Blurred Lines: A Rixon High Prequel Read online

  I grabbed the collar of her blouse. “I said, name.”

  “L-Lindsey Filmer.”

  “If she’s hurt, I will make sure Principal Kiln knows about this.”

  “We were just messing around. It wasn’t—”

  Lily started sobbing again and I moved closer, putting myself between her and the girls.

  “Get out of here, all of you.”

  They scurried out, leaving the bathroom in thick silence. Lily’s face was lowered as she pulled furiously at her hair.

  I crouched down and laid my hands gently on hers. “Lily,” I said softly. “Look at me.”

  Slowly, she lifted her eyes to mine.

  “They’re gone, see. It’s just you and me.”

  “T-they’re gone?”

  “Yes. Now do you want to tell me what happened?”

  “I…” She hesitated and I gave her a reassuring smile.

  “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me anything. Is there someone I can call? Ashleigh?”

  I’d seen her hanging out with Avery’s sister.

  “She got picked up early for a dental appointment.”

  “Your mom?”

  Lily dragged her bottom lip between her teeth, giving me a little shake of her head.

  “Avery is at practice. I could sit with you until they get done?”

  “Okay.”

  I stood up and offered her my hand. Lily accepted it, letting me pull her up. She seemed better now, calmer. But she’d been so afraid when I first got here, cowering against the wall, trying to disappear. I knew girls could be cruel, but something told me there was more to the story than she was willing to offer.

  Chapter Seven

  Avery

  We were listening to Coach tear us a new one about our sloppy performance when I noticed Miley and Lily over by the bleachers. Something wasn’t right. For two girls who, to my best knowledge didn’t know one another, they were standing a little too closely. Lily glanced toward us and shook her head, before darting out of eyesight.

  Strange.

  “Okay, hit the showers,” Coach said. But I didn’t head for the locker room, jogging over to Miley instead.

  “What happened?” I said.

  “There was an incident.”

  “Incident, what kind of incident?” I craned my neck around Miley to try to see Lily, but she was hiding in the shadows.

  “What the fuck happened?” It came out harsher than I intended, guilt stabbing at my chest. But after almost a week of avoiding Miley, I hadn’t anticipated on seeing her.

  “I found her in the girl’s bathroom. She was crying, pulling her hair… There was a group of girls. I don’t think they hurt—”

  “Fuck.” I ran a hand over my jaw. “I should get her dad—”

  “No. She freaked out on the way here. Said she didn’t want him to find out. But I didn’t know what else to do.”

  “You did the right thing. Can you stay with her until I’ve grabbed my things? I’ll be like ten minutes, fifteen at the most.” I glanced over my shoulder. Coach was nowhere to be seen, but I didn’t want to lie to his face. So I had to hope he was already holed up in his office.

  “Of course.” She smiled.

  Miley smiled and it was like a punch to the gut.

  “Tell Lily I’ll be as quick as I can and that we’ll figure it out, okay?”

  “What happened to her?”

  “It’s a long story. But thanks… for doing this.”

  She nodded, her eyes glittering with indecipherable emotion.

  “Meet me in the parking lot in fifteen minutes.”

  “Okay.” Miley watched me leave. I didn’t want to. I wanted to go to Lily and find out what the hell had happened, but I respected her wishes not to have her dad find out just yet. That wouldn’t end well for anyone.

  I jogged back across the field and went into the locker room. Thankfully, there was no sign of Coach.

  “Saw you talking to the snitch,” Micah said. “What did she want?”

  “Leave it.” I gave him a hard look and went to move around him to my locker cage, but he pressed his hand against my chest.

  “Come on, man. I know you’re not still pissed about the party. It was a joke.”

  “You knowingly gave her edibles. Not cool, asshole. Imagine if some douchebag had done that to your sister.”

  “But she’s not… your sister.”

  “Whatever, Micah. I need to get my stuff.” I barged past him and quickly changed into my clothes. A shower would have to wait.

