Inertia (Gravity Series, 3.5) (The Gravity Series) (3 page)

“Now we’ll see how well you hold your liquor,” Ambrose said, smirking at her. The wicked look glimmering in his pale blue eyes made her stomach drop. She smiled back at him.

His hand sneaked across the space between them to rest on her thigh and a warm thrill went through her that had nothing to do with the liquor. She struggled to breathe normally.

Lainey babbled away in the front seat, showing off her terrible driving as she swerved through red lights. “Have you heard about the fresh meat? Some new guy, he’s going to be at the next meeting. According to Molly, he’s really hot.”

“How hot?” Madison croaked as she cradled the Bacardi bottle between her knees and slouched. She was a lightweight champion.

“Think inferno,” Lainey said. “Apparently his father is some bigwig lawyer. I looked him up online and he has his own Wikipedia page. Pretty cute himself, I’m guessing the new guy will be just as hot. I’ll have to try him out myself.”

Jenna could hear the lie in Lainey’s voice, hamming it up so Ambrose would care. Ambrose’s hand was still resting warm and light and very
there
on her thigh.

He started to slide his hand slowly back and forth, massaging the muscle beneath her skin. Jenna breathed slowly and swallowed the moan that had risen up her throat. Lainey was still talking about this new boy, obviously trying to make Ambrose jealous. Jenna locked eyes with Ambrose and rolled hers, smiling liquidly. He smirked again and slid his hand further up her thigh, making her shiver and get goosebumps on her arms.

The thought crossed Jenna’s mind that if Ariel knew she was out doing this, she would freak. Ariel was very anti-drinking, anti-drugs. And something of a boy repellant.

She didn’t have to know.

###

The party ended up being as lame as Jenna had suspected, thrown by some mutual friend of Lainey and Madison’s that Jenna didn’t know. The bitch scowled at her the instant she arrived, and Jenna scowled right back.

There was a lame Hawaiian theme and colorful leis hung from the walls and doors. Cardboard palm trees had been set up in the corners. It was cheesy, and Jenna hardly knew anyone, but it wasn’t too bad because she got to be around Ambrose.

He had drunk just enough to be goofy and was cracking jokes, trying to get her to laugh. At one point a lame song from the 80s started up and he grabbed her and started dancing, making her chuckle so hard she almost choked.

Only then did Lainey notice their attraction and narrowed her eyes. She came forward and put her arm around Jenna, leaning towards her ear. “I think it’s time to cut you off, honey, wouldn’t you say? Wouldn’t want anyone to think that you’re a whore.”

Jenna blushed red. She’d said it loud enough for the entire party to hear.

“Yeah, wouldn’t want to steal your crown, huh Lain?” Ambrose said dismissively and walked off to talk to his friends. Jenna felt a surge of excitement that he’d stuck up for her. Like he’d protected her. She watched his tall frame even though he had his back to her.

Anger flared on Lainey’s face, along with raw embarrassment. She dropped her arm unceremoniously from around Jenna’s shoulders and crossed the room to Ambrose, poking the back of his jersey. He turned around, handsome features set in an irritated glare.

“Don’t act like you didn’t enjoy what we did,” Lainey hissed. Madison made a disgusted face and guzzled the beer in her hand.

“Do us all a favor and get over yourself,” Ambrose barked, leaving the room. Lainey sulked back to where Jenna and Madison were frozen, watching her.

Lainey looked back at Jenna. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t get involved with him. He’s trouble,” Lainey warned. “He’ll just use you up and then dump you and pretend like it never happened.” She went back into the kitchen, presumably to get more alcohol to dampen her embarrassment.

“You really ruffled her feathers,” Madison observed, bulging eyes bloodshot. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone do that. Bravo.”

Jenna really didn’t want to be at the party anymore. Not just because of Lainey’s display. Everyone was being cliquey. There were a lot of couples making out and most of the other guests were playing a messy game of truth or dare that she wanted no part of. But the house was located a little outside of Hell, and she didn’t know her way back.

She leaned against the patio door, shutting her eyes and swaying from the Bacardi in her bloodstream. A hand grabbed her arm and her eyes whipped open. Ambrose was leaning in from outside, holding her arm tightly.

