True Colors (The Masks #1)(56)

Chapter 25




The silence that followed nearly killed me. If they didn’t go for this, I would have failed on an epic scale and Micah felt the same way. He was still fighting his rage, and I was worried if Indie refused that he might lose it and take matters into his own hands. I could tell he wanted to beat the shit out of Liam, but if he did, his chances of playing basketball in college were over. I didn’t want him to miss out on that.

I felt bad for getting him involved and was about to start a speech about how we just needed to survive the last two months of school and then we could rescue Indie over the summer, when...

“I want out.” Libby’s soft statement pierced the restless quiet we were sitting in. “I don’t care about the consequences anymore. I hate living in fear like this. I’d rather just go back to being unpopular, fat Libby Phelps.”

Turning in my seat, I read her to make sure it wasn’t just bravado talking, but she was being honest. I squeezed her forearm.

I then looked to Indie, ready to plead if I had to. She was gazing at Libby’s determined face, her weak one fighting with a maelstrom of emotions I couldn’t keep up with. I popped her mask back into place to give my eyes a breather.

“You’re brave, Libby.” Indie said softly. “But you’re not fat and you never deserved to be unpopular, because you’re one of the nicest people I know.” She glanced at me then turned to smile at Micah. “You all are.” She reached for his hand. “I never thought getting out would be an option for me. I’ve just been trying to survive...put on a show to keep everybody happy. To keep myself safe.” She licked her bottom lip. “But I’m not safe and I really want to be.”

Micah threaded his fingers through hers and ran his other hand over her head. She was so petite beside him. I smiled watching their interaction and thinking once again about how Micah was the strong tower Indie could recover in.

“Indie, can you help us put an end to this?”

Her blue eyes remained transfixed by Micah’s sweet gaze. “Liam keeps a record of all the money collected. He has the names of every person who has ever paid him and the names of all the people who work for him, locker combinations...everything.”

“Where is that?”

“It’s on his computer.”

“At school?”

“No, it’s a different computer. He keeps it in the vault in my dad's office."

“Okay, so do you think you can put those files on a memory stick and bring it to school? We could maybe...” I felt guilty saying it and shot Libby a nervous glance. “Take it to Dean Van der Belt?”

“Man, that’s terrifying.” Libby bit her lip, her skin almost white. “But it’s less terrifying than Liam.” She was surprised by her words, but then nodded. Yep, they were true and it made me realize just how powerful the guy was.

Indie looked ready to pass out, but she did nod...sort of.

“Indie.” Micah’s voice was deep, yet soft. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“No.” She shook her head. “If he catches you in the house, he’ll...I don’t want him to hurt you.”

“And I don’t want him to hurt you.” His eyes blazed. “So I’m coming.”

Her smile was soft and fleeting, but I caught the relief in it.

“We don’t want either of you getting caught. What’s Liam schedule for the rest of the day?”

Indie pursed her lips. “Liam keeps tabs on me, waits for me after every class. I can’t skip and I won’t be able to get away.”

“What about staging another study session?” I asked.

“He already hates that I’m meeting with you guys and he’s only letting me do it so I can keep an eye on you.” She winced.

I waved my hand, hoping to put her at ease. “Don’t worry about it. It’s actually worked in our favor. Do you think you can swing the lie that this morning was just a normal study session?”

A sad smile spread over her lips. “I spend most of my life lying to those around me, so I’m well-practiced.”

My brow wrinkled as I shot her a sympathetic look. “It still doesn’t get you back to your house alone though.” I nibbled my lip.

“I’m free last period so I can leave any time after two,” Micah said. “We just need to think of a way to get Indie out.”

“Do you think you could fake being sick after lunch?”

Indie shook her head. “He’d make me wait with the nurse and then insist on driving me home.”

“Well, what if Micah came into the nurse after Liam had dropped you, snuck you out and then took you home? Would 50 minutes be long enough to download the files and get back again?”

“It’d be tight and how would we get past the nurse?”

I grimaced, hating the fact that I had no idea. I dropped my head into my hands, not wanting to let my frustrations show.

“You know what, as soon as Liam finds out what I’ve done, I’m dead anyway. What’s skipping class?” Indie’s voice held a note of strength to it. She squeezed Micah’s hand. “Libby, you’ve got double Physics with Liam after lunch, right?”

She nodded, sitting forward in her seat.