Page 44 of Tell No Lies

I reluctantly followed him away from my class and the restrooms where I had been planning on hiding. He was true to his word and simply led me around for a few minutes, but I could feel his gaze falling on me.

Eventually, I spoke up. “I like your shoes.”

His head shot down then immediately locked eyes with me. “Thanks. I wasn’t sure they went with this outfit, but then I remembered I didn’t care.” He posed with his hands on his hips and one foot pointed, showing off the suede shoes.

I laughed for the first time in what felt like forever. “They’re adorable.”

He studied my face, causing me to flush. “I haven’t heard you laugh in a while.”

“Really?” Things had been crazy lately, but I hadn’t realized it showed.

“Yeah. I mean, I’m sure you have. I just haven’t heard it. Seems like forever since you invited yourself to have a smoothie with me and force me to like you. I miss that girl.”

The ache in my chest deepened. Maybe I had lost a part of myself over the past few weeks, but I had so much on my mind. Between a new stalker and dance and a broken heart, I had more on my mind than making friends and hanging out.

☼ ☼ ☼

I felt like cheering when the final bell rang, releasing me from the burden of pretending to be interested in anything that was discussed today. If there had been a pop quiz and the only question was to write one note from any of my classes, I would have failed.

In the classes that I could pull it off, I had listened to my solo music, practicing over and over again in my head. Since I couldn’t be in the studio in person until after school, I’d mentally checked out and disappeared into my paradise.

Mike caught up to me just as the parking lot came into view. Pulling myself together, I smiled at him as I continued walking.

“Hey, you got out fast. I was looking for you by your class, but someone told me you had booked it out of there.” He laughed and gave me an opportunity to deny it, but I just nodded along. “You’ve been quiet all day. Is there something going on?”

He was just now catching on. At lunch, he had sat next to me with an arm resting across my shoulders, but his friends had kept his attention.

“I’ve just been focusing on my routine. Trying to pump myself up for this weekend.” Keeping his focus on sports should stop him from digging deeper.

“Don’t sweat it. You’ll be great. I mean, it’s just dance. If you mess up, just make something up. It’s not like you have to complete a pass or remember a playbook.”

My breathing stopped. Counting to ten was not enough. I gave up and closed my eyes, trying to push everything out of my head. “You’re right. It’s nothing like football. If I mess up, I’m alone on a stage representing my entire team and the studio. No pressure! I can just come up with something on the fly.”

“That’s right, babe.” Evidently, he’d missed the sarcasm dripping from my words.

Clenching my fists proved to only leave nail marks on my palms and no sense of release. I was ready to turn and correct him when I realized he had stopped walking. He was staring straight ahead with a look that could kill. I turned to follow his line of sight and finally saw my car.

Pictures were covering every exterior surface. Pictures of Mike and me kissing yesterday, both before and after chemistry; pictures of me in my room crying on the floor; pictures of me walking with Gage just this morning. Written in red paint on the hood was scrawled another message:

I already told you once. You are mine.

Suddenly Mckayla grabbed my arm and turned me. “Aubrey! Are you okay? I called Brandon, and he’s on his way.”

I didn’t know why she was yelling until I looked around and realized a crowd had formed around my car. My head was in a daze, so I focused on her. She had things under control. Brandon was coming.

Repeating the facts to myself, I tried to find a clue or a reason behind this.

Someone had taken pictures of me at school. That could have been anyone, student or teacher.

Someone had access to my room and my computer. I could tell that’s where it was taken from based on the angle of the pictures of me on the floor.

Someone had vandalized my car.

Who had reason enough to torture me this way? Who had I wronged so horribly that I deserved this? I didn’t even really know anyone here well enough to have true enemies. None of this made sense.

Most of the crowd dispersed when nothing else interesting happened. My head was swimming by the time Brandon pulled up and parked next to my car. I heard him swear as he walked around the vehicle, seeing the evidence for himself.

“Aubrey, you need to call your coaches and let them know you’re missing today. I called the detectives over the cases on my way over, so they should be here soon.”