This has recently become my new obsession. I have read the book and watched the series and I liked both and thought in their own ways they were both great. I debated doing a fanfic with an OC for this series because I didn't think I would be able to do it justice. However, if I didn't not write anything then this would live forever doing circles in my brain.
I love Bronwyn and Nate together and I really like the whole protective Nate thing. But as much as I like these two together I just couldn't help it and wanted to do a Nate/OC story.
This chapter is a lot longer than initially planned. I have read the book but as I wrote this I tended to gravitate to the TV series. Through this series I will pull on things from the book and the TV show while also adjusting somethings to fit my story line.
Hope I didn't butcher too much. I do not own any of the characters other than Sid, Lexi and Katherine. This is unbeta'd so all mistakes are mine and I fully accept.
LEXI
The notification sound of my phone pulled me away from my train of thought as I bussed a table that had just been vacated by some regular early birds. Pulling the phone from my back pocked, I noted the time, I had fifteen minutes to wrap up before heading towards school. My attention was then drawn to the new posting notification for the school's gossip slash slander application 'ABOUT THAT'. 'Simon was at it again' I thought. Opening the app I scanned through the first paragraph.
Guys, take off the board shorts. Girls, pack up those bikinis. Summer's officially over and school is back in session, and you know what that means: So am I. As long as we're forced to coexist in the hellscape that is high school, I am going to reveal the truth about all of you miserable assholes just as I did last year, when I leaked some photos that got half the basketball team expelled. Helped a lot of couples see each other for who they really are. And of course, I kept you up to date with the who's who of addicts, anorexics and alcoholics. Privacy is a thing of the past, I know everything that went down this summer. And on Friday night I'll take down five of Bayview's biggest offenders. And I know Friday is a long way away, so here's a preview to get you through the week.
Putting my phone away momentarily I picked up the last dish bin from the counter and walked it to the back, placing it on the dishwashing rack. Pulling my apron off I pulled my tips out and pocketed them before closing out.
"Hey Sid, I'm leaving!" I called back to the opening cook.
"Listen to your teachers little miss." He pointed his spatula at me through the food window. "Don't want you here the rest of your life."
"Yes sir." I smiled rolling my eyes as I grabbed my backpack from behind the counter walking out the front door of the diner. As I started my slow walk to school I pulled my phone out and picked up reading where I left off on ABOUT THAT.
First up, I have a bad report card on a straight A student making her About That debut. She might be top of her class, but that doesn't mean I can get her thrown out on her ass.
Shit… I really hoped he didn't mean who I thought. A car honked behind me before pulling up beside me. Smiling I jumped in. The driver had her hair in a high ponytail. She smiled back at me before pulling back out into traffic.
Bronwyn Rojas, best friend since elementary school, current brainiac and runner for valedictorian… and potential next victim of ABOUT THAT. She was one of the only ones that knew of my current unfortunate living and work situation and didn't judge me for it.
"I can't believe you work right before school." Mauve stated from the backseat. "Like when do you sleep?"
"Gotta pay the phone bill kid." I stated with a smile. Thanks to Bronwyn, her sister knew I paid my own bills but didn't know about the half dozen foster homes I had been in and out of. It wasn't that I was embarrassed, but compared to the Rojas family… I liked to keep my head down, the less attention I got the less questions.
"Speaking of phones, did you see the post this morning?" Mauve changed the subject quickly leaning forward in the seat.
"Sit back." Bronwyn instructed.
"I saw a bit of it yeah." I nodded pulling the app open again.
"Who do you think he's talking about?" She asked. I glanced at Bronwyn from the corner of my eye quickly seeing her tense on the wheel.
"Not a clue." I shook my head, reading the rest of the post.
Now I know you school spirit sheep can't wait to cheer on the Wildcats this year but trust me, I'll be the real winner when I reveal one MVPs sweaty locker room secret.
