“Hen, wait up.”
I hear a familiar voice call out behind me. I spin around and lose my balance. I close my eyes and fall. It feels like I land on clouds, but when I open my heavy eyes, I look up to see Scout standing over me. He has a glass cup with amber liquid in one hand and his cell in the other. A smirk spreads across his face as his eyes sweep over my body.
“What are you doing out here?” he asks with a chuckle.
I tilt my head back and look at the sky. It’s full of a thousand shining stars. They’re so bright that they’re almost painful to look at. “Admiring the sky,” I slur.
He falls onto his side and lies down next to me. “How about some company?” Propping himself up, he cups my cheek. I lean into him. His hands are cool from the drink he was holding. They feel good on my hot skin. “Hey, don’t do that. Not here.”
“Hmm?” My eyes roam his face.
His fall to my chest. The corners of his perfect lips are tilted upward in a grin. “You moaned. You know that makes me hard.”
I did? I didn’t realize it. “What would you do if I did this?” My hand falls to his jeans, and I run my palm over his crotch.
He throws his head back and closes his eyes. “Hen …”
“Or this?” I sit up and straddle him, throwing my hair over my right shoulder. I get a head rush from moving too fast and am thankful I’m not standing. “What about this?” I run my hands through my hair, gathering it up and throwing my head back. I let out a moan, rocking my hips back and forth on him. I can feel him grow inside his jeans, and I moan again; only this time, it wasn’t fake.
“Henley.” He grips my hips, bringing me to a stop. “Not here.”
I look around. The area is littered with kids everywhere. But no one is paying us any attention. A group of about twenty are over to the right, standing at a bonfire. They’re all sipping their alcoholic drinks, and the Jeep backed up to it has its speakers blaring. “No one cares what we do.” This is why kids come out here.
“Doesn’t mean people aren’t watching us.” He sits up and pushes me off him.
I pout. “You embarrassed all of a sudden to be seen with me?” I arch a brow. “Afraid of what people will say if they find out you’re fucking me?” No one knows what we do. Kids at school expect it because he’s one of my best friends. But there’s a difference in rumor and fact. No one has yet to prove it. And the ones who can, won’t.
Scout grips my hair in his hand, tilts my head back, and slams his lips to mine in a possessive, dominating kiss. Our teeth hit, and our tongues dance. I moan into his mouth, and my pussy tightens.
He pulls away. “I don’t give a fuck what they think.”
“Then why?” My hand falls to his hard dick again, but he pushes it away.
“Just … not here,” he snaps, jumping to his feet.
Grabbing my hand, he yanks me up as well. He’s dusting my back and ass off when I look up and see a familiar face in a hole where a window once was in the old and damaged building. “I thought you said Dax wasn’t coming tonight?” I ask.
“He’s not,” he answers.
“I just saw him.”
He shakes his head, chuckling. “Lay off the alcohol, Hen. Come on, let’s go inside.”
I don’t get to argue. He grabs my hand and pulls me inside one of the many abandoned buildings. The music drowns out my thoughts. The only lights on in the house are from glowsticks. Most of the kids are rolling. I follow Scout into the cafeteria. The place once held up to a hundred boys at once. It’s bigger than some prisons, and the security was just as tight. He pulls out a chair for me to sit at one of the tables. I look over at the one next to us and see several lines of cocaine lined out. Kids have hundred-dollar bills rolled up and held to their noses as they snort them.
A guy by the name of Derek sits down across from me and holds out his right hand. “Here, Henley. Have one.”
I look down at the circular pink pill. I shouldn’t do it tonight. I’ve already drunk too much.
I look up when I feel hands on my shoulders. Scout is standing behind me, whispering in my ear, “Take it. I’ll fuck you after it kicks in.”
I should never have swallowed it. I should never have taken a sip of alcohol that night. And I sure as shit shouldn’t have gone looking for Dax to prove he was there. I hate that I was right.
