“Yup. I’m outta here man. Let me know if Trey does anything stupid.” I swung my bag over my shoulder and headed toward the door.
“You got it,” Greg mumbled as I exited and the door closed behind me.
It would be a great day when Trey no longer graced my life. The dude was fucked in the head, thinking he owned everything and the general population owed him that and more.
He could be the son Dad always wanted. That was fine with me. The downside was Mom would probably always be with him too.
The ride home was slightly better, with cold air blasting me in the face. It worked wonders in cooling down my temper, at least after I had a go at Trey, the fucker.
I parked in my usual spot in the garage. Mom had a conniption whenever I parked by the cottage. She said my car was too filthy and needed a wash, and we were too well to do to be driving around in filthy cars.
For the most part, I did what I wanted, but when it came to small things like this, it was just easier to follow along. The Bentley was here, right next to me.
Great. Exactly what I needed. I could sneak through the side door of the garage and ignore my father ever existed. But somehow, that seemed like letting him win. Especially when he got the satisfied glint in his eye that said he knew what I was doing and was the weaker of the two of us. He acted like this was some kind of suburban alpha contest and he reveled in making me cower. Like that one night…
The night Astrid and her buddy Beck were spying on me. I should be furious my privacy was invaded like that. Indignant. Offended.
And those were my original reactions, but call me crazy, after I let them inside it was more of a comfort to not be alone than anything else. Astrid was gutsy to come over, but I hadn’t sensed any malicious intent. More like curiosity and understanding.
Then there was that picture. I had lied. Being the star of the hockey team, people would recognize me, but I didn’t have the heart to tell her to delete it. It was so powerful, it even spoke to me and I didn’t have an artistic bone in my body. I was more of the brute, aching to settle my problems with my fists until the steam cleared.
I’d seen her around school a few times since that night. She hadn’t known I was creeping on her, she was so oblivious to life. No, that wasn’t right. Every time she came into view she had that damn camera in her hand, documenting some fucked up scenario at the school. If she ever released her photos, she’d start Silver Ranch Armageddon for sure. So far, I’d witnessed her snapping pictures of teacher affairs, back hallway fights, science room trysts.
It wasn’t that she was obvious about it. In fact, she was damn near invisible, silently stalking the hallways and catching people unaware. But no one watched her the way I did. Besides the geek. He watched her just as much. He even gave me a chin lift here and there, acknowledging in some weird way that we both were low key obsessed with the hippie girl. Neither of us were willing to approach her, though. And I always made sure to duck out of the way if she started to turn toward me. I couldn’t speak for the other guy, but she didn’t need my kind of trouble in her life.
Now that she was the prime target for the twitch bitches, I’d have to figure out a way to shield her. The geek, Jonah, might be a good ally. She only had one friend at school. Only one person to take her back. Astrid would need all the help she could get in the coming months.
Dad’s voice rang through the hollow rooms as I entered through the laundry room. Mom’s car was missing, so if she was gone, there was no reason he would have to be quiet.
“Yeah, baby I know. The weekend starts tomorrow and I can’t wait.” There was a pause and then a husky chuckle.
I gagged quietly. This was so disgusting. Not because he was my dad, but because he was an open cheater. The urge to rip his face off was bubbling below the surface of my rage, but I wouldn’t make the same mistake again. No father should ever put their hands on their sons like that. And I was trained to always respect him, not defending myself like I should have. He wanted to cheat? Fine. He could do what he damned well pleased, and as soon as I could, I wouldn’t even be a memory for him.
“I’ll call you when I get on the road. I know. See you soon.” His voice dropped as I walked through the kitchen toward the back door.
His gaze tracked me as he hung up, an ugly smirk curling his mouth. I hoped I looked nothing like him. I’d disfigure myself to keep from looking like this man. If there was any kind of higher power in the universe, my mom cheated when she got pregnant with me. Actually, come to think of it, we didn’t look that similar.
