Page 55 of Ruse
I almost think of lying or changing the subject, but it’s about time to put my plan into action. I came here for one reason, and one reason only, and that is to ruin Austin Bancroft and his two illustrious children. Sitting at their lunch table, mingling along with their friends, and enjoying my time here wasn’t part of the plan. I wasn’t supposed to make friends, and the way these guys are treating me, inviting me into their little group when I know it’s not something they normally do, is exactly what it feels like is happening.
Things are getting out of control.
I turn my attention toward my stepbrother, who watches me with a heedless expression I can’t quite read. Brooklyn is still wary around me, and I’m almost proud he sees the dark side of me that shouldn’t be trusted. “I ran into Phoenix on her way home,” I mutter, and almost instantly his demeanor changes, firing on high alert. “She didn’t quite look like she could make it out of the party on her own, so being the gentleman and protective stepbrother I am, I walked her home. She was fumbling with her keys when we arrived, so I let her in and waited with her till she sobered up. I didn't want to leave her alone. She was pretty drunk.”
“When she left the party, she didn’t seem that drunk,” Fitz says, looking back and forth between Brooklyn and I, trying to get a read on the situation and my stepbrother's reaction. Brooklyn gaze is now burning into me, his jaw ticking, and lips twitching in anger. I know he almost caught us, and I know when he ran into Phoenix, she was beyond flustered and acting suspiciously guilty. I heard their entire exchange and I also know that he stood outside my door for five minutes before retiring to his after she slammed her bedroom door in his face.
She lied and told him she hadn’t seen me, and now I’m here telling him I was indeed with her.
“You’ve got something to say, Fitz?” I counter his suspicion.
“Just saying it was an eventful night, you know given the shit that went down between her and Tate. Seems unlikely she willingly left with you after catching you with Tatum.” The four guys drop their gazes to the tabletop, refusing to look me in the eye, clearly to not give away any more information they already have.
So that’s how they found out about Tate and I. Phoenix must have had an interesting conversation with her besties and told them part of what happened. At least I don’t think she’d have confessed what happened between us.
“So, the fight was between her and Tate?” The question slips out of me before I can stop it. Neither one of the guys answers me, but their stoic expressions say it all. Well, this is news to me. I knew something had happened and given the rift between Tate and Phoenix I’ve become privy to, I knew it had to do with them. An argument about some dude no less, since it’s obvious Tate obviously wants everything Phoenix has, or had.
“Whatever, I’m telling you the girl couldn’t walk straight, let alone comment on my decision to be with Tate. I’d be an idiot to leave her out on the beach in that state, helpless and vulnerable.”
“I bet that’s exactly how you’d prefer it, isn’t it Maverick,” Brooklyn sneers, almost spitting his words out at me.
I can’t hold back the chuckle that leaves my lips, and that only makes Brooklyn scowl deepen. I swear I hear him growl, like a rabid animal ready to pounce on me and stake his claim of alpha. Little does he know, the only alpha around here is me, and his sweet little sister can attest to that.
Memories of the way her body squirmed beneath me, writhing in inconceivable pleasure from my calloused touch. The sounds she made, the sweet aroma of her arousal, and the way her lips parted ever so slightly, her ragged breaths escaping through the small opening between her plump lips as she moaned for me. My cock instantly becomes hard as it very well remembers everything my mind does.
“Whoa boys, calm down,” Cole says, bringing me out of my memories. Fitz sits up straighter, ready to do anything his best friend requires of him. These boys seem like lovers not fighters, but if the rumors around have any validity to them, and if I’m not mistaken around here, they usually do, Brooklyn hasn’t been himself in quite some time.
“Phoenix was drunk, end of story bro. Besides, she was deadly hungover the next morning. I was a total gentleman to our sister, end of story. Besides, I think I dodged a bullet with Tate. That one screams trouble, and definitely not the good kind. It’s a good thing Phoenix showed up when she did.”
I can see the internal fight happening in Brooklyn’s mind, ravaging his thoughts as he watches me intently trying to figure out my game plan. The need to believe nothing happened between Phoenix and I, versus the impending doubt and suspicious way he ran into her last night. He doesn’t know what’s true and what’s a total bullshit lie, but he’ll believe the lies I’ve told him, he has to, because I don’t think he’s ready for the truth. Hell, I don’t think I am either.
Brooklyn reaches out for the joint in my hand, and I pass it to him as a peace offering. He clears his throat after taking a long hit. “Yeah, good thing.”
* * *
“Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter!”
I heard her the first time; I heard her the second time; but it’s the third time that really struck a nerve. I’m not sure what it is about high school teachers and the obsession with hearing the shrilling tone of their voices, but I’ve just about had it with this bitch.
“Do you genuinely enjoy the fucking sound of your voice or are you adamant on bursting our eardrums with the screeching tone that leaves you Mrs. Thomas?” I ask, making more than a few students gasp out loud, while the others burst out in hysterical laughter.
“That’s enough!” she squeals, making the entire room explode in thunderous roars. This classroom, unlike the rest, is set up in various rows of bar height tables, each with a sink, torch in the middle of the table, and a large magnifying glass you’d find in a college science lab. The desks are a clear-cut white marble with specks of dark blue and gold swirled along the top, and instead of desk chairs we’re sitting on white, round and backless stools, which are incredibly uncomfortable. I lean forward, my elbows on the desk and wink at Donovan who sits in front of me next to Ryan who’s gleaming triumphantly at me.
Donovan however, watches me suspiciously, not with amusement or bewilderment like the rest of the class.
“Mr. Carter, please exit my classroom and head to the principal’s office this instant. I will not stand for the disrespectful tone of my students and the blatant insults you just threw at me.” The woman’s practically fuming as she huffs out the last of her words.
“No matter how true they ring,” I add, and it only irritates her further. “Not a problem Mrs. T, I was done with my assignment, anyway.” I turn and wink at Darcy, my chosen lab partner and if I’m not mistaken, Phoenix’s newest pet project. And I don’t mean that in the insulting and demeaning way it sounds. Darcy Bennett is the newest addition to MC High’s long list of leading ladies.
She’s gorgeous, in a very subtle and natural way. She’s a little tomboyish for my liking, but I think it’s only to hide whatever insecurities she’s had over the years. From what I’ve heard until this summer, Darcy was dubbed the “ugly duckling” not because she was ugly per se, but the glasses, braces, and boyish figure was the opposite of all the other plastics around her.
“I’ll get the notes off you later, Darcy,” I whisper, grabbing my backpack and heading toward the exit.
“You’re the man Maverick,” I hear someone call out before the door shuts closed behind me.
Great, exactly what I wanted. I didn’t intend to insult Mrs. T, actually I kind of feel bad for that one, trust me though I won’t lose any sleep, but it was my intention to get out of class, preferably out of school altogether. I need to put my foolproof plan into motion. I don’t have time for high school and the childish drama that accompanies it.
Brett is supposed to meet me for lunch with more information on Austin Bancroft’s secret love child, which I’ve decided is news I’m ready to make known to the world, if Bancroft doesn’t pay for my silence, which I’m pretty sure he will, given his egotistical and self-righteous nature.
