Chapter 8-

The weirdness didn't end there, either. After group that night I was walking up to my dorm with Samantha (who had become a whole lot friendlier), Daisy, and Jess when we saw a car pull up. A police officer got out and we stopped walking to watch. What happened next is still a little hard to believe but I know that it's true. I'm not sure, even now, if it was a good thing that happened, or a bad thing. But it was what it was.

The police officer opened the back door of the patroller. I heard Jess say, "Isn't it a little late for new admits?"

I didn't listen to the rest of the conversation. I didn't even realize everyone was walking away until Samantha tugged on my sleeve. All I was focusing on was the person getting out of that car. I saw my dad shake hands with the police officer and the other figure, which just stood there. Something about the way the person was standing was so familiar. Then he turned. I saw his face through the darkness somehow. Saw him smile his crooked smile at me. I knew right then who the other person was. It was my Jordan. He was here. At Horizon.

Slowly I made my way over to the three of them. I hated what I saw when I finally reached them. J's hands were handcuffed behind his back and one close look at him and I knew he was stoned out of his mind.

My dad didn't notice me until I was right next to him. He put his hand on my shoulder and gently turned me around. Obviously he wasn't expecting anyone to show up this late, either. "Luce, go up to your dorm." I was too surprised by the whole situation to say anything so I just nodded and went back over to my friends.

The first thing Jess asked when I got to them was, "Do you know him?"

"Yeah." I could hear the shock in my voice. "He's . . . he's Jordan."

Daisy raised her eyebrows at me. "The same Jordan you told us about a few weeks after you got here?"

I turned to look at Jordan being led by my dad and followed by the police officer into the Administration building. "The one and only." I half whispered.

I knew it was wrong but I had to wait. I had to wait for the administration process to be over. When I saw my dad and Jordan finally come out of the building I had to catch my breath. This was for real. Jordan was really at Horizon. They started coming my way so I went to the corner of the deck of my dorm where they wouldn't see me and waited for them.

I could hear my dad talking to Jordan but I couldn't make out what he was saying. Probably something about what group J would be in. A few minutes later Jordan was in the guy Cliffhanger's cabin and my dad was leaving. I went down the stairs of my dorm and met my dad between the two cabins.

"Luce, its way past lights out. You should be in bed." I could tell he didn't mean what he was saying.

"Why's he here?" I asked.

My dad sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Luce, I can't . . ."

I interrupted him. "Don't tell me you aren't allowed to share that information. Dad, I have to know. I have to." I was on the verge of hysterics by now so I think he may have told me only to keep me quiet.

But, nevertheless, he put his arm around me and we went for a walk while he told me what happened to Jordan.

"From what the police told me Jordan was with some friends near that restaurant we went to and he tried to sell some speed to an undercover cop. I'm sure you know it wasn't the first time that happened."

I nodded. "Ramón kept telling him to be careful of undercover cops." My dad gave me a look and I added, "Not that it's okay to sell drugs. Just . . . I don't know."

My dad and I were quiet for a long time. Eventually we were standing in front of his truck and I knew the conversation was over and I had to go back to bed. "It's just weird, you know?" I said. I had my arms wrapped around my middle and I leaned against the cool metal of my dad's truck. "What are the chances of Jordan screwing up and coming here? To Horizon?"

My dad shrugged. "I don't think it was a coincidence. The police said he asked to come here instead of jail. I think he wanted to be with you."

I shook my head. If that was true it made me mad. I already told Jordan I couldn't be with him. Peter's first words sunk in then. "You think he sold to the undercover on purpose, don't you?"

"Honestly, Luce, I don't, know. I do know, however, that it is way too late for you to be out. You should head back up to your dorm."

I was quite for a few seconds. "Dad, I don't want to have to face him tomorrow. I don't want to be here right now." I sighed thinking I wouldn't get my way and gave my dad a hug. Then I turned and started to make my way up the stairs.

"Hey," Peter said when I was halfway up the stairs. "Why don't you stay at my house for a couple of nights?"

Instantly I spun around to face him and saw that he was completely serious. Smiling I scrambled down the stairs and into my dad's arms. I had to face J sometime but thankfully Peter was allowing me a few days of peace. I knew it meant no real work to do and Peter and I would be hanging out a lot. Last time I stayed at his house for a while he stayed home from work for the day. His reasoning was simple. He loved his job but sometimes he needed something normal. Like hanging out with his amazingly cool daughter. Of course, I added the last part but the rest were his exact words.