Page 19 of Hateful Lies

Chapter 8

Astrid

I need a drink, but I have to settle for carbs instead of cheap beer. I walk with Roni to the dining hall like I’m a lamb prancing toward destruction. I’d bail, but we’re meeting Terri, and I’m the one in need of advice.

Closing my eyes, I sniff the changing leaves on the air. Soon dark greens will transform into blazing reds. I haven’t taken out my sketchbook since I arrived, and I wonder if I should’ve signed up for an art class. Maybe I could drop rhetoric in its place. In my head, I arrange leaves into a composition and miss my old school a little more each day. I must be crazy.

At a distance, Bryce and Justin stand by a low building that they keep disappearing into. They’re having an intense conversation as Bryce steps into Justin’s personal space.

“What is that building?” I whisper to Roni.

Roni follows my gaze and stares at the boys, who look like they’re about to shove one another when Bryce lifts his chin and gives Justin no room.

“The faculty building,” she mutters. “I hate them boys for being so hot,” I know what she means when I glance back at them. They’re both tall and lean with hard muscle, but Bryce has a way of standing that conveys that he expects respect, and he’ll get it too. As we watch, he shoves Justin, who stumbles backward, almost falling.

Justin straightens up and holds his fist out in a way I was taught not to on my first day at the gym. He lowers his hands when the blonde girl comes out of the building and casually drapes her arm over Bryce’s shoulder. I frown. She looks like an accessory hanging all over him.

Charlotte Howland.

Something about her seems familiar, but I can’t imagine her ever going to the Pit. The rich girls stay behind the glass in the old office. But I know I saw her somewhere before Stonehaven. Charlotte and I look about the same height and build, but where I have muscle, she has curves. She is gorgeous, I’ll admit it. With her looks, she must collect men. Pale hair that sets off pale skin that must cost serious money to stay even-toned. I glance down at the scars on my banged-up, gross knees.

Charlotte tilts her head, and her gaze lifts off of Bryce and catches on mine. The boys don’t notice they’re being watched as she stares back at me. Her pretty looks turn sour as if something with a stench just wafted under her tiny nose. She’s not fond of me, and it shows in her blue eyes as she stares holes into my head. It’s a miracle she’s not spitting fire because I can feel the waves of hate from this far away.

“What do you know about her?” I ask Roni.

“Charlotte Howland is the queen of Stonehaven, and she works to maintain her status. Her dad is a rich doctor at Howland Medical Center. They’ve had their millions since the Mayflower and live in Rockingham in a freakin’ mansion that could house the whole state.” Roni looks away. “You won’t be making friends with her unless you have a trust fund in the millions.”

“Don’t you?” I ask.

“I’m a dollar short.”

Charlotte unlocks me from her laser gaze and throws her head back with a laugh that carries around the campus. She sounds as phony as she looks. Those girlie girls with their perfect makeup and pink clothes make me sick. I cringe at my thoughts. I didn’t envy people before, especially lightweight girls. Why is she rubbing me the wrong way?

“Don’t be fooled,” smiles Roni, reading my mind. “She puts on an act of being a clueless airhead, but that would be a huge underestimation of how good she is at getting people to do her bidding.”

Watching me, Charlotte wraps both her arms around Bryce’s neck and laughs while he peels her off him. I hold the door open for us as Bryce glances over at the door before we disappear inside.

“She sleep around?” I ask flatly.

“Maybe, but she campaigns to pass herself off as a virgin.” Roni shakes her head. “These girls would give a guy their virginity before they loan him a dollar.”

I hold in a snort. “That’s cold.”

I feel odd sitting around watching my former coworkers sweep the floor and wipe the tables—jobs I used to do a month ago. I watch Gary enter the hall to inspect it for cleanliness. He never had to do that while I was working here. Our eyes meet, and I wave a half-hearted hello. Frowning, he nods and disappears into the kitchen. It’s time we started ignoring one another.

“The food is seriously delicious,” I announce, tearing into my alfredo pasta with peas, “the best I’ve ever eaten.”

Roni and Terri gaze at me in wonder, but it’s not positive. “It’s adequate,” replies Roni.

I shrug my shoulders, gripping my fork and shoveling another bite in my mouth. I’m slowly learning that it’s better if someone else talks. I look over, and Charlotte has entered the hall with Bryce and Justin. She gives me a look like I shouldn’t look at her.

“That girl keeps staring at me,” I pause. “I wonder why.”

Terri’s eyes widen, but he keeps them on his plate. “It’s because you keep hitting people.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask hotly. “Are you defending them?”

When I finish shouting at him, I realize they could hear me at my old school a town away. I lower my voice—cheeks burning like I touched fire. I hate that I feel that the animosity the other kids are showing me is because I’m clueless.

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