Too Good for Your Lies

The night I died, my best friend of nineteen years stood at the mouth of the alley.

I had nowhere left to run. I begged him to save me.

He cupped his hand over his scholarship girl's eyes instead. His voice went soft. Don't look. It'll scare you.

Then he walked away and left me in that black alley to be tortured to death.

All because I was too much of a good girl for his taste. And the girl he loved was an even better one.

When I opened my eyes, I was back on the day he turned me down.

This time, I turned him down first.

For this life and every one after it.

Chapter 1

"Ashton. My birthday wish is you."

I said it in front of everyone, just as the cake came out. My friends had dared me, and I'd found the nerve.

The cigarette twitched between his fingers.

Then his mouth curled.

"Sorry, sweetheart. You're too much of a good girl."

"Not my type."

Last life, that one line drove me insane.

This life, all I could think of was how I died.

Cold crawled up the back of my neck. I wanted to put the cake knife through him right where he sat.

"Summer? You okay?"

"Ashton, seriously. Would it kill you to say one nice thing to the birthday girl?"

He didn't even sit up. Just blew out a slow ring of smoke.

"Lying," he drawled, "is the one thing yours truly never learned."

That lazy drawl used to undo me.

Now it turned my stomach.

So in front of all of them, I let my face go cold and made a new wish.

"Ashton Vance. I wish that you and I never cross paths again. In this life or any other."

I blew out the candles.

They tried to stop me. Too late.

The smirk froze on his face.

"Summer. You're serious?"

"I'll give you one chance. Make a new wish, and I'll pretend I never heard that."

No need.

I ignored him, picked up the knife, and cut the cake.

He came off his seat and grabbed the blade. Bare-handed.

"Summer. I'm talking to you."

The edge bit into his fingers.

Blood welled up.

Someone shrieked, "Blood! Ashton, you're bleeding!"

I knew.

This was one of his episodes.

Ashton was sick. The kind of sick that came with a diagnosis and a bottle of pills.

Last life, I was the only one who could pull him out of it.

Oh. Correction.

I was the only one until the scholarship girl showed up.

For years, that made me think I was special to him.

Right up until I heard him soothing her in that same lazy drawl.

"She's not like you."

"She's a placebo at best. You're my only drug."

"Without you, I'd die."

I let go of the knife. "You like it that much? Keep it."

I turned to leave. He threw the knife down and caught my wrist.

His bleeding fingers left red streaks on my white shirt.

"Summer. Who's this tantrum for?"

The blood.

The blood was what broke me.

I couldn't stop it. Everything from that last night came rushing back at once. The room tilted, and I went down.

When I woke up, Ashton was at my bedside.

"You're up?"

"You start the fight, and I'm the one who carries you home. So, Summer. How are you planning to make it up to me?"

That was Ashton. A player to the bone.

He loved tossing out lines like that. Almost-something lines.

They used to plant hope where hope had no business growing.

But I wasn't that girl anymore.

Because now I knew the truth.

When Ashton was actually in love, the smooth talk died in his throat. When he confessed for real, his voice shook.

I sighed. "I'm tired."

"Ashton. Let's not see each other anymore."

The next morning, I walked to school alone.

He hadn't waited for me.

That was my punishment. He wanted an apology.

He'd be waiting a long time.

That afternoon, someone shook me awake at my desk.

"Summer! Get up! Ashton's fighting someone on the basketball court!"

I was still half asleep when my seatmate dragged me out the door.

"You have to come! He's gone completely feral. You're the only one who can stop him!"

Chapter 2

No.

She had it wrong.

Nobody needed me out there.

His leading lady had already arrived.

And I'd called it.

By the time we reached the court, the fight was over. Ashton sat off to the side, soaked in sweat.

Beside him sat a girl.

Low ponytail. Sweet, quiet face. She held his hand, and her voice caught on a small sob.

"Ashton. You're hurt."

Ashton hated being touched. Hated it.

He started to pull his hand back.

