Page 172 of Choosing You

I sit there at my desk unable to move or think. I hear a knock on the door but it opens before I can get there.

“Jade!” Harper races over to me. “I was over at Sean’s. Jasmine called and told me everything. I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

“No. I’m not okay.”

If there was ever going to be a test of our friendship, this is it. Given my history with friends, I’m kind of expecting Harper to tell me that my life is too much of a mess and we can’t be friends anymore. Just like my friends did back in high school after my mom killed herself.

But instead, she hugs me. And the emotion that had been hidden by shock and fear comes pouring out. I can’t stop the tears. I can’t even try to hold them back.

I feel Harper’s head lift up slightly and hear her gasp as she notices the blood on the wall and the floor. She hugs me tighter.

“Let’s go to my room,” she says. “You need to get out of here.”

“Harper, they took him. They took Garret like he was some kind of criminal. He didn’t do anything.”

She glances up again. She can tell by the blood everywhere that he definitely did do something.

“Let’s talk about it in my room, okay?”

I pull away from her. “What are they going to do to him? What do these charges mean? I don’t know anything about the legal system or jail time or how any of that works.”

“His dad will pay the bail and get him out. I’m sure his dad has the best attorneys. Come on. Let’s go.”

“I need to shower. I still smell him on me.”

“Okay, let’s get your stuff.” She picks up my shower caddy while I get some clothes from the drawer.

When I get out of the shower, I go to Harper’s room where Jasmine is waiting. “Jade, have you called anyone yet?”

“No. Why?”

“It’s generally school policy to call the parents if a student is involved in a crime. And, well, your file lists someone named Frank who I know isn’t really your parent so technically I’m not required to call him, but I think you should let him know.”

“So the police are considering this a crime? That officer just acted like Blake wouldn’t get in trouble for this.”

“There aren’t any charges filed against Blake. You’d have to press charges, Jade, and the police said you hadn’t done that yet.”

“Nobody said I could. The officer didn’t even mention that as an option.”

Jasmine sighs as she steps farther into the room and closes the door. “He didn’t mention it because he knows who Blake’s father is. He was probably told not to bring it up to make sure there wasn’t a public record of you accusing Blake of this. Plus the officer knows that you’d never win a case with Blake’s dad as attorney general. He has too many friends in too many high places.”

“So what’s the crime I’m involved in?”

“Garret’s arrest. You’re a witness. I’m so sorry about this, Jade. I’ve known Garret forever and I know he was only doing what he thought was right, but Blake’s dad won’t let him get away with it. Now you really should call Frank.”

As she leaves, I collapse on Harper’s bed. I feel like I’m under water gasping for breath. There isn’t enough air in the room. I try to take a deep breath but can’t.

“Here’s your phone.” Harper hands me the cell phone Garret bought me. “I’ll leave you alone so you can call.”

I don’t feel ready to call Frank. I hate telling him bad news. It just makes him stressed and stress makes his MS worse, which is why I never told him about my room being broken into or the harassing phone calls. I didn’t want him to worry. But I know I need to tell him about this.

I dial Frank’s number. He answers on the first ring.

“Jade, is something wrong? It’s after midnight. Why are you calling so late?”

“I have something to tell you.”

CHAPTERFORTY-SIX

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