From: [email protected]
Subject: Almanac Distribution Update #2
Greetings, Ames,
My oh my, what a puzzle we have here! Missing yearbooks? With only a week left of school? Well, I’d say that’s a mystery that better be solved…
But not without me.
Fear not, I will offer my help soon enough, but for now, I give you this advice: In troubling times such as these, I find it best to look to our leaders for hope!
Yours in merriment,
The Jester
I held my breath, hearing nothing but complete and utter silence before some squeaks and shrieks…and then the dining hall erupted into unanimous and uproarious laughter. Our table was soon swarmed. The guys’ lacrosse team shook Alex’s shoulders and punched his arm. “Dude!” They grinned like they’d won the state finals, even offering him fists to bump. “What the hell?”
“I know, right?” Alex had held up his phone, the Jester’s email still onscreen. He was prepared; he knew the school would go after him first. “What the hell is happening? The Almanacs?” He whistled. “Well played, Jester.”
Maya faux-furrowed her brows. “Wait, you didn’t do it? You’re not the Jester?”
“Sadly not.” Alex sighed heavily. “And you know it was only my biggest dream in life.”
“You’ll find a new dream, Alexander,” Tag encouraged, ever the loyal sidekick. He was too cool for his own good, so relaxed in his chair with his fingers casually winding themselves in my hair.
I wouldn’t suspect him for a second, I thought while trying to ignore the ache in my chest. God, I wanted nothing more than to leave the dining hall and sneak into the student center’s secret storage room so Tag could pull my braid loose andreallytangle his hands in my hair. I wanted to grab hold of his blazer lapels and laugh before—
“I have to go,” I said suddenly, even though no one was listening. They were too caught up in accosting Alex. Zoe and Maya were playing their parts well. “I’ll see you guys later.”
Tag’s hand dropped to my shoulder, warm fingertips grazing my neck. “Wait, what?” he said as I shivered. “Where are you going?”
“I’m not sure,” I murmured, “but this is too much.”
“Okay, then let’s go,” Tag said, then winked. “I know places.”
The collection of clues we’d scattered across Ames flashed through my mind, and I felt my heart twist into a knot. He was the Jester, and I was undeniably a fool for him. “No, no, stay here.” I forced a smile. “Alex needs his wingman.”
By now, a few of my theater friends had edged in front of the lacrosse guys to question Alex themselves.
“Alright. Okay.” Tag nodded slowly. “But I’ll see you later, right? Before I have to…” He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
Before I have to report to my room, I knew.For house arrest.
I still couldn’t believe it. House arrest? Seriously? I couldn’t remember the last time any student had been put under house arrest. Did the rule even actually exist?
I was going to find out.
“Man, was that aday,” Anthony said on our walk home. The sun was sinking in the sky, rays of light ringing halos around the white clouds. “Do you think Alex expected everything to blow up like that?” He chuckled. “It was chaos.”
I hesitated before answering, feeling my mouth turn up at the corners. Anthony—well, perhaps he had suspicions thatAlex had been involved in the prank, but I knew that unlike the rest of the school, he didn’t believe Alex was the Jester.
HeknewAlex wasn’t the Jester.
“Did you see Daniel around at all? I heard he’s already on the warpath.”
I battled back my smirk. Yes, I had seen Daniel; we’d had physics last period, and even though I hated his guts, I’d sat next to him. Neither of us said a word to each other, but I’d caught him surveying Alex across the classroom. Daniel was staring at him with as much intensity as I had when I’d believed he was the Jester.
