Nets and Lies

by Katie Ashley

  She poked her head in. “Melanie, are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. I’m just tired.”

  I don’t know why I bothered lying because Mom was used to deciphering my moods. She came over and eased down beside me on the bed. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”

  The feel of her hand on my hair sent me into desperate sobs. I fell into her arms and told her what had happened with Will.

  “He can’t really be mad over you doing what Daddy and Garrison told you to.”

  “But he is. You should have heard the things he said.”

  Mom smiled. “Honey, Will is going through an extremely difficult time right now. I’m sure the pressure is unbearable on him. After hearing about the evidence today, he probably just snapped. I’m sure he’ll think differently tomorrow.”

  “You think so?”

  “I really do.”

  I sighed. “But everyone is over at Lauren’s tonight eating pizza and working on signs for the rally, and I’m stuck here. Why do I feel like I’m being punished for something I didn’t do?”

  Mom patted my cheek. “I’m sorry sweetheart.” She glanced at the clock on the nightstand. Even though it was barely eight o’clock, she said, “Why don’t you go ahead and get some sleep? You’ll feel better in the morning.”

  I nodded. “Okay.”

  Mom kissed me on the cheek before leaning over to turn off the lamp. When she got to the door, she blew me another kiss and then shut the door.

  ***

  I slept fitfully that night. Every hour I woke up to check my cell phone, desperate for a text from Will. But every hour I was disappointed, and by morning, my heart tightened so hard in my chest I could barely get out of bed to shower.

  “What’s the matter with you?” my brother, Luke, asked at breakfast.

  “Nothing,” I muttered, as I fought to get my cereal down.

  “You look like shit!”

  “Luke Alexander Reeves, your language!” Dad’s voice boomed from the stove.

  “Sorry,” Luke mumbled, before going back to his bacon.

  Later on the ride to school, he was relentless. “So do you look like shit because you and Will are fighting?”

  I almost swerved off the road. “Who said we’re fighting?”

  Luke snorted. “Ethan Capanegro said that Will came into practice last night all pissed off. Some of the guys asked him what it was about, and he said you.”

  Heat radiated in my cheeks. I hated the fact my baby brother was in high school and privy to older friends who told him all of my business. Not that he probably wouldn’t still hear it if he were in middle school.

  But Luke seemed eager to know what was really bothering me, so I sighed. “He’s mad because I won’t go to the protest with him today.”

  He arched his eyebrows in surprise. “But I thought Dad and Garrison decided you couldn’t go?”

  “Yeah, that’s right,” I replied, as I eased into the parking lot.

  “Well, he’s just being a douche!”

  I fought the urge to laugh in my brother’s face. Trying to play it off, I merely shrugged. “Yeah, maybe he is.”

  After easing the car into a spot, I glanced over at Luke. His fits were balled up. “Luke?”

  He turned to me. His dark eyes were fury-filled slits. “He just better not be talking shit about you today. I swear, if anyone talks shit about you, I’ll punch his face in!”

  “You don’t mean that.”

  “Yeah, I do, Mel.”

  I shook my head. “Promise me you won’t do something stupid that will get you in trouble?”

  “Even if I was defending you?”

  “You going to jail isn’t going to make me feel better in the long run. So think with your head, not your fists.”

  He rolled his eyes. “That’s so lame.”

  “Whatever. Just do it okay?”

  “Yeah, yeah, I’ll do it.”

  I smiled. “Thanks, bro.”

  Luke snorted. “Gah, Mel, quit being lame!” He grabbed up his book bag and practically sprinted away from me. That was Luke for you—one minute my knight in shining armor, and the next feeling like I was a dork of the highest caliber.

  Something slammed against the glass of the car window, causing me to jump. It was Lauren and JT. “Hey guys,” I said, as I climbed out of the car.

  “You missed a good time last night,” JT said.

  Lauren punched his arm. “Dammit, I told you not to say anything. You know Melanie couldn’t come.”

  “Geez, Lauren, lighten up on the roids, mkay?” JT joked, rubbing his arm.

