Hellooo?Sadie?”
I look up from staring at my phone.My text still unanswered.Danika and Livvy are waiting formeto answer.
“Oh.Sorry.What did you say?”
I’ve never been inside Livvy’s house.This is the first time I’ve ever been invited over.And Istillhave no idea what it looks like because I’ve been staring at my phone since we entered.
“What’s going on with you?”Danika asks, handing me a can of watermelon-flavored seltzer water without asking what I’d prefer.Which is probably what they were waiting for me to tell them when I wasn’t paying attention.
I shift on the kitchen stool, biting my lip.“Sorry.I’m just waiting to hear from Jonathan.”
“Why?What happened?”Livvy asks, twisting open a bottle of soda.
“He didn’t return to class after he went to the office,” I tell them.“I’m hoping everything’s okay.”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”Livvy asks again, not understanding the potential disasters that could’ve happened in a few short hours, especially when it involves Jonathan Reeves.He’s not accident-prone exactly, but he’s not careful either.If there’s something to jump off, climb up or punch through, he somehow finds it.But this is more than that—I just know it.
Danika remains silent.She understands all the reasons I’m worried.I don’t hide anything from her.It’s impossible anyway because I’m pretty sure she can read minds.Mine at least.
“What’s going on between you two anyway?”Livvy demands.“What do you even have in common?Because I don’t get your whole thing.I mean, I know he’s nice to look at.But he’s kinda… unpredictable, don’tcha think?”
I tilt my head, not understanding what she’s asking.Unpredictable?What does that even mean?
“We’re here!”announces from the front door, saving me from getting defensive.It’s not a pretty sight—I flounder and get all red.Words evade me.It’s kinda sad.
Jaz and Darcy burst in, holding up bags of fast food and trays of milkshakes.“Fries and chocolate shakes for everyone!”
My attention returns to my phone.No response.
I text again: what happened?
I know it sounds a little desperate.But I’mfeelinga little desperate.All I can picture is him sitting in a jail cell with a bunch of men who want to hurt him.Because he wouldn’t be in juvie this time.He turned seventeen last April.
The girls don’t comment on my vacant attention.I try to smile at the right times.And answer when someone asks me a question.But I must miss too many because they stop trying to engage with me.So, when I make an excuse to leave, they let me.
Danika walks me to the door.“Let me know.”
I nod.She hugs me.
I walk home in the dark with a faint glow from my phone, cupped in my hands.
Jonathan’s not in school the next day.
Chapter Eight
Dad, did you hear anything about the guyfrom Greenfield who got his arm broken?”I push the gnocchi around on my plate, trying to sound casual.My insides are anything but as they squirm and wriggle with nerves.
No one was home when Collin stopped by Jonathan’s after school.I wish I’d gone with him, but I had to stay for a peer-mentor meeting.And then I had dance.I was useless at both and might as well not have shown up.Which was pretty much my entire wasted day of school—not participating or learning.Just worrying.
“I don’t have access to that information just yet.Not ’til I’m elected.”He gives me a meaningful look.“I haven’t been notified of anyone being accused of it either.”
“You’d know, right?”
“I’d know.”He smiles with gentle assurance.“Did something happen?”
My shoulders slump.I should feel relieved, except I still don’t know where he is.“No.”
“That’s not a face that believes nothing’s wrong.”
