Page 70 of Twisted Lies

Chapter 34

Astrid

The run today is grueling, or maybe I’m not in as good shape as I thought I was. Gillian laughs as I struggle to keep up with her quick pace around the bends. Lifting tightens muscles while running lengthens them out, she points out as she runs backward along the trail. Gillian shows me some stretches that I can do while we run.

The run distracts me from what I think I have to do. Why mess with those boys? Why try to teach them not to mess with me? Wouldn’t it make more sense to ignore them? No, it won’t. I’m on their radar, and they won’t disappear just because I don’t want to be harassed.

Sweaty and joking, the team heads back into the gym, and I feel odd not showering off, so I follow the girls down into the locker room to get cleaned up. Justin is going to have to deal with the new me.

“Where are you off to now?” asks Gillian, lacing up her sneakers. She has a pair for every occasion, and the suede ones she’s wearing now are for going out.

I shrug my shoulders nonchalantly. “I have some homework to do.”

Gillian laughs as I dab on lip gloss. “Alone?” she asks. “You’re a busy girl. Bryce, Wyatt, Justin. You almost have a complete set.”

I stare at my reflection in the mirror. “What do you mean?” I ask her.

“Pierce Vanderbilt? You’re missing the fourth.” Wisely, she didn’t mention the Halloween Ball. Or my fucked-up date with Bryce.

“I’m not into him.” My tone is stern, and the teasing better stop now. “And that’s how I want it. Besides, he hates me.”

“He’s not into any girl,” replies Gillian, not sensing my warning tone, “He’s been like that since, you know…that thing.”

My curiosity shuts down my indifference every time. Dressed in my spare tracksuit, I follow Gillian out of the locker area, through the main gym, heading toward the doors. I lean in and whisper as we walk toward the dorms. “What thing?” I ask her.

Gillian looks behind us and waits for the two girls from our team to pass by. Her eyes gleam with a nastiness I’ve not seen in them before. This gossip will be gold. “There’s a rumor that an English teacher was fired after touching him,” she whispers.

I grab Gillian’s arm and make her stop walking. “Wait,” I gawk, “He was with a teacher?”

“That’s the rumor,” she smirks, “The teacher said she didn’t do it. And Pierce was failing her class. But he did spend a lot of time in her office after hours.” Gillian gives me an incredulous look. “She claims it was to help him with his homework. It made the papers, though his name wasn’t given since he was a minor.”

“Holy fuck,” I mutter, “What did his parents do?”

“His parents pretended nothing happened and refused to press charges.” Gillian starts walking again, and I follow, eager to hear more. “They didn’t want Pierce associated with a scandal.” Gillian smiles at me as if she hadn’t just rocked my perception of Stonehaven. “Are you meeting Justin?”

Without paying attention, we’ve ended up in front of Vogel Hall. Gillian nudges my shoulder, almost sending me sprawling. “Make him do the work,” she winks, “You need the rest.”

She darts off laughing before I can smack her—all in fun. I start to squirm, thinking about how Justin’s mouth felt on my bare skin. I hurry through the winding maze of hallways, following the scent of linseed oil and muted music playing. The curtain is pulled across Justin’s space, and I slip through the gap to find him sitting cross-legged on the platform. Barefoot and sketching, he’s changed into jeans and a graphic tee.

He glances over at me. “Your hair is damp.”

“I took a shower.” I move closer to take a peek at his sketch. “If you want me sweaty, you’re going to have to make me that way yourself.”

A hint of a smile lifts the corner of his mouth as Justin tosses the sketchpad on the floor. He stands, but instead of approaching me, he goes to his easel and starts sharpening his pencil with a piece of sandpaper. So, he’s going to play like he could not care less if I was here or not.

I step up onto the platform that’s a little wider than a twin-sized bed. I pull off my nylon team jacket and toss it onto a folding chair by the wall. With my back to Justin, I pull off my long-sleeved T-shirt with the Stonehaven crest on the shoulder. My hands wrestle off my sports bra that packs me in, and eventually, it’s off. My breath picks up as I slowly unknot the string holding up my nylon track pants.

I look at him over my shoulder. “How do you want me to pose?”

His long hair hangs in his face, concealing his expression and his thoughts. I tilt my head until I can see past the curtain of hair. His eyes gradually lift, revealing an intense gaze. I don’t flinch; I don’t dare.

“I thought we might do something else instead.” The outline of his swollen cock presses against his jeans. “Finish what we started.”

I look away, wondering if he knows that Bryce has already taken me. Closing my eyes, I wait for harsh words to follow. Why did I turn Justin down and say yes to Bryce? I made a dumbass mistake, but obviously, I’ll live. I brace myself, waiting for him to speak.

“I know you want Bryce,” he says, stepping onto the platform beside me, “I know I’ll have to share, and I don’t mind.”

My eyes widen. “What do you mean by share?”

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