by E. K. Blair
Mason’s mouth hardened, but he was stone face otherwise.
David glanced at me again. An unreadable emotion flashed in them, but he slipped back into his professional mode. “Since you are not a student at Fallen Crest Academy, they are unable to seek expulsion or suspension in any form. However, we’ve already sent word to your school’s officials and we highly recommend that you be suspended from them—”
Logan surged forward. “No way, he’d be out of the game on Friday. We need him against Roussou.”
“Son.” James clasped a hand on his shoulder. “Let Coach Strattan finish.”
Logan quieted, but glared at my dad.
David continued, “As I was saying, we are seeking a suspension for you, but it will be up to your school if they follow through with that recommendation. Now, after four hours of deliberations we’ve decided that you will volunteer at our school’s alumni festival this Saturday.”
“What does that mean?” Mason had leaned back against the table where I sat, but he stood now. His arm brushed against my leg.
I glanced down at the contact. A shiver went through me, but my heart pounded. He had said three parts, those were only two...
“You will help with the set up, you will do whatever I tell you to do throughout the day to help out, and you will help with the clean-up. There is a dinner that night for the volunteer and staff. I will determine if you will be invited to that or not.”
“Oh.” Mason leaned back beside me again. His arm was loose again. “That’s fair.”
David frowned at him.
“You said three parts,” I spoke up. David turned towards me and pinned me with his gaze. He was trying to search inside of me. His eyes narrowed and they glanced back and forth from Mason and me.
“Sam,” my mom hissed.
David held a hand up. “No, that’s fine, Analise. I did say three parts and the third part’s already been taken care of. Your father has made a generous donation to the school.”
Logan snorted. “Dad, you bought his way out—”
James turned on him. “You will keep your mouth shut, Logan.”
His eyes widened and his mouth jerked in reaction, but Logan shrunk against the counter he sat on. His eyes took on an angry leer.
James’ eyes were lidded, but he turned towards my father and jerked his head down in a nod. “As you were saying, David...”
My dad cleared his throat once more.
Malinda moved forward a step and touched the small of his back.
My heart snapped and I jumped to my feet. “What are you doing in here?”
“Samantha!”
I ignored my dad and walked to her. “You’re Mark’s mother. You have no connection to anyone in here. Why are you here?”
Her mouth formed a small oval, but she looked to David.
He stepped between us and spoke in a quiet voice, “She is here for me. She’s become a good friend to me, Samantha.”
I fell back, reeling, and looked at my mother. She had grown pale with a hand pressed against her chest. Her other hand clung to one of James’. It was hidden from eyesight, but I still saw it. When she realized that I saw it, she gasped and retracted her hand to her side.
Why was she pale? And why did she need comfort from James...then I understood. My heart sank and my stomach had dropped to the floor. It was really over with them. My mom had moved on with James, David was starting to move on as well... My head fell forward and I hugged myself.
A hand touched my side gently. Mason tugged me back by the belt loop on my jeans. He tucked me behind him and moved forward a step. “I heard that festival is for two days?”
David was still looking between us. “Uh—yes—yes, it is.” He frowned. “Why?”
“I could volunteer both days.”
“You could?”
“Man,” Logan hissed softly.
Mason nodded. He held his gaze steadily. “It’s the least I could do.”
David gave him a sad smile. “Your school won’t suspend you. We both know that, they need you for their football game.”
The corner of Mason’s mouth twitched. “What time should I be here on Saturday?”
“Seven sharp. Come to my office.”
Mason’s head jerked in a nod. “Will do.”
David looked at me. “Would you come to my office later today?”
I stared at Malinda behind him. “No.”
“Sam.”
He waved a hand in the air. “It’s fine, Analise. I can talk to her next week.”
My mom trembled, but she nodded at him and tried to muster a smile.
For a moment, David looked around the room and then he gave out a soft sigh. “I guess I’ll be in touch then...”
James strode forward and held out a hand. “Thank you, David.”
