Rules and Roses (Untouchable, #1)

by Heather Long

It was supposed to be over a hundred today and would stay about that for the next week or so. Back to school did not mean fall weather in Texas. Joy. Rapture.

I took my keys and my travel mug of coffee. “We, who are about to enter the breach, salute you.” Mom snorted. “May the odds be in your favor.” I groaned. I hated those movies, but she loved them. “Thanks, Effie.”

As annoying as their presumptuous behavior could be, it was also as familiar as the halls of the high school. It was just the way the guys behaved. Pushy, occasionally kind, and always looking after each other. I used to think that applied to me.

For all that we’d hung out for years, I was and wasn’t a part of their group. My choice. Not theirs.

Texas had two seasons—summer and winter—and they often alternated days in the same week.

None of us brought up the fact it was our last first day of high school ever. This time next year? We might very well be at one of those colleges. Together or not.

“Our last first day, and you would have blown us all off, just like you did this summer.” This again… “I went to Bubba’s birthday party.” “For thirty-five minutes.” Jake raised his dark eyebrows. “Tell me I’m wrong.” The urge to squirm under those all-seeing eyes crept through me and irritated me at the same time. I didn’t owe any of them an explanation. “It was a boring party.” His snort echoed in the too quiet classroom.

Jake closed his eyes, and I swore I could see him counting to ten, like a tangible thing or one of those cartoon blowouts. Of the four of them, Jake was the one who never let me get away with anything. Coop ignored my deflections, Archie would poke at them, and Bubba? Well, he just indulged me like it didn’t bother him in the slightest—part of why I’d gone to his birthday party, even when I’d told myself it was a terrible idea.

Blowing out a breath, I twisted sideways in my seat and met his stare. “I didn’t know about Archie. I should have and I didn’t.” That was on me. “I had things to do this summer. It wasn’t personal, Jake.”

“Bullshit,” he countered, his voice softening a fraction under that single word. “It’s pretty damn personal when one of your best friends just ghosts you for no damn reason.” Oh. There’d been a reason. But either I owned it and confronted them or I let it go. I’d let it go.

Unlocking my car had both Bubba and Coop scrambling for doors. “You ride with Archie? I’ll drive Thing 2 and Thing 4?” Jake frowned for a split-second, then relented. “Okay.”

Jake drifted over to wait at the counter with us, and Archie shot him an amused look. “We’re not running away together.” “Not making Frankie try to balance five drinks by herself.” “What am I?” Archie almost looked offended. Almost. Except he smirked. “A pain in the ass,” Jake retaliated with a smirk of his own.

I checked in at study hall before diverting to the library. I caught sight of Coop and Laura in the hallway as I opened the library door. They were holding hands. So cute. Coop jerked a little when he saw me, but I just shook my head. Like I hadn’t known about Laura? Did he forget they’d been making out this summer or something?

after finding out they’d pretty much taken out an ad to inform everyone I was untouchable, some of the fun worn off. No one was to ask me out, no one was to bother me, and no one was to call me. Rachel had taken great delight last spring in dropping that little nugget on me.

With all the class of a two-ton bomb, Rachel had said, “Good luck with that. The guys know you’re untouchable. No guy is going to risk it and ask you out, so go by yourself or don’t go at all.”

Cheryl sighed and given me a spontaneous hug. Cheryl had always been a hugger. “It’s sweet, how they want to look after you.” It was not sweet. They dated and frequently. I couldn’t count the number of girls I’d caught them making out with over the last couple of years, so why did they get to date and I didn’t? I didn’t need big brothers, because I’d been an only child my whole life. I wasn’t changing that now.

was their study buddy. One of the guys. I was also apparently the object of their ‘protection.’

I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow, okay? Everyone go get some sleep. Especially you two—you have a game tomorrow.” As much as they didn’t deserve it, I kind of wanted to cheer Archie up now. He’d had a crappy evening, and Jake looked from me to Bubba and back again twice. Finally, he gave me a small smile and tugged my ponytail lightly. “Night, Frankie.” “Night, Frankie,” Archie echoed him. Bubba winked. “Night, Frankie.” God, we were like some twenty-first century Waltons. “Good night, John Boy.”

Coop sighed. “For what it’s worth, that’s an old picture.” “For what it’s worth, I don’t care—except that you seem to want to lie to me about it for some reason. Coop, date Laura, don’t date her. But don’t date her and then pretend you aren’t. That’s…rude as fuck.”