“Come on,” he whispered. Making sure no one was watching them, Jenna slipped outside into the cool night air with him.

She was so surprised she didn’t know what to say, so she just followed him onto the long patio. He grabbed one of the leis hanging from an outside light and put it around her neck. She laughed.

He reached down and pressed his lips to hers. He tasted salty and sweet at the same time, and ran his tongue gently over her bottom lip. A little shock went through her from his boldness, but she grabbed the sides of his shirt and pulled him closer as the kiss deepened.

Drawing back from the kiss, he pressed his forehead to hers, shutting his eyes.

They had been messing around for over a week without talking much about it. It had started one day when they were all watching TV and he was telling jokes about their teachers. Lainey and Madison had left the room to get snacks, and without warning, Ambrose had reached across the couch and kissed her.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time,” he’d said.

“What is this?” she asked him finally.

He pulled back and turned away from her, staring up at the night sky. “I don’t know. I’ve thought about it over and over. You’re like a song stuck in my head. I can’t get you out.”

“You know it’s not a good idea for us to be together,” Jenna said softly. He turned around, his perfect, chiseled face caught in conflict.

“Of course I know that,” he snapped. “I’m not blind.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault people are acting crazy,” Jenna shot back. “Don’t get pissed off at me.”

She turned around to go back inside. She could hear people talking faintly and wondered if someone would find them together. Ambrose rushed to her and grabbed her arm, spinning her gently to face him.

“I’m sorry. My temper is like a bear, it’s hard to get a hold of.”

“Well, you need to get a hold of it,” Jenna said. “Why is everyone acting so strange? My mom, Lainey…I wish this whole Thornhill thing would blow over.”

“Me too, but it’s not gonna happen.”

“Don’t you feel like something is in the air? Like something is about to happen?” Jenna asked. She’d hesitated to speak it aloud, even to Ariel, since she knew it would sound weird.

Ambrose tilted his head and stared at her, running his hand through her hair. “Like what?”

“That’s just it, I have no idea. But I think whatever it is, it has something to do with Thornhill.”

“Don’t worry about them. Don’t worry about anything. I’m done analyzing. Let’s just spend this time together.” And he silenced her thoughts with another kiss as he wrapped his arms around her.

Out of the window, a melancholy song wafted through the air.
I didn’t see the crime, in staying up for a while, just watching you…

###

The next day’s hangover wasn’t as bad as Jenna had expected. But she hadn’t cleared anything up with Ambrose, just complicated things more. She was glad that school was over, that she could sleep in until her late morning run. Her mother poked her head in once, but she didn’t even turn on the light.

She went out shopping with Ariel and spent a little time with her, but they didn’t talk much and she could sense that her friend knew something was up. She bowed out early and spent the rest of the day in her room with her earphones turned up high.

The rest of the week she avoided everyone—Lainey, Ambrose, and Ariel, despite all of the texts from the last two. She ran her usual mile a day and kept to herself. The strange feeling in the air intensified each passing day, and the summer sunshine just made her more gloomy.

R U mad?
Ambrose texted on Friday.

No.

Why u been avoiding me?

Because I don’t know how to handle you. Us.

Your still stuck, song. Lemme take you to a party this weekend.

Sounds like fun, I guess.

I’ll make sure it’s fun Meet me at the gas station on hush lake rd. U know the place?

Ya. K

###

Jenna had never felt more nervous, the pit of her stomach churning. She didn’t know why, but she felt like this was really going to take things to the next level with Ambrose. They’d been exchanging playful texts all day, in which he hinted at the night he had in store for her. Her anticipation grew until she could hardly stand it.

She had to look her best. She also had to get Ariel off of her back.

“I’m just talking to a couple of people, don’t worry about it. Nothing to do with anything you’d be interested in,” she’d said, blowing off Ariel when she’d asked why she was texting so much. Ariel would never approve of Ambrose.

Now she was getting annoyed. Her friend was giving her the third degree. Why did she always have to explain to her? Ariel was hovering in the background like a pesky fly. Jenna finished her makeup and gathered her things.

