by Octavia June
So close. He was standing so close.
It looked as if his mouth was about to brush mine, but then he spun me around and I ended up colliding with Rhys.
Rhys wound his arms around me, totally out of rhythm with the song that was playing, and we swayed together as his hands traveled up and down my back.
Oh hell. Was it just me or was it super-hot in this room? Someone should open a window or something.
Rhys’ lips parted as his eyes bored into mine. He’d already kissed me once, and I wondered if the boys had another bet going on.
But this time, he only twirled me around until I ended up in Zack’s embrace.
I gave Zack a shy smile as I looked into his eyes, unsure whether he wanted to dance with me or not, since he was just standing there and gazing at me.
It was weird for a moment, but then we started dancing, and his touch was sending shivers of delight down my spine.
Then Aaron reached out for me, and I ended up dancing with him. Amusement flashed through his eyes as I struggled to keep up with his fast moves.
Then he tugged me closer, just as the song came to an end, and he leaned in to whisper into my ear.
“How long do you think you can keep dancing?” he asked.
I shrugged.
“Let’s find out,” he said, and then I was spinning again.
My feet ached as each one of the boys danced with me again, and I was becoming lightheaded from all of it, but I didn’t want to stop.
We danced until we were all so damn exhausted that we could barely move.
“Oh shit,” I said when I checked the time.
It was way too late for me to still be out. My mom was going to get worried. It was a surprise I didn’t already have a bunch of texts and missed calls, but maybe my mom was glad that I was finally having some fun.
Or more likely, she’d fallen asleep while waiting for me.
“I need to go,” I said.
“I’ll drive you,” Aaron said.
“Hell no. You’re drunk. I’ll walk.” I wasn’t going to get in a car with any of them tonight. Too bad I didn’t have one or knew how to drive.
“Then we’ll walk with you,” Rhys said, and they all nodded.
Wow, I was going to have an entourage home.
How awesome was that? But it was damn better than going home alone and getting mugged or something.
“Yeah, okay. Let’s go.” I pushed my legs forward, wondering how the hell I was going to get home.
Every step I made hurt, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to keep going, despite the protests of my body.
The boys trailed after me, and as we all made our way to the door, I realized more than a few people were staring at us.
I ignored them and headed out. They didn’t know me.
Or at least I hoped no one from my school had shown up here in the meantime.
Chapter 24
I DREADED GOING TO school.
My muscles still hurt like hell, and I’d need some time to recover from all the dancing, but that wasn’t what I was worried about.
The boys had walked me to the front door, and then we’d said our goodbyes. My mom had been asleep and she hadn’t even noticed how late I’d come home.
But since Aaron, Zack, Ethan, and Rhys had been so nice to me, I wondered what they were going to do next.
Surely, they wouldn’t just be having fun with me like that. There had to be something hidden behind the whole thing, didn’t it? I didn’t believe that they didn’t have ulterior motives and I dreaded to find out what they were.
But no one was looking at me too much and they weren’t whispering about me as I made my way down the school hallway.
Okay, not any more than usual, which was good.
I pulled out my phone so I could check the Ember High Journal. But there was nothing there about our night out.
Huh.
Was it possible that they’d decided to leave me alone? Had the whole thing yesterday been genuine? Maybe they’d just had too much to drink and they’d ended up dancing with me because their minds weren’t clear.
Or maybe they’d danced with me because they actually liked me.
And by that, I meant that they’d finally realized I was a human being too, not just some object for bullying.
I shouldn’t get my hopes up, though. Something bad still might happen, especially if someone had seen us at the party.
Would someone really dare to tease the most popular boys at school because they’d been dancing with me?
Maybe not. After all, they could dance and have fun with whomever the hell they wanted, and no one was going to say anything about it.
Well, except for the girl they’d been dancing with. Meaning me. They could always make fun of me.
I could only hope that no one knew about it because I had no idea what they were going to say.
Maybe that I was so desperate for attention I’d thrown myself at four boys, trying to find the one who’d like me enough. It wouldn’t surprise me if they spun the story to make me look bad, which would give everyone plenty of material for bullying me.
But maybe I was overreacting.
If no one knew and the boys didn’t say anything, it was unlikely the rest of the students were going to find out either.
Were Aaron, Ethan, Zack, and Rhys going to brag about it? Um, I wasn’t really sure they’d want to.
I wasn’t the most beautiful or the most popular girl at school, so bragging about dancing with me wouldn’t be bragging at all.
Well, hello there, low self-esteem.
How are you today?
I was hoping I’d run into the boys in the hallway, but as the bell rang and everyone rushed to their classes, I realized that I’d have to wait.
Would they look at me differently? There was no reason for them to do so.
So why the hell did I feel different somehow?
Chapter 25
I WAS ON MY WAY TO find Sam when a dark-haired boy blocked my path. I’d seen him before, but he wasn’t in any of my classes, so I had no idea what his name was.
