Her head snaps to me. “What?” Her expression goes through what appears to be a series of emotions—shock, confusion, sympathy. Finally, she says, “It’s none of my business, but if you want to talk, I’m all ears.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. Just some stupid charges that will hopefully be reduced.”
She gulps, and I can only imagine what she’s thinking. Actually, she could be thinking much worse. I don’t know why it matters to me, but I don’t want her to think I’m a murderer or something. “Do you want to know the charges?”
“Only if you want to tell me.”
“Hit and run,” I say, happy to set the record straight.
“You killed someone with your car?” she asks, her eyes wide.
“No, I didn’t do it. And no one died. Just some injuries, but he’s fine now.”
“You … wait … how … what?” she asks.
“Long story,” I say with a shrug. Why am I getting into this with her? I should’ve kept my mouth shut.
“What do you mean you didn’t do it? If you’re innocent, you can’t be held responsible.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Either you did it or you didn’t. If you didn’t, then there should be no trouble for you.”
“I confessed, okay?”
“You confessed to a crime you didn’t commit?” she says with a frown.
I nod.
“That’s just … moronic. Why would you do something so stupid?”
I give her a dirty look, although it’s the same question that’s been running through my mind lately. “My girlfriend asked me to,” I say quietly. In my head it doesn’t sound nearly as bad as it does out loud.
“So you were doing something else, minding your own business, when she crashed your car?”
“Yeah. I was playing video games with my friend Gordy all night. He’s got this dream of making it big as a live streamer, but most of his followers are in Asia. That means we play in the middle of the night a lot.”
“How did you find out what happened?”
“When Gordy dropped me off at home, the cops were waiting. I was arrested and spent the rest of the night at the police station.”
“She needs to come clean and get you off the hook.”
I ignore her. I really don’t want to be having this conversation.
“Or you need to take back your confession.”
When I still don’t say anything, she pulls her phone out of her pocket. “Should I call the police for you?”
“Look,” I say, holding up my hands. “She’s got some outstanding charges against her for weed. It’d be worse for her. If I graduate from Wallingford, it shouldn’t be too bad.” That’s how she convinced me to take the heat. In addition to smashing into a building, she had left her stash in my car. She swore I’d get off with a slap on the wrist, but she’d end up in jail for another drug issue along with the accident. Had I known a “slap on the wrist” would require me to move all the way across the state and subject myself to cruel and unusual punishment on a daily basis, I might have used better judgment the night of the accident.
“It’s admirable you’re covering for her—very sweet—but she doesn’t deserve it. No one would deserve this,” she says, shaking her head. “Plus, it’s totally inappropriate for her to have asked this of you in the first place. She’s the one who messed up that night, and she’ll face no consequences while you’ll be punished? In what universe is that even remotely acceptable?” She stares at me, waiting for a response, but I have nothing to say. She’s right. I know it, but there’s nothing I can do about it now. After a long moment, she adds, “You need to rethink your plan. She doesn’t deserve it.”
“Hey,” I reply, ready to defend Lora’s honor, but, honestly, I don’t have the fight left in me. I’m exhausted and sore, this conversation is making me grumpy, and I’m still pissed Lora might be thinking of breaking up with me. I don’t really buy her care package story. She’s not the kind of girl who randomly gives sweet gifts, so there has to be more. Like she feels guilty about something that’s coming.
“Yes?” Paige asks, eyebrows raised, inviting me to disagree.
“I screwed up, okay?” I say quietly.
“You can still make it right.”
That’d be nice. For me, at least. It’d suck for Lora. Could I really do that to her? No, of course not. It’s easier for me to deal with this hellhole than get her into trouble. That’s just the way it is. Even if she breaks up with me.
I tear off another piece of the protein bar and chew it with more force than necessary. Isn’t talking things through supposed to make you feel better? What a load of shit that is. I feel more frustrated by my situation now. I’d like to blame it on Paige, but it’s not her fault. She didn’t say anything I haven’t already thought myself.
Then, to really brighten my mood, Jernigan lowers his ass to the rock on the other side of Paige. There’s not nearly enough space for his big frame, though. If I weren’t still pissed about the Lora discussion, I’d probably laugh as she scoots closer to me, rather than letting him lean into her. “Easy hike today, huh? We sure took it slow,” he says, smirking at me.
What a prick. Always looking to rub my nose in something, like how out of shape I am compared to Mr. American Ninja Warrior himself.
“I guess,” Paige says with a shrug.
“Maybe we should jog down,” he says, grinning.
There’s no way I could convince my legs to run all the way down. He knows it, too.
“You’re in a big hurry to get back,” I say. “Afraid of running into a bear? Or getting stuck up here in the dark?”
He scoffs at me. “Hardly.”
“Hey,” Paige says, giving me a warning glare before focusing on Jernigan. “We don’t have to all go down together. Let’s split into a couple of groups.”
Why would I get the warning glare? He’s the one trying to start something. Like he always does.
“Yeah, sure. Whatever,” Jernigan says. He stares over the edge of the cliff for a moment before looking back at Paige. “You ready for our meeting with the dean tomorrow?”
“Uh-huh,” she says, nodding. “Of course.”
He’s still frowning in my general direction, which makes my stomach drop. Is this the meeting Paige was talking about earlier? The one she needs to have with the dean about me? If so, why is Jernigan going? Because he’s my commander? So much for unmonitored personal time. I’m sure he’ll make sure that never happens for me.
“Don’t forget to highlight all the issues we’ve been dealing with,” he says, still frowning.
“I won’t.”
“The dean needs to understand how difficult it’s been.”
“I know,” she replies shortly, as if she’s either lost her patience with him or is trying to end the conversation. Maybe she’s trying to end it so I won’t realize her words from earlier were a complete lie. She told me I was getting a good report, but clearly she and Alex have other plans.