All the Pretty Lies Read online

  “Watch it,” I snip, looking up at him before side stepping around him.

  “My bad.” He holds his hands up and lets me pass. “I didn’t realize you owned this hallway.”

  I ignore his snide remark and cross the last few feet to my locker before spinning the dial and popping it open. Shoving my things inside, I grab my bag and drape it over my shoulder before turning to see Callum still standing in the same place, his gaze locked on me.

  “Problem?” I ask, annoyed and a bit self-conscious.

  “Nope. No problem at all.” He grins like he knows something I don’t before he turns and disappears around the corner.

  I look down, taking an inventory of myself, making sure I don’t have something on my shirt, or worse, on the back of my pants. When I’ve determined that I look fine, I shake off Callum’s clear attempt to mess with me and turn, making my way toward the back parking lot of the school where Camila and April are likely waiting on me.

  CHAPTER TWO

  POPPY

  IT’S JUST AFTER EIGHT when I finally return home from bathing suit shopping with April and Camila. And while I bought two different bikinis, I’m pretty certain I won’t be wearing either of them anytime soon. I more so bought them to appease my friends and not because I actually want them. I’ve never been an overly flashy person, but I wouldn’t say I’m conservative either. I guess you could say I fall somewhere in the middle. I like dressing nice and feeling my best, but I don’t feel like I have to walk around half naked to accomplish that.

  The house is dark as I make my way inside. No surprise there. My mom is gone more than she’s here, and while that used to bother me, I’ve gotten used to it over the years. She’s always out with her friends or random guys. Honestly, she acts like she’s in her twenties, out partying it up, instead of being home raising her daughter. Not that I need her to raise me anymore, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need her around. It’s like the second I turned eighteen, she threw her hands up and declared that she was done. Too bad she wasn’t much of a mother the seventeen years that came before that.

  I head toward the kitchen, flipping on the lights as I go. I find a letter on the island, but I only skim it because I already know what it’s going to say. She went out, don’t wait up, make myself something for dinner. Blah. Blah. Blah.

  I crumble the piece of paper and toss it in the trash can.

  I try not to be too hard on my mother. She did have me when she was seventeen and basically gave up her youth, a fact she reminds me of constantly. Like that’s somehow my fault. Her and my father didn’t last long, divorcing right before my second birthday. And while I’ve always lived with my mom, I have a good relationship with my dad. Unlike my mom, who never went to college and works a full-time office job that she absolutely hates, my dad went to Brown and is now pretty high up at a very prominent financial company in Dallas. He’s always taken care of us financially, which is no doubt the only reason we can afford the house we live in. It’s nothing lavish but more than a single mom on a subpar salary could ever afford. Unfortunately, because he lives in Dallas, I don’t get to see him that often, but he calls when he can.

  Blowing out a breath, I tug open the fridge and grab a bottle of water before deciding to go out to check the mail. Dropping the water on the island, I head toward the front door, tugging it open moments later.

  I make my way down the driveway and retrieve the mail, turning back up toward my house. I’m about halfway to my porch when I hear a door open. My gaze goes to the left just in time to see Callum and Sarah walk out onto his front porch, clothes rumpled and hair a mess.

  When he tugs her to his chest and lays a long kiss on her lips, I know I should look away. But like looking at a car accident, for some reason I just can’t, even though I have no desire to see what I’m seeing.

  Moments later he releases her, smacking her ass as she heads down the front steps. She lets out a little yelp and throws him a wide smile over her shoulder before climbing into her little two door sedan.

  I don’t realize I still haven’t moved until Callum’s voice fills my ears.

  “Enjoy the show?”

  I blink, my gaze locking with his.

  “So that’s your plan?” I ignore his question. “Annika makes out with your friend and you fuck hers?” I curl my nose in disgust.

  “You reap what you sew.” He shrugs indifferently.

  “What about what you sew?” I counter.

  “Pardon?”