They clasped their hands in a firm handshake and studied each other for a beat. Then David nodded again and turned for the door. He held it open as Malinda swept out before him. Pain sliced through me when I saw his hand touch the small of her back and remain there, even after they went in the hallway.
When the door closed, I was barely aware of Mason. He stood and I heard his voice at a distance, “Mom’s coming to town. We’d like to stay with her at the hotel.”
“I think that’d be for the best this week...”
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
And then there was silence. David and Analise were actually done... The realization settled on my chest and a wave of tears threatened me. I rushed from the room and shoved through the hallway. When I found an empty backroom, I locked the door, kept the lights off, and slid to the ground. My forehead touched my knees and I sobbed.
***
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
I went to my last two classes, though I didn’t learn a thing. My body had gone numb again. I missed that feeling and I was itching for another three hour run. My body ached for it.
Becky chatted to me after school. I had no idea what she said, but I nodded my head at random moments and she kept chatting away. When I looked for my keys in my bag, I cursed and hit my head against my locker.
“What?”
I mumbled, “Mason drove me today.”
“He did?” She straightened from a locker. “Oh, right. That makes sense, why he was here...wait...is he coming back to give you a ride home?”
Then my phone beeped and I pulled it out. He had sent me four text messages and the last one read, ‘two practices tonight, then with mom and Logan. Can you get a ride home? Need me to send someone?’
I cursed again. “Can I get a ride home with you?”
Becky’s eyes got wide and her lips clamped together. A strange gurgle escaped her lips.
“What does that mean?”
She whispered, “Adam gave me a ride.” She jumped back and pressed a hand to her mouth. “I’m sorry.”
“No, that’s fine. I’ll think of something.”
She edged closer a step. “He can’t come and get you?”
I shook my head. My throat was so closed up, had been all day. “No, they have two practices tonight and their mom’s in town.” And that meant I wouldn’t see either of them all week...probably... I swallowed over a lump.
“Hey, I bet Adam would give you a ride!” Her head bounced up and down. “Yeah, yeah. I bet he would. I think he feels real bad. He called me last night and said that he wanted to make things better with you. He wanted all three of us to be friends again.”
“He did?”
“Uh, yeah. I mean, why would he make that up if he didn’t mean it?” Her grin turned sloppy and a glaze drifted over her eyes.
Oh boy. I recognized that look.
She sighed dreamily, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all three of us hung out again? And then maybe he’d realize he needed me in his life?”
I gave her a blank stare. “What do you mean? You are in his life; he gave you a ride to school.”
“Yeah, I know.” Her eyes drifted downwards and she bit the corne
r of her lip. “I was just meaning that if us three were better friends. It felt like we were going to be before, but then he got all weird and mad at you. It changed when he found out about the Kades, now that I think about it.”
“Becky.”
She turned to me. Her eyes clicked into focus. “Uh?”
“What’s going on with you?”
Her eyeballs went from side to side. “What do you mean?”
“You’re weird, weirder than normal.” Then it clicked in place. “What have people been saying about me?”
As soon as I said that, she sucked in her breath dramatically and scooted away from me.
“Becky.” I clamped onto her arm so she couldn’t go any further. “What’s going on?”
She patted her chest and it rose higher and higher. It looked like she was hyperventilating or having a panic attack. I hoped not, I needed answers.
“Becky!”
“Okay, okay.” She dragged me down the hallway and into the empty theatre. It was dark where we were, but the lights were bright on the stage where a group of people stood in a small circle. I didn’t care what they were doing up there.
“Spill. Now.”
She looked in pain as she rushed out, “MirandaStewarthatesyouandnow everyoneelsedoestoo.” She took a deep breath. “And everyone thinks Adam and Mason fought over you. Everybody knows something happened at the Elite dinner Miranda had and that you guys went there, but no one will say what happened...so...people are figuring out their own guesses.”
