I nod. But the truth is I’d rather be kissing him to the point I can’t breathe. It’s not going to happen though, not with my mom and Brian here.
***
I asked Coach for the morning routine in order to get double my practice time in. She agreed to it and normally Kayla comes with me, but this morning she called and asked to skip. And she’s probably right. Skipping a practice the day of the meet would be a wise thing to do, but my mind is on perfection.
I head to school, and go to open the door, but notice it’s not closed. Not fully. There’s a piece of cardboard and gum stuck between the lock. What the heck?
As soon as I enter the girls’ locker room, my instincts tell me to turn around and run.
All of the once-brown lockers are painted orange. I hold in my gasp and keep going. I need to see what my old school has done. The pool area is sabotaged. The flags have Bulldog decorations strung across them. The pool water is black. Like black as the night sky. The diving area is orange, with paint dripping off the board. On the one wall under the huge electronic scoreboard is a banner. “HOW DO YOU LIKE US NOW?”
My stomach knots. They’re going to think I did this. I’ve got to get out of here. I start to go too, but streaker lady comes out of the locker room fully dressed. She looks around and screams at me. “What have you done?”
I shake my head. “No, I didn’t do this. I was…” Still in my freaking warm-up suit with a huge duffle bag in my hand and a key around my neck. She has every right to assume I did this. “I was coming here to swim. You see me here every morning. With my friend Kayla,” I plead with her.
“You’re that girl.” She waves her finger at me. “A vandal!”
“I’m not a vandal. I’m serious, I just got here.”
She points at the tile. “Your shoes have orange paint on them.”
I look down and see what she means. I wore these shoes when I tagged Caleb’s car. “I’m going to call someone.”
“No need, I’m calling the cops.”
“Okay.” I dial my mom’s phone while the woman calls the cops. I’ve got a feeling I’m going to be going to the police station.
The phone rings and rings then goes to voicemail. UGH! I try again. Rings and rings again then someone grumbles, “Hello?”
“Brian?”
“Skylar? It’s almost six in the morning. What’s wrong?”
I sigh and turn away from the older woman. “Brian, I think I’m going to jail. The school, well, to be specific, the natatorium, is completely ruined, and I’m pretty sure my meet tonight will be cancelled.”
“Jail? We’re on our way.”
I’m about to tell him to calm down and that I’m innocent, but the call has been disconnected. Five minutes later the cops are here, and sure enough I’m being read my rights. All because my shoes look like evidence. And the cop recognized me as the Bulldog Skylar Fletcher.
Thank God my eighteenth birthday isn’t until next month. Still, if colleges get ahold of this, I might have to grant Dad’s wish and go to Columbia after all. That’s if my mom doesn’t decide to kill me first.
Taken out of the back of the police cruiser at the police station, I’m walked into the building. Some dirty bum and a few hookers in handcuffs look at me. There’s a twitchy person in the corner and just beyond that mass of misfits is my mom, scowling. Brian’s frowning, but Caleb isn’t with them. “I’m that one’s mother. What’s going on here?” my mother growls. She’s not a morning person. In fact, she’s more like a bear being woken up during hibernation.
“The school was vandalized, ma’am. This one was at the scene of the crime with evidence on her shoes. We’re taking her in for questioning right now. How old is she?”
“She’s a minor until next month, so you need me in there.”
Leave it to my mom to go all Law and Order on someone. If I weren’t in cuffs, and my mom didn’t look like she was about to chew off someone’s head, I’d be laughing at her giving this cop crap. The guy takes me into one of the rooms, and my mom takes a seat next to me. The guy leaves to apparently go get one of his partners to help out. I take this time to tell my mom my side of the story.
“I went for a swim. I swear.”
“Why did he say he found evidence?”
“I have paint on my shoes.” I’m not telling her how that got there.
She eyes me. “I don’t know what to do about you anymore. Skylar, I thought you were trying. You weren’t moping, you made friends, and then you just pull this stunt. Do you realize the amount of trouble you’re in?”
“Mom, I’m telling you I had nothing to do with this.” I have a damn good feeling I know who, but I’m not giving up names. “I went to the school to practice. When I got there the lock was jammed with cardboard and gum.”
“Fine, explain the paint on your shoes then.”
“I can’t.”
She shakes her head. “How can I believe you, if you won’t tell me everything? I’ll tell you this much: I’ve got no idea what you’re going to do when the school expels you. You realize the amount of damage you just caused? Your whole future is in jeopardy right now.”
“You don’t think I know this?” Even though I didn’t do this I know my future is completely screwed. Hell, when I get out of here, I’ll probably get jumped and murdered. No one at that school will believe I didn’t do this even if I’m free. And the really sucky part in all this, I was actually starting to feel like my old self, just in different school colors.”
