Chapter Four
“Tell me if you’ve ever seen anything, Ellie,” Orion insisted.
“Orion, I swear I never saw anything! You’re acting irrational, you know that? Look at you! You’re sweating like crazy!”
“Never mind how I look,” Orion said, wiping his forehead. He was surprised at the amount of perspiration that came off his head but he tried to concentrate. Everything was so blurry! Why couldn’t he focus? “You’ve seen the two of them together. I saw him sneaking out of the library.”
“They weren’t doing anything wrong. I was there the whole time and I know for a fact that they’re nothing more than friends! Most of the time they talk about you.”
“Did they ever ask you to give them some privacy?”
“Of course not!”
“Did they ever whisper?”
“I heard every word.”
“I…I have a hard time believing that,” Orion said as he paced around the parking lot. More and more cars were starting to show up but he ignored them, focusing only on Ellie as she continued to puff away in the lot. “You’re probably covering for her.”
“I have no need to cover for her. Devony’s always been good and for some reason she’s always been faithful to you. But given the way you’re acting, I don’t really know why she’s wasting her time. Micah’s never done anything to her and Devony’s been nothing more than a good friend to him.”
“Has Devony left yet?”
“No, she’s waiting for me. Honestly, I wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for Archer talking me into it. I don’t think Devony should have anything to do with you until this tournament’s over.”
“I didn’t ask your opinion.”
“Well maybe you should hear it!” Ellie shouted. “Don’t you realize what you’re doing? You’re taking something pure and shitting all over it! I mean what’s wrong with you?”
“I’m only making sure. Devony lied to her father, there’s no reason that she wouldn’t be able to lie to anyone else.”
“You’re still on about that?” Ellie said, turning away. “Get over it! She was lying for you!”
“She was lying because she was embarrassed! The same way she was embarrassed about the ‘little ring’ I gave her! I’m not good enough for her.”
“With the way you’re acting, you never will be.”
“Stop!” Devony’s voice pierced the air. Both Ellie and Orion looked in her direction as she marched across the lot and stopped a dozen feet away from Orion. “I can hear you guys shouting from the deck. You’re both making asses of yourselves. Orion, if you have a problem with me, say it to my face.”
“Come over here.”
“I think I’ll keep my distance.”
“And why’s that?”
“You look like you’d punch your mother if she pissed you off enough.”
“Only if she was a whore,” Orion said, wiping more sweat away. “Come here, I can’t see you.”
“I’m close enough.”
“Everything’s blurry. Please. Come here, Devony. You know I’d never hurt you.”
“Maybe not with your hands, but your words hurt.” She took a hesitant step towards him. “W-what…what do you want, Orion? What have you heard about me that’s making you act like this?”
“Leave us alone,” Orion said to Ellie. “I’m not going to hurt her.”
“Is that okay?” Ellie asked Devony. “I won’t go unless you feel safe.”
“I’m fine,” she said in a low voice. “Please go.” She felt nervous as she watched Ellie turn and walk away back towards the building, but she held her ground as Orion came close. His eyes had a funny look to them and he seemed as though he was struggling to breathe. What was wrong with him? She came closer to him as he requested, staring up at the man who seemed to be a stranger to her now. “Orion, please,” she croaked out. “I don’t know what’s going on with you, but you have to talk to me.”
“Why should I have to explain it? You know what you did.”
“No I don’t. Seriously Orion, I don’t know why you’re suddenly so convinced I’m cheating on you. Are you crazy? I’ve been loyal to you since the first time we went out for coffee. There’s no one else.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“You should believe me! I’ve never even looked at another guy!”
“You’re always looking!”
“At who? What the hell are you talking about? Who am I looking at?”
“How can you lie like that?” Orion asked, stepping forward. He grabbed her shoulders and shook her violently, rocking her auburn hair around her face. Her eyes remained calm, but Orion could feel her trembling in his hands. “How can you honestly look at me and lie?”
“I’m not lying!”
“You are!”
“I swear, Orion! I’m not lying! There’s no one else.”
Orion shoved her several feet away from him, leaving her to stagger around to regain her footing. “Get the hell out of my face.”
“Just like that?” she said, the tears welling up in her eyes. “After everything we’ve been through, you’re going to toss me away? Orion, what’s wrong with you?”
“Everyone’s laughing at me,” he muttered.
“Why would they?”
“Because you’ve made a fool of me! You and that traitor are sneaking around behind my back and laughing at me. Everyone knows you are.”
“No one would say that! Talk to Ellie! She’ll tell you! Hell, you can talk to my damn dad if this is bothering you so much!”
“I wouldn’t give that man the time of day after the way he treated me.”
“He’s always treated you kindly!”
“As long as I wasn’t with you.”
“Orion…please,” Devony said, tears streaking down her freckled cheeks. “What have I done to you?”
“You’ve cheated on me! You’re nothing more than a whore.”
