by Jenni James
“Thanks.”
By the time I’d made it to the car, Maralyn was bawling.
“You were right,” she said. “You were right. You were right. You were right!”
I didn’t want to be right. Not then, not ever. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered.
“Why?” She sniffed as she started the car. “You were worried about him. You didn’t trust him. You tried to warn me, multiple times, but I wouldn’t listen. I should’ve known better. I should’ve listened.” Her fist hit the steering wheel, hard. “I hate him. I really, really do.”
I refused to say anything. I let her stay in the parking lot. It took about fifteen minutes for her to freak out and vent and get everything off her chest. It was better here without the car moving than out on the road.
I’d figured Harrison wasn’t the greatest guy out there, and he was definitely hiding something, but I didn’t think he was this big of a loser. My sister deserved someone so much better!
* * *
Unfortunately, the Harrison drama didn’t end there. Monday, we got another blow. At the end of school, Skyler caught up with me in the hall.
“Hey, Ellyn. Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure.” I shifted my bags and followed him to the music room. “What do you need?”
He ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t know if I should be asking this, but my curiosity has gotten the better of me. Is everything okay with Maralyn? She looked a little down today. Do you know what’s going on?”
Was it all right to talk to him about her? It was probably fine. I wasn’t sworn to secrecy or anything. “I—” I had no idea how to bring this up, so I did what worked best for me and blurted it out. “Harrison had to move to Farmington.”
“Yeah, I heard. So is she all right? Is that what’s wrong? She’s still missing him?”
“Not exactly. We ran into him this past Saturday. He was on a date with his longtime girlfriend, Sydney.”
His jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me?”
“Nope.”
He shook his head. “That jerk deserves everything he’s going to get. Everything.” He looked down the hall and then back at me. “At first, I felt kind of bad about his arrest and all that, but now I’m glad it happened. Karma has a way of coming back and kicking someone in the butt when they need it most.”
Only one part of that comment stuck out to me, and that was, “his arrest.” “What do you mean? What was he arrested for?”
Skyler’s eyes went as hard as steel. “If he’s lucky, it won’t be for murder. But since my dad’s still in the hospital, we’ll have to see.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: Wait. What?
My chest tightened. It felt as though my heart had frozen inside it. “What do you mean? Why is your dad in the hospital?” Then I gasped. “The day of the party when something happened to your dad and Harrison came late—is that what you mean?”
“Yes.” Skyler clenched his teeth.
“I had no idea your dad was in the hospital. Maralyn said you weren’t at school the last week or so. . . Sorry. I’ve been so caught up in my own life, I can’t believe I didn’t remember about your dad. What did Harrison do? What happened?” My mind was officially blown. I knew I was chattering, but really? Harrison got arrested? And now this? Where was I when all this was going on?
“Harrison told the cops that he was running late and trying to text Maralyn that he’d be there soon. My dad was walking to his parked truck, which was on the side of the road. He’d just picked up some firewood for our backyard fire pit to make s’mores for our party that night.
“Harrison was distracted by texting and veered to the left, hit the curb in the other lane, freaked out, overcorrected, and missed my dad’s truck by mere centimeters. However, when my dad jumped back, Harrison clipped him with the side of his car, and then ran him over with his back tires.”
I gasped. “No.”
“My dad has been in a coma ever since.”
“I’m so, so sorry. I had no idea!”
He looked around the room and then shut the door. “The worst part was that Harrison was so worried about getting caught texting while driving that he took off. He saw my dad lying there on the street, and he drove away.”
I slowly shook my head while that sank in. “I can’t believe it.”
“Thank goodness there were enough witnesses to describe Harrison’s vehicle that the cops were able to find him easily enough. There were still pieces of my dad’s shirt stuck in his front bumper. He was arrested the next day.”
I walked over to a chair and sat down. I didn’t think my legs would work much longer. “I’m so sick right now.”
He pulled up a chair and sat across from me. “I know. Me too.”