“Maybe we should have waited to move. And maybe I didn’t take you being miserable seriously. I just figured once you made some friends everything would be fine. I never in my wildest dreams thought you’d break the law in order to prove a point.”
The door to the room opens and two officers enter. Let the interrogation begin.
Chapter 46
Caleb
I woke up and tiptoed to Skylar’s room. Her bed is made and swim bags gone. I look out her window and down at the driveway; her car and my uncle’s SUV are gone. I go downstairs expecting to see Erin, but she’s not there. A note is taped to the counter.
“Get ready for school. I will see you there to explain things. - Uncle Brian”
Um…this can’t be good. Is someone hurt? The pit of my stomach tightens.
I hurry upstairs and grab my cell phone. There are about ten different text messages, two are from Skylar. I read them first.
Sky: Can’t sleep. WYWH holdin me.
Damn. I wish I would’ve seen this text. I would’ve broken our rule about not sleeping in each other’s rooms, snuck into hers, and held her all night. I read her next text.
Sky: Went swimming. Was going 2 wake u but u looked 2 cute sleepin.
I go through the other texts; Derrick and Lance were next.
Derrick: Um, ur gf is messed up!
Lance: Dude, Sky’s in a shit ton of trouble.
Derrick: She f’d our skool up. Once a Bulldog, always a fuckin Bulldog!
Lance: Hey man, K says Sky and her were sposed 2 go swimmin this morn. YN2CM.
I look over at the clock. It’s seven twenty. I need to get ready and over to the school. I text Derrick:
IDK what ur talking about. Just got up.
Then Lance:
WGO? Y’s D sayin a bunch of BS?
Lance’s reply:
Dude, ur gf got arrested 2day. Skool is f’d up.
My eyes grow wide. No. She wouldn’t do something like this, would she?
I get ready and head to school. The place is a chaotic nightmare. News crews and students trying to get that ten minutes of fame cluster around the pool area. I hurry to my locker, and on the way I hear, “You believe she admitted to doing it?”
Did she do this?
Derrick and Lance are already at my locker. Kayla is next to Lance, frowning. “Dude. Your girl is a real piece of work!” Derrick shouts. People in the halls haven’t seemed to take interest in his outburst. Thank God.
I hiss at him, “Shut up.”
I gather up my things and head to my uncle’s room. He’s not there though. I decide to go to first period and wait until he finds me. My nerves are wired the whole time. Lance sits beside me. “It’ll be okay.”
“No, it won’t. What if she decided to do this? Yesterday she was acting weird. Kind of withdrawn.” Was she trying to tell me something?
“Do you think she really did this?”
Who the hell is he? Why’s he getting so offended? She’s my girlfriend—and possibly a criminal—not his. “I don’t know.”
The rest of the day is just beyond crazy. The swim team is super pissed off at Skylar. Well, all of them except Kayla. She sits at our table at lunch, but doesn’t say a word about the destruction of the pool. Derrick seems to forget about the incident for most of lunch too. Instead of drilling me, he drills Kayla for info about her and Lance. Lance tells her that she doesn’t have to answer him.
And when Lance wraps his arm around Kayla’s shoulder it makes me miss Sky. I decide to go up to my uncle’s room again and see what’s going on. Although from the rumor mill around school I’m pretty sure I’ve got the gist of the story.
“Uncle Brian,” I say as I walk into his room. He shakes his head and sighs.
“This has been a very stressful day.”
“Is she okay? What’s going on?”
“Camera at McDonald’s places her away from the school at the time of the supposed crime. But the school board feels it would be best if she didn’t return to school. She’s probably about an hour into her drive to New York.”
My heart drops to my stomach, while my eyes widen. “What? She can’t just…no!” How could she just get up and leave me like this? Does she not care what my thoughts on this matter are?
I walk out of his room and to the parking lot. I get in my car and slam my hands on the steering wheel then head home. Maybe he’s wrong. Maybe she’s still there. I’ve got to talk her out of this. Speeding back to the house, I notice the driveway is empty. The knot in my stomach tightens.
I rush up to her room. Her pictures: gone. Her clothes: all gone. I lie on her bed and smell her scent, which is enveloped in her pillows. I inhale and then get up off her bed. Rage fills me.
Me: Sky, I don’t want u 2 go.
She doesn’t text me back. I walk into my room and notice her guitar on my bed. There’s an envelope on top of it. I snatch it up along with the guitar. I press the guitar to me and open up the envelope; a picture and a letter fall out.
Once I read her letter, I take the picture of her over to my desk, sit down, and Google “guitar lessons” on my laptop.
