Page 2 of Whisper Pretty Lies (Lust & Liars #1)

EvanAnn

It’s the start of my senior year and my life couldn’t be better.

I’m one of two student directors being showcased this fall, and I have a boyfriend this year.

He would have driven me to school, except I had to come in early to get some copies of sides for auditions this week.

So I drove myself today. But that’s okay.

Chase has football after school anyway, so having my own car makes sense instead of him taking me home and then coming back.

But he did offer.

We’re ready for this year. Chase and I had a good summer... when we got to spend time together, getting to know each other outside of school. We didn’t hang out as often as I would have liked.

But he had a job and some football camps. We saw each other when we could. Mostly at parties and he brought me around to meet his parents. They’re super nice.

Now, with school starting, we’ll see each other every day. Then there will be the dances. The parties.

The shows. I can’t wait for the shows. Theater is my life.

This year is going to be my best yet. I know it.

I grab my bag and books from the passenger seat and stand, straightening my skirt with a grin.

It’s so peaceful at this time. I love getting to school early, before all the other students get here.

The parking lot isn’t a madhouse. The halls are quiet, calm like the moment right before the curtain lifts on stage. It’s perfect.

The distant roar of motorcycles ricochets off the buildings, capturing my attention. I stop at the crosswalk and glance both ways. Three motorcycles careen down the road toward me, but they’ll pass.

The lead motorcycle slows to a stop in front of me, blocking the crosswalk. My arms tighten around the books against my chest as my heart tries to leap out of it.

Oh shit!

It doesn’t matter that I can’t see his face behind the black helmet. I know who he is. Every girl in school knows who he is.

My cheeks flush with heat and I step back, holding my books like a shield. Two sleek, black motorcycles pull up behind him.

What is happening? They should have gone by. I’m not the kind of girl they stop for, which means I must have done something wrong. What the hell did I do?

My mind spins with possibilities, which are fairly limited because I haven’t interacted with them at all. Not even in passing over the last three years of high school.

Damon Storm leans back on the lead motorcycle. The engine growls between his legs. His gloved hands rest casually on his thighs. He doesn’t remove his helmet, but I can feel those sharp blue eyes on me. A little shiver works through my body.

The other two are Hawk Wilker and Cam Warwick. I don’t need them to take off their helmets to know who they are. They’re gorgeous, wealthy, popular, and every girl in both schools wants them.

Hockey legends in the making, according to the gossip. The Devil’s trio.

Our schools are unique. It’s a dual setup.

Mine is Anteros Conservatory, an art conservatory school.

Theirs is Deimos Academy, an academic school.

We have all our regular classes with them.

Both require talent or money to get into.

If you want to mix art and sports, everyone is allowed to try out for the teams and extracurriculars at either school.

Generally speaking, the students don’t mix. Even though a lot of our socials are for both schools. The art kids stick with the art kids and the academy kids stick with their own.

The guys in front of me go to Deimos. They’re called the Devils, the school mascot. They have no reason to stop and talk to me. I bounce lightly on the balls of my feet while I wait for whatever they need to say, so we can all move on with our lives.

It’s not like they need me to do their homework. In fact, Hawk and I are both competing for valedictorian. Maybe they’re trying to scare me into throwing a few tests to give him an edge.

I arch an eyebrow at Damon. That won’t be happening. I need my grades and rank to help get a good scholarship.

Movement from the guy on the right draws my attention away from Damon. Hawk pulls off his helmet and tilts his head, looking at me with a smirk. Those green eyes are captivating, but they’ve never looked at me before. A little rush goes through me at the sudden attention.

His thick black hair is cut short, to make it almost look like a soft layer of velvet.

“EvanAnn, right?” His voice is like satin, too smooth for my liking. There’s no reason for him to know me, except for my class rank. I’m not the kind of girl these guys pay attention to. But being in their presence stirs something hot and wild in me.

Which it shouldn’t, because I have Chase. Fuck. I need to get this shit under control.

“Yes.” I swallow and glance toward the school doors. Maybe I should just walk around them. It’s not like they’ll beat me up and steal my lunch money. It isn’t that kind of school.

He smiles and leans his arms on his helmet in front of him. His green eyes twinkle, but not necessarily in a good way. They’re decidedly wicked. “You’re dating Chase Chadwick?”