Suddenly, I thought of Harrison on his date, and I wanted to fling the idiot through a window. “Why isn’t he in jail right now?”
“His parents weren’t going to post bail. They thought he should rot in there until his trial to teach him a lesson. I guess he got his girlfriend in Farmington to bail him out. He claimed Sydney was just a friend, but now we know otherwise. His parents kicked him out of the house the next day. He’s been living with that girl ever since.”
I couldn’t even. I just couldn’t. It was all was too much to process.
But it was as if I’d released a dam of information from Skyler. He couldn’t stop talking.
“I’ve heard his court date is set for next month. I don’t know who he’ll get for a lawyer, but it’d better be a good one. Harrison has a lot to answer for. If he’d just stopped and tried to help my dad, this all would’ve all been so much better. But since he took off—yeah, no. He’s going down.”
My mind was whirling. It felt as if I were in the middle of a movie or something. “Sounds like he’ll get exactly what he deserves.” This kind of stuff didn’t happen to us. This was the sort of thing that happened to teens in California or New York or Chicago. Not here. Not in little Bloomfield, New Mexico. And it certainly didn’t involve people I knew.
It was horrific to imagine.
“Hey.” Skyler got up from his chair and knelt in front of me. “Are you okay?”
I let out this weird snort/chuckle thing. “Am I okay? Your dad is in a coma because of some selfish jerk, and you’re asking if I’m okay?”
He gave a wry grin. “Well, I’ve had a few more days to mull this over. You seem to be in shock.”
“Yep. Probably what this is—a bit of shock.”
He took my hands in his and searched my eyes. “It’s going to be okay. I mean—it won’t. Nothing will be the same again, really. But it’ll all work out.”
“Does Maralyn know?”
“No, I guess not. I don’t know how to tell her, either.”
I squeezed his hand. “I’ll find a way to do it tonight. Then you can talk to her if you’d like, answer any questions—I don’t know. I just—I’m sorry.” I stood up. “I need to go. I’ve gotta get out of here and think.” My elbow was beginning to itch again, and all at once, the room seemed to be closing in on me. I had to say something polite, didn’t I? Except that I didn’t know what else to say. “Um—thanks for sharing.” I found my bags. Apparently, I’d dropped them once I’d sat down. I hadn’t even noticed. I picked them up and looked at Skyler. “Bye.” Then I headed out of the classroom and down the hall as fast as I could.
“Ellyn! Wait up!” Maralyn was running toward me. “Where have you been?”
I glanced back at Skyler’s room and then toward my sister. I didn’t know which was worse at the moment. “I was . . . I was …” My mouth really wasn’t functioning at the moment.
“She was talking to me,” Skyler said as he walked out into the hall.
“Oh.” Maralyn looked between the two of us. “What’s going on? Has something happened?”
“Yeah. I have to go. I’ll tell you later.” I was going to have a full-blown panic attack. I could feel it forming already.
“Wait.” She tried to
stop me from walking past.
“Actually, I can tell you what’s going on, if you’re willing to hear it from me,” Skyler stepped in.
My eyes connected with Maralyn’s. “Do it. Talk to Skyler. It’s not going to be easy, but you need to hear what he has to say.”
“Is it about Harrison?”
How did she do that? Seriously.
“Yes,” Skyler and I said at the same time.
She took a deep breath and then glanced over at him. “Okay. Can we go somewhere private?”
He stepped back and opened the door to his room even farther.
“I’ll see you at home.” I had to get out of there right now. As in, right this second.
“Okay.” Maralyn walked into the classroom, and I bolted, heading for the first outdoor exit I could find. As quick as I could, I made my way home and collapsed on my bed.
I must’ve fallen asleep because the next thing I remember was Maralyn bursting into our room. “This is all my fault!” She threw her bag on the chair and began to pace the floor. “If Harrison hadn’t been coming to pick me up, he never would’ve texted me to say he was running late. Then he never would’ve hit Skyler’s dad! And now he’s going to prison. I know it. All because of me!”
