Page 19 of Dirty Liars
I can only shake my head at her and try not to look at Astor still chuckling to my other side. If I tell her now, she’ll never let me hear the end of it.
Mr. Davis warns me I’ll have to take a fifty-percent deduction in my grade, but there’s nothing I can do but accept.
There’s so much emotion rushing through me. Most of it is anger and frustration directed at Astor, the beautiful jerk sitting next to me still laughing under his breath. Dana was right earlier. I’m going to have to be very careful around the holy trinity; her snide nickname for Wills, Blair, and Astor.
I can barely take in the rest of the class, and when the bell rings, I shoot out of the door. I keep to myself the rest of the morning until lunch when Victoria and her Barbie doll twins, Alisha and Laura, sit next to me. She’s as perky as ever, but today it grates on my nerves more than usual.
“There you are! I was looking for you earlier. You have to come out with us tonight. We’re going out for some fun!” She positively bubbles excitement.
Where me … I’m just miserable. I tell her about my missing paper I have to re-write … though don’t tell her why.
“Write it tomorrow night. You have the whole weekend, come on! Everyone who is anyone is going. You have to come.” Victoria presses me about it. “You haven’t been out for a proper Hawthorne excursion yet. You don’t want to miss out on your first one.”
She eyes me seriously. “I’d be amiss if I didn’t make you go.”
I sigh.
She’s right. I haven’t been out since I started school, and I realize that she’s insinuating that if I don’t finally go this time, it might hurt me socially. I’m trying my best to balance school work and this new world of a real social life. It seems so stupid sometimes, but this is what I’m here for … right? I sigh and nod.
“Okay. I’ll come.” I really don’t want to, but I feel like I don’t really have a choice.
“Great! It’ll cheer you up. Meet us out by the boathouse at the lake after dinner. Oh, and dress warm.” She winks at me and turns to Alisha and Laura to talk about Astor.
I’m headed down the hallway later that afternoon when Mr. Davis walks out of his classroom and sees me.
“Miss White!” he calls to me. I don’t want to face him, but I can’t ignore a teacher like I do the boys.
“Yes, Mr. Davis?” I ask, walking toward him hesitantly.
“I’m glad that you found your paper and turned it in. You’ll get a full grade for it.” He looks at me sternly, “Just make sure that you’re better prepared next time, or else I’ll have to make a deduction. I don’t like drama in my classroom.”
I blink at him as my brain comes to a stop.
“Turned … turned it in?” I ask in total confusion. He just keeps going, reminding me of my detention on Monday. Like I could forget. It’s not my first time, but it is the first time I didn’t actually do anything to deserve it.
“I know you’re new here, but it’s important you learn. We do not tolerate public displays of affection between students on campus. You and your boyfriend will have to remember that in the future.”
I gasp. “He’s not my boyfriend.” It’s tough for me to temper my frustration again.
“Whatever he is, keep it PG,” he admonishes me, then shakes his head. “These millennials and their labels.”
I’m pretty sure he isn’t using that right, but I’m not going to disagree. I want to get out of here before he changes his mind about my grade or tries to turn one day’s detention into two.
“Yes, sir,” I answer, and turn to head off to my next class, still astounded that my paper got turned in after all. I know Astor is behind it, and while I’m relieved that I don’t have to write the paper again I’m so angry that he put me through it all to begin with. All of that just to embarrass me? Really?
He’s the biggest jerk I’ve ever met.
After dinner I head to the dorm room and I start changing into warmer clothes. Despite my earlier promise to myself, I’ve had no choice but to put a few things on ‘mom and dad’s account’.
There’s just been no getting out of it. I was able to get away with basically nothing in foster care, but here … people notice. I tell myself I’ll find a way to pay them back eventually. This new life will afford me that, at least.
Dana looks up from her book and frowns at me slightly. “Are you getting dressed to go out?” she asks, sitting up in her bed.
“Yeah, I guess I am. Victoria and the others are doing something tonight. It might be nice to blow off a little steam.” I consider inviting her too … but then think better of it. I know Victoria wouldn’t like it. She hasn’t said as much, but I’ve seen the way she looks at Dana when she thinks neither of us are looking.
I feel a little guilty, but there’s no way around it.
Dana groans and pouts. “It’s a cruel irony. You barely care about Victoria and she invites you to go out, when here I am desperately in love with her and she doesn’t even acknowledge my existence.”
