A Love Song For Liars
ls like home. No. Home is a fabric softener bra
e h
open reveals I'm
m not
sheets as if he owns them. He's as beaut
eyelashes are black and so long I want to trace them with a finger. T
ys who have ever
legs, and his chest is bare. I d
here? Did I crawl into
ll me I didn't
pop my cherry back before he revealed himself a
of our own heads so we can fantasize about stupid sh
his lashes flutter my he
shit,
more, and I e
eals the soft colors of the early-morning sun pee
e room I haven 't
t when he moved in. His guitar rests against the wall by the door. He
ed on the dresser. faded T-shirts, blac
for his final album hitting platinum, I got
shirt until t
messing around with music on my Dad's tour-bus-turned-studio, or questing to find a best cheese fries in Phill
friendship. He traded it
every day, even for a moment in the hallways or before or
your ass
my Dad might've thought he was involved in the pa
I laughed with and dre
re feet. The speakers have long since gone silent, and there'
bottles and cans before putting
is done, I sneak u
er and desk, and the comfy armchair by the window I use to read and do homework. The dark sp
p by the last one
" streams out until
t, played by gears instead of humans. The little d
usical and keep Carla and her damned minions
oth, but the reflection of the gi
she's hungov
earing a frayed
and party, dress in jean shorts and a
a picture of the Villa they've
No one died. I don't think Carla and I are de
ome other clothes into the laundry, then grab The Great Gatsby for English c
es closing as I lean a s
ve spent every ounce of their precious time f
ngs and creati
forgotten since: life isn't about money or winning or even
is laughing from a chair at the table and
ther word for the way that in
n Gods, but if th
each time that bo
and enter the ki
noon." Rudy
e maker without making eye contact and pick out a pod. My stepmom found
ow is when you bribe me." he adds with a wink as I
play like a prodigy, kid, but that guitar is a
d's band laughing their way through a cover o
d in the making of last night's gathering." I
, and as I go to retrieve i
see is the guy who lives in the pool house. Gray sweatpants cling to his hips, and t
st bare last night,
y he uses it that's impossible to for
e, like it's his favorite suit of armor and t
t his bed hours ago, but standing up as if he woke the moment I w
is imp
"Why did I wake u
assessing. "Why did I wa
it sends shive
e wall before rising and crossing to the counter next to me
ss to the coffee maker and cupboard o
ds before that
ffee, burning my tong
ange the coffee pod. I don't think he'
label or school or hanging out if it was one of those nights. The worst part wasn't finding a plac
is face as I think of the T-shirt he must've pulled over me aft
talk to you." Rudy's voice
I said about you living in the pool house. It was cruel and insensitive,
my breast in a way that sends awareness flowing through me. I tuck my hair behind my ear, swal
g. It's a good reason to keep fro
it in front of him. He stares at it as if he
u. I don't. I envy you. You take what you want, and you don't fe
how we've talked more this week
ng him add cream to his coffee. "Because late
cation he's heard me. I shake my head to clear it as I set the
wh
have me
lf, it's more evidence I'm not as capab
rince of Oakwood, but
d toenails graze Timothy's socks. I tilt my head up to take in every
is," I murmur. "I'll tell
day he finds out I'm not
es up to brush a thumb along my cheek, tracing beneath
replies at last, his breath ligh
Dad would freak if you let me ride your bike. He
on the counter and takes a lo
harply, and his
your mind if you w
loods my body, hardening my nip
smaller because I'm vi
th barely veiled innuendos.
the hel
at's between us
the one who
Rudy holl
mothy. "Your T-shirt's in the washing m
ack. I'm dreading rehearsal that afternoon, but it'll be
don't have t
u okay? There's a rumor going around that you begged Chris to punch your
ow it happened." I deadpan. "I planned the whole
gaze lands on Avery's empty se
fifth periods, Carla and her minions have been spread
to look him
e's a reminder of how stupid I was to
e Mr. Chris Albright doesn't have lacros
s. Perfect. I get to beg for
drop my bags on the corner of
no Chris
"He must be running
rest of the crew goes
the party this week, which
my arms lif
ady to put you on stag in the leading role after
tightens at once
he can't take t
ening to poison you with your own water bottle or poin
en he's here. I ha
ecently." I admit. "But I'll fix th
er phone. "I can give you ten days, but I'm making sure Carla is well versed in the lead. If you
can't find the
eet my prince, who's taking his sweet time shrugging out of his blazer. When he straightens, my ga
opening night. We can't have our prince look
s his voice. "You can wave your ass in my face and then fuck someone else
at...?" That's not from lacrosse
"Don't pretend
on words, but act
not to tell my
me he'd take matter
seen lose his tem
ened or angry, a
urge of convict
I step closer. "I know what you think happened, but
k Timothy Ada
outh to respond,
I w
I don't look to see if it's C
s. "Because he doesn't let petty bul
e, but for the next hour, do