“You’re wrong! I never cheated on you! I swear to God, I haven’t!”
“You’re still lying. I’ve done everything for you, and this is what I get? A piece of trash that’ll sleep with anything?”
“I’m not a whore.”
“You seem so convinced.”
“That’s because it’s true. I’m not.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Of course I’m being serious!”
“Oh, well forgive me,” Orion said bitterly. “I must have mistaken you for the other red-headed junior who’s sleeping around—”
“That’s enough,” Ellie interrupted loudly as she walked back towards them. “I thought you were going to be reasonable but it’s obvious you’re still out to humiliate her. Get out of here.”
“With pleasure,” Orion said, turning away and walking back towards the school.
Ellie frowned, looking over at her friend as she rushed to her side and wrapped her in a hug. “What happened?” she asked, looking at Devony’s face with her mascara running down her cheeks.
“I’m not a whore,” she said in an upset tone.
“Something’s seriously wrong with him right now,” Ellie said, watching him storm away unsteadily. “Your boyfriend’s acting like a total nut job.”
“That guy is not my boyfriend.”
“I don’t blame you if you don’t forgive him, but he’s still your boyfriend. You’re going to have to break up with him if you want a clean slate.”
Devony jerked from her arms. “I don’t have to do a damn thing. That guy there…he’s not my boyfriend. That’s not Orion. He’s convinced himself of what isn’t true and not even God himself could change his mind.”
“So what do you want to do now?”
“I should probably go home and get cleaned up. Despite everything else, I still have to help out with this stupid tournament.”
“Do you need a ride?”
“I think I’ll jus
t walk. I need some fresh air. I should probably go pick up my coat.”
“I’ll walk with you down to the main street when you’re done,” she said, staying close to her side.
“Where could he have heard all those terrible things?” Devony muttered.
“Is he still upset?” Archer asked, appearing suddenly from between a row of cars.
“He won’t listen to me,” Devony said. “I don’t think our relationship can be saved.”
“Why? What happened? He seemed a lot calmer before.”
“He called her a whore,” Ellie said, pulling her closer. “I don’t blame her for wanting to end things. No one deserves to be treated the way he’s treating her.”
“Am I really a whore?” Devony asked Archer.
“Not that I know of,” Archer said.
“Is this really the time to be joking?” Ellie asked. “In the past few hours he’s called her a whore, a bitch, and pretty much everything else.”
“Why’s he acting like this?”
“I don’t know, Archer. I really don’t,” Devony said, the tears building up again.
“Dev!” Archer exclaimed, rushing up to her other side. “Dev, don’t cry. I’m sure he didn’t mean it.”
“He meant every horrible word,” Ellie said. “All the good guys in this school, and she’s dating one who’s calling her a whore.”
“I didn’t think he was capable of being so mean.”
“Where did he even get such a terrible idea? Who’s spreading rumors about you?”
“I don’t know,” Devony mumbled.
“Well whoever it is, we’ll figure it out,” Ellie said. “It’s probably just some asshole with nothing better to do with his time.”
“People don’t spread rumors like that simply because they’re bored,” Archer said in a low voice.
“I hope not,” Devony said, shaking her head. “Who would do such a thing?”
“I’ll say,” Ellie said. “I still don’t get where they got the idea of saying you’re cheating on him. You barely talk to any guys! I almost feel bad for Orion for being tricked like this. Whoever’s doing this may not only be bored, but jealous.”
“Why would anyone be jealous of him?” Archer asked.
“I keep telling you, people get jealous,” Ellie said. “Ugh, if I saw the person responsible for this, I’d either kick their ass or have you do it for me, Archer.”
“Lower your voice,” Archer said. “People are looking at us.”
“Screw you, Archer. I’ll talk as loud as I want. I bet whoever’s spreading rumors is the same person who convinced you that I was sleeping with Orion last year.”
“Shut the hell up.”
“No arguing,” Devony said. “I can’t take any more of it. Archer, what am I going to do? Do I even want him back at this point? Is it even worth it?”
“Love’s always worth it,” Archer said. “I’m telling you, he’s just in a bad place right now. He’s taking out his anger on you because he doesn’t know any other way. I bet his father treats his mother the same way.”
“What a thing to say!” Ellie said.
“I told you to shut up,” Archer said. “This’ll pass, Dev.”
“I don’t think it will.”
“It will pass,” he repeated, kissing the top of her head. “Now go home. Get ready for the tournament and make sure you have a big smile on your face. No more crying, you don’t want frown lines,” he said half-joking.
“And me?” Ellie asked, standing next to her car.
“Do whatever you want,” Archer said carelessly, turning back towards the school. “I have to take care of a few things.”
“You’re a good friend, Archer,” Devony sniffled. “Thank you.”
“Go home,” he said, waving. “Feel better.”
“I’ll try my best.”