Page 48 of Pretty Lies (Watch Me Burn #1)

Slash’s hand shot out without warning and gripped my chin painfully. “You might warm his bed, but you’ll never be above his crew. He jumps because I say so. We’re all needed, not just Skeet, so get back in your lane before I put you there.”

“You don’t scare me, asshole. You’re not part of what we have going on, so fuck off,” I snapped, his fingers tightening even more as he stepped closer. I went still as he pressed against me, toying with the front of my open jeans to remind me just how little there was between him and my pussy.

“Your bad boy fantasy coming to life only exists because I allow it. You don’t have a mouthful of my cock because I haven’t demanded it, and you aren’t in a hole in the ground because I haven’t ordered it.

You think too highly of yourself if you think you’re invincible.

” He released me but didn’t step back. “You’re becoming a problem, and I don’t like problems.”

My eyes flicked to Skeeter’s over Slash’s shoulder to find him with a clenched jaw, my stomach sinking slightly as he relaxed his features and spoke.

“If it’s that important for us to leave, stop wasting time. Stop letting a random girl get to you so much, man.”

Slash smirked when I frowned, and he gave me a wink. “See? Just a warm hole for his dick. You mean nothing.”

We’d agreed on being casual, but my dumbass still got burned by Slash’s words and the fact that Skeeter didn’t defend me in some way. I was also pissed that he was leaving me needy. He never did that.

“Go and fuck someone, alright?” Skeeter said lightly as he fixed my pants before taking what was left of my cigarette and putting it between his lips, taking a drag. “You’ll be a raging bitch when I see you again if I leave you hanging.”

“What?” My entire body tensed up at the thought. He knew I wasn’t the type to fall into bed with just anyone and that it had taken a lot for me to let him in so soon after the others had burned me.

I didn’t want anyone else, and from the look he was giving me, that was the entire reason for this conversation.

He was putting me back in my place like Slash had wanted, making it obvious that I was nothing more than pussy.

“Get laid, baby girl. I mean it,” he replied firmly before walking off with Slash, who was biting his head off about trying to fuck me again in the first place after finally getting rid of me.

I scowled as I bent down to retrieve my whiskey, chugging some to force my emotions back into their cage. I wasn’t going to let everyone around me see how much that had hurt.

I lied and told myself that I was done with Skeeter for good.

I was aware of Caden and Tyler watching me from close by, but I ignored them and headed towards the dance floor, needing to distract myself before I did something stupid like talk to them.

I danced to the beat as “Put you in your Coffin” by Grioten and HXI blasted through the house, realizing I was definitely drunker than I thought when I stumbled and ran into someone.

“Fuck, sorry,” I laughed as they caught me, helping me to stand up straight. “Thank you.”

“Any time,” the guy smiled, continuing to dance beside me, and I wasn’t sure if I was just too drunk or feeling brave, but when I noticed Caden and the others watching me from across the room, obviously talking about me, I wanted to piss them off.

I danced closer to the guy, swinging my hips and leaning back against him as he pulled me against him to move with me.

I had no idea who he was, I’d never seen him before, but it was having the desired effect when I saw Caden glaring at me.

If he came over here and started shit, I’d knock him the fuck out. It was about time they all learned that I was done with them.

“Is the grumpy guy across the room your boyfriend? He looks kinda mad,” he chuckled, his hands finding my waist to keep me close.

“Caden? No. I live here with him. His mom’s my guardian, I guess,” I replied, making him pause.

“How old are you?”

“My eighteenth birthday is in three weeks, I’m legal,” I snorted, noticing him relax. It was good to see at least one guy around here had a conscience.

We danced until my whiskey was gone and I was stumbling around the dance floor, heavily relying on the guy to guide me outside for fresh air.

“That’s so much better,” I groaned as the cool night’s air hit my sweaty skin and I leaned on the railing to stop myself from faceplanting.

“You need water,” he grinned, but I shook my head.

