Ever After (East Raven Academy Book 1)(30)

“What happened?” Emma asks.

“Apparently they broke into the school and killed the principal and one student. They shot another kid, but I think they said she’s going to live,” Teagan says. “It was at a school not too far from where my parents live, and everybody is really upset about it. They haven’t caught the guys who did it, and they don’t even know why they did it. There wasn’t a motive. Apparently there were some files ransacked, but that was it.”

“Weird,” Estaine says.

“Totally,” Emma agrees.

I want to tell them it’s my fault.

But I can’t.

Instead, I get up from the table and walk out of the dining hall without another word. I ignore my friends as they call after me. Once I am outside, I run to my dorm room and spend the rest of the afternoon crying.





4pm.


I can’t take anymore crying today.





I skip soccer practice. I know that I shouldn’t, I just can’t face everybody right now. What Teagan was saying in the lunchroom just made it all more... real. It was like both of my worlds collided in the worst possible way.

Well, I guess not the worst way. The worst way would be terrorists finding me and shooting all of my new friends. Still, I wanted my worlds to stay completely different, and now I realize that it isn’t possible. The guilt of lying is eating me inside, and I hate it.

Not wanting to sulk anymore, I drive to Uncle Matty and Jake’s house. I have to ask them about Saturday, and I know it’ll be better in person. I imagine that I will have to do a lot of begging.

Also, I kind of want to avoid Estaine. I figure maybe I can’t hang out with them until later. It’s a great plan, if I do say so. Even though he will most likely see right through it.

Eventually, I will have to talk to Estaine. But not today. Definitely not today.

When I pull up to the house, Jake is in the front yard, washing his car.

Oh, thank goodness. Maybe I can avoid Uncle Matty.

“Hey, Jake,” I say.

“Everything okay?” he asks me.

“Yeah. I just... need to talk.”

“Oh, okay,” he says, letting out a breath.

He puts down the water hose and goes to sit on the steps of the porch. I sit beside him.

“So, what’s this about?” Jake asks. “You look nervous.”

I look nervous?

I look down at my hands and see my fingers intertwined. When I’m nervous, I play with my hands.

“The thing is...” I clear my throat. Nope. I can’t ask right off the bat. I’ve got to warm up first. “Do you remember being a teenager?”

He laughs. “I’m not that old, Phoenix.”

“Right,” I say.

Ah, crud. Now I’ve insulted him by calling him old.

“I just mean... um... did you have a girl that you liked when you were a teenager?” I ask.

“Of course. Lots of them.” He pauses. “Why do you ask?”

“I kind of like this boy, and I think he likes me,” I say. “I mean, I’m pretty sure he does. He texts me all the time and tells me how beautiful I am. And he wants to hang out with me on Saturday.”

“I’d definitely say he likes you,” Jake says. “Boys don’t call girls beautiful unless they mean it... or...” He looks at me, his eyes wide. “You know, you should be careful. You’re young. You don’t need to date right now.”

My face grows warm.

I’m pretty sure I know what he’s insinuating.

“Brooks isn’t like that,” I say.

“Wait, you’re going to hang out with the kid from West Raven?” Jake asks.

“If I get permission to leave campus,” I say.

“No. Absolutely not. Out of the question,” he says.

“Come on,” I say. “You just said you weren’t that old. Which means you remember what it’s like to be young and have a super, massive crush on somebody. Please, Jake. Please, please, please.”

“No,” he says. “It’s not happening.”

“If I don’t get permission, then I will just sneak off campus,” I say, stubbornly.

“Not if I handcuff you and force you to spend the day with me,” Jake says.

“I swear, I will run away,” I say.

“No, Phoenix.”

“Please,” I say. “Can’t you just come and watch from a distance?”

“Absolutely not, Phoenix. Do you not remember what happened yesterday? These terrorists are serious,” he says. “And I’m not letting you put your life in danger for a high school crush. It’s not worth it, trust me.”

“There has to be a way,” I say, standing up from the steps. I begin to pace back and forth. “You guys told me when I came here that I needed to start a new life. I didn’t want to. But now I have and you won’t even let me live that life. What is a life where I’m constantly in fear? What difference does it make if I’m on campus, or out with a guy? You and Uncle Matty can watch from a distance, or whatever. I’ll be safe. I know I will. Just, please, don’t ask me to cancel this date. I really like this guy.”

“Phoenix...”

When he says my name, I can feel all hope start to dwindle, and my eyes fill with tears.