I know you all like a good love story, but I prefer a bad one. So I can't wait to tell which of Bayview's varsity skank squad isn't as wrapped around her boyfriend's finger as much as you might've thought. Turns out, she's been wrapped around another guy's …well, you know.
We could fill a swimming pool with all the sob stories this school has, but there's one that seems to have gone unannounced. Interesting enough this regular Orphan Annie may just be holding a front for who she really is.
As I read, my jaw clenched and I unconsciously squeezed my phone tighter. 'Fuck'
My final story on Friday will be about one of my regulars: Bayview's most eligible felon. I know even I've gotten bored of writing abut how everyone wants to fuck a bad boy. But believe me, I've got so much fresh dirt, his probation officer's gonna fuckin' bury him in it.
I know that coming back to school sucks, but I am here to promise that it will not be boring.
The chaos that surrounded the school as students bubbled over their summer always amazes me. My first period of the day consisted of the girls gossiping and the teacher trying to explain the syllabus for the year. Second and third period are the same and then there was Mrs. Avery's Physics. A class I shared with cheerleader Addy and the author of About That himself Simon, who happened to share a lab table with me.
"Lexi Reeder, how was your summer?" He asked sitting beside me.
"I'm surprised you don't already know." I answered back dropping my bag to the ground.
"Maybe I do and just want to see what you were going to say." He shrugged. I didn't hate Simon… I didn't like what he did calling people out, but everything he usually exposes is forgotten about by new scandals in about a week. I had been a victim of his unwanted attention once and it only lasted a little over two weeks, then the biggest news was what he shared about the basketball team… little wins.
"Does it bother you that you never get the full story on the people you post about?" I asked as the bell ran and Mrs. Avery walked in. "Your posts are always one sided…" I let my comment trail off as our teacher began introducing physics and its uses in everyday life. Addy's phone went off just as Mrs. Avery in the middle of her speech.
"Seriously?" Mrs. Avery huffed walking towards her. I had to turn my head and hold in my laugh as she apologized. I don't dislike Addy but I do find it poetic that the girl attached to her phone was being forced to hand it over. I will give it to her, she seemed genuinely surprised. "You know the rules about phones. That's worth detention."
The rest of the class started laughing as she gave Mrs. Avery her phone reluctantly. Unfortunately for me my bag started loudly ringing.
"Shit," I cursed grabbing my phone. The collar ID said restricted and ended just as I went to answer it. I never left my cellular data on in school… one well it was expensive, the less I used the less it would cost me. And Two well it would keep me from moments like this.
"Ms. Reeder nice of you to keep Adelaide company today." She held her hand out and I gave her the phone. I looked over at Addy who quickly looked away. Simon had a smirk on his face and I sunk further down the chair.
The class went on without a hitch and then it was lunch.
"Detention… how did you manage that?" Bronwyn asked as we sat around the table.
"My phone went off." I sighed taking a grape from her tray.
"You don't even leave it on, how the hell'd it go off?" she scowled and I shrugged.
"How is it only fifth period and I am already completely stressed?" Yumiko questioned.
"Because y'all are taking all AP classes." I pointed out. Bronwyn and Yumiko went back and forth and I just smiled watching the lunchroom as cliques found each other. My eye got a student walking through the tables talking to a dark haired girl. Nate Macauley, stereotypical biker, leather jacket bad boy. I had gone to school with him for as long as I knew Bronwyn. Knowing him before he picked up the recent rep for drug dealing made it easier to see who he really was versus the mask he work. The summer before junior year, we had an open fling, and once school started, it was as if it never happened.
As he laughed about something with the girl he was walking with he looked over at me. My eyes met his and for a moment I was brought back to just me and him sitting and talking down at the beach. Shaking my head, I forced my attention back to Bronwyn and Yumiko as they talked AP until phones began to chime around the lunchroom. Leaning over the table I saw an updated post on ABOUT THAT.
