by Kai Juniper
"Thanks." I take a bottle from the sack. "And flowers?"
"I was trying to be romantic, but like I said, I didn't have much time."
"And you skipped practice? Aren't you going to get in trouble?"
"I told Coach I wasn't feeling well, which is true." He turns my face to his. "I didn't sleep last night. I just kept thinking I screwed up. That it's over between us."
"It wasn't over. We just had a fight."
"Which we haven't had before. And you hung up on me and didn't call back. Or text me."
"I was waiting for you to do it. When I didn't hear from you I thought you were telling me it's over."
"Let's agree not to do that again. Even if we're fighting, we still stay in contact."
"I agree."
He opens the cupcake box and takes one out, handing it to me. "They're chocolate."
"Can I eat more than one?" I say, biting into it. "I've been seriously chocolate deprived since moving here."
"They're yours. You can eat them all if you want."
I smile. "Two is enough. Maybe I'll give one to Shayla. Hey, how'd you get her to do this? You guys aren't exactly friends."
"She's the only person I could think of who could get you here."
"Did you pay her?"
"I tried to but she wouldn't take my money. Instead she said I had to convince her to do it."
I laugh. "She said you gave her a long speech."
"I did. And I told her my plan. When I was done I didn't think she'd do it but she did."
Setting my cupcake down, I turn to face him. "We don't have much time left so tell me what's going on with Kristen."
He blows out a breath. "You can't tell anyone about this. Nobody. Not even Shayla."
"I know. I won't tell anyone."
"Even later, when this is all over, if someone asks, you can't say anything."
I nod. "Okay."
"Daphne Reynolds, Kristen's mom, isn't as rich as people think. After all her divorces, she's worth less than half of what she was worth when Kristen was a baby. If she keeps this up, Kristen's going to be left with nothing."
"So this is about money? Making sure Kristen stays rich?"
"It started that way but I wouldn't agree to it. I wasn't going to do shit just so she ends up rich. Personally I think it'd be better if Kristen ended up broke and had to get a job. I think it'd be good for her."
"If it's not about money then what's this about?"
"The money thing is still there. Kristen still wants to preserve her inheritance, which she will if the plan works."
"So what's the plan?"
"Steven is cheating. Kristen can't prove it but she's overheard conversations that make it clear he's seeing someone else. She needs to get actual proof she can take to her mom so she'll divorce him. With the prenup, Steven will be left with almost none of Daphne's money."
"I still don't understand why you're involved. This is still about money."
"There's more." He pauses. "Daphne isn't at the house much. She travels a lot or stays at one of her other homes, leaving Kristen alone with Steven."
"Yeah? So?"
"A couple months ago, Steven took an interest in Kristen, the kind of interest a stepfather shouldn't have with his stepdaughter."
"When you say interest, you mean..." I wait for him to fill in the rest.
"At first that's all it was. Looking at her a certain way. A few flirty comments. It was making Kristen really uncomfortable which is why she starting hanging out at my house. Spending the night sometimes. Then about a month ago, she was watching TV with Steven and he came and sat by her on the couch. He held her hand, and when she asked what he was doing, he said he was just being a caring father. She knew it was more than that. The next day, she told him she was going away on a trip with her friend but she was actually staying with me, hiding out."
"Has anything happened since?"
Jackson nods. "He went in her room during the night. She woke up and he was sitting on her bed, looking at her. He wasn't wearing a shirt, and when she told him to go away, he held her down and kissed her."
"Oh my God," I say, thinking how horrified I'd be if that happened to me. It's like if I woke up and found Brock in my bed, forcing me down and kissing me. It's so disgusting I can't even think about it. "That's horrible. What'd she do?"
"Screamed and told him to leave."
"Did he?"
"Yeah. And the next day he said he didn't remember doing it. He blamed it on the sleep meds he was taking."
"I can't believe he did that."
"That's why I got involved. Actually, it was sooner than that. As soon as she told me he was looking at her that way I knew I had to do something. Something to get her out of there."
