Duh!
“You’re only on the stupid committee because of me and now you’re giving her permission to film us decorating!” The bitter words come flying out of my mouth before I can stop them.
Who gave him the right to invite her into our cute, fun little circle?
No one!
I want to wring his thick neck.
“You said the committee needed help.” Easton points out the obvious. I did say that. “And I’m not on the committee out of the goodness of my heart, remember? So who cares if she stops in.”
I care.
Easton thinks out loud. “She probably won’t bother showing up—does she look like the kind of girl who likes to get glitter in her hair?”
I glare at him.
Just then, the PA system chimes to life, filling the hallway with a faint static crackle. Principal Callahan’s voice echoes down every corridor, sounding overly formal and a touch too boisterous.
“Attention, students. As you are well aware, the culprit responsible for the theft of the Parker Lane mascot has yet to be discovered. Therefore, the administration is now offering a reward to anyone who provides information regarding the mascot’s theft.”
Easton and I exchange glances, Maddie Miller momentarily forgotten. A reward? They’ve never done that before.
That can’t be good.
“If you have any information, please come to the office. If you wish to remain anonymous, a box will be placed near the guidance office for tips.”
I glance around, my pulse quickening as whispers spread like wildfire in the hall. People are leaning in close, murmuring,casting suspicious looks at one another, eyes gleaming with newfound interest. A reward could turn this harmless prank into a full-blown witch hunt.
I shift uncomfortably, trying to act casual. “A reward?” I whisper to Easton. “Aren’t they being a tad overdramatic?”
“Guess they’re desperate.” He swallows nervously.
“Desperate enough to bribe people to snitch?”
Easton shakes his head, his jaw set. “No one will say anything.”
Obviously, there’s a small group of seniors who know about the mascot-stealing tradition—it’s an annual event, albeit hush-hush—but overall, it’s always managed to stay under the radar, hidden in that gray area between tradition and trouble.
I narrow my eyes at him, doubting his confidence. “How do you know no one will say anything?”
He leans in closer, lowering his voice. “Because. I just do. Besides, the moment someone rats me out, we all go down together.”
My stomach twists as I imagine someone deciding that a few hundred bucks is worth the risk and turning him in. Or me.
I was with him on school grounds. I’m the one who drove…
“No looking back,” he says, his voice low and resolute.
Chapter 15
Easton
I cannot sleep, and I blame Marcus and Macy and the stupid texts they sent me.
Macy:Double date TOMORROW!!! We’re going to the movies and you can’t say no.
Can’t say no? What is this, a dating dictatorship? Who made Macy the boss? As if it weren’t bad enough being told what to do by Harper…
