You Were Never Honest (The Never Series Book 2) Page 13

  Right, time to go to the library. I’ll be a little early but I’m so far ahead with my English that I’ve been given a pass so I can study for my exams. What can I say, I love English.

  Browsing the shelves of the latest Rh books, they are becoming a fascination of mine, I can’t help but hear an exchange. I don’t usually eavesdrop but I’m sure I heard Ivy and Harrison, no that can’t be right.

  “Come on Harry, you need to put a stop to this. She doesn’t deserve the pain you're causing her.”

  “Yeah because you’re so innocent in everything that happened, besides you were all for punishing her you even handed me all the little tidbits that I couldn’t get myself!”

  I move as close as I can until I find a gap in a shelf and I can take them in. Ivy looks agitated as she drags her fingers through her short hair, making it spike on top. Whilst Harrison just looks pissed off if his glaring is anything to go by.

  “I know, but I was wrong. Henleigh isn’t a fake, she’s probably the most genuine person in this school. I only became friends with her because you told me to and now, I don’t want to lose it. You are honestly telling me she’s still the enemy in your eyes, can’t you see how wrong you are, how wrong we both were?” Ivy asks and I can’t pull myself away, I know what they’ve done but I don’t want to believe it.

  Her eyes are begging him to see things her way and when she takes his hand, he pulls away as though her touch burns.

  “I don’t know what to think anymore, and it’s beyond frustrating. No I don’t think she’s this selfish monster who’s only out for herself, she proved that when she went out of her way to make me feel normal but I can’t forgive her for what she’s done.”

  It feels like they should be screaming and shouting at one another, how can they convey so much emotion and angst in nothing more than whispers.

  “She visited you while you were in your coma, did you know that? That secret girlfriend that you couldn’t explain to your folks, that was her. I don’t know why she did it, she never told any of us but I saw her. I was at your bedside and I saw as she walked away. She doesn’t even know it was me but I could recognise her a mile away, why would she have done that?”

  His eyes widen at her words and he pales slightly, his hand is flat against his face, resting gently over his bottom lip and the entirety of his chin.

  “That’s why her nickname sounds so familiar and why it slipped from her so easily, for crying out loud,” he gets louder towards the end before throwing a book across the aisle.

  “Just stop it, don’t release the files when the countdown ends. Better yet, just remove it now and be done with it. Do you really want to hurt her still?” she asks and all I want to know is why they were doing this.

  “I can’t stop it Ivy, even if I wanted to, there's no way to end it now.”

  “Forget that, do you want to?”

  “Yeah, but then I think about Rebecca and I can’t stop hating her Ivy. She broke my sister, how can I ever be okay with her for that? Besides you sent her those emails when I was in the coma, so you must understand where I’m coming from.”

  Oh... Harrison is Rebecca’s brother, no wonder he was cruel.

  “Of course I do, I love her too, I love both of you but I can’t be a part of this anymore. You’re my family and I’ll always love you, but if you keep hurting her then I’ll never forgive you. And I won’t forgive myself for the part I played either. Stop being PastFinder, besides her reply clearly affected you otherwise you wouldn’t have sought me out today. See you around Harry and please, see how wrong this is and fix it. It’s one thing revealing her secret, but do you have to do theirs as well?”

  She gives him one last look before she sadly shakes her head and walks away, and he leaves in the opposite direction.

  I don’t move until I know they’ve gone, what do I do now? Is there anyone in my life who hasn’t lied to me? My own brother, Amias and now Ivy. Well her sudden change of heart about me finally makes sense, and even though I can understand why someone may do this, I can’t condone it. It’s one thing getting revenge, but they’ve gone too far. I am so confused right now and I still have to tutor Harrison, should I tell him that I know?

  I walk into our study room and he’s already at our table, with the books laid out.

  “Hey, I thought I’d make a start. You were right, I am going to try harder with the English.” He doesn’t lift his head up from the book, I guess it must be really interesting.

