by Jordan Ford
With a little sigh, she stops moving away, but she still won’t turn and face me fully. I step around her so she has no choice but to look at me.
“Hi.” She forces a closed-mouth smile.
I gape at her for a second, then frown. “Hi? That’s all? What… What’s going on?”
She rolls her eyes and rests her shoulder on the nearest locker. “Look, I’m sorry. I can see you want to hang out, but…” She shakes her head.
“But what?”
“I don’t want that this year.” She gives me a pained frown like she almost feels bad, then lifts her chin and continues to destroy my day. “I don’t want to be boring anymore, okay? I’m sick of being stuck inside talking books and movies all the time. I don’t want to take stupid photos for your stupid Instagram account. I don’t care.”
Air becomes thin and wispy in my chest. Gripping my bag strap, I swallow and look to the floor. I should be walking away, freaking running away, but I stay, because I’m a sucker for punishment.
“Being away this summer made me realize how long I’ve been stuck in Basic Town. I want to have fun, and I don’t want to be labeled like some loser nerd this year. This is high school. I’m not wasting it.”
“We can have fun,” I whisper, desperation searing through me.
She scoffs. “Lettie, you don’t even know how. You’re too scared to do anything.”
I press my lips together to stop them from trembling. I want to cry so badly right now, but I can’t. I won’t.
“You shouldn’t really be that surprised.” Johanna’s voice softens. “I mean, you’re the one who was pulling away from me first. Stuck in your room on your computer all the time. Keeping secrets.”
My eyes bulge and I let out a little gasp as I look at her. Did I hurt her feelings? I never meant to do that, I just… Bass was my secret to keep, and I didn’t think anyone else would understand.
But Jo would.
Of course she would!
“I-I can tell you everything,” I splutter. “You’re my best friend. I didn’t mean to keep secrets from you. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
Johanna huffs and rolls her eyes. “I don’t care anymore, Lettie. You can have your little secrets. I’m running with a new squad now, and I don’t want to do anything to mess that up.”
As if on cue, the bathroom door flings open and Jessica appears in all her cool, I’m-too-good-for-you glory.
Johanna jumps away from me as an instant smile blooms on her face. “You ready to go?” she asks Jessica, her voice going high and fluffy.
I narrow my eyes at her, but she ignores me, walking shoulder-to-shoulder with her new BFF and leaving me out in the cold.
Jessica didn’t even see me standing there.
Maybe that’s a good thing.
The thought of going into the cafeteria right now makes me want to puke, so I turn on my heel and head away from the lunch crowd. Aimlessly walking the open corridors, I find myself out near the grass and quickly spot my sister.
With a little gasp, I jump behind one of the large pillars before she sees me.
I don’t want her asking me why I’m alone. I don’t want to tell her about what Johanna’s doing. Knowing Sav, she’ll storm into the cafeteria and try to fix it all for me. I don’t want that. I don’t need that.
I need my mom.
Tears blur my vision, and I press my knuckles into my eyes to stop them. With a determined sniff, I catch them before they fall and sneak another peek at my sister.
She’s huddled on the lawn with her best friend, Skylar. Aidan’s there too.
They’re looking pretty serious, and I can only guess that they must be talking about Skylar and Dayton Malloy. That news exploded onto the scene a couple weeks ago when Skylar outed Officer Malloy for raping her. I couldn’t believe my ears. It’s really rocked the community. Dayton was close friends with Skylar’s dad, plus Skylar used to date Dayton’s son, Craig.
I haven’t seen Craig today. I wonder if he’s even coming back here this year. I would totally understand if he went into hiding. Having your ex-girlfriend accuse your father of rape has to be humiliating. Although, if he thinks Skylar’s lying like he so adamantly claimed, shouldn’t he be strutting the halls with his head held high?
From what I can tell, the town is kind of divided over Skylar’s claims. Half of us are siding with her, while the other half think she’s being a manipulative bitch. Dayton Malloy was a well-loved cop, a favored member of the community. After Skylar’s party, I’m pretty sure he requested extended leave to take Craig away from it all. Maybe they’re still on vacation and Craig will start school later this semester. Personally, I think the move just makes him look guilty, but maybe he’s just trying to protect Craig. Who knows? It’s Skylar’s word against his. There’s a strong chance he could win this thing. Oh man, that would suck so bad. He deserves to go down for what he did—taking advantage of a drunk girl. It’s sick on so many levels.
Savannah’s head starts to rise and turn, so I quickly duck back into hiding and then slink along the wall to make my escape to the library. I should have headed there first. A place filled with books; that’s always going to be my haven.
Checking my watch as I walk in, I calculate that I have about a half hour before the bell rings again. My stomach is rumbling with hunger, but I’ll just have to cope. A little hunger never killed anybody. I’d rather suffer that than be stuck sitting alone in the cafeteria so people can whisper and gossip about me.
I got my fill of behind-my-back whispers after Mom died.
I don’t need them again.
Ever.
Weaving around the couches and beanbags, I make my way to the fantasy section. The library is used by the entire school, so I know my way around here. Johanna and I were shelf monitors in middle school. I should probably apply for student librarian. That’d be a good way to use up my lunchtimes.