“Nothing to say, son?” He taunted, probably hoping for a repeat, another excuse for him to feel superior to me. It would come as a shock this time when I hit back, let the evidence of our family bond out for the world to see. Dad would never let that happen though. He’d lock me in the cottage and order tutors for school until the bruising faded.
“Nah, it’s pointless. You’re going to do what you want to do anyway.”
He grinned. “Now see, that’s the attitude you should have had all along. That’s the Bennet way. We do what we want and no one cares, because we own half this town.”
I gave him my best dead stare, but he ignored it.
“At some point, you’re going to be just like me. You’re going to want something so bad, you’re going to take it and realize no one will stop you. They might not like it, but they’d rather be on our good side than cause waves.” His face took on a fatherly expression as if he was imparting some deep life lesson on me.
And I guessed in a way he did. He was cementing my hate, sealing my determination to be everything he wasn’t and nothing he was.
“And Mom? Isn’t she one of us?”
He waved a soft hand in the air. “She isn’t blood. And she doesn’t care as long as her credit card bill is paid. You wait until you find the perfect woman for marriage. Wives are trophies only, good for making business deals and completing the American dream image everyone cares so much about. They look pretty when you take them down and show them around. Oh, you don’t let them collect dust and let themselves go, but marriage is a lie. Not a partnership. The world is ours for the taking son, and not even our wives stand in the way of what we want.”
The sad thing was, he really believed that. He thought I’d come around to his way of thinking and be just. Like. Him.
My biggest fear.
Dad could feed himself whatever lie he wanted to keep the dream alive, but at some point, when I didn’t have to rely on him and his money, I was going to bust it wide open and he’d choke on the truth.
Okay, so skipping school Friday and hiding out over the weekend seemed like a good idea at the time. I did a stellar job of convincing myself that everyone would forget about me being called as a homecoming candidate and I could face the school today, quietly sinking into the background like I always did.
Now I was sitting in Freda, clenching the steering wheel, watching students flow around my car to enter the school. The bell was about to ring, and I was absolutely terrified.
All through high school I’d seen people bullied and beat up and picked on. But it was never me. I was the observer only. The fear of the unknown was freaking me out right now and I couldn’t bring myself to get out of the car.
I hadn’t paid enough attention to the cheerleaders to know their secrets. Nope, instead I spent my time watching the hot guys. The perfect ones I was envious of. And now I was at a distinct disadvantage. I mean, I gave the girls as much attention as I gave everyone else but now I regretted not digging deeper into their lives.
Knuckles lightly rapped on my window and I screamed as I jumped in my seat.
What the…
Oh, it was Rhys. He wasn’t looking at me, but at the crowd milling about. The way he squinted his eyes at each indifferent individual said, they were his enemies and he was short on mercy. And compassion. With that expression he looked stone cold.
I rolled down the dirty window enough that I could hear him clearly.
&
nbsp; “Yes?”
“Come on. School’s about to start.” His voice was gruff but no less cultured than the first time I heard him speak at my house.
“I know. I think I can learn from here. If you really wanted to help a girl out, you could bring my assignments out to me.” I raised my eyebrows.
He scowled and apparently didn’t get my joke. I knew I fell short in the funny department, but considering the state of my emotions right now, I thought that was pretty good.
“I’m going to walk you in.” He met my stare and my breath caught. His light blue eyes were beautifully calm and intensely captivating. My fingers twitched to snatch my phone for a picture.
Then what he said penetrated my musings and I held my breath for a different reason. He was helping me? If he publicly made a statement like that, would he get any backlash? He definitely seemed top tier in the high school echelon, but did that mean he was untouchable?
“Why would you do that?” I wasn’t trying to sound bitchy, but I was genuinely curious.
“Because I’d like to think we’re friends. Or we can be. And everyone should know it.”
He was throwing down before it even got started. My insides were gooey mush and if he wasn’t watching me so closely, I would have sighed dreamily. As it was, his offer went a long way to calm me down and I’d never admit it, but it was the push I needed to get out. I would take him up on his offer and lean on his unshakeable strength. He seemed like he had plenty extra to spare.
