, Sai frowned, and asked “you don’t know what tea is?”
“She doesn’t have a cell phone either,” Anani commented. I shot him a scowl and wiggled away from Marco. He grumbled and hooked an arm around my waist gently. I settled facing the group.
“Can we not talk about what I don’t have?” I frowned at Anani.
“Yeah Anani, stop being an ass,” Ledger chuckled. He winked at me as Sai jerked his head toward the kitchen. I followed and stepped down into the main room that attached to the kitchen. It didn’t escape my notice that Marco was plastered to my back still. Sai sighed and shook his head at Marco’s rumbling chest. I didn’t mind at all, in fact, I was more comfortable than I’d ever been in my entire life. It sounded naive, even to me, but with Marco right there in addition to my new friends in the same room… I felt the safest I’d ever felt in my entire life. Silly, right?
“Get her a cell phone,” Marco spoke quietly to Henry. The man in question looked at me, his ears turning slightly pink, and sped from the room. It was still faster than normal. Was I the only one noticing this?
“Wait!” Ledger called out before looking back at me. “Any color preference?”
Henry peaked his head back over the stairs and explained, “they come in red, pink, black, and blue.”
I smiled, “pink please.” I blushed a little because Henry nodded quickly with a cute grin before rushing away. He made the butterflies jump in my stomach as well. There was an underlying vibration of energy coming off him that I didn’t completely understand. I felt like he was hiding half of himself and I was very interested in knowing what that other half was.
“What flavor do you want?” Sai asked as Marco picked me up and placed me on top a large granite slab.
I didn’t answer right away because the granite kitchen made me flustered. I shouldn’t be in a kitchen like this and I shouldn’t be on the counter. Kitchens like this only existed in the paper. The church kitchen had been small, and the only way I knew that was because a picture of it hung in the basement. At one time, it had been filled with a parish celebrating someone’s baptism. I’d never been baptized because the minute that water had touched my skin, my mother had claimed I’d lit on fire.
It sounded very extreme, right? Not sure I believed her.
Sai presented me with three different shiny packs. One was orange, one purple, and the last green. I hesitantly pointed at the purple.
“Can we get a look at those bruises, peanut?” Anani asked with a small smile, but his eyes were dark as night.
I looked to Ledger, who offered a soft smile and began pulling food out of the fridge. My stomach rumbled on cue as Marco frowned. His ridiculously pretty face turned very serious.
“I’m making her food, relax Marco,” Ledger sighed at the man, “firefly here shared our lunch, and tomorrow, I’m going to just pack her one. Apparently, they only eat dinner at her house.”
“Where are you living?” Marco demanded his voice rough from the strain of his reactions. He had stepped between my legs and didn’t look away from my face. Not even for a heartbeat. “I tried searching for you, but the rain had washed away the scent of the car. I’m sorry I didn’t find you sooner.”
I swallowed, blushing at his sweet comment. This man had been looking for me? I nibbled my lip and spoke, “um, I don’t know what the trailer park is called, Jed…”
A cup crashed onto the counter as Sai turned and exclaimed, “you live in a fucking trailer?”
I cringed. Lord help me if he ever finds out I lived in a basement. Apparently, that wasn’t the norm outside of my previous life.
“It’s not bad,” I muttered feeling embarrassed.
“Sai, stop it,” Marco snapped at him, “now Maya, who is Jed?”
I looked up at him and sighed, “My mom’s boyfriend, we just moved here. You… eh, you met him at the gas station.”
“Where’s your dad?” Sai wondered out loud, his voice almost pleading to tell him some good news. So I did.
I hid my grin and said, “dead.”
“Maya, I’m so sorry.” He froze, looking horrified.
“Please, please, don’t be.” I admitted with a voice that sounded cold even to me. All of them seemed to freeze at my words and they exchanged looks. See? I was already messing up this being normal thing.
“What time do you need to be home tonight?” Anani asked. Did they want me to leave already?
“Um,” I frowned. “Honestly, I don’t know how any of this works. This is my first time doing any of this.”
“Any of what?” Ledger wondered.
