Page 198 of Tell Me Lies

Callie snorted. “He never looks happy.”

“Let’s get out of here and go sit outside,” Mattie said as she stood and lifted her tray.

Skye followed them and dumped their trash before walking out. She tried so hard but couldn’t prevent herself from sneaking another peek at Jared.

She gasped and almost choked when she noticed he was still watching her. She hurried after her friends.

Fortunately, they didn’t have any classes together since he was a senior and she was a sophomore, and she rarely saw him in the hallways. She only saw him at lunch, or she’d catch glimpses of him in the parking lot.

Later that day, the three stood in the girls’ locker room, and Skye still hadn’t settled down from the attention Jared gave her. Yes, it was just staring, but she felt like he’d finally noticed her for the first time.

“Hey, we’ll see you tomorrow,” Callie said.

Skye grinned. “Bye.” She finished combing her hair. They had finished with swim team practice and headed home. She was glad because her legs felt like rubber after the laps their teacher made them do, and she had homework.

Skye waved to the others as she walked outside. She inhaled and relaxed as the late afternoon sun warmed her face. The day was done, and her mother had one of her women’s groups, so she wouldn’t have to deal with her until the next day.

She gasped when a hand grabbed onto her arm as she turned a corner. Her body was pushed up against the stone, and her head barely missed hitting the hard surface. Her mouth dropped open when she realized Jared had her pinned to the side of the school. Her eyes darted around, but there was no one she could see. They stood in the shadows and behind large bushes.

Her purse and books dropped to the ground when one of his hands wrapped around her neck and squeezed. It wasn’t a hard grip, just intimidating. She clawed at his knuckles only to have him chuckle.

“You’re fine. You can breathe. Fucking idiot.”

She forced herself to settle down and realized she could breathe. He was giving her just enough room to do that.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“I want to know why a little slut like you keeps staring at me like some lovesick puppy. It’s irritating.”

Skye tried to act bravely, but she knew he could feel her trembling. “For one thing, I’m not a slut.”

Jared grunted. “What the fuck ever.”

“And I don’t stare at you…”

His grip tightened. “That’s bullshit. Don’t fucking lie to me.”

Her fingers tried to pull his away from her neck. “Stop!” She tried to yell, but she couldn’t get enough breath. She lashed out with her shoe and kicked him in the shin. She knew she had done more damage to herself than him, but he was surprised enough that he loosened his grip.

“Fine. Yes, I look at you.”

“Why?” he asked.

What did she tell him because she didn’t know herself?

He pulled her away from the building a few inches and then pushed her back against it hard enough to feel the impact but not give her pain.

“I don’t know!” she yelled.

It was disconcerting how he studied her for a long while, making her fear rise and her heart pound faster.

“Really?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you just need to get fucked? I can do that. It doesn’t matter how you look. I can always turn off the lights or turn you around and take you from behind.”

Skye swallowed past the emotions. She knew he was just trying to be a prick, but it still hurt. “No. I don’t want to get f-fucked.”

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