Not that anyone did. I’m not even sure if Mr. Peters is still lurking somewhere on campus anymore … I know I haven’t seen hide nor hair of him.
So much for a ‘thorough’ investigation. All it would take is one glance at that file of his to know that something has been going on for some time. Long before he came onto me, anyway.
Tomorrow is Monday and Bridget definitely plans to forget about everything I put her through this weekend and get back to being adored by her followers first thing in the morning.
That gives me another idea.
“Hey Bridget,” I say after I finish folding all the clothes and putting them away in my otherwise empty dresser.
She looks over at me with a simultaneous eyeroll.
“What is it now?” she asks.
“I think it’s time for you to invite me to sit with you at lunch tomorrow.”
“No way,” she says. “Seriously, you need to stop trying so hard to fit in. No one likes you no matter whose clothes you steal or what table you sit at. Just sit with your weird friends and leave me alone.”
“I wonder if Sterling will notice any stretch marks when he sees you naked,” I say, in an attempt to remind her that if she doesn’t do what I want her to do, I can go running to him in a heartbeat and spill her secret all over the place. It feels a little wrong, having this much power over someone. But when I remind myself about all the things that Bridget has done to me, the feeling of remorse quickly fades.
A feeling that doesn’t fade quite as quickly, however, is that of missing my true friends … and it’s not likely a feeling that’s easy to be rid of.
Alaska. Clark. I haven’t seen as much of them lately because of this whole thing I’m trying to do.
I miss the ease of having Alaska as my roommate.
But it’s too late for that now, I suppose. C’est la vie.
My words must have struck some kind of chord with Bridget, because the next day she dutifully calls across the lunchroom to me when I walk in and invites me to sit with her and her friends. But before I have a chance to accept, I feel an arm around my shoulder and Sterling is suddenly sidled up against me.
My entire body seizes up.
“Why don’t you come sit with us today, Aubrey?” he says. “The boys and I would love a chance to chat with you.”
There is definitely a reason behind Sterling’s invitation to come and have lunch with him and the boys instead of taking Bridget up on her offer. They obviously have some ulterior motive, but that is to be expected.
“Sorry Bridget, maybe tomorrow,” I say loudly enough for everyone in the lunchroom to hear.
Having to invite me to sit with her at all was already embarrassing enough for her, and somehow, without me even planning for it, this is even worse.
Not only had she invited me, but now I’ve very publicly declined. It’s very high school, the kind of drama I managed to avoid during my years at the Sisters of Virtue … but it’s also just the kind of thing that I know will be absolutely humiliating to Bridget.
And for that, for once, I owe my thanks to Sterling. Of all people.
I can see her face turning several shades of crimson from the corner of my eyes as I walk with Sterling to go sit with the guys. I also think that seeing Sterling with his arm around me is enough to make her self-combust. Granted, he is doing just for show and everyone knows not to take it seriously … but I can tell that she hates it all the same.
And sometimes, that’s enough.
She isn’t the only one who hates it. As soon as I sit down at the table, Warren looks up at me with something that resembles a glare. Except there doesn’t seem to be as much anger behind it as there does frustration, and maybe even a bit of angst. He looks like he wants to yell at me to leave, but when I sit down, he can’t seem to take his eyes off me.
I guess whatever it is Sterling’s pulled me over here for he hasn’t run past Warren yet. That in and of itself is surprising. Enough to make me cross and uncross my ankles nervously under the table.
“So, Aubrey,” Sterling starts off. I guess he figures that he’s the closest to me now, so whatever it is that they want, he’s the most likely to be able to get me to do it. “We have a little favor to ask you in regards to Warren’s volunteering assignment.”
I’ve never seen Warren’s cheeks flush so fiercely.
“I’m not switching back with Bridget,” I say. “So, if that’s what you called me over here for, sorry to say that you’ve wasted your time and effort.”
“We don’t need to you switch with Bridget,” Chase chimes in. “How about you just let him slide a bit on some of those shifts.”
“And by slide, you mean … what exactly?”
“We mean let him skip out on some shifts,” Sterling picks up. “Cover for him with the staff and tell them that he’s there doing something, or that he’s sick, or that he’s doing such an extra great job and he’s around somewhere.”
Warren ducks his head, his eyes staring intently down into his lunch tray. “Shut up, you two,” he growls.
He’s thoroughly ignored.
“No way,” I say, glancing between the three of them, my eyebrows rising. “Why would I let you guys break more rules than you already do? Besides, it’s volunteer work. It’s just a bit of cleaning and
