Page 39 of Tutoring the Bad Boy
Ronnie: What’s going on?
Me: I’m grounded.
Ronnie: What did you do?
Me: (Groan) It’s a long conversation.
Ronnie: Can I come over?
I have to think about it. What is something Ronnie could say that would get me a temporary pardon from being grounded?
Me: Yes. But it’s time to show off your acting chops.
Ronnie: What do you mean?
Me: Tell my mom that you’re distraught. You must come inside.
Ronnie: Why am I distraught?
Me: I dunno. Make it up.
Ronnie: Okay. Be there in 10.
I put down my phone and patiently wait. Ronnie is my best friend in the world, and I’m pretty sure she’s about to nail it. Once I finally hear knocking at the front door, I run over to my window and open it so I can listen to the performance.
“Principal Gray, I have to talk to Ginny!”
“What’s wrong, Veronica?”
Ronnie is sobbing. “I…I…”
“Can I get you some water?”
Ronnie gulps and tries to hold back the tears. “Yes, please.”
I listen to Mom allowing Ronnie inside and closing the door behind her. I punch my fist in the air in victory. Minutes later, Ronnie comes through my door holding a glass of water and a box of Kleenex.
“Hi, Ginny. Your mom said I could come up.” She closes the door behind her then drops the façade, her lips breaking into a smile.
I whisper, “Academy Award. What did you say?”
Ronnie runs over to the bed conspiratorially. “I told her my dog died.”
Chuckling, I shake my head. “Wow, you went for broke.” Then I grimace. “You’re going to have some explaining to do when she sees Chuck the next time.” Ronnie’s parents also liked the television showChuck.
She shrugs and laughs. “It worked, didn’t it?” Ronnie grabs her spot on the beanbag chair in the corner of my room. “What’s up?”
“So you’ve probably heard I’m dating Kaleb.”
Her eyes narrow. “I swear, every time my mom drags me to LA something exciting happens and I miss it.” Her lips pinch together. “And you didn’t even text me. All around very un-Ginny Gray.”
“I’m sorry. I should have. It’s just…” I bite my lip. “It’s all fake.”
Her eyes go wide as she sits forward. “What do you mean?”
“My mom is essentially bribing him. She told Kaleb that if he pretends to date me then break my heart, she’d help him get into MIT.”
For a moment, Ronnie just blinks. She looks how I’ve felt since overhearing the whole stinking thing. She finally shakes her head and rubs her temples with her fingers like it hurt her brain to process it. “Ginny, that’s so messed up. Why did she do that?”
