Chapter 5

Sienna

My head was still spinning, going over everything that happened last night. It was the perfect night, and I still couldn't believe that it had happened. I thought I wouldn't see him again after that first night when he kissed me goodbye, yet he went to all the trouble to find me and made me a fantastic dinner. When I opened the door and saw his brother Jace standing there, I didn't know what to do, so I just stood like an idiot while he looked me up and down like a rack of lamb. I felt relieved when Cole rushed to my side, and he assured me that Jace was annoyed with him and not with me, but I still felt unsure as something about the whole situation was unsettling. I pulled into the school parking lot and spotted my friends near the front door. As I made my way towards them, Bella spotted me and rushed over.

"Where were you last night?" She asked with a huge grin.

I looked around to make sure no one had followed her over then whispered. "I was with Cole." I laughed as her mouth fell open.

The surprise was written all over Bella's face. "It did cross my mind, but how the hell did that happen the last I heard he said goodbye with a kiss, and that was the end of it.

I quickly told her about him finding out when I would be at the gym, taking over my boxing lesson, and inviting me for dinner. The bell sounded, and we headed for class, but she made me promise we would go for lunch, just the two of us so that I could fill her in on the rest of the night. When the bell for lunch rang, I walked out of my class and found Bella leaning against the wall waiting for me.

"We need to get out before anyone sees us," she laughed as she linked my arm, and we walked to my car and headed for our favourite restaurant for lunch, which was only about five minutes away by car. We sat at our usual booth in the back and were served by the waitress. The restaurant was a known hangout for all the kids that go to West Falls Academy and West Falls Public school, so it's usually very busy at lunchtime. Luckily we got in just before the rush.

"So spill, What happened when you went for dinner?"

We sat for the rest of our lunch discussing what happened last night. Bella was shocked when I told her that I had slept with him. She knew I had plenty of offers over the years from our classmates, but no one had ever really piqued my interest. She also knew that I had only slept with her cousin Corey out of curiosity and that I was extremely drunk. I also told her about the weirdness of his brother showing up this morning. I felt a lot better once I talked it over with Bella.

"So, do you think you'll see him again?" She asked me as we walked back to my car.

"I don't know, but he asked for my number this morning, and if he phoned me, I would see him again."

"Sienna, I don't want to put a dampener on things, but you meant him while he was in the middle of a shootout, then he essentially kidnapped you, then he stalked you to see you again. I think you should think hard before you rush into anything."

"I thought you said him finding me at the gym was romantic." I pointed out as we pulled up at the school.

"On its own, it is, but when you put it all together, it's a bit weird."

"I'll be careful," I promised her as we split up to go to class.

My afternoon classes were history and Spanish, which dragged on as they weren't my best subjects.

"Hey Sienna," I turned in my chair to see Cash, a boy from my friend group who was an on-again, off-again boyfriend of Bella's.

"Hey Cash, what's up?" I asked, flashing him a friendly smile.

"I need help choosing something for Bella's birthday. Any chance you can help?"

"Sure, I'm free this afternoon if you are. I can meet you once I crop Bella home."

"Thanks. Can you meet me at that jewellery shop Bella likes near Mia's Bakery?" he asked as we walked out of the classroom.

Finding Bella was waiting on me; I quickly nodded at Cash to let him know I would meet him. As I waited for Bella, who was now giggling and twirling her hair as she chatted to Cash, I tried to think of what I could get Bella for her birthday. Bella hated anything too flashy and hated when her friends spent a lot of money on her. Unlike many of our superficial friends, as our school mainly catered to the rich, she always preferred something sentimental, which was getting more challenging to come up with something special.

I drove Bella home to pack a bag to stay at my house later and headed to meet Cash. He chose a silver bracelet with her birthstone in the middle that I knew Bella would love as long as she didn't find out how much it cost.

"Wanna grab a bite to eat," Cash asked after my stomach rumbled.

I agreed, and he took me to a little restaurant around the corner from the jewellery store.

"Has Bella mentioned anything about us?" He asked as we sat down.

"Bella tells me everything, Cash," I told him with a grin as I now realized why he wanted me to not only come with him to pick out a gift but to take me for something to eat. He was going to quiz me on Bella. "What do you want to know."

He gave me a boyish grin. "I thought we could make things official between us, but I'm not exactly sure where her head is at." I could tell he was nervous about having this conversation with me. We were friends but not very close.

"I think you should go for it" I have known for a long time where my best friend's heart lay, but she was closely guarding it as Cash used to be more of love them and leave them type, but I knew he had it bad for Bella.