Chapter Two
HENLEY
I PULL UP to the school. Thankfully, my windows are blacked out so I can sit here for a moment unseen while I gather my bearings. I haven’t slept in days. Not because I’m afraid of them, but because of what everyone at school will say about me. They think I made it up. Or that I’m crazy. I went up against one of them, and they all banned together, taking me down and making me sound insane.
The parking lot is packed with kids. Many stand by their cars, not ready to go inside just yet, while others mingle in the courtyard. Any extra minute of freedom they can get, they’ll take.
I look out my passenger window and spot them immediately. Each one of their cars is backed in, side by side, in the front row. They’re all the same color—flat black—and intimidating just like them.
All four gather around Ryan Scout’s Lambo. Girls flank them as though they’re all members of a rock band, and you have to suck their dick to get backstage. One even stands between Dax’s parted legs. His hands on her hips.
I grip the steering wheel and drop my head. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath.
“I can do this,” I chant.
The fact that I ran after the verdict was announced made me look even more like a fool. The media took my departure as an omission of guilt; that I had lied, and when I lost, I was afraid to show my face.
Everyone thinks I made it all up. Girls and boys from our school took to their social media and spoke about how I was in love with Dax, and when he wouldn’t return the favor, I tried to get him arrested.
I had to shut down all of my accounts and close myself off to the outside world. The case was heard all around, and there was no escape.
But one thing still remained. Brenda Nash was never found. By the time the cops arrived, the body was gone. And as I found out while Dax was on trial, no body means no conviction.
They also argued that no murder weapon was present. I told them they wouldn’t find one. He used his hands.
But my argument went unnoticed. I might as well have been talking to a wall. Plus, I’m sure money was involved. His father paid someone off—star football player with a bright future and a young girl who was a product of the system.
You take your guess who was treated more like the victim.
Opening my eyes, I take another deep breath to try to slow my racing heart. Before I can chicken out, I reach over to grab my backpack and exit the driver’s seat.
The moment I round the front of my car, all chitchat comes to a halt, and everyone stares at me. It’s as if I’ve gone momentarily deaf; it’s so quiet. Not even a bird chirping. No wind howling, just deafening silence. My heart begins to pound, and my palms begin to sweat like they did that day in court when Dax was given a pass because of his fucking name.
I have sunglasses over my eyes, giving me the advantage to sneak a look over at them.
Ryan Scout leans back against his car in black skinny jeans and a matching shirt. His arms are crossed over his chest, and his green eyes are on mine. The coldness almost makes me trip over my own feet. They send a shiver up my spine while also piercing my heart. He’s never looked at me like that before. They drop to my shoes and start their way up my jeans. I swallow when they get to my eyes again, and he smiles. It’s cold and deadly, like a promise of what’s to come.
My eyes shoot to Van Rellik. He’s smoking a blunt—typical Rellik. The guy can’t function unless he’s high, especially at school. One arm draped over a blonde. He smiles at me as well, but it’s different. His smile reminds me he’s a snake and will strike at any moment. He’s the most devious out of the four. He pretends to be a good guy, bu
t he’s not.
Grayson Law sits on the hood. One leg out straight while the other is bent at the knee. He’s got a hat on backward to shield his dark curls and a cigarette between his lips. He pays me no attention. He’s scrolling through his phone without a care in the world. That’s Law for you. He never gives a shit about much. He’d give you the same look if you were killing a man or on your knees sucking his dick.
My eyes find Dax. He still has Amy Lane between his legs, but his eyes are on me. And just like last time I saw him, he winks, as if he knows I’m staring right at him.
A cold shiver runs up my spine, and fear cripples my legs, but I try not to let it show. They can’t break me. I won’t allow it. They’re harmless. They can’t hurt me. Not here. Not now. Too many witnesses. Honestly, my safest place will be at school. No, if they want to hurt me, they’re gonna do it when I’m alone. So, I need to stick with a crowd.