  “In a hurry, Chase?” One of the guys chuckled.

  “Gotta take care of some family stuff.”

  Because although Lily wasn’t my sister, she was family. And after everything she’d been through, she needed me.

  Miley and Lily were waiting at my car.

  “Did you see my dad?” she rushed out.

  “Relax, Lil, he was holed up in his office.”

  “Good, that’s good.”

  But from the way she was pulling at her hair, I knew it wasn’t good.

  “I’m going to give you a ride home and—”

  “N-no, not yet. I’ll be okay, I just need some time to calm down.”

  “So where do you want to go? Ashleigh won’t be home for a little while.”

  “Ice cream. I could eat ice cream.”

  “Fine, we can stop by Ice T’s.”

  “I’ll just—” Miley thumbed to nowhere in particular. “Bye, Lily.” She gave her a small wave.

  “You’re not coming?” Lily’s eyes widened.

  Fuck.

  I internally groaned. This could not be happening.

  “Well, no, I wasn’t going to… I mean, I’m not sure Avery wants me there.”

  “What? Why not?”

  “It’s fine,” I grumbled. “You can come.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to—”

  “Please,” Lily added. “I like you. You don’t ask too many questions and you’re kind.”

  “I guess I could eat some ice cream.”

  “Thank you,” Lily dragged her to the backseat and the two of them climbed in while I went around the driver’s side.

  Not how I imagined spending the night before my first game of the season, but it was Lily. I couldn’t just abandon her.

  It took us less than ten minutes to get to Ice T’s and find a parking spot. The girls had been quiet on the ride here, so it was a relief to climb out of the car and inhale some fresh air.

  “Mint chocolate chip, Lil?” I asked her as we approached the door.

  “With sprinkles.”

  “With sprinkles.” I chuckled. She’d eaten the same flavor ice cream for as long as I could remember. Our dads used to bring us here all the time when we were kids. We’d take over the small store: me and Ashleigh, Lily and Poppy, and the Bennet twins and Ezra.

  I grabbed the door and she disappeared inside. My eyes slid to Miley’s and her cheeks pinked.

  “Oh, after you,” she said.

  “I got it.” I motioned for her to go on in and she slipped past me, her body brushing mine.

  Fuck. Her touch, no matter how light, did things to me. Things I didn’t want to feel.

  I told the girls to grab a seat and joined the line, bracing myself for the onslaught of comments.

  “Hey, Avery, looking good this season.”

  “Are you going to bring home that championship?”

  “Go Raiders.”

  It wasn’t anything I hadn’t heard a hundred times already, but it felt different with Miley here, watching me interact with fans.

  Two kids asked their mom to take a photo with me and I crouched down, hugging them to my side.

  “Say cheese,” I said, and one of them snorted.

  “Don’t you mean say, ‘Go Raiders?’”

  “Okay, whatever you want buddy. On three. One… two…”

  They shrieked ‘Go Raiders’ at the top of their lungs, making the entire store laugh.

  “Thank you,” the mom said. “You’re their idol.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.”

  Thankfully, I was up next, and the server was super quick at dishing up our order.

  “That was sweet,” Miley said when I reached the table. “Does it happen a lot?”

  “Not—”

  “All the time,” Lily piped up, digging her spoon into the pale-green ice cream. “He’s basically a celebrity.”

  “Lil.” I rolled my eyes.

  “I’m pretty sure I saw those girls back there sneak a photo of you when you weren’t looking.” Miley’s brow arched with amusement.

  “It happens.” I shrugged, digging into my own ice cream.

  “So, are you two friends?” Lily asked, and I almost choked on my caramel swirl.

  “We… uh, it’s complicated.” Miley ducked her head, but I caught the flash of guilt in her eyes.

  “Oooh, have you hooked up?”

  “Lily!” My eyes grew to saucers.

