I don’t say anything to my friends. I just jump up and run out of the cafeteria as fast as I can. I run straight to my car, suddenly thankful for all the running that Uncle Matty makes me do every morning. I’m faster because of it.
As I start my car, the passenger side door opens and I watch Estaine get in. I don’t argue. As soon as his door is shut, I put my car in reverse and back out of the parking spot. I put it into first gear and push down on the gas as hard as I can. I see Estaine reach for his seatbelt, but I don’t bother with mine.
“I grabbed your phone,” Estaine says, holding up my phone in his hand.
“Thanks,” I say, not at all concerned about my phone. I’m more concerned about my family.
“Wow, I didn’t know this was out here,” he says, as we pull up in front of Uncle Matty and Jake’s house.
This place would be super hard to find, even by accident. It’s supposed to be that way. I don’t think Uncle Matty and Jake are the first people to use it. I guess a lot of important students have gone to school here in the past.
Not that I’m important.
But my dad is.
And my life is in danger because of it.
I jump out of the car, slamming the door shut behind me. I don’t look back, but I know that Estaine is following me.
I love that he is following me.
“What is going on?” I ask, as I throw the front door open.
Uncle Matty and Jake both have grim looks on their faces.
“Why don’t you sit down,” Jake says.
I hear Estaine walk in the door behind me. I go to sit on the couch and wait for Uncle Matty and Jake to yell at me for bringing him. But they don’t. Which scares me. Something really bad must have happened.
The couch dips down slightly as Estaine sits beside me.
“Did somebody die?” I ask.
Before anybody answers, it’s as if the moment slows down. Every second ticks slower. Every breath, though coming too short and fast, is slower. Even my heart is beating way too slow for this moment.
“Nobody is dead,” Uncle Matty answers.
I suck in a breath. My first deep one since I got the urgent text message from them. I gulp down the oxygen, not realizing until that moment just how dizzy I was getting.
Estaine grabs my hand, distracting me from the dizziness. I lean into him and wait for the news.
Whatever it is, it’s not good.
But at least nobody is dead.
“Something happened in Malibu last night,” Uncle Matty says.
“Charlie... Mom... Rick...”
“They’re not hurt,” he says quickly. “But your house... I’m sorry, Phoenix. Your house was burnt to the ground. Thankfully, everybody got out in time. But because of it, they have had to go into hiding.”
“Can I talk to them?” I ask.
“I’m afraid not,” Jake says. “Right now, it’s too dangerous. If the terrorists find you or them, any phone communication could lead them right to us, or them. We can’t have that. And right now, our number one priority is you.”
“No,” I say, feeling angry that he’s even saying that. “Charlie is the number one priority. My mom. Rick. Not me. Keep them safe. I would turn myself in to these stupid terrorists if I knew it would keep them safe.”
“It won’t,” Uncle Matty says. “Don’t even think about doing anything stupid.”
“I won’t,” I say. “Only because I know it really wouldn’t protect them.”
“For safety, we’ve decided to pull you out of school for the next couple of days. You’re staying on campus, but you’re staying here,” Jake says. “That way, if something happens, we can run quickly. We’ll go with you to pack a bag.”
“What am I supposed to tell my friends?” I ask.
Jake’s eyes glance at Estaine, then back at me. “We will think of something. Maybe we will tell them an aunt or a cousin died and you had to go to the funeral. The dean already knows what’s going on, and he’s excused you from all your classes.”
“What about soccer practice? I still haven’t gone and we have our first game next week,” I say.
“Maybe it’s best you drop out of soccer,” Uncle Matty says. “I know that you love it, but things are really out of our control, right now.”
I sigh. “You’re right.”
“Can I come visit?” Estaine asks. “While she’s here, I mean.”
Uncle Matty now looks at me. “Care to explain what pretty boy is doing here?”
I laugh at Estaine’s nickname.
Pretty boy.
It fits him, really.
“He knows. I told him,” I say. “I was talking to him about my family and kind of let a few things slip. I tried to cover them up, but while I was hanging out with him, my dad called. He saw his name on the screen and I couldn’t exactly keep saying my parents were dead when my dad was obviously calling me. So, I told him the truth.”
“Don’t you think you should’ve talked to us about it?” Uncle Matty asks.
“Yes. But then I decided I didn’t want you to yell at me, or worse, make me change schools,” I say.
He lets out an annoyed sigh. “Okay. I won’t yell. But I’m telling your dad and stepmom not to call you or text you. You have to make the contact first.”
“Okay,” I say, knowing that’s probably for the best.
“Also, we are going to be wiring you,” Jake says to Estaine.
“Wait, what?” I ask.
“Basically, we’ll be monitoring his phone calls and every word he says to his friends to make sure he doesn’t tell anybody who you really are,” Uncle Matty says. “Don’t try to fight it, because that will be the only way you will be allowed to stay at this school. Also, don’t tell anybody else. If you do, we will be gone.”
“Okay,” I say, then look at Estaine. “I’m sorry. Are you okay with this? If not, I will go.”
