Ultimatum (Dirty Secrets #1)

by Mercy Amare

  “You’re right. I am thankful for what I have, even if it isn’t much,” she says. “Actually, I was thinking about getting a job at the diner my mom works at. Her boss said she would work around cheerleading practice and school. It would be a lot of work, but then I’d finally be able to save for college. Though, it wouldn’t leave much time for hanging out with everybody.”

  “High school is temporary. There is only one year left before we all go off to college and do our own thing. I think that you should think about you and your future.”

  She nods. “I think I’ll call her up today.”

  “Good,” I say, grinning. “I wouldn’t mind getting a job if my mom would let me.”

  My mom doesn’t care about me, but she won’t let me get a job. She says I should focus on school and that I already have the money for college… why do I need a job? I want a job mostly so I can get away from her and Ben, but of course I’d never say that to her.

  Honestly, that’s why I do so much at school. I’m ready for play practice to start. That will give me something to do for a few days of the week. And if I get a solo in glee club, that will take even more of my time.

  “So where do you think Daisy is?” Frannie asks me.

  “Probably on the beach, flirting with a hot guy,” I answer. “That or she’s in a hotel room with some hot guy. Definitely anything involving a hot guy.”

  Frannie laughs. “You’re right.”

  “When she gets back, I think I might want to kick her out of our group,” I admit, biting my lip.

  “I know you do.”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t. She sounds like she’s been so nice to you guys,” I say.

  “She may have her moments, but she’s also extremely hateful. Plus, we hate seeing the way she treats you,” Frannie says. “And you have been nothing but nice to us, so we are going to take your side… no matter what you decide.”

  “Thanks, Fran.”

  She puts her around me and gives me a side hug before standing up. “I should get going. I have to pick Mom up in thirty minutes, and I want to get there early so maybe I can get the job.”

  “Good luck.”

  I watch as Frannie walks out to her parents’ 1970 model Chevy truck. She and Cassidy drive to school in it every day after they drop their mom off at work. Their stepdad has a small car that he drives to the next town over for work. He works third shift at a factory, but they’re always working overtime. Sometimes he works sixty-hour work weeks in the heat. I hate it for them. I don’t understand how people who work so hard and are such good people have so little, while Ben sits on his ass most of the time and has it all. Why is it fair that he inherited millions of dollars? Money, I might add, that my mom’s never seen a dime of. They’ve been dating for nearly two years now. He sees how hard she works. Though I guess I shouldn’t expect anymore from him. He is extremely lazy, and every day I hate him just a little bit more.

  Frannie drives off, and I head inside to start dinner. When I set the table, I set two extra plates for Jace and Thayer. They haven’t told me they’re coming yet, but they always do.

  I love that they do.

  7pm

  The guy’s an idiot.

  Dinner is my favorite time of the day. Probably because dinner involves all of my favorite people — Trey, Haliee, Jace, and Thayer. My mom and Ben are never here, and it’s just peaceful. Nobody talks, we all just sign, because nobody wants to leave Thayer out of the conversation.

  After dinner, Hailee helps me with the dishes. Just as I’m about to head upstairs, I look outside to see Trey playing one on one basketball with Thayer. Jace is sitting in the grass, just watching them play. I head outside and take a seat beside him.

  “What’s up?” he asks. It’s pretty much his standard greeting for everybody.

  “The usual,” I reply. “School, Daisy drama… you know.”

  “Have you heard anything more from the police?”

  “Detective Condie left me a message letting me know that my name is cleared from the suspect list, but that I could be called in for questioning a few more times until they find her,” I say. “They seem to think that she’s just a runaway, which is pretty accurate. She’ll be back.”

  “Too bad she won’t stay gone,” Jace says.

  “Auditions for the school play is tomorrow.”

  “I don’t even know why they have auditions. You always get the lead.”

  I smile. “That’s because I’m good.”

  “You are good at being the center of attention,” he agrees. “The spotlight follows you. Not just on stage.”

  “Whatever.”

  “I’m serious,” he says. “Can I hear you sing that song you wrote?”

  “I don’t know.” I play with a blade of grass, looking everywhere but at Jace. “It’s kind of personal.”

  “All songs are personal.”

  Finally, I will myself to look him in the eyes and kind of wish I hadn’t. His smoky green eyes are sparkling with humor. He thinks it’s funny that I’m embarrassed. He enjoys watching me suffer.

  “Jace…” my voice catches in my throat.

  “Just so you know, the guy’s an idiot.”

  I look at him in confusion. “What guy?”

  “The one you wrote the song about,” he answers. “If he doesn’t realize how special you really are, he doesn’t deserve you.”

  Oh my God.

  Jace doesn’t know.

  How can he not see the way I look at him? All the flirting… Is he really that oblivious to my feeling towards him? Can he not see that I am one hundred percent in love with him? That nobody else could ever hold my heart the way he does?

  “You deserve better, Mads,” he says.