Then his eyes found mine. Something in them went dark.

And he let Serena keep holding his hand.

The senior he'd beaten was limping off, propped up between two classmates.

"Wait." Ashton called after him.

He pointed at Serena.

"Apologize."

The guy's face was already swelling purple.

"Ashton, come on," someone tried. "Let him get to a hospital first."

Ashton's voice dropped lower. "I said. Apologize to her."

Serena clutched his arm and shook her head. "It's okay, Ashton. Really, I'm fine."

So the boy with the ruined face had to bow and say he was sorry.

Someone asked what started it.

My seatmate already had the story. "He called her a charity case. Ashton heard him."

"Serves him right! Who told him to run his mouth?"

"God, Ashton is so hot. Actual knight in shining armor."

"Am I inside a high-school rom-com right now?"

Only I knew better.

Last life, Ashton hounded that senior until he transferred schools.

Before he left, the boy came to find me.

Watch out for Serena, he said.

He wouldn't say one word more.

Whatever else he knew, Ashton had beaten it out of him.

The ambulance was taking forever. I walked over. "Take my car."

The senior blinked. "Thanks. I'm okay."

Then Ashton was there, yanking my arm.

"Summer. Are you trying to piss me off?"

I glanced past him, at Serena and her red-rimmed eyes.

"Mind your own business."

"Walk away, and don't ever come looking for me again."

I didn't look back.

I helped the others walk the senior out.

BANG. The crowd behind us flinched.

Ashton had put his fist into the steel post of the basketball hoop.

Tsk.

Hope that hurt.

Ashton and I barely crossed paths after that.

Word was he'd stopped fighting. For Serena.

Turned over a whole new leaf. Even studying now.

His boys tried to drag him out for all-night gaming.

Serena murmured, "You haven't done your English vocab."

Ashton heaved a long sigh and dropped right back into his seat.

"Can't. Strict parents."

I got the daily episodes from my seatmate whether I wanted them or not.

Though every time I walked up, the whispering cut off. Everyone suddenly very busy.

"Poor thing."

"I know. She chased Ashton for years, and a scholarship girl swooped in and took him."

Poor thing?

Not even close.

My paperwork for London was already done. One admissions exam, and I'd be gone. Journalism school. The life I actually wanted, about to start.

That day after school, Mrs. Vance stopped me out front. "Summer, honey. Ashton forgot his medication again. Take it to him for me?"

I wanted to say no.

Then I saw the bruises ringing her wrist.

I sighed. "Fine."

I texted Ashton asking where he was.

It took him forever to answer. When he did, it was a single dropped pin.

The pool hall.

Last life, I ran errands like this for him more times than I could count.

This life, this was the last one.

Chapter 3

Last life, I knew this place by heart.

I went straight down the stairs without asking anyone.

The smoke hit the back of my throat before I was halfway down.

I spotted Ashton right away.

Center table, mid-hustle, a fat stack of cash sitting on the rail.

I walked up and tossed the pill bottle at him.

"Your mom asked me to bring it."

He caught sight of me and frowned. "Who told you to come?"

I didn't answer.

Drop the meds, turn, leave. That was the whole plan.

Someone stepped into my path.

"Ashton, that your girlfriend?"

Ashton let out a cold laugh, took the cigarette the guy offered, and tucked it behind his ear. "You think that's possible?"

Right then Serena walked in, backpack on, coughing before she was three steps through the door.

Ashton stood up and planted himself in front of her.

"Kill the cigarettes. All of them."

The guy with the yellow teeth grinned wide.

"So his girl IS here."

Serena went red to her ears.

"Ashton, stop it. We have school tomorrow, we shouldn't..."

"I know."

He flicked the tip of her nose.

"Be good. Say 'please, Ash,' and I'll let you go."

Serena squeaked and pointed at the cigarette behind his ear. "Ashton! You promised me you quit!"

His eyes slid over to me.

And I remembered. I'd asked him to quit once, too.

