by Ruby Vincent
Ryder lifted it over his shoulder and Maverick took it. No one uttered a sound as Maverick went through my cell. I didn’t watch him; my eyes were fixed on Ryder’s fathomless silver pools. Was this how it was always going to be? Us on opposite sides? Always facing off?
Ryder spoke without breaking our gaze. “What did you find, Rick?”
“Nothing.”
“What?” That made him look away. Ryder pivoted to face his friend. “What do you mean nothing?”
“There’s nothing here, man. The only video is of a kid smearing avocado on his face. The texts are to her mom. There’s nothing else.”
I smiled wide, showing off all of my teeth. “See. I told you.”
Ryder flashed me a look over his shoulder. “She must have erased it.”
“There are ways to find out.”
“Then do it!”
Maverick’s expression was calm as he pocketed my phone. “Let’s go then. I need my computer.”
The taller boy walked around us and made for the door. Ryder grabbed my hand. “You’re coming with us.”
“I’ve been walking without help since I was a toddler.” I wrenched my wrist out of his grip. “I’ve got this.”
I followed Maverick out and the five of us made a tense line through the hall. Maverick, then me, Ryder, Ezra, and Jaxson silently trekked to a room I had been in many times before.
Maverick pushed through into the Knights’ room and went straight for his laptop. I came in at a slower pace. It looked the same as I remembered. Metal bits and gadgets on the coffee table for Maverick. Records for Jaxson. Ryder’s piano taking up an entire corner. And the cleanliness of the room reflecting Ezra’s perfectionism.
I broke away from the group and wandered around.
“Sit down,” Ryder snapped.
“No, thanks.”
My feet took me to Jaxson’s record collection and I didn’t give a thought to pulling one out. Wow, he’s gotten even more since I’ve last been in here. I would kill for—
A hand appeared in my line of vision and plucked the record from my fingertips. “No one touches my records.” Jaxson’s breath ghosted over my ear and I was sharply reminded of his naked body pressed to my back while he nibbled on me. “Not even you, baby.”
A flush went up my neck. “You’re back to calling me baby? Does that mean something?”
Jaxson’s answer was to put his hands on my waist and spin me around. I let him march me to the couch and sit me down next to Maverick.
Ezra sat across from me, eyes fixed, but saying nothing. I wondered when he was going to confront me about what happened after the game. I also wondered if it was a bad sign that he hadn’t already.
“Have you found something yet?” Ryder demanded. He wasn’t sitting. He had taken up a spot leaning against his piano.
Maverick didn’t answer as he plugged my phone into his laptop and got to work. He seemed immune to Ryder’s mercurial nature like no one I had ever seen before. Even the friends of Ryder that I had met when we were little were afraid of that guy.
“You’re not going to find anything,” I piped up. “I had nothing to do with that video.”
“Like you had nothing to do with leaking the audio files, breaking the violin, and faking a beating from Ezra?” Ryder taunted.
I smiled at him. “How am I supposed to have done it anyway? My phone stays locked up same as everyone, and this whole thing started blowing up in the middle of the school day.” I crossed my legs and leaned back into the cushions. “I’d also like to point out I’m not the only one who’d want to strike back at this place.”
“Maybe not,” said Ryder, “but you’re the only one who said out loud that you would do it.”
I shrugged. “I say a lot of things. You have to prove that I did those things, and I’m not hearing from anyone how I used my phone to record people when it was locked all day with Wheeldon.”
“Button cam.”
Two whispered words from Maverick and I went rigid. My attention darted to the back of his head. It’s not enough for him to be a hulking mass of muscles and good looks, but the bastard has to be smart too?
What did you expect? another voice countered. You learned about the button cams from him.
Ryder straightened up. “What did you say, Rick?”
I held my breath.
“I said there’s nothing,” he answered. Maverick turned the laptop around. “You can see for yourself. The card hasn’t been wiped. She doesn’t have the video.”
This would have been time to give Ryder a triumphant smile, but I didn’t take my eyes off of Maverick. What was he doing?
“Then someone is helping her.” Frustration laced Ryder’s voice. “It must be that guy Airi told us about.”
“All these texts are harmless, even the deleted ones. She doesn’t talk about us.”
Ryder didn’t seem to have heard him. “Give it up, Val. Who is it?”
I shook my head. “No clue who you’re talking about.”
Jaxson pressed in closer to me. His hand was gentle as he stroked my cheek. “Maybe if we ask nicely, she’ll tell us.”
“Be careful,” I returned. “I bite.”
“It could be one of her old friends,” Ezra spoke up. “They could be pretending they split with her, but the whole time have been helping her strike against us.”
“Now that”—Ryder moved to tower over us—“would be a big mistake.”
I did not like where this conversation was going. I couldn’t have them looking at Sofia. She was sweet. Sweet as in if she ever went through the things I have, she wouldn’t survive it. I would not let them hurt her.
“But it was a white guy on the camera,” Jaxson reminded. “Which means it couldn’t have been Eric Eden, and he was the only guy she hung around with.”
