Shatterproof

by Jocelyn Shipley

  “But why wouldn’t I?” she says. “Every time you mess up, it takes their focus off me.”

  Lug groans. “Okay, how about we cut you in? We’ve made almost four hundred bucks today. You can have fifty if you keep quiet.”

  “You’ve got to be joking,” Dakota says. “Me get involved in one of your sick, creepy schemes? Didn’t you learn anything from your grad-party photo thing?”

  Then she shrieks with laughter and heads for the phone store. “You guys are so busted!”

  Chapter Thirteen

  After Dakota leaves, Lug says, “What a bitch. I hate her.”

  “No duh. She’s a piece of work,” I say.

  Spring just stands there in shock.

  I don’t know what to do except start apologizing. “Spring, I’m so, so, so sorry.”

  She stares at me like I’ve murdered somebody. “That’s what you wanted to tell me?” she says. “That you’re not really Bo Blaketon?”

  “Um, yeah, it is.” Why oh why didn’t I do it sooner? Like, before Dakota showed up? “I’m really sorry. I should have told you myself.”

  “Too bad you didn’t,” she says. “Too bad I had to hear it from her.” She tugs on Tree’s arm. “Come on, we’re leaving.”

  “No, please don’t go!” I follow them toward the mall entrance.

  “My dad will be here by now,” she says. “Thank heavens I called him to come early.”

  I trail after her, begging, “Please, wait a minute. I can explain.”

  “No, you can’t,” she says. “You lied to me!”

  “Not on purpose.”

  “What?” She stops short and whips around. “How else do people lie?”

  “I mean, it’s not like that. I didn’t mean to. I didn’t want to.”

  “But you did. You sat there in the food court and let Laurence tell me you were Bo Blaketon. True or false?”

  “True, but I had a good reason.”

  “Oh, please!” Spring turns and tugs on Tree’s arm.

  I can’t let her get away. I hurry after them again. “It’s true I did pose as Bo Blaketon this morning,” I say, catching up. “But it wasn’t planned. It was totally random. These girls thought I was him and it just kind of morphed from there. I never felt right about it, and I really wanted to quit, but Lug took incriminating videos of me. He said he’d tell my mom what I did and then he said he’d post them online if I didn’t keep helping him. And my mom doesn’t even know I’m here today. She thinks I’m at a cross-country meet in Victoria.”

  Spring won’t look at me. “So you had to lie to me because you’d already lied to your mother? That’s supposed to make me feel better?”

  “Um, yeah, I guess,” I say. “I mean, I hope so.”

  “Well, it doesn’t. That’s so twisted!” She breaks into a run to get away. Tree howls as she drags him along.

  I chase after them. A couple of people turn to watch. I hope nobody calls security.

  Tree stumbles, and Spring is forced to stop again. “Please,” I say. “You have to listen. Lug was blackmailing me. That’s why I did it.”

  Now she faces me. With a scowl. “Who’s Lug?”

  “Laurence. Lug’s his nickname.”

  “Suits him. What a creep. You’re both creeps!”

  “No, he is. I’m not. But anyway, I couldn’t let my mom find out because she’s had a really hard time lately. She had a bad accident and she’s in a wheelchair and she lost her job and then my dad left and I wasn’t supposed to be hanging out with Lug at all, because of, um, that other thing Dakota mentioned.”

  Tree’s shrieks fade to sobs. Spring kneels down to comfort him and wipe his nose. When she straightens up, she says, “And what exactly did Dakota mean about that other thing?”

  “That wasn’t my fault. Lug was responsible. He took photos of girls and Photoshopped them so it looked like they were doing bad stuff.” She gives me a look. Like she’s waiting for the whole story.

  “Okay, I was there and I didn’t stop him from taking the photos. But I didn’t know he was planning to blackmail those girls. And he’s not my friend anymore.”

  “Why should I believe you?” Spring starts walking again.

  We’re almost at the mall entrance. “Because I really like you. I want to see you again. And I just hope you’ll give me another chance. Please.”

