School Lies by Kimberly G. Giarratano

Author:Kimberly G. Giarratano
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kimberly G. Giarratano

Fourteen

When Troy arrived at Heddy’s on Tuesday evening, Levi was already in a booth, bouncing his knee nervously, flipping through the menu as if he hadn’t read it a hundred times before. For once, he’d changed out of his school uniform, wearing jeans and a dark gray T-shirt with a U2 album cover on the front. He blended into the growing crowd of college students. The public school kids were on their way home for dinner by now.

Troy hesitated before joining Levi at the table, instead choosing to watch him from the safety of the doorway. Not for the first time, Troy noticed how Levi moved constantly. When Levi was fifteen, his anxiety manifested into paranoia. He was constantly looking over his shoulder, whispering when they were in public even though no one stood within fifteen feet of them, maintaining a respectable physical distance.

But something had changed in three years. Troy assumed that Levi had matured, his anxiety issues overcome, but that wasn’t true. Levi’s anxiety had now transformed itself into nervous energy—tics like cracking knuckles and twitching. Levi hadn’t changed. He was still that insecure fifteen-year-old. He thought he kept everything hidden, tucked away in compartments, but his body betrayed him. Troy could see that now.

Troy threw his backpack into the booth, and then glided in after it, his jeans snagging on a jagged hole in the red vinyl cushion. A plastic tumbler of soda with a straw poking out sat in front of him.

Levi waved his hand over the cup as if he had brewed it with magic. “I took the liberty of ordering you a Coke.”

“Thanks.” Troy smirked. “For taking the liberty.”

Levi pressed into the cushion and draped his arm over the back of the booth. “Did you get a new tire put on?”

Troy sipped his soda. “Yeah. Jerry had a full-size spare in the garage. He changed it for me and I watched him like a hawk, mentally taking notes.” Troy didn’t mention that his mother hid in the house, refusing to see her husband. “So, what’s up? I thought you were going to the hotel and reporting back first.”

Levi pointed at Troy. “I will, but I want to talk game plan.”

“Game plan?”

“Yup. We won’t find your sister without a game plan.”

“We?”

“Don’t be an idiot. You need my help.”

Troy rolled his eyes.

Levi looked around the luncheonette. “Recap for me.”

Troy sighed. “I’ve been to Miranda’s job, her class, her apartment, Goldman’s office where she volunteers. I’ve found the film negatives, but no money. And no one seems to know where she went. Oh, and I’m waiting on her classmate, Emmett, to call me.”

“What about friends?”

Troy shrugged. “They seem to be non-existent.” He raked his hands through his hair. “Where’s the waitress?”

“I also ordered you grilled cheese and tomato and fries.” Levi caught sight of Troy’s incredulous expression. “Was that wrong?”

No, it wasn’t, which infuriated Troy.

Levi began shredding a paper napkin. “You want to discuss the photos?”

Troy stared at Levi a beat too long.

“You said negatives. Plural. Meaning more photos.

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