Now I needed to tell Evie I had changed my mind, and was going to Jake’s after all. Even though she didn’t want me there.
For all intents and purposes, we had to make it look like I had been interrogated, and then reprimanded. Shane and his friends had eyes and ears all over the school. We had to be careful not to let any of them know this was an agreement to work together – to set the wrongs to right; that Shane was about to lose his throne. It would be the biggest plot Whitley Prep had ever seen. Blood against blood. But it was more than that. Once and for all the lines of hatred and game playing that pitted one student against the other could be erased.
Apart from Professor Coleman, the other faculty members were to be informed at a meeting that would take place later. I was to be dismissed immediately and taken downtown for supposed questioning, as well as a drug test, just to be sure I had nothing to hide. Aunt Claudie was briefed over the phone while I stayed seated in the office. I was still a minor, but I also knew it was so I wouldn’t be given the third degree when I was finally released to go home.
I left Headmaster Whitley’s office knowing two things: one, I was going to Jake’s party to set up Shane Whitley. And two: there was no way I would make it to Evie’s by four o’clock.
***
Aunt Claudie shook her head at me. “When on earth did all this happen?”
I pulled my eyes from the window and looked over at her. I had been mesmerized by the horizon painfully whizzing past at twenty-five miles per hour; how the landscape slowly changed from grass to black top. Aunt Claudie at the wheel was an unusual sight, and since precipitation wasn’t an issue, it was safe to assume it was my fault. I’d offered to drive, especially after taking a look at the time displayed on the dashboard, but she wouldn’t have it.
I was never going to make it to Evie’s.
I was able to zone out for a few minutes as we drove home from the police station. Now and then her tongue would click against her teeth, a habit of hers when she worried and needed to sort things out in her head. I remembered my dad used to do the same thing, and I used to laugh at him because it sounded funny. Now, it brought back a hollow memory of him and the pit of my stomach ached as I realized Aunt Claudie was truly distressed over today.
“Just this week,” I muttered softly. When did all this start? When did my life suddenly get so complicated?
I watched her knuckles grip the steering wheel as she continued to shake her head and stare out the windshield. I knew she wanted to turn away from the road and look at me, but she was smart and didn’t. She shook her head again, the gray curls framing her face bobbed to and fro.
Aunt Claudie must have been doing her hair when the call from school interrupted her, and I smiled to myself as I pictured her answering the phone, her head piled high with rollers and bobby pins.
“All my life, Chase, I never thought you’d get mixed up in something like this. Aren’t schools like yours supposed to prevent this? Gangs? Drugs?”
“Whitley doesn’t have a gang, Aunt Claudie.” Well, technically, it did. But not the type she was picturing.
“Has this boy threatened you in any way? I just don’t understand.”
“He’s just used to getting his way.” My head turned back to the blurry horizon. I wasn’t about to tell her Shane had cornered me in the bathroom. If she knew he had threatened me about the accident, about my scars, she’d pull me out of that school faster than anything. Aunt Claudie was determined to protect me from my past, but I couldn’t let that happen. Not when Evie was vulnerable too.
In fact, I was surprised the details weren’t fully brought up when Headmaster Whitley called her. My aunt was under the impression that I would go about attending Whitley like normal, and that I was being called upon to do a favor for Headmaster Whitley, who handled the issue not only with tact, but with secrecy, giving Aunt Claudie the impression that I would come out more like a hero than anything—which made her smile.
“And this boy is the principal’s nephew?”
“He’s called a Headmaster, Aunt Claudie. Headmaster Whitley.”
Again, the tsk’ing sound floated across the console between us. I turned in my seat, feeling the need to reassure her that it would all work out just fine.
“It’s because he is the Headmaster’s nephew. Shane’s under the impression he can get away with anything. At least his uncle is doing his job—which is putting their relationship aside to punish him like anyone else at school.”
Well, sort of. I did leave out the tiny fact that there was a minor concern about scandal, but I gave my Headmaster credit for seeing the bigger picture and wanting to get Shane some help, instead of special treatment.
“I certainly hope so,” Aunt Claudie uttered a deep sigh. “You’ve been through enough. I think its best you stay away from those boys.”
Like that would be easy. Shane and his friends were everywhere around school. They were impossible not to cross paths with. Furthermore, I was going to need an excuse in order to get to Jake’s party. Getting out of one deal was hard enough. Getting out of two would be impossible.
Chapter Eighteen
Evie
“Infractions go on your permanent record. It’s in the handbook.”
Startled, I looked up to see Shane’s steel blue eyes, and shuddered, wondering how long he’d been standing there. Chase had followed a very stern, very tight-lipped Professor Coleman down and never returned. The last time a student had been pulled unexpectedly into the
Headmaster’s office was three years ago, when an upperclassman named Lawrence Eagan was caught arranging the terms of polynomials on the inside of his wrist for Advanced Algebra during his free period on The Green. Apparently, Lawrence found he was the human equivalent for x, and was expelled.
Shane looked at his watch and sighed, leaning comfortably against the locker behind him.
“It’s not looking good for our friend, is it?”