It's your lucky day. I know I said you'd have to wait until Friday. But looking at all of you and you're boring, predictable little cliques, talking about the same predictable bullshit, makes me realize that it is my moral duty to do something to make this day more interesting so here's a little taste to hold you over until the end of the week. By now, most of you have probably noticed the new girl, FJ, making friends with the theater nerds. She may look harmless, but don't be fooled by her innocent smile. Turns out shes only here because she got kicked out of her last school for stabbing her English teacher in the back… literally. Good thing her daddy's rich, or she'd be eating lunch behind bars right now.
"Wait guys, did something just happen?" I heard FJ ask as her table was quickly abandoned and she was left by herself. I looked over at Simon who had a content smile on his face as everyone started whispering.
I promised this year wouldn't be boing, and I never break a promise.
When Bronwyn had told me she had gotten into detention my first reaction was to laugh. I don't think Bronwyn had ever had detention in her life, let alone on the first day of school. The unknown phone in her backpack was strange however. I settled myself into the seat behind Addy and Cooper tossing my bag onto the table. Bronwyn came in followed by Simon. Behind me the chair scraped the floor and I turned to see Nate taking his seat.
I was not knew to detention but this was the strangest detention group I had been in especially seeing good guy, sports star Cooper Clay.
"Congratulations. You're the only five students in this entire school who could still get detention every day this year. In my experience, the students who get detention on the first day of school end up here a lot. So, we might as well get to know each other. I want you to write an essay introducing yourselves and reflecting on what you did to get here. There will be no talking, no passing notes, and no more doodling." Mrs. Avery instructed from the front of the room.
"Mrs. Avery, that wasn't my phone you found. I don't know how it got into my bag." Bronwyn stated and I cringed as she dug in her bag pulling out her actual phone. "This is mine."
"Did you seriously bring another phone?" Mrs. Avery stated annoyed coming forward to take the phone. I closed my eyes and shook my head, as Bronwyn seemed to be shocked that Mrs. Avery didn't care that it was a second phone.
"Doesn't the face that you're confiscating my phone twice seem weird to you?" She asked. "Who has two phones?"
"Well I can think of a few reasons." Simon stated turning to look at Nate behind me. "What about you Nathan?"
"What's your problem, man?" Nate asked. I turned in my seat so that I could look between Simon and Nate.
"With you?" Simon asked. "Oh, I think you know."
"Enough." Mrs. Avery exclaimed. "Paper's and pens out." We had to write an essay on what got us here, which I found ridiculous considering I didn't do anything, not really, my phone just went off. Addy was in the same boat and Bronwyn was set up with a fake phone. As Bronwyn argued with the teacher about her use of laptop, I pulled a notebook from my bag and leaned back in my chair.
"Can I get my water bottle from my locker?" Simon asked and Mrs. Avery immediately denied his request. I rolled my eyes as he argued about his dry mouth.
"You may get a cup of water from the water cooler."
Yelling outside drew all our attention to the window just as an egg cracked against the glass.
"Oh shit." Simon commented looking out the window. Mrs. Avery was already walking quickly towards the door leaving the library.
"Okay, I want to see real progress on those essays by the time I get back." She called. The moment she was out the door we were all up and walking towards the window. Sure enough, there were two guys running around the lawn, football helmets on and in just their underwear.
"Wow." I shook my head as the others had similar reactions.
"That's the Laguna guys right?" Addy asked.
"It's fucking Laguna." Nate commented. Simon had returned to the table he was at leaning against, relaxed.
"Addie, do you uh, recognize any of those asses?" he asked taking a sip of the water.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Addy asked defensive.
"It just means that you have sex with jocks, so you know." Simon shrugged
"You're obsession with other people's sex lives is seriously pathetic." She stated.
"What about you Coop?"
"What about me Simon?"
"Just from the locker room." Simon questioned, amusement on his face.
"I don't spend my time in the locker room staring at other guys' asses." As he answered that a car honked and the two guys jumped in, Mrs. Avery running after them as the car pulled away.
"Oh and of course they got away. You know, nobody at this school would get called out for anything if it weren't for me."
