Hickville Confessions: A Hickville High Novel Read Online Free

Smiled again.
    “It’s not the Chicago River. But it’s a great place to hang out.” He raised his brows as though he were waiting for her approval.
    “It’s cute.”
    He turned the engine off, but the radio played on. He crumpled the empty chip bag and stuffed it in one of the plastic sacks. He sat back and took a long swig of Coke. When he turned to her, she saw more than concern in his face. Repulsion? “Ryan, what happened to you tonight was horrible. I don’t know why they did it and I don’t really care. Anybody who’d do that to another human being is sick.”
    God, how bad was her face? What if they’d scarred her for life?
    She flicked the visor down and checked her reflection in the mirror. She looked like a circular sander had attacked her. Most of the damage was around her mouth. Tears threatened again, followed by a wave of fear that her face might be permanently damaged.
    She slung open the passenger door, jumped from the truck, and ran toward the water. Justin followed, hollering frantically, “Ryan! Wait!” As she reached the bank, he grabbed her and pulled her back. He held her against him. “Don’t. You don’t know what’s down there.”
    She pushed him away. “I wasn’t going to jump.”
    He took a step back and held up his hands. “I’m sorry. The way you took off, I thought…”
    She shook her head. “No. I’m not that stupid. I just needed some air. Besides, I don’t want them to get away with this.” She hadn’t realized it until she’d said the words, but she was pissed. She may not have qualified for the Purity Club, but nobody deserved what they’d done to her. A cool breeze kicked up, offering solace to her face and strength to her spirit.
    She turned and faced the water with her arms outstretched in the wind. From that horrible night at Loren’s party two years ago until tonight, she’d let people dictate her actions. “I will not be a victim.”
    “Good.” He reached toward her and she stepped away.
    “Tonight, the warrior is born.”
Hell, yeah. If this were a movie, Katie Perry would be singing
Roar
in the background.
    “Damn right.” This time he didn’t try to touch her, but he looked totally at a loss for what to do. “Ah, hey, Ryan? Wanna take that warrior attitude back a few feet? You are real close to the edge of the cliff. You can’t see it in the dark, but it’s about a ten-foot drop to limestone.”
    She dug her toes in and a wisp of dirt fell away under them. She jumped back and fell on her bottom. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
    He helped her up. “You were having a moment.” He flashed those dimples. “Truck?”
    “Yeah.” She felt a little shaky as she walked back. She wasn’t sure if it was from her newfound strength, nearly falling to her death, or those dimples. But holy crap, if it was the dimples, it’d destroy her.
    So I won’t let it be the dimples. After tonight, we’ll be strangers again.
     
    *
     
    Justin shivered as he climbed behind the wheel. “Mind if I turn the heat on?” She shook her head and he started the engine. This had to be the weirdest night of his entire life. Who was this girl? She’d scared the crap out of him when she’d torn out toward the river. His heart pounded just thinking about what could have happened.
    He wasn’t sure if she was crazy or cool, but either way, he liked it. She curled up sideways on the passenger side again and he spread his suit coat over her. He watched her try not to open her mouth as a yawn escaped, and his gut tightened at the pain that crossed her face when she failed. He clenched the steering wheel to keep from reaching out to her. He had a feeling that would win him another view of the warrior.
    It was after five and the sun was breaking on the horizon. He turned to her. “Ryan, I’m taking you home.” It wasn’t a question and she didn’t argue. She nodded and tried to stifle another yawn.
    She gave him directions and he backed up. The trestle was halfway