“Now tell me what you really think,” I say.
He watches me a moment before shrugging one shoulder. “I think she’s possessive of you,” he says. “All of you, really. Like it’s her tech or something. She definitely hates me, so, you know, take my opinion with a grain of salt.”
“Why do you think that is?” I ask, looking toward the door again. “Why doesn’t she like you?” He’s quiet for a moment.
“Because she thinks that you do,” he says. A soft smile pulls at my lips, and I look back at him. He doesn’t meet my eyes at first, but when he does, I lose myself a little in the deep darkness of them. “I’m sure she doesn’t know that you left me for dead, though,” he adds casually.
“Don’t forget the part where I tried to get your best friend mad at you so you’d stay away.”
“Ah …” He nods. “Yes, that was my favorite part.”
We watch each other before he reaches to take my hand, playing with my fingers as a way of fidgeting.
“Look, Mena,” he says. “I would never tell you what to do. But for the record, I’d rather you run for the rest of your life than take the chance that a hacker has your best interests at heart. Just saying. She could shut you down for good.”
“I’m not going to run,” I say. “Not forever. And I don’t believe she’ll shut me down. But I’m wondering what you think the girls and I should do tonight. You know, an outside opinion.”
“I don’t know,” he says. “I mean, there are so many layers to this. It’s hard to know which to focus on first.”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“I mean,” Jackson starts, “you can address the culture of Ridgeview and save the girls at that school. But at the same time, you might jeopardize your chance to convince an investor to turn against the corporation. Once he realizes he’s under investigation by the government, he might leave the country or something. Or you can focus on the investor and let Ridgeview sort itself out.”
I realize what he means. If the investor knows he’s going to be charged with money laundering, he could take off. There’s no guarantee it’ll end up bringing down the corporation. We might lose our chance entirely. It’s something to consider.
“And Mena,” Jackson adds. “Even if the paper does run the story about Ridgeview, it’ll mean the girls involved will eventually get named. That’s the nature of the internet. Are they okay with that?”
“I don’t know.” Adrian didn’t report the incident to Mrs. Reacher. Is it okay for me to report it for her? I look at Jacksonagain. “But what if I record the boys admitting to crimes?” I ask. “Would that be enough to get them in trouble without dragging other girls into it?”
Jackson’s voice is sorry when he replies, “I don’t think so.”
I close my eyes, knowing he’s right. We need proof. Our word isn’t enough. Eyewitness accounts aren’t enough. Even if we have video of them admitting it, they’ll spin it. They’ll hire PR firms to discredit the claims, provide alternative theories.
There’s no accountability.
“We need to do something,” I say. “The boys at that school are out of control. They’re dangerous.”
“More dangerous than Innovations Academy?” he asks. “Than the corporation?”
And I think about it. I really do. Although I know we need to take down the corporation … I can’t sit by and watch the injustice of it all. The boys at Ridgeview need to be stopped. Otherwise, they’ll grow up to be the terrible men of Innovations Academy. Unchecked, they’ll continue to abuse their power, abuse it to get them elected to high offices so they can continue to hurt others. I can’t let that happen.
Even if not a single human girl would stand up for me, I have no choice but to stand up for her.
“You’re going to help them, aren’t you?” Jackson asks softly. “The girls at Ridgeview?”
“Yes,” I say. “It’s the right thing to do.”
“Just because one feels more urgent doesn’t mean both causes aren’t right,” Jackson says, running his fingertips along my wrist.The tender movement is comforting. “Is there anything I can do?” he asks. “Want me to come to the party with you?”
I smile. “I think that might change the dynamic, but I appreciate the offer.”
“Just promise to call me if you need anything. I’ll be there in a second, okay?”
“Okay,” I whisper.
“And could you … Would you mind calling or texting me when you get home?” he asks. “Just so I know that you’re okay.”
I promise that I will, and then Jackson flexes his hand so that my fingers slip between his. The movement feels surprisingly intimate, and he licks his lips.
