“I’m going to be home all day today, just in case. If it becomes too much and you really need to get out, you just call or text and I will be there in ten minutes to collect you and bring you home. Don't be afraid to call me if you need to, but give things a try if you can, yeah? Xander seems to think the routine of school days will be good for you, and I agree.”
“B-but I….I have a choice? If it’s really bad and I lose it, I can come home right?” I asked, almost tearful.
“You always have a choice Baby. No one is ever going to force you into anything. If you feel like your anxiety is becoming too much, or you just can’t handle being there, you can call me, or any of us. We will always come for you.” Kyle took my hands and squeezed them in his as he spoke, cementing the truth in his words and calming me a little.
“Just do not leave that school building without one of us, Livy. We have no idea what your kidnapper is up to and we need to keep you safe. Kyle and I will be checking in with texts throughout the day. If you don’t answer we will call, and if you don't answer that, we’ll be coming to look for you.” Kade said firmly, his eyes locked on mine with a determination I couldn't doubt for a second.
“What if I’m in a class?” I asked nervously.
“We have your schedule. We won’t contact you during classes.” Kyle replied.
“We need you to be safe Livy. I know it seems a little extreme, especially when you have the guys there, but until we catch this fucker who took you, and the press back off, it’s a must.” I saw the worry across all of their faces as Kade mentioned me being taken, and knew they needed all of these precautions to allow them to focus on their own lives too. They needed the constant reassurances that I was alright, and if I was honest, I needed the contact with them too.
“It’s ok. I get it, and I don’t mind. I’d rather you guys know where I am if it means no one hurts me again.” I agreed.
“Whoa, this new agreeable Livy is getting kinda scary. Did someone swap you out with a clone?” Cole joked.
“Ha ha! Very funny. I think you’ll find I will always happily agree when you guys talk sense. It’s just when you’re being overbearing assholes that I put my foot down.” I quipped back, making them all chuckle. It wasn’t like they could argue because they knew I was right.
“That we may be Cariña, but we’re your overbearing assholes.” Matt laughed as he stood and came to kiss the top of my head.
“I gotta grab my books. Meet me out front in five minutes?”
“Ok.” I agreed, unable to stop the huge grin from overtaking my face at his words. I loved the idea that they were mine. I had no idea how I was ever worthy of having them all, but there was no way in hell I was ever letting them go.
***
My entire body was shaking like crazy when Cole parked his truck in a packed lot in front of the huge school building.
I had been there the week before with Keira and Grant to deal with all of the paperwork and to get my class schedule, so I wouldn’t have to deal with any of it on my first day.
I had thought the building had been intimidating that day, but it had been empty then. Now, as I sat in the back of Cole’s truck, staring out of the window, I was terrified.
The building itself was ultra modern, a huge square structure of red brick, steel frames and huge glass windows. It was four floors tall and seemed to go on forever out to it’s two wings. Steps lead up to a huge set of imposing glass doors and into the entrance foyer. Around the entire building there was acres of greenery, amongst which, I had been informed by the principal on my first visit, there was a football field, tennis courts, running and athletic tracks, and a ton of other stuff I hadn’t really cared to remember.
Yes, the building was definitely scary, but not as scary as the hundreds of teenagers now loitering all around it, in large groups and making so much noise that I could hear them all through the closed windows of the truck.
“Livy?” Cole snapped me from my terror, and I looked to where they both sat up front.
“Huh?” It looked like they were waiting for an answer, but I hadn’t heard a word they had said.
“You ok?” Matt asked.
“No, not at all.” I replied honestly. “What did you say?”
“You’re going to be fine.” Cole told me for the millionth time. “We were just asking what you wanted to do about us? About our relationship? If you want to keep it just between us then that’s fine, but we need to know before we walk in there.”
“Just between us?” I was confused.
“You know our relationship is unique. There’s nothing wrong with it, but a lot of people won't understand it, and may even openly disapprove, especially here, where a lot of the kids think they’re above everyone else. We don't care, we can handle it, but you are likely to get more backlash than us, Cariña. Girls can be cruel and really fucking judgemental. So, if you want to, we can just act as friends in school, and keep it quiet?” Matt explained. I was struck dumb for a moment. I knew the guys had mentioned before about people judging what we