  Spring doesn’t answer that. Instead she says, “I can’t believe you said I could interview you! As Bo Blaketon!”

  I try to defend myself. “I said maybe!”

  “Same difference! You’re a con man!”

  “Not usually. Mostly I’m just Nate.”

  “Well, just Nate, you’re sick!” she says. “I thought you were a nice guy! I trusted you!”

  “I am a nice guy. You can trust me!” I grab her by the shoulders. “Please let me explain why I did it.”

  “Back off!” Without letting go of Tree, she pushes me away. “You let me help you get money from those girls! You made me a criminal too!”

  I grab hold of her again. “Spring, please. Give me another chance.”

  “No way!” Her voice rises in anger. “Get lost, jerk!” She shoves me harder this time.

  A security guard is on us in seconds. “Is he bothering you, miss?”

  I step away from her, hands at my sides. “No, sir, I’m not. It was just a misunderstanding, but it’s all good now.”

  Spring glares at me as she tells the guy, “That’s right. He’s not bothering me anymore. Ever!”

  “Are you sure?” The guard isn’t giving up easily. But, of course, that’s his job. “Did he hurt you in any way?”

  “No, really, he didn’t. It’s all fine.” Spring peers out the entrance doors. “My dad’s here to pick us up.” She and Tree go hand in hand to the waiting car. They climb in, and it drives away.

  “Okay, son, move along,” the guard says.

  “Yes, sir.” I turn to go find Lug. He’ll either be at the game store or RadRide. “I’m just leaving.”

  “Not that way, you’re not.” The guard grabs me by the shoulder. “This way.” He escorts me out of the mall. “And don’t come back,” he says. “I see you here again today, I call the cops.”

  I stride out into the parking lot so it looks like I’m really leaving. But I have to get back in there. I have to find Lug and get his iPad.

  It’s risky, but I don’t have a choice.

  Lug could still post those videos.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I circle the mall in a panic. I don’t have any time to waste. My bus to the ferry is in half an hour. But I can’t go back inside right away in case security is watching for me.

  I dodge shoppers and cars, trying to think things through. How can I get Lug to delete those videos? How can I make things right with Spring? How can I not miss my ferry?

  I can’t wait any longer. I go back in by another entrance and text Lug. where r u?

  RR, he replies.

  I rush to RadRide. He’s at the checkout, paying for a ton of clothes.

  “Whoa!” I say. “What is all this?”

  “What’s it look like?”

  I see he’s got those Vans and a hoodie I wanted. “Like you’re buying half the store.”

  The cashier takes Lug’s money. “Thanks for shopping at RadRide.” She puts everything into bags. We both stare at her arms, inked wrist to shoulder with flowery vines. “Hey,” she says to me. “You look familiar. I’m sure I’ve seen you on TV. Are you, um, oh, you know, what’s his name?”

  “No, I’m definitely not.” I rush past Lug and out of the store.

  “Hey, we could sign her up,” he says, following fast. “I bet she’d want to be an extra.”

  “Are you crazy? Dakota’s going to tell your parents!”

  “Yeah, well, she might. Or she might just hold it over me.” Lug heads for the food court. “But she probably will. That’s why I spent all the money. If I wear everything right away, my parents won’t be able to make me return
it.” He sits down at a table and puts on the Vans. “There’s a start.” He pitches his old sneakers into the garbage.

  I can’t believe this guy. “So where’s my money from this afternoon?” I don’t know how to convince Spring to give me another chance. But I figure doing something good with the cash will help.

  “Sorry, Bo. Spent it all.” Lug snaps the tags off the hoodie before pulling it on.

  “What? That’s not fair!”

  “Seriously? What’s not fair is that you spent all your time with Freakface. I signed up six girls while you were hitting on her.”

  “I wasn’t hitting on her. And those girls wouldn’t have signed up if they didn’t think I was Bo Blaketon.”

  Lug removes the packaging from some Shoe Goo and grip tape. “Yeah, you were.”

  Okay, I was. But I’m not admitting that to him. “No, I was impersonating a TV star so you wouldn’t rat me out to my mom or post those videos online.”

