Page 71 of Hateful Lies

Charlotte keeps her eyes on what she’s doing. “Well, my parents almost divorced, but then I showed up.”

I nod but keep my thoughts to myself. If Elliot Howland had divorced his wife, would he have married my mom? As virtuous as that sounds, I’ve met him, and the man seems like a snob that treats people by the value of their bank account. Not just me and Mom, but the way he spoke to Dr. Rawlins. She’s also a doctor, but he acts as if her credentials don’t count because she doesn’t have a practice. Or maybe it’s because she’s a woman. Who even knows?

“You’re deep in thought,” says Charlotte

I shake my head. “Nothing. He told me not to be an embarrassment and then he handed me a wad of cash.”

“Oh, how much did he give you?”

I pull the cash out of my pocket and count two thousand dollars. Almost the exact amount I was accused of stealing. I start to tear up.

Charlotte clutches my shoulder. “Astrid, sweetie, we can get more.”

I want to laugh or cry but can’t make up my mind, so I do neither. “I’m tired of being treated this way. I do certain things because I have to. Maybe not now. But I’m stuck in survival mode, and I rely on myself first and not others. I had respect at my old school, but here? I’d have to be at Stonehaven for a hundred years before I get that respect again.”

Charlotte scowls at the cash in my hand. “I’m not the jerk that Dad is, but I do agree with him. If someone is treating you badly, then they’re disrespecting me. Who’s not treating you right? Is it those boys?”

For a moment, Charlotte sounds like my mother when I tell her I’m being teased at the nice school for not having a dad. “Yes,” I nod.

“We’re going to have a talk with them,” she replies

I smile. “I’m curious to see what you’re going to do.”

“Watch and learn.” She grabs a perfume bottle from her stash and spritzes some behind her ears. “This is how a rich girl whips ass.” She smiles at the concealer under my eye. I didn’t notice while she was doing it, but Charlotte applied a smoky shadow to both of my eyes.

“Use what you have, Astrid. It’s easier. And you look amazing.”

We sneak out of the dorm, leaving Wren to find her own way to the dining hall. We step inside the hall and people pause, and some turn all the way around to look. I’m about to step forward, but Charlotte catches my wrist for a second and then lets it go. I read her signal, and we pause long enough to give everyone a good look.

As we walk side by side through the dining hall, the gossip flows behind us like a tide spreading over the sand. Charlotte stops at the boys’ table. Bryce can’t conceal his shock at seeing me dolled up with makeup. I glance over at Wyatt, and he’s openly staring. I stand a little taller and then I watch and learn.

Charlotte points a dainty finger. “Justin, I need to talk to you.”

That’s unexpected. Bryce shoots a look at Justin as if he should explain why he was chosen. Charlotte smiles prettily and does this thing with her neck, tilting her head back and forth like she’s thinking.

“Justin, you’re keeping two ladies waiting,” she said.

Pierce snorts out a laugh. “Two ladies?”

Charlotte’s smile stiffens, and she glares at him. “I wasn’t speaking to you, Vanderbilt. Nor do I want to.”

Pierce narrows his eyes on her and then on me. He stares daggers at his dinner and stabs a red potato with his fork.

Charlotte smiles at Justin, giving him a mental push. He puts down his fork and rises from his seat. She walks back toward the main door and looks down her nose at every person as she saunters away. I can’t even try to do that, so I gaze at the ceiling. I’m almost out the door when I glance over at Roni and Terri at our table. She mouths, “WTF?” and I can’t hide my smile.

Charlotte leads the way toward the low building that’s the faculty lounge. She doesn’t hesitate and walks in as if she’s on the faculty and has the right to be in there. We walk through a second set of glass doors and then immediately turn right through another glass door. Charlotte hits the light switch on the wall, and I catch my breath. The entire room is filled with canvases hanging on the walls. The scent of linseed oil surrounds my nose as my eyes take in the vibrant colors on the canvases. I walk up to one canvas that must be six feet tall and stare at the detail on the trunk of a tree. The bark looks real, with crevices of dark and light. I recognize the oak tree; it’s the one by the main gates into the school. I reach out, but stop myself from touching the luminous paint. Who the fuck painted this?

“Brilliant, aren’t they?” Charlotte steps beside me. “Justin is a talented artist, but hardly anyone knows he paints, so he comes off as a moody turd.”

Justin stands behind us, watching our reactions to his work. I stare at him, and there’s nothing I can think of to say.

Charlotte grabs my arm and pulls me toward another canvas. She beams as I recognize her image looking down on us. She’s posed on a chair, covered with a satin fabric that imitates a ballgown. Her body is covered except for her feet and arms. Her long blonde hair floats down along the curves in the drapery.

“Holy fuck,” I gasp. I spin around. “Did you paint that?”

Justin colors and doesn’t take praise easily, which is a surprise. He stammers a little and then mutters. He’s not the same guy who's been tormenting me since my first week here.

“The seniors have a show, and he painted all of these.” Charlotte moves gracefully toward Justin. “Justin, Astrid is my newest best friend. We’ve realized that we have a lot in common. She told me that you’re being an ass. Why?”

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