  Thayer scores the winning basket, so Jace gets up to play him… Trey always lets Thayer win, and Thayer pretends not to notice. I think he’s secretly grateful. Trey collapses into the grass beside me.

  “Hey, sis,” he says, out of breath. “You flirting with my best friend?”

  “Is it that obvious to everybody except for him?” I ask. I try to smile, but I can’t.

  “He’ll get it. Eventually.”

  “I just… don’t understand. I’ve done everything but straight up tell him how I feel.”

  “Maybe you should just tell him,” Trey says. “I mean, it’s pretty obvious that he feels the same way.”

  I sigh. “I know, but then I wonder what if. What if he doesn’t feel the same, Trey? What if I just make things awkward between us all? I don’t want to ruin our friendship.”

  “I guess you just have to weigh the pros and cons,” he says, after a moment of consideration. “If you ask me, what the two of you have is special. You shouldn’t let fear stop you from going for something so great.”

  “Thanks,” I say, then get off the grass and go inside.

  I finish my homework and then think about what Trey said. Part of me wants to go for it, but I am not sure if I will. I just wish I knew what the outcome would be. The what-if’s in life are scary.

  Wednesday, August 27

  English

  Do you believe in love at first sight?

  Today in English, we are studying a poem. It’s a poem about love at first sight, which brings up the age old question, do you believe in love at first sight?

  I think about how I would answer that question, and to be honest I don’t know. I believe there can be attraction at first sight. And maybe lust… But love grows over a period of time. Sometimes it takes a while, but sometimes it happens very quickly.

  Jace slyly hands me a piece of paper. The teacher is watching the class pretty close today, so he can’t sign to me.

  Do you believe in love at first sight? - Jace

  I pull out my pen and write back.

  Definitely not. What about you? - Madi

  I pass the note back to him as soon as the teacher turns to write something on the board. He immediately writes something back and hands it to me.

  I fell in love
with you at first sight. But I was 4, so it doesn’t count. - Jace

  My heart beats hard against my chest.

  Jace loved me when he was four?

  It was a little slower for me. I fell in love with you the day you refused to get me help when I was stuck in that tree. I’m fearless because of you. - Madi

  I watch as Jace reads the words, and he smiles big. He writes something back and passes it to me.

  You were always so stubborn… Now tell me, who is this guy you’re crushing on? Was it love at first sight? Please tell me it’s NOT Landry. (Though I’d guess not considering he’s been in love with you since junior high and you always turn him down). - Jace

  It’s definitely not Landry. - Madi

  Then WHO? - Jace

  For a moment, I think about writing down you. If only I was brave enough, but I’m not.

  Just somebody I’ve known a long time. - Madi

  Do I know him? - Jace

  Yeah. - Madi

  Mason Holt? Him and Emma just broke up, and I know he has a crush on you. - Jace

  Yuck. No. And you should stop guessing, because you will never get it right. - Madi

  I still say he doesn’t deserve you. - Jace

  And who do YOU think deserves me? - Madi

  Somebody who has the guts to tell you how he feels. - Jace

  I don’t know how to respond to the last statement. I just fold up the note and put it in my backpack.

  When the bell rings I gather my things and start to walk to my next class. Jace runs up next to me.

  “Come on, Mads,” he says, putting his hand on my elbow. “Tell me.”

  “Ask Trey,” I say. “He knows.”

  “You know he won’t tell me… Just give me a hint.”

  I grin at him. “I’d rather watch you figure it out on your own. It’s kind of fun watching you sweat.”

  “I will figure it out,” he says, turning the opposite way. “Bye, Mads!”

  “Bye, Jace.” I stand there and watch him walk towards his class. He turns around and smiles when he sees I’m still watching him.

  I really hope he feels the same.

  Lunch

  We need to talk.

  In the lunchroom, everybody is still staring. I mean, they always stare, but this time it’s different. Like they’re waiting for one of us to break down… or maybe like they think one of us did something to Daisy.

  “This is getting ridiculous,” Emma says, as she takes her seat.

  “Right?” Hayden says. “Some freshman accused me of killing Dee. Like I would ever murder somebody.”

  “Nobody has said anything to me,” I admit.

  “That’s because everybody knows you would never do anything to Daisy. You’re too nice,” Frannie says. “A girl in my English Lit class asked to be moved because she didn’t want to sit so close to a murder suspect. We don’t even know if Daisy is dead. I bet anything she will show up tomorrow.”

  “Detective Condie called me yesterday and said I was no longer on the suspect list, but that he’d probably continue interviewing me until they find Daisy,” I tell them. “I didn’t even know I was on the suspect list to being with.”

  “I didn’t get a call like that,” Frannie says. “Does that mean they consider me a suspect?”

  “I didn’t either,” Hayden says.

  Emma and Cassidy both murmur similar answers.

  “Phew.” Frannie wipes her forehead. “I’m glad I’m not the only suspect.”

  “Maybe they never even considered you guys suspects,” I say. Though I’m not sure why they would consider me a suspect either.