“Who said he was your friend?” Shane was up to something. “Maybe he forgot something in
English class?” But even I couldn’t kid myself. The look on Prof Coleman’s face had nothing to do with forgetting a pencil.
“Could be,” Shane shrugged. Without my asking, he reached into my locker, plucked my coat from the center hook, and handed it to me. It was a simple gesture that would have weakened my knees a month ago. It was chivalrous and sweet and would easily make any girl passing my locker green with jealousy. I took it without offering a thank you in exchange.
Shane’s hand cupped my chin, and lifted it. “Hmm,” he crooned. I knew he was studying his handiwork on my cheek. Fuming, I yanked my face from his hand, slammed my locker shut and thrust my arms into the sleeves of my navy pea coat, prepared to high tail it in the direction that would take me farthest away from him.
“You’re spending a lot of time with that Mitman kid.”
I wasn’t sure if he expected an answer, because he wasn’t going to get that from me either.
Everything I had heard in the upstairs hallway resurfaced to my ears, as if I was still hiding behind the stairwell partition; his snide tone talking to Jake, words like acid from his lips – the words that said what I really meant to him. I’d heard him lash out about others before, but actually hearing him talk that way about me, was indescribable. And, funny that Shane should be here now, in this very corridor, as I waited for Chase. It was almost as if he knew . . .
I knew Shane well enough to understand what he had just said wasn’t an observation. It was a threat. I spun around, despite my original intentions to walk away, and glared at him.
“Why are you here?”
“Why wouldn’t I be here?” he answered lightly. “You’re my girlfriend. It’s the end of the day and I thought I’d walk you to your bus.” He stepped a little closer. “Unless, you’d rather I take you home, I can arrange that.”
Girlfriend? So not feeling that one anymore. He was playing with me. I was the mouse and he was the cat. What did that make
Chase, the cheese?
“I need to go,” I blurted out and began to walk away, only he followed me. I bit down on the side of my tongue and refused to turn around.
At the end of the corridor was the main foyer, and just beyond that was the Headmaster’s office, its door still shut. A closed door could only mean something of significant importance was taking place behind it. I wondered if Chase was still inside. I wondered what they were talking about, but I couldn’t pause to listen. Shane was still on my heels. My palms began to sweat as I pictured Chase sitting in a chair near the big, elaborate desk while Headmaster Whitley read him the riot act. Deep in my gut, I had a feeling Shane knew why.
I pushed myself into the crowd, hoping to separate myself from my irritating shadow, and soon, I was in a sea of people, filing out to the buses that lined up at the front of the school. Daring to turn my head, I scanned over the tops of everyone around me, positive I would find Shane standing at the top of the steps watching me, only he was nowhere to be found.
***
Things were back to normal. I came home to an empty house, thankful not to walk into another one of Mom’s casual business meetings. Recalling Mr. What’s-his-name’s seedy stare gave me the willies. It was as if he knew what I looked like naked. I ignored the feeling and used the time to write my thoughts down about what was going on in my life while I waited for Chase.
At 4:22, I set my diary down walked over to my dresser, and peered into the mirror. My bruise didn’t look much better than when I left the house this morning, despite the makeup.
The long narrow strip of discoloration that extended to my chin was definitely darker than the rest, but was easily hidden beneath my hair. I wondered how long it would take before it truly disappeared. It would go through the stages of deep violet and black, to blue, then to a sickening yellow green before returning to skin color again. That could take days. Weeks. No matter how long it took, I would still be able to see it long after it faded away. I would always be able to feel the sting of Shane’s hand every time I thought of it. My cheek wasn’t the only thing wounded last night, that was for sure, and the way Shane had looked at me today made it feel all the more obvious.
4:27.
I wondered whether telling Chase about Shane’s secrets today in the library was a wise decision.
He would never go and repeat what I had said to Shane . . . would he?
I was being silly. Of course he wouldn’t.
I’m being paranoid, that’s all, just paranoid.
The sound of a car pulling up to the house broke my self-torturous stupor. Chase. But the tires pulled alongside the house and disappeared behind, instead of parking out front.
I repositioned my hair to fall smoothly against my face, and went downstairs. It was pretty unusual for one of my parents to come home this time of day. It shouldn’t be the case, but it was. Most parents work nine-to-five. Mine were never predictable. Then, the willies washed over me again as I pictured my mom and Mr. Make-My-House-Look-Like-A-Museum downstairs.
My dad, tired and unshaven, let himself into the kitchen. He tossed his briefcase and keys onto the counter and shrugged himself out of his coat, “Hey, pumpkin.”
I melted at his words and the way the lines crinkled gently around his eyes then threw myself into his arms, and gave a long squeeze. A few minutes later he pulled away and peeked into the dining room.
“Your mom isn’t home yet?”
Ha! That was a laugh. When was she ever home?
“Uh, no, guess I’m on dinner duty. What would you like?” I decided now was a good time as any to turn away before he noticed anything odd about my face. I walked to the freezer, pulled it open, and began to take inventory, hiding my disappointment that Chase was a no show while I pulled frozen broccoli and pork cutlets from the drawer.
