Undercover: Book 3 — Chapter 16

I exited the bathroom of Steak and Shake dressed in a pair of black high-waisted shorts and a grey shirt that had a black heart on it which matched my grey beanie that was sitting on top of my naturally straight blonde hair. I sat down at the booth that a waiter brought me to that had my skateboard and now my bag. I waited patiently for Nick since I came a little early. I was thankful that my black and blue eye was slowing going away. The chair across from me screeched making me look up at a smirking Nick. He took a seat across from me and crossed his arms over his chest.

“So Claire,” he started off, dragging my name a little,” I'm happy you accepted my request for a date today."

"Yeah, well I had nothing else to do.” I shrugged and he just rolled his eyes. “You know since you are going to be my wife I think we should get to know each other better.”

"I'm Nick, age twenty and I go to Johnston Boys University it's an all-boys school. What school do you go to?" I didn't comment on how he emphasized on the boys part.

“I just go to a community college in Chicago,” I lied.

"Do you have an apartment up there?" he asked and I nodded my head.

"What's your major?" he asked me and I raised an eyebrow. “What is this twenty questions?"

He shrugged. “Sure, it can be."

"Business management. Now my turn, I get to ask you three questions,” I told him after thinking for a minute I finally came up with one. “What's your reasoning to asking me out?"

"I think you're hot and I like you." We paused for a moment to give the waiter our orders before continuing.

"Your mysterious friend that was an ass, why is he such a jerk?" I asked, and Nick bit his lip not responding right away.

"He just has his reasons." Disappointed that his answer wasn't as I hoped for I continued curiously,

"Why do you go to an all-boys school?"

"I've been going there since I was about seventeen. It's the best school in the country for business management. At age twenty-three I will be taking over my father’s electric company.” He shrugged.

"Why aren't you going to the girls’ school next to mine?" he asked me smirking.

"Because those schools remind me of boarding schools and they let anyone who has the money in there."

"They let anyone in community college,” he pointed out.

"Touché."

***

The date ended up going well and we got to really know each other while also sharing a few laughs. If he doesn't shag girls every hour then things may actually work out.

"Hey, how was class?" Nathan asked me, interrupting my thoughts as I stepped out of the building.

"Boring as usual. But surprisingly our only homework is to study for the exam Wednesday,” I said.

"Do you want to come with me to Starbucks?"

"As tempting as that sounds, I have to decline your offer I'm really tired,” I replied and he pouted but nodded.

"Okay, I'll see you later,” he said pecking my cheek before heading toward Starbucks.

"Hey Nathan, have you seen Caiden?" I asked hesitantly.

"Nope, I think he's been off campus all day,” he responded. I could tell he was curious but I waved him off telling him goodbye. I took the short walk over to the dorms and got in the elevator, making the way up to my floor. My eyebrows furrowed when I saw Nick leaning against the wall next to my door.

"Looking for Caiden?" I asked and he shook his head and I ignored the glint in his eyes.

"Nope, actually I was looking for you,” he said with his hands in his pockets. I slid my key in, unlocking the door and turned the handle. I looked back at Nick and raised an eyebrow, “Why me?"

"Because I just wanted to do this,” he responded his lips pressing against mine. His hands holding my face to his. At first I was surprised and didn't respond but after a minute I gave in. Moving my lips against his. When he noticed I was responding he moved his hands but kept his lips on mine before quickly pushing me against the wall. He smiled a little when a small moan left my mouth.

His hands moved down my body holding on to my waist. His soft, pink lips moved roughly against mine. He bit my lip asking for entrance and I eagerly granted access making his tongue enter my mouth tangling with mine. When I pulled away a minute later breathing heavily. His lips continued going across my jaw and down my neck. I quickly brought his lips to mine as soon as I got my breath back and kissed him again with the same intensity, my hands running through his short dark hair. He pushed us inside my dorm closing the door with his foot. I brought us down on my bed and moved my lips across his jaw and kissed the small spot behind his ear making a loud groan enter the silent room.

Realizing I didn't check to see if Caiden was here and pulled away looking over toward his bed. I sighed in relief when I saw he wasn't there. Nick tried kissing me again but I turned my head a little making his lips come in contact with the corner of mine. He continued to trail his lips over my collarbone and let his hands travel underneath my shirt making me gasp at realization. Nick thought the gasp was from pleasure and moved his lips down to the bottom of my stomach after pulling up my shirt half way up my stomach.

