Hurricane (The Charmed) (14 page)

“Yeah, his car does blow yours out of the water.” She smiled at Brendan who scowled back. “The one thing he never had was that maternal mom thing. Lyla gave him that.”

Jaden and Brendan stared at Harley.

“Okay so I’m in a psych class right now, but it’s true.”

Brendan smiled at Harley. He reached over and tugged one of her braids. She in turn blushed.

Jaden looked over at Chase and Lyla. “Everyone is screwed up one way or the other it’s how we fix it that makes us and right now he’s fixing on sliding his hand a little too far up the right side of her skirt.”

They all looked over and sure enough, Chase’s hand was high on her thigh.

Harley snorted. “Get a room!”

Chase looked over, wild wicked eyes and winked at her.

Kayla sat down. “Who should get a room?”

Harley paled. “Uh, no one.” She looked at the boys for backup instead they picked up their trays and got out of there.

“Cowards.” Harley muttered under her breath.

Kayla looked up and saw Chase with Lyla. She dropped her fork, her face going up into a sneer. “So little baby doll is back and the cloak is off.” She glared at them, eyes narrowing to slits. Harley moved herself a little farther away from Kayla.”

“Uh, Kayla?”

“What?” She snapped.

“Never mind.” Harley realized the danger Chase and Lyla were in. Kayla had become a powerful witch through shyness and hate, at the moment her lunch tray was melting. Harley stood up and put her tray away, then went to talk to them. Mainly she wanted to block the view from Kayla, but, at five-feet tall that wouldn’t happen.

“Hey guys.”

“Hi, Harley.” Chase beamed at her.

Harley loved to see him so happy. Chase was so easy to like. He had a puppy quality that oozed into extremely sexy in a nanosecond. She understood the appeal of him. “Brendan’s parents are gone for the weekend. Why don’t you guys come over and we’ll throw some steaks on the grill.”

“Sounds great.” Chase liked Harley more and more every day. Her acceptance was baffling to Chase.

Harley bent down to talk in his ear. “And ya might want to realize were in school.” She patted his hand that was close to the top of Lyla’s thigh.

Chase pulled his hand away, his face going pink just slightly. “Thanks.”

Harley beamed. “It’s all fire and heat in the beginning, I remember it well.” Harley walked away leaving them alone.

Lyla eased into school after the first day. She learned to adjust her seat and walk in different hallways to avoid certain people. Word spread fast that the new girl and Chase were a “thing”. The amount of male attention had lessened dramatically within days.

Before they knew it, the weekend was here. Chase and Lyla arrived at Brendan’s house at noon on Saturday. Harley answered the door in a bikini top and cut-off shorts.

“Hi! Come on in, we’re out back by the pool.”

Lyla marveled at the weather. It was reaching the high eighties to low nineties in mid-April.

Brendan was standing at the grill already and Harley was holding the platter for him. Lyla couldn’t help but envy their comfortable existence. They were able to date and be normal without the secrecy she and Chase had.

“Put your things over there, we can take a dip before lunch.”

Chase and Lyla put their things down on a chair. The pool was extremely large, in the shape of a half moon, a fountain cascading down a waterfall of rocks. The entire set-up was like a pool tucked away in a lagoon. Chairs were lined up in a tidy row on either side with an umbrella here and there.

“I haven’t been in a pool since I was a kid.”

“Yeah, she went out last night and bought her first bathing suit.” Chase smiled.

“I can’t believe I found one. I’m still not sure how it’s supposed to fit or if I got the right size.

Harley stared at Lyla. “Are you serious? Chase, didn’t you help her?”

“Mr. M and I were going over some stuff, I don’t even know what it looks like.”

“Well let’s see then.” Harley mimicked for Lyla to undress.

Lyla pulled her shirt off and pushed her shorts down and off. Brendan dropped his tongs and the steak it was holding. Chase was staring open-mouthed, he took a deep breath. “Yep. Fits fine.” He cleared his throat and beat his chest.

Harley looked over at Chase and shook her head.

“Never mind these two idiots, turn around, and let’s see.”

Lyla did as she was told. Her hair hung down her back in a pale blonde sheet. She had the faintest red lip color on but no other make-up. The bikini she had on was bold red, string straps with just a hint of material covering her size C chest. Her waist dipped in to narrow hips covered by a small bikini bottom that didn’t cover the back as much as a mother would have liked. The bathing suit showcased how long her legs were.