“Hey, babe,” he said as he leaned against the wall next to me. “What’s up?”
“Um, I’m looking for my friend.” I tried to get past him, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
“How about you and I have some fun later?” he asked with a smile on his face, his hand traveling down my stomach.
I caught his hand before it could go too low. “No.”
What the fuck was wrong with this guy?
Was he actually hitting on me? That had never happened to me before. Had someone started another bet?
Probably. Ugh.
I ripped my arm out of his grasp, but before I could get away, he was in front of me again, his face now serious.
“What do you mean no? Are you playing hard to get?”
“No, I’m not. I just don’t want to hang out with you or whatever.”
He was a creep. There was no way I was going anywhere with this guy, and why would I?
He hadn’t even told me his name.
“Oh, come on. You don’t have to pretend with me.” He leaned forward, his voice lowering to a whisper. “I know.”
I jerked my head back. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“Of course you do. Did you think no one would find out just how much of a slut you are?” He raked me with a cold look.
Okay, there was something seriously wrong with this guy. He had to be on drugs or something. I spun around, striding away from there as fast as I could.
Something hit me in the side. Hard.
I ended up on the floor, and the creep was on top of me, his face furious.
“Is this how you like it?” he yelled, gripping my arms so tightly that it hurt as he pinned me down.
My breath had been knocked out of me and I was having trouble focusing.
“Get off me,” I managed to choke out.
“You fucked them. Why not
me?” he all but growled.
“Hey!” someone shouted, and then the creep was yanked off me so fast that I thought I’d dreamed the whole thing.
“Are you okay?” Ethan asked, offering me his hand.
“I guess.” I let him pull me up to my feet.
Rhys, Aaron, and Zack surrounded the creep, and Ethan hurried to join them.
“If you ever come anywhere near her or even fucking look at her, you’re a dead man,” Rhys shouted.
And then my boys were punching the creep. I was still trying to catch my breath as they kicked the creep while he was on the floor, blood spraying everywhere.
They must’ve broken his nose.
The other students who were in the hallway just gawked at us.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Aaron came to me with a concerned look on his face.
The creep struggled to get to his feet, but then he dashed across the hallway and away from us while holding a hand over his bleeding nose.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said as my boys surrounded me.
“He won’t bother you again.” Zack’s eyes flashed dangerously. He was serious about it.
They all were.
But why? Why the hell were they protecting me?
Just because of our project? Our truce?
I had no idea.
“What was that all about?” Rhys asked.
“I think I saw that guy at the party yesterday,” Ethan said. “He was lurking in the corner and staring at us.”
Well, that would certainly explain a lot.
If the guy had seen me dancing with the boys and then leaving with them, he might’ve assumed that...
What? That they’d all want to sleep with me? Wow.
When had I become a popular girl? Or maybe I hadn’t.
And why the hell did I keep thinking that there was no way a cute boy could be interested in me?
I wasn’t ugly.
Well, the creep was interested in you.
Who says any of the four hotties around you are?
“Where were you going?” Aaron asked. “We should probably stay with you. In case that asshole gets any ideas.”
“Um, yeah, okay. I was looking for Sam. Samantha.”
“Your friend?” Ethan’s brow furrowed.
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s find your friend,” Rhys said, and then we were on our way.
Chapter 26
IT WAS A GOOD THING the creep hadn’t tried to come after me again, because as I waited for Ethan to show up so we could work on our project, I was starting to lose my patience.
He’d said he’d be here almost twenty minutes ago, and of course he wasn’t responding to any of my texts.
His football practice must’ve lasted longer than expected, so I headed toward the locker rooms.
Maybe I’d run into him or figure out where he might be. But as I was getting closer to the boys’ locker room, almost all the football players passed me by.
Where the hell was Ethan?
I couldn’t see him anywhere, and he still wasn’t answering to my texts.
What if he hadn’t even been to practice today?
Maybe I should’ve asked one of the other players, but it was already too late for that. Everyone was gone.
What was the chance that Ethan was still in the locker room?
I went closer because the door was ajar, and when I took a peek inside, I couldn’t see anyone.
Pushing the door open, I stepped inside. Where the hell was he?
Hopefully, no one else was here. I so didn’t want to be caught in here.
But something was tugging me forward.
Curiosity, I supposed.
And then I spotted him.
Ethan was standing in front of his locker only wearing a towel.
Oh god.
Heat pooled low in my body, and I was breathless for a few moments. He had some really nice abs. And damn, his back was nice too. And his ass...
Gah. He was just fucking perfect.
I should get out of here before he spotted me, but I didn’t move.
Ethan was looking for something in his locker, and I ducked behind another locker when he moved his head in my direction.
When I peered around the locker again, he was holding a syringe in his hand.
What the fuck?
He injected himself with something and let out a hiss.
