Page 36 of A Scandal in Homeroom
* * *
Sunday Night
Locke
Having sentwhat I imagined was a cryptic text to Fitz, I tossed the phone down on the bed. I wasn’t really sure why I sent it. I had no solid information to give him other than there was something besides a Freshman Bait List he probably needed to be worried about. Some other action in town that was allegedly bigger, but it wasn’t like I could put a name on it. A vague reference to Coyle Simmons felt a bit weak.
The truth was, I needed the distraction.
I’d put on a solid performance all week long. For Croft, for the teachers, but most importantly for Irene.
I’d shown absolutely no reaction to her abrupt dismissal of me. No lingering hurt, or anger or confusion. I didn’t attempt to re-engage her with notes or texts.
I’d seemed, or hoped I seemed, oblivious to her existence.
When it couldn’t be further from the truth.
If anything, my fascination with her only deepened. What drove her fear? Was it just her mother or something darker? Was it within my right to go searching for that information? Certainly not, but I wanted answers.
I wanted every part of her, and if her reaction in the aftermath of our kiss was any indication, she wanted nothing to do with me.
Unless, of course, I could prove myself worthy in some regard.
She was a loyal friend to Beth. So anything I could do for her friend she might…add another point in my favor?
The question being,how many points did I need before she actually liked me?
* * *
Monday
Locke
“Hey there, Coyle, wait up,”I called out.
It was lunchtime and the seniors were making their way off campus to find something to eat, because they could. I’d blown off class to have a chance to finally corner Coyle, who seemed rather intentionally elusive.
Jogging across the courtyard, I caught up to him just as he’d reached the gates that guarded the front of the high school.
The blond-haired senior stopped and slowly turned, with a sneer already on his face. It seemed like a common expression for him.
“Who are you?”
“Locke Holmes. Exchange student,” I announced. “Also, you might have heard recently I pulled a prank with some melatonin pills.”
My stunt—selling melatonin instead of ecstasy—had been revealed at the party this past Friday night at Chas’s Bingley’s home. Someone must have tipped off Beth Bennet as to what had been in the bag I sold to Wick.
I had a fairly strong hunch who that was. Namely the person who saw me buy the pills in the first place.
Only I wasn’t thinking about her right now, so I immediately put a stop to those thoughts.
Coyle laughed then, not necessarily a pleasant sound, but he seemed to appreciate the joke I pulled on Wick.
“Yeah, I heard about you. That was messed up.”
I shrugged. “Just having a little fun. No one got hurt. Listen, someone told me to talk to you about a game.”
“Yeah? Who?”
