Catching Fox Read online

  Chapter Four

  Five Years Later…

  On the first day of school Adalynne planned to surprise Fox. It was the beginning of senior year and she was riddled with excitement. She had envisioned the whole scenario in her mind over and over about his reaction with her arrival. She had struggled with keeping the secret over the summer every time he slipped into her bedroom window late at night. Things were different now that they were getting older. There were not so many days spent in the woods but rather nights curled up in bed together. She always left her window open for him because most nights he would come. Sometimes they talked and others they just lay together. On those nights with him beside her she slept well; on the nights that he did not come she was too worried to sleep.

  She loved the nights she could wrap her arms around him and become intoxicated with all the new feelings he stirred within her. He was more than just the boy Adalynne loved. She was falling deeper into exciting unknown territory. She often wondered if he was on the same path or if he still saw her as the little girl with scraped knees and endless questions.

  One of the stipulations for attending the public school was no school bus. Her father had arranged a car service to take her to and from school and unfortunately the driver had strict orders to drop her off at the front entrance. Adalynne exited the car quickly, noticing the car was drawing much attention. She avoided the stares of the many students that scattered the school yard and began her search for Fox. It wasn’t long before she saw his lean form sauntering through the sea of people. He was her oldest friend and she had known him for many years but this was the first time she had seen him in a public environment and not in the shelter of their secret world. He had a confidence and power to him that seemed strange to her. She didn’t draw his attention immediately. Instead, she familiarized herself with the side of him that was new to her. His jeans rode low on his lean hips and his loose fitted shirt could not hide the well-formed chest beneath. He was always taller than her but surrounded by all these other people his presence seemed so much larger and demanding. His disheveled dark hair fell over his eyes and begged for her fingers to run through it. He was always the most beautiful thing to her. Her heart swelled watching him. He didn’t notice her as he approached a group of people she could only assume were his friends. She watched how at ease he seemed to be with them and the way they were drawn to the powerful presence he exuded.

  A girl broke away from the group. She had long straight brown hair and a very short skirt which revealed beautiful long legs. She wrapped her arms around Fox’s waist and pressed her body against his. A smile formed upon his lips as he welcomed her embrace and leaned in to kiss her readied lips. Adalynne’s heart shattered as she struggled to breathe. She stood staring at them kissing as her heart beat raged above any noise around her. She stood staring in a state of shock until someone in the group noticed her. He must have said something to the group because everyone’s eyes swung her way. Fox’s eyes met hers.

  His expression gave nothing away before he dismissed her, turning his attention back to his friends. They all laughed at something he said and her world crumbled. The haunting realization of his disregard crushed her. Adalynne turned abruptly and hurried into the building before anyone saw her tears. She felt like an idiot for not realizing that maybe the reason he had kept their relationship a secret for all those years was because he was embarrassed or didn’t see her as important enough to be a part of his real life.

  Adalynne had loved him from the moment he showed up in her backyard and she held his trembling hand within hers. The feelings she had for him over the years spoke of so many promises of what they could share together. She had given her heart completely to him and now she was left with nothing but the shattered remains.

  Over the next few months as Adalynne adjusted to life at her new school she was painfully aware that Fox was avoiding her in every way. Not once did he attempt to talk to her. He went so far as to deny he knew her, leaving her to pretend he was a stranger to her as well. She had fought so hard to get her parents to agree to let her make the change to public school; she was not about to let them know it had been a mistake. Fox never came to her window again after that day. She lay awake night after night with the hope he would come back to her and explain this whole horrible situation but she was only left with disappointment. Sometimes she found herself walking by him in the school yard just to feel close for a brief moment but his scent would only stir her broken heart. When he sensed her nearness, his posture would noticeably stiffen like he couldn’t stand being close to her. It became too much to bear so eventually she avoided him altogether. All she had of him was her memories and the occasional glance from a distance. Her Fox was no longer hers.

  Adalynne tried to engage in life around her and make the most of the situation. Making friends was easier than she expected and life began to find some normalcy despite the circumstances. Soon she fell into a pattern with her new friends. Her mother luckily approved of Molly and Brooke because of their reputable parents. Adalynne didn’t care much about where they came from but their friendship was a comfort to her and she enjoyed their company. Molly was the gossip queen and loved to talk about everything and everyone but she had a big heart and never intentionally caused any harm. She had naturally curly strawberry blonde hair she insisted on straightening until no one would even fathom that a curl ever existed upon her head. Brooke was short, barely reaching five feet, with shoulder length brown hair and thick framed glasses that complemented her features beautifully. She was completely obsessed with boys and clothes, full of sweetness, and was always the first to lend a hand. They made her adjustment bearable and she was grateful to have met them.

  It also took some time to get used to attention from boys. It was new, exciting, and somewhat uneasy at the same time for Adalynne. Coming from an all-girls school, she wasn’t used to hanging out with the male population on a regular basis. She quickly realized how sheltered she had been as she transitioned to her new school. Collin was one of the first boys who made an effort to get to know Adalynne. As far as Molly was concerned, he was as good as it got.

