“Yeah? So?”
“I want you to act. Put on a performance.”
“Performance? What are you talking about?”
“You need to fit in. Do the opposite of what you’d normally do. Act like you belong there.”
“You want me to act like some rich snob? Follow their rules? No way! I’m not doing that.” I get up, but he pulls me back down.
“Just hear me out. I get that you’re not someone who follows the rules. I’m not either. You and I aren’t conformists.”
“I never have been. I don’t go along with something because I’m told to, or because it’s popular.”
“Same here. But you don’t have a choice at Twisted Pine. You do what they tell you, and if you don’t, you’re either kicked out or punished.”
“I’d love it if they kicked me out.”
“But they won’t because your uncle is paying tuition for three kids. That’s a lot of money. And he’s a celebrity. They love celebrities. They can’t risk pissing off Brock Halliway.”
“So you’re saying I’m stuck there?”
“Yeah, so you might as well make the best of it.”
“Just get to the deal. What do I have to do to get you to teach me to drive?”
“People will try to be friends with you because of Braden and Trystan. Guys will want to date you.”
“I’m not dating them.”
“You don’t have to. But you need to be in their group.”
“You want me to pretend to be friends with the guys Braden hangs out with?”
“Not just the guys but the girls. You need to be in his inner circle.”
“Why would I do that? I hate him. And if his friends are like him, I’ll hate them too.”
“But by being one of them, you’ll get dirt on them. Dirt you can use to take down Braden.”
“I don’t care about taking him down. I’d rather just stay away from him and pretend I don’t know him.”
“Which will make your life hell. Trust me on this. You don’t want to go against Braden, at least not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll make yourself the enemy. Everyone — teachers included — expects Braden to take the team to State. If he does, it’ll get the attention of all the rich LA kids wanting to play football at a top school. They’ll beg their parents to send them to Twisted Pine, which will get the school the attention and respect they’ve always wanted, and get them closer to their plan to expand and build a school in LA.”
“Braden doesn’t have that kind of power. He’s not the only player on the team.”
“They can’t win without him. Actually they can, but nobody thinks they can. He’s convinced them he’s the reason they win.” Jackson leans closer to me. “If you do this — if you get in his inner circle — you’ll benefit too.”
“How?”
“Your life will be a hell of a lot easier. You miss an assignment in class? The teacher pretends she didn’t notice and gives you an A.”
“They wouldn’t do that. Maybe for Braden but not for me.”
“If he tells them to they will.”