“Still tripping on Laura?” He grimaced. “I thought if I didn’t answer…” “’Cause ghosting is the way to go. Grow a pair, Coop. Date her. Don’t—” But I hesitated, there was something in his expression. “You didn’t just kiss her. You had sex with her.” For some reason, that bugged the hell out of me. My stomach dropped and my chest hurt. Coop didn’t deny it. Instead, he shoved his hands into his pockets and backed up another step. “It wasn’t…” “What? You tripped and fell on her naked? What wasn’t it?”

“Fuck, Frankie—” Jake raked a hand through his hair and nudged some of the broken pieces aside before he caught my hand. “I’m sorry. You looked upset and your hair is a mess and your shirt is torn… think about what it looked like. I… I’d kill anyone who hurt you.” “Maybe that’s the problem,” I told him and pulled my hand out of his. “It’s not your job to protect me. Even if helping was the goal, you didn’t even wait to find out what happened. You just attacked Coop.”

“I’ve been upset for months. Today is nothing new.” Surprise stamped across his face. “Yeah, I know. You didn’t know, right?” I threw his answer out for him. But the frustration swelling in me just seemed to redouble with every word. “Maybe you should ask yourself why I ghosted everyone. Or, I have a better question—why are you guys free to date who you want? Get off who you want? Almost have sex with whomever you want? But I’m untouchable?”

“Coop,” I greeted him and went back to folding my shirts. The panties were already in the basket. I needed to get jeans and shorts next. Bras were stuffed in the stack still. “So you are talking to me.” “I’m not playing that game. I can be polite.” “Except you’re not answering any of us, and you kicked us out last night.” “Well, you were all a bunch of assholes last night.”

“Did it ever occur to you that maybe I want to do all the same things in high school that the rest of you are? That I want to go on a first date? Maybe I’d love to get asked to go to a dance or ask a guy to go to a dance. That I’d like to have the crappy stories about the guys I just don’t click with and the crazy ones about the guy I didn’t stop kissing long enough to get out of the car and go in to see a movie?”

“That’s why I’m angry. Because the four of you decided I didn’t get to do that for some reason, yet not a one of you keeps it in his pants. You may not have had sex because you didn’t have a condom, but you’re hardly a virgin.” None of them were. I knew exactly when each one had scored the first time and with who.

“You know what’s shittier?” “What?” “Friends who go out of their way to sabotage you. I had to hear it from Rachel Manning… that the reason I didn’t have a date to the spring dance was because no guy would ever ask me. No guy would dare, so if I wanted to go to that dance, I had to take myself. But isn’t it so cute, how you guys made sure no one would ever bother me? I’m practically untouchable.”

“We’re okay, right? You and me?” At the steps to my apartment, I glanced at him. “I don’t know…and I’m not saying that because I want to make this worse. But I’m mad. The mad—it doesn’t just go away because you finally get it. You guys—you made a decision about me and you never even asked me. I think that was the hardest part. I spent most of my junior year wondering what was wrong with me.”

I’m busy, and I have a lot to do, but I do know that you guys? You made it worse.”

“Aim for the stars. Even if I miss, I’ll still be above the clouds.”

Was it Bubba’s way of making up with me? Placate me by asking me to the dance? Bubba wasn’t mean. Not usually.

I just had to make it clear to all of them that I was going to date, too. That I appreciated the fact they wanted to protect me, but no more untouchable.

Jake raised his eyebrows. “I go out with girls, sure. Sometimes they ask me, sometimes I ask them. But that’s pretty much go to a party, go to a movie, maybe make out, and then I’m on the phone with you. You’re the one I want to see every day.” Heat swamped the back of my neck. First Bubba. Now Jake? “So you want to date? I’m in. Just to be clear—I want to take you out, Frankie. You and me. If I get to make out with you? Even better.”

“You’re holding my hand,” I told him. “Good,” Jake said. “You noticed.”

“You know it used to be you, me, and Jake, right?” We met Bubba in middle school when Jake was overseas with his family.

“Nope, it’s been you and me since Kindergarten. Jake didn’t show up until second grade, when he decided he was going to marry you, but I told him he was too late.” I burst out laughing as I pulled into our apartments. I’d forgotten all about that.

Coop snickered as I pulled out. “What?” I asked him. “You went from dating no one to dating everyone,” he said, grinning. “It’s cute.” Everyone? “It’s… weird.”

