Page 127 of Saints & Sailors

I reeled back, looking up at him through a clouded vision. “You promise?”

“I’m right here.” Scott wrapped me back into his arms. “I’m never leaving you again. You hear me?”

We stood like that for what felt like forever. I had never felt safer and more protected.

“I’ve got band practice this weekend,” Scott was saying as we sat at the island sometime later. “The guys and I are supposed to be playing at Al’s in a couple of weeks.”

“Really?” It was some good news to hear after all the current chaos. “I’ve been to Al’s…once. I’d love to see you guys play.”

Scott hung his head, a faint blush appearing. “I’ll see what I can do.”

We had takeout while my phone charged. A quiet dinner of Chinese at the table.

“We’ll have to see what we can do about school now,” Scott said between bites.

Right, because I’d been expelled. Meadow Grove was a small town, outside of Horton High, there was a prep school some kids went to.

I wasn’t sure I wanted to switch schools for a second time.

“I’ll get my GED,” I decided. “It’s not like I was going to amount to much anyway.”

Scott sighed, propping his arms on the table. “You’re not giving up on yourself over this.” He gave me a fierce look. “Someone is playing a very messed-up prank on you, and we’re going to get it handled. In the meantime, do me a favor and don’t throw in the towel just yet.”

The conviction in his voice was honestly comforting. I stood and touched Scott’s shoulder. “I’m not used to people being in my corner when sh— crap hits the fan. This means a lot to me. Thanks.”

“Well, you’ve got me, and your mother too,” Scott assured. “You’re not alone in this.”

At least I had support. They could’ve been threatening to drug test me and send me to reform school.

“I’m going to shower,” I said before leaving the room.

It wasn’t much, but under the hot spray of water in our familiar bathroom, I transformed from a forlorn girl, to someone slightly optimistic. I washed away the stench of jail and clung to a small bit of optimism that this would all work out.

In my room for the first time in days, I pulled on an old oversized hoodie and climbed into my bed. It was only eleven in the morning back in LA, but I was sure my mother was up as I hit her contact on my phone and called her.

She answered immediately and I sank back against my headboard. I tried to be strong, but I still felt like a prodigal daughter after the arrest.

“Saylor?” My mother’s urgent voice pulled me from my melancholy.

“It’s me,” I said.

She breathed a heavy sigh of relief, one that felt palpable through the phone. “Oh, thank God. Scott said Dreux’s father was getting involved to help. I’ve been looking for lawyers here in LA just in case.”

The story of her life. I screwed up and she fixed it. Even if I was innocent this time, it still made me feel like shit to put her through this. Especially with the news of her divorce so fresh. I didn’t want to prove Richard right.

“I’m so sorry,” I let out. “It’s not my fault, but I’ve done so much⁠—”

“Stop that,” she cut in. “Do not apologize when you’ve done nothing wrong. I don’t know how, but we’re going to fix this.”

“You sound like Scott and René.” I couldn’t help but loosen up and smile. Things had really changed. As twisted as the situation was, no one was lecturing me. No one was counting me out. Expulsion or not, my parents believed in me and that was something that made this whole ordeal easier to manage.

“He was worried at first,” my mother let me know. “But he says he took one look at you and just knew you didn’t do this.”

Something about Scott believing in me comforted me. He had every reason to write me off, especially considering my rude beginning, but he chose to look past that and see who I was now, versus then.

“I didn’t,” I said. “I have no clue how that weed got in my locker. I’m hoping René can pull some strings and look at the cameras or something.”

“Well, Scott says he’s a pretty big deal, so I’m hoping,” my mother said. “In the meantime, I’m getting some stuff worked out at my studio. I’m going to be flying back to town to see you through this for the foreseeable future.”