He’s not wrong.
Guilt twists in my stomach, heavy and relentless. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own worries lately that I didn’t realize how much this has been eating at him. Of course he can’t stop thinking about it!
Me:I know you’re worried. But seriously, it’s over. No one who knows is going to rat you out. You’ve gotta stop overthinking it.
Easton:Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who physically took it.
Me:Okay, but I was there. I’m just as guilty. Remember the flagpole???? You need to stop beating yourself up about this. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.
Easton:MY PARENTS ARE GOING TO KILL ME.
Wow. Clearly his paranoia has ramped up a notch since Callahan gave us the mini cross-examination.
Me:If you were going to get in trouble it would have happened by now.
Easton:Maybe they’re waiting…
So ominous.
Me:It was a harmless prank, Easton. Parker Lane has their mascot back, safe and sound. No one has mentioned our names. So what if Callahan stopped at our lockers? He doesn’t know anything.
And sure, there was that announcement over the intercom promising to find the culprit(s) and threatening dire consequences once they did.
Luckily everyone involved has kept their mouths shut.
Shocking, I know—but considering it was the class officers’ idea, guess it’s not all that surprising. If Easton goes down, they all go down.
I roll onto my stomach, propping myself up on my elbows. All the times he’s casually mentioned getting in trouble I never really picked up on how much this was messing with his head.
Selfish, selfish, selfish of me!
Easton:No, nothing happened. I just hate this feeling. I’m constantly looking over my shoulder waiting for Mr.Callahan to bust me.
I wonder if he’s feeling the same way thinking about consequences as I do thinking about the fact that I’m basically blackmailing him to go to a dance with me.
Blackmail.
I hate that word. It’s so…
Negative.
Me:You’re overanalyzing again. They’ll never figure out it was you.
Easton:You don’t know that.
He’s right. I don’t know that. Still, I’m determined to be positive and upbeat!
Me:I do! I mean, who’s going to suspect you? You’re the person LEAST likely to get in trouble and the last person they’d think would steal a mascot.
Seriously. No one would suspect him.
The silence lingers for a moment after his last message. Perhaps a tad too long? I can’t shake the feeling there’s still something bothering him. My intuition tingles.
He’s never usually this wound up.
I decide to push, just a little.
Me:Is that the only thing bothering you? Just the PLP Rhino?
