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“It’s not like that.”
“Then what’s it like?”
“It’s . . . nothing. I did let you in.”
“But Kira knew before me?”
“I’m telling you that I don’t know what she knows.”
Gem had gone from smiling, to being confused, then to hurt, and now her whole face went blank. “I think I know what it is. I thought you weren’t like the others. Not about being popular. About cutting people out, but I’m starting to see I was wrong. So wrong. Have fun at Homecoming with Kira.” She bit out the name before she darted ahead.
She was gone.
I wanted to scream. I hadn’t foreseen any of this happening like it was. Spying Scout at the end of the hallway, I started for him, then paused because he saw me, stopped, and turned the other way.
What?
“You gotten any grief?”
Alex joined me, studying his phone. His backpack was still on him.
“What?”
He looked up, putting his phone away. “The vid of you and Scout is all over social media. You’ve not gotten any grief from anyone back in Cedra? I’m hoping you haven’t.”
“No.” I frowned. “Or I don’t think so. I haven’t checked.”
“Do yourself a favor. Don’t.” Those were his parting words as he veered off to his locker.
Trenton was at the end of the hallway, talking to a girl, but when he saw me, he jerked up his chin in a greeting and headed down the opposite hallway.
Seriously. Was it me today?
What was going on with my people today?
Clint came out of the bathroom, whistling, swinging his hands in front of him.
He saw me, flashed a smile, and headed right for me.
Finally. My body relaxed. It wasn’t me, whatever was going on.
“I need your help,” he announced.
I perked up. “I’m in.”
“Good. I wanna blow up my dad.”
“What?”
He flashed me a grin as the first warning bell sounded. We both started for class at the same time. “Not literally. He’s my dad, but I wanna blow up his spot. You know, he and that lady he cheated with. He’s staying with her.”
“No.”
He pulled open the door, letting me go first and then following me to our table. As we slid onto our seats, Clint hunched forward so no one else could hear. “Her husband didn’t move out. He’s staying in the house with their kids, so she moved out. I was in a mood last night and staked it out. They’re both there. I want to hurt my dad, do what I can to help Mom for the divorce because—not sorry to say this—but my dad’s an asshole. He’s selfish. He’s going to fight Mom on everything.”
I’d missed the cold look in his eyes, but I didn’t miss the smile he gave me now. It was chilled and calculating.
He added, “You in? Do whatever we gotta do to help my mom?”
“We have Homecoming next week.”
He shrugged. “We can do both.”
Right. Both.
He held up his pinkie. “Trouble twin?”
I melted, circling his pinkie with mine. “Trouble twin.”
Hopefully this wasn’t going to end in disaster, for us.
Then he asked, “What’s going on with you? You look horrible.”
Kira to Homecoming Planning Committee:
URGENT! URGENT! Emergency meeting ASAP! We were just approached by a CHELTON HOTEL THAT’S BEING BUILT THIRTY MINUTES FROM HERE! They’ve offered to host our Homecoming dance in their grand banquet in addition to one of their penthouse suites as part of their soft opening. I talked with Mrs. Charlotte and Mr. Karpoti, and they’ve approved the move. Come to the gym after school today for an emergency meeting. We’ll go over everything.
This is SO EXCITING! The announcement will be made next Monday, so it’s hush hush until then!
75
RAMSAY
Clint was calling when I got to the gym. I’d forgotten to tell him about the emergency meeting, but Kira was waving everyone over to the corner, and she had her boss look on her face.
I declined the call, texting instead.
Me: Emergency meeting for Homecoming right now. Wait for me and I’ll go with you to do whatever we need to do.
Clint: Are you serious?
I frowned, starting to respond when Kira called out my name.
She motioned with quick, almost frantic hand motions. “Come over here. Quick.”
Uh . . . I put my phone away, feeling it buzz, and hoping Clint wouldn’t be upset.
“Okay, guys.” Kira climbed up on one of the bleacher seats so she was looking out over everyone. I glanced around for Gem, but couldn’t find her. “Listen up!” Kira’s face was flushed, her eyes were blazing. “Okay, this is an amazing and exciting change for us. You all know the Chelton Hotels? How they’re amazing, and upscale, and the definition of luxury. Well, they’ve built one on the coast, on the other side of Pine Valley.”
“Wait. Over Dragon Abyss? By Wembley Creek? I thought they were building a Walmart there. A Chelton Hotel makes so much more sense. That’s so cool. That place rocks.”