"Why do you care?" I asked turning raising an eyebrow at him leaning on the desk.
"Well, it's not about them. It's about the principle of the thing." Simon stated.
"The principle." Bronwyn repeated.
"In one year none of this will mean a thing." I said. "Why do you care, it's not like you're going to see any of us once school is out. What's the point?"
"There's so many privileged assholes in this school who just think they can get away with anything because what, rules done apply to them?" he scowled.
"So it's what your civil duty?" I asked noticing him start to cough.
"It's just a bunch of bullshit." He said his voice quiet as he took another drink before scowling at the water. "This tastes weird."
"Simon?" I question as he started coughing more.
"I think there's something wrong with this." He struggled to say.
"Simon are you okay?" Bronwyn asked. Simon staggered in front of us, stumbling for his bag.
"I need my pen. I need my pen." He wheezed before collapsing on the floor.
"Shit!" I stated moving forward. I was on my knees rolling him over before anyone else. Simon was gasping for air, holding his chest.
"What's wrong with him?" Cooper asked. Him and Nate were next to me quickly, Nate grabbing Simons bags as it scattered to the floor.
"Help!" Simon struggled gripping my arm as I tried to hold his head.
"I'm calling 911." Bronwyn said. I wasn't paying attention to anyone else, just kept my eyes on Simons. I reached for his hand as it scraped at his chest and held it tightly his other still gripping my wrist.
"Simon look at me," I instructed his eyes unfocused. "You're gonna be okay."
"What pen Simon?" Cooper asked as they searched the fallen bag, dumping its content on to the floor.
"His EpiPen, Jesus. He's allergic." Nate answered.
"What does it look like?"
"You don't know what a fucking EpiPen looks like?"
"Not helping!" I exclaimed looking up to meet Nates deep blue eyes.
"Hey you wanna help?" Nate asked turning to Addy who was off to the side standing, lost, before grabbing Coopers shoulder, "Go to the nurse's office, and see if she has EpiPens, okay? Go now! Now!"
"You're gonna be okay Simon," I said again trying to keep my voice strong. Simon continued to gasp for air. "You have to try and calm down. Nate grab something to prop is legs up with." Nate left my side quickly just as Bronwyn hung up the phone. Lift Simon's legs I could feel his grip slipping from my wrist and the hand I still had in his. "No, no, no, no."
"Pen, Pen, Where's the pen?" Nate asked as Cooper ran back empty handed.
"I don't have it. The nurse wasn't there and the box was empty." Cooper stated out of breath and my heart dropped.
"Fuck are you sure?"
"Yeah I'm sure."
"I don't think he's breathing." Bronwyn said and my heart dropped. Sure enough, his hand had gone slack and fallen from my arm. I continued to squeeze his hand as I called out to Simon hoping he would suddenly gasp for air again.
"Fuck." Nate cursed before placing himself above Simon and started compressions.
"Can you go check if the paramedics are here?" Bronwyn asked Cooper who nodded and left the room. Everything happened in slow motion, Nate continued compressions as Bronwyn and I continued to call out for Simon to respond. The EMTs hurried in following Cooper and stuck Simon with an EPI pen. Reluctantly I pulled my hand from his limp one and scooted back giving the medics room. Nate reached his hand down and I took it standing keeping my hand in his as we watched Simon lifted onto the gurney and wheeled from the room Mrs. Avery following close behind.
The responding officers questioned us all before we were finally released. Addy ran away quickly, most likely to the football field to find Jake. Cooper left with Keely. I lost track of Nate and I stayed behind calling my boss. After explaining the situation, I was given strict instructions not to come into work and take care of myself. Despite my protest and finally agreed and walked out of the building finding Bronwyn sitting waiting for Mauve.
"Hey." I nodded to her. She removed her earbud. "You okay?"
"Um yeah…"
"Liar." I stated and she gave me a small smile.
"He looked like he was dying, don't you think?" she asked looking out at the road in front of us.
