The Libby Garrett Intervention (Science Squad #2)

by Kelly Oram

  I hated to let Josiah down, but I wouldn’t keep anything from him, either—especially not if it could bring him any kind of trouble. “We had a bit of a situation.”

  “It was my fault!” Avery blurted. “I take full responsibility. Don’t be mad at Adam.”

  Josiah’s smile melted into a look of concern. “Settle down, sweetheart. Whatever happened, I’m sure it was an accident. Why don’t you explain it to me, and we’ll figure it out together?”

  Josiah waited, but Avery only blushed, so I gave him the quick version. “I cleared space in here because I knew we were getting that big order today, and when I brought Sam back to start unloading it, we found a couple of kids…uh…enjoying each other’s company.”

  Josiah eyed the room warily, but he didn’t get upset. I knew he wouldn’t; he’s too practical for emotional outbursts. I don’t think the guy even has a temper. “Did they make a mess? Anything we need to throw out?”

  I shook my head. “They may have gotten creative with the location, but they still went for comfort. This old couch had a bit of excitement, but that’s it. They weren’t in here long enough to get really crazy—ten minutes, maybe. Sam was a good sport about it. I don’t think he’ll report it, but if he does and we don’t, could the store get in trouble?”

  “I’m so sorry, Josiah!” Avery said after I was done. “It was my best friend who was back here. I swear she’s normally a really good person. I can’t believe she did it. She’s just seeing this guy who’s not good for her.”

  Josiah looked both Avery and me over and chuckled. “You two kids are too mature for your own good.” He winked at Avery and said, “Don’t worry too much about it. Your friends aren’t the first to get frisky in a storage room.”

  Avery, for all the fact that her boyfriend couldn’t keep his hands off her, was a really modest girl, and blushed a very deep red. “Still, they could have caused a lot of trouble for you, Josiah. I promise it won’t happen again. I’ll make sure they don’t come back.”

  She sounded as if she were swearing an oath before a judge and jury. I could tell Josiah wanted to laugh at her again, and even I had trouble keeping a straight face that time, but we both managed to sober up for her sake.

  “I’ll talk to Sam,” Josiah said. “Though I’m sure Adam’s right about him not reporting it. He’s a good guy. Seeing that probably made his whole day. I’m sure we won’t have any trouble. I don’t think there’s any need to ban your friends, Avery.”

  I disagreed in Owen’s case, though I was glad Avery didn’t have to ask Libby to never come back again.

  Josiah finally hung his jacket up and put on an apron. He looked back at us still hunkered down on the couch, and said, “You kids go on and get out of here.”

  I shook my head. “I haven’t closed out my register yet.”

  Josiah waved me off. “I can do that. Go enjoy the rest of the daylight, while you still have some.”

  After he was gone, Avery let out a breath that sounded as if it’d been trying to burst from her lungs for a while. “There,” I told her, yawning a little. “You see? Everything’s good. Nobody needs to quit or get fired, and Libby can continue to live off of apple cider.”

  Avery finally chuckled. “She does love those things. She’ll be really excited that she doesn’t have to give them up.”

  The good mood couldn’t hold out, and Avery sighed again. “She’s losing herself. Her whole life revolves around Owen, and he doesn’t even treat her right. It’s a horrible relationship. I know he makes her feel terrible all the time, but she can’t help herself. She just keeps putting up with him because she doesn’t think she can do any better. She could, though. She’s an amazing person. She’s crazy, smart, and fun. If she just believed in herself a little, she’d find a guy who appreciated her. I know she would.”

  I knew she would, too. Maybe they wouldn’t be college basketball stars who could give any guy in Hollywood a run for their money in the looks department, but there were definitely some guys out there who would give Libby a chance. And then they would fall for her.

  A guy would be lucky to have Libby Garrett’s affection. I’d take it in a heartbeat if she gave it to me, but I’m pretty sure I ruined any shot I had with her when I called her a selfish slut. I groaned out loud. How could I be such an idiot? “I shouldn’t have said…what I said.”

