Mistrust (11 page)

I look over at the girls, who are quietly nibbling on their lunch with their eyes downcast. They’re listening, though not saying anything. “So you’re saying you have a problem with me?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” He gives me a fake smile while narrowing his eyes at me.

“Hey, man. What’s your problem?” Reece stands and puts his fists on the table in an obviously aggressive move. “She always sits here, just like she’s always sat in English class. Just leave her alone. You’re being a dick.”

“Are you two going out now? Figures. Well, good luck with that.” Levi’s looking at Reece but points to me when he says ‘that.’ “She’s like a dead fish.”

“You’re a damn jerk, Levi. What the hell did I see in you to begin with?”

“You mean, what did
I
see in
you?
”

“Leave it alone, Levi. You’re acting like a real prick,” Reece says to him.

“Whatever. You’re all a bunch of losers.” Levi turns his back to us, and looks over at Lindsey. He motions for her to go to him, and she stands and obediently follows. “Let’s go,” he says as he slings his arm over her shoulder.

I can hear her giggling as they walk away.

“What the hell?” I say, looking at someone who was supposed to be my one of my best friends, walk off with my ex-boyfriend who’s turned out to be nothing but a jerk.

“Don’t worry about it.” Reece sits back down and I watch Levi nuzzle into Lindsey’s neck. “She’s made no secret of the fact she’d go out with him if you two ever broke up.”

“She said she’d have sex with him because she thought he’s hot, but I honestly thought she was kidding. I never, in a million years, believed she’d actually do it.” With a shake of my head, I look down at my lunch, confused and completely astonished. “I really can’t believe she’s gone with him.”

“Don’t worry about them.”

“It’ll be easier if I find somewhere else to sit at lunch. This is going to get crazy, and besides, I can’t handle looking at them together.”

“Why? Is it because you still love him?” Reece questions me.

I look blankly at him. I know my face is void of any emotions, because frankly, I don’t feel anything toward Levi, except he’s not the person I thought he was. Lindsey on the other hand, she’s hurt me more than Levi ever could have. “I’m more upset at Lindsey than Levi. She’s supposed to be one of my best friends.” Standing I grab my lunch and smile weakly at Reece. “I need some air.” Turning away from Reece, I walk out of the cafeteria and head toward the library.

“Hey, Dakota,” Reece calls out to me. But I keep my head down, and walk away as quickly as I can.

Pulling out a chair in the library, I sit and open the book I picked from the shelf. I chose it absentmindedly, not really looking at the selection. My eyes gloss over the title, but I don’t register anything it actually says.

Instead of the book holding my interest, I keep replaying the image of Levi and Lindsey. He told her to get up and go to him, and she went like a well-trained puppy. I can feel myself losing faith in the friendship I thought Lindsey and I had. Tears quickly well up in my eyes, and my stomach churns at the betrayal I’ve witnessed.

“Dakota, what are you doing here?” Sophie asks as she drags out the chair opposite me. I lower my head so she can’t see the tears, but I know she saw. “Why are you crying?”

“It’s nothing.” The tears are rolling down my cheeks and onto the book I’m holding.

“Then why are you crying all over the Bible?”

I actually look at the book and bark a humorless laugh. That’s what I get for grabbing the first book I came across. “It’s nothing, okay?” I muffle my sobs and try to hide the tears.

“Nothing, huh? Doesn’t look like nothing to me. What happened?”

Shrugging my shoulders, I keep my focus down on the leather-bound pages I’ve now placed on the table. “Yeah, don’t worry about it.”

“Okay then, I won’t. But you’ve gotta stop crying. Especially considering it looks like you’re crying over this.” She leans over and taps the book with her fingers.

My churning stomach settles somewhat within a few moments, and the tears recede enough for me to be able to look up at Sophie. “I’m okay,” I finally manage to say, and mean the words.

“Good.” She takes a deep breath and smiles at me. “How come you’re in the library again?” I notice her blonde hair is pulled back tight in a high ponytail, and she’s wearing a touch of make-up.

“You look really pretty today.” I ignore her question but try to keep eye contact so she doesn’t clue in.

“Avoiding giving me an answer?”
No such luck.

“Yeah, I’m in the library again. Seems things are different now.”

“You can tell me if you want, don’t feel bad if you don’t want to.” She’s so easy to talk with, and seems so carefree too.

“It doesn’t matter; it’s stupid stuff. But, seeing as you’re insisting, you know my friend Lindsey?” She nods her head. “Well, Levi and I broke up and now she’s with him.”

Sophie’s expression is impassive. She doesn’t look surprised or upset or even amused. Nothing . . . zilch . . . nada. “And this surprises you? Seriously, this surprises you?” she asks, completely devoid of emotion. “Because the way I see it, those girls will turn on you in a heartbeat. I’ve seen it before and I know I’ll see it again.” She turns her head to look away and whispers, “They turn on anyone, and
everyone.
”

Scrunching my forehead, I look at Sophie and silently question her. I don’t want to ask her what she means by her statement, but I do want to know if what she said is a warning, or an observation.

Instead I turn back to my book and pick it up. “You know, I’ve never really read this.”

“Neither have I. How many people have read it in its entirety and actually understood it?” She lets out a laugh, and I know she’s attempting to break the seriousness which has suddenly fallen over us.

“Ms. Bennett, may I have a word with you?” Mr. C’s smarmy voice instantly chills my blood and my heart drops down into my stomach. With wide eyes I look at Sophie and silently plead with her to not leave me alone with him.