I gave him a closed lip smile and took my keys out of the ignition. He stepped back as I pushed the door open and grabbed my bag. Once I was out, the bag left my hands and Rhys threw it on his shoulder. I stared at him, surprised he’d taken it, then the picture it made actually sunk in. Rhys, the Ragnar hockey player, toting around my whimsical, royal blue and gold patterned backpack, with the gold tassels hanging off the bottom.
Laughter escaped past my lips before I could stop it, and I covered my mouth with a hand to keep as much in as I could.
Rhys’ face scrunched up in confusion before he looked down. He must have realized what was so funny and found it equally as hilarious, because he grinned. It was a good look.
“Yeah, not exactly my style.” He shrugged and turned toward the school. As we walked together, more and more people turned and stared.
I thought this was exactly what I needed to get over my fear, but I momentarily forgot that I hate being the center of attention, and there was no way walking with Rhys that gazes would not be drawn to us.
My hands started to shake, and I twisted my head to keep my attention on Rhys. If I couldn’t see the looks, then I could pretend it wasn’t happening. Bottom line, I had to get over this irrational stage fright. I had a feeling I’d need every tool in my arsenal over the next few months and this fear that shackled me did me no favors.
“What did you do this weekend?” Rhys glanced down and a blush heated my cheeks at getting caught staring at him. Why did I have to be so awkward?
“Uh, read in my text books about photography. Exciting, I know.” I babbled.
“Oh yeah? That’s cool. From that photo you showed me, you’re crazy talented.” He pulled the front door open and held it for me to pass through.
As soon as my feet crossed the threshold, it was like we were in some kind of play, where everyone was on the edge of their seats. Unsure of the plot twist, but waiting with bated breath to find out what happened next.
The girl who announced prom candidates was walking by with a group of identically dressed girls, but stopped dead center when she caught sight of us. Rhys’ arm fell over the top of my shoulders as he tugged me toward the side hallway where senior lockers were.
“Come on. The bell’s about to ring. Your locker isn’t far from mine.”
I let him lead me away, but before we got very far, the girl slid in front of us, blocking our path.
“Rhys. What’s going on?” Her eyes darted to me before landing on Rhys. A flash of anger sparked in her make-up caked eyes.
Oh God. I hope this wasn’t a past girlfriend. Or a current girlfriend. Rhys didn’t seem like that kind of guy, but I didn’t know him that well.
“What do you mean, Ashley?” His fingers dug into my skin.
Dang, his voice was so cold. Wait a minute. Ashley… Ashley, one of the girls that decided I was her play toy for the year? This was at least to my advantage. I glanced at her posse hovering by the wall, waiting and watching like the crowd of Botox vultures they were. They were perfect and plastic, and if I was being honest, they looked like they could use a sandwich. And I used the opportunity to memorize their features so I’d recognize them later.
“I see you found our homecoming candidate.” Her nostrils flared and she cast a scathing look over me.
“About that…” Under Rhys’ arm I found some of my backbone again, and I wrapped my arm around his back. I did not focus on his muscles flexing beneath my fingers as they glided over his shirt. “I withdraw. I’m not really that kind of girl.”
Rhys nodded in approval and backed me up. “You can’t make someone participate if they don’t want to. In fact, I withdraw too.”
He was nominated? That shouldn’t be a surprise. By being the announcer, I knew he had won last year. The question of the hour was, why would he withdraw? Maybe he was showing his solidarity with me, or maybe he was sticking it to Ashley for some unknown reason.
“What? You can’t do that! You always win and I’m always queen.” She sputtered and a vein protruded from her forehead. It wasn’t a pretty look for her.
Again, I wished I was in a position to use my phone.
“I can. I’m tired of all the politics of high school. I don’t need to win to feel good about myself. Trey will be thrilled, though. He might actually have a chance at winning this year.”
