Juicy Secrets

by Victoria Ashton

  “If you figure it out, please let me be the first to know,” Emma said.

  Liz stood in Dr. M-C’s kitchen, locked in mortal combat with David over a plate of eggplant and soy cakes from the trendy veggie restaurant Zen Palate. Heather had dutifully finished her dinner and had been allowed to go to her room to play.

  “I won’t!” David shouted.

  “If you eat all of this, I promise I will give you a Twinkie,” Liz coaxed.

  “No,” David said.

  “Cheez Doodles,” Liz tried.

  “No,” David said.

  “Hostess Cupcakes?”

  David paused. “Snowballs?” he asked.

  “Done. Eat the eggplant.”

  David dug into his meal.

  Victory! Liz thought.

  Her cell phone rang. She checked the caller ID, hoping it was Parker. She hadn’t heard from him after their weird conversation at JG Melon three nights ago. No such luck—it was Adrienne.

  Well, she thought, clicking on the phone, maybe Adrienne can help me figure out what my next move with Parker should be.

  “Turn on the TV!” Adrienne shouted.

  “What?” Liz said, wondering why Adrienne sounded so frantic.

  “I’m telling you to turn on the TV!” Adrienne shrieked. “CNN!”

  “Uh, okay.” Liz got up and went out to the living room and clicked the remote.

  “…and as we promised, more on the breaking news from Madison Avenue,” said the blond newscaster. “Media mogul Reed Devlin was escorted out of his offices today under indictment for a financial scandal in which he was implicated….”

  Liz stared at the screen in horror. There, in high definition for all the world to see, was the unmistakable figure of Parker Devlin’s father.

  In handcuffs.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  totally MIA

  Oh my God, Liz thought, staring at the screen. What is going on?

  Liz forced herself to pay attention to the anchorwoman, but she was so freaked out, she had trouble following the story. Words like “insider trading,” “mismanaged funds,” and even “embezzlement” were tossed around. The more Liz listened, the worse the story seemed to get.

  Parker! I have to talk to Parker. He needs me!

  She dropped the remote and raced to the door.

  “Liz?” a voice behind her stopped her. She turned and saw David.

  “You promised me Snowballs!” David said in an accusing tone. “I ate the eggplant.”

  “What? Oh, right.” You are completely losing it! she scolded herself. You can’t just run out on your job. She forced herself to calm down and return to earth.

  “Let’s go back in the kitchen,” Liz said. “We don’t want your mom to know about our deal, right?”

  Dr. M-C was seriously anti-junk food, which was why the treats were such effective tools for bribery.

  David grinned. “Right!”

  He turned and went back into the kitchen. Following him, Liz passed the TV and saw that the newscaster had moved on to another story. She clicked off the set and started counting the minutes to when she could leave and talk to Parker.

  David and Heather had kept Liz thoroughly occupied, so other than leaving a quick message on Parker’s voice mail, she had had no contact with him. She hoped now that she was home, she’d be able to really talk to him.

  As she shut the door to the apartment behind her, Liz heard the TV blaring in the living room.

  “Liz?” her mother called, “is that you?”

  “Uh, yeah,” Liz responded, praying that she could get into her room and escape to call Parker. She didn’t want to waste another minute.

  “Come in and talk to me,” her mom called.

  Liz’s shoulders sagged, but there was no way to fend off her mom. She had the feeling her mother had also seen the news and wanted to talk to her about it.

  She stepped into the living room. It was a lot messier than Dr. M-C’s, with books, magazines, and papers scattered around. It was also a lot less fancy, decorated with sale items from Bed Bath & Beyond, rather than by high-priced designers. But it was also a lot more comfortable to live in.

  Her mom was sitting on the worn sofa, a soft blanket pulled over her. Liz had gotten her dark hair and eyes from her mom, but definitely not her height. Her dad towered over her petite mom, and so did Liz.

  “Are you okay?” Liz’s mom asked, deep furrows appearing in her forehead.

  “I guess,” Liz said, plopping down beside her mother. “So I suppose you heard the news?”

  Her mom patted Liz’s knee. “I’m afraid by now everyone has heard the news. How is Parker?”

