Georgetown Academy, Season One

by Schwartz, Alyssa Embree

  The doorbell rang and Ellie felt her good mood slip away. The only person who rang the bell this early was the old woman who lived next door and constantly complained about everything from the placement of their trash cans to how they should trim their hedges to abide by some neighborhood code Ellie and her mother both knew the woman made up.

  But when she opened the door she was more than pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t her elderly neighbor. It was Gabe. And he was wearing a very mischievous smile.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked breathlessly as he stepped into the foyer. She quickly shut the door behind him.

  “You said your mom was leaving for New York this morning and I needed to see you.” His voice was so hypnotic he could be reading her eulogy and it would still sound hot.

  “You’ll see me at school in a half hour,” she said smiling.

  “But I can’t do this at school.”

  He grabbed her around her waist and kissed her. Her book bag dropped to the floor with a thud as she wrapped her arms around him. She was completely lost in the moment until a voice yanked her out of it so suddenly she may have gotten whiplash.

  She whirled around to see Jasmine standing behind them, her arms folded across her chest, an expression of restrained disapproval on her face. Ellie’s mouth fell open and she searched for words, any words, but came up empty. It wasn’t uncommon for Jasmine to be in the house performing some sort of task for Marilyn at any given hour, but Ellie was so lost in Gabe World, she hadn’t even considered it.

  Jasmine continued staring at the two of them silently as if no words could express her extreme objection to what she had just witnessed.

  “You can’t tell my mom,” Ellie finally eked out when it was clear Jasmine would not be speaking first. Ellie glanced over at Gabe who had a pained expression on his face.

  Jasmine didn’t move a muscle, her feet planted firmly in her typical no-nonsense demeanor. “I’m sorry, Ellie. I can’t do that. Not after this already blew up in your mother’s face once before.”

  “This is different, though,” Ellie said desperately.

  Jasmine arched an eyebrow, looking at Ellie like she was delusional. “How? Nothing has changed. In fact, what you’re doing has even bigger consequences than it did before. And do I really need to remind you what this did last time to you personally and to her professionally?”

  “But no one is going to find out this time—”

  Jasmine shook her head. “I’m not willing to risk your mother’s career over it.” She sighed and Ellie knew whatever she was about to say next, she didn’t want to. “Your mom gets back from New York tomorrow night. Either you tell her then or I will.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Monday, 7:32 a.m.

  Evan entered the double doors of McKinley Hall with her head down. She had begged her parents to let her stay home from school, but they had insisted she go because it wasn’t going to be any easier tomorrow or the next day. Thanks to a few mints still left in Taryn’s coat pocket, Hunter had pieced together they were edible pot candies. And though her parents believed her when she told them she had unknowingly consumed the candies, she wasn’t getting an abundance of sympathy on their end since they had voiced their disapproval of Sarah Corliss’s party in the first place.

  But it wasn’t only the stares from her classmates she was worried about enduring today. She hadn’t spoken to Hunter since he’d left her house for the Dedication Party the night before and she was dreading seeing him face-to-face. Luke had come over to keep her company last night and they had stumbled upon an incredibly disturbing photograph of Hunter and Ellie at the party where Hunter’s lips were pressed against Ellie’s ear, basically kissing her neck. She didn’t think Ellie would get back together with Hunter, but that didn’t make it any easier to stomach Hunter trying to kiss her. And if Ellie rejected him after that moment caught on camera, all Hunter had to do was snap his fingers and every other girl at the party would be lining up to take Ellie’s place. Because whether Ellie was into it or not, what that picture meant was Hunter was clearly over Evan.

  Evan had been having doubts about whether or not she could handle the spotlight that went along with dating Hunter, so obviously he had been too. Once his name was publicly associated with a stoner nobody, he must’ve realized it was easier for him to be with someone who fit more naturally into his world. It was probably only a matter of hours until Hunter told her it was over. The thought made her insides turn and was the reason she hadn’t met him at the entrance to McKinley Hall as she usually did every morning. She was going to put off that miserable moment for as long as possible.

  She tugged on the sleeves of her sweater nervously and moved through the crowds of students toward her first period classroom. She was forced to look up from her feet for a split second so she didn’t slam headfirst into anyone. It was a mistake. Having a collision with someone would have been more pleasant than confirming what had made her so anxious about showing up at school in the first place. Everyone was unabashedly staring at her, their eyes tracing her from head to toe as if they were trying to figure her out.

  “It makes total sense,” she heard Portia say to Rachael Martin, using her extremely loud whisper voice as they passed by. “She’s probably so quiet because she’s stoned all the time.”

  “I’m surprised she’s not fatter,” Rachael responded, her trademark brown bob swishing in the air as she cast a disdainful look Evan’s way.

  “What I can’t believe is that Hunter’s actually into her,” Portia threw over her shoulder, making sure Evan heard every word.

  Evan winced and shot her eyes back to the floor, wishing she could teleport to math class. Her worst fears of what everyone had been thinking about her had come to life. Obviously, out of respect for Hunter, people had been too polite to outright voice their disapproval of her before, but now that the scandal had hit, they no longer felt the need to hold back. And Hunter surely was hearing the same “whispers” she was, which would only solidify in his mind he was making the right decision to end things with her.

