His gaze softens. "What did he do?"
"What made you think it was him who did something?"
"You're my kid. Which means you have a good head above your shoulders. It had to be him who screwed up."
A smile spreads across my face. It warms my heart knowing that Dad believes in me that much.
"So, what did he do?"
"He cheated on her with her best friend," Avery supplies before I can answer him.
He almost chokes on his coffee, his eyes popping wide. "Quinn?"
I shoot Avery a glare. "No. Peyton."
"Oh." The relief on his face that it hadn't been Quinn is unmistakable. Does he not like Peyton, too? He gives me a sympathetic wince. "I'm sorry, kid."
"It's okay. I'm over it." My answer surprises me more than it does him and Avery.
But it’s the truth. It just took me until now to realize it. Liam's betrayal still gives a bad taste in my mouth—I have a feeling it always will—but I’m no longer crying myself to sleep and wondering if I’d contributed to the demise of our relationship. I’m now ready to move forward and put the whole thing behind me.
Dad looks skeptical though. "That fast?"
"I have an idea why." An impish smile curves Avery's lips as she shoots up from the table. I give her a warning glare. Which she basically ignores as she steps out of the kitchen. "Ask her about Parker, Dad."
Dad promptly turns to me, frowning. "Who's Parker?"
I squeeze my eyes shut. I’m going to strangle my sister.
CHAPTER 16
Sawyer
Wherever I go, people congratulate me for punching Liam at the party. The girls praise me for "finally getting back at him for his cheating," while the boys compliment me for my "mean right hook."
Weirdly, a good half of the latter flirts with me after saying that. Like seeing me hit someone has been a turn on for them. Then there are the crazy ones who ask if I’m planning to give them another show any time soon.
Needless to say, the unwanted attention is making me regret what I had done—at least a little.
I tell Quinn as much while I’m getting books from my locker.
"Why should you? You're the baddest chick around here now. People will think twice before pissing you off."
I scoff. "Because they're afraid they'll get punched by me, too?"
What is everyone thinking—that I'll go around beating people now? Crazy, all of them.
"Or by Parker."
I throw her an annoyed look. "You need to stop reading into things."
"I can't. It's so juicy!"
"As juicy as the deal between you and Bennett?"
Just as I expected, it shuts her up real quick.
Hugging my books to my chest, I shut my locker and face her. "Are you going to tell me about it?"
Instead of answering me, she glances down at her watch. "Know what? We need to head to class. We're going to be late."
I hide my amused smile. Now, I have ammunition to use whenever Quinn brings up Parker. Well, at least until she decides to talk about Bennett.
"Punched anyone lately?" Peyton is standing in front of her locker as we pass, sneering at us.
"Watch it," I snap. "Or you'll wear a black eye to match Liam's. Just ask while I'm feeling generous."
Peyton's eyes flare wide as she cautiously takes a step back.
I smile darkly. "Yeah. Didn't think so."
Quinn chokes out a laugh next to me. Glancing over her shoulder at Peyton, she turns to me. "Who are you and what did you do to my best friend?"
Smirking, I lead the way to AP English.
I’m still riding the high of threatening Peyton when the class ends, taking pleasure from the memory of seeing the look on her face. I am by no means violent—throwing out a punch is definitely a one-time thing. But she doesn't know that, does she? I have a feeling she'll be laying low for a while.
"Sawyer, can you stay behind for a minute?" Our teacher, Ms. Emilia Langham, stops me just as I’m about to step out of the classroom.
Quinn shoots me an inquisitive glance.
Motioning for her to go ahead, I stroll over to the teacher's desk.
Ms. Langham pushes her glasses up her nose and smiles up at me. "I want to talk about the essay you submitted last week."
"Oh. Is there something wrong?"
Did she hate it? Do I need to write it again? Am I in trouble?
I bite my lip to keep from voicing out the questions in my head. But the apprehension is still there. I don't want to let my favorite teacher down.
"No. Of course not. It's the opposite, actually. I'm quite impressed with your writing. I like your character analysis on Lockwood and Heathcliff. Did you, by any chance, get help from your father?"
"No," I say, feeling slightly offended that she thought that. "I did it all by myself."
She smiles. "That's what I thought, too. I've seen the consistency from your past essays. I knew it was all you. And you did a great job. I was going to return all your papers next meeting. But I guess, it won't hurt to give yours now." She pulls out a paper from the stack on her desk and gives it to me.
The A-plus circled in the top corner is the first thing that greets me. I grin, a sense of pride and satisfaction washing over me. "Thank you."
"No thanks necessary. You earned it." She pauses. "I take it you're going to pursue writing in college?"
I nod.
"Well, if you want, I can help you with your college applications."
My mouth falls open. "You'll do that?"
Getting help from Ms. Langham will be great since I can't get it from Dad just yet. I tamp down the guilt of keeping it a secret from him, especially after seeing his reaction from learning that he was the last to know about Liam. I guess I have to tell him about it sooner than later.
"I can take a look at your admissions essay and writing portfolio. Have you
