said. “And you put those perras in their place. We don’t have to take their crap anymore.”
“Yeah?” I looked up at her, hope creeping in.
“You did something. That was more than someoneelse would’ve done,” she said.
“Well, we’re here if you need anything.” Mary shifted her tray. She was still hovering over the table.
I smiled appreciatively. “Thanks, guys.”
I could have asked them to sit with me, but I didn’t want to hurt their reputation. They’d already been linked to me and the crimes, as the recipients of my scheme. People had already questioned whether they were the ones doing the stealing—at least that was Kellie’s and Nikki’s theory at first, before I got caught. If anyone still thought they were involved, it would be terrible.
Besides, we weren’t friends. Not really. They were people I talked to in gym class or the girls’ room, but Sierra didn’t exactly like me. It would be weird now, after everything that happened, for us to start hanging out. Like I bought their affection or something. Which had never been my intention.
They turned to go, and I felt some of the day’s pressure lift off me. No matter what happened, it hadn’t been a waste. And now I knew what I had to do. It was clear.
I watched them walk across the dining hall, noticing that neither girl was wearing the couture clothes I’d sent them. Sierra was in boot-cut jeans and a flowy fuchsia top, and Mary was wearing a flouncy green dress. Nothing fabulous, nothing expensive, but they looked like themselves—cute and normal.
Waiting at their usual table were Shane Welcome andBradley Poole, who were part of VP’s A-list. So maybe I hadn’t really been able to change their lives or make a permanent impact on their wardrobes, but I’d at least gotten them some dudely attention.
As I sat alone, their words rang through me. I did something. I didn’t just stand by. I could be proud of that, at least.
And now that my mom was in trouble, how could I even think of not doing the same for her?
No, I had to get on that bus.
When I turned back again, Tre was approaching the booth with long strides, carrying a Gatorade and a panini. “How’s your first day back going?”
I heaved my shoulders. “Eh. Girlfights in the hallway, threats from the headmaster, general alienation. You know, the usual.”
He pointed his drink at me. “You’re still here, right? No one’s chased you away yet.”
“I’m still here,” I said. And as I opened my mouth again, I knew I had made a decision. There was no turning back. “But I’m leaving today, Tre.”
He raised his eyebrows over the orange liquid as he took a swig.
“And going where?”
“I have to find my mom,” I said. “I know you don’t agree with me. But they’re going to kick me out, anyway. Page said as much. And I have a plan, I think. Aidan traced the email to Santa Barbara. So all I need to do isget a bus this afternoon. I’ve got my stuff with me. And then I’ll be out of your hair.”
“What makes you think I want you out of my hair?” He put his Gatorade down. “How will you get to the station?”
“Call a cab or something.”
He spread his long fingers out on the tabletop. “Well, I’ve been thinking, too.”
“And?”
“And I think you’re right. You need to go after your mom.”
I stared at him, shocked. “What about all that ‘you’ll break your probation’ stuff from yesterday?”
“The thing is, I know you, and once you get an idea in that head of yours, there’s no way to talk you out of it. You knew all along you were leaving, didn’t you? I did.”
“I didn’t really make up my mind until just now.”
“And if it were my mom . . . well, I can’t imagine what you’re going through, knowing she might be in trouble.” He paused and scratched at a spot behind his ear. “Of course, from a legal perspective you’re playing with fire. Naw, if I had my choice, you’d stay here.”
“Because you enjoy
“Yeah?” I looked up at her, hope creeping in.
“You did something. That was more than someoneelse would’ve done,” she said.
“Well, we’re here if you need anything.” Mary shifted her tray. She was still hovering over the table.
I smiled appreciatively. “Thanks, guys.”
I could have asked them to sit with me, but I didn’t want to hurt their reputation. They’d already been linked to me and the crimes, as the recipients of my scheme. People had already questioned whether they were the ones doing the stealing—at least that was Kellie’s and Nikki’s theory at first, before I got caught. If anyone still thought they were involved, it would be terrible.
Besides, we weren’t friends. Not really. They were people I talked to in gym class or the girls’ room, but Sierra didn’t exactly like me. It would be weird now, after everything that happened, for us to start hanging out. Like I bought their affection or something. Which had never been my intention.
They turned to go, and I felt some of the day’s pressure lift off me. No matter what happened, it hadn’t been a waste. And now I knew what I had to do. It was clear.
I watched them walk across the dining hall, noticing that neither girl was wearing the couture clothes I’d sent them. Sierra was in boot-cut jeans and a flowy fuchsia top, and Mary was wearing a flouncy green dress. Nothing fabulous, nothing expensive, but they looked like themselves—cute and normal.
Waiting at their usual table were Shane Welcome andBradley Poole, who were part of VP’s A-list. So maybe I hadn’t really been able to change their lives or make a permanent impact on their wardrobes, but I’d at least gotten them some dudely attention.
As I sat alone, their words rang through me. I did something. I didn’t just stand by. I could be proud of that, at least.
And now that my mom was in trouble, how could I even think of not doing the same for her?
No, I had to get on that bus.
When I turned back again, Tre was approaching the booth with long strides, carrying a Gatorade and a panini. “How’s your first day back going?”
I heaved my shoulders. “Eh. Girlfights in the hallway, threats from the headmaster, general alienation. You know, the usual.”
He pointed his drink at me. “You’re still here, right? No one’s chased you away yet.”
“I’m still here,” I said. And as I opened my mouth again, I knew I had made a decision. There was no turning back. “But I’m leaving today, Tre.”
He raised his eyebrows over the orange liquid as he took a swig.
“And going where?”
“I have to find my mom,” I said. “I know you don’t agree with me. But they’re going to kick me out, anyway. Page said as much. And I have a plan, I think. Aidan traced the email to Santa Barbara. So all I need to do isget a bus this afternoon. I’ve got my stuff with me. And then I’ll be out of your hair.”
“What makes you think I want you out of my hair?” He put his Gatorade down. “How will you get to the station?”
“Call a cab or something.”
He spread his long fingers out on the tabletop. “Well, I’ve been thinking, too.”
“And?”
“And I think you’re right. You need to go after your mom.”
I stared at him, shocked. “What about all that ‘you’ll break your probation’ stuff from yesterday?”
“The thing is, I know you, and once you get an idea in that head of yours, there’s no way to talk you out of it. You knew all along you were leaving, didn’t you? I did.”
“I didn’t really make up my mind until just now.”
“And if it were my mom . . . well, I can’t imagine what you’re going through, knowing she might be in trouble.” He paused and scratched at a spot behind his ear. “Of course, from a legal perspective you’re playing with fire. Naw, if I had my choice, you’d stay here.”
“Because you enjoy
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