With a sad, wistful sigh, I run my finger along book spines, comforted by the small act. Mom always adored books. I think I got my passion from her. She read to me every night, and when she got too sick, I used to read to her. It was our thing.
She was my best friend.
And I miss her so bad.
She’d know exactly what to say to make me feel better about the whole Johanna thing.
My throat swells as that familiar loneliness swamps me.
I should email Bass. He’ll understand. He’ll probably have a few colorful things to say about the best friend who ditched me so suddenly.
The thought makes me grin, and I’m just toying with the idea of getting out my laptop when I sense someone watching me.
I glance to my right and spot a tall Asian guy smiling at me. I don’t recognize him at all and wonder if he’s new to the school. He looks too old to be a freshman, though. Maybe he’s new to Walton Academy. Not that I know every student here or anything, but I feel like he’s good-looking enough that Johanna and I would have noticed him before.
Plus he’s in the library.
We totally would have noticed him.
He’s holding a copy of Six of Crows.
Nice. I read that duology last year. In like one weekend. The books were impossible to put down. I actually recommended them to Bass, because I thought he might like the whole heist thing.
I wonder if he got around to reading them.
I should tell this guy that they’re definitely worth his time.
I nearly do, but the words get clogged in my throat. Instead, I flash him a brief smile, then scurry out of the fantasy section.
Ducking around the corner, I slump against the wall with a heavy sigh.
No wonder Johanna doesn’t want to be my friend anymore.
She’s right.
I am scared of everything.
5
The Vape Test
JACE
The morning has been long and painful.
I miss my friends.
I hate being the new kid in every class.
I hate having to learn new rules and routines. I don’t give a shit about Ryder Bay High School. I want to go back home.
Thank God I have people to sit with at lunchtime. It’s the only thing that’s pulled me through. As I place my tray of nachos down at the outdoor table farthest from the cafeteria, I test out a smile on Raven, and she responds with a wide grin before introducing me to her other friends—Dom, Trav and Shari.
“’Sup.” I lift my chin at them and get a smirk, an eye roll and a wink in return.
Neo steals one of my chips and crunches through it. I’m not going to say anything. I’m smart enough to know that you let your new friends take a little. These people seem like the kind I want to keep on my side, and as long as they show me a little respect, then I’m cool with that.
“So, East Coast, I hear you’re a troublemaker.” Shari pokes her tongue out the side of her black-painted lips.
I give her a tight smile and stab at the bean mixture with my fork.
“What’d you do that made you get kicked out of your house?”
Thoughts of Hayes falling from the roof whip me, but like hell I’m telling them about that, so instead I shrug and casually list a couple of misdemeanors. “Drinking, out all night, graffiti.”
Neo scoffs. “Your mom can’t handle that shit?”
I raise my eyebrows at him, then figure I may as well tell them the truth. “She’s got a new guy and a baby on the way. Think she just wanted an excuse to get me out of the picture.”
Raven hisses. “Harsh. Parents suck.”
I nod but don’t say anything. Something doesn’t sit right about insulting my mom to these people, and now I wish I hadn’t said anything.
“Aw.” Shari pouts. “New boy sad.”
I clench my jaw at her mocking tone.
“New boy needs some fruity flavor.” Raven glances at her friend, and they both grin. “Here, stop eating that crap and have something sweet and delicious.”
She pulls my tray away from me and places a colorful cylinder on the table. I pick it up and quickly work out that it’s a vape pen.
“Suck it in, bro,” Dom mumbles, his eyes glinting. “We’ve got pineapple on the menu today.”
I narrow my gaze, then glance over my shoulder, feeling totally exposed.
He smirks. “Don’t worry. No one’s gonna notice. Just blow toward your chest.”
“We do it all the time.” Shari wriggles her eyebrows at me.
“Try some. It’ll make the afternoon go faster, man.” Neo gives me a knowing grin. “It’s a great escape.”
Raven leans across the table with that stunning smile of hers. “We told you we’d help you survive this hellhole. Feel the buzz, East Coast. You can thank us later.”
I gaze down at the pen, and damn, I’m tempted.
I’m guessing this vape pen is sporting a little marijuana by the way they’re all talking. I’ve never done drugs before. The one time I was going to try some, I ended up meeting Snap Dragon, and I never felt the need to dabble again.
Neo’s words “great escape” circle in my head, and temptation gets the better of me. Escaping this banishment nightmare sounds like a great idea right now. I wrap my lips around the pen and am about to pull in a deep breath when I’m jerked to a stop by a loud throat clearing behind me.
Dom’s eyes bulge while Shari lets out a snort and starts to snicker.
“Oh, shit,” Trav mutters under his breath.
“Good afternoon,” Principal Etheridge greets us.
I try to hide the pen within my fist, but it’s too big and the principal spots it immediately. “Hmmm, interesting-looking pen you have there. May I see it?”
I swallow and toy with the idea of throwing it toward the trash can just behind me, but I doubt that’s gonna fly.
With an exasperated sigh, the principal holds out his hand. “I would like to see the pen, Mr. Bastion. Right now.”
