Page 84 of Breaking Rules
I didn’t know whether to be relieved or not. Regardless, a smart guy like Ferris had fallen under the spell of a woman who’d probably ruined him and his chance at being valedictorian. Sure, the prestigious honor of graduating as the smartest person among the senior class was based on grades, but other factors also played a part, like not getting into trouble—at least that was the way my last school had handled valedictorian.
“You’re such a loser, Ferris,” Nina said with disgust.
I had to decide how to clear my name. Ferris’s confession was great, but Principal Flynn needed to hear it, and I wasn’t sure what to do about Mr. Everly’s building. One thing I needed to do was somehow get rid of my signature that was splattered on the brick. I could paint over it. But my mind went blank when Nina kicked me in the stomach.
I bent over, clutching my waist, as Nina ran, screaming that she was being attacked.
Ferris started to run as well. “Sorry, Montana, but a girl screaming rape doesn’t bode well for me.”
I stilled for a second until I could get air back in my lungs.
“Hold on, young lady,” a man’s voice said from the mouth of the alley.
My heart raced.Please don’t let it be the cops.
In New York when we’d gotten caught, we ran, but in that alley, the only way out was the street. “Never tag in alleys,” the leader of my crew had said. “No way to run.”
I didn’t have to run, though. Iwasinnocent, and I had to take my chances that the man would believe me. So I puffed out my chest and headed for the street. As I got closer, the man’s tall stature became clearer and clearer. Train’s look-alike, dressed in an expensive suit, materialized. Mr. Everly had Nina and Ferris blocked.
“She did it,” Nina cried as she stabbed a finger at me.
The lights of the city streets sprayed a brighter light on Nina’s blue hair. I snickered quietly. This type of paint wasn’t water-based, so she would have a rough time washing the color out.
Shock and disappointment coated Mr. Everly’s face when he laid eyes on me. I didn’t know why I felt small under his scrutiny. He wasn’t my father.But he is your boyfriend’s.That was up for debate.
Mr. Everly glanced at the paint can in my hand. “Montana, did you paint my building?”
“Yes, she did.” The words rushed out of Nina’s mouth.
“No, she didn’t,” Ferris said.
I gave Ferris a quick nod as my muscles loosened for the first time since that morning.
Mr. Everly rubbed his jaw. “Let’s go into my office.”
Whether or not I was innocent, my mom was going to throw a royal fit. She’d warned me before I left the house that night not to tag or do something stupid. I hadn’t tagged the building, but painting Nina might be considered stupid in her eyes.
I trailed behind Mr. Everly and the other two. When I rounded the corner, I came to an abrupt halt while several cuss words went off in my head. I blinked to orient my vision and determine whether the woman in the black cocktail dress with her blond hair on top of her head and her stunning face made up was my mom. I couldn’t decide if I was more shocked to see Mom or to see her dressed as if she was going on a date.
An imaginary set of brakes screeched to a halt more at the idea that she was on a date with Mr. Everly, and certainly not at the fury shooting out of her eyes.
“Montana Smith.” Mom’s harsh tone brought me out of my stupor. “I’m very disappointed in you. You promised me.”
“That’s your mom?” Ferris asked in a very low tone. “Hot.”
With the paint can in my hand, I appeared guilty. So her tone and words weren’t a surprise. However, I couldn’t shake the idea of her and Mr. Everly. “Are you and Mr. Everly dating?” She’d never told me she had a thing for him, at least not that I could remember. No, I would’ve remembered that.
Mr. Everly cupped her elbow in a gentlemanly sort of way. “Georgia, I’m sorry about our dinner, but this will take a few minutes.” Mr. Everly ushered us into the building, holding open the glass door.
My mom pursed her lips. I knew she was trying to keep from shouting at me.
“It’s not what you think,” I said as I passed her on my way in.
Once we were all inside, Mr. Everly flicked on a switch. Lights sprayed down from the high rafters above. Architecture-style desks dotted the room with a glass-enclosed office in the back.
Nina shuffled to a leather chair in a small waiting area adjacent to the door. Ferris did as well. Now that I could see much better, Nina’s knees had a little blood on them, and paint not only covered her hair, but specs of blue dotted her face. Ferris, on the other hand, was wearing a pissed-off expression that could have scared a bear. As for me, I stood not far from the entrance, still trying to wrap my head around my mom and Mr. Everly.
My mom, smelling like Christian Dior, came up beside me. “Is this Nina?”
