by C. E. Wilson
“Have you seen my ring?”
“I haven’t,” Ellie said, pretending to look at her friend’s hand. “Isn’t it usually on your finger?”
“It is. I took it off for class and then I forgot to put it back on,” Devony went on, still digging around. “I can’t think of a worse time to misplace it.”
“You think he’ll be mad?”
“How could he not be?”
“Orion’s pretty reasonable,” Ellie said. “I’m sure he’ll forgive you…look, there he is! Just tell him now.”
“I…I can’t bring myself to do it,” Devony whispered as he approached. “Besides, I’m still trying to help Micah out.”
“Are you sure now’s a good time—” Ellie cut herself off, noticing how upset Orion looked.
“Orion. Hey,” Devony said, putting on her brightest smile. “How’s it going? Been busy?”
“It’s a nightmare,” he grumbled. “How are you?”
“Just…wishing this day was over,” she admitted.
“It could be worse…” he trailed off, reaching to touch her cheek with his thumb. “Why are your cheeks so red?”
“I guess it’s just hot.”
“In the beginning of December?” Orion asked. “Are you sure you’re not blushing?”
“I don’t have anything to blush about.”
“Huh,” Orion said, looking more closely. “You look embarrassed. You’re not keeping a secret, are you?”
“Of course not! I wouldn’t keep secrets.”
He took his hand away, frowning. “I hope not. What are you doing here anyway? Have you seen the headmaster?”
“I haven’t,” Devony said. “I was looking for you.”
“What for?”
“Don’t you remember what you promised me?”
“Promised?”
“You said that you would talk to Micah about helping out with the tournament again.”
“I don’t recall saying that.”
“You did! You promised me, Orion.”
“It’s not a good time, Dev,” he said, glancing at her hand. “Where’s the ring I gave you?”
“Ring?”
“Don’t act stupid. The ring. You know what ring. The ring I gave you at the end of the summer.”
“I took it off for a Bio lab this morning.”
“It’s after lunch. Put it back on.”
“I…I don’t have it.”
“So how did you take it off?”
“Maybe I didn’t…I can’t remember,” Devony said, her face growing pinker. “Maybe I forgot to put it on this morning.”
“Why wouldn’t you wear the ring? You don’t have a reason to hide it. Everyone in the school knows we’re together, even your father knows! Devony, that ring means a lot to me. If you’re embarrassed to wear it—”
“That’s not it!”
“I bet you’re embarrassed to be seen wearing it now. Are you ashamed of me?”
“You know I’m not!”
“I bought it for you because I was proud to be with you,” he went on. “I thought you were proud to be with me. Maybe I was wrong.”
“You’re not wrong! God! It’s just a little ring—”
“Just a little ring? Is that how you see it?”
“Of course not. That came out wrong. I’ll find it.”
“Does that ring mean anything to you?”
“How can you even ask me that?”
“Because you keep changing your answers,” Orion said. “Now, did you or did you not wear it to school this morning?”
“I swear I don’t remember!”
“Liar!” Orion said. “How can you look me in the eye and lie so openly?”
“Alright!” Devony screamed over him. “Alright, I wore it this morning.”
“So why aren’t you wearing it now?”
“I told you, I took it off for class.”
“Then you must have it,” Orion said, holding out his hand. “Put it on or give it to me.”
“Stop changing the subject,” Devony said. “Are you going to let Micah help out with the tournament or not?”
“Let me see my ring.”
“You know you need help, Orion. Look at you, you’re going crazy.”
“Give me the ring.”
“He’s always been there for you, for us—”
“Micah has nothing to do with us! Dammit, Dev! Let me see the damn ring!”
Devony winced at his words and backed away. “Don’t talk to me like that,” she said in a frightened voice. “You can talk to your friends like that, but you cannot talk to me like that!”
“Forget you, then,” Orion said, dropping his hand and walking away.
Devony leaned against the lockers again, straining to catch her breath as Ellie looked at her with pity in her eyes.
“He sounded like a crazy person just then,” she said softly. “You okay?”
“He…he’s really stressed about the tournament. I’ve never seen him act like that. That ring. God, Ellie, what if I can’t find it? What if I really did lose it?” She noticed Ellie look away for a moment, her eyes growing worried. “H-have…have you seen it?” she asked her friend.
“All men are crazy,” she grumbled. “I’m sure it’ll turn up.”
“What will turn up?” Micah asked, smiling as he and Archer appeared next to Ellie and Devony.
“It’s nothing,” Devony muttered, looking from Archer to Micah. “Did you see Orion on the way over here?”
“He wouldn’t even look at me,” he said miserably, looking down at her. “Dev, I thought you said that you were going to talk to him! School’s almost over and he hasn’t said a word to me.”
“I’m trying—”
“You need to try harder,” Micah insisted. “He won’t listen to anyone else. If you can’t get through to him, then I might as well resign from student council myself before my dad finds out that I was drinking and fighting!”
“Can’t you just wait until after the tournament?” Devony asked wearily. “This whole thing has made such a mess of him and he’s acting kind of weird.”
