Six Little Secrets(41)

Zoe sucked in a breath. ‘I don’t want to suffer like everyone else, but why wasn’t I targeted? What was the point of me being here?’

Teddy placed his hands on the side of the box and shrugged. ‘I have no idea. But you should feel grateful. To be honest, I never thought you did anything anyway.’

Zoe considered him.

‘I know we haven’t been close in a while, something that I do think about a lot, but you’re still a good person. And you’ve managed to stay that way even after what happened to your dad.’

The corners of Zoe’s mouth tugged down involuntarily. She wasn’t going to cry in front of him. She slid the box off the table and brought it back to the office.

With a moment to herself, she took a breath, still feeling the prickling sensation on the back of her neck as if someone was watching her. She shook it off and placed the box down on Mrs. Jenkin’s desk.

She was about to leave when a red piece of paper caught her eye. Zoe choked on her next breath. She touched the slip. Her name was on one side. She didn’t try and question how Megan placed it there without anyone seeing. She flipped it over, and there were only two words written. ‘Walk home.’

A slow breath escaped her lips. She nodded and placed the box down, shoving the slip into her pocket.

When she came out, Teddy was waiting for her. ‘Do you need a ride?’

‘No, thanks. I’m going to walk home.’

‘I’ll see you Monday?’

She nodded, hoping she’d be able to keep that promise.





CHAPTER TWENTY




ZOE



Saturday


On the way home, Zoe became hyper-aware of her surroundings. Every movement out of the corner of her eye made her flinch. She couldn’t shake the chill that attached itself to her spine, making her shiver uncontrollably.

The moment she knew she was alone, she pulled out her phone and texted the first person who came to mind. ‘Are you okay?’

Three dots appeared in the message and then disappeared. She held her breath until she saw the dots again.

‘No,’ was the only reply.

And that was that. Her fingers hovered over the screen, unable to figure out what to say. I’m sorry, wouldn’t cut it. It will all be okay, would be a flat-out lie.

She turned up the ringer volume of her phone and shoved it in her bag. If he wanted to talk to her, he could contact her.

Zoe decided to cut through the park near her house. It was the shortest route, and she wanted to feel safe for once that day. She couldn’t believe that morning she wanted to go to detention to get away from her life, and now she wanted to open the back door and feel the safety and security of her home.

There were a few kids and parents at the playground, and she swiftly walked passed them, feeling better that she wasn’t alone. If something were to happen to her, they would notice.

She thought she was home-free when the person she thought was a parent stood from one of the benches and turned to her.

‘Holly,’ Zoe said, her breath catching in her throat.

‘You can call me Megan,’ she said. ‘Holly has done her work.’ Megan’s plan had been impeccable. Now there was only Zoe’s life to screw up.

‘I could go to the police,’ Zoe threatened. ‘What you’ve done isn’t right.’

Megan shrugged one shoulder. ‘Sometimes lessons need to be taught in more unconventional ways. I guarantee Jackie will think twice before making rude comments to anyone. Cece will stop stealing. Q and his arsonist days are over. And Teddy will stop dealing. He has a bright future, anyway—’

‘Not anymore, you took away his money!’ Zoe shrieked. ‘How will he afford college now?’ Megan had no idea what she’d done to Teddy by taking his money. She was just as bad as Cece the night of Jacob’s death.

A few of the parents looked their way, but Zoe couldn’t hold it together anymore. She needed answers and to know what Megan had in store for her.

‘I didn’t take it away,’ Megan said. ‘I gave it to a good cause. The home that Jacob came from has a small budget for scholarships for trade programs for troubled youth. The money will be well spent. And Teddy has the grades to get scholarships.’

‘People make mistakes,’ Zoe pleaded, more for herself than the others.

‘They do until someone dies from those mistakes. They will go through life with scars from today, physical and mental scars that will shape them into better people.’

Zoe steeled herself. ‘Fine then, give me my task, I want this to be over with.’

‘I never wanted to involve you in this,’ Megan said. ‘You were the first person who was nice to me when I came to the school.’

‘Then don’t do it,’ Zoe said, wondering if she could get out of this unscathed. ‘Just walk away.’

‘I’m afraid I can’t,’ Megan said. She glanced over Zoe’s shoulder. ‘He needs to pay.’

‘Who?’

‘Your boyfriend,’ Megan said.

A weight pressed on Zoe’s chest.

‘Mr. Curtis,’ Megan said.

There it was. Megan did know Zoe’s secret. She wasn’t sure how, since they were careful. The others thought they were careful too.