"So what's the plan? What are you going to do?"
"I'm helping her catch him cheating. I found her an investigator and she hired him but so far, he hasn't caught Steven in the act. He must've done this before because he's good at covering his tracks. We haven't even figured out who the woman is."
"Have you considered the bookstore manager at Twisted Pine?"
"It's not her. He was with her two years ago. He wouldn't go back to her. It'd be too obvious."
"Wait, do people know this? That he dated her?"
"Most people know. Someone found out and it spread. Rumors travel fast at Twisted Pine."
"Is that why she got the job? Because they used to date?"
"Yeah, but nobody cares. It's not like there are people lining up to work at a bookstore at a small private school."
"Going back to Kristen, do you know if Principal Edwards has done anything else? After that night he went in her room?"
"Yeah, he tried again. He snuck in her room two other times."
"But she got him to leave?"
"Yeah, and each time he claimed to have not remembered it the next morning. It's like he was testing her to see if she'd go along with it."
"Has other stuff happened?"
"He's rubbed her leg under the table when they're having dinner." Jackson's jaw tightens. "Tried to reach under her skirt."
"But she stopped him?"
"She won't tell me how far it's gone. She's too embarrassed and ashamed. She wants it to stop but knows if she told someone they'd take his side over hers."
"Even her mom?"
"Especially her mom. Daphne doesn't believe anything Kristen says. That's why Kristen needs evidence of Steven being with another woman. When she finally gets it, she can prove to her mom that Steven's cheating and can get him out of the house."
"Could Kristen catch Principal Edwards...doing stuff to her?"
"She's tried, but she never knows when it's going to happen." Jackson reaches over and holds my hand. "This is why she's at my house so much. It's why she keeps clothes there. Why she spends the night. I swear to you nothing happens when she's there. I'm letting her stay with me because she has nowhere else to go."
"I wish I'd known this before. I feel really bad for her. I had no idea. She always acts so confident at school."
"You can't always believe what you see. Everyone thinks Kristen has this perfect life but they have no idea."
"Guess I should be nicer to her."
"Not too nice. I don't want her thinking I told you." He checks his phone. "I need to pack up soon. You should text Shayla to come pick you up."
I text her and she texts right back. Be there in a few minutes.
"I need to go," I say to Jackson. "She's on her way."
He pulls me in for a kiss. "See if she'll do this for us again. We can meet somewhere else next time. I don't care where we go. I just need to see you."
I smile as I unzip the tent. "I'll ask, but you might need to convince her again."
"That smile on your face might do it."
I pause before leaving, looking at him one last time. "Jackson, I'm really happy right now. I didn't think I would be after my mom died but...I am. I'm happy."
He smiles. "That's what I was go
ing for." He hands me the cupcakes. "Give a few to Shayla."
"What about the flowers?"
"Probably shouldn't take them home. Brock will ask where you got them." He hands the flowers to me. "Give those to Shayla too. You can put them in here."
He gives me the sack that had the soda.
Before leaving, I check outside the tent to make sure nobody's around. There are people on the beach but they're by the lifeguard stands, a ways down from the tent.
I quickly walk down the beach so I'm not late meeting Shayla but when I get to parking lot she's not there.
I text her. Are you almost here?
Stuck in traffic, she texts back. Accident up ahead. Be there as soon as I can!
I walk over to a bench close to the parking lot that looks out at the beach. The waves are huge today and the water looks choppy. The sky is getting dark like it might rain.
"Ms. Halliway," I hear someone say.
I look over and see Principal Edwards sitting next to me.
Chapter Twenty
"Principal Edwards," I say, my heart racing. Just being near him is making me nervous now that I know the truth about him. "What are you doing here?"
He stares out at the ocean. "Sometimes after a long day I like to come out here and think. How about you?"
"I just wanted to get out of the house. A friend's picking me up. I'm waiting for her."
