Unproven Chapter Twenty Four "Unflattering Nicknames and Scuba Instructors"

If you're loved by someone, you're never rejected, decide what to be and GO BE IT
-The Avett brothers

Recommend Reading Introduction to Unproven

DEFINITELY READ Prologue

Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three

Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six

Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten Chapter ElevenChapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty One

**Chapter Twenty Two Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Four

“So did you hear about Sonya and Gary?” Amanda asked as she dropped on Andie’s bed.

Andie nodded and rolled her eyes. “You know if she’s not careful she’s gonna get a nickname, and not a flattering one.”

Ary laughed, “Come on, there’s only been John, okay and now Gary, but two guys doesn’t earn you the reputation of a slut, especially when you haven’t even spread your legs yet.”

“Yeahhh, but being called BJ is not a whole lot better.”

“Only two guys,” Ary repeated defensively.

“What about that actor?” Amanda piped in, “Cooper Dallas?”

“Right, because that really happened,” Andie snorted.

Ary made a face, “Why does she do that? It’s so obvious when she’s making up a story, she gets this look on her face; this suddenly serious emphatic look.”

“I don’t know but it’s starting to get on my nerves, especially when I try to call her on it and she goes,’Nooo, I’m serious,’ in that high-pitched whiny tone.” Amanda gave them a look of long-suffering.

“And,” Andie added, “whether or not she actually blew the actor she comes across as the slut you’re insisting she isn’t, or the liar she certainly is.”

“Seriously,” Amanda nodded, “it’s embarrassing.”

“Okay, okay, let’s not bash her when she’s not around to defend herself, it’s catty,” Ary stated, “she’s a bard that’s all, at least her fake stories are inventive and entertaining. And as far as the guys go, she’s just having a little fun, it’ll settle down. We love her and none of us are perfect either.”

“You’re so right Ary, what would we ever do without your moral fiber?” Andie teased, dodging Ary’s smack of retaliation.

Ary’s phone rang and she smiled as she answered, “Hey!”

“Hey babe. Ready for tomorrow?”

“I’ve been ready for days,” she laughed.

“Okay, I’m gonna pick you up in about fifteen minutes, you’re at Andie’s?”

“Yup.”

“We have to do some last minute shopping then get a good night’s sleep, jet leaves bright and early.”

“See you soon.”

She disconnected and grinned at the looks of exaggerated jealousy on her friends’ faces. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring you back souvenirs.”

“Gee thanks,” Andie intoned, “how about one of those hot Hawaiian Scuba instructors, now that’s a souvenir I could appreciate.”

“Oh and we’re calling Sonya a slut? Poor Toby.” Ary waggled her brows and laughed as Andie through a pillow at her.

“There’s no ‘poor Toby’ about it,” Andie retorted, “We’re just friends with benefits, nothing more.”

“Like I said, we’re calling Sonya a slut?” Ary repeated with a grin.

"Ha-ha. Hey, I meant to ask, what did you tell Nanna you were doing?" Andie raised a brow.

"Oh...I left her a note saying I was going on a trip with a group of people from school, I wasn't specific." Ary frowned, feeling a little guilty. She'd been spending a great deal of time at Andie's this summer as far as her grandma knew, which was true, though she was at Grayson's more. Oh well, what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her.

Andie was still looking at her with one eyebrow raised and she shrugged, "I think she's okay with it, I haven't heard otherwise."

"Okayyy," Andie responded with a hint of skepticism.

Ary made a face and grabbed her purse. If Nanna had a problem with her new social life she was going to have to be verbal about it. She started for the door and her friends followed.

When Grayson pulled up she gave the girls a hug and he rolled down his window, “Maybe I’ll take everyone on a trip next time, how do you girls feel about the Bahamas?”

“Oh hell yes!” Amanda exclaimed.

Andie smiled slightly, “I could live with that.”

Ary got in the car and waved as they pulled out of the driveway. God her life was good.

**

Grayson lay with his arms folded behind his head listening to Ary’s steady breathing beside him. He glanced at her face, the picture of serenity, then looked away, forcing himself to stay numb, not allowing doubt to creep up.

His plan was truly under way. He’d called Dori and filled her in on some of the details. She'd always been a valuable asset in the past, though he was careful to never let her see the full picture. She was not stupid however, she understood plenty, and he could trust her because she had her own agenda. A powerful friend was a good thing to have in the world, and in her eyes she was racking up the favors.

He turned back toward Ary and her peaceful expression pulled at him. He traced a finger down the side of her cheek. If only you could stay like this, he thought, not a care in the world.

She can. It was a tempting thought. Rather than tearing her down to her basic nothingness he could preserve who she was by protecting her from everything. He would never have to worry about his dick again because the sex was phenomenal.

But there were a couple of problems with this happy scenario. No matter how much she adored him now, he had little doubt she was as weak as the rest of the sheep, and weakness led to betrayal. And of course there was the small matter of his father who would never allow it. The statute of limitations for his high school ‘relationships’ was three months, so even if he managed to hide ditching the game plan, once the three months were up they would be screwed.

He grimaced and closed his eyes, accepting the situation. Once she saw people and things for what they really were, saw herself for what she really was, she would crumble like the rest of them. Then it would either be therapy or religion so she could ‘blame her mother’ or lie to herself. Hide from the truth like the rest of the slaves instead of facing it down and coming to terms.

Or he could let her go and let life accomplish it instead. It might buy her a few more years, hell, she might even find a way to hold her illusions for far longer, there were those who did. He sighed and closed his eyes. No. It was better he continue or he might find himself in the same boat as the rest of the ignorant masses, using her as that treacherous and evil thing called hope.

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