Take the Fall(81)

Noah groans. “Won’t let me smoke either. She’s killing me trying to save me.”

I pull back and study his dark wavy hair, the cleft in his chin, the twinkle in his eye. “I’m glad you’re all right.”

He looks out the windows at the spring leaves filling the park. “You need a ride to school today, kiddo?”

I shake my head, helping myself to a cup of coffee. “Aisha’s picking me up.”

A couple comes up to the register and I scan the occupied tables while Noah rings them up. It looks like a slow morning. The kind my family always complains about, but I secretly love. Sometimes on days like this, my mom and I share a crossword, filling the words in while we clean the blenders or organize pies in the display case. She’s across the room now, but she probably won’t be up for a puzzle. She nods solemnly, taking Mr. Moore’s order, looking impossibly more tired than yesterday. The van Gendts are at a booth in the corner, there’s a trucker at the counter, and by the windows sits a girl with short blue hair.

I frown. Reva doesn’t come in here very often. She’s vegan and likes everyone to know it. The few times I’ve served her, she’s ordered cereal and soy milk and gone out of her way to make faces at other people’s bacon and eggs. I pick up a pot of hot water and approach the booth where she’s sitting with a mug and a bowl of fruit.

“More water for your tea?”

“No thanks, I’m all set.” She peers up at me from a notebook. “Heard they picked up the wrong guy for Gretchen’s murder. I guess that means the heat’s back on Marcus.”

She smirks and stabs a piece of watermelon with her fork and I just stand there holding the hot water, telling myself not to dump it on her. I cannot figure her out. I sink into the opposite side of the booth, disregarding the put-out look on her face.

“Let me ask you something . . . just call me curious. Who do you think killed Gretchen?”

She raises one dark eyebrow. I guess it’s too much trouble dyeing them to match her head. “I don’t care.”

“Really? You seem kind of invested in what happens to Marcus.”

She ignores me.

Our last conversation plays over and over in my head until finally, one tiny detail stands out. “Last time we chatted, you were pretty adamant he never loved her.”

“I know he didn’t.” Her voice is bitter, and a strange look flashes across her face so fast, I almost miss it.

“Oh my God.” I blink. “Were you jealous of him?”

Her face reddens, but now she won’t look at me at all.

“After everything she did to you?”

She sits quietly for a moment, then digs some cash out of her bag and leaves it on the table. “You’re a lot stupider than I gave you credit for.”

Aisha’s Jeep pulls up outside and I’m about to let this go, but as Reva slides to the edge of the booth, I remember how oddly it struck me that Marcus knew so much about her. His explanation was that Gretchen had bragged about what she’d done, and I accepted that at the time. But it stands out like a red flag to me now.

“He knows what Gretchen had on you.” I speak slowly, trying to figure out why Marcus would’ve lied. “But she would never have told him that.”

Reva sets down her notebook, but doesn’t seem at all surprised.

“Did you tell him?” I ask. “Why would you do that?”

“I couldn’t very well ask you for help.”

I sit straighter, chewing my lip. At least some part of this is beginning to make sense. “You asked him to get the video.”

Reva exhales and gathers her things. “For the record, Marcus Perez is a liar. And pretty worthless at doing what he’s asked.”

My arms break out in goose bumps. “What else have you asked him to do?”

Outside, Aisha taps her horn twice. Reva stands.

“I have the video, Reva.” I swallow. Right next to the one of Marcus. “I’ve never told anyone what’s on it. I—I’m going to destroy it.”

She gives me an icy smile. “Going to. I think those were the words Marcus used. I guess I’ll just put all my faith in you now, since you’re such a great person. Thanks.” She picks up her bag and stands, looking down at me from a pair of high wedge heels. “You can tell Marcus I don’t need him anymore. He’s probably over at Evil Bean. He spends a lot of extra time there, between meeting with you and his other girlfriend.”

I narrow my eyes, confused.

“Oops.” She covers her mouth, making no attempt to hide her smile. “I thought you knew he was seeing Kirsten Meyer.”





THIRTY-EIGHT


MARCUS ISN’T IN SCHOOL AND hasn’t answered any of my texts. I can’t help noticing Kirsten’s absent today too. I go through the motions all day, stopping at my locker, raising my hand in class, but by last period even my teachers start to ask if I’m okay. Reva’s words have smoldered inside my head to the point that I can hardly think about anything else. I don’t trust her in the slightest—she’s made it clear she’s looking for every reason to cause trouble. But I doubt she’d make the effort without expecting some kind of payoff.

When I think of everything Marcus has said, the things we’ve done the last few days, my stomach turns to stone. I need to talk to him—get him to explain this so it makes sense. I just can’t believe it could all be a lie.