Chapter 7 – Meeting the Town Folk

As we drove down a road, lined with endless trees and the occasional glimpse of huge houses and mountains, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with how happy I was to be living in such a serene, beautiful place. This was far better than the concrete jungles that I was used to and I would mostly likely never go back.

                                                                  

As we got closer to the shore, I noticed a group of people by the lake, drinking and hanging out around a fire. My nerves immediately kicked in. ‘Please don’t say we’re going there,’ I thought, squeezing my eyes shut. I wasn’t ready to meet new people. But my hopes were dashed as Ethan parked where all the other cars were lined up.

                                  

“You didn’t mention anything about a party,” I whispered, glaring at him.

“Would you have come if I did?” he smirked, giving me a sidelong glance.

He had a point. If he’d told me, I probably would’ve barricaded myself in my room. I thought I’d have more time to mentally prepare for meeting a bunch of strangers at school, not now. “Definitely not.”

“Well, if you start walking back to the Inn, you might make it before dark... ‘Hop-along,’” he chuckled

“Ha-ha,” I scoffed at him, shifting my expression from dead serious to a half-hearted smile as a couple of guys approached.

“Ethan, my man! Took you long enough,” said a medium-height guy, probably around Ethan’s age, pulling him into one of those ‘bro’ hugs. He was pretty buff, and even though he wore baggy clothes, you could still tell he was built. His blonde hair peeked out from under his hoodie. The guy next to him, who I recognized as the one who’d been arguing with Ethan under my window, had a similar look, so I guessed they were brothers.

When the first guy saw me, he broke into a big grin I didn’t expect, like he was greeting an old friend. “Hey, I’m Nick,” he said, holding out his hand.

“Hi Nick, I’m Quinn—”

“Hop-along,” Ethan cut in, making my jaw drop as I shot him a death glare. No way was he going to introduce me like that. Just as I was about to tell him off, someone stepped in for me.

“Ethan, you only call girls stupid names when you like them. If you keep it up, I’ll call you out all night,” the other blonde guy warned with a smirk walking with a stern but younger and buff looking guy. “Hey, Quinn, I’m Ash—Ethan’s best buddy, and Nick’s big bro. And this is Marcus.”

I smiled, feeling my face heat up, but when I saw Ethan turn crimson, I was floored. Ethan likes me? We’ve barely known each other a week. There must be a shortage of girls around here, not that he’s not incredibly good-looking, but why the sudden interest in the new girl?

“It’s really nice to meet you guys.” I smiled shyly.

“Come. Let’s introduce you to everyone else-” Marcus said starting to walk towards the others but I quickly cut him off, my anxiety kicking into high gear.

“Uh wait…I…don’t really make friends easily…I’m kind of awkward around a lot of people,” I muttered annoyed at myself for sounding so lame. It was like I could feel my soul deep inside scream at me for sounding like a loser. 

“Nick, unfazed, chirped happily, “Oh, don’t worry about that!” He surprised me by grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the group. “They’re cool, and you’ll be fine! If anyone gives you trouble, they’ll answer to me.”

Oddly, his words comforted me, even though I was a little suspicious of how friendly he was. Maybe that’s just how people are around here?

As we got closer to several other guys and girls, he shouted louder than I had hoped, “Hey guys, this is Quinn. She’s new to Town and she’s my new friend so yal better be nice!”

I was expecting to be given side-eyes and judgmental looks but to my surprise, everyone smiled and came to introduce themselves. One girl in particular, was super friendly and hugged me tight.

“Hi Quinn! I’m Kimi and I’m happy to show you around sometime if you would like? I know all the coolest places to shop,” she said, practically bouncing with excitement. She was slim, with straight, long blonde hair, and looked super athletic. She had the same features as Nick and Ash, so I pointed between them, raising a brow.

“Brother.”

“Sister,” they answered in unison.

“Ah, got it,” I laughed

Almost everyone had come up to introduce themselves, except one. The moment I saw him, my heart dropped. He was sitting by the fire, his silver-blue eyes locked on mine, and it felt like he could see right into my soul.

It’s like deep inside me, I yearned to be close to him and this magnetic pull had consumed me. There was this magnetic pull, like something inside me wanted to be close to him and I know it sounds dramatic, but I didn’t know how else to explain the power this guy had over me. He had tousled black hair, olive skin, a strong build and even sitting there with his arms wrapped around his knees, I could tell he was tall.

Although the way he gazed at me, made me nervous because it wasn’t friendly at all. He had daggers in his eyes and gave me the deepest scowl anyone has given me.

“Come on, let me introduce you to Luca,” Ethan tugged at my arm pulling me to the very boy who looked like he wished I’d disappear.

“Uh it’s okay we don’t have too...,” I stammered, trying to pull away.

Too late.

I was standing in front of him and he barely glanced up from the fire. Every instinct in me screamed to run – as much as he made me want to faint from the effect he had on me, he clearly did not feel the same way so I wanted to run as far away as possible.

“Quinn, this is my brother, Luca,” Ethan said proudly. “Luca, this is Quinn, the girl who just moved into town,”

‘His brother?!’ I thought in despair. They couldn’t be more different - Ethan had friendly energy bouncing off him whereas his ‘brother’ who even looked younger than Ethan, had bad boy vibes and I could describe him with many words – friendly, not being one of them. 

Luca’s cold gaze briefly flicked to me before he turned to Ethan and it was as if he spat out poison with the way his voice sounded. “Why the fuck would you bring her here?”