"What are we doing?" I said my voice husky. I still managed to make it sound a little bit like a guys.

"Making out,” he said before moving his lips up my stomach.

"I'm a guy. You're a guy,” I said breathlessly sitting up even though I knew the act was definitely over.

"And this is a bed and that's a wall,” he replied, pointing before looking into my eyes and I shook my head.

"We can't do this,” I said and he smirked.

"You honestly think I would kiss a guy? I only like girls, I thought that was clear with the secretary downstairs. But let’s be honest here, you and I both know I’m the only guy in here, Claire,” my eyes turned into the size of golf balls as I started at him.

"How did you know?" I asked after a moment using my regular voice.

"I noticed the little things. Your laugh, your eyes, your smile and I noticed how you would get nervous and bite your lip whenever I brought up the school topic. I was a little worried I would be wrong about this but obviously I'm not.”

“You can't tell anyone,” I said and he shrugged.

“I won't as long as you tell me the reason why you're here tomorrow and personally I find this exciting. You being the only girl in this school and I only know. Or well I’m one of the only ones who know since I’m sure your friend Nathan knows,” he said and I rolled my eyes an amused smile forming on my lips. Eddie knows too, but I left that small detail out.

"You know I think I'd like you better without a shirt,” he muttered, his lips kissing my cheek. He then kissed my nose and after started to kiss all over my face making me let out a small giggle. His lips moved back onto mine and soon we were back on my bed heatedly making out. Like I said before, I’m a confident girl and I didn’t mind a friendly makeout session every once in a while.

***

I sat against the door of the English office. I wasn’t looking in, too afraid of being caught, but I was listening carefully to the phone call my father was currently having.

“You’re going to have to be more specific,” he said sounding slightly angry. “Do you need the money by next week or not? I can’t take out a large amount like that last minute. My wife will notice,” he said making me frown. How much are we talking here? And why was he hiding it from Mom?

“No, you never mentioned this when we started whatever you want to call what we have going on here,” he snapped and my eyebrows went above my fake hair line. “Please elaborate, what exactly do you have going on there, Mr. Martez?”

“Fine, fine. You’re right, I’m overreacting. This will all stay quiet and she won’t know,” my dad said and I peeked to see him leaning back in his chair, wiping off the wrinkles of stress on his face. “Yeah, I’ll call you later,” he said before hanging up the phone.

Sighing, he stood up and I quickly looked for a place to hide. I crawled away from the door before quickly hiding behind a wall in the next hallway. I watched as he shut his door, walking the opposite direction. Once he left, I checked all directions before I entered the English office. I went straight to his desk, my heart pounding in my chest, fearful of what I may find.

I saw his family photo and picked up the frame. Jeffery and I were both being held, me sitting on my dad’s shoulders and Jeffery in my mom’s arms. I felt my shoulders slump after putting the photograph down. We were all smiling so wide, it showed how truly happy we were in that moment. When did that all go away?

I looked at all the notepads sitting on the desk and immediately recognized his scribble, I bent down, looking a little closer to try to read the almost illegible writing. “1,267,” I read out loud before I almost tripped as I stepped back in surprise. Who is he paying that much to? Why is he hiding it from Mom? I didn’t bother taking a picture, knowing it wouldn’t do very good as it was only a number. I sifted through everything on and in his desk and the many, many folders and found nothing besides plenty of future assignments, and I’m not gonna lie, I found my rubric for an assignment I did as well. Your girl scored and A.

I sighed frustrated; he really couldn’t keep anything in this office? I suddenly heard voices coming closer and immediately dropped to the ground, crawling over by a cabinet. I peeked out to see it was nothing but students passing. I wiped my forehead in relief and went through a new drawer.

As soon as I slid it opened, I paused. Sitting at the very top of everything was a long red scarf, one that definitely wasn’t mine or my mother’s. I looked at my phone, which lit up on the desk, and knew I had to get out of here. I quickly smelled the scarf, inhaling the cinnamon smell before quickly shoving it back in and leaving the office, phone in hand. Just as I started walking down the hallway a voice called out to me. “Jason, I’m surprised to see you around this hallway. You don’t have class for another few days,” I heard my father’s voice and I cringed.

“Yeah, I was trying to find another teacher for some help, but I found him, so I’m good. Nice seeing you,” I said not turning around as I quickly started walking away. Once I was far enough, I stopped walking and slid down the wall with only one thought. Whose scarf was that?