I'd had asthma since I was little. Smoke closes my throat.

He hadn't even bothered to fake it. He'd blown a ring of smoke straight into my face.

"Can't do it."

A cold little smile pulled at my mouth.

I skirted the crowd, heading for the stairs.

A hand snagged my sleeve.

"Don't run off, sweetheart."

"Ashton, lock her down. Two on two, my girlfriend's already here. Who's playing on your side?"

I kept walking.

Serena caught the cuff of my sleeve.

"I... I don't know how to play pool."

I frowned. "How is that my problem?"

"I..."

One sharp look from me and her eyes went glassy.

Ashton was there in two strides, tucking her behind him. "You can't talk to her like a human being?"

"You're insane."

I turned to go. He blocked me.

I'd had enough, so I aimed for the sore spot. "What is this, Ashton? Playing hard to get? Trying to make me your girlfriend?"

"In. Your. Dreams."

"Then get out of my way."

I walked.

Nobody stopped me this time.

Behind me, Serena's voice went high with panic. "What do I do, Ashton? I can't play pool."

And his, low and patient. "Silly girl. I'm here. We don't lose."

Whether they won or lost, I couldn't have cared less.

But at dinner that night, my mom kept sighing.

"I saw Norah again today. Bruises all over her. That Vance man is too much..."

"Oh, right. Summy, how come Ashton hasn't been over for dinner lately? Did you two fight?"

"No."

"Good. Then when you get a chance, invite him..."

I looked up and cut her off.

"We're done. I ended the friendship."

"What? Why?"

I took a bite of fish. Tender. Fresh.

"No reason. I just can't stand the blind."

My mom went careful. "Is Ashton... seeing someone?"

I slid another piece of fish onto her plate.

"Yep. Die-for-you romance, live and in person. Sweet enough to gag on."

They were starring in their own cheesy teen drama.

And they just had to drag a background extra in to play the villainess.

Chapter 4

I walked into the classroom the next morning to the sound of Serena crying.

"What do I do, Ashton? It was in my bag this morning, and now it's just gone?"

My seatmate filled me in. "The class fund went missing. Serena was holding it. Everyone's helping her look."

I said it without even glancing up. "Just check the cameras?"

Serena flinched like I'd slapped her.

Then she crossed the whole room to stand in front of me. "Summer. My family is poor. But I'm not so poor I'd steal the class fund."

I never said she stole it.

Interesting, how fast she got there.

Ashton walked over. Two cold words.

"Apologize. Now."

I set my bag on my desk and sat down.

He hurled the bag across the room.

Then he flipped my desk.

Ashton was having another episode.

"Apologize to her. Are you deaf?"

Nobody in the room dared to breathe.

Nobody dared step in, either.

I bent down to right my desk.

His hand closed around my throat.

His eyes were rimmed red. "Apologize. To. Her."

I couldn't breathe.

Tears burned up from nowhere. A ring of red was already rising on my neck.

Serena grabbed at him. "Ashton! Ashton!"

He didn't hear her. Didn't hear anyone.

Just stared at me with those red eyes.

I don't know who he was even seeing.

It took several teachers to pry us apart. Serena threw her arms around him while he thrashed.

"It's okay, it's okay, Ashton. I don't care what anyone thinks. As long as you believe me, that's enough."

He buried his face in her shoulder.

And kept his eyes locked on me.

The teachers walked me to the nurse's office.

I could feel his stare on my back the whole way out.

Ashton's father showed up.

One slap nearly put Ashton on the floor.

"You little punk! Look at you, all grown up! Raising your hand to Summy, of all people! You want a beating? Is that what you want?"

He wound up to kick him, too.

Serena threw herself in between.

"Sir, Ashton was only protecting me! If you have to hit someone, hit me!"

Ashton looked at his father, flat and cold. "Touch her once, and I'll kill you."

I was done with all of them.

I asked the teacher, "Can I go?"

My voice came out in shreds. Even talking hurt.

Nobody was listening to me anyway.