He glances down at the sack on my lap. "Do you always bring cupcakes and roses to the beach?"
"It's a gift," I blurt out. "For my friend. The one picking me up."
"Is this friend someone from school?"
"No. She's done with school," I lie, not wanting to tell him she's from Legion.
"And how long have you been seeing her?"
"Seeing her?" I ask, confused by his question. That's an odd way to phrase it. "I guess a couple weeks."
He nods. "Funny, I didn't know that about you. I usually pick up on that right away."
"Pick up on what?"
"There's no need to hide it. I have no issues with girls liking other girls."
"Wait, no, that's not what I—"
"Is this your meeting spot? So your uncle doesn't find out? You really should tell him. I doubt he'd be upset about it."
Just as I'm about to explain I'm not dating Shelby, Principal Edwards stands up and slowly smiles. "Mr. Novak."
Novak?
I quickly stand up and see Jackson coming up the hill, the folded-up tent under his arm.
"Mr. Edwards," Jackson says, glancing at me, then back at Principal Edwards. I can see the panic in his eyes, but it quickly fades as he goes into actor mode, playing it cool, even though he has no idea what's going on.
"I didn't expect to see so many of my students here today," Principal Edwards says. "Or former students in your case," he says to Jackson. "I would've thought you'd be at football practice this time of day."
"I wasn't feeling well," Jackson says, stopping when he reaches us. "I thought some fresh air might make me feel better."
"And yet you brought a tent."
"To keep the sun off me. I left it open to let the air in."
Principal Edwards smiles. "Perhaps you could share your tent with Ms. Halliway."
Jackson looks at me, the panic back in his eyes. Does he think I told Principal Edwards about us? I need to say something.
"For me and my friend," I blurt out. "My friend is meeting me here," I say to Jackson.
Principal Edwards motions to the sack in my hand. "She already has the flowers and dessert. All she needs is a private place to enjoy them."
"I don't need the tent," I say with a laugh. "We're probably not even going to stay. She's just picking me up."
"Have you met Ms. Halliway?" Principal Edwards asks Jackson.
Jackson's staring at me, seeming confused by what I said. I didn't know what else to do. Pretending I'm dating Shayla is better than having Principal Edwards think I'm dating Jackson.
"Hi," I say, reaching out and shaking Jackson's hand. "We haven't met but I've seen you around. I live down the street from you. In the Halliway house."
He nods. "I know the Halliways."
"Mr. Novak used to attend Twisted Pine," Principal Edwards says to me. "Until he decided he'd rather attend a different school. Call me biased, but I think he made the wrong choice. Wouldn't you agree, Ms. Halliway?"
"Um, yeah. Twisted Pine is a great school."
Principal Edwards puts his arm around me. "I'm glad to see you're finally appreciating all that Twisted Pine has to offer." He smiles at Jackson. "It took awhile to convince her."
Jackson's jaw is tight, his eyes focused on Principal Edward's arm, which is wrapped around my shoulder.
"Ow!" I yell, yanking away from Principal Edwards. "I think a bee just stung my arm."
"Let me see." Jackson steps between Principal Edwards and me, pretending to look at my arm. "I think it was just a bug. Does it itch?"
"A little, but it's getting better."
"I have a first aid kit in my car," Principal Edwards says. "Come with me, Ms. Halliway."
"No," I rush to say. Even if I was really hurt, I wouldn't go to his car, knowing what I know about him. "It's better. I'm fine."
"You said you're waiting for a ride?" Jackson asks me.
"Yeah. She's stuck in traffic."
Jackson's eyes go to Principal Edwards, who's now looking down, checking his phone. I can tell Jackson doesn't want to leave me alone with him but it'll look strange if he sits here with us.
"I'll see where she is," I say, getting out my phone. I text Shayla. How much longer?
"Rumor," Jackson says.
When I look up, I see Shayla's car pulling into the parking lot.
Principal Edwards looks up from his phone and says to Jackson, "How did you know her name?"
