Tell Me Pretty Lies

by Charleigh Rose

  “You ladies need a beverage?”

  Valen nods and Liam gestures for us to follow him.

  “So that’s going well, I assume,” I say, walking a few paces behind him.

  “Yeah.” She shrugs.

  He leads us over to a group of people surrounding a bonfire, the tall pieces of wood used to kindle the fire forming a teepee. Liam bends over, grabbing two plastic cups from a bag.

  “I hope keg beer’s okay. We’re out of the hard stuff.” He plucks the hose while his friend pumps the keg, filling up the first cup for Valen. His friend takes the second one, filling it up for me.

  “Matt, this is Shayne,” Liam says, nodding his chin at me. “My girl’s best friend.” Then he looks at me. “Matt goes to Northeastern.”

  “Nice,” I say, unsure if I’m supposed to be impressed by that information, or if he’s just making small talk. “Congrats,” I tack on. I almost ask what they’re doing back in Sawyer Point instead of at some college party, but I keep it to myself, not wanting to offend. Matt’s the typical Bostonian, preppy frat boy with his long sleeves bunched up on his forearms, khaki shorts, Ken-doll hair, and boat shoes to top it all off. In other words, one million percent not my type.

  He sends me a wink, handing me the cup. Liam tugs on Valen’s arm, taking an empty chair around the fire, before pulling her onto his lap.

  “You still in high school?” Matt asks.

  I nod.

  “Very nice.”

  I look away, uncomfortable with the way he leers at me. I stare out at the fire, hearing it crackle before it spits out a few embers that seem to disintegrate into the night sky. I’m hypnotized by the flames, the scent, the sound, as Matt drones on about something beside me. Something beyond the flames catches my attention, snapping me out of my eye lock.

  Holden, Christian, and Thayer.

  The sight of them together sends a jolt of sadness through me. Danny’s absence is almost tangible.

  The three of them couldn’t be more opposite, each of them having their role. First, there’s Holden. The playboy. The comedian. Has a heart of gold somewhere underneath all that debauchery. Then there’s Christian. The athlete. On a fast track to success. Entirely too serious for someone our age. Has his entire future planned out. Lastly, there’s Thayer. The black sheep. The bad boy. He rejects his popularity, as if it’s a stain on his reputation, but despite that, he’s arguably the most coveted of the Ames boys. Or maybe because of it.

  As if he can sense me looking at him, his eyes find mine through the fire. My breath hitches, heart stalling. I bring my thumb to my opposite hand, rubbing the faint raised scar on my wrist out of reflex. He seems shocked at first, as if he’s seeing a ghost. But then those eyes go cold and pass over me as if he didn’t see me at all. My throat gets tight as memories of forbidden love and loss and ultimately heartache hit me all at once. But I shove them down, closing my eyes to gain my composure.

  He’s just a boy you used to know. You will not fall apart at the sight of him.

  A hand on my shoulder breaks through my panic. “Are you okay?”

  “Hmm?” I look over to see…what’s his name again? Matt. “Sorry.” I shake my head. “I spaced out.” Like a magnet, my gaze is being pulled back to Thayer, and Valen is suddenly at my side.

  “I thought you said he was gone.” My voice is barely above a whisper.

  “He was,” she says, sounding as confused as I feel. “I swear. I haven’t seen him for months.”

  Thayer’s sitting in a folding chair with a girl draped across his lap sideways, her arm curled around his shoulders. Holden’s in the spot next to him, oblivious, getting his neck sucked on by a petite brunette in his lap.

  “Maybe I should talk to them.” I nod to myself. “Rip off the Band-Aid. Right?” I ask, looking over to Valen for confirmation. It’s been almost a year. We’ve had time to move on. So why does it feel like only yesterday Thayer was rejecting me in the barn?

  “Yeah,” she says, but she doesn’t sound convinced.

  Before I can talk myself out of making what is sure to be a colossal mistake, I’m moving toward them.

