Lila's Thunder: The Almeida Brothers, Book One by Trevion Burns Read Free Book Online Page A

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    Lila waited until Grace had turned the corner before doing a small happy dance.   In the middle of her celebration an arm grabbed her from out of nowhere, causing her to yelp out loud and trip over her heels for the second time that day.  She fell sideways into Chase’s chest as he pulled her into the janitor’s closet before slamming the door shut.
    Lila composed herself, looking around at the mops and various cleaning supplies scattered around before turning to Chase and shoving him with one hand.   “What the hell are you doing?!”  She attempted to open the door.
    Chase stepped in front of it, blocking her.
    “Principal White is right outside that door,” she warned, through gritted teeth.  After everything that had happened Lila was officially on edge around Chase but as she stood there taking in the distress in his eyes she found herself unable to move.
    “Chase.”  She pressed back against the wall and they stood quietly for a minute.  “You should be in class,” she whispered.
    Chase leaned against the opposite wall, facing her. “Why are you avoiding me?   Not answering my calls?”
    “You know why.   Jack fired me.  To be honest I was pissed off about it at first but the more I think about it the more I realize he was right.  I can’t give you special treatment forever.  It will only hurt you in the long run.”
    “I never thought you were even capable of hurting me until now.   This…”  He motioned between them.  “Sucks.”
    “Exactly,” Lila beamed.  “And it shouldn’t suck. You should be out chasing girls, going to parties, getting drunk… but instead you’re in a hall closet with the twenty-eight year old guidance counselor.”
    A small smirk jumped to his face.   “If you could hear what the guys in the locker room had to say, you’d know that’s not such a bad thing.”
    “T hose guys in the locker room don’t have the kind of access to me that you do and that’s why you’re in here with me and not out there with them.” Lila swallowed hard.  “There are limits, Chase. There are serious limits that I’ve completely disrespected and Jack called me out. He was right .” She jammed her eyes shut and covered her mouth with her hand before sniffling and looking back up.  “I’ve been so fucking selfish.”
    Chase shook his head. “He’s wrong. You’re wrong.”
    “You’re calling me at all hours of the night, pulling me into hall closets, failing your midterm exams.  Mrs. Jackson told me you didn’t answer one question on your Calculus paper.”  Tears sprung to Lila’s eyes as she said the words. “Not a single one.”
    “I didn’t answer one question because I can’t fucking think.”
    “Here are a few things to think about… graduation, Harvard, your future.  Do you have any idea how many desperate students are gripping wait-list letters right now, praying that some kid somewhere screws up their chances?  This morning alone I’ve had five extremely bright and talented kids come into my office in hysterical tears because they were wait-listed at Harvard.”
    Chase swallowed hard and gazed off.
    Lila poked a finger against his green Dalton jacket. “You have something special, Chase, and that’s why they took you but Harvard is not a reality, yet.  Please don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ve got it in the bag because you don’t.  One false move and they will rescind your admission.” She snapped her fingers, “Like that. So fast it’ll make your head spin. I’ve seen it happen. I’m begging you not to throw everything away.  Not over me.”
    “I don’t care about Harvard.”
    “Start. Caring.”
    “You’re the only thing t hat matters to me.”  The honesty of his words seized him and he had to look away from her when his chin began to tremble.  He looked back, grief clouding his eyes.   “ I can’t focus on anything knowing that you hate me.”
    Her shoulders visibly collapsed as he transformed