  Lug grins like he might still do both. “Sucks to be you.”

  Why did I ever think Lug was my friend? But now’s not the time to get into it with him. “Okay, so you got what you wanted,” I say. “With my help, you made more money this afternoon. So now I want you to delete those videos.”

  Lug gets his iPad out of his backpack. He sets it on the table and brings up the screen. “These are so great,” he says. “You really do look like Bo Blaketon.”

  “But I’m not him,” I say. “Delete those. Please.”

  Lug takes three new T-shirts from his RadRide bag. He cleans the gunk off the table with them. “Oops, those got dirty. Can’t return them now.”

  “And besides the videos,” I say, “you should delete the personal contact info for all the girls.”

  “Except Freakface? I’m sure you want her number. Oh, unless she already wrote it on your hand?”

  I glare at him. “Not funny.”

  “You said it! Nothing funny about Freakface. She’s just, you know, a friggin’ freak!”

  No point arguing with him. He’s jerking me around. And I realize he’s not planning to delete anything.

  I’ll have to do it myself. I almost reach for his iPad. But I don’t want to clue him in. I’ll have to get it when he’s not looking.

  I check the time on my phone. I’ve got ten minutes to catch my bus. The stop is across from the mall, but the street is crazy busy. It’s almost impossible to cross without waiting for the Walk sign.

  There’s only one thing to do. Make him let down his guard. Beat him at his own game. “Actually,” I say, “now that I think of it, you’re right. Spring is really weird looking. I’d rather call one of those other girls. So you should keep all their contact info.”

  “Now you’re talking,” Lug says.

  “And don’t delete those videos either. We could maybe sell them to the girls. I bet they’d pay for a video of themselves with Bo Blaketon.”

  “Wow! You’re way ahead of me, Bo! That’s genius!”

  “Yeah, but I have to catch my bus,” I say. “I’m getting a drink to go. Want anything?”

  “Sure, but let me get it. I owe you that much.”

  “Okay, thanks.” We both stand to head for the snack bar. I let Lug go ahead of me. As soon as he’s distracted, I grab his iPad.

  Then I run.

  It’s a few seconds before he gets that I’m not right behind him. “Hey,” he shouts. “Stop that guy!” He charges after me. “He stole my iPad!”

  Folks turn to look, but nobody does anything. Just like when Spring was chasing Tree. “It’s mine,” I yell. “He stole it from me.”

  I race to the nearest exit, hoping security doesn’t notice. Hoping nobody’s got their phone out recording this. That’s all I need.

  Lug’s still coming after me, but luckily he’s not as fast. Thank goodness I’ve been training for cross-country.

  I speed out of the mall and through the parking lot. When I reach the road I see a bus coming to the stop. I take a chance and dart across the traffic. Horns blare and brakes squeal.

  But I make it.

  Lug’s still on the other side as I board. He looks majorly pissed off. I wave, and he gives me the finger.

  I find a seat at the back of the bus and get to work.

  Luckily, Lug’s iPad isn’t locked. The videos of me are still open. I delete them.

  I send Spring’s contact info to my phone. Then I delete everything about the girls we signed up. Everything Lug could ever use against me.

  I breathe a huge sigh of relief. I’m saved. Everything’s going to be fine.

  The bus stops at the next corner. And the next. And the next.

  That’s when I realize this isn’t the express bus.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I didn’t stop to check the bus number. I just jumped on fast to get away. And now there’s a good chance I won’t make the five o’clock ferry.

  My phone vibrates with a text from Lug. Bring it back dickhead!

  I reply, Check TransLink L & F

  Then I block his number. I used to know this guy, but I don’t anymore. And I don’t think we’ll ever be friends again. Not after today.

  I take his iPad up to the driver. When we’re stopped at a light, I tell her, “I found this back there.”

  She does a double take. “And you’re turning it in?”

  “Somebody’s going to be looking for it. Can you make sure it gets to lost and found?”

  She nods and tucks the iPad under her seat.

