computer-whiz who’d also been on student government with me the previous year.
Adrian must’ve been watching for me, because as soon as Viv and I stepped into the cafeteria, he waved us over. There was no way I could say no, nor did I want to. But as we took off in the direction of Adrian and Daniel’s table, I noticed Nikki at the door we’d just come through.
The icy glare in her eyes told me she’d seen Adrian’s wave.
As much as I didn’t want her revenge-radar aimed at me, if she was pissed because Adrian liked me and not her, she could just deal with it.
I dropped into the seat next to him while Viv went on to the sandwich bar.
“Do good on your Pre-Cal homework?” he asked, a grin tugging the corners of his mouth. He knew good and well I’d done fine. He’d gotten me through it with a few helpful texts.
“Of course,” I said. “It was a piece of cake.”
From across the way, Viv caught my eye. She tilted her head to the right. Looking that direction I saw Nikki headed straight for us. Clearly, she was on a mission. Her fuchsia-streaked hair bounced with every purposeful step.
I had maybe two seconds to brace myself.
“How nice that you’re making friends, Adrian.” Contempt dripped from her voice and pooled around us like motor oil leaking from an engine, slimy and unwanted.
Adrian slipped his arm along the back of my seat and leaned close. “I think so.”
“Watch this one.” Nikki threw a hand on one hip and turned toward me. “She had a wild summer.”
Behind me, I felt the muscles in Adrian’s arm tense. Slowly, deliberately I stood so that I was face to face with Nikki.
“I know you want to blame me for what happened that night,” I began, dropping my voice to a whisper so the nosey people around wouldn’t get an earful. “And yes, I was drunk. But I did not crash the car and I did not have pot in my purse. That’s on you and Courtney. I still have no idea how I got out of the car, but you have to know that the two of you would’ve still gotten hauled away by the police even if I’d been there.”
Nikki’s eyes narrowed, darts of anger aimed at me. “But you would’ve been hauled off with us.”
I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. She was right. I would’ve been sitting in the police station just like the two of them if I hadn’t somehow escaped.
“You’re right. I would’ve been.” I figured I could give her that. “But the charges against me wouldn’t have been DUI or possession of marijuana.”
“Bitch.” She shoved my shoulder, hard enough that the backs of my legs knocked into the chair and created a commotion.
Steadying myself, I prepared to come right back at her. But Adrian stood up and stepped between us, coming to my rescue yet again.
“Enough,” he said, his quiet strength stopping the confrontation in its tracks.
Turning to me, he pointed to Nikki and said, “She’s not worth getting in trouble for.”
And then to Nikki. “If Zoe took that incident as a sign that she was heading in the wrong direction and needed to straighten up, who are you to deny her that?”
Surprise crossed Nikki’s face, just as fear spread through my heart.
“You know?” I whispered.
He looked at me, no scorn or judgment in his eyes. Shrugging his shoulders, he said. “Small school.” Then, leaning closer, he said beneath his voice. “Don’t worry. It’s not common knowledge.”
“When?” Had he known last night when we waded in the creek together?
Nikki took the hint and left, thank the lord.
“I overheard Courtney on the phone. I figure she was talking to Nikki. I didn’t get a lot of details, but I heard your name. And after our talk last night, I just sort of put two and two together. You had a lousy summer. Makes sense you might’ve made some bad decisions.”
My stomach pitched with waves of embarrassment. Not that I wouldn’t have eventually told Adrian. I would’ve confided in him sooner rather than later. After all, I’d
Adrian must’ve been watching for me, because as soon as Viv and I stepped into the cafeteria, he waved us over. There was no way I could say no, nor did I want to. But as we took off in the direction of Adrian and Daniel’s table, I noticed Nikki at the door we’d just come through.
The icy glare in her eyes told me she’d seen Adrian’s wave.
As much as I didn’t want her revenge-radar aimed at me, if she was pissed because Adrian liked me and not her, she could just deal with it.
I dropped into the seat next to him while Viv went on to the sandwich bar.
“Do good on your Pre-Cal homework?” he asked, a grin tugging the corners of his mouth. He knew good and well I’d done fine. He’d gotten me through it with a few helpful texts.
“Of course,” I said. “It was a piece of cake.”
From across the way, Viv caught my eye. She tilted her head to the right. Looking that direction I saw Nikki headed straight for us. Clearly, she was on a mission. Her fuchsia-streaked hair bounced with every purposeful step.
I had maybe two seconds to brace myself.
“How nice that you’re making friends, Adrian.” Contempt dripped from her voice and pooled around us like motor oil leaking from an engine, slimy and unwanted.
Adrian slipped his arm along the back of my seat and leaned close. “I think so.”
“Watch this one.” Nikki threw a hand on one hip and turned toward me. “She had a wild summer.”
Behind me, I felt the muscles in Adrian’s arm tense. Slowly, deliberately I stood so that I was face to face with Nikki.
“I know you want to blame me for what happened that night,” I began, dropping my voice to a whisper so the nosey people around wouldn’t get an earful. “And yes, I was drunk. But I did not crash the car and I did not have pot in my purse. That’s on you and Courtney. I still have no idea how I got out of the car, but you have to know that the two of you would’ve still gotten hauled away by the police even if I’d been there.”
Nikki’s eyes narrowed, darts of anger aimed at me. “But you would’ve been hauled off with us.”
I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. She was right. I would’ve been sitting in the police station just like the two of them if I hadn’t somehow escaped.
“You’re right. I would’ve been.” I figured I could give her that. “But the charges against me wouldn’t have been DUI or possession of marijuana.”
“Bitch.” She shoved my shoulder, hard enough that the backs of my legs knocked into the chair and created a commotion.
Steadying myself, I prepared to come right back at her. But Adrian stood up and stepped between us, coming to my rescue yet again.
“Enough,” he said, his quiet strength stopping the confrontation in its tracks.
Turning to me, he pointed to Nikki and said, “She’s not worth getting in trouble for.”
And then to Nikki. “If Zoe took that incident as a sign that she was heading in the wrong direction and needed to straighten up, who are you to deny her that?”
Surprise crossed Nikki’s face, just as fear spread through my heart.
“You know?” I whispered.
He looked at me, no scorn or judgment in his eyes. Shrugging his shoulders, he said. “Small school.” Then, leaning closer, he said beneath his voice. “Don’t worry. It’s not common knowledge.”
“When?” Had he known last night when we waded in the creek together?
Nikki took the hint and left, thank the lord.
“I overheard Courtney on the phone. I figure she was talking to Nikki. I didn’t get a lot of details, but I heard your name. And after our talk last night, I just sort of put two and two together. You had a lousy summer. Makes sense you might’ve made some bad decisions.”
My stomach pitched with waves of embarrassment. Not that I wouldn’t have eventually told Adrian. I would’ve confided in him sooner rather than later. After all, I’d
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