Page 17 of Unspoken Lies

Pushing my hand through my hair, I amble across the campus to my first class of the semester. It’s almost eight in the morning, and I’m getting an early start.

With the set up for our new business, we need to make sure that our nights are free. Thankfully, we all hate night classes, and planned accordingly. It’s been a long time since Elijah, Jared, and I banded together for a project, despite how close we are.

The last time we did, it was to destroy a girl’s life. It’ll be nice to be building something instead of tearing it down for a change.

I’m also slowly finding my aversion to my computer and coding is waning. I actually miss it, which means that I’m able to dig up dirt on any competition, as well as find private investors quickly. Blackmail is a nice incentive to open wallets.

It’s how I was able to convince alumni members of Carlysle Prep that aren’t connected to the Kings Society to invest in our business venture. Within six hours after we found our perfect venue, we had it fully funded.

Terry asked if we were male gigolos, then said she didn’t want to know as we signed the paperwork to begin the process to close on the deal after an inspection was done on the building. I told her that we don’t fuck around, just like she doesn’t either.

The building, while older, had its pipes replaced recently, and everything is in good working order. This is a big undertaking while also going to school, but we’re willing to do anything to ensure that we’re as independent as possible from everyone else. I project that we’ll be able to pay our investors back within six months, and I’ll do side work if necessary while coding if it’ll help that along.

Between classes, I have to do some research on what a metaphysical storefront will need to have stocked, and also put out feelers for a manager for it. She or he can do the hiring for the store, as long as the employees follow our guidelines, then I don’t care.

I also don’t necessarily need the employees to know that there’s a speakeasy and sex club behind the large mirror I plan to have installed. I’ve grown up with secret entries and hallways, I feel like it’s a nod to my childhood by having it in my new club.

The manager can tell them whatever they want, as long as it doesn’t get the cops called on us, I don’t care.

Jared and I enjoy the small details of this stuff, while Elijah is working on the social media aspect. Word of mouth will be important, and it’s a good job for someone who usually lurks in the corners. His face doesn’t need to be on camera, he’s been enjoying the use of a mask and a voice changer. Elijah gets the added bonus of anonymity as well as an important job.

It’s a win for all of us.

Opening the door to the Communications building, I walk up to my class. I was able to knock out a lot of my general classes while at Carlysle Prep, and the credits transferred over. It meansthat many of my English, Math, language credits, and History classes are all accounted for.

While the other freshmen are scurrying to complete these, I can dig into the classes I actually want to take.

Moving through the hallway, I almost stumble as I see gorgeous chestnut hair, and a tiny wisp of a girl as she hurries to her class. Everything about her feels painfully familiar, but that’s not possible.

“Rachelle,” I whisper, though I’m unsure if it’s a prayer or a curse. “Rachelle!”

I yell over the sea of students in the building, but she disappears around the corner. Struggling to catch up to her, I know she’s long gone by the time I make it to where she went.

Fuck. There’s no damn way.

Shaking my head, I check the room numbers because I’m certain I’m all turned around now.

“You lost?” an amused voice asks.

Turning, I see a wry grin of a blonde haired girl. She’s not Rachelle, which means I’m not interested. I’m done fucking random girls because I’m bored. Elijah, Jared, and I all agreed that we didn’t need the distractions.

It’s also not fair to what the three of us share. We’ve never really thought about monogamy, as it’s a societal construct, but protecting our peace from needy women is definitely something to consider.

“More so, I wasn’t paying attention and now find myself turned around,” I explain. “I’m looking for room A-178.”

“You’re going to keep going straight and then turn left,” she says. “If this is your first day, prepare to get lost a few times.”

“Thanks,” I say with a smirk. “Appreciate it.”

Walking away, I follow her directions and find my class. Sitting in the first row, I take notes beside the providedslideshow, and wait for the professor to begin. While students file in, I check my phone and my group chat with the guys.

Over the last two years, we went from one group chat to two as Ignacio drifted away from us. Sometimes, friendships don’t last through the pressures of time and stressful situations, ours didn’t survive pussy.

While I’ll be the first to admit that Rachelle intrigued me, I always knew that she wouldn’t live through my need to take her apart and see her insides. Most things don’t get put together the same way again, and their integral structure is changed.

Memories of how she scratched my face and neck up before I shoved the syringe into her skin haunt me. The police never asked a word about it, and one of her marks on my collar bone never healed right. I still have a scar there, reminding me of it every time I glance in a mirror.

Once the drug was in her system, it kept her from struggling too much, the quiet almost too loud once she was buried.