And then Scotch is up on his feet. His desk is flipped over, and he’s making a break for the exit.
I reach for my headphones. This could take a while.
Above the isolated thrash of music now eclipsing the classroom, I see Ms. Omar calling for assistance on her radio before following Scotch out of the room. He’s a flight risk, for sure.
Now that she’s gone and Scotch’s gone, we’re in bedlam. With the exception of Tommy and me, everyone’s out of their seats. Half the boys have left the room, probably going to watch Scotch’s hallway restraining. The other half have crowded around the lead-framed window and are looking down at the courtyard to see if Scotch manages to bust out of here.
Same shit, different day.
I can feel Tommy’s eyes on me, so I slip my headphones down around my neck.
“I saw that coming like a half hour ago.” He sits up higher in his seat, trying to see out into the corridor. “I can still hear him. He must be way down the hall though.”
Shouting, cussing, followed by the calm-voiced reasoning.
I toss my pen down, and it rolls across my worksheet. “Goddamn Scotch.” I slump back in my seat. “I’m behind on this.” I gesture to the unfinished problems on my page. “I need a full class to get this done.”
Tommy arches an eyebrow. “How’d you think I feel? At least you’re smart. You’ll figure it out eventually.”
I glance over at his worksheet. The page is mostly empty, and the answers he has given are wrong. I don’t tell him.
“They should just let him leave.” My attention strays across the room. The boys are still hanging out the open window, but there haven’t been any cheers yet, which means Scotch is still in the building. “He wouldn’t get far anyway, even if he did run.”
Tyler Scotch is in Rookwood because he’s got a short fuse. I like him, but man is he erratic. I’ve seen his parents—they come in for behavior management meetings sometimes. They seem nice, a mom and a dad, kind of docile and gentle. From what I’ve heard, they have other kids too, so they can’t deal with Scotch’s temper any more. It makes me think, if Scotch learned to bite his tongue once in a while, just chill, he could get out of Rookwood and have a home-cooked meal on the dinner table at seven o’clock every night. He could have goddamn milk and cookies before bed if he played his cards right. It doesn’t work like that for Tommy, Max, and me. We don’t get that option. We’re in here for the long haul. No chance of parole. We all got branded “high risk.”
It’s a good thing none of us want to go home.
Max bursts into the classroom with a wild grin on his face. “Scotch is losing it! You guys need to go watch!” Max is practically bouncing, loving every second of this. “They’re trying to get him into isolation, but he keeps getting past them!”
Tommy stares at the door again. The commotion has faded now.
Max bounds across the room and drags a chair next to me.
He lowers his voice. “Hey. Have you heard what the Preston girls are saying about Colleen?”
“What do you mean?”
“Serena says the cops are looking into some senior girl. Apparently, some shady text messages got leaked to the cops. Now everyone thinks this girl did it.” There’s an easiness in his pale blue eyes and a flicker of a smile.
I think of Jenna. Is this her friend, Hollie? It has to be.
“Smile, man.” Max slaps my shoulder. “We’re in the clear.”
Yeah. At someone else’s expense.
Max’s chair scrapes as he stands abruptly. He pats me on the shoulder again before bounding away to join the guys at the window who are on Scotch watch.
On the other side of me, Daniel Harlow is talking to Tommy. Their heads are bowed close together, and they’re muttering in hushed voices. Too quiet for me to hear. I don’t think I want to know what they’re talking about, anyway.
A moment later, Daniel slips a bill into Tommy’s palm.
My fists ball on the desk.
When Daniel steps away, I turn to Tommy. He presses his lips together and casts his eyes downward.
I knew it. When I saw him talking to one of Serena’s friends the other night, I knew what he was doing. I just didn’t want to believe it.
“I thought you were done with this after everything that happened with Colleen?”
“I was.” He still won’t look at me. “I am. It’s just a onetime thing.”
I run a hand over my brow. “Why are you still doing this, Tommy?”
“I need the money,” he mutters.
“So, you are still selling? Even after Colleen threatened to bust you?”
He casts a glance at the window. His jaw is tense.
“She said she knew your secret,” I remind him under my breath. “And I doubt she’s the only one. A whole load of those Preston girls probably know you’re dealing.”
Silence.
“They’re not like us,” I go on. “You can’t trust them. If the cops find out, they’ll be all over your ass for this.”
He shakes his head. “I’m careful around the Preston girls.”
“Careful didn’t work with Colleen. You need to stop. Before you get caught.”
“I can’t.” He rakes his hands through his shaggy hair. “You don’t understand.”
“I do,” I tell him. But he doesn’t believe me.
He looks to the side. “Anyway, this isn’t the only secret Colleen knew.”
* * *
The moment I see his dad, everything I know about Tommy makes sense.
The guy’s stepping out of Principal Lomax’s office after their behavior management meeting. It’s routine, all the parents have to check in a couple of times a semester to get updates on their kid’s progress. Tommy’s folks don’t show up that often, and now I understand why not.
They just don’t give a damn.
His hand is on Tommy’s shoulder, fingers gripping his shirt too tightly. Too roughly. He looks like Tommy, but an older version, with harsher features and a grim expression. His mouth is pursed. His eyes are dark.