  Collin was tall, muscular, and liked by the entire school population. Adalynne appreciated his company and enjoyed getting to know him. He had a charm people found irresistible and Adalynne was no exception. It was also nice to have the distraction. It soon became a regular occurrence to find themselves in the company of Collin and the other football players. Molly and Brooke loved the new turn of events.

  “He is so crushing on you,” Molly breathed excitedly in her ear as she pulled Adalynne aside. They were standing with Collin and a few of his friends in the hallway before classes started. Adalynne looked up toward Collin. He winked in return and Adalynne could feel her blush warm her face.

  “Really?” Adalynne had noticed his subtle touches and the way he always found an excuse to spend time with her but she didn’t trust her feelings lately. She had been completely wrong when it came to Fox.

  “Maybe he will ask you to the winter formal…I bet he will. You guys would make a beautiful couple.” Adalynne looked at Collin and wondered what it would be like. Her whole life she only considered one person to give her heart to but everything had changed and maybe it was time she tried to change with it.

  Molly had been right, it was only days later that Collin asked her to the winter formal. She had gone with Molly and Brooke to buy the dress for the evening. She felt exposed and daring but she wanted to dress to impress. She had to admit she did love the way the dress hugged her curves and the fabric flowed weightlessly around her thighs. The material stopped just before her knee with a couple of slits that traveled further. She had gone to Brooke’s house to get ready for the dance because she had a feeling her mother would not approve of her dress choice.

  Collin had been wonderful and she was glad she agreed to go with him. When they arrived at the gym she remembered the excitement that coursed through her. It had been her first dance and she c
ouldn’t contain the delight that painted a ridiculous smile on her face.

  “I know I already told you this but you look amazing,” Collin gushed in her ear. The music was loud, making it hard to hear. After thanking him for his compliment she took a sip of the cold liquid in her glass. She was met with an unexpected taste of liquor in her mouth. The burning sensation watered her eyes.

  “Wow,” she said in response to the foul tasting drink.

  “Good, huh?” he asked with a smile.

  “Yeah, great. Thanks!” she said brightly, despite the fact that she didn’t think she could stomach anymore. She let her eyes wander to the dance floor. Her stomach dropped when she noticed Fox across the room. His girlfriend was hanging off his arm with her tiny black dress and bright red heels. She tried to ignore them but it was like trying not to notice an elephant walk into the room; it was the only thing she could see. Her gaze kept navigating back to their affectionate interactions every time she averted her eyes. Anger and jealousy simmered low in her stomach, burning away all the initial excitement from earlier.

  “Who are we looking at?” Molly asked, coming up behind her. “Oh…Damon Knight. That’s trouble if I ever saw it. Did I tell you about the time he was arrested for breaking and entering? At least he’s easy on the eyes. Such a waste of a good thing, don’t you think?”

  It was always strange hearing him called by his real name. Adalynne had only ever known him as Fox and never with this bad boy image. She wondered if she ever really knew him at all. The boy across the gym looked like her Fox but he was more of a stranger than anyone else.

  “Yeah. Do you mind distracting Collin for me? I have to go dump this gross concoction he gave me and replace it with regular punch.” Adalynne stuck her finger down her throat to emphasize how gross it was.

  “Let me try it.” Molly took a sip. “Harsh,” she gasped, “gotcha covered.” She smiled before heading toward Collin.

  Adalynne weaved her way through the sea of people, deciding to take the long way to avoid Fox and his attachment. When she reached the punch table she discarded the glass Collin gave her and poured a new one.

  “Nice dress.” Adalynne’s heart quickened at the familiar deep voice close to her ear. The nearness of him startled her. “Not your usual look, but I approve.” There was cockiness to his voice that was foreign to her, making her heart twist painfully. She took a deep breath and turned to acknowledge him.

  “Hello Fox. If there’s one thing that I have learned this year is that people change and just so you know, I don’t care for your approval.” She hated the fact that he looked so beautiful. He wore a dark fitted buttoned shirt with jeans that fit him perfectly. Adalynne wanted him to acknowledge her for so long and now that he finally did, she wanted to run away. Wounds that she thought were beginning to heal were suddenly ripped wide open and she was completely vulnerable. She needed to get away from him to keep her composure, she already felt herself coming apart at the seams. All she could think of was wrapping her arms around him and searching those green eyes for any sign of her Fox.

  “Bee?” he called, grabbing her wrist when she tried to walk past him. She looked down at his hand firmly gripping her wrist before looking up into his eyes. His touch felt better than she imagined it would after being apart for so long. It was like an electrical current that excited every part of her. Her body and soul screamed out for more but they were feelings she could no longer trust. She knew it was all just an illusion now. She pulled away and walked as fast as she could back to her friends. She tried not to look back but she couldn’t help it. He stood where she left him staring back at her.