“Whoa. Okay, I don’t always understand a ton of what’s going on, but this much I do know—you are not now, or ever, to blame for Harrison’s stupidity! Ever. Do you hear me?”
“But if it wasn’t for that, he’d still be here!” she wailed and plopped down on the floor. “I hate myself so much right now.”
“He’d still be here pretending to be your boyfriend while two-timing on you. How is that cool? Are you crazy?”
“I love him! We were so perfect for each other. I don’t care if he had another girlfriend. Clearly, he wasn’t happy with her because he reached out to me. We were inseparable. Remember? There’s a reason for that. I’d found my soulmate! He’d even hinted around that eventually, we’d get married and have kids. You don’t just drop those feelings the second you find out the guy—”
“Is a jerk?” I interrupted. “Actually, yes, you do. You drop those feelings and smack yourself across the head and wonder where your brains went. Yes, you let him go.”
She looked so lost, staring up at me. “I can’t let him go. I can’t. I’m just blaming myself. It’s so hard to imagine him anything less than perfect.”
Maralyn was serious. I couldn’t believe it. Her face was so stricken, she actually believed she’d caused Harrison’s accident. I was stunned. Slowly, I knelt down on the floor next to her and whispered, “Do you know why people change so quickly when they find out they’ve been betrayed? It’s because they realize their own worth is greater than that person’s lies.”
Her dark brown eyes were so full of hurt right now. “Skyler’s dad could die,” she said quietly.
“I know.”
“Harrison could’ve killed someone while texting me.”
I took a deep breath. “Maralyn, stop it.”
“It’s true, though—isn’t it? You can’t take that back. It’s fact.”
How dare Harrison share that part of the story—how dare he insinuate that he had a good reason to be texting someone? He must have known Mara would feel guilty. I really wanted to hurt that guy.
“If Skyler’s dad dies, I’ll die. As in, really die. I will. I couldn’t live with it.”
What was she saying? “Don’t you dare think that way!”
She pushed away from me. “I can’t help it. That’s how I feel. I know how awful it is to lose a parent! I know! And to have Skyler’s dad gone because of me—I wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure. I’d die. I know it, I just would.”
I reached over and shook her. I didn’t know what else to do. “Maralyn, stop it. Don’t say stuff like that. Why would two wrongs make a right? It wouldn’t! I need you. I’ve already lost Dad—I can’t lose you. Mom couldn’t lose you—or Katelyn! Snap out of it. You need counseling or something. You need help—but not death. I couldn’t—stop. Just stop.”
She seemed to focus a bit more, as if she’d been gone and now come back to the room all of a sudden. “Breathe, Ellie. Breathe. It’s okay. You don’t need to panic. I’m here. It’s okay.”
I was crying. This drama was way too much for me. I couldn’t handle anything right now. Why was life so messed up? Was there never going to be any peace? When would the good shine through the bad? I couldn’t take it.
There was a knock on the door. It was Mom. “Hey, Maralyn. Skyler’s here to see you. Would you like to come out and talk for a minute?”
We looked at each other as I wiped my eyes.
“You need time, don’t you?”
“So do you,” I reminded her.
She shook her head. “Maybe I do just need to talk to someone.”
“He’s a really nice guy.”
Closing her eyes, she asked, “Is he?”
“Yes.”
“And he won’t hurt me, or lie to me?”
“I sincerely doubt it.”
“Because I’d rather invest my time on something I know is real.”
“You don’t have to become his girlfriend, you know.”
“Ew. I wasn’t planning on that!” She made a face.
“You’re such a brat. He likes you so much more than you deserve.”
She attempted a grin. “Probably.” Then she sighed. “Honestly, I need a friend. Someone who can talk me down from this insanity. Someone who can help me make sense of this all.”
