Page 24 of Spiteful Lies

Chapter 18

Astrid

Bryce remains seated next to his parents after I disappear out of the line of fire. He looks toward the back of the hall, but I stay hidden in the shadows. It’s better this way. But after a while, I refuse to wimp out as if I did something wrong. I wasn’t the one making a scene, though people stare at me as if I were. Ignoring the whispers, I leave the hall and continue down the path to greet parents arriving late to the program. I smile pleasantly and guide them to empty seats inside the hall. I keep my gaze off the front table even though I feel someone staring at the back of my head.

Rawlins finally gives her speech in its entirety to the parents without any more outbursts. Her solid efforts receive enthusiastic applause with a few cheers thrown in, and frankly, her talents are wasted on these shallow people. She should be governing the state instead of that deviant idiot they elected.

The program can’t end fast enough, and I don’t stay to mingle as the parents stand to leave. My feet can’t carry me fast enough to my dorm. I run up the stairs as if a mob of angry parents is hunting me down. And as soon as the door is shut, I strip off my uniform, kicking it into a corner before taking a quick shower. I climb into bed so I can zone out, but no sooner than I’m comfy, it ends. My stomach sinks when there’s a tap on the door. I don’t think I can handle seeing any of the boys now. I open it and grin when I see Charlotte waiting to come in.

“Are you busy?” she asks, clutching her huge pillow. Her lavender sweats are wrinkled as if she’s been lying in bed all day.

“Come on in,” I step aside. “I was going to pass out. Take my bed.”

Charlotte lies down in mine, pulling the covers up to her nose as she hunkers down like a bear hibernating for the winter. “I wish we were rooming together.” She sighs. “I wish I had thought of it before.”

I eye her. “But you didn’t know before.”

“I suspected it, but Dad…Howland is sneaky,” she whispers as if someone is interested in our conversation. Honestly, they could be. “I used to think it was strange how you refused to call him Dad. I suppose I have to get used to it now.”

“He’s not the nurturing kind.” I climb into Roni’s bed, sliding down the cool sheets. “How is he doing? Or do you care anymore?”

“I still text Mrs. Donahue. It’s a hard habit to break, loving someone no matter how awful they are to you.”

Too bad that’s always true. I haven’t heard from Nova in a while, as the Monarchs have made it clear that I’m no longer one of them. Not that Nova would ghost me if it was just her and me. But it isn’t just us. Now, we have to exist in our separate worlds, and each world has its own rules. I can’t have one foot in theirs and one in Stonehaven. Her arrest proved that. I was never charged.

It’s quiet in the building, and I wonder if Charlotte and I are alone on the third floor. I wonder if we’ll end up growing apart now that I’m a Howland and she’s not. We stare at the ceiling, not sharing our thoughts though they’re probably similar. I keep picturing the shouting at the program and cringe. My sigh is over the top as I throw my arm over my forehead. What did I expect? That money would make me the right kind of girl?

“Yeah, it does suck,” replies Charlotte, sighing deeply. “Every minute of it sucks.”

“Did you tell Rawlins?” I ask, not sure if I want an answer.

“No, but I will.” Charlotte forces her voice to sound optimistic. “When I see her on Thanksgiving, I’ll tell her. During dessert, I’ll tell her I’m not only a bastard, but I’m the broke and disowned one.”

I’m quiet for a minute. “Will you try to find your father?”

Charlotte scoffs loudly and sits up, turning toward me. “After watching Howland fuck with your life? I think not.” She lowers her tone. “Sorry, Astrid, but I’m going to try to go it alone.”

Now, I’m really worried, and I sit up on my bed to face her. Her grin starts to dissolve when she sees the worried scowl on my face. “How? Charlotte, I don’t want to alarm you, but I’m sort of scared for you. Stonehaven might as well be on another planet. That’s how different it is from the real world.”

Charlotte shrugs her shoulders and lies back down on the bed. “Don’t worry, Astrid. I’m more resourceful than you think. I don’t have a clear Plan B, but I have a few options.”

Before I can ask her for details, someone knocks on the door. I fall back on the bed, and we’re both quiet as we listen to the knocking. The sound is far from timid as the person knocks again.

“Is it your roommate?” whispers Charlotte, “Doesn’t she have a key?”

Roni might not get her bed back. “No, she’s coming back Monday,” I reply, “It’s probably a boy.”

Charlotte is up and at the door before I can move to stop her. She swings it wide open. “Welcome,” The bright smile is back in her voice. “And enter one—two—three—four. It’s nice to have some testosterone in the girls’ dorm.”

I sit up quickly, and all four boys are standing in my room. Wyatt kisses my cheek, and his gaze lingers on my lips. I almost wish he had come alone. He lets me go and sits down by the desk, followed next by Justin, who kisses my forehead softly.

“I heard,” he whispers, and then he sits on the bed, leaning his back against the wall.

Pierce tugs me up and into his arms, then kisses my neck, not caring that his hand is touching my breast. “You didn’t slap, punch, hit, or curse.” He smiles. “Even though they were begging to have their asses kicked. Good girl.”

I scoff, pushing him off me gently. “I hurt my neck while staring at you on the high road.”

Laughing, he sits beside Wyatt in the other chair as Bryce wraps an arm around my waist. He doesn’t pull me too close or give me a kiss as Charlotte watches us closely. I wonder if he’s holding back because she’s here or because of his father.

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