Page 37 of Twisted Minds

“My plan.” He purses his lips, tapping his chin. “My plan . . . right. It’s not that maybe you don’t want to get caught, and having Hunter find out now will ruin it?” I go cold all over.

“You need to leave. He’s going to be here soon. Unless you don’t give a fuck anymore and want to turn me in. If that works, fucking fine.” I keep a straight face, ignoring the fact that I’m shitting bricks right now. “It’s not like he’s in love with me yet. It’s been weeks. Give me a fucking break.”

“You just seem really into it when you’re together is all.”

“Do you want me to convince him, or do you want me to make it obvious?” I snap, hating myself. “I can’t very well act like a dick to him and expect him to fall for me. Maybe that works for you, but normal people don’t work that way,” I snap again, regretting it instantly.

“You know what? I want to change my terms.”

“What?”

Derrick steeples his fingers, tapping them against his mouth. “I think I want to change the rules a bit.”

“What are you talking about?”

“There’s a huge game in three weeks. It’s a make-or-break game against our rivals from Hudson Valley. I want you to break up with Hunter right before the game. Right before the puck drops.” What the fuck is wrong with him? “I want you to tell him it was all a lie. That you don’t actually like him. I don’t care what you say, just make it hurt. Throw his game off.”

“Derrick, that’s—”

“Those are the terms now. Honestly, you’re kind of pissing me off lately, so I kind of don’t even care anymore. Seeing you in jail might be just as good as seeing him miserable. Your choice.”

No. I need more time. I need something to prove he did it. Derrick has all his friends against me. I fucking hate this. I ignored red flags because for the first time in my life I had friends—at least I thought I did in the beginning.

Derrick’s best friend, Kade Thompson, was in my graphic design class last year. We got along great, worked on projects together. It was awesome. I thought he was a decent guy. WhileNoah and I were just beginning our relationship, we still didn’t talk much, then Kade introduced me to his friends, and I met Derrick. He was charming and funny, and I thought he was a decent dude. We hung out, played games, and for a while it was great.

Then Derrick began to change. Before I knew it, I felt stuck trying to find a way out. He used to blackmail me over little things or threaten me when I wouldn’t go along with the stupid shit they did. It was harmless bullshit . . . until it wasn’t.

Then it was too late.

Now I have someone so amazing in my life and I’m going to lose him because Derrick will ruin it. He doesn’t have to, he just wants to, and that . . . I don’t know. Hurting someone just for fun is so sadistic. I really shouldn’t be surprised, though. If I’m right, which I think I am, he set the Blue Lotus on fire for shits and giggles. I just have to prove it.

“I . . .” I have no choice. “Fine. If you’re that obsessed with him.” It slips out.

Derrick grabs me by my shirt collar. I struggle to remove his hands as he slams me into the wall, knocking the breath from my lungs. “That dickweed ruined my chance at going pro. I want to see him burn.” He looks to the side, at my desk. I turn to see what he’s looking at and see Hunter’s hoodie folded on the table. I’m going to wear it tonight. I haven’t really stopped wearing it. “You’re an amazing actor, Mark. I almost believe you like him too.”

“You want me to fake date him. I’m doing my best,” I grit out, shoving him off me.

Derrick backs away, shoving his hands into his pockets and looking over my shelves, then goes over to them. I nearly scream as his fingers caress the spines. My ideas are in there, and the last thing I want is for him to look at them. “You need to go.He’ll be here soon.” His brows rise. “Do you want me to do this or not?”

He turns to me with a sick smile. “Fine, fine. I mean it, though. Three weeks, the Hudson Valley game. Destroy him or I’ll destroy you.” He gives me one more stomach-turning look before finally leaving.

I gasp in a breath, placing my hands on my knees. Tears prick my eyes. I hate this. I hate this. I fucking hate this! My mind shuffles through the filing cabinet of ideas and plans to get out of this, but none of them seem possible. No one will believe me if I tell them, not with who Derrick’s father is. It’ll take one word from him to have me put in jail.

Again, I think about Sawyer . . . he seems reasonable. Still, I don’t know him, and he may believe I was truly friends with them and meant to set it on fire, and then what? I’m behind bars and Derrick goes free. None of Derrick’s friends would go against him, and I’m still not sure they weren’t in on the fire as well.

I could tell a teacher I respect, but again, Derrick just has to show one picture and deny it himself for me to get arrested. And as dumb as it seems on the list of awful fucking things happening, I want that watch back.

I don’t know. I just don’t know.

A knock sounds again, and I swear to god if he doesn’t leave me—I swing the door open, looking at Hunter. “Hey, whoa, you alright?”

Fuck. I breathe deep. “Oh uh, yeah um, just a fight with my father.” It was the best I had, and not completely untrue. My dad calls me weekly to remind me how much I’m disappointing him. “Sorry.”

“You okay?” Hunter closes my door and takes me in his arms. I circle mine around his shoulders, pulling him in tight, soaking in this feeling. I’m going to fix this, all of it. I have to. Pressing akiss to my chest, he then kisses my lips. “Do you want to cancel tonight—”

“No.” God no. I want to hang out with him. “I’m fine, sorry, it’s fine.”

Hunter nods, running his fingers through my hair. “Then let’s go get your insane friend.”

---