Page 52 of The Best Is Yet to Come

The question hung in the air like one of those barrage balloons that hung protectively over the city of London during World War II. Spencer had read about it in Ms. Goodwin’s history class and been fascinated by them.

“I don’t know,” Brian said, looking to Joel as if to see if he was tempted.

Spencer knew Brian also had a soft spot for Callie.

“No way,” Joel said, adamantly shaking his head. “I saw what happened to Spencer once he got tangled up with you. I’m not interested.”

She turned her attention to Brian. “What about you?”

“Joel’s right,” he said, shaking his head. “No way.”

“But…” Callie looked from one to the other, as if she expected them to change their minds.

“I’m sure this is a temporary setback with Scott,” Spencer told her when he noticed her gaze drift across to the other side of the cafeteria. “Give it a day or two of you being all sorry and humble, and he’ll take you back.”

Callie swallowed hard. “Who said I wanted to get back together with Scott?”

“Makes sense, you two have been dating for over a year.”

Callie shook her head as if the idea was repugnant. “I don’t care about him anymore. He hasn’t been the same in a long time. We’re through and he knows it.”

Taking her untouched lunch with her, Callie left the table and headed over to where her friends sat. They scooted aside to let her in.

“It’s for the best,” Joel said.

“Yeah,” Brian agreed, and then, leaning forward, braced his elbows against the side of the table. “Did she really dance every dance with you?”

Spencer nodded.

“What did she want you to do this time?” Brian asked, as if he wasn’t completely convinced Spencer had made the right decision.

“She wants me to find out who’s dealing, like I have some magical powers or something.”

“Could be more than one person. Everyone knows anyone who wants drugs can get them.” None of them ever had, and they didn’t know anyone who attended Oceanside High who was into that. The price was too high. The school was a drug-free zone and possession would mean immediate expulsion.

“Her finding out isn’t going to stop Ben if he’s hooked,” Joel said. “Callie’s barking up the wrong tree. I mean, what would she do once she discovers who it is?”

“Exactly,” Spencer said. She was asking them to go on a wild-goose chase. She should have gone to her parents the way he advised. They would know how to help Ben.

To some degree, Spencer understood why she hadn’t. College scouts were looking at Ben for a possible scholarship. If word got out that he was doing drugs, then any hope of that happening would be over. An academic scholarship was out of the question, since, unfortunately, Ben wouldn’t qualify for one.

“You tempted?” Joel directed the question to Spencer.

He remembered having his face shoved into a toilet bowl and held there by three of the biggest members of the football team. He wasn’t looking forward to a repeat.

“Not even close.” Only that was an exaggeration. He couldn’t help being sucked in by Callie’s tears, even though he realized he’d be setting himself up for even more trouble if he gave in.

—

That afternoon, Ms. Goodwin stepped outside the counselor’s office when she saw Spencer. He was headed toward the main office when she waylaid him.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

“How do you mean?”

She crossed her arms. “I saw Callie sitting with you at lunch today.”

“Everything is fine,” he assured her.

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