Page 79 of Breaking Rules
“I don’t know what you mean,” Ferris said.
Montana jutted out her chin. “Let me be frank. You’re the only person other than Train who knew of my artwork. You know, the one the school’s been talking about today. The one that someone painted on the wall near the admin wing. Did you give her my artwork? Or were you the one to vandalize school property?”
He studied Montana. “I did no such thing. And how would I give her your artwork unless I stole your notebook?”
Montana’s blue eyes grew as big as the sun.
“Ferris, you better not be lying,” I said calmly even though he’d had guilt written all over him when Principal Flynn had confronted Montana that day outside the library.
Lines dented his high forehead. “Or what? You’re going to break my collarbone? Try it. I’ll press charges. Then you won’t play for USC.”
Motherfucker.I got nose to nose with Ferris. His breath smelled of onions. “Are you goading me?”
He didn’t back down. “Stating a fact, fucker.”
Montana gripped the arm I was ready to swing. “Train, don’t. He isn’t worth the hassle or your scholarship.” Her light and airy voice penetrated the side of my brain that said she was right. But the urge to break his large nose was tempting.
Montana then pushed Ferris. “Get out of here. And if I find out you’re lying, I’ll let Principal Flynn know that you’re an accomplice, which should bring into question your run for valedictorian.”
Ferris rolled his eyes as he marched off without a word.
Sweat dripped down my face. “He’s lying.”
“Maybe,” she said. “But let things settle for a day or so. I have to get to work, anyway.” She seemed too calm for someone whose reputation was on the line and who was in danger of getting expelled.
“Why aren’t you freaking out like you were this morning?”
She peered up at me. “Because Elvira told me that whoever is behind the tagging or trying to set me up will make a mistake. They always do. But right now, Principal Flynn isn’t expelling me, which means that will only make the guilty person try again. And I firmly believe that person is Nina.”
Part of me agreed, and the other half of me said Ferris was the asshole causing trouble. “Then we should confront her too.”
“No,” Montana said emphatically. “We wait and see what she does next. She’s cunning. You should know that.”
I wrapped my arms around her. “I do. But I want all this to be over with. I’m tired of her making idle threats. I’m tired of watching my back around every corner. But most of all, it pisses me the fuck off that you’re involved and taking the heat for something you didn’t do.”
My phone rang. I released Montana and checked the screen. Austin’s text was in all caps.GET THE FUCK DOWN HERE NOW.
I showed Montana.
“Go,” she said.
After a quick kiss, I sprinted down to the locker room. I didn’t want to leave Montana, but she and Austin were right. I couldn’t fuck up football, but I had to help Montana clear her name even if that meant confronting Nina.