  I couldn’t help but laugh. And for a moment, it actually felt good. There had been so little to laugh at lately that even one of JT’s dumb jokes lightened my mood. We fell in line with the other kids streaming from the parking lot to the school. “Um, was Will okay last night?” I asked.

  JT answered before Lauren could stop him. “Dude, he was in one pissy ass mood. I mean, he seemed all stoked we’re doing the rally and all, but he acted like a complete dickhead.”

  Lauren rolled her eyes. “God JT!”

  “What did I say now?”

  She waved him dismissively with her hand. “Forget it. Come on, Mel, I’ll walk you to your first period.”

  “Bye JT,” I called over my shoulder.

  I distinctly heard him grumble, “Women,” before stalking away.

  “You shouldn’t be so hard on him,” I said, as we worked our way through the crowd.

  Lauren sighed. “The dude has no common sense, Mel. Did he need to alert you to the fact Will acted like a giant tool last night? Nope, I don’t think so!”

  I cringed. “He was really that bad?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, he basically sat in the corner all night. He didn’t paint, he didn’t eat, he didn’t do anything but just sit there and stare into space. Everyone felt really sorry for him, but since I knew the truth, he’s a giant asshole.”

  “Thanks, Lauren.”

  We hovered outside of my class. “So, has he called you?” she asked.

  “Nope.”

  “Texted?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know why he’s being this way. I mean, it wasn’t like I had a choice.”

  The bell rang, and she made a face. “Dammit, I gotta go. I’ll meet you after, okay?”

  “Sounds good.”

  As I walked past two of Will’s teammates to my seat, they hushed their talking. They also refused to make eye contact with me. I guess Luke was right. Will had taken his anger at me out at practice, and now all the guys were pissed at me.

  I remained in a fog all of first period. I could barely tell you what we even talked about. I hoped to be able to bum someone’s notes later on. That was so unlike me. I was usually the one giving other slackers my notes. In the matter of a few days, my entire life had fallen apart. I barely recognized myself.

  The bell rang, and I gratefully gathered up my books and ran for the door. I waited for Lauren, but she was nowhere in sight. Finally, I decided I’d better go on since I didn’t want to be late. I was halfway down the hall when I ran into Will.

  “Hi,” I said.

  “Hey,” he mumbled, as he continued walking past.

  “Will!”

  He whirled around to give me an exasperated look. The annoyance gleaming in his eyes made my stomach churn. “Are you not even going to talk to me?”

  “I said everything I needed to say last night. Either you’re my girlfriend and you’re with me this afternoon, or you’re not.”

  And with those words, he turned on his heels and hurried down the hallway. I stood frozen, stung by his cold attitude and bitter words. I couldn’t believe he was acting this way.

  The bell rang over my head, but I never made it to 2nd period. Instead, I breezed right out the gym door and headed for the parking lot. When I got into my car, I texted Lauren and told her I was leaving school. I didn’t call my parents or anyone else. I just drove home and climbed into my sanctuary
and fell asleep.

  The rest of that Thursday back at school passed in a slow hell. Being treated like shit by the student body was one thing, but as the day wore on, I realized I had a new enemy—the teachers. Not that I’d ever been a teacher’s pet or a great admirer of them. No, I already had a top spot on their shit lists. But there was a different feeling in the air. I’d taken out one of their own, and hatred for me simmered underneath the surface.

  When I asked to go to the bathroom during fifth period, Mr. Guyer, one of the freshman basketball coaches, refused to answer or even look at me. Finally, I simply snatched up my stuff and stalked out. Let him write me up for skipping. I wanted to shout as I slammed the door, “I dare you to do it, asshole!”

  The truth was I hadn’t wanted to go to the bathroom. Instead, I wanted to clean out my locker. I knew I’d never let the jerks have the satisfaction of seeing me go to it again. Not with ‘whore’ and ‘slut’ gracing the outside.

  Never in my life was I more thankful than when the bell rang at the end of the day. I headed straight for the parking lot since there was no one to stop and talk to. People avoided me like a wadded up piece of bloody tissue—including my two ex best friends. Even to the extent that kids crossed the halls to get away from me. Like brushing up against me equaled social suicide.

