White Liar Page 3

  Every student in the group turned around at the same time and with expressionless faces, they slowly parted for her like Moses parted the Red Sea. Feeling a little self-conscious and maybe even a little like she had just entered the twilight zone, Chloe glanced at everyone as she started for the bathroom door. When she went to open the door she spotted exactly what everyone had been looking at. It was a poster that had her own picture glued to it. The message listed below that picture was what really stunned her the most.

  DESPERATE SINGLE WHITE FEMALE

  SEE PICTURE BELOW

  ***IN NEED OF STICK REMOVAL***

  LOOKING FOR AN EXPERIENCED PERSON

  TO REMOVE STICK LODGED IN THE ANAL AREA.

  CALL 555-4281 IF INTERESTED.

  Everyone behind her erupted in rowdy fits of laughter. Chloe glowered under her breath and with both hands angrily ripped the poster off the door. One of the girls standing to her side said, "There are more of them." She looked over at her friend and grinned. "They are posted all over the school."

  Chloe narrowed her eyes in the girl’s direction and watched her flinch back from the icy vibes that she was directing strictly at her. She had no doubts as to who the mastermind was behind this little stunt. He must be delusional if he thinks that he can play with the likes of her and actually win.

  "Ha!" Chloe cackled hysterically out loud.

  He's lost his freaking mind, she thought to herself. This boy really had no idea exactly who it was that he was messing with. Now, she told herself, it's time to play hardball. This means war.

  Chapter 4

  It had been twenty four hours since Chloe had last berated Justine for the poster incident. He thought the scene had been rather comical, especially the way that she marched right up to him and proceeded to give him a big piece of her mind.

  He was with the guys of course and by the time that she had finished with her rant, they were in hysterics, all but rolling on the floor.

  Ivan even joked with the girl and offered to help relieve her of that stick problem she seemed to have. She promptly rewarded him with a loud smack on the face and then just as pretty as you please, she turned on her heels and walked off, leaving an icy trail in her wake.

  But really, what did the chick expect? She embarrassed him. Him! Justin Pinnix of all people, in front of the entire school. Retaliation was all but inevitable and he couldn’t help but to think that the payback he delivered was pretty damn funny himself.

  Since then, things had been quiet though, too quiet really. You could literally feel the tension in the air. Something was most definitely getting ready to happen and he was well aware that he could not afford to let his guard down for even one iota of a second.

  Everyone was at lunch now. Justin was sitting in his usual spot with some of the guys from the football team, and a few of the cheerleaders too. He spotted her sitting on the other side of the cafeteria at the table with that same girl that he couldn’t seem to remember the name of. The girls both seemed to be in heavy conversation and for whatever reason he couldn’t seem to pull his gaze away from her, Chloe Miller.

  He couldn’t explain it and didn’t even know if he wanted an explanation. Quite simply put, she intrigued the hell out of him. No one had ever been as bold as she had been against him and secretly, he had to admire that. The girl had some major spunk and crazy skill; that within itself was a rarity in this day and age when everything was about fitting in and going with the flow.

  “You’re staring again.”

  Justin turned around and looked at John who was shamelessly cheesing back at him.

  “I am not,” he argued, and picked up a fry from his tray, he liberally dipped it into some catsup before plopping it in his mouth.

  “You are too,” he retorted, shooting a glance over in Chloe’s direction.

  Justin made an in-derisive sound and picked up another fry, pointing it at him and lifted his brow, “looks like you are the one that’s staring my man”.

  He chuckled and shook his head. “Maybe, the view isn’t half bad from where I’m sitting bro.”

  Grinding his back teeth, Justin refused to glance back over the table. Instead he kept his eyes peeled on his plate and pretended to take notice of all of the carbohydrates now that was something that he needed, especially since they had practice this afternoon. He fully expected it to be a grueling one since they had the big game this weekend.

  “Whatever,” he muttered under his breath after a minute of uncomfortable silence passed between them. Blowing out a deep breath of air, Justin picked up the bottle of water from his tray, twisted the cap off and took several large gulps to satisfy his now parched throat.

  For a moment, neither of the two guys said anything more. Justin could hear the sounds of laughter from some of the guys down the tale and low hum of other voices in the background while he went back to eating his own lunch.

  Again his thoughts flitted back to the mysterious new girl and wondered what it could be that invoked her sudden hatred of him. He didn’t even know the girl but yet she was bound and determined to bring him down for some reason. Trying to figure out the why of it was about to drive him insane.

  It was John’s voice that caught his attention, bringing him out of his reverie.

  “I get it,” he said sang cheekily.

  Turning around, Justin glanced up at him and John shot him a knowing expression. By the look on his face one would have thought that he had just discovered the key to world peace.

  “Get what?” Justine queried, his brows scrunched up in confusion. John had been on this perceptive binge lately and Justin had a sneaky suspicion that he was seeing far too much than he was comfortable with.

  “You’re scared of her.”

  Justin snorted and the swallow of water that he had just taken came back up through his nose, spilling all over the table.

  “I am not,” he shouted defensively.

  “You are too,” he replied with that damnable grin of his, stretching from ear to ear.