“I need more whiskey. Thanks for dancing with me, I had fun.”

“Me too. I was going to invite you back to my place, but I think you’re a little too drunk,” he joked, and I squinted at him, trying to focus.

“I have guys to piss off and an orgasm that I never got. I’m down for some fun.”

I was being stupid, I knew that, but the guy seemed nice, and it wasn’t like I’d exactly remember much of it. Maybe I’d manage to stay relaxed thanks to the whiskey?

I’d show Skeeter that I didn’t need him, and send a big fuck you to the guys in the process.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to take advantage,” he replied, worrying his lip between his teeth.

“Positive. We’ll have to sneak around the side gate though. Caden’s a bit overbearing and won’t like it,” I said as I tugged him towards the side of the house to find the gate.

I held his hand and struggled not to pull away. His palm was clammy and he was getting twitchy, making me nervous as I slowed my steps. Discomfort washed through me as the guy’s arms slid around me from behind as we reached the driveway, his face nuzzling into my neck to kiss my skin.

“I’m Percy, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you,” I replied, alarm bells going off as he started pushing me from behind to make me hurry up. He’d switched from being sweet and awkward to cocky and all over me in seconds.

Why had I wandered off with a stranger? I knew better than that.

I didn’t even want to get laid, I’d just wanted to piss the guys off and prove they didn’t own me.

“Hey, maybe we should go back in the house. I don’t feel very good,” I lied, knowing my concern was valid when his grip only tightened on me.

“Just get in the fucking car, Aurora.”

I turned to ask how the fuck he knew my name, but something hard slammed into the side of my head and the ground rushed up to meet my face, everything going black around me.

Lukas

I’d managed to avoid talking to Jensen most of the night, but he kept glancing at me like he was going to start small talk or something. I’d slept like shit last night, so I was definitely ready to shut this party down and go to bed.

Caden was stomping around scowling as he tried to find Rory, which amused me slightly. We’d taken our eyes off her for two seconds and she’d vanished, but I was a little concerned at the same time because the guy she’d been dancing with had vanished too.

I knew what she was doing, we all did, and it was obviously working because Caden was getting more and more pissed off by the second.

Tyler had wandered off to piss, and when he came back, he motioned to the people around us with a huff. “I’m already tired of us hosting this shit tonight. I say we shut it down and go run amok.”

Last time we agreed to run amok, he set some asshole’s car on fire, so I wasn’t in the mood to deal with that.

“Not tonight, firebug. I don’t feel like bailing you out of jail,” I muttered, making him frown.

“What’s up your ass?”

“Nothing. I’m just tired.”

“What’s up with Holloway?” he asked, making me glance at Caden, who was in someone’s face, probably demanding to know if they’d seen Rory.

“Rory’s vanished. She’s probably just gone to bed, she was wasted,” I answered, and Tyler frowned.

“How did that happen? You guys were watching her.”

“We got more beer. Jense is looking outside and Caden’s stomping around in here like a psycho. Hopefully, he scares everyone away so we can go to bed,” I grunted. “I might just head home.”

“You can’t bail on me. It’s early,” he whined, and I gave him the side-eye.

“So? I got fuck all sleep last night, and I’m getting a fucking headache.”

“You’re a buzzkill,” he grumbled, but he clapped my shoulder. “I’ll let Holloway know you’ve gone. Call me if you need me.”

“I will.”

I wouldn’t. I just wanted to sulk in my own house and get my mother off my back. I’d barely been home at all lately, and her messages were turning hysterical.

I wandered outside and unlocked my car, sighing as I heard Jensen’s voice.

“Luke, wait up!” he called as he jogged to catch up, grabbing my wrist to stop me. “I’ll come with you.”

“I want to be alone, Jense. I’m exhausted, and I can’t handle the conversation I know you want to have.”

“Well, you can be alone with me. I don’t want to talk about it if you don’t. Nothing’s changed, you’re my best friend.”

