Welcome to New Haven (65 page)

In my professional opinion, there has been a great deal of gross mishandling on behalf of the courts.” Oli stayed calm and professional during his lawyeresque rant and Kim was holding his hand for support.

“We understand your position here, officers, and you being kept in the dark also, but you must understand that our children have been placed in danger.”

“We do understand Mr. Charles.” Said Jones.
 
“But, according to the files Miss. Scutters’ psych evaluation, after three months treatment, cleared her for social integration.”
 

“Well they were wrong.” Said Rami.
 
“My son could’ve been attacked.
 
My daughter, their friends.
 
They’ve all been affected by this girl.
 
She should never have been allowed in school.” He snarled.
 

“We’ll be looking into it, sir.” Said Dixon.

“I hope they pay for what they did.” Said Holly.
 
“She could’ve done anything…anytime…nobody knew!”

Alex pulled her into his chest as more tears fell down her cheeks. She wrapped her arms around his waist.
 

“If they let her go again…”
 

“They won’t miss. She’ll be held in custody, due to today’s events and breaking the order.” Said Jones.

The officers explained that they were waiting on a warrant to search Stacey’s home to check for any personal items or photographs of Alex.
 
Like she had of the husband during her previous conviction. The officers would inform them if they found anything.

The parents wanted something done about whomever ordered the details to be kept from the principal, and that those responsible would be held accountable for what had been allowed to happen.

“If you want to file a complaint, Rami, I will be more than happy to take the case on for you, as well as ours.
 
As for the prosecution of
the girl
, I will personally look into getting the finest lawyers of my company.
 
Due to it being personal, I’m unable to do it myself. However, I can sure as hell assist with the research.

"Evie and Rami were leaving, and Alex was reluctant to go with them.
 

“I don’t want to leave you.” Alex said to Holly, pressing his forehead to hers.
 

“I don’t want to either.” She replied as she fisted her hands in his T-shirt.
 

“It’s too early. We could go somewhere…shopping for a new bed, clothes, just…don’t go home.”
 

“That’s a great idea.” Said Alex, brightening up.
 
He was overjoyed that he didn’t have to part from Holly so soon, but he also didn’t want to dismiss his sister or best friend.
 

“Dev and Ben too?” Holly asked, as if sensing what he was thinking.
 
He smiled, gazing into her beautiful green eyes.
 

“Is that ok?” He whispered.
 

“Definitely. We’re not leaving them out.”

Alex pressed his lips to hers before turning to his brave sister, and his best friend.
 

“You guys are coming too right?” He asked.
 

“Yay!” Dev squealed and she hugged them both tightly.
 
Ben snorted a
 
laugh.
 

“Of course. Someone needs to keep
her
out of trouble.” He motioned to Dev who narrowed her eyes and pulled a face at him.

Back to normal now.

Alex thought. The incident was over, and they were back to their hostile behavior towards each other.

“I thought you’d want to be alone.” Said Dev.
 
“Not that I’m complaining though.” She added quickly with her hands up, as if they’d change their minds.
 

“I’m not going without my ‘BFF’.” Said Holly as she squeezed Dev and whispered in her ear. “Besides’…alone’ could be dangerous.” And Dev laughed.
 

“Let’s go then! Come on!” Dev said and she grabbed Ben’s arm and dragged him out to the car.
 

“Love. Keep me posted where you are ok? I’ll be going out of my mind here.”
 
Said Kim.
 

“We’ll be fine Mum, she’s gone, but I’ll text you.” Holly replied as they turned to leave.
 

“You too, kids.” Said Evie. “Constant updates.” Rami gave Alex his debit card to buy whatever he wanted.
 

“It’s ok, Dad. I’ve got my own.” He said. Not wanting his Dad to pay for everything.
 

“I know son, but…just let me this once. Ok?”

Evie and Rami hugged their children before they left.

Alex turned to talk to everyone when they got in the car.
 
He didn’t want the mornings’ events to ruin their day.
 

“Guys, could we
not
mention anything about what happened today? I don’t want any thoughts or talk about
her
to keep us from having a good afternoon. That’s what she wants and it’s
not
happening."

“Fine by me.” Said Ben.
 

“Not. A. Problem.” Said Dev.
 

Holly squeezed his hand.
 

“She’s not taking anything away from us.” Alex whispered as he leant over and kissed her.
 

“But…we’d like to go now though, guys. I can’t wait another hour.” Said Dev.
   

Ben laughed loudly.
 

“Yeah. What
were
you doing for so long?” He chuckled.
 

Alex and Holly both flushed pink.
 

“Um…we’ve just said not to talk about it.” Said Holly.
 

“Yeah, whatever.” Teased Dev.
 

Holly was trying to hide a smile as Alex looked the other way to hide his red face.

They drove to Northgate, where Alex had previously bought his clothes from.
 
He’d found that the sizes and fit were more suitable for him. He liked his jeans loose fitting. Not like the skin tight ones a lot of guys wore. Because he liked to work out, fitted jeans weren’t suitable for an athletic person. He and Ben shopped at the stores there most of the time, or the online version, and even had Ryan and Kyle favoring them too.

They went into Alex’s favorite store. ‘Guy’. They had his favorite jeans and T-shirts.
 
He picked out six pairs of jeans and noticed Holly looking appreciatively at them.

“You like these?” He asked.
 

“I like the way they fit you.” She replied, and he smiled knowingly at her, causing her to blush…again.

Alex picked up a number of T-shirts and went o the cashier’s desk.
 

“Is that all you’re getting?” asked Dev. “You’re gonna need more options than that! I mean, you can’t just have jeans and T-shirts. What about shorts? Sweaters? Shirts? We should go to Romey’s next…”

Dev was rambling on about different style choices and combinations and Alex snookered.
 

