"Ivy?" He steps forward, "What are you doing here?" He looks me up and down, tilting his head at me curiously. "Not that I don't think we need to talk, or that I don't want you here." He says quickly. "But-"
"You lied to me." It's the first words I can get out, and I stare past his head to say them, focusing on a mark on the far wall.
He takes a step forward, but I shake my head and he stops, "Ivy?" His hands fist at his side. "What did I lie about?"
What didn't he lie about?
"I know about the game. The points game the hockey team is playing. You're in the top ten, Asher. Were you just trying to get points with me?" The words feel heavy, laden with betrayal.
His face changes from confused to shocked, and then to angry - not at me, but at the situation. "Ivy, I swear to you-"
"Swear what, Asher?" I shake my head. "That's it's not true, I've seen the site. Tell me you didn't know about it, lie to me again and tell me you knew nothing about it."
His face is a mask, not one emotion flitting through his eyes. "I knew about it. Everyone knows about it."
Evidently not everyone.
"So, what was I?" I laugh once, hollow. "Easy points? A way to climb up the ranks, because Ivy Collins is an easy lay even if she is lousy. That's what Dain wrote, isn't it?"
"Did he tell you about it, Ivy? The dickheads trying to start trouble, he's trying to get between us."
"Get between us?" I laugh shortly, eyes blurring. "Get between what, Asher, there is nous."
"Ivy, I swear I am not using you to win a stupid fucking game."
"Then you're using me to get better grades." I roll my eyes. "Oh, wait, that's a lie too, isn't it?"
His shoulders drop and he looks away, finally letting the guilt shine through.
"Any other lies to tell me?"
His head whips back to me, jaw clenched.
"I lied about my grades, about needing help but I didn't lie about anything else."
"So, you don't participate in the ranking game?"
He looks angry, "No, I don't. I've never submitted anything. I haven't checked that stupid site in years. I don't care about some ranking on an immature site where half the entries are false and made up. Half the team don't even check it. We've been trying to get it taken down for years."
"Then why are you number seven? Why is there an entry from a few days ago, about us? From the library?"
"What?" He takes a few steps forward, looking scared for a second. "I did not tell anyone Ivy, I didn't submit any stories, I never have."
"Then how are you number seven on that list?" I ask again, wanting - no,needingan answer.
"Because people lie." He shakes his head, dark hair falling into his eyes. "There are many entries on that site that never happened, how the hell do you think I've gotten my moniker as a player?"
I don't reply and Asher takes another step closer. "When have you ever heard me talking about a girl? Let alone bringing one home on the many,manynights you slept over in Charlottes room? Parties, I've always gone alone or with the team or Leon. I leave them the same way."
"You dated Harlow." I say weakly.
"Years ago. Dating is different to being labelled a player." He shakes his head, "People submit entries when they're bored, half the entries are fake and made up by the team to up their ranking, the other half are made by desperate girls whowant more popularity, it's just a stupid game between the rival teams. Another way to shove a winning streak down Dain and his teams' throats, just like they do to us. Everyone knows half the stories are fake, but nobody cares. Even Leon has entries detailing girls coming and going to his house -yourhouse almost daily like it has a revolving door, but you haven't seen them, have you? Cause they're fake."
His words make sense, and I want to believe them but there is so much more to this, so much he still lied about.
All I know is that this heartache is as cold as the ice Asher plays on. I don't know if I have the strength to melt it right now.
My resolve drops and I fold my arms loosely around my waist. "Why did you lie about needing help with tutoring? Why did you lie to me?"