“Fracking nuts, she means,” Ellie chimed in.
“Micah, I’ve done everything I can and he’s only getting more pissed off.”
“He’d never actually get mad at you,” Micah said. “You must not be trying hard enough.”
“She’s trying!” Ellie said, coming to her friend’s defense. “Don’t you dare say she hasn’t. If you saw what I just saw—”
“What happened?” Archer asked. “Don’t tell me he yelled at you? Was that what I heard on the way over here?”
“It…it was nothing,” Devony said. “Look, Micah. I’ve done all I can do. You’re just going to have to wait until after the tournament.”
“But this is a college level tournament! Do you have any idea how rare of an opportunity this is? My dad’s been talking about it nonstop and gushing over how valuable the experience will be for me. I need this, Dev. You have to try talking to him again.”
“Was he actually angry?” Archer asked.
“You said you heard him shouting,” Ellie said.
“And he was honestly shouting at Devony? I’ve never even seen him raise his voice before today and now he’s shouting at you?” he asked Devony. “Do you want me to try and talk to him?”
“Could you?” Micah asked.
“I don’t just mean for you,” Archer snapped. “I’ll see if something else is going on. It isn’t right for him to be shouting at you. It’s not like him.”
“No it’s not. This stupid tournament! Even I’m starting to get tired about the whole thing. I just want it to be over! The school has put entirely too much pressure on Orion. He may be the president but he’s still only one man.”
“Let’s just hope that it’s the tournament and not something else,” Ellie said.
“Like what?”
Ellie looked over at Micah. “Like him being jealous over something.”
“Orion has nothing to b
e jealous about.”
“Maybe not in your eyes, but maybe he sees something that you don’t. Men don’t need a reason to be jealous, they’re just jealous because it’s something to do. When a man gets bored, when he needs to take his mind off things, he gets jealous because it gives him something else to think about.”
“O…Orion isn’t like that. He knows I’d never cheat on him. I’m good to him.”
“I never said you weren’t. I’m just saying that’s how men think.”
“Some men,” Archer said. “I’d never be jealous about you.”
“Except you think I’m sleeping with the entire school behind your back,” Ellie said accusingly. “Don’t act like I don’t know what you say.”
“Shut up,” Archer grumbled.
“Don’t start fighting, you two,” Devony said, wiping her forehead. “If you two fight then I won’t be able to stand it.”
“We’re not fighting,” Ellie said. “Why don’t you go find Orion and make sure he’s okay?”
“I should,” Devony said, turning away. “Will you come with me?”
“Sure.”
“Should I come too?” Micah asked.
“No. You just stay here and far away from Orion. I’ll do what I can, Micah, but it doesn’t look good.”
“You have to try harder,” Micah called out, watching them go. “You’re the only one he’ll listen to.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
Chapter Seven
After Archer was called away on ‘treasurer business’, Micah slid his back down the lockers to the floor and buried his face in his hands. How had all of this gone so wrong? He needed something to take his mind off of things, and fast. Hearing the faint sound of heels clacking across the floor, he lifted his head to see the perfect distraction. He put on a charming smile and stood back up as a dark beauty sashayed up to him.
“Good afternoon, vice-prezzz,” the slim girl said, purring like a cat. Micah took her in, loving everything he saw from her short denim skirt to her argyle, low-cut sweater vest. Damn she looked better than usual today.
“What are you doing in these halls, Bentley, I mean frosh?” Micah asked.
“It’s a free country,” she said, leaning against the lockers next to him, brushing her shoulder against his. She crossed her arms under her considerable chest. “I haven’t seen you since the summer. I think you’ve been hiding from me – well, that or you became a boxer,” she said, smiling playfully as she looked at his eye.
“It’s been too long, hasn’t it? I’ve been busy with student council.”
“A whole council? I used to be able to keep you busy all by myself,” she said. “Don’t you think about how bored I am without you?”
“I’m sorry, Bentley. I’ve been busy…” he trailed off as he had a sudden idea. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a tiny silver ring. “Hopefully this will help you forgive me for being so forgetful?”
“Oh. My. God!” Bentley squealed, jumping up and down. Taking the ring, she slid it on the ring finger of her right hand and gazed at it. “It’s…it’s familiar. This isn’t something you give to all of your girlfriends, is it?”
“Oh come on,” Micah said, taking her hand. “I don’t have any girlfriends. This ring is a gift from me to you.”
“So who else has worn it?”
“Very funny,” Micah said.
“Where’d you find it?”
“I found it in my locker—”
“You’re giving me a ring that you found? How…romantic?”
“I still really like it. It suits you well, Bentley. A pretty ring for a pretty girl.”
“It’s kind of plain, isn’t it?”
“You didn’t earn a diamond yet,” Micah said.
“My birthstone’s actually a ruby,” she said, grinning.
“A ruby, eh? Well, come on then…let’s get out of here.”
“And go where?” she asked.
“A place to earn you a ruby,” he chuckled, ducking behind a classroom door and pulling her to him.