  “Hey, Evan!” She glanced up long enough to see the voice belonged to Thatcher Wellington, a senior who was always up for a party. “How’s it going?”

  She literally had no idea how to answer because these were the first words he had ever spoken to her. “Um, okay,” she fumbled uncertainly.

  “Cool. See you around,” he said with a smile as he passed. Great. The only approval ratings she was getting at school were from people who thought they could score weed off her.

  She was right outside her classroom when a hand on her shoulder made her jump out of her skin. She turned to see Hunter and for the first time she could remember, she wished it was anyone else standing in front of her.

  “Hey, I’ve been trying to catch up with you,” he said, a little out of breath. “You’re practically sprinting down the hallway. Why didn’t you meet me out front?”

  “I just want to get to class,” she said quietly. She wondered if he would break up with her right outside her classroom to get it over with or wait until he had a little more time to do it.

  “You didn’t call me back last night,” he said, sounding hurt. Or maybe he sounded annoyed. There was so much anxiety welled up inside her, she was having a hard time focusing. She wasn’t going to admit she didn’t call him back last night because she didn’t feel like being dumped.

  “Did you have fun at the party?” she heard herself blurt out, the accusations laced in her voice. It wasn’t like she wanted to speed this break-up along, but she couldn’t stop herself.

  A strange look crossed his face. “I wouldn’t exactly call it fun.”

  And then it hit Evan what that strange look was. Guilt. He felt guilty about trying to kiss Ellie and whatever else he did at the party after that picture was taken. She felt like she was going to throw up.

  “I have to tell you something,” he said quietly.

  “Hunter, please, not right now—” she pra
ctically gasped out. She could not do this right out in the open. She was going to completely lose it and she didn’t want the whole school to witness it.

  “I just don’t want you to hear it from Ellie first.” Evan gulped. He shoved his hands in his pockets and focused his eyes on something on the floor. “Last night…I talked to her about everything.”

  Evan’s heart was thumping so loudly it was ringing in her ears. “About your relationship?”

  He shot his eyes up and looked at her like she had grown a second head. “What? No. About what’s going on with the Taryn thing.” He must have mistaken Evan’s look of confusion because he added, “Don’t worry, I promise no one heard us. But I wanted you to know I told Ellie they were Taryn’s mints. She knows the whole story now.”

  Evan blinked a few times. “Wait, you guys were talking about me last night?”

  “She was worried about you,” he answered quickly. He stared at her, waiting for her to say something, seemingly unaware of everyone gaping as they passed by the two of them on their way to class.

  “I guess I don’t care that Ellie knows. I probably would have told her myself anyway,” she said, her heart slowly returning to a semi-normal rhythm with relief. Luke had been right about the photograph not being what it seemed. It looked like Hunter was kissing Ellie’s neck, but in actuality, he must have been speaking closely in her ear. And the reason he was whispering like that was because he was trying to protect Evan. How could she have been so wrong? She had spent the whole night doubting his feelings for her while he had spent the night trying to fix her problem. She felt ridiculous for jumping to such a horrible conclusion, but everything else had been going so badly, she wasn’t surprised her mind had instantly gone to such a negative place. She stopped herself just short of celebrating too much, though. She could still be misreading something.

  “Have you thought any more about going to the police?” he asked directly, moving closer to her.

  She shook her head. Her feelings about this had not changed from yesterday. She knew if she went to the cops and told them the truth, they would never believe her without Taryn corroborating the story. And clearly Taryn had no intention of coming forward. “If Taryn wants to come clean, that’s something she needs to do on her own. I’ll pay the fine and do the community service and the whole mess will eventually blow over.” She tried to say it with conviction, but the words fell flat. “At least it’s off my record when I turn eighteen.”

  The bell rang and he kissed her forehead. “I’ll see you in history. Hang in there,” he said sweetly. She inhaled his scent of Polo Ralph Lauren and for a split second, she did feel slightly better.

  But the second she walked into her math class and the curious stares enveloped her like a tornado, the momentary reprieve from misery vanished completely.

  Evan washed her hands in the bathroom sink, thankful she only had one more class left. The stares and whispers had escalated as the day progressed, and even now, she was trying to pretend she didn’t notice Jenny Lim shooting inquisitive glances at her from one sink over as she braided her silky hair. The bell rang and Jenny snuck in one last lingering look, then left Evan in solitude. She splashed water on her face enjoying the peace and quiet, even though she felt a pang of guilt she would be late to class. Yet another first for her.

  She grabbed her biology textbook off the sink and was about to pull open the door when it swung open, almost hitting her in the face. She stepped back to see Taryn coming through the doorway.

  “Evan,” Taryn said, completely taken aback by the run-in. She looked like she had slept about as much as Evan, and for the first time since Evan had met her, she looked a bit disheveled.

  Evan was not prepared for the collision either and so many thoughts were swirling around in her head, she didn’t know what to say.

  “I’m so sorry,” Taryn whispered. She could barely look Evan in the eye.