  When I come to a stop before them, neither one reacts. Thayer’s eyes lazily lift to meet mine, and there’s nothing but apathy shining back at me. His fingers glide up the girl’s thigh, and my eyes lock in on the movement, unable to look away. The hurt that slices through me catches me completely off guard, and my stomach twists with jealousy. I feel tears stinging the backs of my eyes, but there’s no way I’ll let them fall. I’m not the girl I was last year. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

  “Umm…” A feminine voice snaps me out of it. “Who is she?” she asks Thayer.

  “No one.” He says the words casually, but I know they’re meant to hurt me. And they do.

  “Can I talk to you for a second?”

  Holden’s eyes shoot open at the sound of my voice before narrowing mischievously. Christian ignores my presence altogether as he pretends to listen to something Chris Baker says.

  “Talk,” Thayer says, his fingers continuing their path on her bare thigh.

  I swallow hard, trying to look away.

  “Alone?” I try again.

  “As you can see, I’m busy.”

  I almost walk away. It’s clear this won’t end well. But I stay, determined to say my piece and get it over with. I shift nervously on my feet, uncertainty pricking my spine.

  “Just because our parents aren’t together, doesn’t mean we can’t be—”

  “What, friends?” Thayer cuts me off with a bitter laugh. “Is that what you were about to say?”

  That isn’t what I was going to say—not in those words, anyway—but everything sounds so…generic. He stands abruptly, the girl on his lap tumbling to the ground with a shocked yelp, but he doesn’t so much as spare her a glance. He gets in my space, close enough that prying eyes and ears won’t hear his next words.

  “We’re not friends. We’re not anything.”

  “My mistake,” I say, shaking my head. He’s right. I don’t recognize this cold version of him at all.

  I don’t know why I look to Holden for his reaction; it’s not like I’d get any backup from him. But he was my friend once, too. He’s staring at me with silent amusement painted across his features as the girl in his lap continues her assault on his neck. Disgusting.

  “Run along now, Shayne. This isn’t your home anymore.”

  “Yeah,” I agree. “I can see that.”

  Turning around, I make my way to the opposite side of the beach that leads into an open wooded area. I catch Valen’s concerned eyes across the fire, and she stands up like she’s going to come over, but I give a slight shake of my head, letting her know I’m fine.

  “You’re back,” a deep voice coming from my left says. I turn around to find Aiden standing there in a black shirt and fitted jeans. I have to admit, he isn’t awful to look at with his dark, curly hair, full lips, and light brown eyes.

  “Yep.” I stuff my hands into my back pockets.

  “What was that about?”

  “High school politics,” I say. “Apparently, I’ve been demoted.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about it. How’ve you been?”

  I frown, trying to figure out his motive. I don’t know why he’s talking to me when I’ve been all but declared a pariah. It’s not like he hasn’t noticed. Looking around to see if anyone’s taken notice to us, I spot Taylor and Alexis scowling in our direction. “We have an audience,” I whisper conspiratorially. “You probably shouldn’t be caught talking to me.”

  He scrapes his teeth across his bottom lip to bite back a smile. “I don’t give a fuck. I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”

  “And why’s that?”

  “Because you no longer have a small army of guys cockblocking any and every potential suitor.”

  He says it as a joke, but it only serves as a reminder of how much things have changed. Not that I think there was any actual cockb
locking happening.

  “Shit, wrong thing to say.”

  “No, it’s fine.” I wave him off.

  I glance over at Thayer once more, unable to resist getting another look at him. He’s staring right at me, the warmth that I usually see in his eyes nowhere to be found.

  Suddenly, I feel the urge to bail. I don’t want to be here anymore. I consider asking Valen for a ride home, but she’s currently lip-locked with Liam, and I can’t bring myself to ruin her night. She doesn’t get to see him as much with him living at the dorms.

  “Hey, are you sober?” I ask Aiden.

  “As a judge.”

  “Feel like giving a girl a ride home?”

  “Only if we can get some food first.”

  “Sold.”

  After I tell Valen that Aiden is going to take me home, she reluctantly agrees to stay. We hop into Aiden’s lifted black truck and he turns to look at me.

  “Any requests?”

  “Pizza,” I say without hesitation.

