Read Lying to Live for Free Online

began a game of horse on one end of the court, while a group of guys played three on three on the other side. After the first game, Julius started to loosen up.
    â€œYou’re better than I expected you to be,” Julius stated. “I guess dating a star basketball player has it perks.”
    Denim bounced the ball and took a shot, missing the goal.
    â€œTo tell you the truth, I could play ball before I started dating Dré. I have an older brother, and we used to play together all the time.”
    Julius bounced the ball and took a shot, hitting it. He turned to her and said, “I know you picked up something from being around Dré.”
    Denim knocked the basketball out of his hand, and while dribbling it, she said, “You underestimate my skills. I see I’m going to have to stop playing with you.”
    â€œOh, is that what you’ve been doing?” he asked with a chuckle.
    She took the shot from the spot where Julius had previously made his basket and got nothing but the net.
    â€œDamn!” Julius yelled, because he had taken the shot from almost center court.
    Denim put her hands on her hips before moving to another area on the court and said, “I tried to tell you. Now we’re going to do this by my rules.” She made a baseline shot and said, “Instead of playing horse, we’re going to do algebra.”
    â€œAre you serious?” Julius asked, pouting somewhat as he dribbled the ball.
    â€œDon’t whine, Julius. Algebra is the reason we’re spending time together, right?”
    â€œWhatever,” he answered as he missed his shot.
    â€œOkay, I’m going to mix things up a little bit,” she explained. “I’m going to ask you algebra questions, and if you get it right, you get to ask me questions. Get it wrong, I get to ask you other questions not pertaining to algebra. Is that fair?”
    Julius was a little reluctant to agree to her terms, but he eventually decided to go along with her. Denim wasted no time asking Julius to solve algebra equations they had been studying. Some he got right, and some he got wrong. When he got a particular question wrong, Denim decided to ask him a very personal question.
    â€œSince you missed that shot, here’s your first question not related to algebra.”
    Julius looked at her in anticipation of the question and clenched his teeth.
    â€œWhy were so tense in the library earlier? And I want the truth, Julius Graham.”
    He blushed and dribbled the basketball without making eye contact with her.
    â€œStop stalling,” Denim demanded. “You have to answer the question without hesitation.”
    He shot the ball and hit the shot. “I wasn’t tense. It’s just that I have stuff on my mind.”
    â€œWhat kind of stuff?” she asked, pushing him for a more direct answer. “You’re not being bullied, are you?”
    â€œNo, I’m not being bullied. It’s personal, and it’s making it hard for me to concentrate.”
    Denim looked at her watch and noticed that their time together had ended and it was time to go. “We don’t have a lot time to waste, Julius, so whatever you have that’s messing with your head, take care of it, because report cards will be coming out soon.”
    He stared off across the basketball court at the other students without replying. Denim could tell he was definitely distracted, and she needed to snap him out of it. What she didn’t know was how serious his distraction was.
    â€œI’ll make sure I’m on top of my game before report cards come out,” he finally told her.
    The last thing he wanted was to put Denim in danger, and he knew he had to be as elusive as possible.
    â€œI hope so, because I hate that you’re letting something keep you from handling your business with me,” she said as she retrieved the basketball. “I’m here if you ever want to