As it neared the end of the last quarter, Trevor grew more aggressive toward Keiran’s team even though they had already pulled back. They were growing annoyed with Trevor’s behavior it seemed, if their expressions were anything to go by.
Keiran had the ball preparing for a shot but was blocked by Trevor who looked close to assaulting him for the ball when he couldn’t steal it. Keiran’s face remained impassive, not giving anything away until his elbow connected with Trevor’s nose causing him to fall. The ref blew the whistle signaling a foul awarding Trevor’s team the ball.
The coach looked as if he wanted to pull Keiran out of the game but didn’t. After all there was less than a minute left. They had already won the game. Victory came for Keiran’s team and all the players from both teams gathered on the court to shake hands once again.
I sat there prepared to wait for Keiran and I admitted I was happy to see him play for the first time. He was really good and I wondered if he planned to make it a profession.
I saw Anya with a few of her minions from school and another unknown girl approaching and inwardly groaned. “Sheldon, why didn’t you sit with us? Keiran and Dash told us to sit on the other side,” Anya whined.
They noticed me sitting here and turned their noses up. “Really Sheldon, you should’ve texted us so you wouldn’t have to sit with a loser,” Anya sneered.
“It appears to me that she is sitting on the side that just won,” Willow snapped. I didn’t even notice her walk up. I laughed because she was never one to sit quiet. The girl who looked like one of those high society debutantes narrowed her eyes at Willow as she took in her hair and clothes with a disgusted look on her face. I wanted to wipe it off with the bottom of my shoe to her face.
“And who are you?” she asked snottily.
“Not the one.” Willow rolled her neck, giving the girl her ‘Don’t fuck with me’ look.
“Well, I am Rosalyn Cordell. Dash’s fiancée’ and I believe you are in my seat.”
Say what now? I quickly looked at Willow whose face drained of color. I heard Sheldon mumble, “Oh, shit” and then Willow slowly got up and walked off leaving Rosalyn and Anya with smirks on their faces. Their cronies were cackling as my heart broke for Willow
“You should probably go with her loser. Keiran doesn’t want you and you’re sitting in my seat,” Anya stated.
I didn’t hesitate to move but not because of Anya but because I had to check on my friend. I heard Sheldon arguing with them before I pushed through the doors. I checked the girls’ locker room and immediately heard soft sobs coming from one of the stalls.
“Willow?” I called softly.
“It’s okay, Lake. I’m not crying.” She broke apart on the last word and cried harder, twisting my heart. I felt her pain and wanted to share it with her if only to take some of it away.
“Willow, please. Please open the door so that I can hold you. It’s the only way, because I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to make this right. Talk to me.”
She started coughing, from the gut wrenching sobs and then I could hear the sound of her vomiting violently. I heard her whimper then the door suddenly flew open and Willow flew past me, running out of the locker room.
“Willow!” I yelled in vain.
I noticed something colorful sitting on top of the tank and moved forward to inspect it. It was a platinum charm bracelet with amethyst stones. The only charms were angel wings and the letters ‘D’ and ‘W’. The right arm of the W was hooked around the curve of the D like lovers. It was beautiful.
I could tell it was expensive and something neither Willow or her parents could afford. I’d never seen Willow with this bracelet before and it looked too new to have been inherited.
Dash.
It had to come from him. The D and W made sense along with angel wings. He called her angel once before. I pocketed the bracket intending to return it to her when I bumped into a hard body that blocked my exit.
“Where are you in a hurry to?” a familiar voice asked me. I was shoved back inside the stall as Trevor moved forward, shutting the door behind him. I immediately called for help but he clamped his sweaty hand over my mouth muffling my scream.
“I don’t think so, sweetheart. We have things to discuss and you aren’t leaving here until we do.” He pressed me against the side of the stall, trapping me. “You know, your friend is a dumb bitch. She never had a real chance with Dash – oh yes, I know,” he stated noticing my shock.
“His family may be rich but they are a bunch of low lives. They take what they want without regard for others or the law. I wonder how it feels to own that much power? Maybe, one day I’ll find out.”
I fought not to roll my eyes at him and piss him off further. The look in eyes told me he was teetering on the brink of instability.
“So tell me. You giving it up to Keiran?” My eyes narrowed at him, disgusted to which he simply shrugged.
“Of course you are. Either that or he’s taking it. He isn’t the guy everyone thinks he is, you know. But even he couldn’t stop a drug conviction from tarnishing his image. And to think of all the hard work I put into setting him up.”
I tried to talk but it came out muffled so he lifted his hand. “What’s that sweetheart?” I instantly hated the word.
“I said you’re a jealous, pathetic asshole.”
He smiled. “Of course I was jealous. The guy was stealing all the chicks and the fame. I figured if I got rid of him Keenan and Dash wouldn’t be much of a threat and I could rule the school.”
“So you framed him for status?” That had to be the dumbest crock of shit I ever heard. Dude has issues.
“He also stuck his nose where it didn’t belong. My mom left my dad because of him.”
“Why would Keiran have anything to do with your mom leaving your dad?”
“Because he convinced her to divorce him and abandon her own family.” I heard rumors some time ago before Keiran was arrested that Trevor’s parents were getting divorced but how would Keiran be involved?
“So, why frame me?”
“I needed a fall guy. You were always going to be it even if you did help me. I have to tell you sweetheart I did not count on you denying me. It would have made my task a lot easier too. I mean, who knew you would be in love with the guy after all he did to you.”
“I’m not in love with him.”
“Oh yes, you are. After you said no, you could have just walked away but no, you even tried to warn the guy and he crushed your poor little heart right there in the cafeteria. Tsk. Tsk.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
“The whole school knows that Keiran wants you. Damn near craves you. Everyone except you, that is. But instead of just having you, he fucked with you. Made your life a living hell. That’s got to be the most fucked up foreplay I ever heard of.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I continued to deny. In truth, I was blown away by what Trevor was revealing and a part of me knew it was true.
“Come on. Even Anya knows Keiran wants you. She thinks you’re a threat and I have to say you are way hotter than she is. That is why she helped me.”
“Anya helped you? But she is Keiran’s girlfriend.”
“Yeah, in her head she is.”
“So what? You wanted her too?”
He shrugged. “I told her sending Keiran away for a little while was a small price to pay to make him get over you. She stole your phone and called the tip in as you. Simple. My father and I handled the rest,” he grinned.
“You’re fucked in the head, you know that?” I wanted out of that stall and away from his craziness. Keiran should be looking for me by now.
“Careful now. You don’t want to make this worse on yourself.” Cold dread invaded my body at the look in his eyes. “Make what worse?” I asked on a shaky breath.
“Keiran humiliated me on the court today and in front of the town, the school, and my father,” he said through clenched teeth. “What better way to make him pay than to take what he wants most? I really should have done this instead of framing him.” Without warning his lips slammed onto mine causing me to gag as I fought his grip in the confines of the stall.