“I’m not going to go home and kill myself, dude. Stop hovering,” I bit out, pulling away from his hold. He continued to follow me towards my car, much to my annoyance.

“C’mon,” he said gently, trying to pull me against him but I shoved him back, my eyes flicking around to see if anyone had seen.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” I hissed, and he rolled his eyes.

“I didn’t grab your dick, Luke. Tell your mother to get the fuck out of your head. There’s a difference between seduction and comfort, I promise.”

He might as well have grabbed my dick since it jerked behind my zipper.

I blew out a breath, trying to calm the erratic panic that was moving through my mind. I had no problem with other people being gay, they could do what they wanted, but I couldn’t be into guys. I wasn’t into guys.

I’d keep telling myself that until I believed it.

Jensen patted my shoulder and held his hand out.

“Give me your keys. If you’re going to have a panic attack, you’re not driving.”

“I’m not going to have a fucking panic attack,” I gritted out, but I handed them over anyway. Mom would flip out if I brought Jensen home, so I sighed. “Can we stay at yours? If you insist on staying with me, Mom’s going to lose it the moment we walk through the damn door.”

He smiled and gave me a nod. “Sure thing. Get in.”

We didn’t talk on the short drive to his place, and he flipped on lights as we walked through the silent house. He didn’t bring up the kiss, and neither did I, so I relaxed a little.

We could act like it hadn’t happened and go back to normal.

“We can watch a movie if you want?” he offered, smiling as I nodded. I wanted to sleep, but I needed to wind down first. I could still hear the thump of the bass in my head.

We grabbed beer and snacks, heading into the theater room and getting comfortable on the couch. He dropped down beside me, putting some random comedy movie on before glancing at me.

“You know I only push you on things because I care, right?”

“I know. It’s why we’re besties,” I grumbled, making him laugh.

“Aw, love you too, man.”

If my dick kept reacting to him, I was going to punch it to remind it who the boss was. I didn’t dare look at Jensen, keeping my eyes glued to the TV, and he thankfully left me alone after that.

We both fell asleep at some point through the movie, and I had a feeling I fell asleep first since I woke up to pee a few hours later to find a blanket draped over me.

That shouldn’t have made me fuzzy inside, but it did.

Tyler

Since Caden had started to realize that Rory was important in our lives after all, he’d turned to destroying his liver as if to punish himself. It was usually me writing myself off, but he had his head in the toilet by midnight, babbling about being a fuckup.

We were all fuckups, but that wasn’t the point. I was just glad that he was starting to see the truth. He needed her, we all did.

Now we just needed to find her.

One of the Ashburn Valley High girls had said she’d left with some guy, so that had set Caden off even more and he’d kicked everyone out.

Caden was close to hunting Rory down and dragging her back by the hair, not that he could even fucking walk right now.

I slid down the wall beside the toilet, bringing my knees up and watching him heave painfully into the toilet. “You aren’t looking too good, man.”

“Thanks for your input, Captain Obvious,” he mumbled, coughing before sitting back against the other side of the wall to meet my gaze. “Have you heard from her?”

“You’re stupid if you think she’d get a hold of any of us.”

“Something’s wrong, I can feel it,” he insisted, and I couldn’t hold back my chuckle. He was acting like a drunk girl, complaining about his problems and having a pity party.

“What, you two have some soul connecting shit going on? She’s fine. You, on the other hand, are a fucking mess. Let’s get you to bed, alright? I’ll crash here to make sure you don’t choke on your vomit in your sleep.”

“Kind of you,” he mumbled before turning and throwing up in the toilet again while I patted his back in support with a sigh. It was weird being the responsible one for once.

Usually, this was the other way around.

I helped him into bed once his body stopped forcing the alcohol out, and I watched him sleep for a good hour before deciding it was safe to go to sleep myself.

I stripped off and slid into the other side of the bed, flicking the lamp off and closing my eyes.

Turned out, Caden was right, and we should’ve gone looking for Rory after all.