  “What?” Her shoulders lifted. “It’s just a question and you’re all weird around each other. Ashleigh said you’ve never had a girlfriend before. Do you want Miley to be your girlfriend?”

  “Jesus,” I mumbled under my breath. Miley smothered the soft laughter bubbling in her chest.

  “I’m glad you’re feeling a bit better,” she said to Lily. The way she handled Coach’s daughter, with patience and compassion, was impressive.

  Lily was an awkward kid; she always had been. If she knew you, she could talk your ear off, but if you were meeting her for the first time, chances were she wouldn’t make a sound.

  But not with Miley though. She liked Miley.

  “Do you want to tell me what happened?” I said, hoping to God I wouldn’t have to go to Coach.

  “It was nothing really.” Lily’s eyes darted to her bowl as she swirled the spoon through her melting ice cream.

  “Lil, I can’t help if you don’t tell me what happened.”

  “Some girls cornered me in the girl’s bathroom. They didn’t do anything… they were just asking me all these questions. About dad… about you… about the team. But they surrounded me, and I couldn’t think. And they kept asking and asking… and it got louder, and my heart started beating harder—”

  “Hey,” Miley laid her hand over Lily’s. “It’s okay. You’re okay now.”

  “T-thanks.”

  “Who were these girls?”

  “Oh no, I don’t want to get anyone into trouble.” Her eyes flicked to Miley, fear glittering there.

  “Lil, if someone is upsetting you, we need to tell your dad—”

  “No! He’ll go to Principal Kiln and then I’ll be a snitch and it’ll make everything worse.”

  Miley flinched. “I’m going to the restroom. I’ll be right back.” She hurried away and Lily frowned.

  “Is she okay?”

  “Yeah, she’s fine. I’m more worried about you. How about I make you a deal? You promise to talk to Mrs. Bennet, and I won’t tell your dad.”

  “I don’t know… won’t she have to tell him?”

  “She’s the guidance counsellor, Lil. She’s there to help you. And if you ask her not to tell your dad, she won’t.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “Good. And if you change your mind and want to tell me who it was, I’ll talk to them. They’ll listen to me.”

  “Oh my God, your head just grew like three sizes.” She pinched my arm and I exploded with laughter.

  “Thanks,” she said, giving me a weak smile. “For doing this.”

  “Anytime, Lil. You know that.”

  Miley slid into her chair. “Everything good?”

  “Yeah,” I said, feeling the lingering tension between us return.

  But it only amplified when Lily glanced at Miley and said, “Do you want to come to the game with me tomorrow?”

  “Oh, I can’t, I didn’t get a ticket.”

  “My dad is the coach, I’m sure he can get you one.”

  “Lil,” I warned. She was trying to play Cupid, and it would have been cute, if it wasn’t for the fact that every time I thought about kissing Miley—and I’d thought about it a lot since we got to Ice T’s—I remembered her betrayal.

  “I appreciate the offer, but I can’t make it. Not tomorrow.”

  “Maybe another time then?”

  “Yeah, maybe.” Miley caught my eye, but quickly glanced away.

  “Ready to go home?”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “Come on then.”

  We made our way back to my car, but Miley hesitated. “I can walk.”

  “No way. Avery can take me home first and then take you, can’t you?”

  “It’s fine. I’ll just wal—”

  “Get in the car,” I sighed.

  “I don’t want to be a nuisance.”

  “Miley, just get in the damn car.” I yelled, yanking the door open. She slipped inside. When Lily went to pass me, I pinned her with a hard look. “You need to stop.”

  “I’m not doing anything.” She smirked.

  “You know exactly what you’re doing, and it’s not cool.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Like hell she didn’t.

  Lily ducked inside the car and I slammed her door behind her, wondering how I could dominate the football field and come up against some of the biggest defensive players in the country, and be schooled by a ninth grader.

  Chapter Eight

  Miley

  “She’s a sweet kid,” I said, watching Lily take off toward her house. She paused at the porch and glanced back, waving at us.

