Here Comes the Light (Cambrooke #1) (8 page)

“Hey Nova.”
He smiles and nods towards her, putting on his public face as I call it. He never loses his temper when my friends are around. Not that he does that often but I am the only one who sees it.  So Nova and Jess think I have this really cool dad. “When did you get here?”

“Just now, sorry I just let
myself in...” she points to the door.

“No, no that is fine.
” He says backing out of my room. I purse my lips and look at the ceiling. “You two have fun.”

Nova turns towards me as soon as my dad shuts the door. “Miley, I swear I didn’t tell a soul.” Nova says in a rush. “I came here as soon as I heard.”

“Nova, you are the only one I told.”

“How well do you know Declan? Maybe he told.”

I look at her with one eyebrow raised. “Who would he tell that would tell Hudson?”

“I think his brother is on the football team.” She says. “He is a sophomore.” Nova sits on the foot of my bed and crosses her legs. The top foot wiggles. “Maybe he is spreading rumors about you, you know like he conquered you or something.” What Nov
a says does make sense. I don’t know Declan that well. But when I look in his eyes he seems so… I don’t know how to say it, sincere? Real? Innocent? All of the above? Maybe I was wrong about him. Nova has never betrayed me. Maybe he is just another stinking hypocrite.

“I’
m sorry for doubting you.” I smile slightly. She looks down at my arms covered by the long sweatshirt sleeve.

“Hey why are you wearing a
hoodie, it’s hot in here.” She frowns and tilts her head. “Please tell me you didn’t.” I forgot for a second whose hoodie I was in. I want to rip it off of me now. “You aren’t cutting again are you?” she speaks accusingly. I cross my arms over my middle. Nova and Hudson are the only two that know I do this.

I remember when Hudson first discovered it.

He has me pinned down on the floor of his basement when I wiggle to get away he grabs my button up sweater and pulls on the sleeve to keep me retained. I giggle wildly. My arm slips out giving him a full few of the marks I made the night before.

“What’s this?” he frowns
as I pull my sweater back up on my shoulder. “What happened to you, Miley?” His voice becomes impatient when I don’t answer.

“I did it.” I pull my lips into a
thin line.

“What?” he ru
ns his hand across the back of his neck and shakes his head at me; looking at me like I’m crazy. “Why would you do that to yourself?” I shrug and look at the basement floor with the brown and green checked rug that lies in the middle. I study the patterns like if I study them enough they’ll tell me how to respond. I jump when his hand hits the picture frame on the table beside us and it flies across the room shattering into a million pieces. “Why did you do that?” he yells.

“I just do.” I turn away from him. “Last night was the anniversary of my mom’s death. I was…” I take a deep breath even thinking abou
t it now makes me want to cry, “Alone.” I say barely above a whisper. “My dad worked late.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I did, you had to hang out with the guys, remember?”

“No
w you are just making me sound like a jerk.” I can hear the irritation in his voice.

I quickly turn towards him, “
No, I, didn’t mean for it to sound like that.”

His eyes narrow when he looks at me. “Why would you do that? Are you crazy?”

Tears finally break loose and travel down my cheeks as I nod. “Yeah.” I choke out.

“Why are you crying?”
his voice is harsh. “You did it.” I turn obviously he doesn’t want to be with a crazy person. I head for the stairs; I just need to get out of here as fast as possible.

“Miley, wait.” His voice is softer now as he grabs my hips and pulls me back towards him, “I am sorry, I don’t want you to leave.” He turns my body to face him and looks me in the eyes. “Just promise me you will never do it again.”

“I promise.” I whisper through my tears. That was six months ago.

“Let me see.” Nova reaches her hand out. I pull my arm out of Declan’s hoodie and place my arm in her hand. She scrunches her nose and her eyebrow come down as she studies my arm. “I’ve seen you do worse.”

“I am out of practice.” I joke.

Nova looks up at me with seriousness on her face, obviously not finding the humor in my joke. “Miley, you can’t be doing this to yourself. It solves nothing.”

“It makes me forget the pain if only for a little bit, you know?” I shrug and try to fight back the tears plaguing me by biting my lip.

“I don’t know.” Nova says flatly.

Chapter 6

I
try to not think about it when Nova leaves but that stupid hoodie stares at me and I have to go give him a piece of my mind. I throw on my tennis shoes and grab the hoodie before marching over to his house. I can’t believe he pretended to be my friend this afternoon made me think Nova betrayed me while I confided in him.

I am still fuming when I reach his door. I bang hoping he is the one that answers I only see his truck in the driveway so I am sure he is the only one home. The door opens slowly he stands there looking surprised to see me. His blond m
essy hair is damp and he’s in a pair of long athletic shorts and a tee shirt with a cross on the front. Makes me even angrier, he is pretending to be this sweet Christian and all.

“Miley what are you doing here?” he looks at
the driveway. That is right I didn’t drive here I ran.

“I thought you were different.” I shove his
hoodie at him.

“What are you talking about?” He
slowly takes the hoodie from my arms and runs a hand over his damp blond hair. Everything is fuzzy.

“Don’t
pretend you don’t know.” I try to take a deep breath but I can’t control the dizziness that overtakes me.

“Miley, are you alright.” He asks all concerned which just ticks me off even more
. He reaches his hand out towards me.

“Don’t touch me.” I chide. Right before the lightheadedness overtakes me. I had the monster burger earlier but I threw eve
rything back up after what happened with Hudson.