  “What was that all about?” Brooke asked, noticing the exchange between them.

  “Misunderstanding is all. Do you want to dance?” She pulled Brooke out on the dance floor before she even had time to answer and Molly soon followed. She tried to forget about Fox being there, about how she still craved his touch after what he had done to her. She needed to forget him. Dancing with the girls was a nice distraction and she could feel her forced smile turn genuine as the night carried on, though his presence was like a beacon in the dark room calling to her.

  Soon a slow song followed the string of dance music and Collin requested a dance. He pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms around her waist. Adalynne leaned into him as they moved to the music; his hands slowly explored the curve of her back. She breathed in his musky cologne and tried to lose herself in the moment. Collin was a good guy, handsome and athletic. He wanted her; she could feel it in the way his hands roamed her body and in the way his eyes always followed her in a room. She wanted to want him too. She pulled back and glanced up into his eyes, looking for a connection that would burn away any lingering doubts. Collin surprised her when he leaned in and claimed her lips in an unexpected kiss. It was slow and tentative as he waited for her to react. Her first instinct was to pull away but she decided to return it. It felt nice.

  The kiss was suddenly cut short when Collin was ripped from her arms. She screamed when Fox punched Collin in the face, knocking Collin to the ground before he could even register what was happening. “What the fuck, man!” Collin’s hand immediately went up to his mouth. His lip was dripping blood down his light blue shirt.

  “Fox!” Adalynne yelled before she could stop herself. Collin shot her a confused look as she reached down to help him up but instead he launched himself toward Fox. The two of them battled it out until a teacher managed to break up the fight.

  Adalynne couldn’t get home from the dance fast enough. Molly and Brooke showered her with questions but she didn’t feel like talking. She apologized and left with their questions still lingering in the air. She was grateful her driver was waiting outside and she crawled into the back of the car without having to give an explanation for her early departure. Fortunately her parents weren’t home when the driver dropped her off. She ran directly to her room, locked her door, and collapsed on her bed.

  She wasn’t sure how long she laid there before she heard a noise outside. She was lost in her turmoil of thoughts. She looked up to see Fox had slipped in her open window and her heart began to race. She could see the dark bruise forming under his left eye and the realness of the night returned to her. He leaned against her window with his long legs stretched across her floor. He didn’t move any further into the room as he watched her on the bed. Adalynne sat up and pulled a clip from her hair, letting a cascade of loose waves fall over her shoulders and down her back. She could feel the hot tears run down her cheeks but she made no move to wipe them away. She hated herself for wanting him there. Despite everything, his presence still brought her comfort.

  “What happened?” she asked in a strained voice.

  “I got in a fight,” he replied with a small smile that curved the edges of his lips.

  “No, not that.” Adalynne sighed. “With us. Why do you hate me now?”

  “I don’t hate you, Bee. I could never hate you.” His voice was strange to her, rough and tired.

  “Well, you fooled me.” She slid off the bed and leaned against the post at the foot of her bed.

  Fox ran his fingers through his hair and looked away from her, avoiding her gaze. “I didn’t want you to know that part of me. I panicked. I’m not a good person. When it was just you and me, you didn’t know who I really was, just the parts I showed you.”

  “I like every part of you,” she whispered.

  “You wouldn’t say that if you knew who I really am.” He looked up at her with his eyes full of sorrow.

  “You never told me you had a girlfriend.” She couldn’t hide the jealousy that slipped through with her words.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t think it was important.”

  “Well, it was. When I saw you together I was mad because I wanted to be the one you kissed like that.” Color flooded her cheeks at her confession. They had been close for so long, talked about everything, but this was the first time she confessed her feelings toward him. Thi
s is the first time she indicated she wanted more. They had shared many kisses over the years but they were innocent and without expectation. She wanted him to want her with the need she had for him.

  Somewhere along their path, her feelings changed from their innocent childhood friendship to an attraction altogether different. The need to be physically close to him was overwhelming. Everything about his body called to her. The way he moved, the confidence of his actions, his tall muscular lean frame, the sound of his voice, his smell, the look in his eyes when he looked at her, they all taunted her with a desire she could not fulfill because she was scared he could never return those feelings.

  “Don’t say that. We can’t be together like that. It would never work.” He leaned his head back against the window pane and closed his eyes tight.

  “Do you love her?” Adalynne whispered just loud enough for him to hear. It was a question that she wanted to ask but she was scared of what his answer might be.

  “No,” he answered without hesitation. Adalynne let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

  There was a long stretch of silence before Fox filled it. “You shouldn’t wear clothes that are so revealing.”

  “Why?” Adalynne looked down at her plunging neckline. “You said you approved of it and besides, most of the girls there were wearing similar if not more revealing clothes.”

  “You aren’t like the other girls. You are so much more beautiful than them. You don’t need to draw attention to certain aspects to make yourself more appealing than you already are.” He looked at her then, like he used to when their world was just the two of them. His green eyes seemed endless.