How The Allies of Old began: BORN Chapter Three "FIGHT!"

Painting in Acrylic by @therealpaul

Chapter 1 Chapter 2

For those of you who missed the post of the release, I briefly explained how the series began as an idea for a Young Adult novel, and that I had in fact written what amounts to a novella taking place the summer before REBORN begins, and I decided to release it here on steemit.

The first two and a half chapters of the novella were moved over into the final version, so for those of you who have already read, or are currently reading the novel this will be a repeat.

EDIT- The way I split it up for steemit is slightly different than the book- so my apologies to those who were looking forward to the shift taking place in this chapter- it won't occur until the end of the next.

BORN

Chapter Three

"Okay seriously, what's wrong Anna, are you getting sick?" Geordy asked.

She took the drink from him and shook her head. "I told you I just got a little dizzy, really it's nothing to worry about. I probably just need to eat something."

He followed her back to the food table, and she felt herself growing irritated. She liked Geordy well enough but they didn’t have the kind of friendship to impart confidences, particularly of this nature. She scanned the people for her friends, trying to find a tactful way to ditch him.
Austin came striding over. "'Sup Geordy."

"Hey man."

Anna looked from one to the other, mentally rolling her eyes at their silent pissing contest.

"Something's wrong with Anna," Geordy stated.

She shot Geordy a dirty look.
Austin's brows arched. "What do you mean?"

"She got all pale on the boat ride, looked like she'd seen a ghost, fo’ real, then she just spent like ten minutes in the john."

Austin was looking closely at her now and she grabbed his arm pulling him away from Geordy. She leaned up and whispered, "I'll tell you about it later-can you help me ditch him, but nicely?" She knew the request would distract him and it worked like a charm. His chest even seemed to puff out with the “I'm the Winner” thing that guys did.

"Look man," he told Geordy, "she doesn't wanna talk about it. Don't worry, she's in good hands."

An expression of hurt flashed across Geordy’s face. She glared at Austin and stepped away from him to give Geordy a quick hug. "I appreciate your concern, but really I'm okay. Don't feel bad, I just don't want to talk about it, I’d rather party like it's 1999.”

"That's cool. Do you wanna be my pong partner?" he asked hopefully.

Austin stepped in between them, "She already has a partner," he stated and steered her away. He looked a little pissed, probably because of the hug, but that was his fault.

"Where are you leading me?"

"Away from him like you asked, remember?"

"Oh yes, I remember the word nicely too."

"So? The guy's hot for you, do you really want him puppy dogging you all night?"

She shook her head, "No, but I don't want to make him feel bad either."

"Whatever."

"Okay, so now you're mad at me for not wanting to stomp on his poor little heart."

"I'm not mad, Christ."

"Ohhhh yeah, because you usually swear at me when you're not mad."

"Anna....hey look, it's the girls." They stopped in front of Marina and Jenna. "I'll find you when it's our turn for pong, okay?"

She looked up at him questioningly and he bent down and kissed her forehead in an ‘everything is cool’ gesture, then saluted the girls and took off in the direction of the horseballs game. She followed his progress thinking....thinking what?

"He really is handsome, isn't he." It wasn’t a question, and the surprised looks on the faces of her friends told her she'd spoken aloud.

"Whoa, are you actually considering...."Jenna started.

"You and Austin?" Marina cut in.

She shook her head to clear it. "I don't know. Maybe. I don't know, bleh."

Jenna giggled and started to say something but was interrupted by Jess calling Anna’s name. They turned and saw her standing near the dock waving at them frantically.

“What’s got her all excited?” Marina laughed.

Jenna and Anna shook their heads in unison and the three of them hurried across the beach to find out.

"Guess what?" Jess whispered excitedly when they reached her. "You are NOT going to believe what I just heard!"

"Out with it!" Anna laughed.

She leaned in, her eyes widening dramatically. "Leo is going to ask you on a date!"

Anna blinked. "What, wait, Leo?"

"Yeah, as in Luscious lips Leo, as in Holy Crap he is so freaking hot Leo!"

Leo Giovanni had graduated the year before and to this day was the most gorgeous guy to ever grace the Halls of Sentinel High. She hadn't even noticed he was here but now that she did, damn. Hot, definitely hot.

"Who told you this?" She asked suspiciously.

"Carrie Wesler, she said she overheard him talking to Bob Billings and he was saying you had the most beautiful eyes he's ever seen, and he's been all over the country, and that he didn't know you well, but you seem like a sweetheart, and then he said he was going to ask you to dinner and a movie!" She took a breath and clasped her hands together.
Jess was so excited you would think it was her that he was asking out. It was a very endearing trait of hers to always be happy for the good fortune of her friends.

"Okay, he hasn't even talked to me...." Anna trailed off as she watched him coming across the beach toward her.

"Oh my God," Jess gripped her arm hard.

"Ouch!"

"Sorry, just OMG."

When he reached them he graced Anna with a very slow, very sexy smile and she briefly wondered if he practiced that expression in front of a mirror. Has to, she thought as she smiled uncertainly in return. His dark hair fell over his eyes which were gold with flecks of green on a perfectly sculpted face. He was always dressed sleek, his apparel made you think sports car, and his face made you think angel.

"Great party Anna," he said holding out his hand in greeting.