  “Say no more. There’s a bomb-ass pizza place in Haverhill.”

  He throws the truck into drive, heading down the winding, narrow path that leads to the main road. It’s easy to talk to Aiden. He’s cocky and witty, but respectful, and not too pushy. After we split a large pepperoni pizza and a pitcher of Pepsi, I feel stuffed. And in slightly better spirits than earlier.

  “I’m so full,” I groan, leaning my head back against the booth.

  “That mean you’re not going to eat that?” he asks, flicking his chin at the last piece on the silver pizza tray.

  “It’s all you.” I laugh.

  Aiden folds the slice in half, devouring it in two bites, dusts his hands, then stands. “Ready to go?”

  I dig into my purse, pulling out some cash, but he stops me.

  “I got it,” he says, throwing three twenties down onto the table.

  “Let me pay for half at least.”

  “Nope.” He stuffs his wallet back into his back pocket, then motions for me to lead the way.

  “Thanks,” I say, turning to face him, walking backwards toward the front of the restaurant. “For the ride and the food.” He smirks at me, but then his eyes focus on something over my shoulder.

  “Isn’t that your mom?”

  I turn around, fully expecting him to be mistaken, but low and behold, there she is, all dolled up, walking through the parking lot on some guy’s arm.

  What the hell?

  “Do you want to go say hi?” Aiden asks.

  I shake my head. “No, that’s okay.”

  The guy helps my mom into the back of a car before climbing in behind her, and then it takes off out of the parking lot. If this is a date, why go out of town? It’s not for the fine dining, that’s for sure. And why wouldn’t she mention it? Maybe it was a meeting, or a client? I roll my eyes at myself. Not likely. Not at this time of night.

  Looks like I’m not the only one with secrets.

  Shayne

  I mouth the words, silently singing along to “Queen of the Night” by Hey Violet as I make my way toward the lunchroom when a hand darts out, jerking me into an empty classroom. I squeal, surprised, and yank my earbuds from my ears.

  “Happy birthday,” Thayer says, pushing me up against the wall next to the door. I slap at his shoulder, craning my neck to look out the rectangular window in the door.

  “Someone could’ve seen you.”

  Thayer shrugs, bending down to grab my thighs and lifts me to his height. My legs automatically wrap around him, my hands gripping his shoulders, and then his lips are on mine, hungry and demanding. I open for him and his tongue pushes inside. I moan, feeling his length twitch between my legs, and shamelessly grind against him, seeking the friction that I need.

  He pulls away, breaking the kiss far too soon. “So, birthday girl, what do you want for your present?” he asks, his voice gravelly.

  “Anything?” I bite down on my lip.

  “Anything.”

  I lean forward, bringing my mouth to his ear. My heart is pounding, but I’m going to say it anyway. “I want you to touch me again,” I whisper.

  “Shayne,” he groans. “You can’t say shit like that.”

  “Why?” I pout. He touched me once, and I’ve been dying to feel it ever since.

  “Because now I have to walk around with this all day,” he says, pushing into me to demonstrate his point.

  “I guess I’ll just have to take care of it myself…”

  “Fine. Meet me in the barn after we have cake and presents with our parents. Then I’ll give you your real present.”

  “Ready?” Valen asks, jerking me from my memory. I tear my eyes away from the classroom that triggered it to find her frowning at me, probably wondering why I’m staring at the empty, dark room.

  “As I’ll ever be.”

  That was a year ago today, when things with Thayer and me first started to heat up. I did meet him in the barn that night, and he gave me exactly what he promised. Thayer wasn’t exactly known for his morality, but for some reason, he fought going any further with me. It was fun and exciting and reckless to sneak around at first. But eventually, as our feelings grew, having to hide got old. But we couldn’t stop it, no matter how many times we tried to end it.

  We head out to the student lot, making our way through the crowded parking lot to Valen’s pearl white Mercedes. Since it’s my birthday and my mom had to fly out for a quick two-day trip, I’m celebrating with Valen. I wouldn’t have it any other way. It doesn’t feel like my birthday, anyway, without Grey and my mom around.