I look over my right shoulder to where Mr. C is standing about two feet away. “Um, sure,” I answer him, but my voice comes out all croaky and rough. He takes a step back to wait for me to follow him. I slide out of my chair slowly and try to breathe through the panic creeping throughout my entire body. I follow Mr. C to the back of the library but I keep looking over my shoulder at Sophie. I want to maintain eye contact with her in case I need her to come over and rescue me.

“I heard you passed out today,” Mr. C starts saying while attempting to discreetly look me over. However, it’s obvious to me. “Are you okay?”

I nod my head, too scared to open my mouth and say anything; fearing my voice will let me down and I’ll either scream or worse still, not be able to speak.

“Why did you pass out?”

Holy crap, now I have to respond, I have no choice. I look over to Sophie who’s watching us with an eagle eye. “I . . .” my voice is scratchy. “I forgot to have breakfast.”

“Did the nurse call your parents?” He furrows his brows together, and runs his beady eyes over me once again.

I nod, but again don’t dare say anything.

“What happened?”

I clear my throat and look down at my shoes. Finding the courage, I look back into his inquisitive gaze. “I spoke to my mom and she said she’d come to pick me up and take me to the doctor, but I asked her not to and told her I was feeling fine. It was just this morning I wasn’t feeling great, I’m fine now.”

“You sure you’re okay?”

Mr. C has been showing an unusual interest in me. He’s always been creepy, but since Monday his attention has been much more intense. “Yeah, I’m sure.” I look him straight in the eyes so he knows I’m okay. A long moment passes between us. The stifling air makes it difficult for me to breathe, and suddenly a tingle of raw nervous energy shoots through my body. However I ignore the warnings from my weary mind and fight to hide the secret I so desperately hold on to. “I’m sure,” I confirm again, ensuring Mr. C believes me.

Tilting his head down to look at me with a keen eye, Mr. C nods his head once but also purses his lips together. “If you need anything, Dakota, come to my classroom and find me.” He steps away from where we were at the end of library and turns his back leaving me to consider his words.

Mr. C is by far the creepiest, weirdest person I’ve ever met. And I never want to be alone with him.

“What was that about?” Sophie innocently whispers when I make my way back to our table.

“He wanted to talk to me about some homework due.”

“Homework? Now? It’s almost the end of the year? That’s weird.” Her words sound as if she doesn’t believe what I said. And truthfully, I wouldn’t believe me either. “Looked like he was almost angry with you.”

My face turns up in a grimace and I shake my head. “Nah, nothing like that.” I try to downplay the seriousness of the situation, and more specifically, the accuracy of her words.

“Are you going to the charity basketball game tonight?” Sam asks as we walk home from school.

“I don’t know. Maybe. What happened with Calvin?”

“Taylor,” she corrects me with a wide smile on her face. “Well, he kind of asked me to the game tonight.”

“Oooh.” Deliberately I step into her and bump her shoulder with mine. “Really? Are you going to go?”

“I want to. He asked me if I want to go to the movies with him on Saturday night, too.”

“Wow. He must be serious to ask you out for tonight’s game and tomorrow night too. Two nights in a row.”

Sam squeals in delight, and bounces as she’s walking. “I know,” she excitedly says. “Dakota, will you help me find something to wear? Like maybe I can borrow that really nice green sweater you have and maybe your black knee-length skirt?” I turn to look at her, and she flutters her eyelashes at me as she brings her hands together as if in a prayer. “Puurleeeeaaasse?” she draws out.

“So you want to borrow something of mine to wear?” I’m teasing her, making her beg for it while I already know I’m going to say yes.

“Oh please, Dakota, please can I?”

“Maybe.” I shrug my shoulders noncommittally at her.

“Come on,” she teasingly whines. “Please?” Sam gives me a sickly sweet smile, her wide brown eyes gazing softly at me.

“Fine,” I grumble playfully.

“I told Taylor I’d meet him at the game. You should come.”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure where I stand with Jordan, Mariah and the rest of them. Obviously I can kiss my friendship with Lindsey goodbye.”

“Lindsey? Why? What happened?” Sam stops walking to grab my upper arm.

“Let’s just say, she’s not who I thought she was.” I start to walk away, but Sam makes a grab for my arm again.

“What happened?”

Telling Sam what happened at lunch today I watch her reaction as it quickly morphs from shock, to irritation, then anger. “Are you serious? She walked off with him after he was being horrible to you?” I nod my head. “Man, I’m so . . .” she pauses, but her features give away exactly how she feels. Her eyes are wide with anger as she paces up and down the sidewalk.

“I know,” I add.

“How can this not make you angry?
He’s
being a dick and
she’s
just—I can’t even say what I want to about her. Grrr,” she growls as she starts marching toward home.

“Hey, it’s my own fault. I thought she was like a sister to me. Obviously, not.”

“She’s not me, Dakota. No one can replace me,” she huffs angrily.
She’s hurt.

“No, that’s not what I meant.” It’s my turn to stop her walking. I throw my arms around her and hug her. “You are the best person I know, Sam, No one could ever replace you, I just thought she’d always have my back, you know? Clearly, I was mistaken. I don’t know what else to do. Up until last week I thought everything was perfect. Now, it’s like nothing is as it seems on the surface.”

Sam pulls out of the hug and we walk the final few blocks in silence. When we get home, Sam sits on the front lawn under one of the willow trees we have in the yard. Evidently she wants to talk or she wouldn’t be looking at me, and then pointedly staring to the spot beside her. I sit cross-legged next to her and let out a sigh.