on our fake relationship with one of her friends at the party, so I did.”
I should have known. None of Jared’s words or actions made any sense that night.
“But why would she ask you to do that?”
He’s quiet for a moment, and the sadness in his eyes catches me off guard. I recognize that hurt because I feel it too.
“When Jacob and I first got together, we agreed to keep our relationship under wraps. His team was important to him, and he didn’t want to compromise that. I thought I was okay with it, but the longer it went on, the harder it was. I was sick of lying to everybody and watching girls throw themselves at him right in front of me. One night, at a party, I let my emotions get the best of me, and we started arguing. I didn’t even realize Audrey had heard us until it was too late.”
“Oh, no.” My stomach twists. I think I can see where this is going.
“She didn’t even hesitate,” he says. “She threatened to out both of us, and Jacob freaked. He was pissed at me for being so reckless. I just wanted to fix it, so I told Audrey I’d do whatever she wanted. She asked me to humiliate you, and I didn’t want to do it, Kail. I swear I didn’t. But it felt like an impossible choice. I was in love with Jacob, and I thought he loved me too.”
“Didn’t he?” I whisper.
“Apparently not.” Indignation taints his voice. “Audrey made another deal with him behind my back. It wasn’t enough to punish you. She wanted to punish me too because I didn’t abide by her schoolwide ban on you. That’s why she fucked Jacob in the gazebo. It was all to prove a point. Audrey gets what Audrey wants.”
“That’s just… so messed up. I’m sorry, Jared. You didn’t deserve that.”
For a second, we sit there in silence, digesting the awful truth. I hate Audrey for what she did to him. But more than anything, I hate that he’s hurting because of me. I know it might not mean much now, but I want him to know that I’m here as a friend. A real, honest to god friend.
“I want to apologize for my actions,” I tell him. “What I did that night was rotten and I’m not going to make excuses for my behavior. I just let everything go way too far.”
“This place has a tendency to do that to you,” he answers wryly. “Don’t sweat it, Kail. You did me a favor, honestly. I mean, yeah, my parents were dicks when they found out, but that’s nothing new. I can be myself now. And fuck anyone who doesn’t like it.”
“Yeah, fuck them.” I glare around the room.
We both laugh then, and it feels like another enormous weight has been lifted off my chest. But the humor gradually disappears, and Jared lowers his voice.
“I’m sorry someone hurt you,” he says. “If I ever find out who it was—”
“You’ll have to get in line,” I tell him jokingly. “Because I’m going to murder him first.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Just be careful, okay? I’m here to walk you to class, or your mom’s car, or wherever else. You shouldn’t be alone until that guy is off the streets.”
“Thank you.” I feel a little relieved by his offer. I’d rather have his company than the stuffy, unsociable staff member they assigned to watch over me. “I might have to take you up on that.”
That night, my mom prolongs dinner with three different courses of my favorite dishes. I suspect her motives are to keep me talking about my day. She’s still worried about me and needs my constant reassurances that going back to school was the right decision. To make her feel better, I fill her in on the mundane details, leaving out the confrontation with Audrey. While my mom might be proud of me for standing up for myself, telling her about it would only make her worry more.
After dinner, cake, and a movie, I shower and then head up to the guest bedroom to read. I’m still stuck in the main house, so we’ve been carrying what I need back and forth from the pool house every few days. I think my mom believes if she brings enough of my stuff back here, I’ll just stay. But I’m determined to get back my little slice of independence just as soon as I can.