  When Valen asked me what I wanted to do, I suggested touring the Lizzie Borden house in Fall River. She thought I was joking. I wasn’t. As we brainstormed on things I could do as an eighteen-year-old, it came down to either a strip club, an eighteen and over club, or a piercing or tattoo. The thought of something as permanent seemed too intimidating, but a piercing? A piercing I could do. I’m actually excited.

  “Have you talked to Aiden at all?” she asks once we’re inside the car, starting the engine.

  I shrug. “Here and there.” It’s been a week since he brought me home. We say hi to each other in passing, and he’s texted me a couple of times, but that’s it. I think he knows I’m not interested.

  “Well, that’s disappointing.” She pulls out of the parking lot, heading for her house. Our appointments aren’t until later tonight.

  “Why?”

  “Because I don’t want you to waste your whole year hung up on your ex-stepdick.”

  I gape at her. Valen’s always suspected, but after the funeral, it was obvious something had happened between Thayer and me. I played it off, chalking his behavior up to grief, even though I wanted nothing more than to confess everything. Judging by her comment, she didn’t buy it.

  “I’m not!”

  “Mhm.”

  “You saw him last weekend. He despises me. They both do.”

  “Which is exactly why you should focus on other boys. Specifically, ones that look like Aiden.”

  “I don’t want to date anyone.”

  She lifts a shoulder. “Whatever you say.”

  Four hours later, we pull up to the red-bricked building with the large picture window. There’s a sign that reads Heartbreak Ink with a purple neon sign underneath that flashes the words Tattoos and Piercings. Behind us are a bunch of cars parked in every direction, some I recognize and some I don’t. When I see Thayer’s Hellcat, my stomach swirls with nerves. There’s a string of bars and restaurants in this area, which means everyone congregates here. It’s pretty much the only other thing to do in town besides the beach. It’s also a pre-party meet-up point, and my guess is they’re all about to head out to some college party.

  Valen cuts the engine and we both hop out of her car, making our way toward the brightly lit shop. Just as we’re approaching the building, Thayer, Holden, and Christian come out of the convenience store next door. Thayer sees me first, his eyebrows tugging into two a
ngry slashes. Holden notices the shift in his demeanor, and he follows his gaze. Amusement flashes in his eyes, as he says something I can’t hear. Christian’s the last one to catch on, barely acknowledging us with a glance.

  Lovely.

  “Ignore them,” Valen says from my left.

  I tear my gaze away from Thayer and walk up to the sidewalk. The door chimes when we walk in, and a guy with a Celtics jersey and arms full of colorful ink greets us.

  “What can I do for you?”

  “We have appointments for Valen and Shayne,” Valen supplies.

  “Right on. I’m the piercer here, so you’ll be with me. Name’s Nate. I’ll need your ID’s and you’ll both need to fill out everything on these forms,” he says, pulling out two clipboards from behind a counter. He hands one to each of us, and I scan over the consent form, feeling a slight rush of excitement. “I’ll be ready for you in just a minute,” he says, and then he’s disappearing into one of the back rooms.

  “What did you decide on?” I ask as I fill in my information and pull my license out of my back pocket before clipping it to the board.

  “Nose,” Valen says, pointing to her nostril. She’s not going to be eighteen for another couple of months, but she has fake ID. Because, of course, she does.

  “Hoop or stud?”

  She twists her lips together, seeming to consider it. “Stud. What about you?”

  The door chimes again before I can answer, and even before I turn around, I know it’s Thayer. Sure enough, he and Holden walk inside, surveying the place.

  “I think you’re in the wrong building,” Thayer says. “The Chuck E. Cheese is on the next street over.”

  I turn back to Valen, pretending like they’re not here, and touch the shell of my ear. “I’m thinking about getting a little hoop up here. Or maybe an industrial.”

  Valen crosses her arms over her chest. “We did not come here to get something you could’ve gotten when you were thirteen, Shaynie Baby.”

  I roll my eyes. “Fine. My bellybutton then.” I like the idea of having a secret piercing. Something I can hide easily.