I glance up from the water cooler. Tommy won’t look at me.
I take my time pouring water while I try to catch the words exchanged.
The man’s voice is lowered. “You got any cash?”
Tommy pats his pockets. “I... I don’t know.” He’s mumbling, stooping. “I don’t have much.”
“But you got some?”
“A little.”
“Can you spare any for your old man? They subsidize here, don’t they?” He keeps a grip on Tommy’s shoulder.
I watch out the corner of my eye as Tommy fumbles for his wallet and hands his dad a couple of bills.
The guy takes them and stuffs them into his jacket pocket before releasing his hold on Tommy’s shoulder. Then he slips a baggie into Tommy’s shirt pocket and walks away. Tommy hunches as he watches him leave.
GARDINERS BAY DAILY PRESS
Friday, October 12th
John and Esther O’Dell would like to invite friends and family to a vigil on the North Point Pier in remembrance of their beloved daughter, Colleen.
Commemorations will begin at 7:00 p.m. this evening.
Please contact Gardiners Bay council for information regarding donations and well wishes.
JENNA
“Hey, Jenna.”
I turn, still towel drying my hair after gym class.
Serena is wearing her green-and-white cheer uniform with an embroidered P stitched across the chest. She fiddles with the end of her jet-black ponytail. I recognize that twitchy look on her. But it’s been a while since I’ve seen it. She’s nervous about something.
I stop dabbing at my hair and let the damp towel drop onto the bench. “Hey. What’s up?” It’s been a few days since I confronted her about Max, and we haven’t really spok
en since.
“I was just wondering how Hollie’s doing?”
I exhale slowly. “Honestly, I don’t know. These past couple of weeks have been really tough on her.”
“Yeah. I keep thinking I’ll see her in class, but she must not be ready to come back yet.” Serena dips her gaze for a second. “Would you...” She pauses, takes a breath. “Could you let her know that I’ve been thinking of her? And that I’m not part of any of this.”
My gaze flickers across the locker room to where Brianna and Imogen are examining themselves in the mirrors. They’re wearing only their cheer skirts and bras as they contour their cheekbones like pros. Serena may not have been a part of the trolling, but her friends most definitely were.
“I’ve tried to reach out to Hols,” Serena adds, drawing my attention back to her, “but she never replies to my texts anymore.”
I run my hand over my brow. “She’s not really opening up to me, either.”
“Poor Hollie,” Serena murmurs. “I wish there was something we could do.”
“She’ll get through this. The truth will come out soon, and then everything can go back to normal.” I don’t know if I’m saying this for Serena’s benefit or my own. Either way, I’m not sure I believe it.
“I just want her to know that I’m thinking of her. That I’m...”
Brianna skips over to us and threads her arm through Serena’s. Her auburn hair is perfectly coiffed, post-gym, and she’s applied a whole new layer of makeup.
“What are you guys talking about?” The question is directed at Serena rather than me. I’m pretty sure there’s a flash of fear in her eyes, as if she’s afraid her beloved queen may revolt and return to her former friend group.
“I was just asking how Hollie’s doing,” Serena explains. “She wasn’t in class again today. I’m worried about her.”
Brianna attempts a sympathetic pout. “Oh. Poor Hols.”
I can feel the cynicism creeping into my expression, probably evident from my raised eyebrows and pursed lips.
It’s almost funny seeing Brianna now, all wide-eyed with sympathy, like she and the other cheerleaders weren’t freezing Hollie out just a couple of weeks ago. Apparently, now that Serena is back on Team Hollie, her lackeys are quick to follow suit.
“Imogen and I have tried texting her too.” Brianna echoes Serena’s sentiment. “But we never hear anything back.”
“Hollie’s got a lot on her mind.” Maybe my tone is a little clipped, because Serena gives me a look.
“Come on, Jenna,” she says, gently, “we’re sorry. We reacted, and we didn’t help the situation. I get that. But even you have to admit, we had every reason to be suspicious of Hollie. We have every reason to be suspicious. We all saw the text messages.”
I cross my arms. “Yes, the text messages that were leaked to the investigators.”
Serena holds my stare. “It wasn’t me, Jenna.”
“Me, either,” Brianna jumps in. “And it wasn’t Imogen. The police must have pulled the texts from Hollie’s records.”
Serena shakes her head. “Guys, we shouldn’t turn against each other. I’m just saying, we had reason to be suspicious of Hollie. They had that fight, and then Hollie told Colleen to...” she lowers her voice, “...kill herself.”
I flinch.
“But this is an olive branch,” Serena carries on. “We want to support Hollie. We want to believe her. Just...” She gives way to a flustered breath. “Just tell her I was asking about her, okay?”
I don’t answer right away. “Sure.”
“Have you heard Colleen’s mom’s having a vigil tonight?” she asks. “At the pier. You should come with us.”
Brianna sucks in a breath, and her brow creases. But Serena doesn’t seem to notice the adverse reaction to the invite.
Serena reaches out and takes my hand. “Please come with us.”
“I don’t know how my aunt would feel about me going out at night after what happened to Colleen. I don’t know how I feel about it.”
