Jane's plan sounded easy. Thanks to the many high school memories of Trent that Jane knew about, she had a clear idea of how to sneak inside of Lawndale high during the night. After getting in, Charles would guide her to the place where he had seen the stairs and the secret room. Maybe with the school being completely empty, Ms. Li, Jane's suspect, would leave the entrance to the secret room open. It would be easier for them to see anything unusual without hundreds of students walking around the hallways.
"Meet me in front of the school at 10:00 pm and don't forget to bring a flashlight" Jane said right after explaining Charles her plan while returning from the Holiday Island ". I have to go now and face my family... I'll probably have to sneak out from Casa Lane to get to school, but I'll get there".
"Jane, wait, before you go...".
"Yeah?".
"Did you mean those things that you said and the kisses and everything?".
"Hell, Chuck, I already said many times that I did. I meant those things then, I still mean them now" she firmly stated.
"What's going to happen when things go back to normal?" Charles inquired with a concerned expression.
Jane doubted.
"I don't know" were the only three words that she could use to answer.
Charles was disappointed, though not impressed. Jane noticed it but didn't say anything because she didn't know what to say. She just gave him a goodbye kiss and left in silence.
"Janey" Trent gasped right after covering Jane with a hug ". I was so worried because it took you too long to get here".
When Trent let her go, Amanda and Vincent approached her.
"Young lady" her mother stared with a firm, angry voice while her dad was standing with his arms crossed and a frown ", we gave you enough freedom to go out and what do you do? You lie to us and then abuse of your privileges" Amanda shook her head.
The situation was very strange to Jane. She never had to deal with her parents or breaking their rules before. They didn't even have rules a week ago to begin with, she thought. Jane stood confused and in silence listening to her parents, not sure what was she supposed to say.
"You are grounded!" Vincent yelled.
"You are not leaving this house for a month, you're coming straight home from school" Amanda stated.
"Uh... okay. I'm sorry, I won't do it again".
"Now go to your room" her dad ordered.
Jane shrugged and walked to her room. She sat on her bed looking at the floor.
"What the hell was that?" She asked herself.
"You got grounded" Trent replied, pointing out his own presence in the room ". Why did you lie to mom to dad?".
"I didn't know if they'd let me go to Boston".
"Why did you lie to me?" He asked, sad.
"I didn't know if you'd tell mom and dad. Look, it's no big deal. I wanted to go out with a friend, we ended up spending the night at Boston".
"Did you... sleep with him?".
Jane raised an eyebrow.
"How do you know it wasn't a female friend?".
"I guessed and I'm just... I'm wondering, you're my little sister and I don't want anyone hurting you".
"Trent, we're just friends" she lied, but she wasn't lying about not sleeping with Charles ". Nothing happened".
Jane felt uncomfortable with that talk. Trent had known before about Jane's sex life but it was more casual, like a talk between two friends. She was glad, though, that this version of Trent still cared about her as much as the original version did.
"Okay. I'm sorry if this conversation is weird but... I was worried".
"That's okay, Trent" she smiled at him.
She decided to tell him about her plans to sneak out.
"Can you keep a secret?".
Trent nodded.
"You can't tell mom or dad. I'm sneaking out tonight".
"Oh, are you seeing... him?" He seemed concerned again.
"Trent, we're not doing anything. We're just hanging out. Do you think you could help me? I promise I'll try to get here early".
He doubted but finally nodded shyly.
"What time are you leaving?".
"Around ten pm" she replied.
"I'll keep them busy. But promise me you'll get here before midnight".
"Deal".
"But promise me you won't...".
"Trent!" Jane interrupted.
"Okay, sorry. I believe you".