“You know I don’t make plans,” she snapped, regretting the decision to come back to Ariel’s in the first place. They were in her room in the basement.

“But…”

“We always hang out. I think it’s about time for a break from each other, don’t you? Absence makes us irritate each other less.”

She felt bad for saying the words, and even worse that at the moment they were true. She never thought Ariel would stand as an obstacle between herself and what she wanted. Being around Lainey was influencing her, whether she liked it or not. But they didn’t need to be attached at the hip.

“Do you have a new boyfriend?” Ariel asked. Jenna froze for a moment.
Do I?
She almost spilled the beans right there, but her phone vibrated silently in her pocket. She changed her mind. “What if I do?”

“Lately you’ve been going through boys like water.”

Nice way to make me sound like a slut.
It reminded her of what Lainey had said at the party. It hadn’t been too many guys, and they were only first dates. Nothing like Ambrose.

Jenna glared at her friend’s solemn face.
Just jealous because no one wanted to date her.
The swiftness and severity of her thoughts surprised her.

“I don’t have time for this.” She stomped out of the room, rushing to get away before she said anything else that she’d regret when her anger cooled down.

Of course Ariel followed her. Ariel always followed her.
And I always follow Ariel…
The resentment blossomed. Jenna rushed to the door, grabbing the handle. She suddenly felt like this was a very important moment, that she wouldn’t have a chance to talk to fix things later. The thought passed through her head like a bad omen.

“Remember your sweatshirt, it’s getting cold.” Ariel’s cracking voice set her teeth on edge. Jenna sighed, grabbed the sweatshirt which was the whole reason she came over in the first place.

“Anything else you need, mom?” A tear trickled out of Ariel’s watering hazel eye and fell down her cheek. “Stop acting like a baby. I’ll be back before midnight. You’ll never even miss me.”

Jenna swept out into the night before she could change her mind.

###

Jenna felt pissed and defensive— why did she always have to explain? Why couldn’t she be free to do as she pleased? She thought about this as she crossed over lawns and streets at a brisk pace, ponytail flapping behind her.

Running felt like walking and breathing hard felt like regular breathing. Lately, if she wasn’t in motion, it didn’t feel natural. Part of her knew she was trying to run away from the thoughts in her head. Feeling the warm wind hit her cleared her thoughts. She almost went back to apologize, but thought better of it. It was good for Ariel to think about her own actions, after all. Jenna wasn’t the bad guy. Things would cool off and be okay again.

The voice inside her nagged that the odd change to the air was still very much present, but she pushed it away.

Taking shortcuts through the woods and housing developments, it didn’t take too long to jog to Hush Lake Road.

She slowed her pace to a fast walk, feeling the cold sheen of sweat on her forehead and chest. She bent over when a stitch hit her side, making her grit her teeth, but almost immediately it was gone. Her heart rate had skyrocketed.

Pulling off the yellow sweatshirt, she tied it around her waist. The night air was starting to chill—it was getting close to 11, after all—but it felt good against her hot skin.

An old Chevy rolled up beside her. The window rolled down and a slimy guy was sitting in the front seat, wearing a suit-jacket over a t-shirt with his hair slicked back. He poked his head out and leered at her, taking her in from the legs up.

“You hitchhiking?” he asked with a heavy Southern accent.

She didn’t answer but her heart maintained its hard beats, despite her slower walking.

“Not safe for a girl out here at night.” He was still rolling his car slowly to keep next to her. The hairs on the back of her neck were spiking up. “Not safe at all.”

Go back to Graceland, Elvis.

“I have a seat right next to me, girly. You could hop right in. I’m in no hurry to get to my destination.”

She kept her eyes forward, ready to start running again if he didn’t drive away. Somehow she thought this might intensify the excitement for him, though, so she ignored him. He kept rolling beside her for a minute, until he finally realized she wasn’t giving in.

“Well, aren’t you a frigid bitch?” He hit the gas and sped away, laying on his noisy horn. Jenna let out a deep breath in relief and stopped, bending down to her knees. She felt like she’d just dodged a bullet.