The Truth Is.

Chapter 22

SADIE

      The office that had been previously filled with Scants held our presidential cabinet. Alex, our president, propped himself against the front of the desk, hands wound tightly around Sandy, our treasurer. Her bubblegum lipstick left a crime scene on Alex's face until she struck gold.

Jason, who had no job in particular other than to annoy us, swiveled around at Sandy's desk. As he searched through the drawers, he quickly found the desk was more of a decoration than storage. A pack of gum occupied the top drawer of the desk, and condoms at the bottom.

When he caught the silver squares, he sent me the slickest grin he could muster; Bottom lip pulled into his mouth, eyebrows raised half an inch, and a sickening gleam in his eyes.

I turned to Jennifer, the secretary, as a distraction. Jennifer was the only Magnate in school with something other than white showing through her skin. She was darkened only a fraction more than any of us, with soft eyes that curled into cat likes ends. Around her neck hung a turquoise pendant that read Kapuna. I'd asked her about it once, and she said it meant "Grandmother." In Hawaiian.

I leaned over her desk just enough for the computer screen to obscure myself from Jason's view. The sick tremble in my spine was hidden with a cough.

Jennifer shook a shiny bag towards me. I reached in, and accepted a cough drop. It tasted a mix between rotten cherry and mint.

"I need you to find someone in the records for me." I didn't bother to hide the anxiety in my voice. As soon as I told her what to look for she'd be suspicious.

"Who?" She pressed the oval shaped glasses over the bridge of her nose.

"Scott Fellings."

Bewilderment struck her. She jerked to look at me, and quirk an accusing eyebrow. Her voice hushed. "Why do you need that?"

"I'm doing a piece for the newspaper." I took to Mother advice and schooled the nerves in my stomach. Jason's constant gaze had my heart racing already. Now Jennifer's skepticism threatened to knock me out. I couldn't breath, so I pretended to suck on the awful cough drop.

Droplets of sweat betrayed me, and slid down my arms. Despite the urge to look away, I held her gaze.

"I'll start looking." She turned back to the computer and started tapping away at its keys. The focused set of her brows urged me to leave her alone.

I returned to my own desk filled to the brim with papers. Reports and student requests were set into one pile, while finances and planning was set into another. Graduation was coming up, and as a result my desk was flooded with paperwork and decisions to be made.

"Alex, we need to work on the speech." As any other year, Alex and I were required to present a speech at graduation, for students and members of trillium alike. Last year it was broadcasted on the news. Father had almost smiled when he saw it, until I stumbled on a sentence.

My words went in one ear and out the other. He pulled Sandy tighter, demonstrating how personal a kiss could get. Pink tongues darted out and met one another, twisting in a show of passion.

I rubbed at the skin of my lips, hoping to ease the memory.

Hot breath fanned across my cheeks. I fought, pushing away and jerking my head. He caught it my chin, forced it still, and pressed his lips to mine. The aggression left the skin raw. The burn started in my lips, swirled in my chest, and seared my brain. Then the hollow chill invaded my body.