Chapter 37
EvanAnn
I cling to Hawk, not because he’s going too fast, but because I like the way his body feels against mine as we ride to the high school. He parks and waits for me to climb off before setting the bike on the kickstand.
He takes our helmets and puts them in his storage bags. When he reaches for my hand, I look around. We’re the only ones here, but I don’t want to out us. He smirks and puts his hand on my back to usher me into the school.
We make our way to the black box room, and Hawk moves to turn on the lights. My mind is already on practice mode, and I sit down at the table to pull out my notes for today. As I pull my script and highlighters out of my bag, Hawk sets down a new package of highlighters next to mine.
I glance up at his smirk and then down at the highlighters. These are the fancy kind they don’t sell at the dollar store. The tips are see-through.
“What are these for?” I ask, not touching them.
“They’re for you. I’ve watched you throw away twice as many as these during rehearsal. Figured you needed some new ones.” He lifts the package. “These are supposed to be long lasting.”
He hands me the package. I’m about to make a fool of myself over highlighters. Those words race through my head before I hug Hawk.
“Thank you.”
He hugs me. When I sit back to look at the highlighters, he smiles and touches his knuckle to my cheek. “I love making you smile.”
I blush and glance up at him. “I’m afraid it’s pretty easy and not at all expensive to make me smile.”
“That’s one of the reasons I love you.”
Hawk sits down next to me and leans back in the chair with his feet up on the desk. I pull out the highlighters almost reverently and open the purple one to draw a line. Fucking perfection. A thrill goes through me.
“This is obviously the best seat in the house.”
When I glance over at him, he winks. I shake my head. “You should do some warm-ups.”
“I’m the only one here, baby girl.”
“Hawk,” I chastise. My cheeks heat at the endearment that most definitely doesn’t belong in rehearsal. I glance at the door. People will arrive at any moment.
“Sorry, Annie.” He puts his feet down and stands to stretch. His shirt lifts, and my gaze snags on his abs. Fuck, he looks yummy.
He chuckles, and I look up to find him watching me. He leans forward and wipes at the corner of my lip. “Got some drool there.”
I swipe at his hand but can’t help my smile.
Mia walks in and looks at the two of us. “You know, if I didn’t know, I’d know.”
Hawk smirks. “I’m going to go get you a soda, Annie.”
Mia walks over to me as he heads out into the hallway. “So did everything go as planned last night?”
She sits in the seat next to me.
“Not exactly,” I hedge. “Did you get the message to get out before the police arrived?”
She grins. “Fortunately, we were finished with round one and recharging before round two. So we got out of there in time.”
I would have felt like shit if Mia had gotten caught up by the police at Chase’s party.
“How was your night?” Mia wiggles her eyebrows.
My gaze lifts as the doors open and Hawk comes back in, talking with Mark Green. My cheeks flush.
She smiles and pats my hand. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell.”
Hawk comes over and puts the soda on my table before walking with Mia back to Mark. I focus on what I need to do today. Where we are in the play. What we still need to accomplish. I wish Keira was here. She keeps me on track.
We’ve texted this morning. She’s feeling fine and understands her parents wanting to keep her home, but she’s like me: the play comes first. Anger and guilt war within me, but Olivia will get what’s coming to her.
I finished editing the tape of Olivia this morning and sent the final version to Cam. He has someone who can send it anonymously and make sure everything identifying is scrubbed off the file.
A few extras come in, and they glance at me before talking behind their hands. I ignore them as I put together the scene order for today. My mom’s sudden need to be involved was unexpected, and I didn’t get as much done this morning as I should have.
I probably shouldn’t have lazed the morning away in bed with the Devil’s trio, either, though. I shake my head and focus. The noise levels rise as more of the cast shows up. I glance at my phone and stand.
“Five minutes, people.” I take in the crowd, figuring out who’s here and who’s not. There are some actors who are late every practice. I’ll need to talk to Mr. Watson about those students.
Some of the actors watch me with interest, which is not normal, but maybe they’re wondering where Keira is. Or maybe they wonder why the hell I’m still willing to be with Chase. Or maybe they saw me talking with Hawk last night and then us disappearing.
Whatever has them talking, I ignore it, but I notice Chase isn’t here. Which is unusual. He’s usually one of the first to arrive. Fuck, if his parents are out of town, it’s possible he might still be at the police station if his party got busted.
“What’s wrong?” Hawk asks.
I lift my gaze from my phone. “Chase isn’t here yet. He’s never cut it this close before.”
“Maybe he’s skipping because of last night.”
I shake my head. “I have to report all absences to Mr. Watson, and they have to be excused or points will be docked from his final grade. He wouldn’t risk it.”
“Give me a minute.” Hawk takes out his cell phone and walks into the hallway.
I text Chase.
Me:
Practice is about to start.
Are you okay?
I set my phone down. We’ll have to go on without him. “Jason?”
He glances my way, and I gesture him over. “Can you play Iago until Chase gets here?”
Jason looks around like he’s surprised Chase isn’t here. “Of course.”
I hand him the script in case he doesn’t have his copy. Hawk comes back in and squats next to my chair. I lean down to listen to what he has to say.