"They got him quickly, there's still a chance." I answered. A car pulled up in front of us and Bronwyn gathered her stuff before standing up. From my place on the bench, I noticed a bag that was not hers. She picked it up and put it over her head before I could get a better look, but I was pretty it was Simon's. "Hey…"
"Do you want a ride?" she interrupted and my attention was brought away from the bag.
"Nah, think I'll walk… clear my head." I shook my head.
"Are you working tonight?" She asked.
"No, which means I don't have to be back to the house until later." I smiled standing up giving her a hug before walking down the path. Her car passed me and I waved as they drove off. The thunder of a motorcycle behind me pulled me from my thoughts and I turned just as the rider cut the engine and pulled his helmet off.
"Hey…" he said walking up to me putting his hands in his pockets as I looked at my shoes before nodding at him. "Let me give you a ride." He looked back at his bike.
"Thanks… I'm good." I smiled shaking my head.
"Are you?" he asked with a scowl, "After seeing that…"
"I'm about as good I can be I guess." I shrug with a sigh. "This wasn't how I expected the first day of school to go."
"Yeah, me either." He agreed before looking over at his bike, "Come on Lex, let me give you a ride home." I looked at him and his bike biting my bottom lip as I contemplated my decision.
"What if I don't want to go home yet?" I asked. Bronwyn was the only one that knew lived right now, and I wasn't ready for Nate or anyone for that matter to know. Even if he did, I wouldn't want to go home. Honestly, I just wanted to be anywhere but in that house.
"Then we'll go somewhere else." He smiled and I just shook my head following him to his bike. As he moved to straddle the bike he handed me his spare helmet. Pulling my backpack onto my other shoulder, I pulled the hair tie from my messy bun and pulled the helmet over my head. Placing my hand on his shoulder, I threw my leg over the bike and placed my hands around his waist. "Hold on." He stated pulling away from the curb. The rush I felt as we drove through the city before reaching the highway was amazing. Everything we had just witnessed was forgotten. Laying my head on Nate's back and watched the ocean as the road seemed to follow it. He pulled off on a turnout just outside the city and once he was fully stopped, I released my hold on his waist and pushed off his back to get off. Pulling the helmet from my head, I couldn't help but smile.
"That was awesome." I applauded handing him the helmet.
"Thank you." He smirked setting the helmets on the seats. I rolled my eyes before moving to the guardrail. Jumping over the metal rail, I sat staring out at the horizon. I could feel Nate stand behind me.
"Why here?" I finally asked looking over my shoulder at him.
"I remember you said you liked the ocean, so I figured…"
I nodded turning back towards the horizon, hoping my hair covered enough of my face that he didn't see me blushing slightly. "Seeing that there's no end gives me hope that I won't be stuck here forever." It wasn't a comment to anyone just a statement.
"Nah I don't think you'll be here forever." He shook his head stepping over the guardrail to sit beside me.
"Why do you say that?" I asked scowling.
"You seem to know where you're going, a clear direction." He chuckled.
"Trust me… it's not that clear." I sighed. Before he could respond my phone went off making me jump. Pulling it from my backpack I saw Bronwyn's picture pull up and smiled.
"Hey 'B'" I answered but the smile quickly faded as Bronwyn started talking quickly on the other end. "Okay, stop… hold on." Standing up I turned to walk back towards the bike, finger in my free ear to hear her better. Nate was close behind concern written on his face. Staring up at him my eyes got wide as Bronwyn finally slowed down enough for me to understand. "A… Are you sure?... Shit… Okay, listen I'll… I'll be right there okay."
"What's going on?" Nate asked once I hung up his eyebrow knitting together in a scowl.
"Simon… he's dead." The words felt foreign on my tongue. All of sudden reality came back and what I had tried to forget flooded back. Simon had died from an allergic reaction… in the library… My mind was running 100 miles an hour as Nate brought me back to Bronwyn's. She was standing in the driveway pacing.
"Thanks for the ride." I said getting off the bike quickly handing Nate the helmet. He nodded before pulling out down the road.