“Your sister can
shop
!” Said Ben, quietly. “How did I forget that?”

“I think I should have just let her go
for
me.” Said Alex. “But then I’d be afraid of what she’d bring back.”

“Oooh! There’s a
great
store around here, let’s go there!” Said Dev excitedly.
 

The guys groaned, and Holly laughed at Dev’s enthusiasm.

As they got to the store Dev wanted to go in, Alex and Ben were a little apprehensive.
 

“Underwear?” asked Ben. “Seriously Dev…You want us to go into an underwear store? A
girls
’ underwear store?”
 

“Why not?” she asked. “They have guys stuff too. Anyway, what’s the problem? We all wear it so…” She trailed off as she walked in, dragging Holly behind her who dragged Alex in as she still had a hold of his hand.
 

Alex was
very
aware of how his mind had gone from clean, ok fairly clean, to imagining Holly in her underwear.

He swallowed hard as he followed her inside.

Dev was still rambling as they went in.

“I could do with some new stuff.” She said. “Holly, will you help me pick?
 
The boys can look at boy stuff. Anyway, we need some girl talk now so you two…over there…” She said as she pointed to the mens’ section.
 

Alex turned to Holly.
 

“I love you.” He said and kissed her gently, just once, as they were in public after all.
 

“I love you too.” She said and gave his hand a squeeze before letting go.
 

“Yeah, yeah, come on.” Said Ben and pulled Alex away.

The girls walked into the women’s area that was divided into colour sections.
 

They started with pink.

Holly could see Dev was itching to ask her something and as soon as they were far enough away, Dev pulled her close so they could whisper.
 

”So…what
were
you and my brother doing in your room?” she asked, her eyebrows waggling. “I know you didn’t ‘do it,’ but you looked,
both
looked, kinda guilty about something!”
 

“We just kissed really.” Said Holly. Not sounding convincing whatsoever and failing to hide her huge smile.
 

“Whatever. You need to spill…now!” Dev said, pointing her finger at Holly.
 

“Oh my God!” chuckled Holly. I can’t tell you
everything
you know.
 

“Yeah you can.” Said Dev, impatiently.
 

Holly rolled her eyes and looked through some items whilst they talked.
 

“Um…well…we, I may have squeezed Alex’s butt, a little.”
 

“Oh my God!” Dev whisper shouted.
 

“What else?” “I feel bad telling you.” Said Holly.
 
She didn’t know whether she should tell Dev everything.
 

“Don’t!” Dev said, breaking her guilt trip. “Alex knows I’ll ask you. I won’t tell anyway so…come on!”
 

“I may have also felt his…I put my hands up his T-shirt.” Holly whispered, and Dev’s mouth popped open.
 

“Fuck
me
! What did he do to
you
?” “Dev!” Holly exclaimed.
 
“Please Holly, “Dev begged. “I’ve never had these conversations before and now that I can, don’t deny me the details.”
 

“But he’s your brother!” Holly giggled.
 

“Oh I don’t care.
 
This is about
you
now.”

Holly shook her head.

“He had his hands on my butt too…and my thigh. My waist too.” Her face flamed.
 

“That’s so hot! Did he…you know…touch your lady lumps?” Dev asked with a mischievous smile.
 

“No.” Holly’s face heated further.

“Did I disturb you?” Dev asked, her eyes widening.
 

The look on Holly’s face told her everything.

“Oh my fucking God! It would’ve gotten that far if I hadn’t knocked, wouldn’t it?” Dev put her hand over her mouth to stop her laugh from escaping.
 

“Seriously Dev, how do you do that?” Holly asked. Dev seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to her and Alex.
 

“Do what? Know what you’re thinking? You and Alex do the same thing.
 
Either go off into a dream world or flush red. It’s really not that difficult to decipher. Of course, knowing how you feel about each other helps.” She said, tapping her temple.

Holly knew how she felt about Alex, and she knew how he felt about her.

She’d gotten to the top of the staircase as Alex was telling Stacey.
 

“I love Holly.” He’d said, and she froze on the top step.

She listened to him telling Stacey just how much, and her heart had swelled so big it felt as though it would burst from her chest.

All of her emotions rushed though her body at once, and she’d teared up until she heard Stacey screaming at Alex.

The disgusting things she said and when she’d asked where Holly was… Holly told Alex she loved him too.
 

“Hollyyyyy. Hellooooo.” Said Dev, waving her hand in front of her face.
 

“Sorry, I was miles away.” She said and Dev snorted a laugh.
 

“As I was saying…Do you think you would have, you know, if I hadn’t knocked?”
 

“No.” Holly said flatly.
 

“Why?” asked Dev, narrowing her eyes a little.
 

“We’re not eighteen yet.” Was Holly’s short, precise answer.
 

“Oh well, that’s good then. Anyway…let’s embarrass the guys a little.” She said with a giggle.
 

“How?” Holly was wary of what Dev was up to.

“Watch and learn.” She said, sticking her tongue between her teeth.
 

Dev picked up a pink stain bra and panty set. They looked girly with a small bow between the cups and on the tops where they joined the straps. The panties were boy-short style with bows on the sides.
 

“Hey Hol, what about this set?” Dev said loudly, as she held up the underwear.
 
Alex and Ben looked over.
 

“What are you doing?” Asked Holly as she whisper shouted.
 

“Having fun.” She said as she winked.
 

“Oh Dev. You are bad!” Holly laughed.
 

“Yeah.” Dev said in a low growl.
 
“So these…?” She held up the set. “Play along.” She said out of the side of her mouth.

Holly giggled and shrugged her shoulders.
 

“Nah. Too much pink.”

Dev bit her lip and she picked up a fuchsia vest set.
 

“How about this?”

“Too much…” Holly held back a giggle “…Coverage.”