Tell Me More Lies

Chapter 6: Julian

"The guy won't quit, man," Dane said, leaning against the lockers.

Lunch ends in ten minutes and Elio still isn't back. I check my watch. He wasn't on time. I pretend to busy myself shuffling through my locker in search for an imaginary goddamn thing.

After the scene in the cafeteria, I asked Elio to do something for me. Asked was a little more tame than how it actually went. But he didn't need more convincing since he was clearly on board with what I had in mind. He said he could do it in five minutes.

That was thirteen minutes ago. 

"Want me to handle him? I could be in and out, five minutes tops."

Yeah, that's also what Elio said and there's still no fuckin' sign of him yet.

I slam my locker, annoyance starting to rise. "No, I'll handle it."

Sam's finally starting to get on my last nerve today. Elio wasn't enough that he had to go and corner Dane in the bathroom, too. The last thing I want is a bug pestering me to kill it.

Sure, I did love being on the tracks but I got bored of it eventually. Not that I'm not good at it, I just had better things to do in my spare time. It payed good money apart from the bets but I had since found other ways to get paid. Plus, I didn't want to have to repair my car every month. The maintenance was a b***h.

So I settled doing my own thing. Haven't been to the Pitt since summer break and I don't intend to show my face anytime soon. Especially not for Sammy.

"When? Dude might try to sneak a peak of my junk again and you know I can't get detention. I'm already on my second strike. Coach'll bench me for the whole season and you know scouts will be at every game this year."

Hell has no wrath than Coach Hilter if you're a football player.

Dane had been on the list of promising players this year and is aiming for a full scholarship for college. Despite his wild nature of booze and drugs, he's trying to be on his beast behavior and keep his slate clean. Though I don't think he's doing a good job at it.

Quitting drugs would be hard with an open supplier among our group. Not that he has a problem or anything but he always taunts a challenge when it's staring right in the face. Dane telling himself to stop toking would only make him want to do the opposite even more. 

I know Ayla's not just an open market for anyone to try and buy from. She chooses who to sell to and doesn't hesitate to cut anyone off if they start showing signs of borderline addiction. I doubt her boyfriend knows or else he'll lay a hand on her again.

She won't admit it, but Cole was an abusive f**k and a control freak. She keeps excusing his behavior. Ayla was as dense as a pig being raised in a pen. Even a two year old could see past her glassy eyes. She didn't want to admit it.

Last spring, the two got into a fight that resulted with Ayla's cheek to become a deep shade of purple.

Naturally, she brushed it off. So, I snuck into his house to teach him a lesson.

Ayla hadn't talked to me for a week, but I didn't care so long as she stopped seeing him. 

But that went over like food coloring in the ocean. She went back to him either way. 

I saw a minor bruise on her wrist today at lunch, pressed the issue as far as she was willing to entertain. It wasn't my battle to be fought. Especially if she willingly keeps putting herself in that situation. She knew how to cover up her scars well. 

Ayla's a tough girl, she could handle him.

Elio doesn't know about Ayla's wrist, and I don't tell him. He'd go batshit crazy if I did. There's something between them I couldn't quite explain. 

Definitely not attraction since my baby brother was cuffed two years ago. 

He rounds the corner of the hallway right before the bell rings. Fuckin' finally.

"Where have you been?" I ask.

He tucked a piece of paper into my palm and I clenched it tightly. He did so discretely, but Dane caught the movement and doesn't question. "Had to charm Miss Lux twice as hard after fuckin' Sam showed up. Wouldn't stop running his mouth."

Figures.

"Would you just—"

I cut him off. "I'm not doing it."

He huffs. "You're lucky it ain't your ass riding on the line of my last nerve." Yes, all that football s**t and having your hands tied yadi-yada.

"Then lengthen your patience. I'm sure you've heard that football is an avenue for hormonal boys to ease up some steam. Crush Sam in practice next week. But right now, he's mine to deal with."

I'm not going to let up. Sam can keep begging until I'm gonna deal with him. All in due time. I have someone to take care of first.

"Oh, by the way, I saw Charlotte at Schofield's office. Thought she's not gonna be back 'till next week?"

Dane laughs. "Boy, you've really gotten your plate full this year."

I grip the paper tightly in my hand. "So?"

"So," Elio pats my shoulder mockingly, "My brother, you wished for an uneventful start of the school year but I guess God had different plans for you. Tough luck."

"Nah, Julie boy can handle himself, ain't that right?" I give him a finger and they both howl in laughter.

They make a move to class but I stay put. Dane looks at me questioningly. I usher them to go ahead. He looks down at my fist where the concealed paper was. "I'm not even going to ask."

Good because asking meant telling and I'm not telling him what Elio and I fought so hard to hide when we were kids. Because of her.

That's why we keep him around. He don't pry into s**t that he knows he don't have business with. He's got our back and we have his, that's what's important.

The two walk away. I open the paper with a locker combination scribbled inside. Tossing the paper to the bin, I head to the opposite direction from where Dane and Elio had disappeared to.

Seeing Sierra today had me all over the place. For the first time in so long, I was unsure of what to do. 

Angry was an understatement of the century. I'm way past angry at Sierra. I was livid. Time and distance didn't erase the years of hurt she had caused.

When she approached us at lunch I had no idea what to give her credit for. Being brave or stupid to even think we're still friends?

But Ayla had to give her lip. I was ready to throw her a bone and walk away knowing the others would follow but Sierra had become ballsy and fought back.

It didn't escape my notice how she dug her nails into her palms the way she used to when she got fed up. Some thing’s just never disappear, I guess. Was she still that little tamed firecracker I’d gotten used to or has she popped again? 

I was shocked to hear Taron Pierce had been in jail since I knew Sierra adored her father despite his main attraction solely focused on his wife. Wanted to ask Ayla more about it but the timing wasn't right.

I was tempted to add fuel to her burning humiliation at the mention of her father but I bide my time until I catch her off guard. The time she’ll get me to open my mouth will be the time I’m gonna make her realize she’s nothing but a stranger

I'll let her work for it for a little bit more.

I stop by the janitor's closet to grab a few things.

Sierra Pierce will not outstay her welcome in Ridgewood High.