  Avery looked at her lap and quietly said, “I don’t blame you for thinking it.” When she pulled her gaze back up, she was able to speak with more force. “She’s not really like that. I swear she’s not. It’s just Owen. He makes her crazy. I thought the hair was bad enough, but missing the science fair for him? Breaking the law? She’s spiraling out of control.”

  This conversation brought back so many memories. Dark memories from my childhood. Of my mother, when she had lost a grip on her life. “Maybe you should intervene,” I said.

  “I’ve been trying. She won’t listen to me.”

  “No. I mean stage an actual intervention.”

  I knew the suggestion was a little crazy, but Libby sounded like she could benefit from a good twelve-step program. Avery didn’t laugh at the idea. She looked at me curiously, the wheels in her scientific brain starting to turn.

  “I don’t mean to sound offensive,” I told her, “but Libby seems to have a lot in common with my mom.”

  Avery grimaced, but nodded her head. “Yeah. Libby’s situation isn’t quite as serious as that, but I can see your point.”

  “It is serious, Avery. Addiction comes in all forms. Maybe Libby’s not a raging alcoholic, but she’s hurting the people around her. She’s making terrible choices. She’s self-destructing, isn’t she?”

  Avery sighed. “She is.”

  “Unhealthy relationships are dangerous. You’re her best friend. She needs your help. After what happened today, now is probably a really good time to step in—especially if she wants to save her friendship with your science team. They looked pretty upset, but they’re still her friends. They’re probably just as worried about her as you are. I bet they’d help you.”

  Avery thought about it for a minute and a look of hope washed over her face, bringing some of the life back to her eyes. “You’re right. She needs an intervention—an Owen intervention.”

  Not that this was a laughing matter, but I couldn’t help chuckling at the excitement in Avery’s voice. “It’s too bad the science fair is already over. This sounds like it has social science written all over it,” I teased. I’d heard the story of The Avery Shaw Experiment several times now.

  Avery blinked at me, and then burst into laughter. She threw her arms around me and squeezed so tight it hurt. “Thank you, Adam. You really are the best.”

  I tried not to squirm beneath her embrace. I really like Avery, but it’s taken me a long time to get used to how loving she can be. I’m not used to people besides my sister showing me any kind of affection. Whenever Avery compliments me or hugs me, it takes all my energy not to run away from her, and it always makes me blush.

  Sighing playfully, I pushed her off me, hoping she didn’t see the way my cheeks turned pink. “If only all the girls thought like you, Avery. Hell, if only any of them did.”

  Avery giggled. “Are you kidding? You look like James Dean and have the heart of Mr. Darcy. If I ever brought you to school with me, you’d have to beat the girls off with a stick.”

  I rolled my eyes as I got to my feet and threw my hoodie over my head. Avery followed my lead and stood up. “You want a ride home?” she asked.

  “Nah.” I kicked my skateboard up into my hand. I was itching to blow off a little steam after the day I’d had. “I’m gonna hit the park for a while before it gets dark.”

  Avery looked at my board and smiled. “Don’t kill yourself,” she teased, the same way she always did when she knew I was going to skate. “And say ‘hi’ to Kate for me.”

  “Will do. Let me know if you need any help with your Libby Garrett intervention.”

  Avery sto
pped and gave me a curious look. For a moment, I was afraid she could see right through me to the real reason I wanted to get Libby away from Owen. The selfish, impossible reason that had nothing to do with getting her better, and everything to do with a fantasy I’d harbored since I was fifteen.

  If Avery figured out my secret, she didn’t say so. “Actually…” She snapped her mouth shut and began to chew on her lip. Whatever she was thinking, she was too nervous to say it.

  “What is it?”

  “Um, well, you’ve done an intervention before, right?”

  She swallowed, clearly feeling bad for bringing up a sore subject. My heart skipped an anxious beat, but I was curious, so I nodded. “With my mom, yeah.”

  Avery met my eyes with a pleading gaze. “Do you think you could…” Her cheeks turned slightly pink, and she took a steadying breath. “I hate to ask, but, if you’re serious about helping, do you think you could—would you be willing to mediate the intervention for us?”

