SWEET LULLABY

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CHAPTER ONE

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“Levi! So you heard, right? Seth and Kristi Jo are officially done.”

Had I heard? How could I not have?

I sighed, closed my locker and faced Kelly Carter, my best friend and my link to sanity. Kelly was my sidekick and sometimes she was the only thing that kept me attached to anyone in our school anymore. She was tiny with green eyes and sleek black hair. I was tall, a little too skinny, and I had the auburn curls that Kelly proclaimed she’d die to have.

Kelly loved me because I had a streak to not give a shit about anything. This translated as cool in our school. However, I did care and I really needed to be pushed for Crazy Levi to be let loose.

“The entire school heard, Kels.”

By unspoken agreement, we both turned and walked for our last class. We were lucky enough to have college biology together and especially lucky to get Mr. Moser as our teacher. He was laidback and normally just gave us worksheets to finish. The rest of the hour was spent gossiping and that day’s rumor mill surrounded the break up between my ex-boyfriend and the most popular senior, Kristi Jo Edgertan.

We hadn’t even been handed the normal forms when Sally Gryerson turned around and asked, “So is it true?”

Warily, I asked, “Is what true?”

“Are you and Seth are going to get back together? It’s everywhere. They broke up because he’s still in love with you.”

That was news to me. In fact, Seth loving me was news to me.

Seth had been my first love and only love. No one really knew what went down between us, but the gist was that I had been used and then discarded.

“No. Seth and I are not going to get back together.” I replied shortly, picked up my pencil, and tried to focus on my worksheet.

Kelly plucked it away. She handed it off to Theresa Brawn, who diligently took both of ours and started to finish them.

“Kelly.” I protested.

“What?” She smiled innocently. “She wants to, really.”

No. Theresa wanted to be popular, she didn’t want to do our worksheets, but I recognized that look on my best friend. She was determined to talk her way about something. And I had a sinking suspicion it revolved around me and Seth getting together.

I said flatly, “Seth and I are done. I am not dating him.”

Sally leaned closer. “That would be amazing!”

I sighed. I knew why Kelly wanted me to date Seth again. It would skyrocket the two of us back to the top of the totem pole. And it had been great, really. Everyone knew who you were, what you were doing, and everyone was super nice. But everyone also secretly hated you behind your back.

Plus, I hadn’t told Kelly what happened and I wasn’t going to start now.

“Mr. Lombardo, don’t even sit down.” Mr. Moser called out.

Sawyer Lombardo paused in the doorway. His rakish blonde hair was unusually messy that day and his sparkling blue eyes lacked his usual mirth. Instead, he just looked irritated, which was a never for the school’s reclusive golden boy.

Sawyer was Seth’s cousin, which was one of the reasons why he was popular. He was gorgeous, another reason, but the main reason for his popularity was because he was easygoing and he didn’t give a crap about anything or anyone really. He was like an enjoyable puff of air that no one could capture.

I shook my head at that weird thought.

Sally’s interest was piqued. She loved anything about Sawyer, most of the girls did, and the topic of Seth and Levi was dropped. Sally and Kelly launched into a heated discussion about Sawyer’s unusual irritation.

Sawyer paused at the teacher’s desk, his slip for the principal in hand, and met my gaze.

That was also different.

Sawyer got along with everyone, but he’d never spoken to me for the nine months that Seth and I had been broken up.

“Ms. Penning, you are to report to the principal’s office too.” Mr. Moser called out, lazily, as he continued to scrutinize his papers. He lifted up a slip, Sawyer plucked it up, and waved it towards me.

“For what?” I asked as I stood up with my books in hand.

“For letting Ms. Brawn do your homework.”

“What?”

Kelly hadn’t been called out.

“You may go.” Mr. Moser gestured to the door. He never looked up from his desk the entire exchange.

Sawyer paused at the doorway.

Kelly and Sally’s eyes were wide as they gaped at us.

“You are dead.” I proclaimed to Kelly. “Now I’ll have detention because of this.”

“But…” She glanced at Theresa. “Why am I not in trouble?”

“Penning.” Sawyer called out.

“Later.” I promised Kelly and followed behind him.