“People think Mason and Adam fought over me?” A blast of cold air rocked me again. My stomach dropped out again and a surreal feeling of terror started to settle in. Was I ready for this? The knot had doubled in size. I forcibly swallowed one more time. I knew what would happen if people found out...
“No, yes, I mean—I don’t know. We don’t really know. Some people think it’s about Logan. I’m not sure why, because of Tanya or something. I have no idea. Everyone knows Logan took Tanya away from Adam and we all saw that Cassandra and Adam were flirting. Now they don’t even talk to each other. Something happened.”
“Oh.” Relief washed over me. Adam’s fight with Logan over Tanya made more sense, didn’t it? “Yeah, I mean, Logan wasn’t nice at the dinner. He rubbed it in Adam’s face.”
“Rubbed it in?” A hollow laugh came from behind me. Jessica gripped her books tight and glared at me. “We heard he was practically having sex with Tanya at the dinner. No wonder Adam popped his cherry and went after Mason today.” She eyed me up and down and curled her lip in a sneer. “We also heard that Emily Connsway laughed in your face. Way to go, Sam.”
The theatre door was open and a small group had congregated behind us.
“Give it a rest, Jess.” Lydia sidled up beside her and leveled her with a piercing look. “Stop making up lies, stop being a bitch, and apologize to Sam for what you did.”
Jessica’s back straightened. “Me? Apologize? What did I do to her? She stood there and let Logan Kade humiliate me. He used to like me and she ruined that. You ruined my life, Sam. Thanks a lot.”
Jill pushed forward to stand beside them and chewed on her lip. Then she burst out, “I’m sorry for being a bitch, Sam. I was threatened because of Jeff.” She waved towards Jessica and Lydia. “And I didn’t want them to do to me what they did to you so I tried to be friends with them. You know, get closer with your enemies and all...that...” She hung her head and trailed off.
Jessica whirled towards her. “You’re such a whore, Jill. Sam’s not going to be your friend. She hates you and me. She hates Lydia too.”
Lydia gasped. “I don’t think she hates me. I’m trying to be her friend.” She looked at me with pleading eyes. “I’m really sorry. I really am. And I don’t care if Jessica hates me after this. I should never have covered for her and Jeff and lied to you. I should’ve apologized to you right away too.” She edged closer and shoved Jessica back a few steps in the process. “I really miss you and I’ll do anything to be your friend again.”
“Lydia!”
She ignored Jessica and gave me a shaky smile. “I don’t care if the Elite don’t like you. I’ll support you and stand by you the whole time. They don’t scare me.”
Jill sighed. “Yes, they do. They scare everybody...well, except for maybe Sam, but still.”
“Hey...?” Jeff stood at the back of the crowd, and they opened for him. His face was twisted in confusion. “What’s...what’s going on here...? Do I even want to know?”
Jessica turned her glare off and went to his side. She gave him a seductive smile as her hand traveled up his arm. “Hi, Jeff.”
“Hey!” Jill removed her hand from his arm. “I’m not going to let you sleep with him.”
Jessica’s eyes didn’t blink. “Can you give me a ride home, Jeff? My car’s in the shop for an oil change.”
He blinked at her. “Uh...sure...yeah, okay.”
“Jeff!” Jill seethed.
He met my gaze for a second, but shrugged at his girlfriend. “It’s just a ride home. I’m not going to sleep with her or anything.” Then he motioned for Jessica to follow and the two left.
Becky’s mouth hung open. “I—” She blinked. “I can’t believe that happened.”
“Lydia, do you think they’re going to...?” Jill blinked back some tears. Her voice hitched on a sob.
“Yes.” Lydia didn’t waste a second. “They are. I’d dump him in a heartbeat if I were you.”
My eyebrow rose. This was a different side to Lydia that I’d never seen before. When she gave me a small smile, I almost gave her one back. Almost.
Jill’s mouth fell open and tears started to fall down her cheeks. She wiped them away, but turned and darted down the hallway.
Lydia shook her head. “I don’t feel bad for her. She knew what they did to you.”