My brother was wrong about me coming back here for my senior year. It’s not a mistake. Everything happens for a reason. And mine is to get to the bottom of the truth. I’m going to do what no one else in this town took the time to do. Prove to the world that Dax Monroe is a rapist and killer.
Once I enter the school, I make a beeline to the women’s bathroom and pretend to check my lipstick when I really need to collect my thoughts and get my head on straight. Suddenly, the door flies open, hitting the wall. I jump back when Jamie enters.
“What in the actual fuck, Hen?” she snaps.
“J ...”
“You leave town for the summer and just show back up without a warning?” She’s shouting. Her fists are flying. Jamie was my best friend. I say was because when I left Wilton, I left everything and everyone.
A girl I don’t recognize exits one of the stalls. She looks over at Jamie with narrowed eyes. “Geez, chill ...”
Jamie grabs her by her hair and shoves her out the door.
“Bitch ...”
She slams the door in her face and locks it, caging me in here with her. “I ... Hen … what the fuck?” she snaps, sucking in a breath. She’s pissed, and I understand that. I left her.
“I’m …” I start to apologize but stop myself. I shouldn’t have to apologize for anything. Shouldn’t she be telling me she’s sorry? Where the hell was she when I was testifying against one of my best friends? She sure as hell wasn’t cheering me on.
She tilts her head, narrowing her hazel eyes on me. “You left. You just fucking left.”
There’s nothing to say. She wouldn’t understand. She never took the guys’ side, but she never really proved she was on mine. And once I gave my statement to the police, everyone picked a side. They were all for Dax. His friends stood behind him, and that was enough for them to follow.
And like a dam breaks, her rigid body sags, the mask of anger she wears falls off her face, and her blue eyes glisten with tears. She wraps her arms around me and yanks me to her. “Fuck, I’ve missed you,” she whispers, holding me tight.
“I’ve missed you,” I admit with a sniffle, hating the fact that I’m getting emotional.
“God, I never thought I’d see you again.” She pulls away and rubs the tears from her face.
I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. “I need to ask you something.”
“Anything.”
“Did you know I was coming back?” It’s a long shot, considering she just jumped my ass, but I ask anyway. Maybe my brother said something to hers. They were best friends before they went off to different colleges. I’m not sure how close they are now.
“No.” She playfully shoves my shoulder. “But I should have. Why didn’t you call and tell me?”
My number was changed. That was the first thing my father did. Someone had leaked it after the trial, and I was getting calls from reporters. My father shut my phone off and got me a new number. I only had three numbers saved to my contacts. My father’s, my mother’s, and my brother’s. No one else mattered.
I ignore her questions and ask my own. “Then why didn’t the guys look surprised by my return?”
Scout
“What the fuck is she doing back here?” Amy demands as Monroe shoves her from between his legs.
None of us answer her.
“Dax?” She slaps his chest. “Why is she here?”
“Why do you think I’d know?” he asks, throwing his backpack over his shoulder.
“Because you didn’t seem surprised to see her.” She huffs. “And I would think you’d be pissed she’s returned after what she tried to do to you.”
We’re not.
This is where we want her. In our world. We control this school. We own this town. Her actions made us even more powerful than we were before. The town looks at Dax with pity and her with disgust.
Law looks at me as he puts out his cigarette. “Ready?” he asks.
I shake my head.
Not today. We’ll let her think she’s safe here. That we no longer care what she does, or that she even exists. And just when she starts to get comfortable, we’ll remind her just who we are—the guys who are going to fucking bury her.
Chapter Three
HENLEY
FIRST AND SECOND hour went mind-numbingly slow as fuck. My eyes pretty much stayed on my desk because I could feel everyone else’s on me. Even the teachers’ eyes grew two sizes when they called my name. I acknowledge that I was here, and that was that. I was handed my designated book for that class, and I followed along silently.