“Seriously though,” she whispered. “Why haven’t you called me?”
“I told you I’ve been busy,” he said. “Now don’t waste my time. Do you want this or not?”
Her dark cheeks flushed as she looked up at him. “You know that I do.”
He kissed her hard, wrapping a hand around her butt. “Let’s see you earn that gem.”
Act Four
Chapter One
As he helped set up the gym lobby, Orion couldn’t get Devony out of his head. What was the truth about the ring and why hadn’t she been wearing it? Had she really lost it? He dropped the folding table he was carrying with a curse and Archer looked at him strangely.
“Tell me that you’re not still thinking about her,” he said.
“It’s not just her—”
“Dammit, you’re thinking about Micah too?”
“How can I not? That’s all she’ll talk about now! She probably just wants him to stay close to me so I’ll never suspect anything. God knows I haven’t been the most attentive boyfriend.”
“Maybe they’re just kissing and haven’t done anything more?”
“Is that honestly supposed to make feel better, Archer?”
“I don’t know. I would rather Ellie kiss some guy than have sex with him.” He shrugged openly. “Of course I never saved up my money and bought a ring for her.”
“What if you did?”
“I would consider it hers to give away if she wanted to, but I would also like to think Ellie wouldn’t embarrass me like that.”
“What about her reputation? Is she able to give that away?”
“Ellie doesn’t have a good name, Orion. You know that. I’m just saying the ring—”
“Damn! That stupid ring, why can’t she find it all of a sudden?”
“How would I know?”
“What if she really did give it to Micah?”
“I don’t know what to tell you.”
“If she did,” Orion muttered, shaking his head, “it’s not a good sign for either of them.” He glanced over and saw Archer bite his lip as he set up some candy. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re hiding something,” Orion said, walking up and invading his space.
“I couldn’t just tell you. Do you remember the last time I was honest with you? I thought you were going to kill me!”
“Just. Tell. Me.”
Heaving out a large sigh, Archer met his gaze. “I just heard a new rumor this afternoon.”
“This is high school. There’s always going to be rumors.”
“Ahh but this one was obviously started by Micah.”
“What now?”
“If you tried to ask him about it, he’d never tell you, but let me just say that he’s up to his usual bragging.”
“About what?”
“Not only is he hooking up with Devony, but he’s also with someone else.”
“Someone else?”
“Not at the same time!” Archer said, trying to smile. Orion did not look in the mood to laugh so he continued. “All I’m saying is, he’s with other women. You know, Micah, he can never keep it in his pants. It’s in his nature to sleep around.”
“Sleep around? Devony isn’t some girl you can just sleep around with!”
“A girl can sleep anywhere.”
“Archer, I can’t take much more,” he said, holding out his hand for him to see. It shook wildly and he clenched his fists. “Tell me, is there anything else?”
“Get something to drink,” Archer said coolly.
“I want you to tell me.”
“Not until you settle yourself down. Go outside and get some fresh air. Do you want one of Ellie’s cigarettes?”
“No.”
“Then, here,” Archer said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a slim pill bottle. “Take one of these bad boys. It’ll help you get through the evening.”
“It’s for anxiety,” he said. “Take it and deal with your conscience later. We need this night to go well. I can’t have you acting like a raving, jealous maniac! Take the damn pill.”
“Will it really calm me down?”
“Have I ever lied to you before?” He dropped the pill into Orion’s waiting hand. “Take this and get some water, okay? You’ll feel more like yourself. Go now.” He watched him leave and before he disappeared out the door he tossed the pill into his mouth. As though timing it perfectly, Micah appeared through the same door a few moments later and walked straight up to Archer.
“What’s going on? What did you give him?”
“I told him to get some fresh air,” Archer said smoothly, going back to lining up the candy.
“I saw him take a pill. Don’t lie to me! Orion doesn’t take drugs, he won’t even take aspirin! What the hell did you give him?”
“Only something to calm his nerves. Don’t worry about it. I snuck one into his drink a few nights ago and he never noticed.”
“That’s dangerous!” Micah said, worry crossing his features. “You shouldn’t give him medication that wasn’t prescribed to him. There might be side effects.”
“So what? It’ll be good for him to keep a clear mind. Now unless you’re planning to stir him up some more, you should probably get out of here before he comes back.” He glanced over his shoulder. “You see that? He’s coming. Get the hell out of here before you cause more trouble.”
“I need to talk to him.”
“And that’s what I’m supposed to talk to you about!” Archer hissed, shoving him away.
“Orion wants you to talk to me?”
“Yes, now leave.”
“I’m going, I’m going,” he said, leaving through a different door.
“Are you alright?” Archer asked as Orion returned moments later. “Your eyes are red.”
“Leave me alone.”
“I hope you weren’t crying out there,” Archer said, rolling his eyes. “Crying over a girl who’s cheating on you? Have some respect for yourself.”
“Is she really a girl if she’s sleeping around?”
“If that were true, there would hardly be any girls in this school.”
“I thought I saw Micah creeping around. I hope he admitted he’s sleeping with Dev.”