I pressed my back against the locker.
Oh shit. Was Ethan doing drugs?
Or was that something else? Steroids?
I didn’t know much about that, but if Ethan wanted to be the best, then maybe he’d resorted to something he shouldn’t have.
When I was sure he wouldn’t see me, I hurried for the door.
I didn’t stop walking, and I wanted to get as far away from the locker room as possible.
Ethan was using something. That was a big, huge secret.
If that came out, he would probably be suspended or worse. I didn’t think they’d let him play football.
It was a wonder they hadn’t figured him out, but I supposed he had a way to fake his drug test results or something.
But this secret could actually destroy him.
Sure, smoking weed or whatever could harm him too, but this...
I stopped and leaned against the wall, running my hand over my face.
Should I ask him? Should I confront him about it? What if most of the players were doing it?
I’d heard rumors about juicing before important competitions. There was just so much pressure to perform well. But wasn’t that dangerous? Ethan could get himself in a lot of trouble too.
Maybe I should just pretend I hadn’t seen anything.
It was better for me to stay quiet. It was his life anyway. And hell, if I ever needed something to blackmail him with...
I groaned.
The boys were my friends now.
Or were they?
I had no idea.
But for now, I was going to keep Ethan’s secret.
Chapter 27
“SEE YOU TOMORROW,” Zack said after we finished working on our project.
“Yeah.” I gave him a small wave and focused on the sentence that I was writing in my notebook.
Zack had said that he didn’t want to disturb his parents, so we’d met at a bar close to his house. It was actually nice in here, and the chatter helped me focus.
When it was time for me to leave, I realized Zack had left his phone on the table.
Fuck. I rushed outside, looking left and right, but he wasn’t anywhere in sight.
Shit.
In which direction had he gone? I had no idea.
Wait, what was his address?
Maybe his parents were too busy and didn’t want us in the house, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t drop off his phone. He was going to need it.
I had my phone out so I could find his address. Once I had it, I pulled up a map. His house wasn’t too far away from here, so I followed the directions.
I double-checked the address as I stood in front of a two-story house that looked really nice.
A car was in the driveway, and the yard was filled with flowers and trees. I couldn’t see Zack or anyone anywhere, so I headed to the front door.
There was a doorbell, so I pressed it, but nothing happened. Or at least I couldn’t hear anything.
Maybe it was some special kind of doorbell. It wouldn’t surprise me if a house like this one had cameras or special security measures.
But no one came to open the door, and I couldn’t see any cameras.
Weird.
I lifted my hand and knocked on the door. Maybe the doorbell was broken.
Still, it didn’t look like anyone could hear me. It was a big house, so unless they were standing very close to the door, it was unlikely they would hear me if I banged on the door or shouted.
Maybe there was a back door, or someone might see me there. I went around the house. When I tried to peek
through one of the windows, all I could see were thick curtains.
Finally, I found the back door, and then I heard voices.
I knocked, but I didn’t think they could hear me.
When I tried the knob, the door opened. Maybe I shouldn’t just let myself in like this, but what choice did I have?
I didn’t want to lurk outside and wait for Zack to show up. There was plenty of light inside anyway, so I didn’t think anyone would mistake me for an intruder.
“Hello?” I said softly as I entered the room, which was completely empty.
There was only one chair in the middle. Huh. Maybe Zack’s family was renovating the house, so that was why he hadn’t wanted to invite me over.
I kept going, and then more voices could be heard again, clearer this time. The family was just around the corner.
“At least let me get a fucking job!” Zack said. “I can’t live like this anymore!”
“No,” a female voice said. “What would our friends think?”
“How long are you going to pretend that you and Dad are on some exotic island overseas, huh? I’m sick of it all. We barely have any furniture or food!”
“As soon as your father’s business is back on its feet, our problems will be over. But I don’t want to lose all my friends because of a rough patch.”
“A rough patch? Mom, look around us. We’re wasting money on keeping up a pretense. And for what? What kind of friends abandon you in need?”
“You’re too young to understand.”
“And I think you’re fucking delusional.”
“Language!” his mom snapped. “I won’t tolerate you talking to me like that. We’re not some—”
“Oh no. We’re worse, Mom.”
I heard footsteps and I pressed myself against the wall.
Oh shit. Now what?
If Zack found out that I knew his secret, I didn’t know how he was going to take it.
And his mom... Well, I definitely didn’t want her to get upset.
Once the footsteps were gone, I pulled Zack’s phone out of my pocket and took a deep breath. When I was sure no one was around, I left the phone on the small table that was the only thing left in the hallway.
Sure, Zack might wonder how the hell it had gotten there, but maybe he’d think he’d dropped it or that his parents had found it.
Either way, I had to get out of here. If he confronted me about it, I had no idea what I was going to say, but right now, all I wanted was to get out of this empty big house.
