Untouched (Bay Falls High, #1)(70)
Finally, I stood up and started to walk down the bleachers.
That’s when Beth showed up.
“Sorry,” she called to me.
“Thought you were getting revenge on me.”
“Revenge?”
“For the party?”
“Oh. Seriously? I’m not like everyone else, Ti.”
“No?”
“I don’t have time for those kinds of games,” she said.
“Right,” I said. “Sorry. And I mean that. That was a bitch move by me that night.”
“You ran off with Pres,” Beth said.
“I did. I can’t figure them out, Beth. What they want with me. You know? Maybe I shouldn’t care… but I do. They’re rich. They could have anything or anyone…”
“But they want you,” Beth said.
“Right? Wouldn’t that drive you crazy?”
“Sit down, Ti,” Beth said.
I sat at the end of a row and Beth sat at the end across from me.
“I know you’re hanging with Gi and Iris…”
“Please tell me you’re not here to talk about them,” I said.
“No,” Beth said. “I mean, I could tell you things but it won’t matter. Same with them talking shit on me. It doesn’t matter."
“Okay. Good.”
“I’m just saying you’ve been hanging with them a lot. Which is fine. It’s your life. I’ve been trying to talk to you though…”
“And that’s why I’m here, Beth. I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry for how crazy things are. I’m still trying to figure all of this out.”
“Let me help,” Beth said.
“How?”
“I know what they want.”
“What?”
“You know what happens at the ditch, right?”
“I’ve been there,” I said. “I watched Kip fight.”
“Yeah. And they bet up there.”
“On the fights. Yes.”
“Not just the fights, Ti.”
“What do you mean?”
“They’re betting on you.”
“On me?” I laughed. “On me. For what?”
“For you,” Beth said.
“For me. What the hell are you talking about?”
“They know about you.”
“About me? About what?”
Beth rolled her eyes. “Damn, Ti. They know you’re a virgin.”
“What?”
“You heard me. They know you’re a virgin. And they’re betting to see who can… you know… take your v-card.”
My eyes went wide. “What?”
“You’re right. They’re rich. They’re powerful. They can get anything they want. So it’s not money they’re after with you. And it’s not because you’re the new girl. And I’m sorry, Ti, it’s not because they actually like you. They’re putting money together and whoever gets you… wins.”
I quickly stood up. “How do you know this?”
“You don’t have to believe me. You can go up to the ditch right now and see it for yourself. They do this, Ti.”
“They bet on virgins?” I asked.
Beth shrugged. “They bet on whatever they want. It’s not about the money. It’s about who could get something nobody else can. So they can brag to one another. That’s what you do when you’re rich and powerful. That’s how you become the biggest asshole of the rich assholes.”
I swallowed hard. “Virgin?”
“I don’t know how they found out,” Beth said. “Unless you told them…”
“No,” I said. “I never talked about that.”
“I wanted to tell you sooner. Before things got too crazy. I hope you didn’t…”
“What? No!”
My cheeks warmed as I thought about kissing them.
I had kissed each one of them. And then yesterday when they had me pinned against the building… how much I enjoyed that…
“I’m sorry,” Beth said. “I fucking hate them. I hate the Rulz so much. You saw what they did to Denny. That’s what they do. They don’t care about anything or anyone. They will literally do or say whatever it takes to get you to fall for them.”
I slowly nodded.
I looked to the field.
So that’s what it was.
It was about me. But I was some kind of… what? Not a prize. No. I wasn’t the prize. I was just something to enjoy for a second and then toss away. Like… a toy?
I was a toy to them.
“I just wanted you to know,” Beth said. “If there’s anything I can do…”
“You said they’re up there now?” I asked. “At the ditch?”
“Yeah,” Beth said. “I’ll go with you.”
“No,” I said. I grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “I need to see this for myself. I need to think.”
“Okay.”
Beth frowned.
I hurried down the bleachers and turned to look up at her one last time.
She gave a weak wave.
I gave one back.