The hallway was nearly empty except for a group of stoners. They sat on the one bench and Seth stood by his locker with Jesse and Eric Shawnly. They were twins and both defensive linemen for the football team. Did I forget to mention that Seth was the varsity’s running back? He was also captain.

Seth looked up as he saw me and straightened away from the locker. “Levi.” He called out.

I stopped, frowned, but was surprised when Sawyer grabbed my elbow and pulled me over to the stoners.

“What are you doing?”

Sawyer grinned and ripped apart our slips.

“What are you doing?!” I gasped this time.

“Hey, Lombardo! What’s up?”

Sawyer told me, “Moser never calls down to doublecheck. He just likes to send us down there, but nothing happens. Principal Galway always leaves during our sixth period. Trust me, I’ve been down there enough times. All we’d do is sit on our asses.”

“Don’t want that, man!” One of the stoners piped in. “Lombard, what’s up? You hanging tonight?”

“Hell yeah.” Sawyer grinned and bumped elbows with the guy.

“Levi!” Seth called out again.

I turned and asked shortly, “What do you want?”

“Come here.” He gestured.

Sawyer watched and then called out, “Dude, you just ended things with Skanky Jo two minutes ago and you’re already hitting on your ex? Distasteful.”

“Shut up, Smirky.” Seth snapped out. “This ain’t any of your business.”

One of the stoners sucked in his breath dramatically.

Sawyer chuckled and moved ahead of me. “You don’t think so?”

Seth separated from his buddies and closed the distance. It was now cousin against cousin.

“You don’t think I know what you did the other night, man?” Seth griped. “I know and your ass is going to get it.”

“Did what?” Sawyer challenged. As the two stood facing each other, I realized that Sawyer was two inches taller, a little leaner, but he was lithe while Seth might’ve been more muscular. Both had the same blonde careless hairstyles and piercing blue eyes. They could’ve been surfers except that our town was nicely cornered between corn fields. No ocean over five states, on every side.

“Guys.” I rasped out. I wished Kelly was there. She would’ve known what to do.

“Stay out of this, Levi. It’s got nothing to do with you.” Seth gutted out.

Funny. I thought I’d started this.

“You’re done, Sawyer. I’m sick and goddamn tired of your shit.” Seth threatened.

And Sawyer smiled. “You think so?”

“I know so. You moved here a year ago. You got no friends. This is my school and you’re done.”

That was true. There was something about Sawyer that made a person forget he was still relatively new in a small-town school where everyone knew each other from diapers. He’d moved to Parker in the middle of fall term last year, smack dab in the time when Seth and I had been going strong.

“Fine, cuz. This might be your school, but let’s not forget where I come from.”

I frowned again. No one knew where Sawyer came from.

Apparently Seth did. His cocksure smirk slipped a little.

“Guys. Civil.” I put my two cents in.

“Levi, take a walk. I’ll hook up with you later.”

I nearly laughed. “Can we say bullshit?” I stepped close and perched an arm on my hip. “You want to run that by me again?”

Sawyer laughed, “You got nerve, Seth. You want to get with the woman and you dismiss her like that? It ain’t the way to get in her pants.”

My eyes darkened.

Seth stiffened, if that was even possible.

Seth had gotten in my pants. And he dumped me the next night when I said no. But what really got me was the extra tone of infliction in Sawyer’s voice. I didn’t think he chose his words carelessly.

It made me wonder what exactly was going on between the two cousins.

“Mr. Lombardo and Ms. Penning. You are expected in the office.” Mr. Moser boomed from his open doorway. I saw Kelly and Sally gaping again behind him.

“We’re going.” I told Mr. Moser and yanked Sawyer behind me.

“Is there somewhere you are supposed to be, the other Mr. Lombardo and all his stately friends?”

“We’re waiting to meet with coach.”

Seth knew what to say.

Mr. Moser smiled in appreciation. “Carry on, then.” And he closed his classroom door.

I looked over my shoulder and saw Seth watching us.

Underneath my breath, I asked, “You want to tell me what that was about?”

Sawyer shrugged. He wasn’t back to his old laidback self, but he wasn’t the stranger that had faced off against Seth.

I was dying to ask more questions, like where he’d been before he moved to Parker, what was really going on between him and Seth, and why Seth backed down slightly after Sawyer’s reminder.

But I didn’t know Sawyer so I bit my tongue until we got to the main office.

