All the Little Lies (English Prep 1)

I’d lived in many places during the last five years. There were drugs, crime, prostitution, gangs—all of that. Most of the girls I was surrounded by in juvie could attest to that. Some were in there themselves for prostitution. They had gotten lost in the system. They found a man who treated them like they meant something, fooled them into thinking they had a family, and ran their bodies for money.

It was sick.

But it happened.

How different would my life be if my father had kept his shit together?

“Hey, you okay?” Piper nudged me with her elbow.

Dazed, I sighed. “Yeah, I’m sorry...”

“Where’d you go? You spaced out. Are you sure you’re telling me everything?” Her jade eyes were wide; her face grew worried. “You can tell me anything. You know that, right?”

I smiled softly. “Yeah, I know.”

Piper was another safe place of mine. Being around her made me feel normal, and I laughed a lot when we hung out. I was glad I had her on my side in this school. She wasn’t like all the rest. Piper had a big heart. “I’m going to go to the bathroom before class. Gossip Girl tomorrow if I can get Jill and Pete to let me stay?”

Piper nodded vigorously. “Yes! And lots of snacks.”

I laughed as I gathered my bag. “Perfect. See you after school.”

She nodded, taking another bite of her salad.

Before I left the table, I glanced back at her eating her food. When she peered up, I smiled. “Thanks for being my friend.”

The apples of her cheeks rose. “Of course. And I’ll always be your friend…unless you move away like Callie. Don’t leave me here alone.” A laugh escaped my mouth as I rolled my eyes.

I trotted off to the bathroom without looking in Christian’s direction, which was becoming tiresome.

Before I even made it to the swinging bathroom door, a hand wrapped around my waist, and I was pulled into the stairwell. I gasped, ready to swing my leg to swipe the person off their feet, but two cloudy eyes were peering down at me. “Christian,” I breathed, fear disappearing. What is it with us and this stairwell?

His hands didn’t leave my waist, and it felt like his palms were burning a hole right through my uniform. “You okay?”

I gulped as I tried my hardest not to squirm in his hold. What is he doing? I stuttered, nerves rolling off my tongue. “I…I’m f-fine.” I darted my eyes away quickly, afraid he would see right through me. Vivid images came at me fast, reminding me of what he did last night. I knew my face had to have been red.

I saw a small tilt of his head out of my peripheral vision, and it had me realizing he d

idn’t quite believe me. “Your eyes are still red from last night.” I swallowed my nerves and glanced at him. His gaze bounced back and forth with mine. What is he thinking? Does he regret it? God. I wanted to smack myself. I looked at his lips, and my core tightened. Those lips and tongue made my toes curl just hours ago.

I shot my attention to the floor again, embarrassed. “Can we act like last night never happened?” My voice was nothing more than a whisper. Christian didn’t answer. And he didn’t move his hands. I hated the way it made me feel. A hot wave of want ran through me, still running on the fumes of last night. I wanted to bask in his grip.

A choppy laugh escaped him. “I couldn’t forget it even if I tried.”

I felt myself grow even hotter as I zeroed in on his mouth and those perfect, rose-colored lips. He teetered his jaw back and forth, his dark brows furrowing as he stared back at me. All I wanted to do was kiss him again. I wanted to feel his mouth on my body. I wanted his hands skimming my skin. I wanted to taste him like he had tasted me.

A spark of light jolted me. What has he done to me?

“Are you going to the game tomorrow night?”

Why are his hands still on my hips? I swallowed, licking my lips. “No.”

His grasp grew tighter, and my entire body grew excited. “No?”

“I’m staying at Piper’s.”

He thought for a moment, his hands never moving. “I’ll be late tonight; I have something to do.”

Something to do? Like what? I brushed off my panicky thoughts, angry with myself for even wondering. “I think I’ll survive.”