Exposed by Francine Pascal Page B

“It’s nothing, I promise—but—did you hear from any schools yet?” Like most seniors at the Village School, Jake was waiting on his college acceptances. No matter what else was going on, Gaia did have some basic understanding of normal high school priorities. She wanted to know how he was doing.
    Jake grinned again. “Yeah. Got into Northwestern and BU. My dad’s crazy overexcited about it, like I just got married or something. But I’m still waiting to hear from some others.” Jake knew better than to throw the question back at Gaia. To say she was private—andunconventional—was the understatement of the century. He wouldn’t have been surprised if Gaia were to go into paramilitary training after graduating from the Village School. “Now answer my question.”
    Gaia couldn’t possibly tell him that she had spent the day with Skyler. He wouldn’t understand why Skyler had suddenly become her best friend, and she could now finally see why he thought it was weird. Frankly, she couldn’t believe it had taken her so long. Sure, in a perfect world, her boyfriend would trust that her friendship with another male was purely platonic, but … Then again, when it came to her bizarre relationship with Skyler, she couldn’t blame him. She obviously didn’t trust it herself. “Um, I had a headache when I woke up and just decided to blow off school.”
    â€œLike you ever need an excuse,” Jake said, laughing.
    â€œYeah, true. But this time I had one. Then later on, when I was feeling better, I decided to go shopping for a prom dress.” Gaia gave a sideways glance at Jake to see how he reacted to the words
prom dress
. Jake knew that Skyler had offered to go to the prom with Gaia. And he also knew that Gaia had accepted the invitation. Which was, effectively, exhibit A in the evidence of their ruined relationship.
    â€œDid you find anything?” Jake asked, frank curiosity etched across his handsome features. If he was sadabout the fact that they weren’t going to prom together, he wasn’t showing it. Gaia was going to have to pry it out of him.
    â€œNo, I didn’t. Which really sucks. You know me—I hate to shop. I
so
do not want to have to go back again later on, but I guess I do.”
    â€œWell, yeah, I guess you do,” Jake agreed. “Unless you want to go to the prom naked, which—hey, no arguments here.”
    Gaia couldn’t help but laugh. “Pervert.”
    â€œWhat?” Jake protested. “If I can’t go as your date, you leave me with no options. Cheap thrills are all I’ll have left. Don’t rob me of those, Gaia.”
    Still laughing, Gaia decided to go for broke.
What have I got to lose?
she wondered. “Well, I won’t go naked,” she said solemnly. “But maybe I can cut you a deal.”
    â€œWhat sort of a deal?” Jake teased, trying to keep things lighthearted. “Careful—my virgin ears can’t take anything more risqué than a PG-13 rating.”
    â€œDon’t be gross,” Gaia said, more earnestly now. “I’m trying to talk to you seriously.”
    â€œOkay,” Jake said. He seemed to get that she wanted to have a real conversation. He sat up straighter in his chair. “I am all about your deal. Deal me, Gaia. Hit me.”
    Gaia sighed. “Jake, I have no idea how things got so messed up between us. I mean, wasn’t it just like lastweek that we were having another conversation, saying that we were going to try to be boyfriend and girlfriend?”
    Jake nodded. “Yeah, it was. That meant something to me. And I thought it meant something to you, too. Gaia, I don’t get what you’re playing at. Going to the prom with Skyler, hiding out from me, skipping school without any warning or any notice, calling me every five minutes and then refusing to return any of my calls … What’s up