I run a hand through my hair and sigh. “They’ll be home soon.”
Our parents. They’ll do the thing where they pretend to care one of us got in trouble. They’ll show up and talk as if they can do anything to make everything better. Before they take off for parts unknown again.
“Yeah, not looking forward to that shit show,” Ava grumbles.
“How much do you know about our situation?” Because fuck it, if they cave and let her stay, which knowing them they will because it’s the path of least resistance, she needs to know what we’re dealing with.
“They didn’t say anything about her being your girlfriend. But they said someone was fucking around with a girl and you were helping her.” Ava cocks her head to the side. “Is this serious, like you and this girl and your friends?”
I nod because I’m determined to keep Harper.
Ava smiles. “When do I get to meet her?”
Eli
I locked myself in my room to study while my parents argued downstairs. They’re mostly quiet about it, but they insisted on dinner as a family. To discuss whatever the fuck they want to discuss this time.
I’m over it.
Harper sent a pic to the group chat of her and Luke on her couch. That’s where I wish I was, but I have a few hours left of duty before I can escape. She also sent that her mother’s back on days, so our nights with her are over for now.
Unless we sneak in. We have weekends. Possibly.
Though that might change now that Ava is back. Fuck.
I shut my book and push it away. We’re no closer to figuring out what the fuck is happening with our school. The list of names Brett sent me is almost useless. He overheard varsity basketball players talking shit about us and Harper.
Obviously, Tanner and Zach both have a vested interest in fucking with our lives. Tanner more so than Zach. We’ve been looking into Zach but haven’t found much.
Besides power, we have no reason for his sudden attention. He’s always been fine to let us do our thing and we let him do his. Maybe it’s time to mess in his business more.
Me:
Anything new with Zach?
Jack:
Not yet. Just dates and times with no locations
I blow out a breath. Fuck. Yeah, he group chats with his crew, but wherever they meet, they all know. Our problem is we don’t have anyone we can trust to follow them. The guys we relied on to have our backs might all be rats or just really stupid.
Either way, they’re useless to us.
Me:
Hate to say it, but we’ll need to do some recon on our own
Jack:
Yeah, fuck
Nico:
Will we have time to chat tonight?
Jack:
After dinner, but on cam, I got homework