I work my jaw to the side and glance across the table, wondering if anyone’s going to bail me out, but nope. Dominic is staring at the top of the table, the muscle in his jaw clenching and unclenching. Raven narrows her eyes at me, and it’s obvious what they’re expecting me to do.
This is my test.
I slap the pen into his palm, my knee bobbing beneath the table as Principal Etheridge examines the vaping device and clears his throat. “As I’m sure you’re all aware, vaping is not permitted at this school. Who brought this in?” His usually soft voice is now low and hard.
I swallow and fight the urge to tell the truth.
But if I do that, I’ll be minced meat to everyone at this table. That’s just not worth it, so I quietly mutter, “I did.”
“Well. That is disappointing.” The principal buttons his jacket and tells me to stand. “Follow me, please. The others can clear your tray.” I stand and grab my bag off the ground.
With an annoyed huff, I do as I’m told and shuffle after the principal. I refuse to glance back at my table of new “friends.” I don’t want to see them laughing at me.
I don’t know whether or not they set me up, but I still feel like I have to take the fall.
It’s New Kid 101, right? Even though I haven’t been the new kid since kindergarten, I instinctively know that if you narc, you get dead.
So as I plunk into the chair opposite the principal’s desk, I’ve already decided to lie. It’s my only option.
Principal Etheridge takes a seat and kills my initial assumption that he’s a jellyfish leader. The cold, hard look in his eyes makes me roll my shoulders as I fight the urge to curl in on myself and look defeated.
Shit, I’m never getting back home.
“So, Jace. I, uh, I know your history. I had a nice long chat with your mother on the phone this morning. She wanted to call and check in.”
I clench my jaw.
“I’m clued in on exactly why you’re here and what you’re trying to achieve. Well, what I thought you were trying to achieve. Yet here you are, on your very first day, as far from home as you can possibly be.” Threading his fingers together, he rests his hands on his desk and tips his head to study me. “Do you not want to go home?”
My nostrils flare as I stare at the damn vape pen now sitting on the principal’s desk.
“You know what will happen if you get kicked out of here, don’t you?”
I glance up at his raised eyebrows and don’t say anything.
“I’m not sure if your mother told you, but if you can’t make Ryder Bay work, she’s looking at military school. Your very desperate mother will do anything to help you find some discipline in your life.”
I start to squirm, shifting in my seat as hot dread scours my insides.
“Do you want to go to military school, Jace?”
I shake my head before I can stop myself.
“I didn’t think so.” He gives me a kind smile. “So, I guess that leaves you with only one option. You need to make your time in Ryder Bay a worthwhile experience.” He points at the contraband. “I won’t tolerate drugs at this school. Now, is this yours?”
I swallow, hesitate, then nod.
Principal Etheridge closes his eyes with a heavy sigh. “It’s not. You’re a terrible liar.”
“Then why are you asking me?” I mutter.
“Because I wanted to give you the opportunity to tell the truth.”
“You know I can’t do that.” I look him in the eye. “You want me to survive my first week? Turning me into a narc will get my ass kicked.”
He huffs and rolls his eyes. “Can I advise you to find some new friends? We have many wonderful students here at Ryder Bay High. Maybe a different crowd will bring out your better qualities.”
I frown at him and nearly confess that I don’t know how to find a different crowd. Trouble attracts trouble. It’s just the way it is. I’ll go insane if I’m stuck hanging out with some basic, boring-ass bookworms.
Snap Dragon punches into my mind, and I instantly regret what I thought.
She�
��s different, though.
“Are you high right now?” the principal asks.
“I didn’t get the chance,” I mumble.
“Have you ever been high before?”
I glance up and go for the truth, shaking my head with a definitive no.
“Why start today?”
I open my mouth to reply, but I honestly don’t know. All I can do is shrug.
“Okay. You know what?” The principal grabs the pen and throws it into his trash can. “The drugs are gone, and as long as I don’t see it anywhere near you again, then I’m going to let this whole incident go with one detention. But be warned.” He points at me. “I’m going to have to tell Marshall, and he may count this as a strike against you. Your mom said three and that’s it, so all you’ve got to do is keep your head down and your nose clean, and then this year will be over before you know it. You think you can do that?”
I don’t say anything. I can’t.
I may think I can do it, but whether I actually can or not is a whole other story.
6
Why Do People Have to Speak to Each Other?
LETTIE
Finally. The end of the day.
It couldn’t come fast enough, and I can’t wait to get out of here.
My foot taps a steady rhythm while I wait by Savvy’s car. My sister is no doubt chatting with Skylar and forgetting all about the fact that I need a ride home.
Crossing my arms, I pinch my biceps and watch Johanna jump into the passenger seat of Tanner’s car. He’s a junior this year. I can’t believe she’s dating a junior. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it just feels weird. I mean, I’m like a freshman kid and she’s all grown up and dating Mr. Muscles.
I bite my lip as his tires squeal and they pull out of the lot.
“You’re gonna put a hole in your lip if you’re not careful.”
I glance up and freeze when I spot the Asian guy from the library loping toward me. His smile is warm and easy as he pulls off his shades and stops beside me.