  “I don’t know,” Liz said. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet.”

  Ms. Braun nodded. “This is going to be hard on him.” She shook her head angrily. “Mr. Devlin is astoundingly selfish!”

  “What do you mean?” Liz asked.

  “As if he wasn’t already rich enough,” her mom ranted. “Not only does he pilfer his own employees’ retirement funds, he does so with no regard for what might happen to his family if he got caught. The arrogance!”

  “It’s a mistake,” Liz protested. She hated thinking Mr. Devlin would do anything so awful. She hoped for Parker’s sake that it was all just a horrible misunderstanding. “Besides, isn’t he innocent until proven guilty?”

  Her mother’s anger faded and was replaced with a look of sympathy. “You’re absolutely right. But I do want you to be aware that there is going to be a lot of gossip about this at school. And about Parker.”

  “I know,” Liz moaned. “This is going to wreck Parker.”

  “I worry how that’s going to affect you,” her mom said, her face serious.

  “All I care about is Parker,” Liz said.

  “I know, honey. You’re a good friend. Believe me, Parker is going to need one.”

  Liz stood up. “I want to try calling again, okay?”

  “Okay,” her mother replied. “Hang in there.”

  Liz went to her room and tried Parker on his cell, and at home. No answer.

  Liz hung up and sent a quick e-mail. She looked at her buddy list—Parker wasn’t online.

  Liz lay on her bed and stared at her phone. Please call me, Parker.

  She woke up in the dark, still dressed, still facing the phone. The phone that never rang.

  “So, my father says that the Devlins are ruined,” Cameron announced at lunch to Isabelle Schuyler.

  Liz hated that her friends had sat near Cameron, but all the other tables had already been snapped up. She wished she had gone to the Salad Patch, but Jane and Belinda had some project they were working on and didn’t want to take the time to go off-campus. Liz couldn’t figure out why Cameron was eating in the cafeteria, since she hardly ever did. Of course, Liz realized, gossip is much more satisfying with an audience.

  “It’s so sad,” Isabelle said. “Parker is really nice.”

  “Well, now he’s also really poor,” Cameron said with a smirk. “I heard that their assets are frozen while all of their financial dealings are scrutinized.”

  Isabelle gasped. “I’d hate that! I don’t want anyone seeing where I use my credit card.”

  “And now that information is going to be splashed all over the news,” Cameron said with malicious glee. She raked her fingers through her perfect hair and cocked her head. “This is so much juicer than Parker’s drug dealing.”

  Isabelle looked at Cameron with surprise. “I never heard that Parker was selling drugs. And I think I’d know.”

  Cameron’s brow furrowed. “I guess I got my facts wrong.” She shot a smug look at Liz.

  Liz’s jaw dropped. “You what?” she said to Cameron.

  Jane put her hand over Liz’s. “Stay cool,” she warned quietly. “Don’t let her get to you.”

  Cameron looked at Liz as if she were having trouble placing her. “Oh, Liz. I’m sorry. Obviously your little friend Adrienne has been gossiping. And obviously you
are ready to believe the worst of your boyfriend.”

  “Down, girl,” Jane murmured to Liz. “Keep it together.”

  Liz forced herself to turn away.

  “Come to think of it, though,” Cameron continued, “maybe he WILL start dealing. He’ll certainly need the money now.”

  Liz fumed so hard that she thought smoke had to be coming out of her ears. Any minute the top of her head was going to blow off.

  “Well, it’s a good thing you never really got serious with him,” Cameron said to Isabelle, sounding like the concerned friend she wasn’t.

  “Oh, I know!” Isabelle gushed. She gave Liz a condescending smile, then looked back at Cameron. “Then, he’s never really been good enough for me.”

  “Then why were you always throwing yourself at him?” Jane asked Isabelle. “Or were you just using him as practice for all the other Dudley boys you’ve been doing?”

  Isabelle’s cherubic face turned bright red. Her free-and-easy ways with the prep school set were well known, just like Cameron’s wild antics.

  Liz smiled down at her tray, sending Jane a silent thank-you.

  Cameron ignored Jane and instead went back to addressing Liz. “Look at the bright side, Liz. If Parker has lost all his money, you two will have even more in common.”

