"I can't either. Why would Brock be okay with it, knowing how much Braden hates Jackson?"
"Because Brock wants a role in a movie Jackson's dad is directing. Jackson's dad showed up here to talk to me and Brock was practically begging him for a part in the movie. It was really pathetic. I've never seen him act that way."
"Why did Jackson's dad want to talk to you?"
"To see if I could give him anything he could use to get Jackson out of jail. I told him what I know but it's not enough to get him out of there." I take a breath. "I'm so scared for him, Shayla. What if they convict him? He'll be in prison the rest of his life."
"Okay, slow down. They're not even close to convicting him. All they've done is arrest him. And I'm sure he has really good lawyers who can get him out of jail fast, maybe even this week."
"His dad's hoping to get him out today."
"Even better. See? It'll all work out. The cops just needed to arrest someone so people wouldn't freak out and think a murderer is out wandering around."
"If that's true, if they let him go, they'll have to blame someone else." I pause. "Like me."
"You?" She laughs. "You were in your room all night. You didn't kill her."
"They think I was involved. Didn't you see the news this morning?"
"No. Why? What happened?"
I fill her in with the details.
"I thought Principal Edwards thought you were a lesbian," Shayla says. "Weren't you my girlfriend just a few days ago?"
"Apparently he's changed his mind. Now I'm Jackson's girlfriend. And according to Principal Edwards, Jackson was cheating on me with Kristen."
"He wasn't cheating on you."
"I didn't think so either but what if I'm wrong? What if Jackson lied to me? Axl did. I never even suspected he was cheating. Maybe I just don't pick up on that stuff."
"Jackson wasn't cheating. There's no way. If you heard the way he talked about you when he was begging me to help him get you back, you'd know there was no way he'd cheat on you. The guy's totally in love with you. You know that, right?"
"Yeah. He told me. But Axl told me that too."
"Axl didn't mean it. He made that clear with the way he treated you. With Jackson it's different. He isn't just pretending to love you. He really does. I didn't want to believe it, but hearing him go on and on about how great you are and how much he wanted you back convinced me he's legit. He wasn't putting on an act. He really does love you."
"And now he's gone."
"He'll get out. His dad is rich and powerful. Those people always go free, even if they're guilty, which I know Jackson isn't but you know what I mean."
"I'm surprised his dad is even helping him. Jackson made it sound like they have a bad relationship."
"They probably do, but when something like this happens, parents usually step in and help. His dad was here when the whole Andrea thing happened."
"He was?"
"Not for long. He just showed up to talk to the lawyers and police, but at least he was here."
"Was his mom?"
"I don't know. I never saw her. I only saw his dad. I'd see him going into Jackson's house when I was over at Brock's, helping my mom clean." She pauses. "Shit. My mom's calling me. I forgot I was supposed to pick her up. I dropped her off because I needed the car. Can I call you later?"
"Yeah. Bye."
I set my phone down and get my laptop. I start it up and search how to get someone out of jail. I know nothing about any of this. Getting arrested. Getting charged. How to get out of jail. I've never even thought about it before. My dad, or the guy I thought was my dad, has been arrested a few times for drug possession but he always got off. He never served time in prison.
Two hours later I'm still searching when Brock knocks on my door.