  He’s so, unaffected. It doesn’t match with what I just saw and only his eyes confirm it wasn’t all in my imagination. He can’t stop staring at me, as though I’m some kind of puzzle and he’s desperately searching for the missing pieces.

  “That’s great, you’ve made a good choice,” I say, but my words sound hollow even to my ears.

  “You alright?” he asks, looking up at me from his seat.

  “Yeah, I’m fine, just a little distracted I guess. I offered to fill in so I will be performing in the show this evening, I’ll be practicing up until then too.”

  “If you want to practise, I don’t mind studying while you play. Can’t guarantee we won’t get kicked out though,” he says and I want to tell him I know, I really do. But something is holding me back, and I need to figure out what that is first.

  “Sure, just make sure you let Benjy know so he doesn’t start to panic,” I reply as I pack my things up and we get ready to leave the room.

  “He’s leaving when we break up for Christmas, I haven’t had any other issues occur and he should be closer to his family. He may even let you practise in his lodge, it’s on school grounds so they can’t say anything.”

  “Sure, why not,” I reply and Benjy agrees and we’re soon sitting in his little lodge, with Harrison studying and me plucking away at the strings on the guitar.

  An hour soon passes and when I look up, I can see Benjy and H staring at me.

  “What’s going on?” I ask, I instantly feel shy and awkward.

  “I told you she hadn’t realised she was doing it,” H says smirking and I’m just sitting here staring at them blankly.

  “You were singing my dear and if you ask me, you sing beautifully,” Benjy says and my cheeks are pretty much on fire right now.

  “Okay, well I’m going to go now and both of you will pretend this never happened. Bye,” I say and I’m practically running out of the door.

  “Henleigh wait.”

  “Don’t be an arse H,” I say, if he’s a twat right now then I probably will end up confronting him.

  “You did sounds good, and if it scares you then it must be important right?”

  “Yeah, I guess so. Thanks H, I’ll see you later,” I say and I’m off.

  “I can’t do this, I think I’m going to puke,” I say as I clutch my stomach. Why did I peek through the curtain?

  “You’re going to do great, don’t worry,” Noah says, but he’s not calming me this time.

  “Nope sorry Noah Bear, not working. I can’t do it, I can’t there’s too many people,” I say as I start to pace, my nerves are running rampant and I can’t calm down.

  “Noah, you’ve gotta calm her down. She’s making Roxie panic, and she’s scary when she’s panicking,” Declan says and I think there’s genuine fear in his voice.

  “Lija get Amias, he’s better with stage fright than I am.”

  Eli is off like a rocket and he’s back just as quick with Amias hot on his heels.

  “Right everyone who is not on the band fuck off for a minute, this isn’t helping,” he says before he seizes my hand and drags me into a side room.

  “You’re okay, you are Henleigh and no one gets the better of you. You’re fierce and will do anything for anyone, whether they deserve it or not. You would not have offered to go up there if you sucked, plus we’ve all heard you practicing with the girls, you’re a natural.”

  He’s staring down at me, almost daring me to look away but I can’t. I don’t know what it is about the connection
between us, but I always feel naked when he looks at me in this way. Like he can actually see me, all of me.

  “I know, but there’s too many people. It’s one thing fighting with an audience but it’s another to stand up there and have nowhere to look but at them. I’m not strong enough Amias, I’m terrified.” I’m trying to sound strong, but my voice is trembling, I hate this I really do.

  “Okay, then I’ll just have to take your mind off it,” he says as he stalks closer and I back up until my back slams into a wall.

  He traps me between his arms and holds me in place with his body as his mouth descends onto mine and I forget everything. I forget about the crowd, about performing. About all the lies and how much my trust has been shaken all I can think about is the way he tastes. The way he feels pressed up against me and how much I love him. Damn I do, I love him, I love all three of them.

  He pulls away and gives me a heated stare that has me wishing for a change of underwear.