Dear Caleb,
I’ve written this letter about five times. The first one was a mess of tears, all my words ran together. Not that you care, right? How can I possibly explain my reasons for leaving, especially now that we were starting this wonderful thing and the greatest thing I’ve ever experienced in my entire life? Well, for starters, this wasn’t the plan.
Falling for you, not the plan. Moving here and actually finding myself liking it, not the plan. Feeling horrified when I walked into the natatorium, not part of the plan. And going off to live with my dad, never part of the plan.
My plan was simple. Be captain of the swim team. Be a co-captain of the softball team. Win state again in both sports. Go off to Duke. Work my ass off and become a doctor. But then my mom found love at my softball game. We moved here and it was hard for the first couple of months. No friends, lost my boyfriend who yes was a real asshole, but at the time, I didn’t think that. And then I had a boy who tormented me daily. Sometimes he’d show me this really sweet side of him. But school was a place I dreaded going, more so than usual. People waited to jump me in bathrooms, locker rooms, and even tried turning me into a garbage can by throwing food and drinks on me.
I sucked it up though. I found a few friends, and the torment seemed to lessen. And then I fell for this amazing guy. The same guy who tormented me. When we kiss, it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced. God help me, I’m going to miss everything about you from the delicious scent of you, to your lips touching mine.
I’m getting ahead of myself though. When I saw the pool this morning, the first thing I thought was this: “Everyone is going to think I did this.” And it’s true. Everyone did think I’d done something so horrible. And a year ago, I would have done something like this.
No amount of pleading or asserting my innocence will convince the rest of the Bobcats who believe I destroyed the pool. So, if this is me running away, then okay. I’ll accept that because I am running.
I’m sorry for leaving this all in a note like a coward. I left you my favorite guitar. I call her Stella. I got her when I was ten. She’s my first. I want you to learn how to play, and maybe one day you can play a song for me.
Love,
Sky
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
There are so many people to thank for this amazing adventure. My wonderful family and two awesome children, you inspire me to be the very best I can be. You make me laugh, sometimes make me want to pull my hair out, but most of all you are always there encouraging me. My dearest friends, without you I don’t think I could have gotten through some days. Either talking out my frustrations or making you read my work. You were there to talk me off the ledge and tell me I’m great when I think I suck that day. The staff at Swoon Romance, you are all so amazing and fantastic, without you this book wouldn’t be possible. My CP’s each one of you have read and gave incredible advice, pushed me, and helped me get this story right where it needed to be. And of course, I must thank all my bloggers who wanted to see Skylar and Caleb’s story unfold. Thank you all so much!
Special thanks to: Jason, Ethan and Leeah. Josie Glauser, Brooks Remp, Tracey Chapman, Clarissa Grimes, Courtney Bivens, Dawn Terry, Georgia McBride, Mandy Schoen, Lindsay Leggett, Sheri Larsen, Kelly Mooney, Annie Cosby, Courtney Koschel, Kerry Genova, Jordan Mierek, Beth Fred, and Michelle Aker.
NATALIE DECKER
Natalie Decker loves oceans, sunsets, sand between her toes, and carefree days. Her imagination is always going, which some find odd. But she believes in seeing the world in a different light at all times. Her first passion for writing started at age twelve when she had to write a poem for English class. However, seventh grade wasn’t her favorite time and books were her source of comfort. She took all college prep classes in High school, and attended the University of Akron. Although she studied Mathematics she never lost her passion for writing or her comfort in books. She’s a mean cook in the kitchen, loves her family and friends and her awesome dog infinity times infinity. If she’s not writing, reading, traveling, hanging out with her family and friends, then she’s off having an adventure. Because Natalie believes in a saying: Your life is your own journey, so make it amazing!
VISIT SWOON ROMANCE ONLINE
Web: http://www.myswoonromance.com/
Twitter: @SwoonRomance
Facebook: Facebook.com/swoonromance
Check out more great Young Adult titles from Swoon Romance.
EFFORTLESS WITH YOU and PERFECTLY MESSY
HOW TO DATE A NERD and HOW TO SEDUCE A BAND GEEK
EX-FACTOR and UNBREAKABLE
THE FUNERAL SINGER
TWELVE STEPS
SNARK AND CIRCUMSTANCE
CHARM AND CONSEQUENCE
PRIDE AND PREP SCHOOL
PROM AND PREJUDICE
DON’T FALL
RUN FOR THE ROSES
THE CINDERELLA MOMENT
HOLLY HEARTS HOLLYWOOD
PERFECT FOR YOU
THE ROMEO CLUB
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter
14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Visit Swoon Romance Online
More YA Titles From Swoon Romance
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Rival Love Page 22
