Page 97 of Breaking Rules
Epilogue
MONTANA
May in South Carolinawas as hot as the middle of summer. Then again, I did live in the South. The winter had had several days of cold weather, but I’d always laughed at those kids that came into school dressed as though a blizzard whipped around outside. A winter in New York would’ve been killer compared to the forty-degree temperatures that South Carolina experienced.
I ran to school, knowing that I would be soaked in sweat. I couldn’t wait to share the good news with Train. I’d texted him to meet me on the front lawn. I’d wanted to tell him my big news on the phone last night, but then I wouldn’t have gotten to see his face.
Cars of all shapes and sizes pulled into the lot, while kids loitered on the front lawn of the school, taking in the morning sun as they chatted and texted. We had one month left before graduation, and I was itching to get on with my life. I’d been the model student. My grades were better than ever. I hadn’t had the urge to tag, nor did I have anyone trying to get me expelled. School had been easy and great without Nina around.
Elvira held her notebook in her arms and raked her brown gaze over me as I approached the shade tree we’d dubbed our hangout spot.
“What’s with the happy face? Did you get laid again? God, Montana, you and Train are like glued together.”
I stuck out my tongue at her. “So? You shouldn’t sound jealous. You got your main squeeze in Lou.” They’d been inseparable since the fall.
I adored Lou, who was always the voice of reason, especially when the football team had lost in the playoffs back in early November. He’d been the one to crack jokes at the after-party, helping all the players to release some tensed mojo from losing.
Train had been bummed even after the party, but his USC scholarship had overshadowed the loss.
Elvira blushed. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“Not until I tell Train,” I said.
“Please tell me you’re not pregnant.” Her voice resonated with worry.
I snorted. “Hell no.”
Her shoulders visibly lowered as Reagan bounced up. “Who’s pregnant?”
I rolled my eyes hard. If she’d heard before she reached Elvira and me, then the rest of the crowd had to have heard as well. By the end of the day, the rumor would be in full force.
I checked the kids hanging out around us, glancing past Reagan’s wide hazel eyes. No one seemed to be lurking in our direction. I grabbed Reagan’s tanned arm. “Hush. I’m not. And it wouldn’t be cool to start that rumor.” I could envision Train going ballistic over a rumor like that.
“You two would make great babies,” Reagan said, losing the freaked-out expression.
With my blond hair and blue eyes and his sea-green eyes and brown hair that lightened in the sun, I agreed that our children would be knockouts. But we had a long way to go before we crossed that part of our relationship.
“All right, Montana,” Elvira said. “Are you and Train ready to submit your computer project?”
I let out an audible sigh, relieved that we were on to a new topic. “It’s all wrapped and ready to go.” Train and I had worked tirelessly on the author app that we designed for my mom. Her fans had been downloading the app left and right. In today’s class, we were scheduled to present the statistics on the app and how it was working out for my mom’s business.
“We should get inside,” Reagan said.
“You guys go ahead. I’m waiting on Train,” I said.
As they went in, I made my way to the edge of the lawn, where it met the parking lot. I was about to send Train another text when Ferris stalked toward me. He had kept to himself after Train’s dad settled with him out of court. Ferris, or more like his parents, ended up paying a hefty fine into the thousands of dollars. Nina had done so as well.
“Are you ready for graduation?” Ferris asked, still sporting spiked hair minus the sideburns.
“I am,” I said as muscled arms came around me from behind.
Train kissed my ear. “What’s going on?”
Train and Ferris would never be friends, but Train didn’t tense anymore when Ferris was around.
“We were talking about graduation,” Ferris said. “But I do want to invite you both to a party I’m having this weekend. I know we’re not friends, but I do owe your father a ton of thanks for not taking me to court. I was able to keep my academic scholarship with North Carolina State.”
“Congrats on valedictorian,” I said.