I nodded. She totally did. “Then he’s the perfect guy for the job. He’ll genuinely listen.”
“Hang on, Mom. Let Skyler know I’m coming.” She wiped her hands over her face and stood up, then held her hand out for me.
I got up, and Mara trapped me in a large, warm hug. “I love you.”
“Me too,” I whispered. “I love you too.” For once, her hug didn’t bother me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: It’s All Fun and Games Until…
Wednesday before prom, the news was all over the place. Not only was everyone talking about Harrison being arrested for hitting Skyler’s dad, but they’d heard that Zane’s dad was selling his car. Rumor had it that Loni met Zane’s little brother and broke the news to him that she’d been secretly dating Zane. Apparently, Zed had promised to keep the secret, since he thought she was hot. He even went so far as to invite Loni over to the house, pretending to be the one going out with her so she and Zane could see each other. However, it all backfired when their dad overheard them talking about prom.
He flipped, and the rest is history.
The car was already on the dealership lot in Farmington. And Zane was forbidden to go to prom.
It was quite the excitement at school. Loni gave a ton of teary sniffles, and Zane kept his head down for the most of the day.
“Are you okay?” I asked him as we headed down the hallway after school.
“Meh.” He shrugged. “I’ve had better days. You?”
I nudged him with my elbow. “I’ve had better months, but you know, at least I didn’t lose the car I’d saved a ton of money for.”
“Ouch.”
“Sorry.”
“Nah, it’s okay. Just trying to decide if it was worth it or not.”
I planted myself in front of him so he’d stop. “Standing up to your dad? Are you kidding me? Yes, it was completely worth it.”
He tilted his head and gave me a funny look. “You know, when you put it that way…”
“Many people have lost way worse things standing up for their rights.”
“I guess you live and you learn, don’t you?”
“That’s my theory.” I grinned.
Someone bumped him from behind, and he took a step closer to me. Those hazel eyes went soft, and I could smell his cologne. “Do you know what I wish?”
The roar of kids leaving school sort of muffled into the background. “What?”
“I wish I could kiss you right now.”<
br />
My brain skizzle-skerped to a stop. “Zane!”
“What? It’s the truth.”
“Gah.” I pushed away and started walking again. “Why do you do that?”
“Tell the truth?” He was grinning.
“Try to make me all flustered. Stop it. You’re totally driving me nuts.”
“Nope. I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Look.” He glanced toward the door and then back at me. “If I was trying to make you all flustered, I’d actually kiss you. Right now, I’m behaving myself, and telling you it’s what I wish I could do. See? There’s a difference.”
“Ha. Very little.”
“Really?” It was his turn to stop in front of me. “Do you want me to show you the difference between kissing you and not kissing you? There is a difference. I promise.”
Why was he such a dork? “Move. You’re blocking the doors.”
Zane laughed as he moved away and opened the door for me. “You know what I like about you most, Ellyn Dashwood?”
I started down the stairs. “That I can kick your trash?”
“Ha. I’d like to see you try!” He chuckled. “No, well—maybe. I like how you say it like it is.”
I was just about to answer him when Skyler came jogging toward us. “Zane! Ellyn! Wait up.”
We waited at the bottom of the stairs for him.
“Isn’t that the music teacher?” Zane asked.
“Yeah, he’s got a thing for my sister.”
“Hi.” Skyler smiled as he approached. He wasn’t even out of breath. “You probably don’t know me, Zane, but I’ve heard about you in school.”
“Oh.” Zane shifted his backpack as Skyler cleared his throat.
“I know this is kind of weird, but I’d like to help you out.”
“You would?” Zane seemed totally confused.
“Yeah, I heard about what your dad did, and that’s so not cool. I’ve still got the truck that I used in high school sitting in the garage at my parents’ house. It’s completely paid for and everything. I’d like you to take it. For free. As in, it’s yours. It’s sort of a piece, but it runs. And it’s got a good engine—should last you a few years, at least.”