"He's dead… Lex what the hell… I thought… I thought maybe…" she started rambling.
"Bronwyn you gotta stop before you give yourself a headache." I stated. "First thing you're gonna do is give me a ride home, on our way we are gonna discuss why you have Simon's bag…" She seemed surprised and opened her mouth to argue but I put my finger up to stop her. "Come on, Katherine is going to start asking questions, she already gives me a lot of wiggle room around regulations."
"Look I took it because I was gonna give it back to him when he was better." She started to explain.
"Okay, and now?"
"I'm gonna…ah, I'll leave it …"
"Look I don't care what you do with it 'B' but whatever it is don't get caught with it." I sighed. She dropped me off at a two-story home just out of town telling me she would see me tomorrow. Walking in the door, it was close to lights out. I had missed called my foster mom earlier about missing dinner lying about working. Coming in the front door I grabbed an apple from the bowl on the table and headed towards the stairs.
"Lexi is that you?" A woman called from the kitchen. With a sigh I dropped by bag on the stairs and walked into the kitchen. A woman stood at the sink her hair tucked into a bun. She was in her late forties, but out of my six previous homes she was the only one that seemed to give a damn about me and the other kids. She currently opened her home to four other kids, I was the oldest and the youngest was Sammy the 8-year-old spitfire I shared my room with. "I got an email from the school about what happened, are you okay?"
"Yeah… I, uh… I didn't really know him so…"I shrugged.
"Sweetheart." She gave me that look that told me she knew I was putting on a front. "I can call Cindy tomorrow if…"
"Please don't." I shook my head. "I don't need my shrink."
"Look. You don't want to give anyone any reason to pull you again." She sighed.
"I won't…I actually like it here." I smiled giving her a kiss on her cheek before heading up to my room. I wasn't lying. I had been in homes where food was locked away. Were there was yelling, and punishments. This was the first home that felt like one.
"Lexi!" Sammy called running to me as I entered our room.
"Hey kiddo." I smiled tossing my bag on my bed in the corner. "How was school." I listened as she went on about school, the kids in her class, her teacher, friends. I wished I could give her all my attention but I was distracted.
The school gathered in the auditorium early the next morning. I sat beside Bronwyn, who was anxiously bouncing her leg and Principal Gupta addressed the students.
"Good morning. As many of you know, Simon Kelleher tragically passed away yesterday after experiencing an allergic reaction. Losing a member of our community is an awful way to begin the new year. So my message to you today is simple: let yourself grieve. There will be grief counselors available all week. And of course my door is always open. We will be honoring Simon's life at tomorrow night's football game. I hope you'll all attend. It is so important that we come together…"
"Well that was fun." I said heading down the stairs. Bronwyn nodded beside me. Evan came running down the stairs just as we made it to the bottom. Yumiko and I looked at each other and stepped to the side as Evan and her talked. She was smiling from ear to ear and he seemed to be nervous.
"Hey Nate." I called stepping away from Yumiko. Nate had just reached the bottom of the landing and turned.
"Hey." He nodded with a small smile. "How are you?"
"All things considered…"
"Yeah" he nodded as we fell into silence. I looked down at my feet before looking back up at him again.
"Look, uh, thanks… for the ride yesterday." I said not sure what else I could say.
"Yeah of course."
"Lex come on." Bronwyn called and I looked over my shoulder nodding.
"It was nice, hanging out again." I shrugged before walking away. Both Bronwyn and Yumiko gave me a look as I approached them. "What?"
"Please don't tell me…"
"He gave me a ride yesterday." I interrupted.
"I thought we were past all this." Bronwyn commented. I just rolled my eyes ignoring her remark.
