"Peyton made her own money when she was acting."
"She probably spent it all."
"Probably. She has a serious shopping addiction, or she did when I knew her."
I turn to him. "What do you think of Alyssa? I can't decide if I like her. Up until this week she didn't really talk to me but now she's acting like she wants to be friends."
"She's okay. She's better than a lot of the girls there. I could see you two being friends, although I don't know when she'd have time to do anything. When she's not studying, she's out with Kade." He checks the time. "We should get dressed. My dad's done with his call by now. Did you bring your homework?"
"No," I say, getting dressed. "I didn't think we were doing that again."
"I am." He gets out of bed and grabs his jeans from the floor. "I don't want to fall behind. I need to keep my grades up. When this is all over, I'm still planning on going to college, even if it's thirty years from now."
"Jackson, don't say that. I can't wait thirty years for you."
"And I don't want you to. I want you to go on with your life."
I walk over to him. "I meant I can't wait thirty years to see you." I kiss him. "I don't like even going a day without seeing you."
"Rumor." He cups my face with his hands. "I know you don't want to think about it but this might not work out the way we want it to. I could end up going to prison, and if I do, it'll be for a long time."
"Don't even say that," I say, tears threatening to fall. "I love you too much to think about a life without you."
"I love you too." He pulls me into his arms.
"Jackson." Roman knocks on the door. "I need to speak with you."
"I'll be out in a minute." Jackson lets me go. "If you want to study with me, go home and get your stuff. Otherwise you can watch TV. I need about three hours."
"I'll study." I reach up and kiss him. "You're a good influence. I wouldn't study if it weren't for you."
"I won't study if you don't change out of these clothes." He looks down at my uniform. "Don't come back wearing that or we'll end up right back here."
I laugh. "I'll come back in a turtleneck and jeans. Does that work?"
"Probably not. I'd still want to do you."
When I get back to Brock's house he isn't there and neither is Trystan.
Ana is there and she catches me on my way to my room. "Rumor, are you having dinner?"
"Not tonight." I turn to face her. She looks so prim and proper in her black pants and white button-up shirt. Looking at her now, I'd never guess what she used to do for a living.
"Then I guess I'll leave," she says, taking off her black apron. "Brock asked me to stay to make you and Trystan dinner."
"Where's Trystan?"
"He went to the gym. He said he wasn't hungry." She looks around, like she's making sure we're alone, then says in a hushed tone, "I heard on the way over here that Braden was arrested for that girl's murder."
"Yeah, the police were here a few hours ago."
"Brock didn't even mention it."
"Maybe he didn't want you to know."
"Everyone knows. It's all over the local news."
"What did they say?"