  Now Liz looked up. “The only new thing we have in common, Cameron, is hating you.” Liz got up and stormed out of the cafeteria.

  She burst through the doors of the cafeteria, fighting back tears. She strode quickly down the hallway, wanting to put as much distance between herself and Cameron as possible.

  “Liz!” Jane called.

  Liz stopped and waited for Jane to catch up with her.

  “Well, that was brutal,” Jane said.

  “No kidding,” Liz said shakily. “And it’s only going to get worse.”

  Jane tossed her head back to get her thick, long bangs out of her face. “It is all over the papers,” she agreed. “And not just the tabloids.”

  Liz nodded miserably.

  “How’s Parker holding up?” Jane asked.

  Liz fought down the lump in her throat. “I don’t know,” she admitted hoarsely. “He hasn’t returned any of my calls. Or my pages. Or my e-mails. Or anything.” She stared down at her boots. “He’s totally MIA.”

  Jane tried to cover her surprise, but not before Liz saw it. “Th-that’s bad, huh?” Liz asked.

  Jane composed herself and shook her head. “Don’t go there,” she said. She thought for a minute. “Look, things must be totally out of control at his place. He’s probably just unplugged to get a break.”

  Liz nodded. “Makes sense, I guess. But Jane, wouldn’t he want to talk to me? I mean, I’m his girlfriend. If my family were falling apart, I’d be calling him every five minutes.”

  “He’s a guy,” Jane reminded her. “Guys are weird. You just can’t predict them.”

  “Don’t I know it,” Liz murmured.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  don’t do anything I wouldn’t do

  “It’s just so awful about Parker,” Lily said. She shoved her calc textbook into her overcrowded locker.

  “I know.” Adrienne clicked her lock shut. “Liz is totally wrecked.”

  “Do you think it’s true?” Tamara asked, slipping her backpack onto one shoulder.

  “I don’t know,” Adrienne admitted. “I hope not. But Graydon said it’s possible. He told me last night that there have been rumors for a while.”

  “Well, if anyone would know, it would be Graydon,” Tamara commented. “His dad and Parker’s dad orbit around the same sun.”

  “Graydon said Devlin stocks did a total nosedive, and a lot of their friends lost money,” Adrienne said.

  “That’s got to make it tough for the Devlins to go to the openings and parties and stuff,” Lily said. “Everyone’s going to be so mad.”

  Adrienne nodded. “Graydon says—”

  Tamara cut her off with a laugh. “Listen to you! ‘Graydon says this’ and ‘Graydon says that.’”

  Adrienne blushed. “Am I that bad?”

  “It’s cute,” Lily said.

  “In a dopey, over-the-moon kind of way,” Tamara teased. “I still think it’s weird that Graydon has done such a personality hundred and eighty.”

  “Believe me,” Adrienne said, “no one is more shocked than I am. But he’s been awesome.”

  “He’s certainly showing you a grand ol’ time,” Tamara said. “It’s not about that,” Adrienne protested. “Graydon is actually really sweet.”

  “Graydon?” a voice repeated behind Adrienne. She turned and saw Brian.

  “Did I hear you describe Graydon Warner as ‘sweet’?” Brian asked.

  “Actually, yes,” Adrienne replied.

  “So it’s true,” Brian said. “You’re going out with him.”

  News sure gets around, Adrienne thought. Then she remembered the crowd of kids swarming around the Rolls a few days ago. We’re not exactly keeping a low profile. Brian was bound to find out.

  “Yes, Brian,” Adrienne said. “It’s true.”

  Brian shook his head. “Why would you spend even a minute with that snake?”

  Adrienne’s jaw tensed. “You know, Brian, I don’t think it’s really any of your business. And you don’t know him like I do.”

  “Come on, Adrienne,” Brian scoffed. “Are you really that dumb?”

  Lily gasped, and Adrienne’s eyes narrowed. “I was smart enough to wise up to you,” she retorted. She hated that he could still get to her like this.

  Brian took a step backward, stung. He quickly recovered. “Okay, I guess that was harsh.”

  “You guess?” Adrienne spun her lock and turned to leave. Brian grabbed her elbow to stop her. Adrienne stared at his hand, then up at his face, and he released her.