Cash told me he was thinking of asking her on her birthday, and I could imagine Bella swooning over that. The rest of the meal passed without any more awkwardness. I almost finished with dinner, and I felt like I was being watched. When I looked up, I saw Jace across the restaurant with three other men, all serious-looking, with business suits on having what I would guess was some business meeting. Jace, however, was paying the men at his table no mind as they talked amongst themselves as Jace's eyes were solely trained on me, and he didn't look happy.

"Do you know that guy," Cash asked, breaking the staring contest I had somehow entered into with Jace.

"No, never seen him before." I lied as I turned my attention back to Cash.

Cash ordered dessert for us as he asked about plans for Bella's birthday. I was only half-listening to him as I was well too aware of Jace watching my every move. After we finished, Cash asked for the check only for the waiter to tell us somebody had taken care of the bill. My eyes slid to Jace as he was the first person I thought of, who gave me a smirk and a slight wink before finally looking away. Cash walked me to my car, and I drove to pick up Bella and headed to my house, where we found the house empty apart from sleazy Steve.

"Why are you here when Bianca isn't," I asked as he stood in the kitchen ogling us.

"She'll be back soon. She told me to entertain myself." He replied with a wink.

"Can you please say that again when Luca is about I could use a laugh?" Bella snapped.

We quickly chose some snacks and retreated to the safety of my bedroom, where I decided to text my sister and tell her I didn't want her boyfriend in the house without her. Unsurprisingly, she didn't reply.

I told Bella about my lunch with Cash, and after we had spent the appropriate amount of time going over Cash's intentions for Bella's birthday, I told her about Jace and the check being paid for us. She again reiterated that I should be careful, and maybe he was trying to be kind, although I didn't buy that as I was convinced that he didn't like me. We watched telly until Matt brought us dinner, then we were putting on a movie when my phone beeped.

Cole: my bed feels lonely without you. What are you doing tonight?

Me: I'm hanging out with Bella, so my bed is not lonely.

Cole: interesting; I'll certainly give that some thought later.

Me: EWW. Get your mind out of the gutter.

Cole: When can I see you again.

Me: When do you want to see me again.

Cole: Do you have any plans tomorrow. Dinner 6 at the cabin.

Me: see you then. I am looking forward to it already.

Cole: me too. See you then.

"I take it that's Cole by the goofy smile on your face," Bella asked as she threw popcorn at my head.

"Yup, will you be my alibi tomorrow night?" I asked, giving her my best pouty face.

She rolled her eyes at me. "Of course. What are you doing?"

"Dinner at his cabin," I told her, giggling.

"Isn't it weird that you two haven't gone out? I mean, you stay in his cabin in the woods as if you're in hiding." She asked, biting her lip with a furrowed brow.

"To be honest, I like it when it's just the two of us. It's like we are in our very own bubble, and if someone saw us out together, the chances of Luca finding out and you know what he's like, he would ruin it before it even starts. I like this guy, and you know I don't say that lightly." I laughed as the worry eased from her face.

"Are you going to tell him about Jace?"

"I don't know, should I," I asked her as I hadn't thought about it.

"Well, maybe Jace thought you and Cash were on a date, and that's why he wasn't happy if he thought you were seeing his brother and Cash."

"You could be right. Should I text Cole and tell him or wait until tomorrow."

"Hmm, tomorrow, then you can casually drop into the conversation going for lunch with Cash and see how he reacts."

"You're good at this." I laughed as we settled down to watch the movie.

We spent the rest of the night laughing and joking before falling asleep. Bella woke me up the following day singing in the shower. Every time she stays, I curse having an ensuite bathroom. As soon as she was out, I showered, and once we dressed, we had breakfast with my brothers before my sister, and her asshole boyfriend appeared.

"I don't bitch when Arabella is around here without you, so don't you bitch when Steve's here waiting on me", Bianca snapped at me as soon as she walked in the kitchen.

"I'm not a creep that tries to hit on you", Bella snapped back at her catching the attention of both Luca and Matt.

"She made it up", Bianca shouted.

"No, I didn't", I yelled back.

"Enough both of you." Luca snapped. "Steve, if Bianca isn't here, go to your own house, and if you ever make Sienna uncomfortable again, I'll break every fucking bone in your body."

We all lapsed into silence as Bianca glared at me. Bella and I left as soon as we finished our breakfast and headed to school. I couldn't concentrate during my classes as all I could think of was my date with Cole. I headed home with Bella to pack a bag and dropped her home before heading to the cabin.