“It won’t be the same. You’re my daughter, and I think the best angle I have is going to the school as an upset parent. Which means I need to use your information to access the website.” I can feel the tears in my eyes. The drama just keeps getting bigger and better. I push the palms of my hands into my eyes to keep my tears at bay. My dad wraps his arm around me, pulling me into his side. “I know this is hard, but we’ll get this website taken down, and if that doesn’t work, we’ll find out who’s behind it and file a slander suit. I promise, Hannah, we’ll figure this out.”
“I believe you. Thank you.” I log out of the site and click on create an account. The instructions say to use my school email to sign up, so I do. It also asks me to create a unique username. I pick F150-10. This makes my dad chuckle. He gets it. I’m referencing a Ford truck and using Ford’s football number, the number 10. He copies down all the information, and, just like that, I have access to the website.
“I’m going to do some research regarding websites and call a friend who deals with web related law issues.” He grabs his pad and stands up.
“Sounds good. Thank you for your help, and….” I take a breath. “For not freaking out over the photos.” He doesn’t say anything but sits back down, facing me. Oh no, I spoke too soon.
I bite my lower lip and peek up at him. I’m too afraid to make direct eye contact.
He takes a couple of breaths before he speaks. “I realize the inappropriate photo of you and Ford last night wasn’t intentional. He was holding you, so you wouldn’t fall. I saw you run out of the field and hug him, but you and Ford need to be extra careful until we can do something about the website.”
“We will.”
“Promise me, Hannah.” My dad takes my hand, giving it a light squeeze.
Why does it feel like he’s asking me not to have sex with Ford? He’s right, though. If photos like that ever got out, I’m not sure I’d be able to go back to school and face all the stares and whispers. “I promise.”
My dad pats my cheek. “Thank you.” He heads downstairs to his office, and I’m left alone. I stare at the picture of Jack and Alison, and all those feelings from the beginning of summer bubble up. “Who cares?” I mutter, clicking out of the site and shutting off my laptop. I try to eat my cinnamon roll, but it feels like lead in my stomach. I’m so done with today. I go back upstairs and crawl into bed, pulling the covers over me.
28. Unknown Number
“Whoa, Fitzgerald.” I grab the back of Jack’s shirt to stop him from getting in his car. He glares at me but slaps the keys in my hands. I’m worried about Hannah, but my friend needs me right now, and she’s not alone. She has her dad. We drive for a while, neither of us speaking. Jack’s still fuming. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him this upset. I pull through the drive-thru of Twisted Soda, and we both get a Mt. Dew, even though soda is the last thing we should drink during football. This moment calls for a bit of rebellion. We drive up the fourth of July pass, and I turn down the road to the ski resort. I pull into the parking lot, and we get out, sitting on a couple of nearby rocks.
Jack leans down and picks up a small rock, chucking it across the dirt. “Dammit.”
“What’s got you so upset?” I ask him.
He arches an eyebrow, staring at me like I’m an idiot. “Is Clark going to hate me again over this?”
“Hannah has a big heart. Are you back together with Alison?”
“Dude, that wasn’t an answer, and no. I mean, I like Ali. I didn’t break up with her because I didn’t have feelings for her anymore. It’s because she turned into this mean, hurtful person. After she said and did those awful things to Clark, my mom told me she wasn’t welcome at the house anymore.”
“I didn’t know that.” I’m glad Mrs. Clark did that. Hannah deserves to feel safe and protected in her own home.
“Yeah, I don’t blame my mom or Clark. It’s just that you’ve got Clark. T. says he’s madly in love with June. Which is weird, right?”
“Really weird. He was the biggest player of all of us. I’m happy for him. I hope he doesn’t mess it up.”
“I think he’ll surprise us. But last night I—don’t know—I guess I was feeling lonely. The girl I liked left, and Alison was just there. She was being all sweet and flirty. It reminded me of all the reasons I liked her.” Jack rakes a hand through his hair, shaking his head. “But I don’t want to get back together with her.”
“Well, at least you’ve got that figured out. If you talk to Clark and tell her what you told me, she’ll understand.”
“I don’t know.”
“Hannah wants to be a part of her family. She’s spent a long time watching from the outside. One little thing won’t change that.”
“I just wish I could have told her before—that picture.”
“Is Hannah the only reason you’re upset about the picture?” I have a feeling there’s more to this.
He kicks a rock, cursing. “No. I spent half the night flirting with Leah Hunt. We both have Spanish sixth period. I really like her. I want to ask her to homecoming, but when she sees that picture of Ali and me, it makes me look like a player just looking for a good time.”
“Maybe you could ask Hannah to vouch for you. She and Leah are pretty good friends.”
“And there’s another problem. I like one of my sister’s friends—again.”
“Oh, damn.” I chuckle.
