You + Me = Us

You + Me = Us

By

Sandra Corton

Copyright © 2013 by Sandra Corton

ISBN:  978-0-6484418-2-3

All rights reserved.

Published by Sandra Corton

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any forms or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover Design by Marianne Nowicki

To Gigi Paris

You loved this book when I wrote it on Wattpad.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Epilogue

About the author

Other published books by this author

Chapter 1

Link

My name is Lucas Lincoln, but all my mates call me Link, all except for my best friend who now thinks I’m nothing but scum. Geez, why did I do that? How could I have been so damn stupid? I blame it on love. Maybe if I didn’t love her so deeply, I could’ve kissed her and walked away with a grin on my face.

Instead of being truthful, I kissed another girl, and now she’s mad as hell. I couldn’t blame her, shit, if it had of been the other way around, I would’ve been ropable, but it wasn’t. I’m pretty sure that she will never forgive me for this one.

Shanay

Lucas Lincoln, my next-door neighbour, and my best friend in the whole world for the last five years or so. I believed he could do no wrong. At least until last night where my entire world came crashing down around me.

Now before we get to that, let’s go back a bit further…

He had just spent the summer with his father in the city. I missed him like you wouldn’t believe. Even though we talked every day, I still missed him. I drove to the train station in the closest town to pick him up this morning, and I couldn’t contain my excitement. It thrilled me so much that he was coming home, and I couldn’t stop the enormous grin that stayed glued on my face.

He hopped off the train looking tired, and my heart went out to him. When he saw me, his whole face lit up. He dropped his bags where he stood, and ran over to me, smothering me in the biggest bear hug ever. God, it felt so good! I had missed him way too much.

Hey, my Shay! he exclaimed, and I went tingly all over as those gorgeous sky blue eyes met mine.

Hey Link, how was the city? I asked as I waited for the grimace to appear, and when it did, I laughed.

Just as awesome as ever. He drawled with his sarcasm evident.

We were country mice and damn proud of it! My mum’s the town’s vet and my dad, unfortunately, was my English teacher. We lived on the outskirts of a small country town on a quaint hobby farm that was adjacent to another hobby farm, which was where Link and his mother lived.

Ever since Link moved in when we began high school, we had been the closest of friends. There was something so special about him that I couldn’t explain. I don’t know if it was because he always listened to me no matter how much I griped, or because he always knew what to say to make things better. All I knew was that he was the person I was closest to in my world. Link was my best friend, and I could want for no more.

He slung an arm around my shoulder, and pulled me close to his side, as he watched me lost in my thoughts. He gave me a quick shake, and I poked my tongue out at him.

Thank God, I don’t have to do that anymore, he said on a sigh. Next year he can bloody come and find me. He grumbled, and I tightened my hold on his waist.

What happened? I asked getting the feeling that something terrible had occurred.

He spent about five minutes with me the whole time I was there, always running off to attend his stupid meetings. Then he has a bloody go at me before I left that we didn’t spend enough time together. I mean whose fault was that? It sure as hell wasn’t mine. He told me with a furious growl, and I held back a sigh.

This happened every year. I know that Link didn’t realise it, and I felt terrible about it, so I just squeezed him a bit tighter and let him have his rant. He picked up his bag without letting go of me, by some miracle, and we walked out to where I’d parked our car.

I’m sorry, Shay. God, I’m always griping about him, aren’t I? he said with a shake of his head.

It doesn’t matter, Link. C’mon, chuck your bag in the back and let’s go. I told him.

Driving home had the comfortable warmth of our friendship. We chatted aimlessly about nothing and everything, while he never once let go of my hand. It was as he was grabbing his bag from the back when I asked those words that I would live to regret all too soon.

Jessie is having a party tonight, do you wanna go? I asked. Geez, I wish I had forgotten about that damn party!

Sure, Shay, it’ll be great to catch up with everyone. He told me warmly.

He kissed my forehead and walked to his door with a wave. I stupidly rubbed that tingling spot where he had kissed me and left the car in his yard to walk to my door.

The position of our houses next to each other always seemed weird to me. Sure, we had separate farms, but our homes were close together, only separated by a vegetable patch on Link’s side, and a horse pen on ours. In fact, he could wave to me from his bedroom window, and I could see him clearly.

I was choosing what to wear to the party when he clambered up the orange tree outside my window as dusk was settling in. He landed on my windowsill grinning like crazy, and I let him in with a shake of my head.

I swear you were born half monkey, I told him with a giggle, and he slapped my backside with a cheeky grin.

That’s not a nice thing to say to the guy who’s driving you to the party. He told me with a pretend sulky expression.

Ugh! Stop being such a sook.

I used my most dramatic sigh, which made him chase me around the room until he caught me. I squealed aloud while he tickled me like crazy.

Stop! I shrieked through my laughter.

Never! he shouted.

He picked me up with ease and tossed me on the bed. I scurried away and tried to cover my most ticklish spots. He surprised me when he lay down next to me, and pulled me into his arms.

I missed you. He whispered.