Burn! That was low. It was a double insult and delivered so smoothly. He didn’t wait for a response, and guided me around her.
I wanted to ask him about his motives, but every possible way I thought to phrase my questions were lame. In the end, I stayed quiet until we reached my locker. How had he known which locker was mine? That was a question I could ask. When I turned to open my mouth, he beat me to it.
“I saw you here the other day. I’m not stalking you or anything.” He adopted a squirrelly look and if I didn’t know who he was and how important he was at the school, I would have thought he was lying to me.
“It’s fine. It’s not like it’s a secret or anything.” I opened the dented blue door to my locker and grabbed my backpack from him. He started talking again as I stuffed my English and chemistry book in the small, paint chipped space.
“I’m glad you withdrew. I was going to talk to you about it, but I know for some girls, the chance at being homecoming queen is a childhood dream. I didn’t want you to think I was taking that away from you.” The sincerity in his voice wrapped around me, pulling me toward him as if I were a withering planet in his orbit.
“You don’t have to worry about that with me. I hate being the center of attention like that.” I made a sour face and he laughed. Then I closed my locker door and faced him, bringing the conversation back to a serious level. “Thank you for what you did. I really appreciate it, and whether it makes a difference or not with those girls, it means the world to me that you’d do something like that. I hope this whole mess with me didn’t influence you to back out of the running.” After the last word fell from my lips, I lost my nerve and broke eye contact. Thoughts of fleeing danced through my head, but he didn’t deserve me to run from him just because I was uncomfortable.
He shook his head and hitched his own backpack higher. “I’m happy to dip out. I hate those things. It was just a plus, adding a little insult to injury.” He was referring to insulting both Ashley and Trey.
“Well, you’re my new favorite person.” I beamed and his eyes tracked the smile with unnerving intensity.
“Good, then maybe we can hang out sometime.”
&
nbsp; My heart skipped a beat at the idea, and it was a miracle I didn’t jump up and down. Then, unfortunately, he continued.
“And hey, be careful. They were planning to mess with you during the homecoming events. Now that they don’t have that, there’s no telling what they’ll be planning.”
That shot my good mood straight down to the sticky hallway floor. “You don’t think they’ll stop?”
Rhys sighed and stepped closer. “Maybe? They know I’m on your side now, but those twitch bitches will do anything to make them feel like they’re top of the food chain.”
“Twitch bitches?”
He burst out laughing and slammed a hand on the lockers, scaring the guy behind him. “That’s what I’ve always called the cheerleaders. They do all their dances and cheers so stiff, their routines look little better than uncontrollable twitching. Twitch bitch.”
That was hilarious. Visions of Ashley and her posse literally twitching and spasming across the gym floor flooded my mind and I cracked up.
“That’s the best visual ever.” I wheezed.
The bell rang and I was sorry that our short time was over. Then again, if we stayed any longer, I was bound to embarrass myself with my awkwardness.
Rhys tapped my shoulder. “I’ll see you later.” And he was gone.
The rest of the day passed without any attacks from the twitch bitches. I figured they were regrouping and wouldn’t have been ready to act again so soon, but it still didn’t keep me from watching everyone around me with distrust and suspicion. The highlight of the day was reliving the pep rally with Ryan in art. Not. He thrived on drama, but when it was my own, it wasn’t as much fun to indulge him.
“Girl, why didn’t you call me?” Ryan huffed as he plopped down in the chair across from me.
“Why didn’t you call me?” I retorted. It was actually surprising that he hadn’t reached out.
“I had a stomach bug and left right before the pep rally. Then I missed Friday. I had no idea until first period where I overheard some girls’ conversation, wondering who Astrid Scott was. I about fell out of my chair.” He couldn’t have looked more offended if I spilled red Kool-Aid on his Hollister shorts. You didn’t mess with his style. He’d cut a bitch over that.
Pretty Lies: A contemporary YA Romance (Astrid Scott Series Book 1) Page 17