Page 136 of Tell No Lies

“Pretty much.”

We laughed together, and it felt so good to forget about all of the bad happening for just a moment.

Once we finished changing, we headed into the dance room. Warming up and going through the floor routines were the perfect distraction for an hour.

The moment we changed back into our clothes and got outside, I was reminded of my situation. Donny and Bear were standing on either side of the locker room doors, acting as guards. Once Cassie and I stepped out, they flanked us without communication. It would have been impressive if it wasn’t so creepy.

“You guys got the second-to-third-period shift?”

Bear nodded but continued scanning the area. He would make a great Secret Service agent when his professional football career ran out. I turned and told him that, but he only nodded slightly, not allowing for distraction. Evidently Mike’s threats had been pretty severe to turn the two biggest goofballs I knew into serious bodyguards.

Cassie broke off to go to her class, but Bear and Donny were attached to me all the way to English, where Talia was waiting for me. I turned to face the guys and held my arm up in a salute. “Alright, men, you’re dismissed.”

Bear rolled his eyes, and Donny laughed. Finally, they were back to themselves.

Talia pulled me into class as the bell rang out. “Surviving so far?”

I didn’t bother telling her about the Sydney drama. I knew Mike had already spread the word. “I hate everyone staring at me like I suddenly grew another head, but I appreciate you guys watching out for me. I just wish you didn’t have to.”

She shrugged, and I appreciated her acting normal. “The attention will blow over eventually, and we’re all determined to figure out who is doing this to you. Hopefully, we’ll have some answers soon.”

Mrs. Alexander began her lecture, putting our conversation on indefinite pause. I tried to focus my attention on the class discussion rather than, well, anything else. I caught Gage glancing at me a few times. After the third time, I mouthed, What? and got, Are you okay? in response.

What a loaded question. At that exact moment, I was fine. Nothing could really happen to me in the middle of school with so many people around … but I knew he meant in general. Should I answer honestly? That I felt like my entire world was crumbling around me faster than I could put it back together? Or should I give a noncommittal shrug, the universal sign of: No, but I’m not going to admit anything?

I compromised and mouthed back a simple No.

He scowled and looked frustrated, but I turned my attention back to Mrs. Alexander and told myself I’d talk with him later.

The guilt of having so many worrying about me was beginning to weigh me down. I felt bad that I’d become a distraction for Gage and Mike, and that Bear and Donny had probably gotten in trouble for being late to their classes, since they wouldn’t let me go to mine alone.

The cycle didn’t end, though. Talia walked with me out to the hall, where Sean was waiting. They made the tradeoff, and I had to give Sean credit for attempting to make this seem like it was completely natural.

“Did you finish the paper?” He actually made eye contact, which I attributed to him not being included on the threat of torturous practices. He was being protective without making me feel like I was a prisoner.

“Yeah. Hopefully Mr. Copland appreciates the Prohibition Era. It was the only amendment that seemed interesting to me. What did you write your paper on?”

“Oh, mine was equally unique. The life of a freed slave following the Thirteenth Amendment.”

“Ah, so creative.” I truly enjoyed AP US History, but I was already running out of new ideas, and it was less than halfway into the semester.

“We’ll be fine. I know he secretly likes us, since we’re the only ones who participate in the discussion.”

“That’s because he threatened our grades at the beginning of the semester. I can’t wait to see everyone’s faces when they see their grades and realize he was being serious.”

I survived the rest of my classes and almost got used to my bodyguards. Almost. Some serious thought had gone into planning who was going to watch me and when. The guys were synchronized and treated their duty as if it was their lives on the line … which, in a way, I guess they were. If anything happened to me, Mike would destroy them. Not that anyone had a chance to come near me with the constant guard of two football players.

Gage was the only one able to find delight out of my situation. He made a game out of talking to me and trying to separate me from whoever was on duty. Needless to say, they did not find it amusing. Although, I did.

When my last class was finally over, I was greeted by Mike, by himself this time. I looked around to see who else was watching us, but it seemed he thought that he alone was enough.

“Hey, Mike. Are you walking me to my car?”

He fell into step with me and led me through the hallway. “Nope. You’re coming with me to practice.”

I stopped and grabbed his arm. “What are you talking about? I have to go to the studio.”

“You can miss today. I’m not letting you out of my sight.” He made a move to continue walking, but I stood firm.