Page 6 of Pretty Lies (Watch Me Burn #1)

CHAPTER THREE

RORY

“ D ead bitch walking,” Claire pealed with laughter as I wandered into the cafeteria at school the next day, the awful sound ringing in my ears.

Thank fuck it was Friday, I needed a break from these bitches already and it had only been two days.

I grabbed a soda from the vending machine without giving her my attention, turning to walk away, but I ran into her and her friends, who had managed to sneak up behind me.

I raised an eyebrow, staring her down. “Move.”

“You didn’t seem to understand me yesterday, so I’ll tell you in another way. You aren’t welcome here. Also, what the hell are you wearing, you trailer trash whore?” she sneered.

I’d forgotten to wash my blazer after yesterday’s soda incident, so Josie had kindly called the headmaster to explain I needed to be excused for my lack of uniform.

She must have been really important here because there was no argument, and no one had given me a dress code violation.

I knew I looked out of place with my light blue jeans and black hoodie that had cigarette burn marks all over it, but I didn’t have another option.

I chuckled, crossing my arms as I gave her a smirk. “We call them clothes. I know you aren’t used to them, but most people wear them all the time. It’s in chapter one of How not to be a little tramp guide for beginners . I’m assuming no one ever gave you a copy?”

She snarled, swinging her hand back to slap me, but the room became silent as Caden’s voice cut through all the noise from his usual table with his friends.

“Claire, back off.”

Claire’s eyes widened a fraction before she scowled, not used to being told what to do. “What the fuck, Caden? You know she’s a problem and has no right to prance around like she paid her way. She couldn’t afford to go to school here, so some rich prick’s paying for her. She’s trailer trash, and?—”

“I said, back off. Rory, get over here and stop winding her up,” he snorted, amusement flickering in his eyes.

The cat was out of the bag now, much to my annoyance.

So far, no one had questioned why Caden had wasted time speaking to me over the past two days, but this was him publicly showing the school that I was in his little circle of friends, and I didn’t like that.

People whispered as I made my way towards their table, and Caden moved over so I could sit between him and his friend with the spiked hair. The guy ran his steel-gray eyes over me with interest, not bothering to be discreet.

Whatever charming crap he was concocting wouldn’t work on me, and he’d learn that fast.

Claire let out a sound of outrage, drawing everyone’s attention back to her. People were literally holding their breaths, waiting to see how she’d react.

They were probably bracing themselves for the awful pitch of her voice.

“Um, what the hell are you doing? She’s a nobody!”

Caden silently gave me one of his sandwiches before glancing at her with a bored expression.

“Are you done squawking now?” She looked horrified, but he gave her a small smile and faked a thought popping into his head.

“Oh, I completely forgot. Everyone, listen up!” All eyes turned to our table as Caden stood, motioning towards me with a shit-eating grin.

“Everyone, meet Aurora Donovan. She’s basically my new stepsister, so if anyone touches her, they’ll be dealing with me. Got that?”

Whispers and gasps sounded around the room as he sat back down, but Lukas stared at us from across the table with shock on his face, his fingers tugging on his lip ring absently.

“Hang on, the guy your mom’s been banging is Max Donovan?”

Caden grinned, leaning back in his seat. “Yeah, they just moved in. Pretty sweet, huh?”

His friend with the messy chocolate-brown hair and pretty blue eyes checked me out without shame like the other guy had, finally smirking at Caden. “Live-in pussy? Nice, bro.”

My gaze snapped to his as I spoke in a low, dangerous voice that made me sound tougher than I was. “No one fucking touches me. If you even try, I’ll slice your diseased dick off and choke you with it.”

A wicked grin stretched across his face, but Caden snorted and gave him a serious look. “Back off, Jense. Rory, this is Jensen Gilbert, and the guy beside you is Tyler Johnson.”

Jensen slid a hand across the table to try and take mine, and I grabbed my knife from my pocket, instantly slamming it down between his fingers and leaving it to stick up in the table.

Everyone in the room stayed silent as I kept my hard gaze on Jensen’s in challenge, and he looked slightly worried when I didn’t back down.

Fucking pussy.

My lips quirked into a nasty smile, my voice dripping with sarcasm as I pulled my knife from the table and closed it before sliding it back into my pocket.

“Like I said. Don’t fucking touch me.”

“Jesus, okay. Holloway, she’s fucking crazy,” he mumbled, but that just made Caden chuckle with amusement. He was such an asshole.

