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My grandmother would need me.
We had school tomorrow.
I’d let things happen he’d only make me regret.
But he came in, taking his tie around my neck and rubbing it between his fingers. “You come to me,” he said, “or I’ll come to you.”
• • •
I got an A on that Lolita study packet. Over a week late, and I still got an A. And the best part was, I didn’t even turn it in. I was tempted to.
I just couldn’t do it, though. Every educational success I would’ve had after would’ve been marred. The rest of my life would’ve been over.
A fraud. A cheat. A lousy example to my children.
All because I faked one English assignment. That was how neurotic I was.
Unfortunately, the long arm of Will Grayson stretched all the way into the teacher’s gradebook and changed my zero to a hundred
percent, despite the missing assignment.
Not very inconspicuous. I would’ve been fine with a ninety-eight. Safe with a ninety-two, even.
I’d inform Mr. Townsend tomorrow that the grade was wrong.
If I didn’t forget.
I walked across the empty locker room and opened the shower curtain, stepping in and hanging my towel on the hook. Turning on the water, I dipped my already wet head under the spray, my skin breaking out in goosebumps at the feel of the hot water.
It was only four thirty in the afternoon. I still had hours before I was supposed to meet Will, and even though I’d spent the rest of the day—and my private time sneaking into the pool for a workout afterward—trying to tell myself I wouldn’t care when eleven rolled around, and I’d left him waiting at the end of my block, it hurt inside a little at the idea of blowing him off.
It shouldn’t hurt, right? I never agreed to go to his house tonight. He never even asked. Just another guy making you feel obligated to show him how grateful you are for his attention.
I pumped some shampoo into my hand from the dispenser on the wall and washed my hair, trying to hurry. I still had to make dinner, do homework, and I’d promised my grandma we’d watch a movie in her room tonight.
And I still wanted to get to the gazebo tonight to get some work done.
Will could come to me. If he found me.
I rinsed my hair and conditioned, pumping some soap into my hand and scrubbing the pool off my body. But I stopped, feeling the nubs on my legs.
Maybe I should shave again. I mean, if he found me, I…
Then I shook my head and stood up straight. For Christ’s sake. Get it together.
I finished washing and ducked my head under the water again, rinsing the conditioner out of my hair as I stared ahead.
But then a shadow moved on the other side of the shower curtain, and I froze.
It stopped, standing there, the dark form looming just outside.
My heart skipped a beat. Only the emergency lighting remained on since there wasn’t supposed to be anyone staying after school for any sports or band today, so I blinked as if that would clear my vision.
Shit, I needed my glasses. I could see okay without them, but I was nearsighted.
“Hello?” I called out. “Who is that?”
Forgetting to turn off the shower, I reached over and grabbed my towel, holding it up to my body.