Harley was just grateful Chase had her already and that they were married to boot. Lyla was nice so she resigned herself to like her no matter how drop-dead gorgeous she was. Although at the moment she was struggling.

“This was all they had.”

Harley took a deep breath, told Brendan to compose himself and walked over to Lyla.

“Cute suit. It’s a little small on top but unless you’re going water skiing, it’s pretty much the style. Next time you can call me. I’d love to have a girl to go shopping with.”

“You and Kayla don’t hang out?”

Harley’s face hardened. “Kayla’s a mess.”

“Harley, that’s not fair. Not all of us can be as strong as you.” Brendan flipped a steak and continued to talk not turning his head around.

Harley lowered her voice. “He’s just trying to make up for the fact that he ruined a steak looking at your suit.” Harley smiled showing Lyla it was no big deal. She turned to Brendan. “Strong? How about sane? Jaden isn’t here so I can say this. Kayla is one foot into a mental hospital. I’m over it. She’s been a whiney mess for years. All of us have given her leeway because she’s in our circle but enough is enough. So Lyla. Do the marks hurt at all? They’re pretty dramatic.”

Lyla looked at her right arm. The marks were so dark next to her pale skin. “No. Kind of a wicked look in a bathing suit though.” Lyla smiled. She looked over at Chase who had jumped into the pool, diving under every so often. “Look at the fish.”

“Yeah, I thought Chase would end up on the swim team with how much he was in the water. He, Brendan and Jaden would get into a car every break and summer and head out to Cocoa Beach to surf.”

“Surf? You surf?”

Chase splashed the girls.

“Yep.”

“We’ll get lunch ready, go on get in.” The intense attraction was so strong between them at any given moment Harley felt like an intruder.

Lyla stepped in, going up to her thighs, retreated and sat on the steps.

“What’s wrong? Chase swam closer.

“It’s a little cold.”

“No its not.” Chase was pacing back and forth in front of her. Ready for Lyla to come in and play.

“Yes it is.” She retreated out of the pool. Chase walked up the steps and picked her up.

“Chase you wouldn’t dare!” Lyla held on for dear life.

Chase looked over at Brendan and Harley, who were smiling at them. “Hey guys, would I dare?”

Brendan laughed and continued to avert his eyes.

“He’s a slippery one, that Chase.” Harley yelled.

Chase walked to the edge of the pool. Lyla began to squirm. “You wouldn’t.”

A wicked gleam came into his eyes. “Is that a challenge? I love challenges.”

“It’s a plea?” Lyla said meekly. “Maybe I don’t know how to swim?”

“Maybe it doesn’t matter. Maybe I’ll not let go of you.”

Lyla relaxed, and that’s when Chase jumped, still holding her. They quickly broke apart Lyla swam to the surface and looked around, moving the hair out of her eyes. She looked down and then grabbed her chest. Her bathing suit top was missing.

Chase surfaced. “Are you looking for this?”

Chase was holding her bikini top, waving it at her.

“So there’s a reason you don’t go water skiing in this, or jumping into a pool.”

Lyla looked over at the grill. Harley and Brendan were gone.

She swam over to chase and put her hand out.

“What do I get for it?”

“We’re in your friends’ pool, don’t you think it would be rude to start going at it in here?”

“I wasn’t thinking of that but okay, if you insist.” Chase swam over to her and wrapped her up in his arms, pressing her against the pool. Chase’s voice lowered and it became husky. “They’re not here now.”

He kissed her full of fire. Their wet bodies clinging to each other kept sliding. Lyla pulled away at last and smiled. She waved her suit in the air.

“Tease.” Chase pulled her back while she put her top back on He tied the straps for her and kissed her shoulder, then her neck and the bottom of her ear. “I like your suit.” He murmured in her ear.

Lyla was breathless if Harley and Brendan didn’t come back soon they would walk in on them doing a lot more than tying a bathing suit back on. “You do?”

“I figured you would be able to tell by now.”

Lyla took a deep breath in. Chase kissed her again. She wondered if this heat would ever go away or even temper down. She was so distracted by him it was hard to think.

A person cleared his throat a foot away from them.

Chase looked up. It was Brendan’s dad. Chase pulled away from Lyla. “Mr. Starkey.”