  “Go kick arse and if you need something to focus on, I’ll be right at the front,” he says before giving me one last kiss and leaving me a hot, needy mess.

  It works though, I’m standing on the stage strumming my heart out as Roxie’s beautiful voice melds perfectly with the instrumentals. I can see my guys standing front and centre and I can also see Harrison. I didn’t expect to see him tonight, and I have to look away and fight the sudden urge to smile.

  No, I will not like him. He’s PastFinder for Pete’s sake, plus I already have three guys, I do not need a fourth.

  The last day of school before Christmas break is tomorrow and I’m now sporting a broken wrist, and I’m terrified to tell anyone how it happened. I guess it’s a good thing it happened after the concert, otherwise I would never have been able to play. Amias, well all the guys are angry that I haven’t told them what happened, and I want to but not yet. They would call the police but what am I supposed to tell them? I don’t even know who this guy is and I don’t exactly have any proof.

  Tomorrow will be the last day I will tutor Harrison, if he caused this then I’ll no longer have an understanding side for him. He can go and rot for all I care, right now though, I’m going to go sleep and pray that nothing else will happen before I leave this place.

  “Hello pretty girl, that was quite the performance you put on last night. You clearly have many talents,” his voice has my hand flying straight to my hip, and it’s impossible to miss the smile it causes on his face.

  Again, his eyes do not change. How can they be so hollow? It’s like he’s a robot or something.

  “I never saw you,” I say, my mouth is dry I swear my tongue is going to stick to the roof of my mouth.

  “Of course not, I didn’t want you to. But tonight is different, maybe it will make you rethink your nighttime runs. As for now, we’re going to play a little game.”

  His voice is cold and monotonous, my flesh is covered in goosebumps and it isn’t caused by the cold temperature. This is pure, unadulterated fear. I don’t think I’m going to like this game.

  “I’m going to count to ten and then I’m going to come for you, make it back to your room and you’ll be safe. If you should fail however and I catch you, well then, I’ll get my prize. I’m going to make you cry pretty girl.”

  I’m frozen on the spot and I can’t make myself move until he gets to three, I can’t just stand here I need to run. My feet hit the ground harder and faster than they ever have before, I don’t look back I just keep on going. I’m close to our building, and I can’t hear him. I’m going to be okay, I’m going to be…

  No, there’s someone blocking the way into the building. They have a balaclava over their face and I can tell it isn’t Mr. Terrifying, I don’t know what to do!

  My window is boarded up thanks to Leah and the Shepherds, but maybe I can make it to the back entrance. I’ve got to try, I’m not just going to stop and wait for him to do whatever he has planned.

  Big mistake, no wonder I never heard him chasing me. He’s been waiting here all along.

  “The funny thing pretty girl, if you had pushed your way past him. Well, he wouldn’t have stopped you and now you get to deal with me,” he says as he grabs hold of my right wrist and rests it behind my back.

  “What are you going to do to me?” I ask, there’s no point in me trying to keep the fear from my voice, I’m shaking like a leaf.

  “Don’t worry, just another little gift to remember me by,” he says and then all I know is pain.

  He pins my wrist to my back and yanks my shoulder in the opposite direction until my wrist gives in and breaks under the pressure. I’m crying and although I’m trying to keep quiet, it hurts too much.

  “Hush now pretty girl, don’t worry, it's just the wrist this time. Who knows what I’ll do next time, are you going to thank me for your gift?”

  “You’re insane,” I choke out as he slams me face first into the wall and twists my wrist, making me scream.

  “Choose your words carefully in the future, oh and if you tell any of your friends about this, I’ll just have to come back and give you a matching set. See you soon pretty girl, say hi to Harrison for me.”

  “Who the hell are you,” I shout at his receding form, he hesitates for a second before a cold laugh filters through the air.

  I shoot up out of the bed, my hair sticking it the sweat coating my body. A scream is tearing its way through my throat and I can’t stop, there’s a pounding on my door but all I can do is hug my knees close to my chest and cry my heart out.

