Page 135 of Tell No Lies

I felt his breath on my neck when he moved his head down. “It’s going to be okay. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

I nodded once against his chest.

“I’ve talked to the guys, and we set up a plan so a few of them are always around if you ever need help.”

I stepped back and looked up at his eyes. The concern was obvious, and worry streaked his face. Guilt flitted through me. It wasn’t his responsibility to protect me—not to this point, at least. “Thank you. Do you have a magic solution to make people stop staring?”

He rolled his eyes. “They always stare at you. You’re beautiful and popular. It’s just a part of the job description.”

“This is different. Everyone is looking at me like I’m a freak. The whole school knows I have a stalker now.”

“That’s not true. Some of them saw the pictures, but only a few of us actually know what it was about. Everybody else probably thinks it was some weird prank.”

“I wish it was.”

“I know, baby. Let’s get to class. Just ignore the stares.”

He put his arm tight around my shoulders and led me through the throngs of students trying to get to their classes.

Mr. Cox was missing when we took our seats, giving Sydney the opportunity I was sure she’d been waiting for. Decked out in a low-cut, pink top and tiny shorts, she looked like she was applying to work at Hooters. She sauntered over to my desk as if practicing her model walk and stood with her hands on her hips.

“Could you be more of an attention whore?”

I nearly choked on the water I had just sipped. Me? I looked her up and down with one brow raised. Seriously? She was doing this now? “Excuse me?” I could not fathom why she was picking a fight with me in front of the entire class, again.

“You heard me. How much did you pay someone to put those pictures on your car?”

My body shook from rage.

“You obviously just want attention. So, did you do it yourself or pay someone?”

It took everything I had left in me not to raise my voice and create a bigger scene. “Why on earth would I ever do that to myself?”

“Nobody at this school cares about you anymore. The shiny new toy has become used and dull.”

“You think I care what people here think about me?”

She rolled her eyes instead of replying.

“My friends’ are the opinions I care about. Some psycho put those on my car, along with the message. If you want that kind of attention, I’ll pass off your information to him, and maybe he’ll leave me alone.”

She glared at me for a few more seconds before Mr. Cox finally decided to make an entrance, and she moved back to her seat.

I fell back into my desk and closed my eyes. Who did Sydney think she was? Accusing me of doing something so messed up to myself just for attention. She was the only person I’d ever met so obsessed with appearances and popularity that the idea would even cross her mind.

☼ ☼ ☼

True to his word, Mike walked me to the usual spot where we met Cassie then chaperoned us to the girls’ locker room door. He gave a look at Cassie before finally walking away.

“Please tell me he did not talk to you about watching me.”

She shrugged as we got to our lockers and set her bag down. “It’s not like I wouldn’t do it automatically.” My expression must have spoken for me. “Aubrey, we’re all worried about you. Talia and Alexis explained some stuff to me this morning, and I’m so sorry you’ve been going through this. I wish you had told me earlier.”

I knew leaving her out of the initial discussion of the situation had been a mistake. I trusted her and knew she would never hurt me. “I’m sorry. Things have just been crazy, and I wanted to keep it to myself. I never thought it would become public. Nothing up until yesterday has been outside of my house.”

“I understand why you didn’t tell me, but I want to be here for you now. Plus, the team needs you this weekend!” She chuckled, and it broke up the tension hanging over us.

“That’s all I’m good for, huh?”