Technically, You Started It
Page 19
I don’t know anymore.
Twice in one week is too much?
She really wants me to like him.
Does she know you call him CHUCK?
Not yet.
Do you scream “I HATE YOU!” whenever you see him and then storm off to your room?
I’m quite polite to him I’ll have you know.
How polite?
REALLY polite?
Like, your-grandma-at-a-charity-event polite?
Perhaps …
That’s how she knows you don’t like him.
I don’t NOT like him.
I just don’t want him to keep trying to impress me every five seconds.
Have you tried explaining that?
It seems to come out as more of a challenge.
How so?
He tries harder.
Well, maybe you could try a little?
I do try!!!
I mean, maybe pretend to be impressed?
Then I sound patronizing.
You don’t.
There was a whole banana split three years ago about how intimidating I am to the men in her life.
Well, you ARE a Martin Munroe.
Captains of industry quiver at your footsteps.
People everywhere long for you wistfully in their dreams.
Whatever.
Okay, so, right, I get the patronizing.
Maybe just go along with it?
Be sullen or something.
Sullen?
Yes, pout.
Pretend for about five seconds to be a regular human teenager and not a future god among men or whatever.
Sullen.
You can’t do it.
Oh no. I can
I’ll think of something I really want and pretend it doesn’t want anything to do with me.
Yes, good, that will work.
I’m glad you approve.
You’re definitely getting it now.
I have to deliver some updated plans to a custom cabinet builder.
Isn’t there email for that?
He’s “folksy.”
Hipsters.
Right?
I’m still at supper
But he just offered to pay for my college education.
Quick
How do I tell him thanks but no thanks without reminding him of the fact that the family trust is worth more than his whole company????????
You suck at this.
I REALLY do.
Thank him kindly, but say that your grades are quite good and cost likely won’t be a concern.
Imply scholarships.
Do you think that will work?
If that doesn’t work, just stare at your shoes.
Shoes it is!!!
Lexi is over and she has a distinctly unfun plan for Friday Funday.
I’m sorry for interrupting.
No, you’re fine.
Good luck!
Thanks.
When you have a second …
Could I ask you some questions?
You know, as an internet friend.
If you aren’t busy.
Why are you up???
Too much thinking.
Shouldn’t you be in lockup?
Nah, my parents went out for once.
What are you up to?
Nothing.
Still doing the sullen thing?
I’m getting good at it
Had a lot of practice.
One evening?
Why aren’t you sleeping?
Sullen
Remember?
Oh, I just thought …
???
Grandsons of a mogul whose family trust could buy and sell small nations slept like babes in the woods.
Can’t sleep
Important stuff to do.
Such as?
Mogul’s grandchildren are obligated to finish all their dailies and correct girls with wildly inaccurate ideas of what happens in Montreal at all hours.
Whatever, Francis.
You’re smiling.
Am not.
But you had a question?
It’s ridiculous.
I shouldn’t ask.
Too late. Now I’m curious.
This is such a girl thing.
Like, I tried to talk to Lexi about it, but she just made it worse.
And I spent my whole day thinking.
Are you just full-on treating me like a girl???
This is harsh even for you.
Shut up.
You know what I mean.
Ask.
Okay, Francis.
Why aren’t things easy when you like someone?
Why are you asking ME that?
I told you it was ridiculous.
Pretend I didn’t ask.
Too late
Asked.
No, un-asked. Un-asked!
I was reading a really interesting article about female hormone replacements the other day.
NO, I’m answering the question!!!
I don’t know why things are NEVER easy when you REALLY like someone.
You’re useless.
Useless AND sullen for that very reason.
Why are you asking?
Part of the fight with Chloe.
???
I mean.
She’s basically stolen my best friend. But SHE’S mad at ME about something that isn’t even really a thing.
And I guess Sarah’s crush might have actually become something and she still hasn’t even told me about it.
I mean, I get why she wouldn’t talk to me about it. I don’t even know how to tell if I really like someone, let alone make it into something real.
You’ve gone out with a ton of girls. How do you even do that?
Just go up and say, “Hey, you’re cute. Let’s date”?
I wasn’t aware I had gone out with nearly as many girls as I apparently have until I met you.
But it’s not always that easy.
Why not?
There’s a lot of other stuff in the way?
Like friends?
And history
Previous bad choices
Fear
Mostly fear.
What could you possibly be afraid of?
You’d be surprised.
I just hate not knowing what’s up and what’s down.
I hate that everyone seems to know what’s really going on with me but me.
I hate that I’m stuck in this surreal situation.
Stuck in what?
…
I should probably go.
Are your parents back?
What?
No.
I just …
You should probably go?
Yeah.
Good night, Haley.
Good night, friend.
I forgot to ask last night: How did the rest of supper go?
I couldn’t really help myself.
