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I go up to the word and spray paint an "o" after the "r," so it reads numero.
"Good cover-up, amigo," Jet says, patting my shoulder.
"Shit!" Derek calls out. "It's the cops!"
I turn around to see a squad car turning into the school parking lot with a big spotlight on the field.
"Let's bounce!" Jet yells as he runs toward the fence with Derek and Ashtyn following close behind.
I look at a panicked Monika. There's no way she can run to the car without being seen.
I rush up to her and grab her hand. "Come on," I say, urging her toward the bleachers. "Lay down under one of the benches."
Without another word, we're lying nose-to-nose as we squeeze our way under one of the benches. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins. Being caught with Monika Fox in the bleachers with spray paint cans in our hands is not a good scenario. I want to protect her, but what if we're caught?
I don't care about me, but I need to get her home safe.
"Did you break your ankle when you fell?" I whisper. "Because even if we can get out of here without bein' caught, there's no way you're gonna be able to get back over that fence."
"I didn't break anything, Vic," she says, her voice so soft it's like she's mouthing the words. "I'm fine. I deal with pain every day."
Wait. What? "What's that supposed to mean?"
She looks away. "Nothing. Just forget about me and focus on getting us out of here."
Chapter Ten
MONIKA
We watch as the police patrol the football field.
"They haven't noticed the spray paint yet, but they will," Vic whispers as he peeks over the benches at the officers getting out of their car. "We need to get out of here."
My joints ache more than usual. That fall did a number on my knee. "I don't know if I can move."
"I'll carry you." He points to an exit off to the side. "I see an opening in the fence. Can you jump down?"
"I think so."
"You sure?" He has concern written all over his face. "I can carry you, and you'll have nothing to worry about. Okay?"
He looks serious, as if shielding me from the police is his number-one priority.
"Don't be mad at me for coming here." I look away. "I'm sorry."
"It's cool."
"I thought I could do this." I'm so mad for thinking I could challenge myself and prove to everyone that I'm capable of being mischievous.
"You can do this. Come on," Vic says as he ducks under the bleachers. He holds out his hands for me. "Jump."
I look down at him. "I'm scared."
"I got you," he whispers, urging me to jump into his arms. "Trust me."
I take a deep breath and wince as I shimmy through the opening and jump into his waiting arms. He holds me close as I wrap my arms around his neck.
"Now what?" I ask, leaning into his bare, muscular chest.
"Hold on," he says as he heads for the fence obscured by some bushes on the opposite end of the field that the police are on.
If we're caught, we'll both be in trouble. But Vic is an expert at this as he stealthily moves to the fence and finds a way to duck underneath a weak opening.
With me holding on, Vic jogs through the streets until we're far away from the school.
"Thank you," I tell him as I let out a sigh of relief. "You saved me tonight."
His eyes meet mine, and in this embrace with his bare chest against my skin, I feel an intimacy I haven't felt in a long time, maybe forever. It must be my adrenaline working overtime, because I fight the urge to hold him close.
My lips are suddenly dry. I lick them. "Vic?"
He's staring at my now wet lips. "Yeah?"
There's silence as we stare into each other's eyes.
Neither one of us say a word, but I swear I can see something soft and sweet in the depths of his chocolate brown eyes. I've never noticed it before, but his eyes are mesmerizing.
Intoxicating.
I feel so vulnerable emotionally and physically right now. This is so intense. Too intense.
"Umm... you can let me down now," I say, needing to break the connection.
"Oh. Sorry," he mumbles, then slowly sets me on the ground.
I step away from him, and the warmth of his body is replaced by the cool night air. I still feel off-balance and confused. Not knowing what to say to him without making an idiot out of myself, I pull my cell phone out of my pocket and call Ashtyn.
"Is everything cool?" Vic asks after I hang up the phone. He shoves his hands in his pockets as if he's restless and doesn't know where to put them.
"Yeah. Ash and the guys are coming to pick us up."
He nods. After a minute he blurts out, "What are we gonna tell Trey?"
Is he talking about me joining the guys tonight or the fact that something transpired between us that wasn't quite innocent? I mean, it was innocent, but it felt intimate. "I'm not telling him anything," I say.
"Keeping secrets from your boyfriend probably isn't a good idea."
The side of my mouth quirks up. "Yeah, well, spray painting our rivals' football field probably isn't a good idea, either."
"You have a point," he says just as the rest of our accomplices drive up.
We hurry inside the truck.
"This was an epic night," Derek says. "Right, guys?"
I'm sitting next to Vic, our fingers almost touching. "Yeah," I say, wondering why I'm suddenly hit with another wave of crazy thoughts about Trey's best friend.
I push those thoughts aside and focus on the throbbing pain in my knee. It's easier to focus on that than anything else.
Chapter Eleven
VICTOR
Just as Mr. Miller splits us into groups and has us brainstorm ideas for social experiments, Officer Jim knocks on the classroom door.
"Principal Finnigan needs to see Victor Salazar," the officer says. He points to me, then motions for me to get up.
"Mr. Salazar, do you think it's possible for you to spend one week in my class without being called to the principal's office?" Miller asks. "That's not a rhetorical question."
I shrug. "I don't know, Mr. Miller. Principal Finnigan obviously has nothin' better to do than chat with me."
Miller gives a short laugh. "I'll bet. Be back soon or you'll miss today's assignment."
"Yes, sir," I say.
I catch sight of Monika, who's in the corner with her assigned group. She gives me a knowing look.
We both know I'm being called out of class because of the prank we pulled last night. I mouth the words "I got this" so she doesn't freak out. I can tell she's stressed by the way her eyebrows are furrowed.
When I arrive at Finnigan's office, Trey, Jet, and Derek are already here. Coach Dieter is here too. He doesn't look happy. The poor guy probably got his ass chewed out by Finnigan.
"Let's cut to the chase, guys. Who did it?" Finnigan asks sternly as she paces back and forth in front of us.
"Who did what?" Jet asks, acting like he has no clue that Rolling Meadows' football field has spray paint all over it.
"I don't know what you're talkin' about, ma'am," Derek chimes in with his exaggerated Texas accent.
"Can you elaborate so we're not in the dark?" Trey says, playing along.
"Yeah," I say. "I'm clueless over here."
Finnigan stands in front of me. "Let me tell you something, Victor. Coach Dieter and I are not stupid. You four are the ringleaders of the football team, or should I say troublemakers. One of you, or all of you, are responsible. Who's going to fess up?"
Nobody moves a muscle.
"You boys know better," Dieter chimes in. "Vandalizing property is illegal. Obviously whoever did this will get detention and possibly a suspension. On top of that, we'll have to inform the police."
