Page 3 of Whisper Pretty Lies (Lust & Liars #1)

I laugh lightly. “Trust me, there’s one here too. Depending on which school you belong to.”

“And that’s why I’ll have you to show me everything.” She nudges my arm with hers. “Besties.”

I can’t help the wide grin on my face. My awesome year just got a little better.

I finally get my copies made. With her new locker number and schedule in hand, Mia and I leave the office. Students are now trickling in. When we step out, someone grabs my waist from behind and pulls me back into him. His cologne surrounds me.

“Chase,” I chastise and pull away to turn and face him. My cheeks burn. We’re so not that couple.

He pushes his hand into his dark hair and smirks down at me. “What? I can’t hug my girlfriend?”

I shake my head like he’s a naughty child, but he’s far from a child, taller than me and broad.

Built for the football team and handsome for acting.

He has an all-American look that’s perfect for the industry.

His blue eyes meet mine. I still can’t believe we’re officially dating, even though it’s been four months.

Mia clears her throat.

I turn to her. She watches the two of us carefully. Maybe she’s not sure what to make of him grabbing me. Mia and I really don’t know each other well enough for me to read her yet. I hope that changes over this year.

“Mia, this is Chase. Chase, Mia. She’s new.”

Sliding his hands into his pockets, Chase gives her the nod guys give people. “Nice to meet you.”

“I’m sure we’ll see a lot of each other.” She threads her arm through mine. “Evan is my new best friend.”

Chase raises an eyebrow at me. “Really?”

I shrug. For me, this is new. I haven’t had a new friend since grade school.

Angie goes to my old school. We didn’t keep in touch.

When I started at Anteros, I tried to put myself out there, but I didn’t really click with anyone.

I’m willing to try with Mia, because it would be nice to have a friend.

I’ve never had a boyfriend before, but Chase and I are doing well, so maybe this friendship will be the icing on the cake.

“Mia’s in performing arts with us. I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other all the time. Especially with auditions coming up. Then rehearsals.”

He gives me a smile that used to make my heart flutter when he first noticed me. He’s so handsome. “You’re already casting her, aren’t you?”

I shrug and he wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him and away from Mia.

“My girlfriend is a big deal.” His voice is filled with pride.

“I’m not,” I assure her.

He keeps talking, like I didn’t say anything. “She’s one of the student directors this year. All of the final calls come from her. She only picks the best.”

He kisses the top of my head. For some reason it always makes me feel like I’m a pet to him and not a person. But he doesn’t seem to notice my tension at being held like this. It was one thing to be affectionate this summer, but this is school.

“Obviously.” Mia smirks. “That’s why she picked me for her friend. She knows the best when she sees it.”

I move away from Chase and hug my books to my chest, stepping next to Mia. “I’m going to show her around.”

“We’re set for dinner with my parents on Wednesday?” He smiles down at me.

I nod. His parents are really nice. They make me feel at home, even though their house is a freaking mansion.

“We still have second together, right?” Chase gives me a look like I might have opted for a different class. “You’ll save me a seat.”

“Of course.” I give him a soft smile. Most of his classes at Deimos are less advanced than mine, but second is one of the classes that’s a requirement for all seniors to graduate.

“Good. You’re my secret weapon. Have fun with your new friend.” He glances over at Mia before winking at me and heading down the hallway.

“Pardon me, ma’am, but your boyfriend is hot.” Mia smirks.

Heat floods my cheeks and I release a sigh. “Yeah.”

“All right.” She pulls me down the hallway. “Let’s see what other guys might be available while you show me around this monstrous school. I want to know if everyone else is as hot as your boyfriend.”

“The school isn’t so big once you get the hang of it.” Ignoring her comments about hot guys, I lead her to my locker and point out hers across the hallway. “Let’s put our bags away and then I’ll walk you through the building.”

A guy rushes down the hall and almost runs me over. Mia pulls me out of the way at the last moment.

“Watch it, ant!” The guy keeps going.

“Hey!” She glares at the guy’s back. “Ant? What the fuck was that?”

I sigh. “It’s what the Devils call us Anteros. Ants. Real original.”

“Well, sounds like they’re a bunch of dicks.” Mia scowls after the guy.

I let out a little chuckle. “They kind of are.”

“Devils?” With her attention back on me, she cocks her head to the side.

“It’s the mascot of the sports teams.” I shrug. “They call us ants and we call them Devils.”

She heads over to her locker while I put my stuff away. I really want to go hide in Mr. Watson’s room. He’s one of our theater teachers. He’s everyone’s favorite. It’s easier to hide, work on my play, and avoid running into anyone, than to maneuver through the social network of our school.

Mia will soon learn I’m not popular. Yes, I go to parties, but only so I can be with Chase. He loves to party. I didn’t attend them until we started dating. I wasn’t really invited before he began to bring me. But I also wouldn’t miss it if we never went to another one.

Mia crashes back against the locker next to me and grins. Her fingers rub the end of her tie. Her eyes are almost predatory as she stares across the hallway behind me. “Okay, who are they?”

I don’t even need to turn to know who’s caught her eye. It’s almost like my body knows they’re nearby. The air practically sizzles.

Every girl watches them when they strut down the hallway, because every inch of them is perfection. Deimos also has a school uniform, but those students are much more relaxed about the dress code.

I close my locker and hold my first period books against my chest as I lean back against it. Mia wraps a lock of hair around her finger as she takes them in.

Damon, Hawk, and Cam.

The cream of the crop. The teenage hotties who slip into my dreams to do naughty things to me. It’s not like I can stop my brain from doing that. I’ve tried, but they still end up in there.

Their top buttons are undone. Cam has his sleeves rolled up, showing off his powerful forearms. Hawk is the most put together.

Damon... His tie hangs loose. There’s a red scrape on the side of his jaw. What is that? I narrow my eyes on it, forgetting myself for a moment. Maybe it’s the lighting. Did he get hurt? Maybe a fight?

Fuck, that’s none of my business. I clear my throat.

“Damon Storm, Hawk Wilker, and Cam Warwick,” I say in a hushed tone, so they don’t hear me saying their names. No need to draw their attention for a second time this morning.

“I wouldn’t mind being the meat in that particular sandwich.” She makes this low noise to indicate they’re hot. Wouldn’t we all? But I don’t say that. My cheeks are burning.

“They don’t date Anteros students.” I shrug.

She laughs softly. “I wasn’t thinking of dating them.”

The fire in me grows even hotter, and I give her my attention.

“I’m sure you’ll have them in at least one of your academic classes this year.” I smile. “You never know. You could give some of the girls they hook up with a run for their money.”

She grins like I made her day. “Okay, show me around, bestie.”

As we head toward the Anteros building, the hair rises on the back of my neck. I turn to see Damon watching me. Or maybe us? He leans against the lockers, talking to the others, but his gaze is solidly on my back.

A shiver of apprehension races through me. It’s not the light. He definitely has an angry red lash across his jaw. What happened? Was it hockey? His jaw tightens when I stare a little too long trying to figure it out.

His eyes narrow as they catch mine. I spin to face forward. His attention on me doesn’t make sense. I’ve never done anything to him or his friends. Today is the first time any of them have even spoken to me.

“Okay then, who are the hotties in Anteros?” Mia drags my attention back as we make our way through the hallway.

I don’t look back, even though my skin still prickles like Damon’s watching my every move.