Pretty When She Cries - Black Mountain Academy

“I know.” I offer her a neutral smile. It isn’t her fault, and she’s one of the rare few teachers at BMA I trust not to look the other way. It’s a tedious system, and she looks as exhausted as I feel.

Her phone rings, and she holds up a finger when she answers, brows pinching together as she listens to the voice on the other line. Her eyes flash with surprise before they move to me, and she nods while murmuring a quiet affirmative and disconnecting the call.

“That was Principal Dawson.” Disbelief tinges her voice. “He found the culprit tied to an office chair in the staff parking lot. He was still wearing the costume, and his hand was covered in red paint. It looks like someone roughed him up a bit, but it doesn’t sound like he’s talking much.”

“Who is it?” I ask nervously.

“A student from Maple Grove.” Coach tucks her phone back in her pocket and shakes her head. “Mr. Dawson thinks it was meant to be some sort of a prank.”

“Do you know his name?” Courtney asks the same thing I’m wondering.

“Gavin.” Coach shrugs. “That’s all Mr. Dawson could get out of him.”

Court and I look at each other and nod. Audrey was definitely behind this, but I doubt I’ll ever be able to prove it.

“Am I missing something here?” Coach Lopez asks.

“No.” I school my features and hope she doesn’t grill me on this. I have to play my cards carefully.

“Okay.” She sighs. “Well, try to have a good night, ladies.”

Court and I walk out to the parking lot. I’m quietly scanning for more threats while she studies me.

“Why didn’t you tell her it was probably Audrey?” she asks.

“Because we both know Gavin will never admit it has anything to do with her.” I reach into my pocket and curl my fingers around the canister of Mace to give me some semblance of control.

Court pauses when we reach the red Audi TTS Theo and my mom gifted me on my return from Hawaii. Across the lot, some of the football players are congregating around their vehicles. Landon’s leaning against his pretty teal blue Porsche that reminds me of the ocean. He’s not talking to anyone else. He’s just standing there, arms crossed, eyes on me. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was waiting for me out here.

“Whoa,” Court whispers. “He looks pissed.”

“Yeah.” I swallow.

“What’s his deal?”

“Who knows.” I fumble with my key fob.

“Sometimes, I think all that big dick energy goes to his head.”

I blink at her and laugh. “Big dick energy?”

She shrugs. “You have to admit he has it. That effortlessly cool vibe everyone worships. They all follow him around panting at his feet. I think secretly his ego is the size of a monster truck—”

“But he isn’t really like that,” I answer, a little too defensively, which makes no sense whatsoever.

I hate Landon Blackwood. Don’t get me wrong. But I also know he’s not full of himself. He definitely could be because he’s ridiculously hot in that broody, dark warlord sort of way. Girls hang on their every breath waiting for him to look at them or speak to them. But I never got the impression that he thought he was better than anyone else. If anything, he comes off as more antisocial and a little shy. It took him weeks to warm up to me, and even then, I was lucky to get one-word responses out of him.

“I’m confused.” Court cocks her head to the side. “I thought we hated him.”

“We do,” I assure her. “We definitely do. I just… I think he’s more complicated than everyone assumes.”

“Righttt.” She injects as much sarcasm as she can into her response. “If you say so.”

I unlock the doors and toss my bag on the passenger seat.

“Who do you think roughed Gavin up and tied him to the chair?” Court wonders aloud.

“Probably Jared.”

He might be a fake boyfriend, but I get the sense he feels protective over me in a big brother sort of way.

“Yeah, I guess.” She unwraps a piece of gum and pops it into her mouth. “You want to get some ice cream? Or we can watch a movie if you want. I promise I won’t bitch about the plot the entire time.”

I wish I could just tell her yes. Like things were simple, the way they used to be. Court and I were practically nonexistent then, and none of this shit mattered. We’d go to the bookstore and drink hot chocolate and talk about real things. But now all my energy is sucking me into a black hole of revenge. It’s exhausting and relentless, and after tonight, I’m more determined than ever to make them all pay.

“Rain check?” I offer her a weak smile. “I’m really wiped.”

“Okay.” She shrugs and pulls her keys from her pocket. “Just promise me you aren’t going to let this bother you all weekend.”