  “Do you even care about that girl?” I gesture to the street where Sarah’s car was parked moments ago.

  “Why the fuck do you care?”

  “I care because you’re using her. She clearly really likes you, and you’re playing some sick game to get back at your ex. Did you ever think how unfair that is to her?”

  “Remind me again why this is any of your business, P?” He crosses his arms over his broad chest, leaning his shoulder against the pillar on his porch.

  “Poppy,” I correct him. “Only my friends call me P.”

  “And we’re not friends?” A small smile plays on his lips.

  “No, we certainly are not.”

  With that, I spin around and cross the remaining distance to my front porch, stepping through the door seconds before slamming it closed behind me.

  IT’S FRIDAY... Finally. And while the day has only just started, I can already tell it’s going to be one of those days that drags on forever. We leave for Harrison Lake tomorrow morning, and as much as I was dreading it in the beginning, I’m actually pretty excited now that it’s here.

  A week with my best friends, floating in the lake, soaking in the sun’s rays, sounds pretty damn good right about now. Especially after the blow out fight I had with my mom this morning. It was my fault, really. I knew better than to open my mouth when she walked into the house wearing the same clothing she had gone out in the night before. But alas, biting my tongue has never been my strong suit.

  “Hey.” April bounces up next to my locker where I’m switching out books for my next period.

  “Hey.” I close my locker and spin the dial on the lock.

  “So I was wondering, do you think you could drive tomorrow? My car is making a funny noise and with the lake being three hours away, I’m worried we might end up stranded on the side of the road.”

  While I don’t relish the idea of driving, mainly because I hate driving, I nod.

  “Sure.”

  “Thank you. Your car is so much more reliable than mine, and Camila’s parents won’t let her take the car for the week. I swear that girl needs wheels of her own.”

  “It’s no problem.” I turn, and April follows me down the hall to second period, a class we share together.

  “Too bad we don’t all have fathers like yours. Maybe then I wouldn’t be driving around in that rusty POS.”

  “Tell you what, you can have my father and the car he bought me if I can have your mom.”

  “Uh oh.” She stops me right outside of the classroom. “What happened?”

  “Oh you know, just typical Stella Harris bullshit.” I blow out a breath. “And no, I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “I’m sorry, P.” She gives me a sympathetic smile.

  “I should be used to it at this point.”

  “Well look at it this way, after today you won’t have to worry about her for an entire week.”

  “Thank god.” I groan.

  April squeezes my forearm before stepping past me into the classroom. I follow closely behind her, taking our usual spots in the far-left corner of the room. Dropping my books on top of my desk, I slide into my seat as Callum comes strolling into the room.

  I internally cringe.

  He’s wearing the same smug smile he always does, nodding to a few girls and fist bumping two different guys before he heads in my direction. My shoulders instantly tense when he takes the seat directly in front of me.

  “Um, are you lost?” I hiss, not able to stop myself.r />
  “You got a problem with me sitting near you, P?” I can hear the smile in his voice even though he’s facing forward.

  “It’s Poppy,” I correct him for the second time this week.

  “My bad, Poppy.” He emphasizes my name as he turns in his seat, swiveling his head around to look at me over his shoulder. “Last time I checked, there wasn’t assigned seating in this class.”

  “Last time I checked, you always sit over there.” I gesture to the opposite side of the room.

  “Well maybe I felt like a change in scenery.”

  “Then maybe you should sit up front,” I counter, taking some of the frustration from this morning out on him.

  “Don’t go getting your granny panties in a twist. I promise not to talk to you.”

  “You’re talking to me right now.”

  “Fair enough.” With that, he turns back around and opens his book.

  I don’t miss the questioning look April throws my way. I simply shake my head and sigh. April and Camila know that Callum and I used to be friends. Even though things between us changed when he shot up a foot over the summer between eighth and ninth grade and started playing football, it’s not something we’ve really discussed in great detail.

