Rumor Has It (Rumor Has It #1)
R.H. Tucker
Chapter 1
Carter
“Shots!”
Jeremy yells out to everyone gathered around his patio. His parties have been hit and miss over the past four years.
Last year, he had an awesome after-prom party. Being juniors, he invited some seniors to keep up the ‘cool’ factor. Tonight’s party isn’t for any special occasion. His parents are out of town for the weekend, both of them realtors who specialize in commercial real estate. So, having a party in Quail Hill, a house that cost Jeremy’s parents over three million dollars–something he loved to point out when they moved in right before our junior year–always impresses people.
I look over at Matt as we lounge in a hot tub, the sun setting over the backyard.
"Dude, I'm not doing shots." I laugh. "If he'd held this party yesterday like he said he was going to, then maybe. But I'm not showing up at school tomorrow with a hangover."
Matt nods, looking over at Jeremy pouring the alcohol into shot glasses. I can tell he's thinking about it but then wraps his hands behind his head, leaning back in the hot tub. "True."
Matt’s my best friend. I’ve known him since third grade, but we became good friends when we started high school at Woodbridge High. Jeremy is cool, but he can definitely rub people the wrong way. And sometimes, whatever he says is just plain stupid or dickish. Sometimes both. But we all play sports together and have been hanging out since the beginning of high school.
I lean back, enjoying the hot tub. Another great perk of Jeremy’s parties. Summertime we could jump in the pool, but if it’s cold, we hit the hot tub.
“Hey, you got Mr. Hilton’s assignment from Friday, right?” Matt says
“What assignment?” I ask lazily, still enjoying the water.
We had an away game for basketball, so we left school early for the bus ride. Mr. Hilton is our calculus teacher and does not give any students slack on missing assignments. Not that our team deserved it. We weren’t bringing any titles to Woodbridge High anytime soon.
"It was, like, five chapters I think. He said it was so much because it counts for double points on your grade."
My eyes pop open. “Shit. What’s the assignment? I can’t let my grade drop.”
“Don’t you have an A in the class?”
“Yeah, but my graduation trip, remember?”
My mom promised that if I aced every class my entire senior year, she’d get me a week’s vacation to anywhere I wanted to go. We aren’t rich by any means, so I know how big of a deal it is. The only real caveat is that I have to stay in the country. I’ve narrowed down my choices to Miami or New York.
“Oh, yeah.”
I wait for him to say something else, but he closes his eyes, leaning lower into the hot tub. “Well?”
“Bro, I don’t remember. He broke it up. I want to say chapters twenty-one to twenty-three. And then … forty-five and forty-seven?”
I look at him, confusion across my brow. Why would the chapters be that far apart? Matt’s eyes stay slightly askew. I know he’s not drunk, but he’s probably buzzed.
"No, wait. Maybe thirty-six and thirty-seven. Yes, thirties, it was definitely in the thirties." He lets out a chuckle, at what I have no idea.
“Damn it, Matt. This is serious.” He gives me an apologetic shrug.
Scanning the party, I see our other friend, Lucas. I know he doesn’t have Mr. Hilton and neither does Jeremy. I recognize some other people but don’t know if they have that class. I could go around asking people, but I’m not a nerd. Not that I have anything against nerds, but I haven’t worked two years to become captain of the varsity basketball team and one of the most popular guys in school for nothing. Yeah, yeah, it’s shitty and shallow, but I’m not giving up my good rep unless it’s absolutely necessary. If it comes down to it, I’ll turn it over for a week in New York or Miami, but right now I still have options.
“Dude, what’s that guy’s name in our class that sits behind you. Craig? No, Carson?”
“Carlos.”
“Yeah, Carlos. You had that buddy assignment with him last month, right? Did you guys exchange numbers?” Matt nods. “Text me his number. I’ll ask him for the assignment.”
“You’re gonna do five chapters by tomorrow?”
"The class isn't until the end of the day. I got all night tonight and then tomorrow." Matt looks at me like I'm crazy. "Dude, just do it."
“Fine,” he says, reaching for his phone next to him. “There you go.”
My phone chirps next to my head and I grab it, sending off the text message.
ME: Hey, Carlos. You don’t know me, we’re in Mr. Hilton’s calculus class and I got your number from Matt. I was hoping I could get the weekend assignment from you. Thanks!
I want to breathe a sigh of relief, but I’m not sure how long it will be until he replies. Hopefully not long. We all look at our phones constantly, right? But maybe he has it on silent. Or maybe he has a limited data plan. Or maybe it broke. Thinking about missing out on my graduation gift starts making the stress levels rise as my phone goes off.
UNKNOWN: This isn’t Carlos. Wrong number