“This,” I motioned, “I had never left my… house until five days ago.”
Silence spread across the room before Sai swore. He set down a cup of tea, a deep red shade, before storming off. I frowned, was he mad at me? I hoped not. I didn’t mean to upset him.
“Not mad at you,” Marco muttered while pressing a soft kiss to my shoulder, “just worried.”
Could he read minds?
“I need to get a good look at her bruises,” Ledger finally demanded, before pressing a sandwich into my hand. He wandered off before I heard him sorting through a closet down the hall.
Anani moved next to Marco, “peanut, are you okay with that?”
I bit my lip but nodded as Marco stepped back. I tugged on the sleeve of my hoodie and pulled it over my head with gentle movements. I knew they were visible along my arms and open neckline because of the growl that came from Ledger. How could I tell them apart after only a few hours?
His eyes were burning as he grasped my hand gently. Marco had a vice grip on the counter as he muttered a curse, “how the hell did this happen?”
I looked down at the bruises covering my arms as Ledger moved around the counter, sliding onto the surface to sit behind me. I hissed as his warm hands traced the pattern through my thin white polo.
“I fell-“
“No, you didn’t,” Ledger hissed unexpectedly. “Come look at this Marco.”
Marco already looked like he was about to explode. His eyes were trained on my bruised arm as his body trembled with anger. I curled into Ledger with repressed anxiety. I didn’t think he would hurt me, but his energy was intense.
“Marco, calm down,” Henry demanded from the door. He walked forward, gray eyes turning into melted silver, as he set down a pink phone on the counter. Oh, I loved that color.
“Eat,” Ledger encouraged me quietly while the other two had a near stare off. I could practically see the conversation the two of them were having.
Marco sighed shaking his head, before he lifted and turned me. I was sitting sideways on the counter as Marco gently peeled my polo up. I cringed at his growl before Ledger softly massaged my hands in a comforting gesture. I took a bite of the sandwich. When I felt Henry’s warm yet rough fingers pressing against the skin gently, I relaxed a bit. Maybe it came from my experience growing up, but it was far more reassuring knowing where someone’s hands were, even if they were on me. When you didn’t know where they were, you could be surprised. My mother liked to do that, hitting me out of nowhere.
“Who?” Henry pleaded. His voice was soft and silky as he rounded to stand in front of me.
“Why do you say who?” I muttered.
Henry’s eyes darkened, “I have seen enough subcutaneous bruises to know which ones are caused by accidents and which are caused by human infliction. So who, Maya?”
Was it just me or was this guy really smart? He sounded like the anatomy book I’d read this past summer.
I shook my head and bit my sandwich. “Please leave it alone.”
I could feel tears welling behind my eyelids as my lashes fluttered. Marco pulled the shirt back down and lifted me into his arms. Do all friends carry one another? There was no way I was carrying these guys. I mean, I really would if I could, but they were huge. I rubbed my nose against his warm neck as he rumbled in that deep purr again.
Once I was situated in Marco’s arms in what he deemed the family room, he sat down and Ledger offered me a blanket and my tea. I continued to nibble on my sandwich as Henry sat down. I knew I was taking advantage of their friendship, but this was the most comfortable I'd ever been. I briefly noticed the three other men talking in quiet whispers from the kitchen. They sounded worked up, but I hoped they would figure out what was bothering them.
“Okay, so put your finger here,” Henry instructed. I could tell he was frustrated, but thankfully he had dropped the conversation from before. For now at least. The screen lit up and filled in a huge thumbprint with my own. I smiled at the idea.
“Now it will only open to you,” he muttered and met my eyes.
I frowned, thinking about my lack of knowledge, “can you put multiple thumbprints?”
Henry nodded and I smiled, “please put everyone’s thumbprint, I don’t want to have to always open it for you guys if you need something.”
Henry’s eyes softened as Marco spoke in a voice that still seemed tense, “I have no idea what’s going on at home Maya, but it would be best to hide this. I don’t want anyone taking it away.” I didn’t know what to say, but I could tell Henry was preloading some data that probably had to do with what I asked for. I wanted my friends to be able to do what they needed.
