Chapter 10 The Sentence
The Sentence
Harper
“Why didn’t you just take your car?” my mom asks as we enter the house.
“A friend drove me and then ended up getting stuck after school.” The loosest definition of friend ever, but I can’t tell her two football players pushed into our house, forced me to change in front of them, drove me to school, and want to fuck me all year.
Yeah, pretty sure that wouldn’t go over well. Though it might get me grounded for real, more likely Mom would also take it to the principal. And while the principal might try to make adjustments, the horsemen could make my last year unbearable.
That and the principal would have to fuck up my schedule to make sure I’m not with the guys. Any other year might have been okay, but I need these classes and most of them are only offered once during the day.
It’s not like the principal will move the guys to different classes. To the principal, these guys are his golden ticket. Football stars, top of their class, rich parents.
Besides, Mom already has a lot of things to deal with. Her job is high stress enough. I can manage this. If it gets to be too much, I’ll pull her in as my plan B.
“I don’t want you to get stuck anywhere without a way out.” Mom opens the freezer and takes out a frozen pizza. “Things are a little…complicated right now at the hospital.”
I sit at the island and see the flinch on my mom’s face when she says that. “What’s happening?”
Mom snaps out of it and waves her hand. “Nothing to worry about. Just the normal, people are getting sick.”
I nod. “That usually happens at hospitals.”
She slides the pizza into the preheated oven she must have set before picking me up. Shaking whatever bothered her off, she leans on the counter and meets my eyes. Her brown eyes are curious but serious. She arches her eyebrows and gives me a conspiratorial smile.
“All right. Day two of school. Tell me how everything is going. How are your classes? Any problems? Any interesting boys?”
I almost scoff out loud at that last one. Interesting, yes.
“No problems.” At least none she can help me with. “Classes seem good and doable, as always. Keeping my head down and my hands to myself.”
I give her a self-deprecating smile. Well, trying to keep to myself, but I’m pretty sure this year is going to be pretty hands-on.
She rolls her eyes. “It wouldn’t be the end of the world if you found a guy to date, Harper. You’re seventeen. Your birthday is next week. You should be out partying on the weekends and doing things I don’t want to know about. Even MacKenzie goes out.”
“She’s dating a football player.”
“See.” Mom holds her hand out to me. “You could do that. Football players make good boyfriends. As long as you use a condom.”
“Mom,” I say appalled. “Seriously, I’d rather not have sex with a sweaty football player.” Let alone four of them.
“I’m just saying.” Mom straightens. “Live your life, Harper. Hiding in the shadows might keep you protected, but it doesn’t let you live.”
“I suppose I could just sleep with the entire football team.” I give her a wicked smile. “You know, make the most of my senior year.”
Mom narrows her eyes on me and she points. “You know everyone needs a goal, but maybe just start with one guy and build up to the football team.”
I laugh, but her words about hiding in the shadows get to me.
I’m not in the shadows anymore. I’ve spent years trying to go unnoticed.
To escape their notice. Hiding at school.
Wearing things that wouldn’t attract attention.
It wasn’t a fashion choice so much as a survival technique.
Sweatshirts and jeans blend in really well.
But fuck that, I can do whatever I want now.
They’ve noticed me. Every other student knows I belong to them. I can dress however I want. Do whatever I want. I can stand out if I want. Because they put me on the map.
Sure, they want to control what I wear too, but fuck them. I’ve let them control everything about my life for years now.
In a fucked-up way, the horsemen granted me freedom by deciding to own me.
“Hey, Mom, after dinner, do you mind if I go back-to-school shopping? I could use some new clothes.” I give my mom a grin. “You know, to get all the football players to notice me.”
“One football player. Baby steps, Harper. And of course. Just use the credit card.” Mom sorts through the stack of mail that’s come in.
“How about half the team?” Yeah, I don’t have the option to go baby steps.
She raises her eyebrow and gives me a look.
Laughing, I get out my phone and text Kenz.
Me:
Shopping emergency ASAP
Kenz:
I thought the dicks had you tonight?
Me:
Told them Mom grounded me.
Kenz:
LOL Sure.
What time?
Me:
Half hour?
Kenz:
I’ll pick you up
Me:
*thumbs-up emoji*
After our hour-long shopping expedition, Kenz and I pull into my driveway. We got to talk about classes and what I should be wearing. I think she realized I didn’t want to talk about the guys.