On my way out, Ashton and his father were brawling on the floor, Serena and the teachers pulling at them.

Total chaos.

I got home that evening to find Mrs. Vance waiting. She took one look at me, gasped, and clapped a hand over her mouth.

"Summy, honey. Did Ashton..."

My mom rushed over. "Did Ashton do this?"

I nodded. And since we were all here, I made it clean.

"Mrs. Vance, you saw it yourself. Ashton hates me now. Whatever comes up from here on, go to him directly. I can't help you anymore."

"Summy..." Mrs. Vance sighed. In the end, she said nothing at all.

My dad saw my neck and about broke in half.

He wanted to march to the Vances' and demand answers.

I stopped him. "Don't, Dad. I'm leaving for London soon anyway. I don't want anything more to do with Ashton."

He let out a long breath. "Sweetheart. I'm sorry you had to swallow this."

No.

I shook my head. "Dad, I didn't swallow anything."

I meant it.

I was alive. I still got to chase my dream.

One hand around my throat? That's nothing.

Chapter 5

The next day, Serena apologized to me.

"Summer, I'm so sorry. Ashton is just... he gets so impulsive. I'm apologizing for him."

"But I really didn't steal the class fund. Ashton already paid it all back for me, he..."

"Whatever's going on with you two, I don't need updates."

I cut the humble-brag off at the root.

She'd loved this move last life, too.

Bestie to my face. Scoreboard in every sentence.

Back then she'd needled me half out of my mind. I did things I still regret.

Same trap. I wasn't stepping in it twice.

"If that's everything, I'm going back to class."

Serena caught my hand. "Either way, I really am sorry, Summer. Please don't be mad at Ashton."

A laugh escaped before I could stop it.

"Does Ashton not have a mouth? Since when does he need a spokesperson? And in case you forgot, here's a reminder. He and I have known each other for nineteen years. I know him better than you ever will."

She liked playing it sideways?

Fine. I could play sideways too.

And sure enough, childhood best friends landed. Serena's face curdled for half a second. Then the tears welled right up.

Seriously? Over that?

I turned my head. Only then did I see Ashton standing in the shadows down the hall.

I pretended I hadn't, and kept walking.

His eyes stayed on my neck the whole way.

Thinking what, I couldn't tell you.

Serena hurried to him. "I wanted to apologize to Summer for you. But somehow she... I think she got angry anyway."

Ashton pulled his gaze back and pinched her cheek.

"Busybody."

"What?" She thought she'd misheard.

His fingers tightened until it had to hurt.

"Don't do anything that pointless again. You, apologizing to her? She's not worth it."

Serena breathed out in relief.

"Ashton, as long as you're okay, I'll do anything you ask. Anything at all."

He smiled.

And pulled her into his arms.

Serena came to find me again.

Like a bad penny.

"Summer, Saturday's my birthday dinner. I'd love for you to come. Will you?"

Ashton lounged against the doorframe, eyes tracking her every move.

"No time," I said.

It was even true.

My exam was almost here. Weekends were for cramming now.

Ashton blocked the doorway and wouldn't let me through.

"Summer. All those years of friendship, and you're really going to be this cold?"

I still had nothing to say to him.

"Skip it, and I'll take it to mean you still want me. That you're jealous of Serena."

Baiting me. That didn't work anymore, either.

What he thought was not my problem.

"Think whatever you like."

Whatever he threw, I gave back nothing soft.

His patience burned out fast. The next words came through his teeth.

"Fine. Don't regret it."

But I changed my mind soon after.

Because I saw Serena smoking.

The smoking itself didn't surprise me.

Smokers carry the smell no matter how careful they are.

And my nose never misses it. I'd half guessed about Serena a long time ago.

What stopped my heart was the person smoking next to her.

The bald man.

The one who tortured me to death last life.

Why would Serena know scum like that?

Wasn't she supposed to be the good girl?

Unless.

Last life, my death.

Was she part of it, too?

Chapter 6