Chapter 86 Love Is In The Air

Chapter 86 Love Is In The Air
Irene’s POV

Leo’s words spun like madness in my head, but no matter how hard I tried, they refused to fade. They clung to me — a striking sting etched into memory, impossible to strip away. Because of him, I hadn’t even said goodbye to Inez or Adrian.

Raina’s voice broke through my thoughts as she pulled up at my house, the same quiet, lonely place I had grown used to.

“You’re quiet. Still thinking about him?” she asked gently.

I swallowed hard, blinking back the tears. “He’s not the Leo I know. He’s… someone else now.” I tried a tired smile, but it faltered. Deep down, I knew the truth. He wasn’t someone else. He was still Leo — my Leo — but tangled in the mess of the GaiGai gang. Golden Hand. Words that tasted like ash.

“Who is he anyway? What connection does he have with you?” Raina pressed.

“He’s my brother’s best friend. I didn’t think I liked him at first, but… it just happened. I found myself liking him. I tried to brush it off, but it kept coming back, staring me in the face,” I confessed with a shrug.

“There are plenty of other boys. You only have to look outside — others would kill to have you,” she offered.

I forced a painful smile. “I’ve desperately tried to…”

Her hand reached out, brushing away a stubborn tear. She shifted closer, her sharp golden eyes locking onto mine. My lips parted to say something, anything — but hers moved first, planting a kiss on me.

My eyes widened, stunned. “What was that?” I asked, shock written across my face.

“I…” she stuttered.

I shoved her back, anger flaring. “You think you can do whatever you like with me?”

“I like you, Irene,” she confessed, her voice trembling. “I can’t watch you cry over some guy who clearly isn’t into you.”

“Watch what you say. That’s my friend you’re talking about,” I warned sharply.

“Who gives a damn if he’s been your childhood friend? He doesn’t like you. I do,” Raina ranted.

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “So, you take the opportunity and kiss me? Did I ever tell you I was into girls?”

Her eyes widened. “I only thought…” she stammered.

“Thank you for what you did today, but get out,” I snapped, my voice tight with fury.

“But Irene—” she tried again.

I stepped out of the car, walked around, and opened her door. She climbed out slowly. “Okay,” she said quietly. “I guess I’ll be seeing you. You still owe me a dinner — if you’d just let me in…” She gestured toward my house.

“That’s never happening.” I slammed the door shut, slid into the driver’s seat, and pulled into the garage, leaving her standing there, watching me drive away.

Perhaps I was overreacting. I kept cussing myself, wondering why I had let Raina kiss me. I should have asked her why she did it instead of pushing her away so quickly. Raina moved with Hannah and Jess — so why would she even consider me attractive? Or was she simply jealous of what I felt for Leo?

I shook my head, trying to silence the storm inside me. My gaze dropped to myself, and I hugged my arms tight. No way. I wasn’t aroused by a kiss from a girl. Raina had only taken advantage of me when I was vulnerable.

I slapped my forehead, stopping in my tracks. “What have I done?” I whispered. I shouldn’t have pushed Raina away. She was the key to knowing more about the GaiGai gang. If her brother was a member, and Leo was tangled up with them too, then she could be my eyes on Leo.

I halted again, my thoughts colliding. Why are you even thinking about Leo? He doesn’t even like you. I told myself firmly. But someone needed to look out for him. I couldn’t trust Raina completely, and besides… I couldn’t stop liking Leo overnight.

I needed to find a way to talk to Raina again — not about us, but about the gang.

My phone beeped, pulling me out of my spiral. A notification flashed across the screen: Hank Kent liked your picture.

I frowned, swiping it open. Who was Hank Kent?
….……

Inez’s POV

Everything else faded into the background — the chatter, the songs, the laughter. I was happy just being here with Adrian.

News of his possible draft into the Blackwood Bulls still lingered in the air, but the way he held my hand, shifting those sweet, subtle gazes at me, mattered more than anything.

It took several attempts before he finally let my hand go. “I’m not going anywhere,” I assured him softly. “I just want to drop a text for Irene.”