It’s almost a statement, but also a question, so I nod. Does this have something to do with Chase? Part of me relaxes, while a small part of me is disappointed. That small part is a little vexing to be honest. I shouldn’t crave their attention.

His eyes narrow on me as he takes me in. I left my blond hair down today, and the wind lifts it off my shoulders. For a second, I stand there and let his gaze run from my head to my toes.

It sends sparks through my system like a physical caress. I wonder what he sees. I don’t wear much makeup, if any at all. While my hair is naturally blond, I don’t do much with it for school. I have classic features, but I’m by no means beautiful. Not by their standards.

Damn it. What am I doing standing here?

“Excuse me.” I walk around the front tire of Damon’s bike. Cam revs his engine, jerking forward with a wicked laugh like he might run me over. I flinch a little and stifle the urge to scurry away. Of all of them, he would be the one to do something dangerous for the hell of it.

Cam’s laughter follows me as I make my way up the stairs, not sure what to make of the interaction. Maybe it’s about Chase. I’ve been in classes with Damon, Cam, and Hawk before, but none of them have ever talked to me. Honestly, none of them even looked at me.

Why would they, when there are cheerleaders and dance squad girls offering themselves on a platter to those guys? There are always popular girls surrounding them in the hallways or sitting close to them in class. Those guys definitely won’t waste their time on a theater geek like me.

Their engines roar behind me as I reach the doors. I don’t turn to look as I slip into the building and drag a breath into my starving lungs. I shake off the weirdness. Maybe it was intimidation to make sure Hawk gets valedictorian.

I should probably mention it to Chase, though. In case it’s about him.

When I walk into the office, there’s a tall blond girl waiting at the counter. Her hair is up in a ponytail with the ends curled. We’re wearing the same uniform, which makes her one of the Anteros like me, but I don’t know her. She turns and her blue eyes meet mine.

“Hey,” she says with a smile. “I hope you’re not in a hurry. I’m not sure anyone actually works here.”

I look around, but yeah, the office is currently abandoned. “Normally, it isn’t like this.”

She’s got on the uniform, but her skirt is a little short. I notice the waistband is rolled once. A lot of girls do that. Mine is naturally short from washing and age, but I haven’t gotten a replacement yet. Mom hasn’t noticed, and I’d rather her not use her money.

I put my books on the counter next to the girl and smile at her tie, which hangs undone around her neck.

“First time in a uniform?” I ask.

She smirks. “Yeah. Is it obvious? I kind of want to blend in a little.”

“You’ll fit right in with the rolled skirt.” I reach my hands toward her tie but stop myself. My fingers twitch to make it right. I’m so used to fixing costumes. “May I?”

She grins and turns to face me. “I’ll be your best friend if you do.”

“Deal.” I take the ends and work the knot. “I’m EvanAnn, by the way.”

“Mia Lewis. Evan?”

“EvanAnn. Mom had a brother who passed away when he was a child.” I shrug because I’ve had to explain this my whole life. “I went by Evan for a while, but it confused teachers.”

“Well, Evan.” She glances toward the door behind the counter where voices drift through. “I’m serious about the friend thing. I don’t know what I was thinking, transferring senior year.”

“It’s a really great program and school. Which art is your focus?” I straighten her tie and cinch it up before loosening it a smidge.

“Performing arts. Acting.” She strokes her fingers down her tie with a smile. “Thanks.”

“Any time.” I lean on the counter. “I’m in the performing arts program too. Directing.”

Her grin grows. “I knew we were going to be besties.”

“I’m happy to show you around.”

The door to the back office opens and one of the administrators, Ms. Davis, peeks her head in. “I’ll be with you girls in a minute.”

When she closes the door, Mia turns to me and leans her elbows against the counter behind her.

“You’ll have to show and tell me everything. Including the guy situation.” Her eyebrow lifts, suggestively.

“Oh.” My cheeks flush remembering Damon, Hawk, and Cam in the parking lot. This is the kind of girl they’d notice. Not me. I’m still flustered they even know my name.

Her lips curl into a smile. “What’s that look for? A crush? You can tell me.”

“No.” Definitely not. “I have a boyfriend.”

“Nice. I’m a free agent. I don’t think I want a boyfriend to spoil my senior year.” Mia releases a breath and spins to face the counter again. She wiggles her eyebrows at me. “I’m excited to get away from my old school. There was definitely a hierarchy.”