in threes
Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Lottie’s POV

So far my day as Lottie Sanchez was going extremely well.

I couldn’t believe I was standing in a new school, with a new friend, with new hair, a new style andan overall new identity.

This must be what the criminals feel like when they go on the run…

I gulp at the intrusive thought, pushing it to the back of my mind to avoid ruining what may be one ofthe most normal and best experiences of my life./

“So this is the football field, where we will do most of our cheer if we make it on the team… but don’tget too excited with Brianna as captain – because she hates me.” Anna complains with a huff, aswe climb onto the blue bleachers to take a seat.

“Why does she hate you?” I ponder, as we begin to eat our breakfast wraps that we had boughtfrom the snack zone.

Thankfully still had some money thanks to Lola from the bus… although I knew that it wouldn’t lastme forever… I would need a job

soon!

“She fancies the pants off of Jace, and Jace won’t entertain her because she was mean to me onmy very first day here. In her mind, when I started school here I ruined her chances of being withhim apparently!” Anna rants, as I shake my head.

Brianna certainly wasn’t on my to ‘be–friend‘ list so far.

Anna places her wrap down, twisting her hair into a messy claw clip bun which she pulls offeffortlessly before-

“Oh there they are!” I turn around to follow Anna’s pointed finger, before almost collapsing off of thebench when seeing Jace and another two largely built men approaching us from across the field.

Oh god no… how are these three even still in school?! They look like they should at least be atcollege!

“Are you good?” Anna notices my stiffness, as I open and close my mouth like a fish out of water asthey grow closer.

The three of them together looked like Greek gods… and I warned myself to avoid the ‘popular‘guys here for my own safety!

“Don’t worry about them they are harmless honestly! They just like to scare people off by pretendingthey are mean!” Anna rushes out, in an attempt to calm my nerves as I manage to only nod back.

These three made Tommy, Holden and Jason look like mediocre children…

They began climbing the steps, all eyes trained on me as the ‘new girl‘, as I felt the sweat gather onmy head with each passing second.

“What took you three so long?!” Anna throws her hands up as they eventually reach us.

“We were avoiding you!” Jace comments, earning a glare from her as she shrugs him off.

“We had to shower after practice.” He states next, before Anna ignores him and says-

“Ok guys! So this is Lottie – my old friend from cheer camp whose living with me for a while now!”Anna shows me off to them as I remain silent, cursing my eyes for watering ever so slightly as thethree of them tower over us.

“This is Del…” Anna points to the one with the shaved head, as he throws me a wink causing me toalmost faint on the spot.

and this is Alex.” She gestures to the other, as my eyes dance across his strong yet devilishlyhandsome features.

Alex looked intense.

He done nothing but stare through me, as I gaped up at him. The tattoos coated his hands andarms and from what I could see also painted their way up his neck stopping just below his jaw… hemust be covered in tattoos.

Everything about the man was perfect, to the point that it felt illegal for him to look this good.

Which only meant he would probably be the worst of the three.

-and you already met Jace my dumb ass cousin, this morning!” Anna rolls her eyes, as I force asmile over at her.

“H–Hey…” I hold my hand up briefly to greet them all noticing the silence, as I try to ignore thewarning yells coming from my conscious.

They say nothing other than nod down at me in acknowledgment, before they all move to sit downin front of us, as they begin talking amongst themselves.

I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the brief encounter so far…

Anna continued to speak to me more about cheer and the way the team was run last year, but Istruggled to pay attention as I couldn’t ignore Alex as he burned holes into my face from beside usevery so often.

He already hates me…

I felt interrogated by him, just from his eyes alone, as he seemed to be able to see right through me.He didn’t smile, didn’t speak, just glared at me ever so slightly.

What if he hates me… what if he picks up where the three others left off… what if this isn’t a freshstart but a worse one… there was no way that I could defend myself against these three!

“You good? You zoned out there!” Anna shakes me slightly, as I blink and turn to her nodding.

“S–Sorry! I was daydreaming!” I try to laugh it off to hide my concerns, feeling Alex‘ gaze land onme once again as I speak.

As if saved by the bell, I sigh instantly at the noise signalling that the break was over.

“We ditching?” The one named Del questions, as the other two nod in agreement.

“I’ll be back to get you both later.” Jace tells Anna, as she nods and rolls her eyes at them.

“Ditching again and it’s only day three!” She scolds them, as they laugh and wave her off.

“Nice meeting you Lottie.” Del smirks and nods in my direction, as I nod back.

“Y–You too!” I curse myself for stuttering around them, as I notice Alex furrow his brows at mebefore turning to walk off.

He was also the tallest of the three, another warning sign noted on my list of reasons to avoidhim…

“We have a free study break at this time so we can stay out here for a while… if you want to tell mewhat that was all about?” Anna tilts her head, waiting until the boys were out of ear shot.

“I–I’m sorry… I don’t mean to be weird.” I sigh, defeated with how I was acting.

“You weren’t weird, they don’t care believe me! They will just be glad that I have a girl aroundinstead of forcing them to listen to my

complaining!” Anna laughs next, as I giggle too.

I liked how light hearted she was and how she always managed to turn anything negative into apositive.

“I keep thinking about back home… I left so suddenly… I don’t want my Mother sending people tolook for me, not that I think she would because she doesn’t care enough… but I just keep thinkingwhat if you know?” I all but whisper, allowing for the words to flow freely from my lips.

“There must be something we can do? To help keep her off your back, right? Anna replies after amoments thought.

Is there any family you could say that you’re living with? Someone she won’t call to check up with?”Anna asks next, as my eyes widen with a sudden idea.

“My father! She hates him! She was always telling me to leave and live with him anyhow… maybethat will work?” I throw the idea out there, enjoying having someone to trust for the first time in mylife to share my thoughts with.

“Great that’s perfect! Let’s do it!” She encourages, as she watches me for a moment.

“Oh wait! Do you want to use my phone? Do you know the number?” Anna asks next, realising thatI don’t actually have my own phone to

use.

How embarrassing… I’m probably the only teenager in this day and age without one….

“I know the house number… and 1 guess I should just get this over with sooner rather than later…”I state, taking the phone shakily and pressing in the numbers.

I press call, growing tense as I place it to my ear hearing it ring…

It rings…

Then rings some more…

Until…

“Hello…”