“Oh, she didn’t even wait for the afterparty,” Adrian said, his brows furrowing.

“Going back and forth from Sundale to Hartville can be tiring,” I teased, nudging him with my elbow.

“She should have said something to me, though,” he continued.

I pulled out my phone and typed quickly:

Me: Are you home now? You didn’t inform anyone you were leaving. What’s up?

“Has she responded?” Adrian asked, turning back to me.

“No,” I shook my head.

“I’ll give her a call when we get off this bus,” he said, his brows twitching with concern.

“I’m sure she’s alright,” I smiled, trying to ease his worry.

His gaze held mine for a moment before his hand knotted back into mine. “Will you join the afterparty?”

I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I can’t. I need to get back to the house.”

“You can spend the night at my place…” Adrian suggested, half serious.

I laughed. “You know I can’t. I live with my aunt, and she’ll ask questions. We’ll meet in school tomorrow.”

Adrian mused for a second. “Tomorrow’s Friday. I can work with that. I want to take you out — for a date. Just the two of us. Is that Okay?”

My lips curved into a radiant smile. “Friday is okay.”

“Keep your phone fully charged,” he told me, grinning.

“Cap!” someone called from the back. “You’ve forgotten all about us now that you’ve got a girlfriend!”

Adrian turned, laughing. “Well, go get yours, Timberland. I see no reason why you should get all fussy about it.”

“You heard the Cap,” Thomas chipped in with a laugh.

Loud chatter broke around me, the bus alive with energy. But my eyes drifted toward Leo.

His gaze was heavy, shadowed with sadness, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was truly okay.



The bus pulled up near the junction where I lived. The bright moon that had hung high and clear was now buried beneath darkened clouds. Rain threatened, yet the boys inside shifted their after-party plans to Timberland’s house — the cornerback.

“Inez, wait!” Adrian called as I scrambled off the bus. I turned, and he caught me by the waist. His breath was heavy, his eyes searching mine.

"It will look empty when you're gone" he whispered.

Pairs of eyes burned into us from over his shoulder, but I didn’t care. My lips spread wide as I leaned closer, planting a kiss on his lips. Why was he acting like he’d never see me again? Yet, the thought made me smile.

“We’ll see each other tomorrow,” I assured him for the umpteenth time.

He nodded, though a jeer shot from behind us. I stepped away as the bus rattled down the path, then started toward the house I had run from earlier. My heart hummed as I neared home. A drop of rain soaked into my arm, and with relief, I pressed through the hallway until I reached Aunt Jeanette’s doorstep.

But outside, my luggage sat — clothes stuffed inside, exposed to the night.

Stunned, I tried the door. Locked. My pulse quickened. Why were my things outside?

I knocked, since the bell hadn’t worked in months. Two more knocks, no answer. Yet shadows flickered inside.

“Aunt Jeanette?” I called, voice trembling.

A neighbor stepped out, eyes scanning me as she rushed to gather her clothes from the balcony.

Finally, the door clicked open. Aunt Jeanette’s head popped out, her eyes cold.

“What do you want?” she asked, as if I wasn’t living there.

My heart stuttered. “I… I found my luggage outside,” I managed.

“This is 8:15, Inez. You think you can buzz in and out of this house as you like?”

“We had a game at Sundale… I mean, at school…” My words tangled, breath shallow.

Her arms folded across her chest. “You were rude to me. Two masters cannot control a ship. Since I give orders and you ignore them, I believe you have a better place to stay. Take those bags and leave.”

Her words struck like lightning. My breath caught. “It hasn’t come to this. Aunt Jeanette, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I only needed to be in school—”

She raised her hand, cutting me off. “You were on TV today. I’m sure you can work things out with your… whatever it’s called. I’ve had enough. Take your things and leave.”
One cold look, then she disappeared inside.

“Aunt Jeanette!” I cried, reaching for her clothes before the door slammed shut. Too late.

Thunder crashed overhead, loud and merciless. My chest tightened. Was this really happening? Was she truly throwing me out?

Where would I go?