I’m surprised they haven’t texted me. They have to be done with practice and stewing over not getting to play with their new toy. Of course, the more time they have to stew, the more plotting they can do.
I take a deep breath, pretty sure this stunt is going to bite me in the ass. Tomorrow will be hell, but at least I now have the proper uniform to go into battle.
“They won’t know what hit them.” Kenz walks around to the trunk to help me unload my bags.
“That’s the plan. I may not have the sexual experience to properly fuck with them, but I know how to dress to draw attention.” It’ll be nice to dress how I want for a change.
We take all the bags up to my room and put away my new clothes. Wonder if Jack will like my new clothes? After all, he said I needed new ones.
Where the hell did that thought come from? I’m dressing for me finally, not those Neanderthals.
My phone vibrates. My insides tense.
DEATH (Luke):
Grounded?
Me:
Yes
DEATH (Luke):
Pick you up tomorrow
Me:
Mom wants me to take my car. I’m not allowed to hang out after school.
DEATH (Luke):
…
It isn’t a lie. She prefers me to have my car. I’m just not grounded. The three dots disappear. I walk over to Kenz and show her the conversation.
“You should let him drive you. You know it would be easier.” Kenz drops to the edge of my bed.
A fire starts in my belly. “Sure, easier. Giving in to their every demand would certainly be easier, but I don’t want to have sex with four bulked-up-on-’roids football players.
” I throw my hands up in the air. “It’s not even a choice.
I won’t lie down and take it because they tell me to.
Nine months. I have nine months left to get through this school year and get as far away from these guys as possible. ”
“H, it’s nine months. Do you know how much shit they can throw at you in nine months?”
I don’t really want to think about that. I’m just trying to survive this week. Next week I’ll survive that one.
“Mom wants me to find a boyfriend.” I roll my head toward Kenz. “Not that they qualify, but what do you think she’ll say about having four?”
“You could do worse. Parker Ford said Jack and Caden were amazing.” Kenz purses her lips. “A few girls say Eli’s a little rough, but in a good way. And Luke…well, he has the equipment and the talent to use it apparently. You could definitely do worse for your first sexual experience.”
DEATH (Luke):
Tell your mother we’ll get you to school and home on time
I bite down on my lip.
Me:
You shouldn’t miss practice
DEATH (Luke):
That’s for us to worry about, not you
I haven’t forgotten about your punishment
“Ugh, this guy and his punishments.” I turn to Kenz. “Because I asked for a choice, I’m being punished.”
“You said the first punishment wasn’t all bad.” Kenz smiles suggestively.
I flush with heat, remembering that feeling under the pain. The moans he forced from me with every hit and subsequent rub. But it wasn’t private, and I didn’t dare meet anyone else’s eyes, knowing they saw him do that to me.
“It was humiliating being spanked like a naughty child in front of a room filled with high schoolers. Oh, and it isn’t like asking for a boyfriend in the same room the next day wasn’t already embarrassing enough.
” I flop down on my bed and cover my eyes.
“I thought maybe someone would have the balls to want to at least pretend to fuck me this year.”
“I’m sure any of the guys, and probably a handful of the girls, would have taken you up on that offer, but not if it meant going against the horsemen.” Kenz lies down next to me. “I mean, if you just want to be devirginized, you could use a dildo or vibrator.”
“It would be an option.” Not sure if I could actually go through with it though. I scrunch up my nose as I look at her. “Seems a little impersonal.”
Kenz rolls to her stomach, pats my head, and gives me a wink. “Not if you do it right.”
“If I’m being punished for trying to get a sanctioned dude to do it, what do you think they’d do to me if I took away their little prize?” I shake my head and stretch my arms over my head. “Besides, they want me to give them my virginity.”
“Trust me, everyone has heard about the cafeteria today.” She sits up. “If you keep going in there, they’ll have to add it to the daily announcements. Yesterday in the cafeteria, Harper Davidson and the horsemen—”
Grabbing my pillow, I hit her with it. I hate being talked about. I hate being the center of attention. I don’t want any of this.
“I can’t wait to see you at school tomorrow.” Kenz stands and heads to the door. “Those boys are going to flip out, and the guys who didn’t step forward are going to shit a brick wishing they’d stepped up.”
I smile, thinking of those reactions. “See you then.”
“Peace.” Kenz leaves my room and her footfalls on the stairs fill the quiet. Downstairs, my mom tells her goodbye as Kenz leaves.