  Aside from being shocked that Avery knew enough about interventions to know that they were mediated by an intervention counselor, I was floored that she was taking my suggestion so seriously. I expected she’d think to corner Libby and give her a real heart-to-heart. I thought she’d suggest trying to help her find a new boyfriend or a hobby or something, but she was taking me literally.

  “Avery, I—” A lump formed in the pit of my stomach. “Interventions are serious. I meant it when I suggested it, and I fully believe that Libby could benefit from one, but I’m not sure I’m qualified to lead one. I’m not a counselor.”

  “But you’re still perfect for this. You understand the situation and you know what’s at stake, but you’re still an outsider. You could be objective. I’d do it myself, but I’m afraid I’ll be too emotional.”

  Me, objective? About Libby Garrett? Ha!

  “Please, Adam?”

  Avery placed her hand on my arm and looked up at me with these big, glossy blue eyes. The desperation in them was my downfall. I couldn’t say no. Part of me didn’t want to say no, either. This was for Libby. I could go through another intervention again, if there was a chance it would help Libby. I blew out a heavy breath, my whole body deflating with my lungs. “Okay.”

  Avery threw her arms around me. “Thank you, Adam! Thank you so much.”

  Clearing my throat, I awkwardly patted Avery’s back and waited for her to let me go. “We both close on Monday. Why don’t we do it here after closing? I’ll run it by Josiah, but I’m sure it will be fine. You guys can have privacy, and it might go a little smoother if there’s an unlimited supply of cider involved.”

  Avery giggled. “That’s probably true. Okay, I’ll let the others know and we’ll all meet here at close Monday night.” Avery opened the door to leave, but turned to look at me one last time. “Thanks, Adam.”

  I wanted to say Don’t thank me yet. Libby was going to hate this. I just hoped she wouldn’t hate me for leading the charge. Avery and her friends she would forgive, but she didn’t know me. By agreeing to this, I was probably destroying any chance I’d ever have with her. Instead, I nodded and said, “You’re welcome.”

  Oh, well. It wasn’t as if I had a real chance with Libby anyway. At least this way she might get some help.

  Libby

  The Science Squad—the nickname Grayson used for the kids in science club last year had stuck—was still not speaking to me. They’d gone so far as to kick me out of science club in the coffee shop Saturday. Considering the state of my mussed hair, smeared lipstick, and rumpled clothing, they easily figured out that I’d forgotten the science fair because of Owen. They weren’t happy. Really, really weren’t happy.

  I’d tried several times to talk to all of them yesterday and today, but they were giving me the cold shoulder. I understood that they were pissed off, but they may as well have forgotten science and joined the drama club. Their theatrics were worthy of Broadway.

  They were serious about kicking me out of science club. I went to the meeting after school today, and there was a barely legible note taped to the door that said, “Science club moved today. The new location was texted to all members. If you didn’t get the message, TAKE THE HINT!”

  “Nice.”

  “They’re very upset, Libby.”

  Startled by the unexpected voice, I whirled around to see Mr. Walden, the science club advisor, standing behind me with a stack of papers in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. He nodded toward his classroom. “Why don’t you come on in and have a talk with me.”

  He looked genuinely concerned, but he didn’t hide his disappointment in me. A weight settled on my chest and a lump formed in my throat. Mr. Walden was my favorite teacher, and I hated that I’d let him down so badly. I followed him into his classroom, and a heavy silence threatened to choke me to death. Mr. Walden didn’t speak until he’d settled himself at his desk. Then he patted to the chair next to it and told me to have a seat. He waited for me to speak, but I had no idea what to say.

  “What happened?”

  I swallowed the lump and forced myself to explain. “I don’t have a good excuse. I just forgot. I made a mistake. I feel terrible, Mr. Walden. We worked so hard on our project—Tara worked so hard. She deserved better.”

  “Yes, she did.”

  Good old Mr. Walden and his no-nonsense approach really didn’t help the overwhelming shame I felt. “But it was an accident!” I crumpled the paper in my hand and shook it at Mr. Walden. “Kicking me out of science club for the rest of the year? Holding secret meetings? They’re being so immature. I didn’t mean to flake on Tara. I feel awful about it, but everyone is so mad at me, they won’t even let me apologize.”

