Page 39 of A Scandal in Homeroom
He was presumptive but he wasn’t wrong. I’d basically been backed into a corner.I’dbacked me into a corner. Not going over there implied weakness and that was something I couldn’t do. Not with Locke. As much as I’d screwed things up between us, I still wanted his respect.
I looked at my phone. It was just after eight. I’d already eaten dinner with the Sumners and had cleaned up afterwards. If I told them I was heading over to Janie’s, they would be okay with that. Janie lived just over on the next block.
But I also knew they would call first to make sure it was okay with Janie’s foster family. It wasn’t so much that they cared what I did, but they would be more worried about foisting my presence on Mrs. Fairfax.
I needed cover, but that meant Janie was going to ask me questions.
It was bad enough I was hiding the game from her. Worse, I hadn’t told Beth about her father’s sudden re-appearance. Was he home with them now? Surely she would have said something today if he was. I couldn’t imagine if she’d be happy, angry or something else altogether regarding his return.
I knew I had to talk to her, but I didn’t know what to say.
So I said nothing.
Me: Hey. I need a favor.
I didn’t have to wait long for Janie to reply.
Janie: What’s up?
Me: I need you to tell Mrs. Fairfax I’m coming over to study. Mrs. Sumner will call to ask if it’s okay. But when I don’t show, just tell Mrs. Fairfax I texted you to say I had a headache and changed my mind.
Janie: Where are you actually going?
Me: I can’t tell you that.
Janie. You can’t tell ME that?
I didn’t want to tell Janie about Locke. I knew her, she would ask too many questions. Which I supposed was completely hypocritical of me considering all the shit I’d given her about Ed. But I wasn’t ready to share yet. Especially since I hadn’t even reconciled for myself what I felt about Locke.
Which was still a lot. Confusing, but a lot of confusing.
Me: I will tell you. I promise. I just can’t now. Cover for me?
Janie: Promise me what you’re doing isn’t dangerous.
That was easy. There was nothing dangerous about what I was doing tonight.
Me: It’s not dangerous. I promise.
At least not physically. Emotionally? I didn’t know.
Janie: Go tell Mrs. Sumner to call Mrs. Fairfax. I’ll cover.
Me: You rock! I really will tell you everything. Soon.
Janie: You better. Be careful.
I hopped off my bed to get dressed. I was wearing flannel bottoms and a T-shirt which I quickly swapped out for jeans. I’d put my hoodie over my T-shirt which would cover the fact I wasn’t wearing a bra. I pulled my hair up into a messy knot on the top of my head and checked myself in the half mirror mounted on the wall.
Nothing about me said sex, and, for a second, I hesitated. It would be like going to visit him without wearing my battle armor. But since I already knew my armor was ineffective against him, I guess it didn’t matter.
I shoved my phone into the back pocket of my jeans, and, after a quick check-in with the Sumners, I was on my way to find out why Locke needed to talk to me about the Freshman Bait List.
It’s not like I was going to tell him who was behind it.
Even though I had a pretty good hunch I knew.
9