"May I have your attention, please? Would Bronwyn Rojas, Cooper Clay, Adelade Prentiss, Alexys Reeder and Nathaniel Macauley please report to my office?" Principal Gupta's voice came over the loud speaker. I just like that we were the center of attention again, all eyes on us as we made our way up to the office. We reached the office at the same time as Addy and Cooper, Nate was behind us. Gupta ushered us to the benches outside her office as her and another woman talked behind closed doors. I sat in the middle of Bronwyn and Nate. Leaning my head back, I closed my eyes wishing for the nightmare to be over.
"I heard the new nurse got fired." Addy said quietly across from us.
"Because of the EpiPens?" Cooper questioned as Principal Gupta and the woman came out of her office.
"Hi guys how we all doin'? I want to introduce you to Officer Miller. She has a couple questions about what you witnessed yesterday. Speaking with her is of course completely voluntary. But we'd really appreciate your time."
"If it was an accident why are we being questioned?" I asked lifting my head from the wall to scowl at our Principal. "I mean, wasn't it an accident?"
"We certainly hope so." She smiled sympathetic at us.
"But we don't know." Officer Miller spoke up quickly. "Simon died after going into anaphylactic shock from his peanut allergy. And we found traces of peanut oil in the cup he used during detention yesterday. So, we need to know how it got there. And why there were no EpiPens in the nurse's office, or his bag for that matter."
"Why would we know anything about that stuff?" Cooper asked.
"Because they think one of us did it." Nate said beside me. I turned to look at him before scowling and looking at the Officer.
"What?"
"W-wait, what?" Addy stuttered eyes wide.
"Is that true?" Bronwyn added.
"We're just trying to understand the whole picture. And I think that the four of you can help with that. Bronwyn, why don't we start with you?" One by one the pulled us each into the office.
"How would you say your relationship with Simon was?" Officer Miller asked me.
"I mean I've gone to school with him for years but I wouldn't say I really knew him that well." I shrugged.
"To your knowledge did you see anyone near Simon before he collapsed, anywhere near his cup?"
"Nope." I shook my head. "We were all looking at the Laguna guys running around the yard half naked. Simon hung back while we were all by the window."
"It says here that Simon was the author of the popular app ABOUT THAT, were you aware he was the author?"
"Uh yeah, we all knew. It wasn't a secret that he wrote those posts, even the administration knew." I shrugged.
"He posted about revealing some things on Friday; one of the statements seems could have been about you."
"Could have sure, but there was no way to know until Friday." I tried to brush off the comment.
"This isn't the first time he's posted about you." Officer Miller seemed to be trying to bait me and I just rolled my eyes and sat up.
"Yeah, one drunken mistake last year." I rolled my eyes crossing my arms and placing them on the desk.
"Were you upset?"
"Sure I was." I said easily. "But the thing with Simon's posts were they were only hyped for like a week before another story came along and overshadowed it. I was famous for a few days and then it was all about the basketball team."
We all sat out on the bench as the interviews finished up. Nate slumped into the seat next to me after his interview and Principal Gupta and Officer Miller addressed us again.
"Thank you so much for your cooperation. You've been very helpful." Officer Miller smiled.
"Are we done? Can we, um, go to class?" Bronwyn asked quickly.
"Actually, one last thing…" Officer Miller said. "We haven't found Simon's bag or laptop. Any ideas where they might be?" I could feel Bronwyn tense beside me as she tried to keep her face stoic.
"Um, he definitely had his bag in the library." Cooper answered first.
"I didn't see it after the paramedics and cops left yesterday." I lied. Bronwyn looked at me from the corner of her eye but I kept my eyes on the officer in front of me.
"Yeah, I thought the, uh paramedics took it." Nate added. I turned to look at him surprised he lied too.
"No they didn't." Officer Miller shook her head. "Okay well thank you anyway."
We couldn't leave the area fast enough. Bronwyn whispered a soft thank you to me before heading off to her third period of the day. Surprisingly the rest of the day went by without to many issues. There was a lot of whispering and staring, but I easily brushed them off. When the end of the day finally rolled around I welcomed the freedom.
"Hey Lex wait up!" Nate called catching up to me outside the school. I stopped and he looked around us before pulling me to the side.