  “She’s a pain in my ass,” Avery grunted. “Same with my sister. The two of them together… that’s when you really need to be worried.”

  We shared a quiet laugh. I’d spent months watching Avery from afar, then tutoring him. But he’d always been like a closed book. I hadn’t seen him. The guy underneath the shoulder pads and helmet.

  Not until it was too late.

  “She was really scared when I found her,” I said.

  “You know the girls who did it?”

  “I got one of their names, yeah.”

  “Good,” he said. “I’m going to need you to tell it to me.”

  “Avery, Lily said—”

  “I know what she said, Miley, but she’s just a kid. And these girls, they think just because she’s Jason Ford’s daughter they can use her, or pick on her, or climb over her to get to him.”

  “And you?” I asked.

  “Yeah, and me. It’s whack, I know. But you’ve got to understand something about this town, football is the life force that drives everything.”

  “You think I don’t know that?” It was one of the reasons I’d written the exposé. The PTA, teachers, Principal Kiln, even the local police department, they were all blinded to the team’s thrall. The Rixon Raiders football players could do no wrong in their eyes, while the rest of us mere mortals sat by and watched.

  It wasn’t fair. At least, it hadn’t felt fair last year when I’d become one of them. An insider. Being a cheerleader gave you a certain amount of social status. It wasn’t the same as being a football player, but it had given me a front row seat.

  Now… now I didn’t know what to think. The guys worked hard on the field, really freaking hard, and for some of the players, football was their only shot at college. Because without an athletic scholarship, they had nothing. But it still didn’t excuse putting the team on a pedestal and letting them bend the rules the rest of us had to follow.

  He released a steady breath. “Forget I said anything.”

  The silence was awkward. Thick and suffocating. I knew he hated me, hated everything that I was, everything I stood for. But he didn’t know how much I regretted what went down between us, because he hadn’t given me the chance to explain.

  Tell him while he can’t escape.

  I smoothed my hands over my thighs, trying to pluck up the courage. It wasn’t like he could go anywhere, and part of me knew if I didn’t tell him now, I might never get the chance.

  “You know how football means everything to you…”

  “Yeah?”

  “Well, writing means everything to me. I’ve had my heart set on going to Northwestern since I can remember.”

  “I don’t understand what this has to do with me.” His eyes slid to mine, confusion furrowing his brows.

  “I’m just saying… you’d do anything to win, right? Anything to make sure the team comes out on top? Well, I’d do anything to… to make sure I come out on top, I mean.”

  He let out a frustrated sigh. “It’s not the same thing, Miley.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, me too.”

  We didn’t talk again. Avery was lost in his own thoughts, and I was too busy wishing the seat would gobble me up.

  I’d blown it.

  Any chance I’d had with Avery had gone up in flames when the exposé had gone live. I’d chosen my future over everything else.

  What was that saying though? You didn’t know what you’d lost until it was gone?

  I was beginning to think there was some merit in that.

  He finally pulled up outside my house.

  “Well, this is me,” I said.

  He pursed his lips.

  “I’ll guess I’ll just…” I thumbed to my house. “Good luck at the game tomorrow.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’ll be seeing you then.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay.”

  The air crackled between us. His eyes homed in on my lips again and I wondered what it would be like to kiss him. Would he push me away or pull me closer?

  “At least there isn’t long before I have to submit my article.” I laughed, but it came out strangled. “Then you’ll never have to see me again.”

  His eyes shuttered.

  “Avery?” I croaked.

  But then he was on me, his hands buried deep in my hair, kissing me. My hands twisted into his jersey, pulling him closer, fireworks going off inside my stomach.

  Avery was kissing me.

  And it was everything.

  His tongue curled around mine as his lips devoured me. He tasted so yummy, like caramel and chocolate. I never wanted to come up for air.

  Slowly, he pulled away, touching his head to mine as we both caught our breath.