True Colors (The Masks #1)(39)
*****
Between my homework load and my research quest, I spent most of Saturday in my room, on my computer. I Googled different variations of Liam Donovan, Burbank until I went cross-eyed. I found a few pictures of Liam at Burbank High when he was a freshman. I also found the name Mason Donovan and one grainy picture that was obviously scanned from the yearbook. They looked like brothers, although Mason’s face was more refined and angular, his blue eyes darker. He was a senior at Burbank High when Liam was a freshman. There was a strong chance Mason was the brother Indie was referring to. On that assumption, I researched Liam and Mason Donovan together. Nothing really popped out, even when I scoured the online Burbank Leader, the newspaper for the area. The only thing of significance I could find from two years back was concern from citizens about teenage parties and car thefts in the area. I figured it was unrelated and I gave up with an annoyed sigh.
Homework was calling and I needed a break. I was never going to work out what Liam was up to, and I kept coming back to the same thing. Indie was my way in. If I could get her to trust me, then maybe I could set her free and expose whoever Liam Donovan really was.
*****
Monday morning brought with it the opportunity I’d been waiting for. I walked into Biology, still grinning after reading Eric’s text. I’d been getting them all weekend. He’d had the best time with his grandpa, but couldn’t stop checking up on me. Not wanting to burden him, I’d kept all my frustrations to myself, making sure my texts were flirty and light, yet informative enough not to arouse any concerns.
I couldn’t wait to see him this weekend. My parents were leaving for Hawaii on Friday to visit Holly for ten days. Ten days! I was super stoked about having the house to myself and purposely hadn’t told anyone. I didn’t want Stella launching some surprise party on me... not that she would anymore.
This was the first time my parents hadn’t waited for Spring Break to visit Holly. I was always dragged along, but this year they decided I was old enough to handle things on my own. Thankfully their tickets were already booked and paid for before the Chase incident. I’d managed to ease Mom’s worries over that by telling her we’d broken up. She was aware of Eric, but seemed to like the Shore boy very much.
When Eric came over this weekend, there’d be no little boys interrupting our Saturday night and no mothers walking in on any make out sessions. The very thought was simply delicious.
“You keep grinning like that and it won’t be hard for people to figure out you’re crushing big time.”
I shunted Micah’s elbow, my cheeks heating quickly.
We were waiting for Mrs. Mackerly to arrive. She was always late for Biology. She left out assignment sheets usually, so we just got on with it, but not today.
“So who is he?”
I shrugged, trying to hide the way my heart hiccuped every time I thought about my sexy next-door neighbor. “Just a guy. He doesn’t go to this school.”
“I take it you want to keep it on the down low.” Micah’s eyebrows rose.
“Maybe.” I blushed. Although Stella and I had now "broken up" she would still freak if she knew. She’d wanted Eric just as long as I had and I think she somehow felt more entitled to him.
“It’s cool. I won’t say anything.” Michah's big lips pushed to the side, his standard lopsided grin.
“Thanks.”
He nodded, reverting his attention back to Indie. I couldn’t help peeling back his mask. And he thought I was crushing big time. I wondered how he’d react if he knew she liked him too. I wished I could do something to help them. I was really worried about Indie...and Libby. They had both shut me out. They weren’t being rude or anything, just really distant. I felt like if I could just get some time with them, I might be able to crack their veneers, get them to tell me what the hell was going on in this school. They both knew something and I was pretty sure the thing they feared was the same—Liam Donovan.
“Alright class, sorry I’m late. The school server is on the fritz and the photocopier was being mean to me.” We all grinned as Mrs. Mackerly strode into the room looking flustered. "Hand these back please." She shoved a pile of papers at the people in the front row, who took one each and passed the pile along.
Micah grabbed two sheets and handed me one before passing the rest back. I scanned the top of the page and saw it was a huge assignment.
“This is your last graded assignment for the year. It’s worth 20% of your lab assessment, so I’m expecting a really big effort on this one. You will be working in groups of four, but there will also be individual components you are expected to complete. I was going to let you choose your own groups, but I’ve decided it’ll be quicker if lab partners just go with the people in front of them.”
I quickly counted from the front of the class and saw that we would be paired with Indie and Libby. Sweet! This might be the chance I was looking for.
The girls both turned to acknowledge Micah and me. I glanced at his face, peeled back a layer and saw him beaming. He was even more excited than I was.
I nudged his elbow without meaning to, accidentally letting him in on the fact that I knew his secret. His intense scowl made me regret my decision, but then he rolled his eyes and shook his head.
“Is it that obvious?” he whispered.
“Only to me.” I winked.