"What's up?" I scowled.
"Why'd you lie about the laptop?" he asked his voice low. Inside my heart started to beat quicker but on the outside is just shook my head.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't do that…" he stated. "You're a good liar I will give you that, but your fingers fidget when you lie. Do you have the laptop?"
"No." I said looking at him. I hesitated chewing my bottom lip before continuing, "But I know who does."
"Who."
"Nate…"
"I lied too in there. Who has it?"
Bronwyn was definitely not happy to see both Nate and I show up and start asking about the laptop.
"You told him… seriously?"
"He inadvertently lied for me, because I lied for you so yes he deserved to know." I sighed sitting on her bed as Nate roamed around her room. "Look 'B' I lied for you and I would do it again but I have everything to lose if they find out and you know that. This isn't losing a scholarship either. That laptop needs to go, you can't be caught with it."
"I told you I planned to give it back."
"What are you gonna do leave it on their door step?" Nate asked. "Honestly we should destroy it or throw it off a cliff."
"Girls I'm home!" Mrs. Rojas yelled from downstairs. Bronwyn was up quickly running to the door.
"Shit, we're not allowed to have guys over to the house." She cursed. Nate was already moving towards the window.
"Must suck for your dad." He remarked snidely and I had to cover my mouth as I held in my laugh.
"Nate…"
"I got it." He said slipping from the window. She seemed surprised he was gone so fast. Her mom came up the stair just as I was gathering my stuff.
"Hi Mrs. Rojas." I smiled.
"Hello Lexi, I didn't realize you were coming over today. How are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm okay all things considered." I answered genuinely, "I was just heading out."
"Why don't you stay for dinner tonight?"
"Oh, that's okay." I shook my head. The Rojas knew there was a struggle but nothing specific about my living situation.
"We insist."
"I mean… if you're sure I just need to call and let Katherine know I won't be home right away." I reluctantly agreed.
The rest of the week came and went until Friday finally rolled around. The theatrics before the big game had everyone putting on the school colors and heading to the game. Large crowds and sporting events always gave me anxiety so when Sid called me in to work I was more than happy to oblige.
Bronwyn
I can't believe you bailed
Me
Oh, please you're there with Evan
I'm not missing much
"Lexi someone at the counter!" Sid called.
Bronwyn
Call you tomorrow
Pocketing my phone, I came around the corner to find Nate leaning on the counter.
"Nate?" I asked surprised. He looked up just as surprised and my eyes got wider seeing the black and blue bruise on the side of his face. "Holy shit, are you okay?"
"What… oh yeah, I'm good." He shrugged it off. "You work here."
"Most nights and some mornings." I nodded still examining the mark on his face. "Why aren't you at the game."
"I was, Janae did some messed up song as tribute to Simon and the cheerleaders were handing out ribbons for everyone to wear." He explained.
"Well you look like crap." I said. "You want something? My treat?"
"No, just a soda."
"Yeah okay I don't buy it." I rolled my eyes moving to the window. "Hey Sid, make me a burger please."
"You got it." Sid replied with a wink. Nate sat at the counter on his phone as I cleaned tables and served on of the last people in the diner before the food came up. Grabbing it from the window, my phone chimed. With my free hand, I grabbed my phone and just about dropped the plate as I read the notification.
"Holy…" Nate seemed to be reading the same thing I was.
"Someone is posting on ABOUT THAT." I said putting the plate down.
I got the idea for killing Simon while watching some shit news show. There was this story about a guy who killed his wife. Sort of obvious. I mean it's always the husband, right? But it took the police months to catch him. Turns out, a lot of people were happy this woman was dead. She had gotten a coworker fired, has an affair with her friend's husband—she was a nightmare. Basically, there was motive everywhere the police looked. And that got me thinking. That's the kind of person you can get away with killing – Someone everybody wants dead. Let's face it, we all hated Simon, I was just the only one with enough guts to do something about it. You're Welcome.
"What the fuck." I stated looking up at Nate.
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