  My door is kicked in and Roxie and Declan rush in followed by my guys, I love them but all I can see is Mr. Terrifying.

  “Back off guys, you’re making her worse,” Roxie says as she sits beside me and rubs her hand up and down my back.

  “Why would we make it worse?” Amias asks, his tone filled with its usual darkness.

  “I don’t know, so get out and I’ll try and figure it out,” she says, and they do as she says and even prop my door up as they leave.

  “Baby girl, what happened?” she asks and I cry harder.

  “Hey, come on now. It’s okay, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere sweets, I promise.”

  I start to settle down and for some reason she’s leading me out of my room and into hers, it does help. I think it’s because he hasn’t been in here, so it feels safer somehow.

  “Are you going to tell me what happened? I don’t just mean tonight, what happened to your wrist or are the two connected?”

  I nod and she sighs dramatically before making us both a hot chocolate and putting an episode of Friends on.

  “Come on baby girl, you can trust me. You know that right, I won’t repeat it I swear.” She’s grabbing my hands and shaking me gently and I want to tell her but I’m scared. Not for me, but for her.

  “Even if keeping it to yourself is dangerous for me?” I ask quietly and she hesitates for a long time before agreeing.

  I shouldn’t put her in this position, but it’s haunting me and I need to tell someone. I trust her more than anyone and I really need that at the moment.

  I tell her about the first time I met Mr. Terrifying and every other time since then. I tell her about the game he made us play, and it’s like opening Pandora’s box, once I start, I can’t stop. By the end of it she knows about Harrison being PastFinder and Ivy’s part in it all. I admit that I’m in love with all three of my guys and I’d forgive Amias if he would only be honest. And then I face a truth I always knew but couldn’t bring myself to admit, may as well tell her that too.

  “There’s a slight chance that I have a crush on Harrison, I was attracted to him the first moment I saw him. I put it out of my mind and ignored it when I realised how much of an arsehole he is but I’m starting to see the side he keeps hidden. But now I know he’s PastFinder, I just want it to go away, I don’t want to like him.”

  “Damn girl, the Harrison thing can wait for a minute. Who is this psycho and do you think he’s working for Harrison? Becaus
e if he is, then I forbid you from going anywhere near him. I’ll chain you to the damn sink if I have to. Secondly, I knew Ivy was a conniving bitch, just putting that out there.”

  “I don’t know, I don’t want to think he’s a part of it but I can’t help but wonder if he is. Should I confront him or avoid him at all costs? As for Ivy, I really liked the girl. I always wondered if I could trust her. I just wish it had worked out in my favour instead of this. What do I do Roxie? I don’t want to stay here over Christmas and my Dad has to go away for work, I have nowhere else to go,” I say as my shaking starts back up tenfold.

  “Don’t be so dense, you’re coming with me baby girl. We’ll have a kick ass Christmas and we’ll figure it all out. Don’t worry sweets I’ll keep you safe,” she says in reply.

  “So, what do I do about the other Harrison thing?” I ask, having a girl to talk to about this that I can trust is a relief.

  “First, we need to find out if he is responsible for your broken wrist and unleashing that psycho upon you. If he is, then you’ll have to work through it and hope you come to your senses but if he isn’t. I guess you’ll need to decide if you would want anything to come from it. How your other boyfriends will feel and if you can deal with the fact that not only is he PastFinder and threatening to reveal your secret, but he’s also her brother. He may not return your feelings and can you imagine how bad it could be if he does, it’s not like you can go home to meet the parents,” she says before wrapping me in another hug and we settle down and watch episode after episode until we inevitably fall asleep.

  Eleven

  Most of our classes are filled with films and they don’t even mind if we have our phones out, it’s the last day and teachers have already signed out in their minds at least. I’m seeing Harrison in the Library in a couple of hours and I’ve decided I’m going to confront him. I need to know who Mr. Terrifying is, and he’s my only way of finding out.