Sawyer’s prediction rang correct. The Principal was gone and we waited in the lounge the entire time until the last bell rang.

After that, the hallways filled quickly and chaos ensued.

It was the Friday before quarter finals. We had one game to play and one game to win and we were secured a spot in the finals. We just had to go through DeltaRoy first.

The cheerleaders were already in uniform. They always spent the last hour in the locker room, applying sparkling toner to their chests and cheeks. Their hair also had to be perfection.

I wasn’t surprised to see Kelly at my locker, waiting with a tapping foot.

“Before you say anything, I have no idea what happened.” I beat her to the punch. “They’re cousins and apparently they don’t like each other.”

“What?” Kelly frowned. She tweaked a strand of her hair. “What are you talking about?”

“Sawyer and Seth.”

“That’s funny because I just saw them joking with each other.” Kelly pointed the way and there they were. Sawyer stood on the outskirts of the throng around Seth, but the two cousins were laughing and smiling at each other. It was like nothing had happened.

“That makes…no sense.” I murmured.

“Heads up, here comes Kristi Jo.” Kelly gasped and straightened from the locker.

Kristi Jo wasn’t alone. She traveled with an entourage and this day’s entourage consisted of her best friend, Natalie, Natalie’s other best friend Melanie, and Tasha Ryans.

I liked Tasha Ryans. She was pretty down to earth.

I didn’t trust Natalie and Melanie to ever get to know them.

“Hi Levi. Hi Kelly.” Kristi Jo murmured.

I saw the strain on her face. She was normally classically gorgeous with perfect skin and a strand of her blonde hair never out of place, but I still saw the bags underneath her eyes. She’d been crying recently.

Seth had been the one to end things between the two of them.

I knew what that felt like.

“Hi Kristi Jo.” Kelly greeted for us. “How are you? We heard you and Seth are splitsville.”

“We are, but that’s not why I came to talk to you guys.”

Since my relationship and Kristi Jo’s relationship with Seth, our two groups had respectfully separated. There really wasn’t any bad blood between me and Kristi Jo, but it was hard to be the same casual friends that we had been before. My group consisted of me, Kelly, Sally, and Maura (who was usually absent from school, but I loved her for it.) And Tasha sometimes filtered to socialize with us.

Kelly had the aforementioned group, plus two or three others that were on the cheerleading squad.

“What’s going on?” I shifted on my feet.

Kristi Jo tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. I saw that she had put glitter in it. “The guys are playing DeltaRoy tonight.”

Our nemesis and neighbor. They were also state champs, but their old varsity team had all graduated so they were left with rookie juniors turned seniors to play. Everyone thought Parker stood a fighting chance.

“We heard that there’s going to be pranks tonight. Stratton moved to DeltaRoy last year and he called me last night to tell me that they’re going to do all sorts of nasty things to the school during the game tonight. They’re also going to egg all the teams’ houses. I’ve already told Seth about it so the houses are all being watched, but we need al the help we can get to protect the school tonight.”

“So what?” I frowned. “You want us to stay in the school during the game?”

I heard Kelly’s sudden intake of breath. I knew she wouldn’t be up for that, neither would Sally so that meant it’d be me and Maura. I’d need any and all help to protect the school from Maura. She’d think it was the perfect time to reign some of her own chaos.

“No.” Kristi Jo shook her head. “We were just wondering if you’d watch from the parking lot or something. You’d just call me or Lincoln if you saw anything suspicious going into the school.”

Lincoln was Kristi Jo’s twin brother. Lots of twins at our school.

Lincoln was also friends with Sawyer, but avidly hated Seth. He didn’t play on the football team, but he was captain of the soccer team.

“You mean suspicious like students going into the school?” I asked.

“Or DeltaRoy students.”

“They could dress normal, Kristi Jo.”

“Come on. We know everyone, Levi.” Natalie cried out. “Just call if you don’t recognize someone.”

“I don’t the younger grades. I only know a few of the juniors this year.”

It was true. I knew my grade and that was about it.

Natalie and Kristi Jo looked at Kelly.

I saw their point. Kelly knew everyone and everything about everyone. She’d be a perfect lookout.

“They have a point.” I told Kelly.

“No way! I am not missing the game. No way.”