“Thanks for bringing her home.” I hear my dad’s voice. Wait a minute what is going on here? The last thing I remember was standing on Declan’s porch giving him a piece of my mind. I slowly open my eyes. I am in my bedroom. My eyes catch sight of my dad then Declan.

“She’s up.” Declan says rushing to my side. “How are you feeling?” he pretends to be all concerned.

“Alright.” I answer trying to figure out exactly what happened.

I look up at my Dad who is beaming. “What a good young man here…” he cups
Declan’s shoulder. His smile tells me he thinks he is boyfriend material for me. He couldn’t be more wrong. “Much better than that hot-head Hudson.”

I blink looking at first my dad, then at Declan.
“Dad,” I say as I ease my body up into a sitting position. “Can I talk to Declan for a minute?” Not sure how he is going to react to me alone in my room with a boy.

“Yeah, as long as you tw
o keep the door open,” he says as turns towards the door, “See you Friday.” He hollers back to Declan on his way out.

“Friday?”
I ask as I cross my arms.

“Your dad invited me to me
et his fiancé with you.” He runs his hand over his still damp blond hair.

“
What?” I glare at him.

“I don’t have to
come if you don’t want me to.” He looks at the ground. “Why…why are you so mad at me? I thought you had fun earlier.”

I take in a long exaggerated breath. “Why did you spread rumors about us?” I chide as I swing my legs off the side of my bed.

He looks up at me his thumbs are hooked in the pockets of his grey athletic shorts. His head tilted. “I was unaware I did.” He speaks slowly. “What kind of a rumor is it?” he furrows his brow.

“Well, you know… that we…
well.” I look at the ceiling. “You know.” I mumble quickly.

He jerks back. “I
wha?” his head tilts to the side. “I wouldn’t tell anybody that.” His voice is almost as high as a girl’s.

“Oh, please.” I look at him in irritation. “You have this whole goodie
goodie Christian act going on then you turn and lie to your buddies. Why because you can say you slept with a cheerleader?”

“Whoa, whoa, no.” he shakes his blond head. “Not me. I am a C
hristian and proud to say I’m a virgin. If there are rumors about us, it wasn’t because I started them.”

“I don’t think I can trust you.” My voice cracks as I bite my lip.

“Well for starters I was going to bring you home after prom you’re the one that didn’t want me to.” He paces my bedroom. “If this rumor got back to my parents they would kill me!” For some reason I know I can believe him. I don’t know why.

“I’
m sorry.” I speak barely above a whisper and look at the ground.  “I talked to Nova; she said she didn’t say anything. I just assumed you did.” With a sigh I lightly swing my legs back and forth. “Nova never tells any secrets of mine.”

He raises an eyebrow and s
mirks. “You got a lot of those?”

“No,” I giggle, “I don’t have a lot. That came out wrong.” His goofy expression makes me giggle even more.

He lowers himself on my bed-sitting right beside me. “I am glad to see you’re okay.” He smiles softly. That smile makes my heart skip. I think it may just be more dangerous than Hudson’s smile. “I was worried about you.”

“I’ll be ok
ay. I think.”

“Do you have…” he hesitate
s “…plans Saturday night?”

I cock my head to the side and raise my eyebrows, “I am
boyfriend-less; what do you think?” I say sarcastically. “Why you need a non-date?” a small smirk forms on my lips as I nudge him with my shoulder. “Considering you are not allowed to date until you’re eighteen.”

“It’s not a date.” He chuckles. “On Saturday nights my youth group gets together and just hangs out.  I was wond
ering if you would like to come.”

“Oh.” I look away from him at the fuzzy blue
rug on my floor. “I just don’t know about all that God stuff.” My voice is soft as I tap my foot on the ground.

“What?”

“I just don’t think God cares about me much.”

“Sure He does He made you, He love
s everyone He made.”

I stifle a laugh. “I just don’t believe the same as you, Declan.”

“That’s alright,” he shrugs. “Just thought you might want something to do Saturday night. We just get together and have a good time without all the drinking and partying.”

My stomach turns as I walk into the cafeteria. I have been dreading this all day. Jess and Hudson both mad at me makes things worse. Neither has even looked at me today. I look at the table I usually sit at. Ethan is in between Jess and Hudson. Nova and Coby are sitting across from them.  They are all laughing about something. Jess catches my eye and glares. Should I just suck it up and sit there and be ignored all of lunch or… I look over at Declan’s table. I could sit there. He would actually talk to me. Sitting there would be social suicide, but Declan has been the only true friend I have had these last few weeks. Hudson will never take me back and Jess may never talk to me again. I go over the pros and cons of each option as I approach my normal table my insides shake and I can’t bring myself to be ignored and uncomfortable.

I lift my chin in the air
as I walk right past them.  Their stares burn into the back of my head, but I don’t care. It takes guts but I am sitting where I am welcome today. I know it is the end of relationships with Hudson and Jess. They already think I slept with him. I can only imagine what they are thinking now. Nova will still talk to me, but not when Jess is around she still has to keep her own peace with her.

“Is there any room
here?” I ask. Declan turns and smiles at me. To my surprise the rest of the table does to. I don’t even know if I know any of their names but they are still welcoming.

“Absolut
ely.” Declan says with a smile wide across his face as he slides over making room for me. “These are my friends from youth group. Trey,” I remember Trey from the hall yesterday. “Jonathan and Sophie.”