Page 23 of Web of Lies
“You’re fucking with me again, aren’t you? God, Kaycee, you’re killing me!” He runs a hand down his face. “I’m just—just trying to—I don’t know!” His hands fly up in the air frustrated with me.
“I’m curious, Clark, do those lines work on other girls?” He sighs again and shrugs.
“I don’t usually have to try so hard to get a girl’s attention,” he mutters, taking a step closer.
His gray eyes shine with vulnerability, rarely seen in this self-proclaimed lady’s man. The smile he usually wears is nowhere to be found, instead a little boy stands in front of me, begging me to understand his ways. I want to. I really do. Despite the circumstances, Chase is easy to get along with. I could see a future with him, friendship wise. When we were ten, we kissed. It wasn’t awful, in fact, for the first time in my life I wanted someone to touch me like that. He did. It didn’t burn. But in the back of my mind, I have to think about Magnolia. She listed him in her emails. He helped in bullying her.
“Woo me,” I say, tilting my head to the side.
“Woo you?” he asks, raising his eyebrows. “Like, woo you, romance you, type shit?” From here, I see the hamster wheel turning in his head, hopefully it doesn’t hurt too bad.
“Sure, if that’s how you interpret it.” I shrug and open my car door, needing to head off campus ASAP. As the seconds tick on the clock, my room is vulnerable—more vulnerable than I want it. Whoever has keys to it will be in for a big surprise in a few hours.
“Wait—I—I don’t know how!” he yells, twisting his face.
His brain obviously goes through the motions, trying to figure out how to woo someone. Or if he wants to. Am I worth the wooing and the effort? Well—I’d love to see him try. It’d be interesting to see what he has up his sleeve. Do I expect anything from it? No. Chase is the type of guy to hate the literal chase. He doesn’t want to chase me all over campus, begging me to hang out with him in the maze. No. Chase wants an easy girl to flirt with and fuck with. That’s it. That’s that. And I’m not that girl. Not one bit.
I shrug, putting one leg into the car, still staring at the confusion lining his face. “Figure it out, Chris. You got this. If I really am worth it.” What could be interpreted as a sinister smile slides across my face. Now all I need is the evil laugh. Bwahaha—oh! Focus!
His body snaps straight, eyes shining with the need to complete this fresh challenge I’ve thrown down. “Oh, you’ll see, New Girl! I don’t give up easily.” He grins, rubbing his hands together in planning.
My heart beats inside my chest like a rapid drum, pounding in my ears. So—Chase does like the chase. Hmmm—this should be interesting to see what he has in store for me. Maybe he’ll forget or maybe he’ll step up to the plate and hit a home run. Whatever way he decides, step one of my plan has kicked off—keeping my enemy close. If I get him, his friends will surround me.
Starting my car, I grin as Chase walks away still rubbing his hands together in planning. I turn around, looking behind me, and as I’m about to back out, a Porsche shoots through the parking lot at break-neck speeds, zooming out of the parking lot and onto the highway heading towards the small town, East Point Bluff, leaving me in the dust.
After ten minutes of driving,Max’s Hardware Storecomes into view as I make my way downtown. Once in the store, I cruise the aisles with my eyes on my prize—a brand new deadbolt and door handle. Each with a separate lock and key no one else will have. Only me and I plan to keep it that way. No more break-ins with keys to my room. If they want to break in, they’ll have to try harder, like breaking down my door. Then I’ll know for sure.
Walking across campus in the early evening is peaceful. The sun sinks lower into the sky, painting it in a dark pink and orange. And no one is around. It’s only me and my new locks nestled deep inside my messenger bag. Looking around the dead campus, I stop and take it all in. For once, the large courtyard is devoid of life. Maybe my classmates are already diving into their studies, considering for many of us, it’s our last year.
Ah—senior year. An exciting time, yet terrifying. I was supposed to do this with Magnolia. All of this. This was our journey—our time together and then off to college. Together, always. But now? We have nothing: nothing but my vengeance to get to the bottom of her timely demise.
Making my way toward an older looking building a few paces away that caught my attention, I halt my advance. My fingertips brush against the rough orange brick, looking a little more weathered than most of the other buildings on campus. It has tall windows, taller than the others, and seems in disrepair. Gutters fall from the perches, and wild tree branches rest on the deteriorated roof. Stepping back, I realize the bushes have grown wild, blocking the first-story windows.
Wrinkling my nose, I make my way around the odd structure. From what I’ve seen, East Point prides itself on beautiful, outlandish appearances. Everything about this place is perfect: the buildings, apartments, well-stocked classrooms, and gyms. So, seeing a building off the beaten path in such a disgusting state makes me wonder. Why keep this place around?
“Hit me, asshole!” My back stiffens as a low, growly male voice floats through a broken window.
“As you fucking wish,” another male voice grunts.
I follow the sound of their distant voices, finally finding the boys in the building’s basement in the middle of a boxing ring. I peek through the broken window, greeted by angry growls and curses aimed at one another. Thankfully, they don’t see me looking through, hidden by the crazy branches of the evergreen bush. It’s then that I realize the mistake I’ve made because it’s not two ordinary guys. Nope. It’s Cruel Carter, beating the hell out of Seger West.
Every time they move around the center of the broken ring, dust flies into the air. A steady punch knocks the muffled curses away from Seger, and his body staggers back. Blood seeps from his nose, drenching his perfect white teeth in a bloody hue. He sends Carter a cruel smile, licking the blood from his teeth in one long swipe. His bare, tattooed chest heaves, sending sweat droplets to the muddy mat.
My body shivers, blood pumping hard through my veins. My fingers curl into my palms, embedding crescent nail marks into my skin. Much like a train wreck, I can’t stop watching the two cruel men beat each other bloody.
Carter’s body sways as he points a finger around the empty gym, taunting Seger with his signature cruel smirk. Seger’s fist balls the front of his shirt, pulling them nose to nose. In one bold move, Seger knocks his forehead against Carter’s with such force they both stumble backward. Blood pours from a gash on Carter’s forehead, pouring down his face. Instead of charging after him, he just grunts and smirks.
“Same time next week?” He taunts, spitting blood onto the ring.
Seger smirks, taking a step back. Excitement roars through his eyes before walking away, holding his middle finger in the air. A door slam echoes through the entire building, rattling the broken window I’m hiding behind. His footsteps grow more and more distant, signaling his departure.
I focus back on Carter, unable to move my eyes away from his heaving chest. Sweat breaks out on his forehead, trickling down his glistening cheek. My God, for someone so cruel—he sure is gorgeous. Especially like this—all sweaty and breathless. Dark tattoos peek out from the collar of his shirt and from beneath his short sleeves. Faces and sayings litter his skin, but from here, it’s too hard to make them out.
His heavy fists slam into the concrete wall behind him, over and over, like a punching bag. His face contorts, reddening with every punch. Blood trickles from his fresh wounds, staining his fingers red. Whatever I witnessed—is a mystery. Why were they fighting? And why didn’t they kill each other? Are they violent like this all the time? Is this what made Magnolia scared?
Standing tall, I make my way to the door on the side of the building, doing the stupidest thing possible. I’m supposed to be a genius, but damn, my impulses win sometimes, and I can’t stop them.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