Maura loped over to our group at that time, threw an arm around my shoulder, and asked in a rushed voice, “What’s up, ya’ll?”

“We need Kelly to be look-out tonight.” I said flatly. “Kelly, come on. I’d be calling all the time. You’d know the exact minute when someone ‘suspicious’ entered the school.”

“No.” She huffed and stormed away. That was a difference between us. Kelly ran away when she didn’t get her way. I stayed and fought, sometimes inappropriately.

“Why are you all talking to us?” Maura didn’t mean to sound like a bitch, but her bluntness earned her that reputation. Thankfully, Kristi Jo was used to Maura and smiled graciously, “We’re enlisting help to protect the school from DeltaRoy pranks tonight.”

“Forget that.” Maura cursed. “We should take the offensive to them. Levi and I will go and trash their school while they’re trying to trash ours.”

“What?” I said sharply.

Maura shrugged. “You know I can talk you into it.”

And she could. She’d done worst in the past.

I rolled my eyes. “I actually want to go to this game tonight.”

“No, you don’t. You don’t give a shit.” Maura laughed. “That’s why you need me when Kelly’s your best friend. I balance out her uptightness.”

I chuckled and thanked the gods for when Maura had transferred to our school two years ago. She’d kept her distance, but we’d gotten tighter after Seth and I broke up. Maura didn’t think highly of Seth, which wasn’t a surprise.

I hated to admit it, but in some ways Maura was more my best friend than Kelly was now. It was just one of those gradual shifts that happen over time, but no one really wants to admit it because of hurt feelings.

“Are you guys serious about this?” Melanie asked.

“Totally.” Maura promised.

“Maura. I do want to watch the game.”

Maura grinned confidently and told Kristi Jo, “Don’t worry. Levi and I will go there when they’re trying to trash us. Think of it as a battle coup or whatever.”

Kristi Jo frowned, but remarked, “The guys were thinking of returning the favor tomorrow, even if they didn’t get in tonight.”

Maura shrugged. “Girls rule. We’ll get there first.”

“Okay.” Kristi Jo nodded and her group left. I caught sight of the watching eyes and murmured to Maura, “We could get in serious trouble for this.”

“Oh come on.” Maura fell against the lockers as I reached inside for my bag. “You want to do this and you know it. Besides, our prank is going to be legendary and it’ll be so classy that it won’t damage the property or anything. By the way, you and I both know that Kristi Jo would never have the balls to do what we’re going to do.”

I sighed. “I don’t want to go to jail.”

I went there one time.

“No jail time for either of us, but if we do get caught—I’ll take the blame and tell them that I was forcing you to help me out.”

That wouldn’t fly, but did it really matter?

“I did want to go to the game.” I said for the third or fourth time.

Maura let loose with a peal of laughter now. “Hell no, you didn’t. You just said that because Queen Jo was standing there. You and I both know that everyone’s going to assume that you and Seth are going to get back together if you go tonight. I could not one of my best friends slinking back to the dark side.”

As we left the school and entered the parking lot, I caught sight of Kelly talking to Sally and a few other girls. She glared over her shoulder at us and I murmured, “She’s mad at me because she knows that she has to do guard duty.”

“Hard to say no to Queen Jo, but it ain’t right that she’s taking it out on you.”

And that was all Maura said.

Maura and Kelly didn’t like each other. It was another one of those things that everyone knew, but no one wanted to admit it out loud. It’d change everything.

A 69 Malibu abruptly braked in front of us. We heard strands of Renegade by the Styx filter from inside and Sawyer grinned up at us. “I just heard a rumor about the two of you.”

Maura smiled in delight. She loved Sawyer, but not that way…although, on second thought—I bet she’d sleep with him if she got the chance. Maura had a boyfriend, but he lived two counties away.

“What do you propose?” She asked.

I looked up and saw Seth watching us. He stood at his truck with the rest of the football players around him.

Sawyer glanced over his shoulder, saw Seth too, and smiled wickedly, “I’d like in. I’m very good at that stuff.”

“Should we convene at your house and plan our attack?” Maura flirted.

“Sounds good to me.” Sawyer watched me.

Maura watched me.

In fact, I noticed that everyone watched me.

I succumbed and said, “I guess I’m in…”

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