"The neighbor," Jackson blurts out. "I was out for a run and saw a girl going into the Halliway house. Their neighbor was out in his driveway so I went over and asked who she was. He told me her name, which I thought was Rumor, but maybe I was wrong."
"It's Rumor," I say. "It's different, so kind of hard to forget."
"Is that your friend?" Jackson asks, nodding toward the car pulling up.
"Yeah, that's her." I head to the car. "Bye!"
Mr. Edwards watches me get in the car. When I'm in, I shut the door and reach over the seat to hug Shayla.
"What are you doing?" she asks.
"Just go with it. Pretend we're a couple."
"A couple? What are you talking about?"
"Shayla, please. Just hug me back." She does, then says, "Hey, isn't that your principal?"
"Yeah." I pull away. "Okay, go. Hurry up."
She drives away, and when I look back I see Principal Edwards is still watching us. Were we not convincing enough? Does he think I was lying? He's the one who assumed I was dating Shayla but maybe he only did it to see what I'd say.
"Okay, what's going on?" Shayla asks. "No offense, but I'm not attracted to you. Or any girl."
"Sorry about that. Principal Edwards showed up and saw I had flowers and cupcakes and assumed it was for my date. I'd already told him I was waiting for you to pick me up so he assumed you were my date."
"You brought me flowers and cupcakes?" She laughs. "That's so sweet."
"Actually I AM giving them to you. I can't take them home." I set the sack by my feet. "So anyway, then Jackson shows up, assuming I've already left, and runs into Principal Edwards and me. I went along with the lesbian story so he wouldn't put it together I was with Jackson."
"Why was your principal even there?"
"He said he goes there to relax." I take a deep breath and let it out. "I need to calm down after that. Lying really stresses me out."
"So how was your actual date?"
"Perfect." I smile just thinking about it. "Jackson was so sweet. He apologized and then we talked and straightened everything out."
"You just talked?" she asks, raising her brows.
&n
bsp; "We might've done more than talk."
She glances at me. "Just be careful, okay? I know how much you like him but I still don't trust the guy. And I—" She chews on her lip.
"Shayla, just say it."
She sighs. "It's the thing with Andrea. With the cops looking into it again, it makes me thinks maybe he—"
"He didn't do anything. I've asked him about it and I know he's innocent."
"You only know what he tells you. You weren't there that night."
"Just let it go, okay?" I say with anger in my voice. "I don't want to talk about it."
When we get back to the house I turn to her. "Thank you for doing this. I know you don't want me dating him but he makes me really happy. And I need that right now. After everything that's happened I—"
"I know," she says with a sad smile. "You don't have to explain. If you want to do this again, just give me a call."
I get out of the car.
"Oh, and Rumor?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for the cupcakes and roses. You're an awesome girlfriend."
I laugh as she drives away. Guess I have a girlfriend now. That should stop any suspicion that I'm dating Jackson, not that anyone suspects that, but still.
"How was the driving lesson?" Brock asks as I walk through the living room. He's on the couch reading what looks like a script.
"It was okay," I say, continuing to my room.
"Wasn't I supposed to sign something before you started?"
I turn and walk back to him. "They thought you already had. When I was leaving they noticed you hadn't signed the form. Can you sign it now?"
"Of course. When is your next lesson?"
"I don't know yet. I'll be right back." I race to my room and find the form I printed out. I bring it back to Brock, handing it to him along with a pen. He scribbles his signature, then hands it back to me.
"Got a new script?" I say, pointing to it.
"Yes, but the writing is horrible. And it's for a television show."
"Is that bad?"
"Someone with my fame and years of experience should be in movies, not low budget television shows."
"You got famous from a TV show," I point out.
"Yes, but that was a different time. Back when people actually watched network programming."
"I'll let you get back to work." I return to my room, then notice Brock signed the form on the wrong line. I go back to the living room. "You signed on the parent line instead of guardian."