“The party got busted. Chase didn’t get taken in though. Apparently his dad is friends with whatever cop came. So most people didn’t get taken in, but they were sent home. Chase claimed the party got out of control and more people showed up than should have.”
“So why isn’t he here then?” I ask.
“I don’t know.” Hawk straightens.
I glance at my phone and know I can’t wait any longer to start. I nod and stand. “All right. We’re doing a full run-through today. Scripts in hand, but please try not to use them. Act one, scene one. Places.”
The actors get into their spots, and I lean against the table. The people who aren’t in the scene file into the chairs behind me to watch.
There’s always some whispering in the stands, especially as we go through the same scene twice. But I keep picking up words like Devil’s trio, Chase, Olivia, and even Keira. I want to tell them to shut up and speak up at the same time.
I burn inside, wondering what they know. Letting Olivia leave unscathed wasn’t the smartest thing to do. And slapping her was stupid on my part, especially since it gave her all the ammunition she needs to bury me.
Or did I trust my info with the wrong person? Mia smiles at me since she’s not in the scene. She knows about me and the Devil’s trio. Is she as cool about it as she’s acting?
“Whore!” Chase’s voice captures everyone’s attention.
I stand. My skin crawls. I must have misheard him.
He’s in the back making his way toward me. Jason tries to stop him, but Chase pushes through. His eyes are ablaze as he focuses on me.
“Whore!” he shouts, and some of the girls twitter with nervous laughter.
I straighten. “You’re late for rehearsal.”
His smile is nasty. “You played the little virgin for me, but you fucked your stepbrother and his friends.”
The blood drains out of my face.
“What the fuck are you doing, Chase?” Hawk steps in front of him before he can close in on me.
Chase shoves him with both hands, making Hawk stagger. “You ruined her. She was mine.”
My heart is in my throat, and I can’t move. Frozen with fear. My heart beats loud in my ears, but I can’t move.
Hawk rights himself and goes after Chase. Chase swings, but Hawk ducks under it.
“Whoa,” Mark steps in. “Seriously, what the fuck!”
Mia moves to stand next to me and puts her hand on my arm.
Chase laughs. “She has everyone fooled, but she’s a whore!”
He yells the word, shouting down the rafters. My knees go weak.
“You need to calm down,” Mark says.
“Calm down! My whore of a girlfriend is fucking him and his friends.” He gestures at Hawk, who glares at him. Hawk is keeping himself between me and Chase.
“I’m not your girlfriend,” I say it calmly, but my insides are on fire.
This is my stage. My practice. I’m in charge, and something rushes through me, unlocking me.
“Leave.” I straighten to my full height and meet Chase’s angry eyes. “You need to leave this rehearsal right now.”
He narrows his eyes and glares. Hatred. A chill rolls through me, but Mark and Jason escort Chase out of the room.
“Are you okay?” Mia asks softly.
“Take ten. That’s enough drama for the day.” I want to crumble into myself, but I can’t.
Everyone moves to go to the bathrooms or just exit the room so they can talk about me and Chase and the Devil’s trio. By the time they get back they’ll have texted everyone. Oh god.
I sink into my chair, and Hawk is there.
“I’ve got you.” His green eyes flash with anger.
“How did this get out?” I say it more to myself than anyone in particular. But I threw it in Olivia’s face and then smacked her. Twice. Unless. My gaze lifts to Mia.
She recognizes what I’m thinking, and her face goes blank. “If I did it, I wouldn’t pretend to still be your friend. I would have brought popcorn to watch you burn. But I didn’t and I wouldn’t. You trusted me with that, and I’m not about to blow up the only friendship I have at this school.”
I didn’t want it to be Mia, but I don’t know her well enough to trust her. I rub my temple.
“It was probably Olivia,” I say. “I did smack her.”
Mia grins. “No shit? Fuck, how did that feel? Oof, smacking her must have felt so fucking good.”
A ghost of a smile haunts my lips. It really did. “Yeah.”
“What do you need, Annie?” Hawk pulls my attention.
“The show must go on.” I try to gather the riot of feelings flowing through me. Embarrassment, fear, humiliation, but also relief. Fuck, I don’t have to pretend anymore. Olivia set me fucking free and probably would hate to realize that.
“I don’t have to pretend anymore.” I meet Hawk’s gaze, and he smiles. Leaning forward, I touch my lips to his. Just a graze, but his lips curve into a smile against mine.
He holds my head when I try to pull away. “Does that mean I can flirt with you during practice?”
“No.” I search his eyes with a smile. “We’re still professionals.”
He leans in and kisses me briefly before straightening. I glance at Mia.
“I didn’t want it to be you.” I blow out a breath. “But—”
“But we’re both a little broken from what we’ve been through.” Mia touches my hand. “No hard feelings, and you’re still my bestie. We’ll get there. Trust is earned not given.”
Hawk
Me:
He called her a whore
Screamed it at her during rehearsal
Damon:
Fucking Olivia
Cam:
Do you need backup?
Sending videos now
Me:
He left
We need to move up our plan
This can’t stand
Damon:
Start today
Thursday night
Cam:
What if she gets hurt?
Damon:
She won’t
Cam:
He could target her
Me:
We’ll protect her
Cam:
Should we let her know?
Damon:
No
Better if this is all on us