“Same. But Mrs. O’Dell has arranged security, and I think it would mean a lot to her if we all showed up.”
I trail my fingers through the ends of my damp hair.
“I’m driving,” she adds, before I have chance to respond. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“Hey, girls!” Imogen calls. She’s tightening her blond ponytail as she approaches from across the room. Her cheer skirt swishes around her tanned legs. “Move your asses or we’ll be late for practice.” Her gaze slides over me. Sometimes I get the feeling that she’s as wary of me as Brianna is.
Serena glances at the wall clock. “Is it three o’clock already?”
Brianna gives a high-pitched squeal. “Oh, shit. I’ve got to get dressed!” She adjusts her bra before dashing back across the locker room. Imogen follows her, and I see them whispering, heads dipped close together.
No prizes for guessing what—or who—they’re whispering about. I’m standing right here.
“For the record,” Serena adds, still hovering at my gym locker, “I meant it when I said that I want to support Hollie. I don’t think Hollie did anything to Colleen.”
“Of course she didn’t, Serena. You know Hollie as well as I do.”
The last of the P.E. stragglers filter out into the hallway, including Brianna and Imogen. Only Serena and I are left. Without the sound of hair dryers blasting, or showers running, or the tinny echo of conversation, suddenly there’s an eerie silence in the damp room.
I’m seconds away from blurting out that I think Max seems like the shadiest person of all and it’s him who should be under the microscope.
But I hold my tongue and steady my voice. “So, if not Hollie, who do you think killed Colleen?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
“What is your guess?”
She shrugs. “No clue.”
“Come on, Serena. You must have thought about it. You must have your suspicions.”
“Honestly, Jenna—” Serena glances over her shoulder, checking that we’re alone “—I don’t know, and I’m not sure I want to know.”
With that, she turns and walks away, her sleek black ponytail swishing behind her.
* * *
It’s kind of weird seeing them sitting at our lunch table, but I suppose I should be used to it by now.
Imogen, Brianna, and Colleen, all flocking around Serena and occupying most of our former stomping grounds.
“Should we even go over there?” Hollie nudges me with her elbow, her lunch tray balanced in her hands. “We could sit somewhere else. There’s an empty table at the back.”
My gaze wanders across the cafeteria to Hollie’s proposed table. Right next to the garbage cans. Fabulous.
“No. We should sit at our table. Just because the cheer girls are there doesn’t mean we can’t be there too.”
Hollie gives me a dubious look.
“There are two free seats. And Serena is still our friend.” I head across the crowded lunchroom, and Hollie trails behind me. I’m pretty sure I can hear her cussing at me under her breath.
I set my tray down on the table. The cheer girls stop their conversation and stare at me like I’m an alien invading.
There’s a beat of silence as Hollie and I take our seats.
“Hi!” Serena says, brightly.
“Hi,” Imogen echoes.
Colleen flips her blond ponytail over her shoulder. “Oh, you got the meatloaf.” Her baby-blue eyes stray over our lunch trays. “Brave. Remind me not to sit near you in Math. That rotten meat reeks.”
Brianna giggles.
And just like that, their conversation resumes.
Hollie and I exchange a look.
“So, Friday,” Imogen says, her eyes fixed on Serena, “I’m telling my mom that I’m sleeping o
ver at Bri’s house, and Bri is telling her mom that she’s at mine.”
Serena nods, evidently taking this very seriously. “I’ll tell my mom I’m going to Bri’s. She won’t question it.”
Colleen smirks at them. “It’s so cute that you guys still have curfews.”
There’s a sudden tension in Serena’s mouth. She throws Brianna a look and rolls her eyes. It’s subtle enough to go unnoticed by Colleen.
But I notice.
Hollie joins the conversation. “What are you guys doing on Friday? Another Rook party?”
Serena takes a sip of soda before responding. “Yeah. You can come, if you want?” Her question is directed at both of us, though the glance in my direction is surely just a courtesy.
I’ve been to a total of two Rook parties and have zero intention of increasing that number. Hollie’s been to a few more, but even she’s losing interest.
Personally, I miss the Friday nights on the pier with Serena and Hollie. I miss the simpler days when it was just the three of us, hanging out at each other’s houses and ordering takeout.
Hollie and I go through the motions of thanking her for the invite and telling her we’ll think about it. Our words bounce off them, and the cheer girls jump into recounting tales of parties gone by.
“Ohmygod,” Brianna laughs in a breath, “Scotch was so funny last weekend! Did you see him with that fire extinguisher?”
The others splutter with laughter at the seemingly hilarious anecdote.
“But Max’s response was the best,” Colleen says. “With the hose! He’s such a chill guy. Seriously.”
Imogen grins. “Max is so funny. You found a good one, Serena.”
Serena smiles fondly. She opens her mouth to agree, but Colleen jumps in first. “Yeah, plus he’s hot!”
Suddenly, Serena’s gaze doesn’t look quite so dreamy anymore.
ADAM
I fall in stride with Max as he’s crossing the courtyard.
“So, go on,” I say under my breath. “Tell me.”
“Tell you what?”
“You know something.”
This Is Why We Lie Page 11