Please be okay with this.
Please.
Please.
Please.
“Okay,” Estaine says. “Whatever it takes to keep her here, I will do.”
Relief washes over me with his answer. I wouldn’t have blamed him for saying no. But I really, really wanted him to say yes.
“Thank you so much,” I tell him.
“You guys aren’t going to start kissing, right?” Jake says. “Because I don’t want to see that...”
I roll my eyes at him and feel my face heat up. “No. Please, just, stop. You’re worse than Charlie.”
“Hey, I’m your fake older cousin. I’m supposed to tease you,” he says.
I took at Estaine, glad to see that he’s smiling. “Sorry about him. Actually, sorry about them. And yes, they are always this intense.”
“It’s okay,” Estaine says. “I should probably go to school. Unlike you, I don’t have... bodyguards to get me out of school.”
“They’re not bodyguards. They’re secret service,” I say. “Don’t be giving them ideas.”
“Wow.”
“Yep,” I say, then look at Uncle Matty. “Think you can get Estaine out of school today?”
“Why would I do that?” he asks.
“Because if Estaine is here, I won’t bug you,” I say, grinning big. I know he’s going to cave.
“Phoenix Black, I swear...” he says. “Fine. I’ll call the dean.”
“Thank you,” I say, then look at Estaine. “You cool with it?”
“Are you kidding? I’m absolutely fine with it,” Estaine says. “It’s weird hearing you called Phoenix Black.”
“That’s my name,” I say.
“I know. But I’ve only known you as Phoenix Underwood,” he says.
“Yeah. I hate having to use a fake name, but I guess it’s for my safety, or whatever,” I say.
My safety is definitely important.
Especially, as the terrorists get more and more aggressive.
“Hey, Jake. I’m hungry,” I tell him. “I didn’t get to eat my breakfast.”
>
Jake rolls his eyes. “Do I look like your slave?”
“Is that a rhetorical question?” I ask.
“What do you want?” he asks.
“Bacon. Lots of bacon,” I answer. “And eggs. Over medium. Maybe some pancakes too.” I look at Estaine. “What do you want?”
“Same,” he answers.
I look back at Jake. “Thanks.”
“You’re more bossy than my four year old,” he says, as he walks towards the kitchen.
As Jake is leaving the room, Uncle Matty walks back in, phone in his hand.
“Here’s the story,” Uncle Matty says. “Your cousin... umm... whatever you want to call him or her, died. You wanted your boyfriend to go with you. So Estaine came. That is what you’ll tell kids when you both go back to school in a few days.”
“Estaine isn’t my boyfriend,” I say.
“The dean of the school seems to think so,” he says. “Why else would he go to your cousin’s funeral? He’s officially your boyfriend. Congratulations.”
Uncle Matty walks back out of the room and I turn to Estaine.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I dragged you into all of... this.”
“It’s fine. We will deal with the consequences,” he says. “It’ll all work out.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I’ll let you dump me in a very public way when we go back. I’ll even shed a few tears to make it more believable,” I say.
“You can fake cry?” he asks.
“Who says I’ll be faking?” I ask, completely joking. “When I was about thirteen, Charlie dated this girl who was convinced she was the next big deal in Hollywood. She got some kind of acting job in a commercial. It was ridiculous. But she wanted to take some acting classes, and she forced me to do it with her. We quit after about ten classes because the teacher kept telling me how good I was, but he ignored her. Shortly after, Charlie dumped her and she hasn’t had an acting job since.”
“Are you going to be an actress?” Estaine asks.
“Heck, no,” I answer. “My stepdad is a producer, and I have met enough famous people to know that I want to stay as far away from the limelight as possible. Although, one time I was on this reality show, completely by random coincidence. I didn’t even notice they were recording. My friend saw me on the show and sent me the clip.”
“I guess you see a lot of famous people in Malibu.”
“Enough that it’s not a big deal,” I answer. “But I went to high school with celebrities, so...”
“Wow,” he says. “That’s crazy.”
“I guess,” I say. “So, what are we going to do around here for the next few days?”
“I’m thinking Smallville.”
I laugh. “Okay.”
Tuesday, August 29
We’re entertaining.
I don’t wake up until almost noon the next day, which I fully blame on Estaine. He just kept saying one more episode, until it was four in the morning and we had finished season two. And we will probably do the same thing again today.
I decide to check my phone before getting out of bed. I just kind of ignored it all day yesterday and I can only imagine that I have a zillion messages. When I power it up, my phone just keeps going off for, like, a solid minute straight.
Wow.
That’s a lot of messages.
I see Brooks’ name among the many of names. I wait until last to check his.
TEAGAN: What the heck? Where did you and Estaine run off to?
Two hours later.
TEAGAN: A teacher just told us about your cousin dying. I’m sorry.
Another hour later.
TEAGAN: I just heard that Estaine is your BOYFRIEND. This better be a sick joke, because I’m your best friend. I should know this stuff before everybody else.
I laugh at her text before replying.