I scoffed. “It’s creepy to know how much you guys kept tabs on me and my old friends, but thanks to your buddies, the Spades, old is what they are.” I got to my feet. “You’ve kidnapped me from class, broke into my phone, violated my privacy, and you still haven’t found what you’re looking for. Is that enough for one day or do you have more?”
Ryder’s eyes were cold as they looked me up and down. “It looks like you win this round, Val, but I do have one more question. How are you going to do it? Get back at me and Maverick?”
I snatched up my phone and turned to go. “Now that would be telling, wouldn’t it?”
“There’s nothing you can do against us.”
“Ezra said the same thing.”
A furious hiss to my right told me what Ezra thought about that. I tossed him a wink on my way to the door.
“I’m actually looking forward to it.”
I paused with my hand on the knob.
“Whatever it is you have planned for me,” Ryder continued. His smooth voice floated over the heads of the other guys and caressed my ear. “It’ll be fun to watch your stupid plan fall apart. There is not a single thing you can do that will affect me. How long before it’s my turn, Moon?”
Slowly, I turned my head and peered at him over my shoulder. “But, Ryder... I’ve already started.” I smiled. “Did you have that talk with your dad yet?”
I was out the door before he could find a response.
IN THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOWED, life at Evergreen had fallen into a new normal—if that was the word that could be used.
Rumors still ran hot and heavy, but although no one knew for sure, many thought I was the one that leaked the video, and because of it, the bullying eased up by so much it was like the mark had been lifted, but the punishments that came down for everyone else in the aftermath of the leaked video were of biblical proportions.
The implication of drugs, prostitution, cheating, and bullying running rampant in the school kicked off more bad press than I thought. Evergreen was trending on national news for weeks. People lapped up the notion that the “best school in the world” was just another seedy crap pile for the rich and privileged.
&n
bsp; The public demanded a closer look at what really went on in Evergreen, and despite how hard I know he must have tried, Evergreen wasn’t able to stop the investigation that was launched against the school. Students were never so well behaved as when police were crawling all over the campus with sniffer dogs, or when we were all brought in separate rooms and questioned about the prostitution.
A few voices from the videos were picked out by their parents, and they wielded the long arm of their displeasure through the walls of the campus. The girl who talked about the coke was pulled out of school. The kid who wanted to cheat to beat Cade was easy to find as number two in our class, and she cracked like an egg when her mother came bursting into campus. She gave up the junior handing out term papers and both were gone in a week.
Then there was Evergreen himself. Someone said he would go mad, but Evergreen blew way past mad and fell into a towering rage that was a sight to behold. The broadcast the day after the investigation ended was explosive.
“Never in all my days have I seen such a disgusting display!” he had roared. “The shame you all have brought upon this school is— A shining reputation that has lasted for over a hundred years destroyed in a—” The man was so worked up he couldn’t finish sentences. “If I ever find out who released that video!” His bellow had made his microphone screech and I winced for more than one reason.
“Canceled!” he shouted. “Everything canceled! No clubs! No dances! No breaks!” He smashed his hand on the desk. “No food! Detention for every—!”
It was at that point the video had been cut off so the headmaster could have a chance to cool down. The next day when he gathered us in the auditorium to try again... he was even more unreasonable.
The rest of the staff hustled him off the stage, and it was another week before we were pulled out of class and brought into the auditorium once more.
Evergreen cleared his throat. “Hello, sophomore class.” His eyes were fixed on the podium and the speech he had written down. “I will tell you what I have told the freshman class, and what I will go on to tell the juniors and seniors.
“The embarrassment that has been brought upon this school in the wake of the video is unacceptable and cannot go unaddressed. The party or parties involved have not come forward, as such, these consequences will apply to all of you. All club activities are canceled for the rest of the semester. This includes sports.”
The shouts that went up were quickly silenced by a harsh look from the headmaster.
“Unless it is academic in nature, it is canceled,” he continued. “The soda machines that were once a school treat will be removed. Cameras will now be installed in the dorm stairwells and students are not allowed to be in the locker rooms without staff present. I have also instituted new rules and policies that are effective immediately.
“Phones, cameras, and any recording devices are now banned from Evergreen campus.”
If I thought the reaction to losing club activities was bad, it was nothing compared to the chaos that erupted after he said that. It took over ten minutes for the staff to quiet the room down for Evergreen to keep going, and when he did, it was to glares that would have lit his salt-and-pepper hair aflame.
“A phone is a privilege,” he went on, “not a right, and you all have lost that privilege. From now on, there will be a designated landline in administration for you all to speak to family and friends outside of campus. Then there are your laptops...”
I couldn’t be sure, but it seemed like Evergreen had been enjoying it.
“All laptops will be confiscated, and in return, you will receive school-issued laptops to complete your work. These computers will be connected to the school network and closely monitored. To make sure no attempts are made to get around these rules, luggage will now be checked upon entering campus after breaks.
“As for policies that have not changed, but it’s clear you all need to be reminded of, cheating or being caught in possession of drugs is an automatic expulsion from this school.” Evergreen glanced up from his cards and pierced the audience with a look. “I trust we will never have a situation like this again.”