I missed you too, I admitted, and my heart melted as he stroked my cheek with the gentlest touch.

Damn, Shay, I really… My door swung open, and dad peered in at us.

I guess you still can’t remember where the front door is, Lucas. Dad raised his brows, and I laughed.

Yeah, sorry about that, but the tree is far too tempting. Link said with a grin, while dad shook his head with a wry grin on his face.

How were your holidays? Dad asked, and Link shrugged but muttered something in the affirmative. I’m guessing that you two are going to Jessica’s party? we both nodded. Excellent! We are going over to Margie’s house for our kids back to school party, so I guess we’ll see you in the morning. He told us, and I smiled.

Neither of you should want to party, it means that you’re both going back to work, I said wryly, while dad grinned at me.

Have a good night. He replied with a laugh.

I always found it funny that they held this party at the end of every holiday. Dad, mum, and Link’s mum Margie invited a heap of other parents over to one of our houses, and partied until dawn. To me, all it meant was that dad became my English teacher, and Margie became my Science teacher.

As soon as dad left, I rolled back over to Link only to find him staring at me with an intensity I wasn’t used to seeing. It was weird; I mean I’ve always had a tiny bit of a crush on him. I could at least admit that to myself. It was the way he looked at me now that made me catch my breath, as my heart started thumping.

What’s wrong? I asked, and I couldn’t hide my uncertainty.

Nothing. He murmured as he pushed my crazy, curling hair away from my face.

Something is. I know you; now tell me what’s bothering you. I grabbed hold of his chin and forced him to look at me.

Shay, geez, you’re such a bloody worry wart, he told me with a frown as he pushed off the bed. Now why don’t you choose something to wear so we can go? he gestured to my wardrobe.

Alright, I’m going, bossy, I grumbled at him as I grabbed a pair of jeans, and was about to choose a shirt when he interrupted me

I forgot I got this made up for you.

He threw a bunch of bright fabric at me, and I laughed when I saw what it was. This was so typically Link. It was hot pink with a cute cartoon monkey and the words ‘That Blasted Monkey’. I ran into the bathroom to change.

I pulled on the shirt and rolled my eyes. There was no way I could wear this, as cute as it was. I, just like my mother before me, came well-endowed in the breast department, and this shirt clung way too much.

I so can’t wear this, Link. Throw another shirt in here. I yelled out not wanting him to see me.

Nope, walk out here first. He replied, and I groaned.

He would talk me into wearing it. I knew he would. Still, I walked out, never able to resist anything he asked of me. I saw his eyes darken to a stormy blue as his jaw dropped open, and I bit my lip in hesitation.

Yep, I knew it! I’m so getting another shirt. I complained to which he frowned.

You had better! That’s going to give all the guys bad ideas. Heck, it’s giving me bad ideas. He murmured the last part, and for a second I could do nothing but stare at him.

Nowhere in our five-year friendship had he ever said anything like that to me. I’m not saying that he didn’t compliment me, because he did. The thing was he had never mentioned it with quite so much heat in his eyes or in his voice.

Um, right. Let me get something else. I stammered out.

I quickly snatched a long baggy t-shirt from my cupboard. Feeling slightly more covered up, I walked out to Link. He smiled wryly at me as he clicked his tongue in approval, and his eyes reverted back to their sky blue.

I can’t say better, because I don’t think anything could beat that shirt. He told me as he offered me his arm. I frowned at him, but he just shrugged.

Are you going to tell me what’s going on with you? I demanded. I’ve never been the shy, retiring type, and I had always thought that Link had respected that about me.

He shook his head, maybe later. He mumbled as he ushered us towards the car.

We had both pooled our savings from the last few years, and with our parent’s help, we had managed to buy our old, but reliable car. We had shared ownership of it, which was never a problem when we were always going to the same places.

We drove a couple of kilometres into town in companionable silence. That was what I loved that we didn’t always have to fill the air with white noise or awkward conversation. I kept singing along to my favourite song on the radio, while Link grinned at me.

My friend Jessie lived in the heart of town, and the music was already thumping when we arrived. Everyone was happy that Link was home, it never seemed the same without him. We started the night catching up and being crazy like usual.

When Ali, one of my other friends emptied her soft drink bottle and tipped it teasingly at us, I should’ve said no. In fact, I should’ve screamed hell no and ran from the house. This is the point where my life turned into a nasty pit of despair.

There was a girl who always hung around us, although she wasn’t really one of our friends. In all honesty, I thought she belonged with the more popular crowd at our school. I’ve known why she hung around us for a long time, but I had never admitted it to myself.

She had the most enormous crush on Link. This is the point where Cara Pinshki, known by Link and me as ‘pinch me’, becomes a massive problem in my life.

Ah, spin the bottle! It was a game that my friends have insisted on playing for a long time. It now came with strict but strange rules that when I look back at it makes no sense whatsoever. The thing is that through playing this game, all my friends had ended up with their current boyfriends.

I rolled my eyes at Ali who looked so spunky with her new haircut, which resembled a freaked echidna. I still liked it because it suited her somewhat warped