Page 102 of The Second Kiss
Mr. Harris writes Lexie’s name down anyway. “I’ll look into it.” He slides the subpoena towards me. “You need to sign this.”
“No,” Dad says.
Mr. Harris shakes his head. “It’s not an admission of guilt. It just says that she’ll appear in court on the date stated. If she doesn’t sign it, she’ll go to jail.”
Mom leans over and looks at the paper. “But the court date is June 14th, the morning after she graduates from high school.”
“There isn’t anything I can do about that,” Mr. Martin says.
I sign the paper. He adds it to the pile in his briefcase. “I’ll do what I can to find Ms. Bates between now and then.” He stares down his nose at Jacob and then at me. “You two keep your stories straight and stay away from each other. That’s the best advice I can give you right now.”
fifty-two
Panic
The hallway is crowded. I huddle into my locker, gathering everything that’s left of my high school career in my arms. It’s the seniors’ last day. All around me, the kids I spent the last four years with are getting ready to leave high school behind. Screams float through the open doorway. I know it’s only the traditional water fight, but the noise is getting to me. I can barely breathe, and I’m trying hard not to throw up.
I have to get out of here.
I slam the door to my locker shut and try to become as small as possible as I make my way down the hall. A guy chasing twogirls down the hall with a can of silly string slams into me. I press into a corner of the hallway and slide to the floor, my arms wrapped around myself for protection. I can't stop shaking. I can't breathe.
“Are you okay?” It’s Shel, Lexie’s friend. “You look pretty freaked.” She reaches her hand out, but I don’t have the breath left to answer her.
I’m drowning. My fingers and toes prickle and go numb.
“Blow out, sometimes it helps,” Shel sits on the floor next to me. “Just keep breathing.” She lets me squeeze her fingers.
When I’m finally through it I look up at her. “How did you—”
“Know you were having a panic attack? I’ve seen it before, Lexie—” She stops like she said too much.
I take a breath and finish for her. “Lexie has them too. Because of something Brad did. That’s why she left school, isn’t it?”
Shel nods. “She doesn’t want anyone to know.”
I grip her arm. “But you know where she is? You know how to contact her?”
“She’s been through a lot.” Shel hesitates, “I don’t want her to...”
“I’ve been through a lot. Someone else might go through a lot if Brad gets away again.”
Shel sighs. “I’ll give you her phone number. If she wants to text you back, that’s up to her.”
I stare at the phone in my hand and the last text I sent.
It has to be today.
After forever I get one letter.
K
“Jess,” Mom yells up the stairs. “Is everything okay? Jasmine just called. She said you're late for your nail appointment and you aren’t answering her.”
“I’ll text her back,” I say as she reaches my door.
“But you aren’t going?” Mom looks worried.
“I have something I have to do.”
