Page 3 of Pretty Lies (Watch Me Burn #1)

CHAPTER TWO

RORY

I tried to fight Max about the fancy rich kid school, but after three days, I found myself making the drive from the Heights to Ashburn Valley in a flashy car that Josie had sent for me. Our house was going to get robbed if anyone saw it parked out front waiting for me.

Cars like this meant money, not that we had any. I’d give it a week before we were on the news as the next victims of an aggravated burglary.

The black blazer with gold stitching and school logo was itching my arms, and the matching skirt looked like a gothic picnic blanket. The white button-up shirt underneath barely held my tits in either.

The black and gold striped tie around my neck was already irritating me, and the black leather shoes on my feet were going to give me blisters by lunchtime.

It wasn’t even eight o’clock in the morning and I was ready for the day to be over.

A sigh escaped me as the car finally passed through the gates at Ashburn Valley Academy, the cobblestone driveway curving around the entire front of the school, allowing fancy cars to drop off all the rich pricks. I didn’t see a single bus, telling me just how rich these kids were.

I’d never made close friends anywhere, even at home in the Heights, so I knew it would be like every other time I went somewhere new. I’d just stick to myself like I always had.

Thanking the driver and bailing out before he could walk around to open my door, I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder, closing the door and trying hard to ignore the students who were eyeing me like I was today’s entertainment.

They probably smelled the poverty on me.

I walked straight to the administrator’s office to grab my schedule and locker number, before somehow making my way through the maze of a school to where my locker was assigned.

I was surprised to find Josie’s son leaning against it when I finally found it, his green eyes burning into me and causing my chest to tighten with anxiety. People steered clear of him, not bothering him as he waited for me, so I knew he was a big deal around here.

His arms stayed crossed as I approached, but he silently moved out of my way as I tried to unlock my locker. It took a few tries before it clicked open so that I could shove my blazer inside, his voice low. “Blazer stays on.”

“I’m sweating,” I said flatly, his expression unmoving as he continued to watch me.

“Headmaster Ernest doesn’t give a fuck. Keep it on or you’ll get a dress code violation.”

I turned to face him, scowling as I yanked the blazer back out and slammed my locker shut in defeat.

“Why are you even here? I doubt you volunteered to be the welcoming committee.”

He scanned my face, pausing as he noticed the bruise on my cheek. I wasn’t about to offer him answers to the unspoken questions in his eyes.

My home life was none of his business.

“The fuck has my mom gotten herself into with Max?” he finally asked through clenched teeth, my body relaxing at his concern for his mother, knowing I’d be worried too if it was the other way around.

“He’s a piece of shit, and she should get as far away from him as possible.

She’s too damn nice to deserve what will happen to her if she lets him stay.

He ruins everything around him, and I like your mom.

You need to convince her to leave him.” I turned and walked away, intending on toying with my lip rings with my tongue before remembering I’d taken them out before leaving the house.

I felt so damn naked without them in, my tongue bar managing to stay hidden in my mouth.

I was surprised when I noticed that he was walking beside me as he spoke again.

“Why would you want her to leave him? You could have everything you want if they got married. Nice house, new car, money to spend on whatever you want. Seems like a pretty sweet deal to me if I were in your shoes.”

I halted, not hiding the venom in my voice as I replied.

“All I want is to be free of him, and I don’t want to owe anyone in the process.

Do I look like the type who enjoys wasting money at the mall on fancy bags or something?

I don’t want her money, asshole. I’d prefer to live in the gutter than sponge off someone else. ”

I started walking again, biting back a huff of annoyance when he continued to follow me.

“The gambling and the hookers, is that true?”

“Every dollar we had, Max put into gambling or snorted it off a set of fake tits. It’s why we live in the Heights.

We can’t afford a house anywhere else with his debt, and he’s only using your mom for money and status,” I shrugged, hating to expose myself to him, but needing him to realize just how much trouble his mom was getting into with him.

If she’d been a bitch, I would’ve let them sink together, but she was nice.

He was only going to break her heart.

