Page 57 of That Sik Luv

My brows draw together in confusion. He clears his throat and looks behind me as more students pile in.

I shake my head. “Saint, what are you—”

“Briony!”

I hear my name called from behind me, only to turn and see Mia at the door. She eagerly waves me towards her, her eyes wide with panic.

Mia is a grade beneath us, which is why she’s still attending classes. But her classes are on the other side of the building, which is why I can’t seem to understand why she’s here right now, outside this room.

Lingering for a second, I pull myself away from Saint as he gains the attention of the class before him. A class that clearly, I’m not a part of anymore.

Mia ushers me towards her before grabbing my wrist and guiding me around the corner and into the hall. Pulling me near the lockers, she blocks me from the view of the remaining students making their way to class before the bell rings.

“You wanna tell me what happened?!” she whispers frantically. “Everyone is talking about it. I knew you were competitive, Bri, but this?! This is...well, surprising. Especially for you.”

“Tell me what you’re talking about,” I demand, feeling impatient.

“I mean, I know you’ve always thought he had it out for you, but even I thought Saint genuinely liked you beneath the surface. I assumed the stalking games were just his lame attempt at flirting.”

“Mia!” I yell out, causing her to look down the hallway and back, shushing me. “Tell me what you’re talking about!”

“This,” she says, pulling her phone from her back pocket.

She swipes the screen, and a video plays.

My heart drops to my stomach, which immediately drops to the floor beneath me as the walls of the school feel as if they are caving in around me.

“Oh no. No, no, no,” I say breathlessly, my hand cupping my mouth.

I grab the phone from her, my heart racing as I watch a video of me kissing Saint in my kitchen. There’s a clear shot of my hand palming his erection in his pants, looking as if I set up my phone to record this, with the words written under the post on some social media platform saying,SAINT’S SLUT OR BRIONY’S BITCH?

I blink up at Mia, who’s staring at me, worry etched on her face.

“I didn’t do this, Mia. I would never—”

“Briony Strait?”

I close my eyes tightly, facing her as I hear the deacon call my name from behind. Slowly opening my eyes again, I see Mia’s wrinkle in the corners, fearing the wrath I’m about to face. I inhale a deep breath, letting it out, before turning to face him.

“Confessional,” he says simply, turning on his heels and heading down the hall.

He’s heading to the church next door, waiting for me to follow him.

CONFESS

Another message. Another setup. The word from the man who continuously torments me in the most seemingly deceitful way. The graffiti, the safe, the video…

Just when I think there’s more to Aero, that I enjoy the thrill of his twisted games, I retract and feel played. Used as nothing more than a piece being pushed and pulled blindly, essential to his succession.

I need more from him. I need answers. I need what I’ve been deprived of.

Truth.

Aero’s past will catch up to him one way or another.

But it’s up to me to use the tools I’ve been given thus far to control my own destiny.

Now more than ever.

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