“I’m sorry, sweetie.”
“Sorry for what? You don’t like broccoli?”
“Only with cheese on top,” he gave a worn laugh. “No, I’m talking about how much we leave you alone here.”
Slowly, I let the freezer door swing closed and pressed against it so the seal would stick. “Oh, it’s not so bad. I like being by myself.”
“It’s not okay, so stop defending the situation.”
“I’m a lawyer’s daughter.” I said with a smile. I watched my dad rest his chin against the open palm of his hand. He worked so hard to give us what my mother insisted, even though we didn’t need half of it. Instead it seemed we were in desperate need of other, much more crucial things… like bonding, family memories. The good stuff. Outward appearances didn’t matter, no matter how glorious they seemed. I only wished my mother would come to her senses.
“Why don’t you put that stuff away and I’ll take my girl out to dinner. It’s been a long time since we’ve done that, hasn’t it?”
“What about Mom? Shouldn’t we wait?” I failed to mention how we might starve to death in the process, since her nights out have gotten later and later.
“No, just you and me,” There was a glazed sadness to his eyes.
“Dad? You okay?”
With a heavy sigh, he forced a smile that nearly broke my heart. “Things could be better, huh?”
He had no idea. Just then, I wanted to open my mouth and spill everything. Not just about Shane and Chase, but about what was happening every day. I looked him deep in the eyes as I felt mine sting with sudden tears. It was there, the truth, all I had to do was admit it.
Dad, Mom’s cheating on you.
I just had to say it . . .
His name is Mr. Gracen.
… and let it out.
But I couldn’t.
Dad . . . everything Mom does around here is for her: the house, the private school, it’s only to make us look like we have money. It’s fake, Dad.
And then, I felt horribly guilty for feeling that way.
I realized that my dad must know about my mom. It was in the sadness in his eyes, in the tone of his voice. It was why he wasn’t willing to wait around for her tonight. He’s known longer than I have. That’s why he spends all those hours away from her in his office.
So much was going downhill these days—this week to be exact: mom, Shane. I took notice of where I was standing. It was the exact spot where Shane had hit me last night.
I managed to offer a cheery smile for my dad.
“You’re so grown up, aren’t you? Well, let’s get ready or we’ll never get there. Meet me here in fifteen minutes,” my dad announced. Before I could say okay, he was halfway up the stairs to clean up.
Chapter Nineteen
Chase
The hours that followed school were nothing short of crazy, and now was the first opportunity I had to tell Evie how sorry I was for not keeping our plans. It was late. Way past dinner, but I had a feeling she’d forgive me. It was everything else I was going to tell her that had me on edge, but I grabbed the phone, figuring I might as well get on with it.
Texting would have been easier, but she didn’t deserve a cop-out like that.
Twenty minutes later, I was driving across town to Evie’s neighborhood. Aunt Claudie wasn’t too pleased with the idea, but I was able to convince her that a paper on Sylvia Plath still had to be written. This was the path to normalcy, regardless of what happened this afternoon.
I pulled up alongside Evie’s house. The windows were awash with a soft glow, giving a completely different impression than the other night, when they had been dark and empty. The front porch was lit up too, which I assumed was for my sake, and I stepped out of the car.
The conversation I had prepared while driving over suddenly vanished and I grasped at everything I could to get it back, only it was all jumbled up. By the time I reached my finger out to press the doorbell, a basic outline of what I was finally going to say filled my head.
She startled me as she stepped out of the shadows and into the light. I immediately noticed the messenger bag slung over her shoulder. She had her coat on and looked ready to go.
“The porch light’s deceiving. I would have gone around back to get you if I would have known you were waiting for me.”
“I just thought this would be easier.” She looked shy as she smiled back at me.
I checked down both ends of the street, just in case Shane would pop out of nowhere again, but the street was empty.
“Do I get to meet your parents?”
“They’re not home. My dad took me out to dinner, but he left to go back to the office.” Her whisper was apologetic as she stepped forward, letting the shadow from the weeping birch branches cover her face so I only saw her in fragments. Her cheek. Her lip. The blonde of her hair was brushed with strokes of silver. She stole my breath away. Before I knew what I was doing, my hand reached out for hers, just like I had wanted to do the other night—only she took it one step further and wrapped her arms around my waist, pressing her cheek to my chest.
“Are you okay?” she asked as I let my arms encircle her. “I thought for sure Shane had something to do with you getting called to the office. He could have found out everything I told you in the library. Then four o’clock came, and you never showed up.”
A few days ago I would have sworn this would never happen. That my life would never, in a million years, collide with hers. But today was different.
Everything was different.
“I was set up today.” I took a deep breath, then let it out, along with everything else that happened while in our Headmaster’s office this afternoon.
“Are you sure it was Shane?” she asked, biting her nails. I watched her eyes flicker in the dark, absorbing it all. Truthfully, it sounded almost surreal now that I was retelling it.
“Pretty sure, but it could have been Ty. Headmaster Whitley reassured me that my fingerprints weren’t on that bag, though he never said whose were.”
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