Who R U Really? by Margo Kelly

Author:Margo Kelly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: F+W Media

CHAPTER 17

The next morning, I walked so fast to the bus stop that I occasionally broke out into a jog. I couldn’t run the whole way, because I didn’t want to smell sweaty, but I had to find Janie. I needed someone to talk to about my situation with Derek, and she was the only person who knew what was going on. I arrived early, and of the usual crowd, three girls were there. They gawked at me and then moved into a huddle. Whatever. I didn’t need them, I needed Janie. More people arrived, but not her. Where was she? A few minutes later, the Three Stooges strolled up to me.

“Thea,” Tim said.

“Do you know where Janie is?” I asked. The other guys made snorting sounds, and Tim whacked Josh.

“Her mom started driving her yesterday,” Tim said, never taking his eyes off me. “What’d you do to her?”

“Nothing!” But I did. I broke eye contact with him and searched the street for the bus. My throat tightened and my cheeks began to heat up, but I refused to get emotional in front of these guys. I had to keep control. I remembered shoving my dirty laundry into the hamper yesterday, pushing more clothes than should’ve been allowed, but I kept stuffing until the lid wouldn’t close. And now, in the same way, I shoved my anger down harder until it seemed no more could fit. But more could fit, if I stuffed a little harder.

Tim touched my arm and startled me. He hadn’t touched me since last summer at Rapid Shores. I realized we were alone. Josh and Taylor had left to go flirt with the girls.

“Janie said you believe Kit over her. She also said you know his real name.” I didn’t say anything. “Thea, he could be dangerous. If you know his real name we should tell someone.”

“He’s not dangerous,” I said, but then wanted to kick myself. Why was I defending him? Yesterday, I thought he might be. That was the whole reason I needed to talk to Janie.

“You can’t know either way,” Tim said. He waited for me to respond, but I remained silent. “Janie and I are worried about you.”

“Then why hasn’t she answered my messages?” My throat tightened more. We had been best friends for years, and the last person I ever imagined discussing this with was Tim.

“Janie told her mom—”

“What?” My stomach knotted.

He gripped my elbow. “She was worried about you. She talked to me first but ended up telling her mom, too. And because of that, her mom took away her cell phone and her computer, and she’s driving Janie to school because she doesn’t want her around you anymore.”

“Why didn’t Janie talk to me first?”

“She tried.”

“When?”

“Thanksgiving break.”

All those phone calls I refused. “I thought she lied about contacting Kit,” I said.

“She’s grounded because she messaged him for you. Janie’s mom even read them.”

My mouth fell open. If Janie sent the messages, that meant Derek lied to me. The world was crashing down around me, and I couldn’t catch all of the broken pieces.

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