Uh-oh.
I MAY have mentioned Munroe Finance
And Munroe Capital.
You didn’t.
There may have ALSO been a conversation about my aunt’s latest boyfriend.
The documentary filmmaker?
No. She’s back with the fashion designer.
Oh good.
I never liked that other dude.
His movies sucked.
He would have made things super tense at holidays.
Why?
His big money exposé on the banking industry is being submitted to Sundance.
Awkward!
Right?
So, basically, what you’re saying is that you entirely failed at even managing sullen.
I told him he’s got good taste.
You didn’t.
In the pho place?
He may have turned red.
How mad is your mom?
WE decided I am spending the weekend at my father’s
You’re being punished by being sent back to the bachelor pa
d?
SHE didn’t think SHE wanted to look at me right then.
Oh no.
Are you okay?
Not the worst thing that’s happened to me this week.
Did something else happen?
What are YOU doing today?
Oh, right.
Friday Funday.
I told you. Lexi has a plan for Sarah and Chloe and me to “clear the air.”
That sounds …
Fraught.
Exactly.
What about you?
Going out
Don’t want to.
Sugar crash?
Something like that.
Well, good luck rallying.
Good luck with whatever Lexi has in store.
Lexi’s plan …
It isn’t an Escape Room … is it?
Yeah. Where’d you hear that?
Uhm
Well
See you there?
NO!
Yes.
Just you?????
Me
Gabe
Wade
II
Jack
She said she had a full room. I figured it was her art friends.
II decided he REALLY needs out of a locked room.
I really need out of this.
You want out?
I’m literally trapped in Lexi’s mom’s car this second.
We’re in a drive-thru.
There’s no getting out.
It won’t be THAT bad.
I can’t believe she’d do this to me.
To us.
I thought she wanted to fix whatever was going on with Sarah and Chloe.
Breathe.
We’ll be locked in a room for an hour.
There will be puzzles!
No wonder Lexi’s been smiling like that.
Oh god. Why me?
Are you worried Chloe will say something in front of everyone?
Just … do me a favor.
Pretend you don’t know me.
If you can keep your cousin away …
No, won’t matter.
Do you need me to get out of this?
NO!
I need you there.
Promise me.
???
When Chloe’s around, make sure NO ONE talks to me.
Not a single Martin will talk to you around Chloe
I promise.
And Jack too.
You know, for safety.
OK …
Trust me.
If we don’t, the murder we’ll be solving will be mine.
I don’t get why you’re doing this.
Lexi begged.
Now I know why …
I’ve gotta drive
Will you be all right?
Trying to remember how to breathe.
I swear we’re going to need a real necromancer if anyone expects both of us to make it out of here alive.
Where are you?
Chloe’s on my very last nerve.
Why does she think she’s the boss?
She’s not the boss.
We’re ALL in the same advanced classes.
She’s not freaking smarter than us.
Of course she’s not.
No one’s even listening to her except you
It’s fine
If she keeps bossing me around, I may not be able to handle it.
Seriously where are you?
I’m under the tilter …
The what?
The round table in the corner.
The one with the lace on it?
You’re hiding under a table texting me?
“Hiding” is a strong word …
You’re hiding from her!
I’m not hiding from her.
I’m avoiding her.
There’s a difference.
You don’t have to hide from her.
Get out here and let’s solve the puzzle so she knows she’s not the smartest one here.
I am solving the puzzle.
I’m not hiding. I told you.
This is the table they use to commune with the specters.
The what?
Ghosts of the dead nobility.
When the specter manifests, where do you think that will happen?
You found a clue?
Of course I did!
It’s a cipher.
So bring it out so we all can see.
I’d rather hide …
You’re going to get eaten by a ghost.
Specters consume other nobles, not people.
Then why do we care if it appears?
Because they DO turn them into mindless drones. Have you not read ANY of the books???
Why would I have read these books?
Useless!!!
Utterly.
But let me have a chance at that cipher and we’ll see if I stay that way.
Oh fine.
That wasn’t so bad.
We failed the room.
But we didn’t use a hint!
Chloe screamed at me.
And then that clown screamed at her.
…
You promised you’d keep him away.
She brought this on herself.
We could have vanquished the specter so easily, but everything imploded.
This was from one of your kissing books, wasn’t it?
A poor approximation AT BEST.
You don’t have to win them all.
I could have won if you three were home playing 3v3 instead.
But I’m not
I’m here
And since we’re here we should talk.
You think?
Where are you?
I’ll find you.
No, I think I see you …
Be right there.
Wait
Give me a second.
Where are you?
Are you still here?
Did you make it home OK?
Where did you end up?
Are you there?
Why aren’t you answering?
Did something happen???
Mr. Munroe?
Yes
Is there a reason you’re saved under “Francis the Canadian”?