I groaned. “Coop…” “What?” he asked as I pulled into a parking spot at the apartments. “Think I didn’t want a shot at dating you, too? Don’t be silly, Frankie. I’m in.” He was out of the car and talking to Bubba before those words totally sank in. He wanted to date me?

I slowed as I approached, trying to give them time to sort out their argument, but they broke off when Bubba spotted me. “You ready?” “Yep.” I glanced from one to the other. “You guys okay?” “Sure,” Coop said. “We just had to work out some details for the thing.” “The thing?” “The thing,” Bubba confirmed. “At the place.” “With the people,” Coop tacked on. “Yeah…” I shook my head. “Whatever.”

“Frankie, we do what we’ve done every other day. We just be us.” “Be us.” Us had been changing a lot. Bubba was Ian now and he kissed me at school. Archie was planning dates. Coop wanted to take me out and… “Okay,” I said blowing out a breath. “Just promise me one thing?” “Name it.” “If I become one of those girls that you can’t get rid of, tell me, not the guys.” He frowned. “Frankie…you’re not going to be one of those girls.”

“You’re Frankie. You’re one of us, not one of them. We’re changing, sure, but I like where we’re going. You have my word, I’m never going to talk to them like you’re of those girls. Ever. Now, will you promise me something?” I nodded. “What?” “You get scared like this, tell me. You need something, tell me. You’re not alone. You were never alone. We hated that you weren’t around the last few months, but I’m here whenever you need me. Deal?”

When it comes to sending a joyful message, yellow roses are the best. In fact, they are the traditional symbol of friendship. Like your warm, sunny disposition, these roses light up a room. They’re the perfect way for me to say, thanks for being you…

“You know,” Marsha said. “I’m going to miss you when you graduate.” I made a face. “I’m sorry?” “Not even and you shouldn’t be. I think you’re hands down the best teenager who has ever worked for me.” My face warmed. “Thanks?”

You deserve the nice things those guys can offer you.” “Those guys, they’re our friends. And, Coop, you’re a good guy, too. You married me in kindergarten. You promised me forever between the slide and the swing set and, now that you’ve finally asked me out on a date, you don’t think you’re worth it?” The corners of his mouth tipped upward. “Maybe?”

How much had I really not noticed? “Was I that oblivious?” With a groan, Coop clung to me, rubbing his cheek against my bare shoulder then pressing a kiss to it. “Frankie, you were blind, deaf, and dumb when it came to what we were trying to say.”

Absolutely unrepentant, he grinned. “You wanted to be asked out and to have a story to tell.” This close, I couldn’t miss the fact his ears were a bit red. As much as I was not used to being the center of so much attention, I don’t think I’d ever seen Ian do anything like this. Suddenly, I blinked, “Oh my God, you sang in public.” “Glad you noticed,” he said, then hooked an arm around my shoulders as he guided me back to the table.

“You wouldn’t be you if you weren’t prepared to do everyone’s homework. That free ride ends soon, you know.” “Excuse you?” Of all of them, Coop was the last one I expected to suddenly sound hostile. “If you’re going to fart from your mouth, you could at least do us the courtesy of covering it. No one here needs to smell your stench.”

This guy? The warm, funny one with the wry sense of humor and the wicked playfulness? This was the guy I liked. That cold one in the cafeteria who shut Patty down so mercilessly along with Coop and even Jake? Yeah, those weren’t my favorites. I’d already talked to Jake about what would happen if I ever became one of those girls. He insisted it wouldn’t happen, but maybe I should talk to all of the guys about it. It was one thing to be untouchable. I don’t think I could stand it if I became invisible.

One lavender rose for how you enchanted me. Two white roses because I’m thinking of you. Three orange roses to dare you to do something different. Four white roses because I want to see you smile. The blue rose is elusive, a white rose dyed blue. They aren’t achieved naturally, but they represent the unattainable and the mysterious. They say, “I can’t have you, but I can’t stop thinking about you.” I’ll find you at the party tomorrow. Promise.

“He’ll find you at the party. That means it’s not Frenchy. He’s going to the party with you.” Ian frowned. “Yeah, they might be nice roses, Frankie, but Arch is right. That’s starting to sound like a stalker, and they obviously know your car.”

With a slow exhale and even slower smile he met my gaze. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome, I thought you should have something, since I’m making you wait.” “Take all the time you need, babe,” he told me, a dark promise in his eyes. “You are definitely worth waiting for.”