  “Justin’s not what?” Cathy asked, standing up from her chair at the end of the table. She walked over to Justin and pushed his tray out of the way, taking a seat on the table in front of him.

  Cathy was the head cheerleader and she dated Justin off and on over the years. It wasn’t a platonic relationship and both of them had an easy understanding of sorts. They were both content with playing with each other. It was the way that it was supposed to be, school football quarterback and head cheerleader together. It was more for appearances than anything – and more importantly, it worked.

  “Nothing,” Justin responded almost too quickly and Cathy turned to him, conveniently placing a leg on each side of his body so that he was literally sitting in between her legs.

  Leaning down, she teasingly ran a neatly manicured crimson red fingernail down his chest, setting off a whole new train of thoughts in his brain.

  “Justin’s afraid of the new girl,” John spoke up from beside him, still grinning.

  “Really?” Cathy said sounding surprised.

  “I. am not!” He breathed out in frustration while shooting a look over at John that promised definite retribution later.

  Cathy glanced over her shoulder in Chloe’s direction and Justin’s gaze followed hers. At the exact same time, Chloe lifted her head and their eyes met, locking on to each other.

  For a moment, Justin thought that he say something that could have passed as an inherent sadness reflected in those tell tale eyes of hers but just as quick as he thought that he spotted the vulnerability, it was gone, and replaced by a hardened mask of expressionless emotions. Her eyes narrowed on him for a second longer, before she quickly turned away.

  “I don’t see much there to be too scared of,” Cathy remarked, turning back around and staring down at Justin with hooded eyes.

  Smiling, Justin turned around and shrugged his shoulders. “Because there isn’t,” he agreed.

  Cathy slid off the table so that she was now fu
lly straddling Justin’s lap. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her closer to him and she leaned in, pressing her lips against his, kissing him in earnest.

  Cat calls and wolf whistles sounded all around them, urging them on. Justin couldn’t help but to smile against her lips, loving the attention that they were receiving. By the time that they ended the kiss, Cathy pulled back and offered him a mischievous grin.

  “You liked that didn’t you?” she whispered so low that only he could hear her.

  Lifting up the corners of his own lips, he nodded. What else could he say when a sexy chick was sitting on his lap, kissing the living daylights out of him.

  “Good,” she replied, sounding more than satisfied with herself. Gracefully, she lifted up off Justin’s lap and stood to leave, only to stop and turn back around so that she was facing him once again.

  Leaning down, she pecked him on the cheek and laid her hand on his shoulder. “I’ll see you after practice stud.”

  He chuckled. “Yes. Yes, ma’am,” he answered her with his usual cockiness. “You most definitely, will be seeing me. Soon.”

  Justin got ready to step out of the shower after football practice and before he fully emerged, he stuck his head out and took a moment to glance around, making sure there were no unsuspecting girls hiding out ready to take off with his clothes again and snap unflattering pictures of him in the buff.

  “Coast is clear,” John stated, standing by the wall next to the sink. He was leaning up against it lazily with his hands crossed over his chest.

  Breathing out a sigh of relief, Justin stepped out and grabbed the towel off the hook by the stall, wrapping it around his waist. He thought it was a damn shame a guy had to worry about whether or not he was going to have his clothes when he got out of the shower, but what could he do?

  “What are you still doing hanging around here?” Justin asked going over to the counter where he had laid his shorts and tee shirt. Releasing the towel, he lifted it to his head and mussed it dry before dropping it to the floor and grabbing his boxer shorts.

  “I wanted to ask you a question,” John commented, watching his friend carefully, making him feel damn near uncomfortable about the upcoming conversation.

  Justin reached for his shorts and slipped them on too, avoiding all eye contact with hi. “What kind of question?” He asked him curiously.

  “The new girl. Chloe. Eh…this is kind of awkward but I need to know. You don’t mind if I asked her out do you?”

  Justin froze with one leg in his shorts and one leg out, lifting his head up he met John’s studious gaze head on.

  “Seriously?”

  “Yeah, she is hot,” John stated casually. Justin couldn’t necessarily disagree with him there, but the chick had some major issues. He went back to putting on his shorts.

  Standing up, Justin pulled his shirt over his head, before turning back to him and asking. “Since when do you ask for my permission to ask out a girl anyway?”

  John chuckled. “I see the way that you look at her,” he said breezily and shrugged his shoulders. “And this little game the two of you have going on, I didn’t want to step on any toes.”

  Justin could only laugh in response. That was preposterous. “Please, there is nothing and I mean nothing going on with us. Ask her all you want but if you want some advice,” he told him poignantly. “You’re the crazy one to want to involve yourself with that chick. She is a class ‘A’ bitch.”

  “So says the master player.”

  Justin just stared at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  John held up his hands in surrender. “Nothing man.” He shook his head. “Nothing at all. So you’re cool if I ask her to go to Ivan’s party Friday night after the game?”

  He studied his friend for a minute, perplexed by the idea that he was even asking him for his permission. Finally, Justin just shook his head and slid on his tennis shoes. He was more than a little too eager to head to Cathy’s and let off a little steam of his own. “Nope,” he replied, straightening up and reaching for his bag to leave.