“Hello Chase. Who’s your friend?”

“This is Lyla. Lyla, this is Mr. Starkey, Brendan’s dad.”

He narrowed his eyes and turned his head slightly to the right. “It’s nice to meet you, Lyla. Are you new here?”

“Yes, sir.” Something about him made Lyla uncomfortable.

A woman walked up next to him. “Linda, meet Chase’s new friend Lyla.”

She smiled and looked quickly at the two. “It’s lovely to meet you. Do you know where Brendan is?”

“No. He and Harley were here a minute ago.”

Brendan’s mother whipped her head around to Chase. “Harley?”

Chase, sensing hostility, spoke slower. “Yes.”

From around a hedge through a gate in the fence, Brendan was holding Harley’s hand. Harley was holding a Frisbee. They both stopped. Brendan let go of Harley’s hand and walked toward his parents.

Harley was left standing by the gate, helpless and alone.

“Did you forget something?”

Chase could hear the conversation which meant Harley could, too.

“What is she doing here? I thought we explained to you about the match we made. You are no longer allowed to see her.”

“But Dad…”

“No! Now we’re leaving. Have your lunch and say your goodbyes. We hope this is the last time we have to discuss this.”

Brendan held his head down. His parents left. The air was uncomfortably thick.

Chase and Lyla got out of the pool, grabbed a towel and headed inside to give them some privacy.

“What was that, Brendan?”

“They’re just stupid, Harley.”

“Don’t give me that Brendan. What was that about?”

“My parents arranged a marriage.”

“Who is it?”

“Some girl in another state. I haven’t even met her.”

“When were you going to tell me?”

“I was hoping they would change their minds so I wouldn’t have to tell you!”

“Did you tell them? Did you tell them about me?”

Brendan looked at the ground and kicked a rock. “Yes.”

“And what did they say?”

“Harley, none of this matters.”

“What….did….they….say?”

“They told me no.”

“No. Just no.”

“Couldn’t we just drop this?”

“Do you want me to charm it out of you?”

Brendan paled. “No. Alright, they said your background wasn’t good enough for me, okay? They said they would never approve it.”

Harley held onto her chest and bent over. She started to cry.

“Harley, I’m sorry. Those are their words, not mine.” If his parents didn’t approve of the marriage it would mean they couldn’t be unlocked to have kids. When a “Charmed” is born, a spell gets placed on them to keep the children unable to have kids. The only people who can “unlock” them, so to speak, is the parents upon approval of the marriage. It was a system that helped keep them pure for centuries.

“We can just get out of here, go out on our own.”

“And if we ever want to have sex? Or have kids? Your parents are the only ones who can unlock it!”

“There has to be a way around it.” Brendan was distraught.

“There isn’t. Do you really think for a minute that it isn’t abused? Why do you think Chase and Kayla were set up? Good families. They don’t have drunks or murder in their family line!”

“Harley.” Brendan moved forward, pain in his face.

“No. Don’t touch me. Did you stand up for us? Did you?”

“Of course!”

“Like you did today?”

Brendan looked at the ground.

“I thought so. We’re done, Brendan. I can’t do this. I can’t!”

“Don’t do this, Harley.”

“Do what? I already get shunned by my own father when he’s sober! Do I really need two more?”

Harley picked up her clothes and towel and marched into the house.

“Bye guys. Brendan and I are done.” She kept walking right out the front door.

Chase and Lyla were sitting on the couch. They had heard everything. Chase got up off the couch to talk to Brendan.

“Hey.” Chase sat down next to Brendan by the pool.

“You know my parents, right? There’s no fighting with them. They just shut you down with no discussion. What was I supposed to do?”

Chase thought for a moment. “Have you ever wondered how they would react if you stood your ground? Fought to the death? I mean, do you know how big you are?”

“No. My dad just has this way of shooting me down. His ‘no’ can jump right through my bones.”

“Maybe Harley’s worth fighting for. Maybe she could live with no kids or sex, which take it from me, would completely bite.”

“Thanks Chase, that helps a lot. Why are you still here?” Sarcasm ripped through Brendan’s voice.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay, I’m happy for you. I just don’t know how I’m going to fix this.” He was quiet for a moment. “So what’s sex like, anyway?”

Chase laughed. “Nope, not getting anything out of me, not a chance.” Chase stood up and started walking toward the house.