Page 23 of Twisted Lies

Chapter 11

Astrid

The next day, I can’t wait for my last class to finally end. All day, all I’ve dreamt about is posing for Justin, draped in flowing fabric while he worships me as his muse. Before, I would never have allowed my imagination to lapse into romantic bullshit. But after Justin kissed my hand, now I get why girls want to be pursued instead of banged.

I run over to my dorm room to freshen up, and Roni and Terri are sitting side by side in the two desk chairs. His arm is draped casually over the back of her chair, and she’s leaning into him. I debate on taking a step back and out the door, but before I can, Roni turns around.

“Come see this, Astrid.” She holds up her phone. “The fight has been posted on all the socials and has 2K views already.”

Terri takes his arm off her chair and places it in his lap. I’d feel odd, leaning in between them, so I stand on the opposite side of Roni’s chair to look. She laughs as we watch Wyatt punch Pierce in the gut.

“Some kid posted it with music.” She laughs again.

“Do you think they’ll be expelled?” I ask, cringing as Wyatt takes a hit.

“I heard a rumor they won’t,” she replies, holding up the screen, “Maybe suspended for a few days. I saw Wyatt on campus.”

In silence, we watch the end of the video, and Roni puts it away when I don’t share the joyous reaction that she has. Wyatt being expelled would be worse than terrible. And nothing is certain—it’s always gossip. Despite how I might feel for the other boys, Wyatt is the only one I can picture myself with after graduation. I can’t imagine being here at Stonehaven without knowing he’s around. Even when he’s pissed at me, I feel secure knowing he’s around and knowing we’ll have a second chance.

“Are you going to the Halloween Ball?” Roni asks.

I look at the two of them sitting so close together, and I hear the squeaking of a third wheel loud and clear in my mind. “I’m not sure,” I reply, staring at Terri.

Roni clasps Terri’s shoulder. “We’re heading down to Salem for the parade. You should come with us.”

I glance at Terri, who has an expectant gaze in his eyes, but Roni’s smile looks so phony it cramps my stomach.

“I think I’ll hang here,” I reply happily, “I probably should study, and I have track. I’ll just go to the party at the dining hall.”

“A lot of kids go alone.” Roni smiles at Terri, holding onto his hand. “Hardly anyone has a date.”

I nod, feeling weird that I’m even standing near them. I grab my gear from the closet and head into the bathroom for a quick shower. When I step out, Terri is gone, and Roni is sitting at her desk, reading her tablet. She’s wearing a heavy sweatshirt over her scoop T-shirt. I thought she looked cold before.

“I was going to leave the room,” I tell her, “but you saw me before I could back out.”

“Yeah, I saw your reflection in the window,” she says, “That’s what happens when it starts getting dark early. You don’t mind that we’re going off alone?”

I shake my head like a helicopter taking off. “I don’t mind at all. Enjoy yourselves. Have a good time.” I pause. “Have you kissed yet?”

Roni shrugs her shoulders. “He’s touching me more. You know. My shoulder or my hand.”

I grin, thinking it’s so sweet and frustrating. “I saw where he had his arm when I walked in.”

Roni giggles. “I’m hoping we’ll spend the night together in Salem.”

“Well,” I grab my bag to leave, “if you end up back in the room, send me a text, and I’ll disappear for a night.”

***

“Is anyone around?” I ask Justin as I sit on the platform in his studio. Vogel Hall is eerily quiet at this time of night as I look up at the darkened windows. The cloth over the doorway is pulled tightly across and pinned with clamps in place. No one could casually peek in without pulling the canvas down.

Justin looks unconcerned as he sets up his easel. “People are around, but they’re busy working on their own projects.”

I wait with my top on, not too anxious to be caught. I doubt Howland would understand if I was caught and expelled for impropriety, not after I brazenly asked him for birth control pills.

“Why did you take the whole computer and not download it?” I ask, lying down on the platform.

“I wanted Pierce to know that I had it.” His voice is matter-of-fact, as if he doesn’t really care about their opinions anymore.

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