I let out a sigh and shook my head as soon as I hung up with her.
School. Not somewhere I wanted to go. Ever again.
“So?” Jared inched closer.
“School. It’s at school,” I muttered, studying the ground.
“Son of a bitch. She’s smarter than I thought.” Jared sounded almost impressed with his mother.
What did this mean? Maybe he left his phone at school and was trying to cover his ass. Maybe Madoc or one his pals had it, and they were covering for him. Or maybe it really was stolen.
I’d rather cut off my hair than face those people today. Or any day in the next hundred years. Eating squid or slamming my finger in a car door all sounded more appealing than braving those hallways. A few hours wasn’t nearly enough time for everyone to move on to new gossip. I’d be the talk of the town for a long time. How could I even be considering stepping foot back on school grounds today?
“I see that look in your eye.” Jared looked down at me and spoke gently. “It’s the look you get when you want to bolt. The look you get right before you decide to stay and fight.”
“What am I fighting for?” I challenged, my voice hoarse.
He frowned. “We did nothing wrong, Tate.”
He was right. I had nothing to be ashamed of. Granted, I hated that people had seen what they did, but I gave my heart and body to someone I loved. There was nothing dirty in that.
“Let’s go.” I walked to my truck and opened the door.
Jared had parked in front of me, and I cringed when I saw the damage I’d done to his car.
Shit.
If he was, in fact, guilty, then screw him and his dumb car. But if he was innocent, then I didn’t even want to think about how mad my dad was going to be when he saw the bill for repairs.
“Is…um…is your car safe to drive?” I asked timidly.
A tired smile tugged at his lips. “Don’t sweat it. It gives me an excuse to do more upgrades.”
I filled my lungs with a deep breath, feeling like I’d been suffocated all day. The cool wind danced across my face and gave me a little more energy.
“Stop at your mom’s firm and pick up her phone. I’ll meet you at school.” And I climbed in the truck and sped off.
***
Everyone was still in their final period, so Jared and I walked silently through the halls without interruption.
“Is it still flashing?” I glanced over to his mom’s phone in his hand.
“Yeah. I can’t believe my phone is still on after two days. GPSs use a lot of battery.” He was looking around, but I wasn’t sure what for.
“Well, the video was sent this morning. If what you say is true, then whoever used your phone has probably charged it since Saturday night.”
“If what I say is true…” He repeated what I said in a whisper like he was aggravated I didn’t trust him.
Part of me wanted to believe him. Desperately. But the other part of me was wondering why the hell I was here. Was I really entertaining the possibility that he didn’t have anything to do with this? Wasn’t it a little too farfetched that this was all put together without Jared’s help?
“Look,” I said, trying to change the subject, “this tracker’s only accurate within fifty meters. So…”
“So start dialing my phone. Maybe we’ll hear it.”
I slid my phone out of my back pocket and dialed his number, letting it ring and keeping our ears peeled for any noise. But our school was huge, and we had almost no time until last period ended, and the halls flooded with bodies.
Every time his voicemail picked up, I ended the call and redialed.
“Let’s split up,” I suggested. “I’ll keep dialing. Just listen for a sound. I think it’s in a locker.”
“Why? Someone could have it on them, too.”
“With me calling every ten seconds? No, they would’ve turned off the phone, in which case it would’ve gone straight to voicemail. It’s on, and it’s in a locker.” I nodded.
“Fine.” His voice was hesitant and a little biting. “But if you find it, call my mom’s phone immediately. I don’t want you in the halls alone, not today.”
I started to get my hopes up at his concern for me. This was the Jared from the past week. The one that held me and touched me gently. The one that cared.
In that moment, I wanted to grab him and hold him close.
But then I heard their laughter in my ears again. And I remembered that I didn’t trust him.
Hitting “redial”, I turned and leapt up the stairs, two at a time.
My boots hit the tiled floor with more of a thud than I would’ve liked. Trying to lighten my step, I crept along each side of the main hallway with my ear to the lockers. But each time I called Jared’s number I heard no rings or vibrating noises.
I passed two students in the hallway, both of whom did a double-take when they saw me. Yep, they knew who I was, and in no time at all everyone would know I was on campus. My heart sped up as it became more and more obvious that I’d made a mistake in coming back here today.
The phone was in a locker, probably Jared’s, and silenced. This was just another trick. My throat tightened.
I breathed hard as I paced each hallway, continuing to punch “redial”. Each time the voicemail picked up, I wanted to cry again.
Please, please…
I wanted him to be innocent. I could live with the talk and the look in everyone’s eyes, knowing that they’d seen the video. I would live with that, because I had no choice.
But I didn’t want to be without Jared. I needed him to be innocent.
Because she made you.
His words floated through my mind.
I don’t want to take one more step in this world without you next to me.
Neither did I.
I was hoping we could move forward without looking back.
I caught a tear with my thumb before it spilled over, turned a corner and called his phone again.
And froze.
Limp Bizkit’s Behind Blue Eyes echoed down the hall, close to Dr. Kuhl’s classroom. I narrowed my eyes and tilted my head towards the music. When it ended, I tapped the button again to call it back.
