Silence (Silence #1)(13)

After a few minutes of Cole stealing little glances at me, he turned his attention back to the TV. Did that mean he liked me or not? I wanted to know, but at the same time, I was scared to know – it would change everything.

“Do you want to go to Ben’s party?” he asked after a while. “We should leave soon if you do.”

I did want to go, but I had to get my parents’ permission first. Biting my lip, I nodded.

“I’ll go speak to your parents.”

I instantly knew they would say yes. If I was with Cole, they were happy. They trusted him.

He leapt off the bed and bounded out of his room. I smiled and laid back, mentally planning what I should wear. Nothing revealing, not that I had anything revealing anyway. Cole would probably just wear jeans and a t-shirt, so I decided to do the same.





Chapter Four


Oakley




“Cinderella, you shall go to the ball,” Cole announced, doing a little bow from his doorway. I jumped up in excitement, making Cole laugh. “I’ll change quickly then we can drop by yours so you can get ready.” He pulled his top over his head. My head prickled, and I was sure I would be blushing.

Cole didn’t even seem to notice my discomfort. He just continued undressing. I didn’t know where to look. What were the rules? Should I just carry on as normal or keep my eyes down until he had finished?

My heart raced when I heard something heavier than a t-shirt dropping to the floor. His jeans? Heat rushed to my cheeks. Was he only in his boxers? I felt like I should leave, but Cole was between the door and me. When I heard him pick up his keys, I decided it was safe to look up.

“Ready then?” he asked, swinging his keys on his finger. I didn’t acknowledge the question; I just got up and walked past him. We made our way downstairs and found our parents in the kitchen, drinking coffee around the island.

“We’re going now,” Cole told them.

“Okay. You both have a good time. Cole, please look after her and make sure she’s home by eleven,” Dad said, kissing my forehead. Eleven? I usually had to be home a lot earlier than that. What had gotten into him?

I looked up at him with my mouth hanging open. Was he really letting me out that late? He chuckled deeply and ruffled my hair.

“School holidays now and I guess I have to face up to the fact that you’re not my little girl any more.”

His frown deepened towards the end of his little speech. It made me feel uncomfortable; I wrapped my arms around myself.

“You stay with Cole the whole time, and absolutely no alcohol.” Dad’s voice was stern, intimidating. However, no one ever mentioned anything. Maybe he was being normal and just seemed intimidating to me. I nodded in agreement, and pulled on Cole’s arm to get him to leave.

Just as we reached the front door, Jasper’s hand flew out in front of us. “And where do you think you’re going?” he questioned, raising his eyebrows challengingly.

“We’re eloping to Mexico,” Cole muttered sarcastically, making me smile in amusement.

Jasper glared at Cole blankly.

“If you get her pregnant I will kill you!”

What?! Where on earth did that come from?

Cole burst out laughing and shook his head while I just wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

“Of course not! What’s wrong with you?”

I frowned in hurt. What was that supposed to mean? I didn’t want a baby but why was he so appalled by the idea? Appalled by the idea of being with me maybe? My eyes prickled, and I desperately fought to stop myself crying. I couldn’t blame him for not wanting to be with me.

“You’d better not,” Jasper grumbled. “Look if you two wanna start with the kissing and naked time, I get it, just don’t hurt her.”

I pushed past my idiot brother and speed-walked to Cole’s car. Going to a party was the last thing I wanted to do now. Between Jasper and Cole, I now felt horrible. They didn’t know anything though, so I couldn’t blame them for how I felt.

“Good. Now don’t have her out too late, and for god’s sake wear a condom!” I heard Jasper yell after Cole. I couldn’t stay around while they joked about that stuff.

Cole hopped in the car and started the engine.

“Are you okay? Ignore your brother, he’s an idiot.”

I knew he was, but I just wished he wouldn’t joke about things like that. I nodded and smiled, deciding that I wanted to enjoy the night. I wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of me having some fun.

Cole drove forward and stopped at my house. Smirking at how lazy he was for driving one house over, I opened my door.

As soon as I was in my room, I stripped out of my dress and grabbed a pair of jeans and a nice top. I wondered if now Dad was accepting that I was growing up if he would let me wear make-up. I wanted to wear it, to look older. I didn’t ever want to be seen as a child again.

“Oakley,” Cole shouted up the stairs, making me jump. How long had I been getting ready? It couldn’t have been more than five minutes. Grabbing my black jumper, I ran out of the door.

We arrived at Ben’s house and from the loud music and abandoned cars outside; the party was already in full swing. Excitement bubbled up inside me. I was determined to have fun and be a normal teenager for the night.