  Yeah, screw you. I quickened my pace when I got outside. I just wanted out of there, to be home, to be away from the looks of hatred.

  I slowed to a crawl at the sight of my car. “What the hell?” I cried. From the back fender to the front tail light ran a silver scratch. It wasn’t just a quick slide either. Whoever did it took their time digging the key into the paint. I walked around to the other side where I found a matching scratch. Close to the back wheel was the world ‘liar’.

  I raised my eyes to see several kids staring at me. With a steely determination, I shouted, “What the fuck are you looking at?” They ducked their heads and continued walking. I threw my bags in the front seat and cranked my car.

  When I left the parking lot, the tears flowed. It was all so unfair. The whole damn school acted like Coach T was some untouchable saint. And me, I was the villainous slut who ruined his good name. Because after all, no one knew the real truth. I’m sure they’d be singing another tune if they found out what the son of a bitch had done to Melanie. Yeah, it’d be a hell of a lot different then.

  Even though I wanted to tell them to all kiss my ass, it wasn’t that easy. In less than a week, everything I held dear had been stripped from me. The man that I loved, my friends, acceptance at school—it was all gone.

  At work, I went through the motions like a zombie. I’d almost made it through the night when a table of four basketball players from one of the other county high schools sent me over the edge. They plopped down at a table in my station, outfitted in their practice uniforms.

  When I walked up to take their order, I caught them snickering and elbowing each other. At first, I didn’t think anything of it. I mean, it wasn’t rocket science to imagine that once a night some sober or inebriated guy was gonna hit on me. I usually ignored them, and I could always rely on Marcus or Anthony to have my back if anyone got too physical.

  “Jordan,” one of the guys said—his voice low and husky. The way he said my name creeped me out. Like he was trying to be all seductive. Ugh. Not to mention he was stroking his upper-thigh when he said it. I fought the urge to slap him.

  “Yeah, that’s me.”

  “I’m Damon by the way.”

  I gave him a quick nod. “So what can I get you guys to drink?”

  “We’re not really thirsty, are we boys?”

  “Nah,” they agreed, snorting their laughter back.

  My patience was wearing thin. Out of the corner of my eye, I searched for Marcus or Anthony. “Okay, then, what can I get you to eat?”

  “We’re really hungry,” Damon drawled. “You know about being hungry, don’t you Jordan?”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “Look, just cut the shit and tell me what you want to eat!”

  He grinned wickedly. “I bet I know what you’d like to eat.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I like sausages, don’t you? I bet you can’t get enough of big, thick, manly sausages.” His buddies snickered.

  Crossing my arms over my chest, I shook my head. “Wow, I’m so impressed. Did you come up with that all on your own?”

  “Tell me, Jordan. Do you just get your sausages from older men, or would one of us do?”

  My breath hitched in my chest. “What did you say to me?”

  Damon’s fingers brushed across my thigh. “God, you must be hot for it all the time if you gotta get it from coaches too!”

  Liquid fire shot through my veins. Before I could think better of it, I whirled around and grabbed the pitcher of ice water off the table behind me. “Go fuck yourself!” I screamed, as I dumped the pitcher of water on his crotch.

  He bolted out of his seat, and I could only hope the stinging water pierced him like knives. “You bitch!”

  Marcus appeared at my side, clenching his fists so his muscles bulged. “Is there a problem here?”

  “Yeah, this bitch just poured water all over me!”

  Marcus shook his head. “Nah, man. I think she was doing you a favor. I heard a little of what you were saying, and it seems to me that you’ve got a filthy mouth. I guess she was just trying to clean up your piece of shit ass!”

  Damon stared at Marcus in shock. “Now you and your little bitches can get the hell out of here before I call the cops and file a sexual harassment claim on the four of you!”

  The guys didn’t argue. They followed Damon out of the restaurant.

  My fury melted and left me stung and hurt by their words. Now my reputation and what had happened with Coach T had managed to spread to the other schools.

