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Chapter Three

The Devil Smiles

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Noah

"Despite popular belief, it actually is not every girl's dream to wake up to a bunch of half-naked guys."

The familiar sound of her ever-tired and unamused voice sounded, causing me to look over.

Luke and I were at Charlie's house playing basketball where the boy had a small court built. Money really does wonders.

A house that was familiar enough to be a second home to me, where I had been spending most of my days after school since I was twelve years old. It would surely take longer to get used to the idea that this was now Tiffany's house too.

Tiffany walked in, her nose scrunched in distaste as she glanced from her brother to Luke and I.

"Asleep at seven in the evening, princess?" Luke asked, watching as she walked to the refrigerator to retrieve a bottle of water.

"Power nap." She seated herself on the island stool one away from the one I sat on.

Charlie excused himself to take a quick shower, leaving Luke and me with the new girl who seemed to want anything but to get to know us. That didn't help diminish the thick awkward tension lingering in the atmosphere.

"Change of plans," Luke sighed, glancing up from his phone he had been checking. "I have to pick up my sister from her friend's house. I'll see you guys tomorrow." Turning to look at Tiffany, he beamed his ever-radiant smile. "Lovely seeing you, princess."

"Yeah, yeah," she grumbled wearily. "You too, charming." Words dripping in sarcasm.

Scrolling through her phone, she just seemed tired. As if I were invisible, my presence was not acknowledged by her.

"Not a talkative one are you, sunshine?"

Lifting her gaze slowly, she looked at me. Expressionless; eyes narrowed like she was analyzing me-a look she often had. "Princess and sunshine. Not what I would normally be pegged as."

"I wonder why." I offered a grin that was ignored. "So-where did you move here from anyway?"

She took a full minute before any time she answered me, as though she were mentally debating whether or not she could permit herself to indulge in a conversation.

"Why do you want to know?"

"You're stuck here, I may as well get to know you. I reckon we'll be seeing plenty of one other."

The faintest of grins tugged on her lips-causing my eyebrows to raise at the unexpected reaction.

"I saw that," she pointed a finger at me, eyes narrowing. "Surprised that the devil smiles? I didn't realize I was that scary."

I laughed quietly. "I wouldn't say scary. Perhaps just-cheerless."

With the roll of her eyes, her mouth opened-as though she were about to say something. Then, she shook her head and stopped herself, glancing away.

"What?"

She looked at me again. "What?"

"You were going to say something."

Another ghost of a smile on her lips. "Curiosity can open a door you do not want to enter, Noah."

Having entirely no idea what she meant, my expression contorted into one of confusion. Grinning at the look on my face, she stood and left before I could question her.

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"Hey, sunshine! There you are." Luke's smile could transcend it's warmth past all the oceans. He slipped into the desk behind Tiffany's, leaning over in attempts to capture her full attention.

Her response was nothing more than a tired nod, not glancing up from the notebook she had been scribbling in.

"AP classes," I said, attempting to continue Luke's efforts. She'll crack eventually. I slid into my usual seat which happened to be next to hers. "Tedious, aren't they?"

Looking at me, she offered a tired expression. "Surprised the devil's smart too?"

"Angry again?"

"Uninterested," she muttered dully. Head resting in her palm, she continued scribbling away on her papers.

She didn't offer another glance to either Luke or me the rest of class. Neither one of us attempted to provoke more conversation out of her, sensing the efforts would go to waste.

At the end of class, Luke swung an arm around her shoulders when we were making our way out of the classroom.

Scanning his face before her eyes flickered to his arm draped over her, her nose scrunched distastefully. "You mustn't have heard of the concept of personal space, I'm assuming."

"I'm a friendly guy, sunshine." Luke shrugged nonchalantly.

"I could press charges," she said, not looking at him. "Assault. Harassment."

"You wouldn't want to see this face behind bars-would you?" He offered a cheeky smile, bright and toothy.

She tossed him a flat look, the three of us walking down the hallway. "Wouldn't be the first one I've seen. I'd survive, sunshine."

Luke's eyebrows shot up. He faltered for a moment. "You've been in jail?" He sputtered disbelievingly. "I don't buy it. You're far too-"

Tiffany halted, twisting her body around so his arm fell back to his side and she was facing him. "I'm far too-what?" She asked challengingly, like she was daring him and warning him to be careful at the same time.

Luke blinked. "Small-" he sputtered. "You're so small. Short and tiny-what harm could you ever do?" His laugh was forced, sheepish, and almost scared.

Tiffany's lip curled upwards in a small smirk, the faintest hint of amusement to be found. She laughed quietly, breathily. "I never said I've been in jail, charming-and

had that been what I was implying, I wouldn't need you to buy it."

Her gaze on Luke a moment longer, she turned and walked away from the two of us.

"She's..."

"Something else," I murmured, watching her disappear between the crowd.

"Who is?" Jade asked, appearing between Luke and me. Following our line of sight, she spotted Tiffany's figuring growing smaller as she walked down the hallway. "Oh. Tiffany? I like her."

Luke looked at her. "You do? I mean-I do too. She's just-"

"Hard to get to know?" Jade offered, quirking an eyebrow. "We have a class together. She's quiet-but really nice, actually."

"Nice?" I scoffed. Were we talking about the same Tiffany? "Not the first word that comes to mine."

"I like her sarcasm," Jade shrugged as the three of us began walking to our next class. "I was talking to Charlie; he said not to take her manner personal. She's been through a lot."

My eyebrows furrowed. "Like..."

"I don't know," Jade said. "Charlie didn't say more but-I think he wants us to give her a chance. Ezra took a while before he warmed up to us."

I couldn't help rolling my eyes.

It was true-Tiffany was a lot more like Ezra than Charlie; both of them on the quiet and reserved side. Detached and seemingly distant, hardly ever interested. That made it entirely difficult to get to know them.

"Ezra hasn't warmed up to us," I said, shaking my head slightly. "He tolerates us and I'd hardly call us friends."

Luke punched my shoulder slightly as he halted. "Don't write them off so quick, Noah. Ezra's-standoffish, sometimes, but he's not a bad guy. And Tiffany, we still don't know the first thing about her. Frankly, I like the new wildfire she's placed between the lot of us."

Luke turned to head into the classroom.

A wild forest fire-with eyes craving the rains.