Six Little Secrets(32)

Q watched the interaction between the two and Jackie’s accusations started to make sense. Holly didn’t appear frazzled by her teacher’s touch, but it was still inappropriate.

‘A little help here?’ Q said.

Holly and Curtis helped Q off the floor. Q wanted to show his appreciation to her, but his hands were in so much pain. So he offered a small, pained smile instead, and allowed Curtis to lead him out of the auditorium.

‘Come over here by the sink,’ Curtis instructed once they reached the nurse’s office. He turned on the faucet and tested the water by putting his hand under the stream.

‘Put your hands under the water,’ he said, moving out of the way.

‘I know how to deal with burns,’ Q said, shoving his hands in the sink. Initially, the water stung like a thousand bees, but after a few moments, the cool water helped ease the pain.

Q whooshed out a relieved breath.

‘What were you thinking?’ Curtis asked.

‘I needed a smoke break,’ Q said, staring into his teacher’s eyes, daring him to say anything about the rules. ‘I think the janitor waxed the floor or something and it accidentally lit up.’

Mr. Curtis scoffed. ‘It’s a nasty habit.’

‘I’m trying to quit,’ Q said.

‘Is that why you wanted me out of the room?’ he asked.

It was partly the reason. The other was in his back pocket. Even though he didn’t need his phone at the moment, he felt better with it on him. He was able to control something about their situation. Though how did Jacob know that they were going to try and get the phones? Q’s red slip was in the drawer. Was that why they’d had to wait so long for another mission? Jacob was at least one step ahead of them this whole time. But how? The better question was why?

He sat back and eyed Curtis. He had been the only one in that drawer all day. Was Jackie right about his involvement in all of this? Was he going on some pranking-spree on the students that pissed him off? That didn’t make sense. Curtis was always with other kids in between classes and during other school-related activities. He appeared to love his job and Q’s classmates. Why would he try to embarrass and hurt them?

Q always talked back to his teachers for attention. But Teddy was a nerd and stuck up. And it didn’t appear as if any of the girls had done anything to piss off the teacher.

And even though Curtis didn’t mind the kids calling him Curtis, his first name was Leonard, not Jacob. Was his middle name Jacob?

Q wasn’t sure. It seemed like a stretch.

‘I’m going to need to call your parents,’ Mr. Curtis said, indicating for Q to sit down. He opened up the container of gauze and pulled out a roll.

‘No!’ Q said. ‘Please, don’t.’ He had to think fast. Zoe and Holly still needed to have their turn. He needed to see how the game ended. ‘They don’t know I smoke. And it would kill my mom if she found out.’

‘I know you think your antics like smoking and acting out in class are funny and impress other students,’ Curtis said, ‘but they don’t. If you’d put as much effort into your schoolwork, you would be a star student. Your luck is running out.’

Curtis looked at Q as if maybe a punishment was what he needed. He held a piece of gauze against Q’s hand, and Q sucked in a breath.

‘I’ll do anything,’ Q said. ‘I’ll tell them I fell on glass or something. They will never check.’ And that was the truth. His parents believed everything that came out of his mouth, even if it was a lie. They always failed his tests.

‘And they won’t question why you weren’t keeping an eye on me in detention.’ Q’s eyes narrowed on Curtis. Q wasn’t afraid of his teacher, but he was afraid of what would happen if Jacob didn’t get his way.

Curtis started to wrap up one of Q’s hands with the gauze, trying to appear as if Q hadn’t just threatened him. ‘I could have informed the principal about your little stunt the other day with the fire alarm. I’m on your side here, Q. I hope that you understand that I went out on a limb for you.’

‘Why?’ Q asked. Why did he care if the students liked him?

‘Because I was a rebel as a teen too,’ he said, locking eyes with Q. ‘It didn’t make my life easy. I wish someone would have tried to set me straight.’

‘We should get back,’ Q said, wanting to be spared a lecture.

‘One more thing,’ Curtis said. ‘If I catch you smoking on school property again, you’re getting more than just detention.’

‘I get it,’ Q said.

Mr. Curtis smiled. ‘Good.’

Curtis liked being the ‘cool teacher,’ and Q knew how to play that, just like he played his parents. This guy was a sucker. And Q came out on top once more.

Though, he dreaded going back to detention to wait for his punishment for not completing his mission.

At least now he had an excuse not to be a participant in the completion of the paper chain.





CHAPTER SIXTEEN




ZOE



Saturday


Zoe couldn’t believe it when Holly informed them of what happened in the theater. Her imagination went into overdrive, and she envisioned Q’s angry red hands after catching on fire. They all fell silent while waiting for Q and Mr. Curtis to return. Without Mr. Curtis in the room, they could have done anything. But what could they do other than wait for Jacob to choose Zoe or Holly as his next victim? They were obviously no match for this game.