Claire wasn't at the track.
'Just as well,' Jessie thought to herself as she headed to the front doors of the school. 'Since Jonny and I are grounded we wouldn't have been able to meet her here anyway.'
Jonny opened the door for them and immediately Michael caught his eye. Michael leaned against the trophy case that lined the main hallway of the school. Jonny nodded and touched Jessie's elbow before he left.
Jessie looked in the direction Jonny was headed. Michael winked at her and red heat crept up her neck and burned her cheeks.
'What a jerk,' Jessie looked away quickly and headed towards her locker. That was usually where she met Claire anyway.
"It was so much fun!"
Jessie worked the combination to her locker and tried to ignore the conversation happening just down from her.
"I wish I'd gone."
"It was awesome until the cops showed up."
Jessie froze.
"No!"
Obviously the two girls were talking about Claire's party. Jessie opened her locker and took her time unloading her book bag.
"I heard some kid tried to kill himself."
"Really? At a party? Are you sure?"
"That's what I heard." Her friend insisted.
"If he was trying to kill himself I don't think he would have tried it at a party." The other girl thought out loud.
Jessie rolled her eyes. At least one of them had some sense.
"I'm serious," the girl slammed her locker shut. "It was some guy that doesn't go here. Drank a bottle of rat poison."
"Wow," the other girl mumbled as the two of them walked past Jessie.
'High school rumor mill gets it wrong again.' Jessie smiled as she grabbed her English book. 'Imagine that.'
Jessie shut her locker and pulled some loose strands of hair behind her ear. Her green eyes scanned the crowded hallway and stopped abruptly as a familiar face caught her eye.
Jessie felt her heart drop. She'd found Claire. She watched as Claire came down the hallway in the usual graceful manner and watched as she walked right past her, sandwiched comfortable between Brooke and Ivy. Brooke smiled at Jessie and turned her chin up as they went by. Then they were gone.
Jessie walked to the nearest empty classroom and shut the door behind her. She slid into an empty desk and forbid tears to form. It was useless.
"Damn," she mumbled as the tears burned her eyes.
Jessie didn't care what everyone else thought of her. She didn't care if Brooke and Ivy hated her. She didn't even care if people did think she made out with someone she happened to be living with. She did care what her friend thought.
Jessie wiped her face with the back of her hand. "Damn it."
"Quest," Michael looked past Jonny and winked at Jessie.
"Hey," Jonny cringed inside as he watched Michael look at Jessie. He was doing what Jessie was worried people at school would do. Jonny intentionally blocked Michael's view and took charge of the subject. "How's Eric?"
"He's okay," Michael crossed his arms and his eyes shifted uneasily over the faces of classmates. "He's shaken up but he'll recover. He went home Saturday."
"Good," Jonny shook his head and readjusted his book bag as it weighed down on his shoulder. "What about the cops?"
"Don't worry about the cops." Michael smiled slyly. "My dad his head of the police station. He'll take care of us."
"Even better," Jonny smiled. "Could you make sure Claire doesn't have any trouble?"
"The girl that threw the party?" Michael shook his head. "I'll make sure she's clean too. No one will bother about it again."
"Cool," Jonny ran his hand through his blond hair. At least he could protect Claire from needing to explain to her mom what had happened.
"So," Michael used his foot to push himself off the wall. "I'll see you after school?"
"See you later," Jonny nodded and watched Michael saunter down the hallway like he owned it, making people move so he could pass by.
"Don't do it Jonny."
Surprised, Jonny turned to face the owner of the voice. It was Marie.
'Interesting.'
"What are you talking about?" Jonny asked innocently.
Marie grabbed him by the arm with a surprisingly strong grip and lead him into a more secluded side stair well.
"This is serious!" Her eyes were desperate and angry.
"Marie," Jonny started.
"No!" She stopped herself and took a deep breath. "Stay away from Michael and that group. You don't know what they're capable of. You don't know what they did."
Jonny reached out to her and tilted his head.
"Then tell me," he whispered soothingly. Marie was really upset. It was such a contrast to the way she was when he had first met her.
"No," Marie bit her lip and tears flowed from her blue eyes. "Just stay away from them or you'll regret it."
Jonny watched as the tall girl turned abruptly on her heel and left.
'Very interesting.'