  “I thought we were going to stay friends,” he said. “I—I still care about you, you know.”

  Adrienne sighed. She and Brian had been together for two years, and she had been devastated when he’d dumped her for Cameron. It had taken a lot of hard work to get over him. She didn’t want them to be enemies, but she didn’t feel all that friendly toward him, either. Certainly not when he was standing there bad-mouthing Graydon.

  “You weren’t exactly my friend when you hooked up with Cameron, were you?” Adrienne said.

  “How many times do I have to say I’m sorry to you?” Brian asked, exasperated.

  “You don’t. It’s over between us, remember? You don’t have to do a damn thing,” Adrienne said.

  “Hey, I wanted to try again,” Brian reminded her.

  “Is that what this is really about, Brian?” Adrienne asked, a lightbulb going on in her head. “That’s it! You are jealous of me and Graydon.”

  “Please.” Brian sneered. “Jealous? Of that lowlife?”

  “You sound pretty jealous to me,” Adrienne said.

  “Me, too,” added Lily.

  “Me three,” Tamara said.

  Brian shook his head. “Whatever,” he said. “Just don’t come crying to me when it all blows up in your face.”

  “Don’t worry,” Adrienne retorted, “I won’t have to. Come on,” she said to Lily and Tamara, “let’s get going. This conversation is so over.”

  “Emma, put down your evidence notebook and start on your piano,” Adrienne said. This was the third time Adrienne had given the same instruction. “You are getting behind schedule.”

  Adrienne had managed to tear Emma away from watching repeats of CSI in the kitchen and gotten her to do her homework—despite how many times Emma got distracted by some piece of surveillance equipment in her room. Finally Adrienne dragged the little girl into the living room, where she hoped being away from both TV and high-tech toys would help Emma’s concentration.

  “Subject seems obsessed with schedules and rules,” Emma murmured as she wrote in her notebook. She glanced up and studied Adrienne. She started writing again. “Subject does something funny with her lips
when she gets annoyed.”

  “Okay, Emma, that’s it.” Adrienne yanked the notebook out from under Emma.

  “Hey!” Emma yelped, pencil still held in the air as if she were about to take a note.

  “Piano. Now. It’s almost dinnertime.”

  “Fine,” Emma grumbled. She slumped her way to the piano and hit a loud chord. “This is all going in the report.”

  “Maybe I’m keeping my own reports,” Adrienne teased.

  Emma stared at Adrienne, horrified. Then she frowned. “You wouldn’t know how to collect evidence properly. Your reports would be thrown out as inadmissible.”

  “Bach.” Adrienne pointed at the piano. “Begin.”

  Emma faced the keys and hit the opening notes of the fugue. Adrienne breathed a sigh of relief. Emma’s CSI obsession was a lot harder to deal with than her previous bout of Oprah-worship.

  Now for some of my own homework, Adrienne thought. She settled onto the sofa and pulled open a book.

  The room went dark as a pair of strong hands covered her eyes.

  “Guess who?” a deep voice asked.

  Adrienne smiled. “I think I need more of a hint than that.”

  She felt warm lips brush her cheek, making her tingle.

  “Uhhhhm, Brad Pitt?” she teased.

  “Oh, someone much better looking,” Graydon joked, releasing her. “Wouldn’t you say?”

  Adrienne laughed. “You’ll do.”

  He slid onto the sofa with her and kissed her.

  “Gross!” Emma exclaimed. “Do you have to do that?”

  “If you keep practicing like you’re supposed to,” Adrienne said, “you won’t even notice us.”

  “I’m going to grab a soda,” Graydon said, standing up. “Want anything?”

  “To be an only child,” Emma said.

  Graydon laughed and walked out of the room.

  Emma spun around on the shiny piano bench. “Break up with him,” she told Adrienne.

  Surprised, Adrienne stared at Emma. “Why would you say that?”

  “Because he’s not good for you,” Emma said.

  Adrienne smiled. Was today declared Jealousy Day or something? First Brian, and now this? Emma had been bothered when Adrienne had spent time with Cameron, back when Adrienne believed Cameron was actually decent.