  But if Taryn were truly sorry, she would have cleared Evan’s name by now. Evan felt the blood rush to her face as the unfairness of the situation hit her head-on. “I’m sorry, too. I’m sorry you came to this school and walked around like you were different than everybody else here. Like you were above all the stupid political games.”

  Taryn was immobilized as she listened, not putting up any sort of resistance.

  It fueled Evan to continue, her voice rising. “When you didn’t text me back yesterday, I made a million different excuses for you. I didn’t believe you were that type of person. So most of all, I’m sorry I was wrong.”

  Evan pushed past her, not waiting for a reaction. Because really, what was the point?

  A few hours later, Evan entered the front door of her townhouse, having wandered around the city after school so her parents didn’t question why she didn’t go to work. The truth was she had two messages from Maura waiting for her when she got out of biology, asking Evan if she wanted to sit down for a first-person exclusive about the accident on that night’s broadcast. Skipping work was her only option.

  She could hear her parents clattering dishes in the kitchen as they prepared dinner, something they did together every night.

  “I’m home,” she called out listlessly, then plopped down on the sofa and closed her eyes, the weariness of the day reaching every part of her body. She was just dozing off when the house phone trilled next to her. Her mother answered it, then suddenly appeared in the living room, a frantic look on her face. She mouthed, “It’s Bruce Silvey.” Evan’s lawyer.

  Evan straightened up on the couch, trying to discern what direction the conversation was going by her mother’s facial expressions since Bruce seemed to be doing all the talking. However, it was difficult to tell because her mother was bobbing her head in trance-like nods as she listened intently. Then, suddenly, she sprang to life and grabbed the television remote off the couch. As she continued to listen to Bruce on the other end, she fumbled with the channels until she landed on the CBS Evening News. Evan’s eyes widened when she saw the news anchor, Scott Pelley, staring back at her, a photo of Taryn from last night’s Dedication Party in a small box over his right shoulder.

  “Thank you, Bruce,” her mother said hurriedly, hanging up the phone as Evan’s father entered the living room, a dishtowel slung over his shoulder.

  “What was that about?” he asked, but was immediately shushed by her mother as she turned up the volume on the TV.

  Evan leaned forward, her heart racing, as Scott Pelley reported, “According to a source at MPD, the potential vice president’s daughter admitted to playing a part in the car accident this past Saturday involving Attorney General Bill McKnight’s son. She claimed the driver of the vehicle unknowingly consumed edible marijuana candies she brought to a party hosted at the home of Matt Corliss, a close confidante of the president’s.”

  For a second, Evan thought she was hallucinating all over again. The truth was out there. All of it.

  “Bruce said there is no way they won’t drop the charge against you based on your history, your academic record, and this admission from Taryn,” her mother said excitedly. “He was shocked she came forward, but under the circumstances with her dad in the position he’s in right now, it actually validates her statement even more.”

  Her father and mother embraced, but Evan stared at the television motionless as the two-hundred-pound weight that had been sitting on her shoulders slowly slipped to the ground.

  “So it’s over,” Evan finally said, reeling in disbelief.

  “That’s what it sounds like,” her mother answered. She took a seat next to Evan on the worn-out sofa and her dad took a seat on Evan’s other side. He squeezed Evan’s shoulder and the three of them sat in happy silence, absorbing the fact that things could finally start to go back to normal.

  They all jumped when they heard a knock at the door.

  “Are you expecting anyone?” her father asked.

  Evan shook her head.

  “I hope it’s not a reporter,” her mother whispered worr
iedly. Evan tensed.

  “If it is, I’m going to give them a piece of my mind,” her father said, standing up.

  He tentatively opened the door and they were all relieved to see Hunter on the other side, a wide grin on his handsome face.

  “Hunter! Come on in,” her father said so warmly Hunter looked a little taken aback. Clearly, her dad had not been looking forward to going off on a reporter.

  “Sorry to stop by unannounced, but I just heard the news,” Hunter said, grinning at Evan.

  Evan jumped up from her spot on the couch and shocked herself when she threw her arms around his neck. She was feeling so happy she didn’t care about the PDA in front of her parents. He held on to her, squeezing her tightly.

  “We’ll be in the kitchen if you need us,” her mother said quickly, shooting a glance at her father. Her dad didn’t seem thrilled about leaving them alone, but at least he didn’t pepper Hunter with a slew of inappropriate questions.

  As soon as her parents walked out, Hunter kissed her. It was unreal that a mere twenty minutes ago she had been so miserable, and now she felt like the luckiest girl in the world. When they pulled away, she nuzzled into his chest, finally able to relax for the first time in days.

  “I heard about it in the car on my way home and I had to see you,” he said excitedly. “How do you feel?”

  “I think I’m in shock,” Evan admitted. “I can’t believe Taryn really came forward.”

  “Me, either. It was very cool of her,” Hunter answered.

  Evan was beyond thankful she was off the hook for the DUI, but she did feel bad for Taryn. She didn’t deserve the media onslaught that would be coming her way in the next few days. But for the moment, Evan was going to enjoy that everyone no longer believed she was a juvenile delinquent.