I shrugged. “I don’t care anymore.” I never had. “So you and Jessica aren’t friends anymore? She’s going to think you betrayed her for me.”
“I know.”
“She’s not going to let that go.”
“I know.” Lydia gave me a sad look. “I miss being your friend. I’d like to earn that back and that’s what I’m going to do from now on.”
“Hey!” Becky grabbed my arm. A smile spread from ear to ear. “She can give you a ride home.”
“You need a ride home?”
“Uh, no. I’m okay.” Nightmares flashed in my head. I wasn’t sure who knew that I was staying at the Kade mansion and I wasn’t going to let Lydia be the first one to know for certain. “I’ll find—or call—someone else.”
“Are you sure? I can give you a ride home. It’s on my way, you know.”
“I’m okay. Really.” Every cell inside of me relaxed. She still thought I was at David’s.
“Wait. Are you still at your dad’s house or...?”
I gave her a bright smile. “Speaking of my dad, he wanted me to talk to him so I’ll see you guys later.” I pushed through the crowd and hurried away before either of them formed more questions. People would figure it out, if they hadn’t already, but I wasn’t going to help it.
As I got to my locker, I grabbed my bag and phone. When I went to the parking lot, I started to call my mom, and I couldn’t believe she was my last resort, but stopped abruptly. I blinked a few times, but then I put my phone away. My mom was already there. She was waiting in her convertible.
“Hi, honey.” She waved her fingers at me. “I got you a coffee.”
“Mom,” I started as I got inside. “I really can’t handle much right now so if you’ve got any more bombs to lay on me, can you leave them for another day?”
Her smile slipped a bit. “Are you okay, honey?”
I stared at her. Had she not been there when I stormed out of the classroom? “I’m perfect.”
She laughed. “Well, I don’t know about that, but you’re pretty good.”
My mouth wanted to fall to the ground. Where had the mom from this morning gone? S
he professed she wanted to change and now I got the Barbie fake mom again.
At a stoplight, she let out a deep breath. Her voice dropped to a normal tone. “Well, I’m sorry about those bombs, but I do have one to drop on you.” She paused for a beat. “Your father’s in town.”
I closed my eyes.
“And he wants to meet you.”
“Oh no.”
“Tonight.”
I wanted that run. I needed that run right now.
I looked at her. “How long is he in town?” My voice came out breathless.
“It depends on you.” She held my gaze until the light turned green. As we started forward again, she gripped the steering wheel with clenched knuckles. “I don’t like that he’s here, but he is. David’s going to flip about this.”
My heart was pounding again. It was a horse track. “Mom, I can’t...”
Her hand clasped onto mine and she squeezed it. “I’m sorry, honey. I really am, but your father’s a jerk. If I tell him you don’t want to see him, he won’t believe me. He’ll show up anyway and I’d like to avoid that, if possible.”
“Mom.” My voice was a whisper now. “I can’t. I really can’t.”
She kept driving and we were almost home when she murmured, “Okay, honey. I’ll tell him you’re not ready.”
Everything sagged forward at that. As soon as we got home, I unbuckled and bolted for the door. I was back on the pavement within ten minutes with my running shoes on and my headphones in my ears.
Three hours later when I turned into the driveway, my stomach had stopped rumbling. Everything was numb in me, it was the way I liked it, and I was blind to the three cars I passed as I let myself inside. I trailed through the house and eyed the droplets of sweat that slipped from me. I doubted my mom would care, not that I ever did, but the small grin that formed on my face was wiped away when I went past the dining room.
A man sat at the table with my mother and James. He had striking blue eyes and broad shoulders. He looked in his forties with a strong jaw and a lean physique. Confidence and authority exhumed from him. As he turned towards me, he never blinked. I felt pinned under his gaze and steeled myself. He was trying to read into me, as only Mason tended to do sometimes.
“Sam, honey.” Analise jumped up. “You’re back from your run.”