ME: Hey. Sorry. Yesterday was a crazy day. I probably won’t be back until Thursday morning. And the whole Estaine thing kind of just happened. Like, trust me, it surprised me too. Please, don’t hate me. Love you, bye!
The next few messages are all very similar to Teagan’s. I have messages from Emma, Penelope, Zoey, Samantha and Jason. I pretty much tell them the same thing I told Teagan.
The last person I click on is Brooks.
BROOKS: You didn’t text me back last night after you “hung out” with Estaine.
BROOKS: And you’re not texting me back now.
BROOKS: Are you mad at me?
Three hours later.
BROOKS: Whatever I did, I’m sorry.
Two hours later.
BROOKS: Okay, now I am starting to worry.
BROOKS: At least let me know you’re alive.
Another hour later.
BROOKS: I texted one of my friends from East Raven and found out your cousin died and that you’re off campus. I’m so sorry. I hope you’re okay. Text me back.
I send him a quick message so he won’t worry.
But if he found out that I’m off campus for my cousin’s fake funeral, how easy would it be for him to find out that Estaine is my fake boyfriend?
ME: Hey. Sorry I didn’t respond. I’m okay. Can’t talk, though. Lots of family drama. Bye!
I shut my phone off again, not wanting to deal with any more messages from anybody.
The only person I want to call right now is Charlie. I want to hear his voice, but I know it won’t be a possibility. Not just for my safety, but his as well. As tempted as I am to defy the rules and call him, I won’t. I could never live with myself if something bad happened to him because of me.
I decide to just get out of bed, because I don’t want to think about it anymore. When I walk into the kitchen, I see Estaine sitting there, eating food. Jake is by the stove, cooking.
“Did you have a zillion messages this morning?” I ask Estaine, sitting beside him on the barstool.
“Yep,” he answers. “Pretty much every guy on the football team texted me to say congratulations on getting a hot girlfriend.”
This causes me to laugh.
“All the guys at school think you’re hot,” he says.
“No, they don’t,” I say.
“Yes, they actually do,” he says, then shows me the texts.
“What the heck?” I ask. “These guys need their eyes examined.”
“If it makes you feel any better, Bryce sent this,” he says, holding up his phone.
BRYCE: Your girlfriend is a crazy computer hacker. Make sure you don’t text other girls or she’ll go all psycho on you.
I laugh. “At least somebody hates me.”
“Only you would be excited that somebody hates you,” Estaine says.
Jake sets a huge plate of food down, in front of me. “Your father had better give me a raise after this.”
“Should I send your wife a photo of you in an apron?” I ask.
“Don’t. She doesn’t know I can cook and I’d rather keep it that way,” he says.
My mouth falls open. “Well, I’m definitely texting her now.”
“I’m kidding, Phoenix,” Jake says. “Of course she knows I can cook. I’m a good husband. Now, excuse me while I go somewhere I don’t have to listen to two teenagers talk all day.”
“We’re entertaining!” I yell, as he walks out of the kitchen.
He doesn’t reply.
“Seriously, what are we going to do about the fact that now everybody thinks we’re dating?” I ask Estaine, feeling a little bit awkward about the whole situation. Seeing all my friends’ texts has made this whole thing feel more... real.
“I’m going to enjoy it,” he says. “It’s not every day that all the males in school are jealous of me.”
“Yeah, and what are you going to do when everybody expects us to be all lovey dovey and kiss and stuff?” I ask.
“So, I get to make out with a beautiful girl. How hard is that going to be?” he asks.
My face grows warm and I desperately want to change the subject.
�
�There is one more thing that I lied about,” I tell him.
“What’s that?” he asks.
“I didn’t really get kicked out of my old school for hacking the computers. I mean, I did hack the computers, but the school administration has no idea that I did it,” I say. “Since about one week into my freshman year, kids have been going on social media and the school has no idea.”
Estaine laughs. “You know, that just makes you much more awesome, right?”
“I tried to convince Uncle Matty and Jake to let me have a cooler story. Like, I wanted to say I got kicked out of my old school for arson,” I say. “Accidental arson, of course. But it would’ve been awesome.”
“I don’t know. I can’t see you burning down a school,” he says.
“You know, I did light Charlie on fire one time. It was an accident,” I say. “A bad incident of sparklers gone wrong. He jumped into the pool before he got hurt, so it was all good. There was also an incident one time with a flaming marshmallow, but I’ll spare you the details.”
“What? No,” he says. “Now you have to tell me.”
“Uh, fine,” I say, lifting my leg so he can see the small scar on my calf. “You can hardly see the scar now. It happened when I was twelve. Charlie still likes to laugh about it, but it hurt really bad. I had to stay in the hospital for a week because it got infected.”
“Wow. Remind me to stay away from you whenever you’re around fire,” Estaine says.
“Ha ha,” I say.
5pm.
I’m never bored with you.
While watching Smallville that afternoon, Estaine and I talk.
Ever After (East Raven Academy Book 1) Page 15