That had been October. Now we were approaching the end of November and Evergreen had more than made good on his threats. The phones and laptops had been taken away, and all the clubs, including dance, had been canceled for the semester.
I had been lucky enough to get a message to Alex who sent a virus that wiped everything from my laptop. It wasn’t fun to lose everything again, but I wasn’t taking chances. As for the phone, I got around that the same way I fooled Maverick. I had two.
Two phones. Two sim cards. Both identical.
I had done everything on my regular phone, but after the video went live, I busted out the one I had been using to talk to Mom and Adam. That was the one I placed in Evergreen’s waiting hands.
Even though I escaped that unscathed, the changes hit me too. There was no more texting Sofia. No more dancing. No more messing around on my laptop. That students were now tiptoeing around me in fear that I was hiding a few more recording devices wasn’t so bad, but I could have done without the rest.
“I knew he would be mad, but I wasn’t ready for this.” Sofia set her tray down on the table. We were up in our spot having breakfast. It was the only way we got to hang out nowadays, and we were careful to mix it up so people didn’t notice us missing.
I handed her my strawberry cup before she could steal it. She had been on a sweetness binge since they took our only treat from us: the soda machine.
“Madame Madeline is livid,” she said around a mouth full of strawberry. “She said ‘how dare they treat my daughter like a prisoner.’ She actually called a lawyer. Can you believe it?”
I snorted. “I can believe it. Olivia was spitting. I told her everything over the administration phone and she demanded I put Evergreen on the line. I don’t know what she said to him, but he went redder than a maraschino cherry.”
“I hope she tore him a new asshole. He took away everything that makes Evergreen bearable. I almost feel bad for approving this plan.”
“We didn’t make Evergreen do these things. And maybe if he cared as much about this school actually being a better place as he does about it appearing like one, then we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
She heaved a sigh. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. Finals are coming up and then we’ll be free of this place. Tell me you’re coming to stay again.”
“I can’t. I’ve been away from Adam for so long, and I think your mom might develop a permanent wrinkle between her brows if I show up with a baby again.”
“Goodness. You know, I don’t think other big sisters love their brothers as much as you do.”
I just smiled. “None of them are as cute as him.”
“I can’t argue with that.” Sofia leaned in and snuggled into my side. “Would your mom mind if I came to stay with you?”
“No way. It would be amazing if you came over again. We had so much fun last year.”
“Yay. Then it’s settled.”
“Will Madeline keep our secret? It would be a disaster if people here found out where you went.”
“She won’t tell. I’ll make sure of it.”
We talked for a little more and then I said I had to go. Finals were coming up and this year was no less hard than the first. I was heading back to my room to get my textbooks and then I was spending this beautiful November Saturday in the library.
I passed lounging couples on the quad and slipped into the main building. The hallway was hushed; the only sounds breaking the silence were my soft footfalls. I pushed through the double doors and stepped into the courtyard.
Pausing on the cobblestones, I filled my lungs with crisp air. I loved it out here. Everyone hung out in the quad so I had this space to myself to listen to the cackling crows and the bubbling of the fountain. Somedays I liked to bring out a blanket and study out here.
Maybe I’ll do that today instead of going to the library.
Can’t let this go to—
“Valentina! Look out!”
My head whipped around just as a streak tackled me.
Crash!
I screamed as we fell to the ground in a tangle of limbs. They came down on me hard, punching the air from my lungs as something showered us.
“Shit. Are you okay?!”
I couldn’t speak. I struggled to catch my breath as the person climbed off of me and came into focus. Jaxson’s golden locks brushed my forehead as he bent over me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you so hard.”
Jaxson straightened, and all of a sudden, I was rising with him. He lifted me into his arms and cradled me to his chest. From my position, I got a look at the planter that crashed into the spot I had just been standing in. The breath left my lungs again for an entirely different reason.
“Come on. We need to get out of here.”
Jaxson stuck his head out of the overhang, scanning above him, then he took off with me in his arms. If my mind hadn’t gone white with panic, I might have stopped him but the only thing I could register was the sickly shiver that started in my spine and was spreading through the rest of my body.
I would have died if he hadn’t saved me.
Jaxson ran all the way to my building. “Valentina, where’s the key? We need to get inside.”
I tried to reach for my pocket but my hand was shaking too much to go inside.
“It’s okay. I got it.”
Jaxson put me on my feet and I stumbled. He caught me before my legs could give out. Holding me up with one hand, he used the other to get my key and let us inside. Jaxson firmly shut and locked the door, and then I was in his arms again.
“Wait...” I managed.
He didn’t slow down. Jaxson bounded up the stairs and made for my room without me having to tell him where to go.
I was trembling worse than ever as he let himself inside and crossed the room to my bed. He gently placed me down and pulled the covers to my chin.
“You should be safe here. I’ll go—”
Jaxson made to get up but my hand flashed out of the blanket. I gripped him so tightly he cringed at the nails digging half-moons into his wrist.