Chapter 31
After prom, Maria started a rumor at school that I was pregnant and that’s why Jayson was going to propose to me at prom.
For over a week, she, Jacinda, and Samantha hazed my locker and car with baby pacifiers and diapers.
We went to the school administration with pictures Julien was able to get, showing proof that they were the ones who were doing it.
Maria got a week’s worth of detention, but Jacinda and Samantha didn’t get any punishment, after the cheerleading coach spoke to the principal.
I know I should be over it, but it still hurts when Maria does mean stuff like that to me.
That stings the worst. I keep wondering what happened to the girl I thought I knew—the girl I thought was my best friend.
I look at the time on the nightstand clock and groan.
I can't sleep. All our families met up at Ryder’s house for a cookout earlier this evening and then Jayson snuck into my room around midnight through my open bedroom window.
Luckily, my parents had already gone to bed and were fast asleep when he arrived.
Deciding to give up on tossing and turning, I roll over and climb out of bed. Might as well work on my English paper that’s due soon.
I’m pulled back into bed by a strong, warm arm. “Where’re you going?” a sleepy Jayson mumbles.
“I can’t sleep.”
“Don’t go,” he mumbles again, this time against the crook of my neck. He breathes in deep and mumbles, “You smell good.”
I roll over, so I can look at his face. I graze my fingers across the short stubble on his jaw and push his hair back behind his ears. Jayson really is wonderful to look at, especially when he’s asleep, his face relaxed and calm. I see glimpses of the boy he used to be in the man he is becoming.
“You are so handsome.”
“Baby, you keep sweet-talking me like that…” He trails off and rolls me on top of him. I guess my English paper can wait.
Jayson leaves around five in the morning to go home and get ready for school.
I take a quick shower and then work on my school assignment.
Luckily, it’s Friday so I’ll be able to catch up on my sleep over the weekend.
Only if I can finish up this paper for English paper first since it’s due on Monday.
There’s also another bonfire party tonight, not to mention I have work at the library after school today.
I groan. Maybe I’ll skip the bonfire tonight.
Around six, I hear Hailey turn on the shower in our jack-and-jill bathroom.
Crap. I lost track of time and am going to be late to meet up with the boys for breakfast. I pack all my school stuff in my bag and go to brush my teeth.
I wipe off the condensation from the mirror and pick up my toothbrush when Hailey turns off the shower and pulls the curtain to get out.
My gaze catches hers in the mirror and for a brief moment Hailey freezes, her eyes flaring in surprise and something else—something like shame.
She snaps the curtain back to hide herself, but she isn’t fast enough.
“Jesus, Hailey!” I yelp, yanking the shower curtain hard enough that it pops three of the rings holding it on the bar.
Hailey is desperately trying to wrap the towel around herself, but I also yank that away, too.
“It’s nothing. Honest.”
“Nothing? I wouldn’t call these nothing, Hailey. What happened?”
I turn her to get a better look at the huge purple and green bruises decorating her upper thigh and hip. On her shoulder is what looks like a circular burn mark that has blistered and scabbed over.
“I fell during PE. Like I said, it’s nothing.” She steps out of the shower and grabs the towel I yanked off of her, wrapping it tightly around her torso.
I give her an incredulous look. “What, were you playing football and ran into the linebacker? Does it hurt?”
She walks out of the other side of the bathroom to her room with me hot on her trail. “No, it doesn’t. So drop it.”
“Enough with the flippant remarks.” I touch her shoulder. “What about this one? Get it at PE too?”
“That’s from my curling iron.”
She throws open several drawers and grabs various articles of clothing, one of them a long-sleeved shirt. She’s been wearing those for a while now, even when it’s hot outside.
“Hailey.”
She turns around, giving me a brilliant, happy smile, but I’m not buying it.
“Lizzie. I fell down and had a hair mishap. Do I lecture you when I see all the hickeys Jayson gives you?”
She has a point, but then again, Hailey looks like she challenged a semi-truck and lost.
“Aren’t you going to be late?” she reminds me. “I’m surprised Jayson isn’t already beating down the door wondering where you are.”
I consider her for a minute. “Hales, you know if you need to talk to me about anything, I’m here.”
She sucks in her cheek by biting the inside and then gives me another one of those brilliant smiles.
“I know that, silly. If there was anything to tell, I would tell you. But there’s not.
So, shoo. You have three gorgeous, hot guys waiting to eat breakfast with you.
” Hailey squeezes me in an overenthusiastic hug and pushes me out of her room.
“See you at school!” she says, closing her bedroom door in my face.
Maybe I’m worrying about nothing. If there was something going on, she would tell me.
Right? I’ll ask Ryder to talk to his sister, Brea, since she and Hailey are best friends.
Part of me wonders if Hailey is being bullied by Maria, too.
I wouldn’t put it past Maria to mess with my sister to get at me.
Anger boils up inside of me. If Maria puts her hands on my sister in any way, she’s going to regret it.
I’ll see what Ryder thinks when we meet for breakfast.