Page 31 of Brutal Lies
Finally, she looks over at me.
“All As or you are out,” Rawlins repeats. “Your father can donate a building bigger than his hospital, but you’ll be gone. There’s nothing Howland will be able to do to get you back in.”
“I’m sure there’s one thing,” I mumble, staring at her high cheekbones and plump lips.
Not a smart response, Astrid.
I should be tearfully pleading, explaining that I won’t have time to eat or sleep, much less anything else, but that’s the point. To keep me so busy I can’t fuck up anything else. But what’s the worst that will happen? I don’t want to be here anyway. Except if I’m out, will I ever see Bryce or Wyatt again? I look down at my feet as I think this through again. Justin’s on my shit list, but one perfect explanation from him and he’ll be off it. I think I might even miss Pierce.
“Fine. I accept,” I reply with thoughtless arrogance. “So, what happens when I win? Other than getting off probation.”
Rawlins gawks as if I’m denser than the stone gate leading into the school. “This isn’t a contest with a grand prize at the end. Let’s be clear. I’m doing this for the school, not you. I’m protecting it from you, you little…tart.” Rawlins shakes the expletive off like she said something truly disgusting.
I nod as I get up to leave. We are clear on this. She’s tired of the bullshit, and the bullshit is me. I waver before opening the door. My fingertips rest on the brass knob as I quickly think. Will she understand me better than Howland?
“I’m not doing any of this out of spite.” I turn, but can’t meet her unforgiving gaze. “I would’ve liked to have come here without any issues and had nothing to worry about while I played the princess, but it wasn’t happening. No matter how much I wanted it to. My real life is getting in the way of that fantasy.”
I lift my eyes and meet her gaze, and Rawlins lets out a short, harsh laugh.
“Stupid girl. You weren’t selling your grandparents’ oxy to your classmates or hunting for a sugar daddy to pay off your card before your parents found out,” she replies. “You were running a fight club, for Christ’s sake.” She glances at me a moment longer then flails her hands, shooing me out of her office. “If I could give you a diploma today and leave you outside the gate, I would. Out of my sight, before I lose my will to try again.”
I have no comeback for that, so I take off fast. I hurry out of her office and out of the building as if sprinting around the track. I don’t stop moving until I almost run into Bryce on the path leading back to class.
“Why aren’t you in class?” I narrow my eyes at him and leave some space between us.
“I’m bored, and I’ve been accepted to Yale.” He looks around the campus, but nothing seems to hold his attention. “I saw you walking here from the classroom window.” He smirks. “What did she say to you this time, Astrid? Were you being bad again?”
I start walking past him. “None of your business,” I snap. “I’m not your sole source of entertainment. Go find my sister.” I stop short, and he almost collides with my back. “Oh wait. You’re not fucking her, but you’re still screwing both of us.”
Bryce keeps step with me as I march toward the building, banging my heels on the brick path. I let my pounding feet communicate my anger with him. I don’t know why I believe Pierce, but I do. Maybe because Pierce didn’t try anything while we were alone.
“Charlotte and I are childhood friends.” Bryce speaks smoothly, as if I’m crazy for being upset. “I can’t just drop a friendship, nor do I want to. Come on, Astrid.” He tries to take my hand, but I’m walking too fast for him to catch it.
“Astrid!”
Bryce steps in front of me, and I have to stop walking. I glare at him as my bottom lip pokes out farther than my top. I know I look like a brat, but I’m fed the fuck up. Bryce steps closer with a dreamy look in his eyes. His finger traces the curve of my chin, and even in the frosty wind, I can feel his hot breath touch my lips.
“Astrid, baby, I can only think about you,” he whispers, taking my hand. “You’ve got me bad. I’ll never think about anyone else when you treat me right. Let’s go somewhere private and talk.”
The laugh rips out of me so fast I have to swallow my spit. “Is that the best you can do?” I laugh even harder. “You watch too much TV. Here’s a free tip—go online and jack off if you’re desperate. There’s plenty of free content, and none of it is as difficult as me.”
Bryce grabs my arm as I try to turn away. He yanks me close, and I lose my balance, leaning against his hard body. Every freaking part of it is hard as a rock. His fingers grip me firmly as his breathing picks up. He tightens his hand on my wrist until I struggle. He yanks my hand, placing it on his stiff bulge.
Fuck, my pussy has woken up. That’s what I want. Not a begging boy, but a man that’s demanding.
Bryce leans in to kiss me, not giving a fuck who sees us making out. His hand moves to my neck, holding me in place while his mouth covers mine. My hand grazes the bulge throbbing in his pants, and I moan in his mouth, thinking about the last time. My clit twitches. I want to be sore like that again so bad.
“Fuck,” I moan.
“That’s what I want to do,” he says.
I pull away unsteadily and shake my head. “I can’t. If I don’t get all As, I’m out of here. Rawlins is going to dropkick my ass out the gate if I piss her off again. You need to think about someone else.”
Bryce smirks, slipping his hand into mine. He leads me toward the girls’ dorm. I have class, but my pussy is getting wetter with every step toward the basement door.
“Give me a list of your classes,” he smiles, “and I’ll give you the answers to all your exams.”
She did say As on all my exams, not As for attendance. I’m not even mad at myself for going off with Bryce and not to class. I use my key for the basement door to let us into the private bathroom. No one’s in here crying or smoking, and I hope it stays that way while we’re in here.