  “Thanks, Marcus,” I murmured.

  “No problem, Jo.”

  “Can you tell Manny I’m gonna cut out a little early? I’ll make it up tomorrow or this weekend.”

  He nodded. “Yeah sure.” I started for the door, and he stopped me. “Listen Jo, I don’t know what all happened at school and stuff. But I just want you to know that I’m here for you if you need me.”

  I smiled. “Thanks, Marcus. That means a lot.” I leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  When I pulled away, he grinned. “No, that means a lot!”

  I laughed. “Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

  It wasn’t until I got into my car that I started crying. I cried all the way home. My mascara blinded me, and one time I almost hit a road sign.

  After I pulled into the garage, I checked my appearance in the rear view mirror. I looked like a crazed raccoon with blackened cheeks. When I went inside, I found the house empty. A note on the counter told me Mom and her new boyfriend, Rob, had gone out for dinner. I sighed. Dinner could mean any number of things, and it usually meant she wouldn’t come home all night.

  I started upstairs to my room. The answering machine on the end table flashed new messages. As I began taking off my shirt, I pushed the button to play them back.

  “Everyone knows you’re a whore. You do anything that walks. You disgust me. I hope you rot in Hell for what you’ve done!”

  The phone clicked off, and the machine played another message. “You’re a lying slut! I hope you go to jail instead of Coach T!”

  There came a shrill beep followed by another message. “Listen bitch! You better stop lying about Coach T. If you don’t, you’re gonna find yourself in a world of hurt! It’s real hard to screw up people’s lives when you’re dead!”

  With trembling hands, I turned the machine off. I didn’t want to hear anymore. Name calling was one thing, but now my life had been threatened.

  Mom never came in that night, and I never went to sleep. I sat in the middle of my bed with her loaded .45 by my side until morning.

  I felt like the walking dead the next day. Third period rolled around, and I dreaded
going to the gym. It had become a freaking shrine to Coach T—the place where his supporters made pilgrimages. Obviously, I wasn’t a welcome visitor. I would have skipped out entirely, but I needed the credit to graduate.

  I started into the locker room to change out when someone grabbed my arm. I shouted, both in fear and pain. Then I was dragged into the athletic room and thrown up against a rack of equipment. The metal cut into my back, and I screamed in agony.

  In the middle of my scream, I heard the distinct sound of the lock clicking behind me. “Look, cut the shit and let me out. This isn’t funny!” I growled, as I rubbed my throbbing back.

  I heard someone reach for the lights. They flicked on, and I gasped. “W-What are you doing here?” I asked.

  The imposing 6’3, two hundred pound form of Carson Ridings stared me down with his dark green eyes. He was Kara Riding’s brother, but more importantly until Coach T, he was the only guy I had ever loved—or thought I’d loved. I’d lost my virginity to him when I was in the 8th grade, and he was in the 10th. When we were dating, I was too stupid and let him go off the deep end and slap me around. I’d dated him on and off for two years—until he left for college. That’s really when I began my pattern of dating guys who used and dumped me.

  But it wasn’t the presence of the former love of my life that scared me. It was the smoldering look of hatred etched across his face. I shuddered. “Answer my question.”

  He crossed the space between us in one long stride. Once again, he grabbed my arms. “I’ve heard the shit you’re saying about Coach T.”

  I tried slinging away from him, but his grip was too tight. I knew if he didn’t let go of me soon, I’d be bruised. But I kept my cool and jerked my chin up at him. “Yeah, so? What’s it to you?”

  At my response, he shoved me back into the shelf again, sending tears of pain to sting my eyes. “It’s a hell of lot to me, you conniving little bitch!”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Look, it isn’t anything to you. We’ve been over for a long time now—even the random booty calls you threw my way have been long gone. So, the way I see it what happens to me is none of your damn business!”

  Carson shook his head. “Listen to me. Through his Northwestern connections, Coach T has Kara a scholarship—a fucking full ride, you see? If he isn’t here, she doesn’t get the scholarship, and she doesn’t go anywhere but maybe Harrison Community College.”