Please, please, please.
When the line started ringing, the slow, sad ballad played again from down the hall. I nearly dropped the phone as I took off toward the sound.
I put my hand to locker 1622.
I smiled for the first time since this morning, and with shaky fingers, I texted Jared’s mom’s phone.
2nd floor, next to Kuhl’s room!!
I jerked my head up at the sound of the school bell sounding. My stomach sank. Doors swung open and flocks of students poured out, sounding more like a murder of crows than humans.
A murder.
Yep, that’s about what was going to happen right now. But I didn’t know if I’d be the predator or prey.
I stood facing the lockers with my back to everyone, hoping that I could get away with it for as long as possible. Out of instinct, I put my head down, trying to be invisible. My heart pounded in my ears, and I felt like a thousand eyes were boring into the back of my skull.
But then the flame of cowardice hit me. More than the shame I felt this morning, I hated the way these people made me want to crawl into a hole.
I used to love people. I loved being a part of things and socializing. Now, I only wanted to be alone. Because alone was the only way I was safe.
I had done nothing wrong. Those in my school who had passed the video around or gossiped about it were the ones to feel ashamed. Not me.
But I was the one hiding.
Isn’t it about time you fought back?
Taking a deep breath and turning around, I leaned back on locker 1622 and looked up, daring them to come at me.
I didn’t have to wait long.
“Hey, Tate.” Some kid with stringy, blonde hair walked past, undressing me with his eyes.
“Whoa, she came back!” Another guy taunted.
Others slowed in passing and laughed to their friends. The girls didn’t tease like the guys did. They bullied more quietly, with whispers behind their hands. With looks.
But everyone had something nasty to offer.
Until Jared ran up.
And then everyone stopped.
He looked between them and me and took my face in his hands. “Are you alright?” he asked, his eyes full of love.
“Yes.” My voice was softer on him now. “The phone is here, in 1622. I don’t know whose locker it is, though.”
His lips pressed in a thin line, and a scowl crossed his face. He knew whose locker it was.
“Back so soon? Is your porn career a failure already?” A catty voice rose out of the murmurs, and I shut my eyes.
Piper.
I felt Jared’s lips on my forehead before he pulled away. I opened my eyes to see him turn around, shielding me, but I yanked his arm back and stepped forward.
I should’ve known Piper was a part of this. I don’t know how she did it, but she was responsible, and I wanted to deal with her. Hell, I’d take pleasure in it!
I briefly noticed everyone in the hall squeezed together, patiently waiting for something.
“Actually, we’re just waiting for you.” I smiled and kept my tone even. “You know that video that came from Jared’s phone this morning? The one that everyone saw? He didn’t send it. His phone was stolen Saturday night. Would you know where it is?” I raised my eyebrows in my best condescending look.
She blinked but straightened her shoulders and tilted her chin up. “Why would I know where his phone is?”
“Oh, because…” I drifted off and hit “redial.” Behind Blue Eyes started playing from her locker, and I held up my phone screen to her so she could see that I was dialing Jared. Everyone else saw, too.
“This is your locker, Piper,” Jared pointed out after I’d hung up.
“You know, I just love that song. Let’s hear it again.” As I called his phone, everyone heard the song echo from Piper’s locker once more. Now there was no doubt.
Jared stepped forward and bent down into her face. “Open up your locker and give me my goddamn phone back, or we’ll get the Dean, and he’ll open the locker.”
Option A would prove to the entire school she was a thief and a liar. Option B would prove the same thing but also get her into trouble. She was standing there like she had a choice.
“It was Nate’s idea,” she blurted out, her voice cracking.
“You stupid bitch!” Nate growled from the crowd, and I looked over to see him step forward. “It was your idea.”
Jared pulled his arm back and punched Nate across the nose, sending the guy spilling to the ground like a wet dishcloth. The bystanders gasped and backed up, and I tried to resist the urge to do the same to Piper.
At that moment, Madoc pushed through the crowd, wide-eyed with shock at the bleeding Nate on the floor.
“Are you okay?” he asked, looking pissed as he came to stand by my side.
I nodded and turned my attention to Piper. “How did you do it?”
She pursed her lips and refused to meet my eyes. So we’re going to be stubborn today, I see.
“Your dad’s a cop, right? What’s his number?” I held up my phone, my fingers primed to dial. “Oh, yeah. 911.”
“Ugh, alright!” she gritted out. “Nate took me to Homecoming and then to Tori’s party afterwards. When we saw you and Jared head upstairs, Nate took his camera phone and climbed onto the balcony. When he showed me the video later, I saw that Jared had left his phone on the dresser, so I snuck back into the room to take it.”
“So the video came from Nate’s phone. It was transferred to Jared’s before it was texted.” I spoke to Piper but my eyes were on Jared. He looked at me, not angry like he should have been, but relieved. Now I knew he wouldn’t do something like that to me. I should’ve always known, I guess.
Shit. I really messed up his car.
“Get Jared’s phone, Piper. Now,” Madoc ordered, with a scowl I usually didn’t see on his face.
She huffed and walked up to her locker, working the combination until the lock clicked. Yanking the door open, she shuffled through her purse while the rest of us waited.