  Passing by him, Justin slapped him on the shoulder. “If you’re brave enough, go for it dude,” he added, not bothering to hide his own amusement. “But it’s your funeral.”

  Justin walked out of the shower room, and passed through the ghost like locker room. He was still slightly taken aback by the fact that John was even considering asking Chloe out. She was one of those piranha types and he could easily see her eating a guy whole if he wasn’t paying attention. But if John wanted to swim with the fishes, and then let him, Justin thought. Just as long as he doesn’t come whining to him when she bites him in the ass.

  He continued to walk out of the school and headed for the parking lot, thinking about how much his muscles ached and how he planned to get Cathy to kiss all of his boo boos, making them all better when he spotted his car. His baby. His thirty-fifth anniversary black Mustang GT convertible.

  “Oh my damn,” he muttered under his breath. His eyes grew as big as extra large pizzas. And despite all of the soreness in his muscles, he took off at a dead sprint, stopping only when he reached his precious car. He could not believe what he was looking at.

  On the front windshield, written in cherry red lipstick were the words Learn from your parent’s mistakes—USE BIRTH CONTROL.

  But that’s not what got to him. What really sent him over the edge was when he opened the door to his car, out spilled hundreds of water filled condoms, simultaneously bursting when they hit the ground. He glanced over at the passenger seat and then to the back seat, only to see hundreds more of these water filled condoms. They were stuffed in the car from the floor board to the roof top.

  He picked up one of the colored ones and in his own fit of frustration, squeezed it a little to hard, causing it to bust in his hand, and soaking himself with water.

  “Mr. Pinnix, you have some serious explaining to do.”

  Closing his eyes and begging for a little patience that he knew he didn’t have, Justin sighed. Isn’t this convenient, he though sarcastically to himself.

  He slowly turned around and forced a smile on his face. There stood the Principal, Mr. Arnew, staring back at him with his stiff upper lip and looking none too happy. His eyes flitted to the ground where a pile of the water filled condoms lay and then back up to Justin’s hand, where he held the remnants of the busted condom.

  Oh, she is going to pay for this one, Justin vowed, - she will most definitely pay.

  Chapter 5

  Chloe sat in her car, slowly sipping on her Starbuck’s Carmel Macchiato, while asking herself again why in the hell she was sitting here in front of the school at six in the morning. If she had any brains left in her head, then she would be in her own bed right now, with the cover pulled over her head and snoring blissfully away. Isn't that was most normal girls her age do at the crack of dawn?

  But no sooner than she asked herself that very question, the answer came to her.

  Mr. Player, himself, walked around the corner of the school with that horrible looking orange vest on, picking up random trash out of the parking lot.

  Oh yeah! Now she why remembered why she dragged herself out of the bed this morning.

  She had come to watch Justin suffer with his morning detention after the Principal had walked up on his little sexual education mess- or more like her own special handy work.

  She couldn't help but grin at the way he stumbled over the parking lot, grumbling the whole time. To say that he didn't look happy, was putting it mildly. He looked a bit like an Ogre from that move Shrek who had just been sentenced to take a bath, she thought amusingly.

  She watched him bitterly kick a rock across the pavement, and then afterwards he lifted his head and their eyes met, locking onto each other.

  For a long minute neither of the two blinked, nor moved. They were both frozen there in the realm of time, staring back at each other, waiting for the first one to break.

  Justin then knitted his brow a
nd a fierce scowl appeared on his face. He pointed his finger in Chloe's direction and made a long cutting motion with his hand, drawing it across his neck.

  She snorted out loud and shook her head back at him. The entire time she was thinking: go ahead big boy, make my day.

  She had no doubts that the guy was going to come back at her in some sort of way or fashion. He would never be able to pass up on a chance to humiliate her further. The only question she had was the when of it.

  Everywhere she went, she remained on full scale alert. She kept her eyes open while waiting for him to make his all important move. Eventually it was going to come and probably sooner than later. She wasn't the least bit delusional to that very fact. She knew what she had done; what it was that she had started. She had tempted the beast and now it was high time, that said beast be tamed.

  After everything that her cousin had been through, Erica deserved to at least be able to get her honor back if nothing else. One way or the other, Chloe was determined to claim it and she would either get it or she would die trying.

  She took another sip of her coffee and continued to watch on as Justin turned away from her and went back to work, cleaning up the school grounds. She couldn't help that another grin tugged at the edges of her lips at the sight Mr. Almighty himself bending over, picking up an empty Gatorade bottle and forcefully stuffing it in the brown plastic bag that he had tied to his hip.

  Revenge was so sweet, she silently mused; especially when you're the one delving it out.

  **********

  Tapping. Somewhere in the back ground, Chloe heard tapping. "Go away," she murmured lazily.

  More tapping... silence... tapping.

  It sounded almost like rain was pelting the window. Was it supposed to rain today? She wondered hazily. Struggling to open her eyes, she blinked several times in order to bring her vision into focus and realized that she was still sitting in her car. It took Chloe a minute to figure out that she was at school and must have fallen asleep.