  Mr. Walden studied me from over the rim of his cup as he sipped his coffee. After a minute, he put the mug down. “Do you sincerely want to apologize to them?”

  “How can you even ask me that? Of course I do.”

  “To all of them, or just Tara?”

  My indignation started to rise. Even Mr. Walden was siding against me. “I owe Tara an apology, but why should I apologize to the rest of them? I didn’t do anything to them. They’re the ones being jerks right now.”

  Mr. Walden gave me a look. “Are you sure about that?”

  I was about to say yes, but Mr. Walden wouldn’t challenge me if he didn’t think I needed it. He made me question the whole situation. When I hesitated, Mr. Walden said, “Do you remember how you felt last year when Aiden dropped out of the science club and found a new group of friends?”

  Of course I did. I’d wanted to kill him.

  “Do you remember how his actions affected all of you, and not just Avery?”

  It was true. He’d hurt Avery the most, but all of us felt the sting of his actions. We were a team, after all. More than that, we were sort of a family. I sighed, seeing his point. “Okay, maybe I owe all of them an apology.”

  Mr. Walden nodded. “I agree.”

  Ugh. Again with the guilt trip. And he was so calm about it. He sure knew how to drive the nail in. “Fine. But I still don’t know how I’m going to do that when they won’t talk to me.”

  Mr. Walden considered my predicament. “If I tell you where they’re meeting today, do you promise me you will go there and sincerely apologize to each and every one of them?”

  “Done.”

  “And promise me you will do whatever is necessary to make things right with Tara. With Avery, too. As your club president and your best friend, she felt this blow nearly as hard as Tara did.”

  My chest tightened. “I will.”

  “Whatever it takes,” Mr. Walden emphasized. “You really messed up this time, Libby. It’s going to take more than an apology to fix it.”

  I swallowed again. “I promise.”

  Mr. Walden debated another minute, and then gave up the top-secret location. “They’re going to meet at Avery’s work place tonight at 8:00 p.m. when the shop closes.”

  Great. Humble pie with a big fat side of Uptight
Coffee Jerk—yes, the nickname had morphed after our last encounter, brilliant smile or not. This was going to be fun.

  “Is there a problem?” Mr. Walden asked.

  I shrugged. “Depends on if you consider being banned from Jo’s for life with the threat of arrest if I ever return a problem.”

  For a moment Mr. Walden looked surprised, but then he shook his head and laughed. “I don’t want to know, Miss Garrett.”

  I happened to agree with him on that.

  “You’re a good kid, Libby, with a bright head on your shoulders…usually,” he teased. “I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”

  Yeah. I already had something figured out. I was going to that science club meeting. Mr. Coffee Jerk was just going to have to remove that stick from his butt and let me in, or I’d remove it for him. Actually, that sounded like a really good plan. “Thanks, Mr. Walden. I think I’m feeling better already.”

  “Just remember your promise, Libby. Do whatever you need to do to make it right.”

  Nodding, I got up to leave Mr. Walden to his paper grading. As I walked out of the room, I looked back just in time to see him pick up his ever-present cup of coffee. For some reason, that made me smile. He was the worst coffee junkie I’d ever met, but he was always sucking down the sludge—his word—from the teacher’s lounge. I’d have to pick up some real coffee for him tonight.

  “Hey, Mr. Walden?”

  He glanced up curiously.

  “I owe you an apology, too. I’m sorry I let you down.”

  “Me too, Libby,” he answered. “I appreciate the apology.”

  I waved at the mound of papers on his desk and said, “If you ever need help grading, or whatever, I could come in. I have second period free.”

  Mr. Walden’s eyes lit up. “I will definitely take you up on that. Stop by tomorrow?”

  “You got it.”

  I was feeling pretty confident after I’d patched things up with Mr. Walden so easily. He was a super cool guy, but he was still a teacher. He should have been a lot harder on me than he was. If he could understand and forgive my mistake, then the rest of the crew would be fine as soon as I groveled a little. And maybe, just maybe, if I was really lucky, Adam wouldn’t be working tonight and I wouldn’t get Avery fired or end up in the slammer.