by C.E. Wilson
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.”
“I don’t take drugs.”
“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.”
“Just like that?” Archer asked, looking incredulous. “Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Do you really think he’s going to admit it when you’re acting like this? Micah’s been sleeping around with other men’s women since middle school. He knows the game and he knows how not to get caught.”
“So why would he brag?”
“Because he trusts me, and he wants people to know that he made an ass out of you.”
“So how will I ever get proof that he’s really sleeping with her?”
“I told him to come back to talk to me,” Archer said. “He thinks that I’m talking to you about him helping out tonight—”
“As if I’d have him here.”
“Exactly. But he doesn’t need to know that. I told him you were considering it and he wants to hear what I have to say. Go hide in the gym, I’ll tell him that you’re grabbing things from the wrestling room and bait him into telling me what’s going on. You can hear him say it.”
“Good.”
“But, Orion.”
“What?”
“You have to stay calm. If you run out and start beating him up, you could lose everything at this school. The Headmaster will expel you for fighting. They’ll call your parents.”
“Fine. I’ll do as you ask, but just know, if he admits to sleeping with Dev…I don’t know what will happen.”
“The meds will kick in before you figure it out,” Archer said. “Go now and hide in the bleachers and I’ll bring Micah in the gym. And keep your damn mouth shut so he doesn’t know you’re around!”