The crowd hadn’t dispersed. If anything, it’d grown. I was surprised teachers hadn’t come out of the classrooms yet. Jared hovered over Nate, who still lay on the ground holding his nose. He had to remember a night not so long ago that he’d been in the same situation with Jared and probably decided that it was better to just stay down.
Piper finally picked the phone out of her bag and threw it at my chest. Out of reflex, my hands shot up to catch it, but there was a dull ache from where it’d hit. She was scowling at me, and I almost wanted to laugh. Almost.
“We’re done,” she snapped and waved her hand to shoo me away. “You may go.”
Um…yeah, no.
“Piper? Do yourself a favor, and get some help. Jared is not yours, and he never will be. In fact, he won’t ever look at you again and see anything good, if he even saw anything good in the first place.”
Piper’s eyes narrowed to slits, and I could tell by the muffled whispers that the crowd was more on my side than hers now. I guess it didn’t hurt that everyone knew that Jared hadn’t sent that video. Hell, I guess they were really on his side.
Oh well, they didn’t need to like me, but it helped to not have them against me, too.
I twisted around to pass Jared his phone but was yanked back by my hair. Pain shot through my scalp as I slammed back to the lockers.
My equilibrium was thrown off, and I stumbled to right myself again. Shit. That had hurt. What did she think she was doing?
I saw Piper’s fist priming for a punch. My eyes nearly bugged out of my head, but I reacted.
I ducked, and her fist caught my hair instead of my face. Shoving her away, I whipped my hand back and smacked her across the face. Before she even had a chance to stumble, I brought my other hand across her other cheek, and that sent her crumbling to the floor.
I registered the audience’s sharp intakes of breath and their shocked laughs, but I didn’t care. I glared down at Piper, who was trying to hold her face and stand back up at the same time.
Pulling my hand back to deliver another blow—hey, she deserved it—I felt myself being lifted off the ground.
I tried to wiggle out of the grasp of whoever had me, but when I heard Jared shushing me in my ear, I eased up.
“What’s going on here?” A male voice interrupted us. I looked over to see Dr. Porter, coffee-stained beard and all, looking between the two heaps on the floor. I grimaced. There was no way I was getting away with all of the damage I’d done today. And thank you Jared for stopping me before Dr. Porter saw!
Madoc cleared his throat. “Dr. Porter. Nate and Piper bumped into each other.”
Oh, my God. I was convinced. Madoc was an idiot.
“Mr. Caruthers, I’m not stupid.” Dr. Porter glanced around, trying to make eye contact with anyone who would talk. “Now what happened here?”
No one spoke. No one even breathed, I think. The hallway was silent, and I merely waited for Nate or Piper to break the silence.
I was going to be in so much trouble.
“I didn’t see anything, sir,” a male student piped up, giving Dr. Porter a blank stare.
“Me either, Dr. Porter,” another student followed suit. “Probably just an accident.”
And I was blown away as everyone either lied or remained silent, covering for us. Okay, they were covering for Jared, but I was going to take what I could get.
Dr. Porter looked around, still waiting for someone to tell the truth.
He was right. He wasn’t stupid, and he knew something was fishy. I just hoped he didn’t call on me. I liked the guy and probably couldn’t lie.
He sighed and rubbed his scruffy jaw. “Alright, you two.” He gestured to Nate and Piper. “Get up, and come to the nurse. Everyone else. Head home!”
Piper grabbed her purse, slammed her locker shut and stalked off down the hall, while Nate held his bloodied nose and followed Dr. Porter.
As everyone dispersed, no one said anything to me. No one gave me snide looks or cruel snickers. Jared circled his arms around my neck and pulled me to him, enveloping me in the safe, warm wall of his chest. I closed my eyes and breathed him in as a wave of relief flooded me. I had him back.
“I’m so sorry about not trusting you. And about what I did to your car, too,” I said into his hoodie.
He laid his cheek on the top of my head. “Tate, you’re mine, and I’m yours. Every day you’re going to realize that more and more. When you believe it without a doubt, then I’ll have earned your trust.”
“I am yours. I just…wasn’t sure if you were really mine.”
“Then I’ll make you sure.” He kissed my hair, and his body started shaking with laughter.
“You’re laughing right now?” I looked up at him, confused.
“Well, I was kind of worried about my anger issues, but now I’m kind of worried about yours. You like to hit people.” His perfect mouth grinned with pride.
I rolled my eyes and pouted. “I’m not angry. She got what she deserved, and I was attacked first.” She got off lucky, actually. After the shit she pulled, Piper was lucky I didn’t take a flame thrower to her entire halter top collection.
He lifted me by the backs of my thighs, and I locked my arms and legs around him as he carried me off.
“It’s your fault, you know?”
“What?” Jared asked. His breath hot on my ear.
“You made me mean. And now I pummel poor, defenseless girls…and guys.” I tried to make my voice sound accusing and innocent.
Jared gripped me tighter. “If you beat metal long enough, it turns to steel.”
I buried my nose in his hair, kissing the ridge of his ear and joked. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, you big bully.”