“Yeah, she is, so watch it. You guys all up for meeting at my place tonight? Pizza and movies? I can’t be bothered hosting a party.”

I zoned out, letting the guys talk as I ate the fancy looking sandwich that Caden had given me, but his voice snapped me out of my thoughts after a while.

“Rory? I asked if you were coming or not?”

I blinked with confusion, glancing around the table at the others.

“Where?”

“Home. Ride with me?” he asked, watching me intensely as he waited for my answer. I hated how everyone in the room seemed to be awaiting my response too.

“But what about classes?”

“If you’re with me, no one will say shit.”

I finally shrugged, deciding a ride home couldn’t hurt. I just wanted to get out of here so people would stop staring at me like I was an exhibit.

“Yeah, sure. Do you need me to leave while you do guys’ night? Because if you want?—”

“You’re invited too, stupid,” he said dryly, rolling his eyes as he stood and cleared his tray, waiting for the rest of us to follow his lead.

As we walked past Claire’s table, Caden moved to that side of me as if to act like a buffer, and I could hear the muttering and protests under people’s breaths about it.

I didn’t get why it was such a big deal that he was walking with me and not letting that stuck-up bitch fuck with me.

Word had already spread through the school that Caden and the guys had put an end to the bullying on me, so everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of me as we all walked through the school and out to the parking lot together as a group.

The guys split up to go to their cars, and Caden studied me as I slid into his Challenger so we could drive home together. I was worried I’d moan out loud as he started the engine and my seat vibrated under me, my fingers resting on the warm leather as we headed out the school gates.

“You know you’re about to become the most popular girl at school, right?” he asked as he drove, rolling his window down.

“You mean unpopular . You saw how people glared at me. Why did you stand up for me? I can handle bitchy girls. You just made things worse,” I muttered, peeking over at him to see him offer me a cigarette.

I hesitated before accepting it, lighting it and rolling my window down too, the cool breeze causing my hair to whip around my face.

“You aren’t who I thought you’d be, and to be honest, you deal with enough bullshit at home.

Besides, now I’ve said you’re with me, no one will mess with you.

Claire might, but just let me know if she does and I’ll keep her in line,” he said lightly, discomfort twisting inside me.

I never asked for help and I never would.

I handled my own shit.

“Caden—”

“ Okay? ” he cut me off sternly, waiting for me to nod before giving me a sly smile. “So, do we make it look like we’re up to no good together in front of your dad again?”

“You’d be up for that?” That surprised me, I couldn’t lie.

His smile widened, and he tilted his head with amusement. “Hey, if you wanted to fuck on the kitchen table and get caught, I’d be up for it. You’re not exactly difficult to look at, despite that awful hoodie you’re wearing.”

Did he call me hot? I assumed he thought I was trash, but maybe I’d been wrong about him.

I was quiet for a while before giving him a small smile, hoping I didn’t look panicked by the thought.

“Maybe we could upset him a little? No fucking though. I don’t want your rich boy dick.”

He laughed at that, his casual attitude relaxing me. “You want me to give you a sappy cute nickname then? I’ve noticed you freak out when you’re touched, and since I know you won’t talk about it?—”

“It’s not so horrible when it’s you,” I blurted out with embarrassment, causing him to pause before lighting his own cigarette and giving me a curious glance.

I mentally scolded myself for admitting that.

I didn’t know him, he was a stranger, and I didn’t want to lead him on into thinking I wanted more.

“Will you ever talk to me about it?”

“We’re only on day five, Caden, but if you want to hold my hand in front of Max, that’s okay.” My face heated, but he didn’t seem to notice as he took a drag of his cigarette and turned into our driveway.

Once he’d parked the Challenger in the garage, we climbed out and waited for the other guys to pull in and park, then we all walked towards the front door together.

Caden gave me a cheeky grin, his tone playful. “Come here, troublemaker.”

I moved closer, letting him drape an arm around my shoulders and pull me into his side. He smelled good, his firm body being enough to distract me from my uncertainty.

I knew the others were watching us with curiosity as we walked into the house, but no one commented about it as we moved through the front room.

Max and Josie were talking in the dining room when we walked in, and Max instantly noticed Caden’s arm around my shoulders, a frown taking over his face. Josie gave us a big friendly smile though, like the good mom that she was.

“Hey guys, good day at school? You’re home a little early, aren’t you?”