  “You go all the way to the ferry along Seaview Drive?” I ask.

  “Yup, it’s the scenic route. Takes forever!”

  “Great. Will we get there by five?”

  “Not likely,” she says. “But you never know.”

  People take their time boarding at every stop. Some load bikes onto the front of the bus. Some struggle with small children and huge strollers, some with shopping carts or luggage.

  As the minutes tick by, my hopes fade. No way will we get there in time.

  Unless the ferry is late. Which it often is. I check on my phone. But, wouldn’t you know it, for once it’s on time.

  I make my way to the back doors. When we finally reach the terminal, I’m first off the bus. I race to the ticket window. It’s still open, but sales stop ten minutes before sailing. No exceptions.

  And just as I get there, the Closed sign flashes.

  No! No, please, no!

  Next sailing isn’t until seven o’clock. So now I won’t make it home before ten.

  I’ll have to think of something to tell Mom.

  I slump on the steps outside the terminal and text her. Will b really late. Sorry. Traffic on hwy. U ok?

  She texts back right away, like she’s been waiting to hear from me. Fine. Finished another scarf & started a sweater! How was meet? Did u have a good run?

  I don’t want to lie to her anymore, so I just reply, Personal best!

  She’ll think I’m talking about my race. But what I really mean is, I finally stood up to Lug. And I met a girl I really like.

  It makes me feel even more guilty when she replies, Yr the best!!!

  I have to confess to her. I just don’t know how.

  I’ve got two hours to kill, and I’m starving. There’s a fish-and-chips place near the terminal, but I spent most of my food money on the ice-cream sundaes. And no way am I using the money I got from the scam. So I just sit in the park and watch the five o’clock ferry sail away without me.

  When the ticket window opens again, I pay my fare and go sit in the waiting room. I try playing games on my phone, but I can’t concentrate. I keep thinking about Spring.

  How can I make her forgive me?

  And then there’s the Dakota problem. She might keep our scam to herself so she can threaten Lug whenever she wants. But I have to assume she’ll tell their parents.

  And when she does, Lug will try to pin it on me. Just like he did with the grad photos. He’ll say it was all my idea. And then his parents will
call Mom.

  It’s bad enough that I lied about where I was today. She’ll go ballistic when she finds out I pretended to be Bo Blaketon to get money from girls.

  I have to tell her before she hears it from them.

  I’d phone her, but this needs to be face-to-face.

  I send Mom another text. Have to tell u something. Talk when home.

  There. Now I can’t change my mind.

  I’ll get there just as her evening CHW leaves. Mom will be in bed, but she’ll still be awake. I hate to keep her up, but I have to tell her tonight.

  She’ll be heartbroken. But eventually she’ll understand. Especially when I admit she was right about Lug. He’s not a good influence. But, more important, he’s not a good friend.

  Once I’ve decided to tell Mom, I feel better. So much better that I have the nerve to call Spring.

  But she won’t talk to me. “Please don’t call me anymore,” she says and hangs up.

  I call back right away, but I just get her voice mail. After three more tries I leave a long, rambling message. “Hey, it’s Nate, and I just wanted to say again that I’m so sorry about today. But I want you to know that I’ve deleted all the contact info from all those girls, and if you give me your address I’ll send you all the money I made and you can donate it to charity or whatever. And I’m not friends with Lug anymore, and I’m going to tell my mom the truth as soon as I get home. And I’m really, really sorry for everything, and I really, really want to see you again. Oh, and please, please, please, call me back.”

  I can only hope she’ll listen before she deletes it.

  It’s time for the ferry, and I’ve almost given up hope when my phone rings. “Okay,” she says. “Here’s the deal. Do what you said with the money, and then we’ll talk.”

  “Thanks so much for calling back,” I say. “I appreciate you giving me another chance.”

  She makes a sputtering sound. “Don’t blow it.”

  “I won’t.”

  “I want to make a big donation to UNICEF.”

  “You will.” A loading announcement sounds in the waiting room. Other walk-on passengers swarm past me. “Seriously. I’ve learned my lesson.”