I wanted to sit in my chair longer to bypass the rush of kids in the hallway when the bell went off, signaling class was over, but I forced myself to my feet and to move with the crowd. I can’t let anyone see that this bothers me or that I’m ashamed of the choices I’ve made. What I did was right. And I will fight for every woman to do the right thing no matter how much discrimination they face.
I walk into third period and drop into a front row seat. I never was the kind of student who hid in the back, and I’m not about to start now.
The door opens, and I see Jamie enter. I smile at her, and she returns it, falling into the seat next to me. “Well, at least we have one class together,” she sings.
I start to laugh, but it stops the moment I see Dax Monroe enter the classroom as well. My entire body stiffens, and my hands curl around the edge of my desk. I have the urge to look away, to get up and run out of the room, but I can’t. Not now. Not here. He will know he’s still winning.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, looking over her shoulder and spotting him. She quickly turns back to face me. “I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I should have warned you.”
Yes, she should have. We’re two months into our senior year, so she knew he was going to be in this class with us.
I swallow nervously and try to calm my breathing as he walks near me. Then just as I was praying he wouldn’t … the fucking bastard takes the empty seat behind me.
“Good morning, Hen,” he whispers in my ear, and I jump. His dark chuckle follows as I hear him sit back in his seat, getting comfortable.
I close my eyes, taking in a deep breath and manage to release the hold I have on my desk. With shaky hands, I pull out my cell and send Jamie a quick text since it’s obvious we can’t talk without him hearing us.
Me: I thought he was going to have to repeat junior year?
His trial started at the end of school last year. His arrest caused him to miss quite a bit of school. Even when he was out on bail, he didn’t go to his classes. He missed finals. He was going to have to repeat his junior year due to that.
My phone vibrates in my hands. I haven’t saved her number, so her name doesn’t show up. Good thing I remembered it.
Her: They decided to let him make up all his credits in summer school due to his verdict.
I grip my phone in my hands. Of course, they did. It’s his senior year. He plays football. Scouts will be all over him. Wilton, Texas, needs to make sure they are seen. And he is a big asset.
It fucking pisses me off even
more and makes me even more determined to show those fuckers how wrong they were about him.
Scout
“She needs to disappear,” my father argues.
He pulled me, the boys, and their dads into his office downtown for an emergency “family” meeting. Henley showed her face at school today, and now they’re all losing their shit. Not sure why they are so surprised. We knew this would happen. She’d return. The girl had nowhere else to go.
“How do you propose we do that?” Law asks from my right.
“I don’t give a shit if you tie her leg to an anchor and throw her out to sea. Fuck, bury her alive in the backyard, and I’ll have concrete poured tomorrow,” he snaps.
I look over at Dax. He didn’t seem affected by her presence earlier while at school. But as the day has gone by, he’s become agitated. He sits with his fists on his thighs, his back ramrod straight, and his chin up. His jaw is clenched, and his eyes stare out into nothing. The man will snap her neck without a thought. He wants her dead. We all want her dead. But ... not like this.
“If she goes missing after she moves back, it will look suspicious.” I speak my thoughts. It’ll be just like the trial all over again. Too many questions will surface, and I refuse to put my best friend through that again. The only difference is, this time, he would be guilty.
All our fathers’ heads snap in my direction.
“What do you suggest we do?” Mine growls, roughly undoing his black silk tie. A clear sign he’s pissed off.
“We force her out,” I explain. “Henley needs to leave of her own free will. It’s a process and will take time, but it is very doable.” Lie. The boys and I have a plan for her. But I don’t want them to know. They’re getting impatient, and we want to do it on our own time.
Will Monroe, Dax’s father, shakes his head. “If she’s alive, she can talk. And I don’t want her fucking opening that mouth for anyone.”
Why would he care what she says now? Nothing would hold merit. She lied. Dax won. End of story.
Law snorts. “She can open her mouth for me.”
His father lets out an audible sigh and runs his hand down his unshaven face. “Keep it in your pants. Next thing you know, she’ll be accusing you of rape,” he growls.
Bully Me: Class of 2020 Page 62