Page 37 of Tell No Lies

Within a few minutes, we were walking out of the hospital to Brandon’s car. I got in the back seat and waited for him to drop me off at home. Instead, we pulled up to Dance Academy.

“I don’t have my bag, Brandon. I need to go home first.”

Without speaking, he opened his door and went to the trunk. He opened it, tossed something to the side of the car, and got back in. I looked out my window and saw my dance bag sitting on the curb.

So that’s how things are going to be.

“Alrighty, then. Goodbye, Carter. Please take it easy.”

I caught Brandon’s gaze. “What should I do when I’m finished?” I hoped using an open-ended question would result in a response from my selectively mute brother.

Without turning, he replied, “You aren’t going anywhere without me or Carter. I will be back here when you’re done.”

“Got it.”

I shut the door and picked up my bag without turning around. We needed to figure out who this mystery stalker was soon, or I was going to go crazy living with my brother.

Fourteen

While Brandon’s reaction had been bad, and understandably so, Mike had taken things to a whole other level when he heard about my escape over the weekend. Apparently, his bestie had notified him and warned him that I was now considered a flight risk.

When I pulled into my parking spot on Monday morning, he was standing behind his car with his arms crossed, glaring at me. I got out of my car and prepared myself to face his wrath. Instead, he nodded toward the buildings. He followed silently behind me, making me more tense with each step. I turned to him before we entered the math hall.

“Mike, I’m …”

He cut me off with an icy glance. “I don’t want to hear it, Aubrey.”

He rarely used my full first name. My gaze dropped with my shoulders, and I turned to continue.

“I’ve done everything I could to show you I wanted to be here for you. From day one, I went out of my way to watch over you and make you comfortable here. I don’t know how much longer I can take it, though.”

I looked over my shoulder and felt chilled at the pained expression on his face.

“I do everything I can for you. All I’ve asked from you in return is to let me in, to call me when you needed anything, but you’ve never been able to do that. I’ll always be here if you need me, Aubrey, but don’t expect me to make the first move anymore. I’m done being your backup.”

My heart broke with each word. He was right. He gave me everything he had, and in return, I took him for granted. I just expected him to be there for me without me doing anything in return.

As I watched him walk away, it set in just how much I cared for him, but it was too late now. I guess it was true: you never knew a good thing until it was gone.

☼ ☼ ☼

I should have known Mike’s reaction was a sign of things to come. Mckayla asked how Carter was doing, but otherwise left me alone. The other girls kept their space as well. Apparently, they felt snubbed that I had chosen Tucker over them.

Cassie had asked me at dance on Sunday what had happened, and she had filled in the others. She was the only one that seemed to understand I needed to get out on my own. Although she hadn’t agreed with my decision either, she was willing to act as a buffer between me and the girls.

Lunch proved to be the hardest to get through. When I walked up to our table, I stared at the backs of my friends for a few seconds before turning in search of a place to hide.

Just as I was beginning to let myself sink into a pity party for one, I spotted Gage. He looked up and caught my eye. Changing his direction, he reached me with a look of concern. “Are you alright?”

I looked up to meet his eyes and wondered if he would be just as mad at me if I told him what happened. Shaking my head, I looked down at our feet. He was my last friend, and I didn’t think I could handle him being mad at me too.

“Sorry, but mind reading is one skill I’ve yet to master. What’s going on?”

I sighed and kept my gaze down. “I made some mistakes this weekend, and now everyone is mad at me.”

“Story of my life.” I felt his arm slide around my shoulders and let myself sink into him. “What happened?”

I considered not telling him, but Mike’s words came back to me. I needed to let people in, even when it was hard. “I went to a party with Tucker and Andy from the basketball team, and they ended up leaving me stranded there. I called my brother’s friend to come and get me, and on our way back, someone attacked him. He ended up in the hospital overnight, and it’s all my fault.”