  Cassidy keeps her eyes on the tray and stays quiet through most of our lunchroom conversation. It’s weird, because Cassidy is a social butterfly. You would think she and Frannie were real sisters and not stepsisters in the way they are both so outgoing.

  “Cass, are you okay?” I ask her quietly.

  Before she can answer, Landry, Mason, Robbie, and Luke take a seat at the table. Landry sits beside me a little closer than I’m comfortable with, so I scoot over slightly to get away from him. He just doesn’t understand the words I’m not interested for some reason.

  “You girls are the talk of the school,” Mason says. “All the guys on the football team are betting on which one of you killed Daisy.”

  “That’s awful!” Cassidy says, finally talking.

  “My money is on Emma,” Mason tells her. “Don’t worry, only a few guys have said it was you.”

  “Nobody has put any money on Mads,” Landry says. “Fran, you by far have the most votes.”

  Frannie rolls her eyes. “Well, it wasn’t me. And why is everybody saying she’s dead? She’s missing. We don’t know anything.”

  Landry raises his hands. “Hey, I never said it was any of you guys. I said she ran away and will come back making a big dramatic appearance. That’s just how she is. We all know it. But this is the most excitement our town has ever seen. Might as well have fun with it until she gets back. Then I’m going to make a ton of money off of this.”

  I wrinkle my nose in disgust. “I can’t believe you guys are trying to make money off of a girl disappearing. Even if that girl is Daisy, it’s just wrong. What if something really did happen to her?”

  “You know just as well as I do that Daisy is fine,” Landry says. “That girl can take care of herself.”

  “That’s not the point,” Frannie says. “The point is, you’re making bets on who killed Daisy when we don’t even know if she’s dead. And the fact that you’re blaming her best friends is just wrong.”

  Luke burst out laughing. “Come on, you girls hate her just as much as the rest of us.”

  “Exactly,” Robbie says. “Everybody in this school is secretly relieved that she isn’t here. Nobody liked her. You girls only tolerated her because she took you to cool places on her daddy’s private jet.”

  “That was only once,” Hayden says, rolling her eyes. “And we had to leave early because Dee’s mom got that DUI and had to go to rehab. I spent three hours on the jet puking, four hours in the hotel bed trying to get over my airsickness, and then another three hours puking on the way back. That trip was miserable.”

  “Like you don’t make yourself throw up already,” Robbie says. “Nobody can eat as much as you do and be as skinny are you are.”

  Hayden’s face turns as red as Cassidy’s hair. She has a temper and what Robbie said is the ultimate insult. He knows that Hayden doesn’t have an eating disorder. She works her butt off to look as good as she does. Between cheerleading and running track, she puts in about three hours each day working out. She even runs on the weekend when she’s not at school.

  I decide to step in before things get too explosive.

  “Everybody knows how hard you work to look as good as you do,” I tell Hayden. “And we all know how miserable that trip was. Daisy complained the whole time, and the next time she invited us, we turned her down.”

  “And we weren’t friends with her because of her money,” Cassidy says.

  It’s true.

  But what she doesn’t say is that we became her friend because of the power. Each one of us wanted to be popular. If that means putting up with Dee, well then, it is worth it. Or at least, it used to be worth it. Now I’m not so sure.

  Thankfully the subject of Daisy is dropped, and we all talk about the upcoming weekend. Everybody is excited for the party at Luke’s house. I can’t believe he’s still having it, considering Dee’s disappearance, but that hasn’t put a damper on anybody’s party mood.

  Cassidy is still acting strange, and I’m wondering what’s up. The lunch bell rings, and we all shuffle out of the lunchroom towards our next class. Just before I head to my drama class, Cassidy stops me and pulls me into the nearest girl’s bathroom. She looks under each of the stalls to make sure nobody is inside before she speaks.

  “We need to talk,” she whispers so quiet I almost can’t make out what she’s saying. “Meet me at the li
brary at five tonight. Nobody will see us there.”

  Without another word, Cassidy turns and walks out of the bathroom, and I watch as the door swings shut.

  What is going on with Cass?

  And what is so important that we need to meet at the library to talk?

  I guess I will find out tonight at five.

  Auditions

  Cinderella

  After school, I head to auditions for the winter play. I, of course, try out for the part of Cinderella. Mr. Matthews lets me go first, and I sit by him and watch the other girls try out. Nobody is nearly as good as me. I smile when he tells me I got the part.

  I’m excited when Lexie gets the part of Cinderella’s wicked stepmom. She and I have a lot of chemistry on stage, especially when we play mortal enemies. After the auctions are over, Lexie and I head to get a celebratory milkshake from the local ice cream shop.

  “I swear the spotlight follows you,” Lexie says, taking a sip of her strawberry shake. “None of those other girls had a chance. I don’t even know why they tried.”

  “I don’t understand why I’m good. It’s not like I’ve had any training.” I take a sip of my banana malt.

  “It’s so natural for you, I’m jealous. I bet you will have your lines memorized within a few weeks. You always make the rest of us feel like slackers,” she says, and then laughs to let me know she’s joking.