She knows my secret.
I told my mom I was staying late at school because I was in honor society. I figured she wouldn’t ask questions about it, but I didn’t think about the possibility of her crossing paths with Mallory, who actually was in honor society.
She offered to keep my cover in exchange for help with her homework. At the time I thought she wanted to be tutored, but as soon as we met up the first time, I quickly realized she just wanted the answers.
I clear my throat, setting the book back onto the shelf. “I told you I was done.”
There’s a beat of silence that’s not more than a second long, but it feels like eternity. I hold my breath, and the drum of my heart screams in my ears.
She swallows and runs her finger down the spine of the book in front of her. “I have a big test on Friday and it’s weighted. If I get an A, it’ll boost my grade by a lot.”
“So?”
“You’re a TA for Mrs. Humphrey’s sixth period class, right? You can get a copy of the—”
“No. Do you realize how much trouble I’ll get into if I get caught?”
Her lips twitch and she looks back at me, a dark expression covering her eyes. “You owe me. I kept your secret.”
“This is serious. We can study for the test if you have time.”
“You don’t understand. I have to ace the test.”
“Then study like everyone else.”
Her jaw tightens, and she takes a breath through her nose, nostrils flaring ever so slightly. “Would you rather see what happens if your secret gets out?”
Sam finds me in the hallway, hanging his arm across my shoulders. “How’s the face?”
“Sore.” I touch my cheek where Emma kicked me, shuddering at the thought.
“And red,” he says. “I still can’t believe that actually happened. What did you do to deserve it?”
“Nothing. It’s Emma.”
He sucks in a breath. “I don’t know, man, something must have happened. She hasn’t talked to you in years. Are you going to ask her about it?”
“No.” I don’t want to encourage her to do anything like this again. If I make a big deal out of it, she’ll only act out more. Besides, now that I have to figure out how to sneak into Mrs. Humphrey’s classroom and find the answers to Friday’s test, I don’t have time to worry about Emma even if I wanted to.
“But how else are you supposed to find out why she attacked you?”
I shrug. “I guess we’ll never know.”
His brows dip down, meeting in the middle. “Did you forget where we’re headed?”
It’s art. Why would I forget?
Then it hits me . . .
Groaning, I toss my head back and my cheek hurts more from the thought crossing my mind. “No.”
Art is the one class I have where it isn't just seniors. It’smixed with students from every grade, including juniors, and it also happens to be the one class I have with Emma. I almost forgot she was ever there since she sits in the corner of the room, as far from me as possible, and never looks at me, but after this morning, I don’t know what to expect from her.
“Yes,” Sam says, a little smile forming on his lips. “So maybe we’ll find out after all.”
I scowl, tilting my head. “If she makes a move, I’m using you as a shield this time.”
“She wouldn’t dare hurt this,” he says, pointing to his face.