"Th-thanks." She took his hand. Please do NOT stammer like an idiot, she berated herself.

"Do you play beer pong?"

"Oh, yeah, I love that game, I’m actually pretty good at it." STOP gushing, be cool!

"So...do you wanna be my partner? I'm up next."

"Sure, yeah great…Oh damn, I already told Austin...

"Aww come on, you guys are buds, I'm sure he won't mind."

She found herself nodding stupidly in agreement as he took her arm to walk her up the stairs. She threw a "Holy shit" look over her shoulder to the girls who were grinning and waving at her.

Austin walked up beside Jenna just in time to see Leo drape his arm around Anna’s shoulders and announce their partnership. His expression went from shock to anger, and if you knew him well enough you could see the hurt mingled in with it.

Jenna watched the facial changes and winced. “She tried to tell him she had a partner, but he just sort of swept her away," she explained.

"Did he.” He answered flatly.

"She's just flattered, every single girl in school is flattered when he deigns to talk to them, myself included, something about him…" Jenna chewed her lip thinking that she probably wasn't helping.

"Something about him…yeah, he's an arrogant asshole who treats girls like throwaway toys.” A muscle ticked in his jaw and he kept his eyes on Anna and Leo as he spoke. “Did you know that starting his freshmen year he made bets on how many cherries he was going to pop before summer?” He nodded at Jenna’s brow raise. “Yeah, and as he got older it was more specific-singling out certain girls, the more challenging the better. Then he might keep the girl around awhile, until his next conquest. He's a fucking predator." He emphasized the last two words and turned to the girls, his expression dark.

Jess frowned, her previous excitement fading into worry. "So you think he's just trying to get Anna into bed? Because I heard from Carrie that he wanted to ask her out for dinner and a movie...

"Carrie? Wesler you mean?" Austin barked a laugh. "That little bitch is probably setting her up."

He spun around and took off across the beach to where Leo's friends were gathered, the girls trailing after him at a discreet distance.

"You got a bet going on boys?" Austin lit a cigarette and grinned wolfishly as he put it between his teeth.

"Bet? I don't know what you mean." Rodney, known as the Jerk Jock, tried for an innocent expression and failed miserably.

"Sure you do, come on, what's the stakes, what's the terms?"

"Why, you want in?" This from Kelley who over compensated for his girlie name with a major macho attitude.

"Hey dude, there is no bet." Rodney shot his friend a warning look.

Austin pulled a wad of bills from his pocket. "Don’t you like cash?" He held the money up and raised an eyebrow.

"I like cash," Kelley grinned stupidly.

"Don't be an idiot dude, don't you see who followed him over here?" Rodney pointed to where Anna’s friends were gathered several yards away.

"Okay," Austin stuffed the cash back in his pocket and threw up his hands, "you got me. So how about you tell me what this bet is and I don't beat your asses into the ground." He dropped his arms to his sides and flexed his fingers, his eyes narrowed in hostility.
Rodney snorted, "You and what army?"

They had attracted some attention at this point and Nate came hurrying over with a couple of their friends.

"What's going on?"

"Rodney is about to learn firsthand what water boarding is if he doesn't start talking NOW, that's what the hell is going on," Austin growled.

"He thinks they made a bet about Anna," Jess stated and pointed to where Anna and Leo were playing pong.

"I don't think it, I fucking know it!" He broke and rushed Rodney, taking him down to the beach as Nate and the others held Rodney's friends at bay.

Austin raised his fist, calculating his best shot....

"Okay, fine, yeah we made a stupid bet, but I don't know why you're going after me, it's Leo that's trying to screw her man, he thinks he can get her in bed if not by the end of tonight then the end of the week…Jesus, get off me!"

Austin climbed to his feet and turned toward the deck stairs. A number of people had crowded around them in an attempt to find out what was going on and he forced his way past them. He looked up at the second deck and locked eyes with Leo who was watching the beach intently. He started in his direction and when he reached the stairs he took them two at a time.

Anna intercepted him placing her hands on his chest, "What are you doing, what's going on?"

He ignored her, staring hard at Leo. "Leave. Now."

Leo held up a hand, "Why, what did those douche bags say? Don't listen to them...”

Austin picked Anna up and placed her behind him then stalked towards Leo who threw both hands in the air.

"Come on man, what's your problem?”

In a movement almost too fast to follow Austin's fist caught Leo on the jaw with a resounding crack and sent him flying into the stairs behind him.

Leo scrambled up a few steps holding his face as Austin advanced with his arm cocked back for another shot.

"All right, shit, I'm going, I'm going!"

Austin halted with his fist in the air and Leo turned and ran up the stairs, skating a glance over his shoulder to make sure he wasn’t being followed. When he reached the top he hollered for his posse before disappearing from view.

Anna, who had watched the scene unfold in startled confusion, finally recovered and turned on Austin. "Please tell me what the HELL that was about! Jealousy? So another guy can't talk to me or flirt with me because you're jealous? Do I have to warn every guy I meet that my best friend might beat them up if they stand too close?" She heard her voice rising and couldn't seem to stop even when she noted the flash of hurt in his eyes.

He didn’t reply, just stared at her with an unreadable expression. He shook his head and took a breath before turning and jogging back down the stairs.

Buy Your copy of The Allies of Old: Reborn HERE-

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=linnet+mclaughlin