  I think probably because it’s self-explanatory. He woke up one day and realized he was too cool for me. Not like I care. Well, not anymore. At first I was hurt, confused, not sure what I had done. But then after he openly made fun of me as I passed him in the hall one day, I decided I was better off without him.

  Turning my attention forward, I do my best to focus on the day’s lesson rather than kicking the back of Callum’s chair like I want to. It’s immature, but him sitting here is making it really difficult to concentrate. I’m not entirely sure why though.

  When the bell finally rings, I wait until Callum gets up and leaves before gathering my things.

  “What the hell was that all about?” April asks as we leave the classroom together.

  “I saw him making out with Sarah on his front porch the other night,” I blurt, having kept this bit of information to myself as I’m not much of a gossiper.

  “Wait, Sarah as in Annika’s best friend, Sarah?”

  “Yep.” I nod, throwing her a sideways glance as we make our way down the hallway.

  “Holy shit. I wonder if Annika knows.”

  “My guess is probably, considering he made it very clear that she was the reason he was doing it. Pretty sure they slept together too. Based on how they looked when they walked out of his house, I think I’d put money on it.”

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah,” I agree.

  “Let me guess, you said something to him, didn’t you?”

  “Me?” I question innocently.

  “Oh come on, P. We both know you can’t keep your mouth shut to save your life.”

  “I may have commented on how it wasn’t fair to Sarah.”

  “Yeah, but Sarah was still there even though Annika is her best friend, so what’s that really say about Sarah?”

  “I hadn’t thought about it that way.”

  “There’s always two sides, P.” She slows when the hallway splits off in two directions. “See you at lunch?”

  “Yep. See you then.” I give her a little wave as I turn down one hallway and she heads the opposite direction down the other.

  “EARTH TO POPPY. COME in, Poppy.” I can hear Camila next to me. I have to physically peel my eyes away from where Ethan is sitting across the cafeteria, looking so damn good I have to wipe my mouth with the back of my hand to ensure I’m not drooling.

  “Huh? What?” I question, looking back at my friend.

  “Girl, you’ve got it bad. Hasn’t anyone ever told you the way to get a guy is to act like you don’t like him? Pretty sure staring at him non-stop sends the opposite message.”

  “If I act like I don’t like him then how will he know that I do?”

  “I don’t know, but maybe it’s time to change tactics, since clearly this one isn’t working for you.”

  “Who says it isn’t working?”

  “Well, it’s been two years and you’re no closer to landing the guy.”

  “Fair enough,” I grumble, leaning back in my chair.

  “We’ve got a plan, remember.”

  “Yeah, for me to traipse around the lake practically naked.”

  “Not just that. You’re going to have fun. You’re going to let loose and not obsess over Ethan all week. And when he sees you looking fine as hell and not giving two shits about him, he’s going to experience a wake-up call like no other.”

  “Or he’s going to be busy with his friends and not even notice that I’m there,” I counter, knowing this is the more likely scenario to play out. “Besides, I don’t want this week to be about him. I want it to be about us.”

  “Amen to that,” April chimes in. “I’m so over boys right now.”

  “Since when?” Camila cocks a brow.

  “Since I saw Marco making out with Olivia next to his locker.”

  “He what?” Camila draws back. “You guys just broke up and already he’s rubbing another girl in your face?”

  “Apparently that’s a man’s M.O,” I mumble.

  “Well it’s bullshit. You want me to say something?” she asks April. “Because I will. You know I will.”

  “No.” April shakes her head. “I’m over him. I mean, yeah, it was a little bit of a shock to see he’s moved on so quickly, but at the end of the day, I’m the one who broke up with him.”

  “Yeah, because he treated you like shit.”

  “Doesn’t matter. He has every right to make out with whomever he wants.”

  “Well fuck him. Or better yet, fuck with him.”

