have you.”
“You know what really sucks? I’m trapped, waiting to hear this is a sick joke, because I have a rival pack determined to make my life a living Hell, and nobody seems to care.” I’m so upset I can’t even sit on my bed anymore. I pace around the room, and open the window for cool, fresh air.
“I had no idea…” she whispers.
“Well, welcome to my life. This is what you guys threw me into. I have to deal with this until next year. If I’m seriously injured because of
them, I’m blaming you two,” I say, hanging up. For a minute, I stand perfectly still—my hand grasping the phone—and come to terms with everything that transpired. I know my words sting. I know they’ll be upset. But they have every right to know what it’s like for me.
Chapter Twelve
I f Beth has talked to Mom in the short time between last night and now, she hasn’t mentioned it to me. I get ready for school, bound down the stairs to open the front door, and immediately stop. A black BMW with tinted windows is parked in our driveway.
The passenger door opens.
“Get in,” a male voice orders.
I hesitate for a second and think about walking to school in the rain and how everyone will laugh at the wet, sloppy mess I’ll be if I don’t take this ride. Then I think about all those child abduction cases, and the kids’ faces pinned to the bulletin boards.
I lower my head, taking a peek inside. The guy behind the wheel is Ben.
For a reason I can’t explain, I know I’ll be okay. I hold my breath and slide into the passenger seat.
Inside, the grey leather smells new, and the shiny, chrome accents gleam around every edge on the dash. I’ve never seen so many knobs and buttons.
He laughs when I shoot him a puzzled look. “What?” he asks.
“You were following me yesterday, weren’t you?” I demand, holding his eyes with my own.
He floors the gas pedal.
“Following? No, just riding around. You should really stop being so paranoid.” His face is full of mockery, as he pretends to scold me.
I want to slap him.
“I’m not paranoid. I know a stalker when I see one, Ben Conway. Why are you picking me up for school? Since when do we hang out?”
He locks the brakes, slinging me forward. My head almost hits the dash, but luck has it I remembered to wear my seatbelt.
“Are you crazy?”
“I’m not a stalker, just a nice guy who recalled one of his classmates didn’t have a car to drive to school. Personally, I think it would suck to walk in the rain, but if you prefer, you can get out now.”
My mouth drops.
Although I should get out of the car and tell him where to go, something in me says that for once in my life I need to keep my mouth shut. Plus, walking in the rain is something I definitely don’t want to do.
“Okay, then,” he says, taking my silence as affirmation that I need a ride to school. He accelerates down the driveway.
We ride in silence the entire way.
Ben and I walk side-by-side in the frigid climate to the front doors, completely uncommunicative. A few stragglers hanging out eye us. I know, by the end of the day, we’ll be the talk of the town.
I can see it now: Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The real life enemies make amends! or something to that effect in the school newspaper.
It’s not until we reach the inside and make our way down the hall that Ben speaks.
“See you in English,” is all he says. He continues walking to his first class without even so much as a glance toward me.
“What was all that about?” Jana asks when I reach my locker. One eyebrow lifts higher than the other.
“Honestly, I have no idea. He showed up at my doorstep this morning, waiting for me.” I shrug.
“Just be careful, okay?”
I jerk my head around. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’m trying to look out for you. He’s a heartbreaker, ya know.” She doesn’t wait for my response, not that I have one. Instead, she struts down the hallway and disappears around the
“You know what really sucks? I’m trapped, waiting to hear this is a sick joke, because I have a rival pack determined to make my life a living Hell, and nobody seems to care.” I’m so upset I can’t even sit on my bed anymore. I pace around the room, and open the window for cool, fresh air.
“I had no idea…” she whispers.
“Well, welcome to my life. This is what you guys threw me into. I have to deal with this until next year. If I’m seriously injured because of
them, I’m blaming you two,” I say, hanging up. For a minute, I stand perfectly still—my hand grasping the phone—and come to terms with everything that transpired. I know my words sting. I know they’ll be upset. But they have every right to know what it’s like for me.
Chapter Twelve
I f Beth has talked to Mom in the short time between last night and now, she hasn’t mentioned it to me. I get ready for school, bound down the stairs to open the front door, and immediately stop. A black BMW with tinted windows is parked in our driveway.
The passenger door opens.
“Get in,” a male voice orders.
I hesitate for a second and think about walking to school in the rain and how everyone will laugh at the wet, sloppy mess I’ll be if I don’t take this ride. Then I think about all those child abduction cases, and the kids’ faces pinned to the bulletin boards.
I lower my head, taking a peek inside. The guy behind the wheel is Ben.
For a reason I can’t explain, I know I’ll be okay. I hold my breath and slide into the passenger seat.
Inside, the grey leather smells new, and the shiny, chrome accents gleam around every edge on the dash. I’ve never seen so many knobs and buttons.
He laughs when I shoot him a puzzled look. “What?” he asks.
“You were following me yesterday, weren’t you?” I demand, holding his eyes with my own.
He floors the gas pedal.
“Following? No, just riding around. You should really stop being so paranoid.” His face is full of mockery, as he pretends to scold me.
I want to slap him.
“I’m not paranoid. I know a stalker when I see one, Ben Conway. Why are you picking me up for school? Since when do we hang out?”
He locks the brakes, slinging me forward. My head almost hits the dash, but luck has it I remembered to wear my seatbelt.
“Are you crazy?”
“I’m not a stalker, just a nice guy who recalled one of his classmates didn’t have a car to drive to school. Personally, I think it would suck to walk in the rain, but if you prefer, you can get out now.”
My mouth drops.
Although I should get out of the car and tell him where to go, something in me says that for once in my life I need to keep my mouth shut. Plus, walking in the rain is something I definitely don’t want to do.
“Okay, then,” he says, taking my silence as affirmation that I need a ride to school. He accelerates down the driveway.
We ride in silence the entire way.
Ben and I walk side-by-side in the frigid climate to the front doors, completely uncommunicative. A few stragglers hanging out eye us. I know, by the end of the day, we’ll be the talk of the town.
I can see it now: Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The real life enemies make amends! or something to that effect in the school newspaper.
It’s not until we reach the inside and make our way down the hall that Ben speaks.
“See you in English,” is all he says. He continues walking to his first class without even so much as a glance toward me.
“What was all that about?” Jana asks when I reach my locker. One eyebrow lifts higher than the other.
“Honestly, I have no idea. He showed up at my doorstep this morning, waiting for me.” I shrug.
“Just be careful, okay?”
I jerk my head around. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’m trying to look out for you. He’s a heartbreaker, ya know.” She doesn’t wait for my response, not that I have one. Instead, she struts down the hallway and disappears around the
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