Page 21 of False Idols

They look so angry to see me.

“I have to go,” I croak and dart forward, but Beau grabs my arm and keeps me where I am. “Beau, let go.”

He doesn’t let go, he just keeps me where I am. “Not so fast, angel.”

One of the guys pushes forward and ignores me. His name is Jordan Davis and he was a grade ahead of me. His mom worked for my mom during the summers when we needed extra help. I don’t care that he ignores me. I wish they all would.

“We’ve got news, buddy! The best news in the world!”

Beau’s eyes leave me and he smiles at them but I see how fake it is now. I thought that was real before, when I was too young to know better, but I’ve seen the real Beau. The one that looks at me like I belong to him and only him. The one that promised to make me pay.

That’s who Beau really is. The smiling man now surrounded by guys is a lie. It should make me sick, but all I feel is closer to him. No one knows him but me.

“What’s the news, Jordan?” Beau asks. His voice is different when he talks to them. It’s bright and sunny. Warm like a summer afternoon. His words don’t carry the dark, hard edge they do when he speaks to me.

“You’re back on the team, man!” Jordan claps Beau on the back and shoulders me out of the way. “Coach sent us to get you. You’re coming with us, brother.” Football players. That’s who they are. Before Beau went away, he played football. I can’t help but look up at Beau to gauge his reaction. I’m happy he’ll be back on the team. He was so good at it and when he was on the field no one could stand against him. There were scouts that came to watch Beau his junior and senior year. I knew there was a lot of talk about where Beau was going to end up playing. Everyone in town was hoping he’d end up at Bloom State and he was more than good enough. He was supposed to be a star here before he went on to play pro. I used to think about that sometimes when I saw the football players around or when I went to a game with Minnie and her family. It used to hurt thinking about how it should be Beau out on the field.

At least my fucking mistake isn’t taking away his chance to play college football.

“Are you serious? I’m on the team?” Beau moves forward with them and ignores me. I’m glad. He’s the center of attention, that means there isn’t any room for him to demand anything from me. At least, not yet. I know it’s coming. My belly twists when I think of what he told me before.

“If you aren’t on your knees for me, choking on my dick, then shut your fucking mouth, Nevaeh.”

I shouldn’t like that. I’ve barely even made out with anyone before. Why do I like that?

Because it’s Beau. That's why. It’s always been him for me and as much as I’m scared of it, I know it’s always going to be him for me, even with what’s happening between us.

I shuffle to the side and start to squeeze past a few bigger guys but I can’t help but hear what the group of football players are telling Beau.

“You’ll be in as quarterback. Second string, but we know you’ve still got it. We’ll get you ready in no time, man. It’s going to be like you never left.”

“I can’t believe this. It’s like a dream.”

Beau sounds genuine. I wonder if he is and I can’t help but look over my shoulder at him. The second I see him, I know he’s lying to them. He doesn’t care about football or being on the team. The smile doesn’t reach his eyes and he’s not ignoring me anymore. His eyes are right on me. I trip over an uneven paving stone on the path and run right into a guy who steadies me with a hand on my arm. The same place Beau grabbed me to stop me from leaving.

“You okay?” He starts and frowns at me. “Sorry about th-'' he stops right in the middle of his sentence and I know why when I see his eyes. He’s just realized who ran into him. He drops my arm like the touch burns him and sneers. “Well, look who it fucking is.” He’s loud enough that the guys celebrating Beau’s return turn their attention back to me.

“It’s our very own Nevaeh Santiago.”

“What the fuck is she doing here?”

I know those voices. They’re Andy and Mike.

“I just want to get by. Excuse me.” I try to move to the side, but the big guy I ran into moves with me and blocks my way. “Please let me pass.”

“Not until you apologize to Beau,” he says.

“She owes him a lot more than an apology. She put him in fucking prison,” someone calls out and I wince. It’s one thing to think it, but when I hear it out loud it hurts all over again.

I look around the group and avoid Beau’s eyes. “Look, I don’t want any trouble. Just let me through, please.”

Jordan throws his hands up and mimics me in a high pitched voice. “I don’t want any trouble.” He flips me off. “Neither did fucking Beau when you lied and said he killed his girlfriend, you bitch. What the fuck are you doing here? Going to accuse him of another murder?”

“I’m sorry, please.”

“You don’t belong here, you lying bitch.”

I shake my head. “Just let me go. I-I don’t want any trouble.” I hate the way I stammer when I’m nervous. I wish I was stronger, but I’m scared. There’s over a dozen guys around me and Beau’s taken a step back. He could stop them if he wanted, but he isn’t lifting a finger to do it. I don’t know what’s about to happen.

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