I pulled my crumpled map from my pocket and headed across the yard towards my homeroom while trying not to shiver at the horrid memory of hooker tits, but the rich asshole suddenly grabbed my arm to stop me.

He instantly let go as I spun around and yanked myself away from him, my body tense from his simple touch.

“Don’t fucking touch me.”

I had my knife down my bra, but I didn’t want to give that away unless I really had to. This place didn’t have metal detectors at the front doors like Hawthorne Heights High did, so it was a lot easier to sneak it in.

The rich prick didn’t bat an eye at my reaction, leaning against the wall and speaking in a serious voice. “Is he violent towards women in general, or just you?”

My face remained unreadable as I answered. “I’ve never seen him physically hurt a woman in my life, but he’s going to leave her crying by the end of this. Look?—”

“Caden.”

“Huh?” I asked, his lips twitching with amusement as he fought a smile.

“My name’s Caden.”

I didn’t give a shit what his name was since I wouldn’t have to deal with him again once I turned eighteen in the next few months and bailed. I had no intention of sticking the entire year out, especially since I’d never pass the final exams anyway.

I’d failed most years of school in the public system, so this fancy education was being wasted on me.

“Well, Caden, I’ve watched my father get into trouble so many goddamn times, so listen when I tell you to get Josie to leave him. He’s poison, and the people around him always end up as collateral damage. He’ll throw anyone under the bus to save himself if he needs to. Trust me on that.”

Caden gave me a nod in thanks and turned to walk away now that he had his answers, talking over his shoulder at the last minute. “Be careful around here, Aurora. He’s placed you in the lion’s den. Girls like you don’t last here in Ashburn Valley for long. The sooner you go home, the better.”

I smirked at that, not bothering to tell him that I’d actually been born here.

“We can agree on something there, rich boy, but you don’t fucking scare me. Give it your best shot.”

He hesitated, and I thought he was going to turn around and say something else, but he continued to walk away in silence. His figure disappeared around the corner just as the bell rang out across the yard, telling me I had to hurry up.

I walked into homeroom just as the warning bell sounded, dropping down into a chair and placing my bag on the floor at my feet, noticing people staring at me and whispering. The teacher, Mr. Franklin, called for attention, and I had to do the dreaded introduction that I knew was coming.

Students snickered through it, and I heard the words trailer trash muttered under someone’s breath as I made my way back to my seat.

There was no point causing a scene, I knew I’d be the only one to get scolded.

I ignored them throughout the whole first half of the day, keeping my head down in my books until the lunch bell rang, not wanting to deal with drama.

I quickly made my way along the hallway and put my books in my locker, grabbing my bag as I headed towards the cafeteria to eat.

I instantly regretted it though.

I sat down at a table with my pre-packed sandwich, and a cold, sticky drink was tipped over my head within seconds, the icy liquid dripping down my neck and back.

People erupted into laughter, but the only reaction I gave them was to glance up at the blonde girl who’d done it, a small smile on my face.

“Probably best you didn’t drink that anyway. I mean, it can’t be good for your waistline.” My eyes roamed over her and I smirked, adding insult to injury. “Looks like you could lose a few pounds.”

It was petty, I knew that, but I wasn’t going to let these rich bitches get to me. I’d play them at their own game, and I knew how much body image meant to Ashburn Valley brats.

The prissy bitch’s glossy lips lifted into a sneer. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”

I rolled my eyes, sounding bored as I got to my feet and spoke.

“How about you fuck off before you find out?” She went to slap me, but I grabbed her arm and bent it around behind her back, slamming her chest down onto the table amongst the soda that had ended up on it, pinning her in place and speaking in her ear sternly as she flailed.

“You rich kids like to pick on people who you think are below you, but you forget that we’ve had to survive more than you.

We know how to fight, we play dirty, and we aren’t afraid to get blood on our hands.

I’m Rory Donovan, it’s nice to fucking meet you. ”

I let her go before I could get myself expelled, grabbing my bag and stalking towards the door, noticing a table of three boys in the back who’d been watching me.

Caden was one of them, and he had an amused expression on his face, but he didn’t make it obvious that he’d watched how the situation had been handled.