Page 28 of Dirty Liars
Afternoon fades away and night falls. A headache starts pounding at my head and I know I’ve had more than enough. I’ve been drinking wine coolers in the warm sun all afternoon. It’s no idea my head is rebelling. I think I should tell Victoria that it’s time I got back, but she’s trying to talk to Astor. He’s ignoring her as usual while he listens to Blair regaling the more experienced drinking party with a crazy story.
I guess I don’t need to let anyone know what I’m doing. I start to head back through the trees and I’m just about to the edge of the trees when I hear someone behind me. It’s dark enough that it takes a few seconds for me to make out who it is. Then he steps out into a sliver of light from one of the lamps along the edge of the forest, and I’m surprised to see Wills coming toward me.
I stop and look at him curiously. “Hey, Wills. What’s up?”
He has a serious expression on his face. “You shouldn’t be going back alone. Not when you’ve been drinking.”
A warm sensation washes over me, and I smile at him. I could get used to this softer side of Wills. He shrugs off my thanks and acts like it’s nothing, but he stays by my side all the way back to the school and back to my dorm room.
I turn to thank him again and he raises his hand and sets it on the door frame behind me, leaving little space between him and me … and even less between me and the door. He’s so close to me that I can breathe him in. I look up and see his stormy-blue green eyes focused with an intensity I’ve only seen once before—when he’d just rescued me from drowning.
His gaze drops to my mouth for a moment, and his lips part before he raises his eyes to meet mine again. I feel almost certain that he’s thinking of kissing me. I’m not at all sure how I feel about that.
“Um …” My nerves tighten everywhere, and my breath grows shallow. “Thank you for walking me back,” I say, just above a whisper. I have no idea where my voice has gone.
“No problem,” he says quietly, staring into my eyes. I can’t breathe. He smiles a little and reaches his free hand up to my face, tracing a single fingertip across my cheek and very lightly over my lips, before he drops his hand. “You have a good night.” He stands up straight again and lets his other hand fall from the door frame.
My heart is beating wildly in me, and I try to draw in a steady breath as I nod at him.
“You too.”
I make myself turn away from him and open the door. I don’t hear him walk away until after the door is closed.
It’s dark in the room. I try to walk quietly to my bed, but I trip over a pair of shoes I must have left out and stumble, landing on the floor with a thump before climbing up to my bed. Dana rolls over and flips on the little light by her bed, and I can see that she’s upset.
“Where were you?” she asks with a clear strain of hurt in her voice.
Guilt floods through me. I used to be so good at this sneaking in thing. Maybe I’m channeling my inner Sadie a little too much.
“I … I was just … out. I’m sorry I’m coming in so late.”
“Mr. Davis came looking for you,” is all she says.
I sigh. “Yeah, I know. I am sorry about that. I just lost track of time. I was hanging out with …” I trail off, knowing that nothing I say is going to make me look any better.
“With Victoria and the holy trinity and all their disciples,” she finishes for me.
I look away from her and pull my clothes off, reaching for my PJ’s. “Look, Dana, I’m sorry I woke you up … but I’m not going to apologize for having friends.”
When I turn back around, she looks stricken, and I realize how that could come across.
“Wait, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”
Dana doesn’t give me the chance to finish. She turns angrily yanks her covers up over her head, and I know I’ve screwed up. As soon as I think it, I’m flooded with guilt.
I can’t let it happen again … but if I’m honest with myself, I know it will.
CHAPTER12
Mr. Davis is waitingfor me when I walk into class. “You missed detention yesterday,” he tells me in an impatient tone. I nod.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Davis. I was held up with some other things.” I look at him earnestly because I really am sorry. I have more detention coming, and I know it.
I don’t mind doing it, though I do feel that I still don’t deserve it. I mean, they can’t really expect an entire school of adolescents to keep their hands off one another the whole time. Besides, Blair was to blame both times, not me.
But I’m determined to stay on the straight and narrow path, at least so far as my classes are concerned, so if I have to serve a little time … so be it.
“You’ve earned yourself two more days of it, starting this afternoon.” He’s serious, and I know it. “I expect you to show up this time.”
