Law laughs. “Oh, we’re not the least bit concerned about that, sir.”
It’ll be hard for Henley to cause any problems when she’s got four guys controlling her every move. Monroe wants her dead. But Scout and Law? They’re going to make her useful around here. On her knees or on her back, she’s about to learn what her punishment for her betrayal is.
HENLEY
Day two at school passes just like day one. The only person speaking to me is Jamie. The guys ignore me completely. Even Dax sat far away from me in a different seat today in third period.
They’re biding their time. I know it, and a part of me is relieved, needing space to breathe even if the air is polluted.
I’m trying to figure out how to get into their good graces. How to get close to them again to get to the truth. It’s going to get dirty, and I’m okay with that. Some things are worth sacrificing, and it’s not like I have any dignity left at this point. Once I out that sorry son of a bitch, the town will see me as a hero. And every bad rumor spread about Brenda will be silenced.
When the story first broke across every news station in town about Dax raping Brenda Nash—those who believed he did it said she wanted it. That she dressed like a slut and partied like a whore. They assumed that Dax was guilty, but that Brenda was not a victim in the situation. There were still those who didn’t believe the football player was capable of forcing himself on the helpless girl. Then word spread he was arrested, and her body was missing. Everyone lost their shit. Word spread like wildfire that I was the one who turned him in, so everyone switched the blame to me. I was their best target. In a way, I was glad they stopped saying such awful things about Brenda. She was innocent and had been taken advantage of.
I’m sitting alone at a table in the cafeteria when Jamie plops down beside me. “Today has been one hell of a day. Is it over yet?” She blows some hair from her face.
“I wish,” I mumble, taking a bite of my cheeseburger.
She opens a can of Dr. Pepper. “Mrs. Shepherd gave me a D on a paper I did last week. A D. I don’t get fucking D’s.”
“What’s up with her anyway?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes. “She’s Principal Hollow’s niece.”
Aha. “That explains a lot.”
“Right? She just graduated last year from college with her teaching degree. It’s like she’s going to be a hard-ass because she has to prove she belongs here.”
“And how she dresses …”
“Oh my God, don’t get me started on her outfits.” She shakes her head. “Like is this a school or a strip club?”
I look up to see Scout and Monroe enter the cafeteria. Dax has his right arm thrown over Cindy Shelton’s shoulders, a varsity cheerleader, and Scout is talking to Laney Willow—Queen Bee. She has been trying to get into his pants for over a year now.
“They started fucking over the summer,” Jamie says, watching where I’m looking and reading my mind.
I lower my eyes before either of them spots me gawking. “I’m not surprised,” I say even though it makes my chest tighten. I had to go into hiding, and he’s just been here living his best life and fucking his way through the school.
“Don’t let it get to you. He’s been using girls ever since you left.”
Girls? How many have there been? And has he compared them to me? What we had? I shrug. “I want nothing to do with him anymore.” The lie burns my throat. I want him back in my life more than anything. How it used to be. My best friend.
She places her hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay to still be in love with Scout, Henley. He didn’t do anything.”
My hand fists. He didn’t hurt me, but he also didn’t stick up for me. “I don’t love him,” I argue through gritted teeth. “I fucking hate them all.”
She drops it and starts to eat her sandwich.
I push my tray away, no longer having an appetite.
“What’s up, ladies?” A guy plops down across from us and starts to eat off my plate. His soft brown eyes meet mine. “Datson.” He reaches over the table to shake my hand. “You must be Henley.”
I take it and nod. “Do I even wanna know how you know who I am?” He doesn’t look familiar, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t see me on TV. Or read about me on social media somewhere. I see all the kids who are typing away on their phones when I walk past them in the halls. They’re blasting me on every app they have. I’m sure of it.