  “I know that look, Camila. And no, I’m not into playing games so whatever you’re thinking, don’t.”

  “You’re no fun.” Camila pouts out her bottom lip dramatically.

  “What about you? You haven’t dated anyone since you and Darren broke up months ago.”

  “I’m currently playing the field.” She grins widely.

  “Yeah, as in sneaking into the janitor’s closet to make out with Quinn Peters.” I laugh.

  “What can I say, he’s a good kisser.”

  “But the janitor’s closet, Cam. Really?” April turns her nose up.

  “Don’t judge me. If I recall correctly, you and Marco got it on in the media room during prom last year.”

  “That’s the media room. Not a smelly old closet full of cleaning supplies.”

  “You make do with what’s available.” Camila giggles.

  “You two.” I shake my head.

  “Now you can judge. I’ll allow it.” Camila looks my way.

  “Why is it okay for me to judge?” I question.

  “Because we all know you would never do anything with a boy on school property.”

  “That’s not true. I just... I just haven’t had the opportunity.”

  “Yeah, because you’re too damn scared to go after what you want. You know, for someone with your mouth, you’d think you wouldn’t have such a hard time saying how you feel. Maybe if you’d own up to your feelings, you could have been making out in the janitor’s closet with Ethan this entire year.”

  “That closet is taken,” April interrupts.

  “Ha. Ha.” Camila flips her off. “You know what I mean.”

  “Okay, I got it. I’m a chicken shit. Anything else?” I ask, ready to move on from this conversation.

  “Don’t worry. We’re going to help you.” Camila pats the back of my hand.

  “I’m not sure I want your help,” I tell her jokingly.

  “Ouch.” She grabs her chest dramatically. “You wound me, P.”

  “Oh shut up.” I laugh, shoving at her shoulder.

  “Um, guys.” April pulls our attention to her. Her gaze is locked on something across the cafeteria, and I quickly follow her line of sight. “Looks like shit is about to go down.”

 
I don’t realize what she’s talking about until I catch sight of Annika standing in front of Callum. He’s sitting on top of the table like he always does, that same smug look on his face. At first I can’t hear what they’re saying, but then Callum must say something to piss Annika off because seconds later her voice explodes through the room.

  “You’re a real piece of shit,” she explodes, her arms flapping wildly as she yells at him. “Is there anyone you won’t stick your dick into?”

  I can’t hear his response, but he seems completely unaffected by her words or the countless sets of eyes all trained on him.

  “Go suck a cock, whore,” one of the football players sitting at the table hollers at her. I see her head swivel in his direction, and I can only imagine the look that’s on her face right now. With her back to me, I can’t really gauge the situation.

  “Whore?” Her voice shoots up an octave. “I’m the whore? What about him?” She gestures to Callum who still appears to be as cool as a cucumber. Man, what I wouldn’t give to have even a semblance of his composure when put under this kind of spotlight. I’d be a blubbering mess.

  “He’s the man,” another guy yells, only fueling Annika’s anger.

  “Whore,” another person joins in.

  “What the hell?” Camila hisses under her breath as she pushes to her feet.

  “Camila, don’t...” I’m not able to finish my sentence before Camila is stomping across the cafeteria.

  “You guys are childish pieces of shit,” she says, addressing the entire table. “Call her a whore one more time, and I swear to Christ, I will stick a fucking fork in your eye socket,” she threatens.

  Everyone at the table falls silent, probably because they know she will. Camila is not someone you can mess with. And even though Annika and her are not really friends, it doesn’t surprise me one bit that she swooped in to save the day. She doesn’t take lightly to a man calling any woman a whore.

  The silence in the room is eerie.

  I watch Callum push to his feet, say something directly to Annika so that only she can hear, then quickly exit the cafeteria. Not long after, Camila walks out into the hallway with Annika, probably to make sure she’s okay. And then, like nothing even happened, chatter once again starts to fill the room as people go back to their regularly scheduled program.