The '68 Camaro Between Kenickie and Me (Pacifica Academy Drama Book 2) Read online

  “Sweetheart, what really happened last night?” Grams asked.

  I shrugged. “I told you what happened when I called—”

  “Natalie,” Gramps interjected, “you’ve never done anything like this before. And we’re all finding it hard to believe a fight with your friends led to Shane bringing you here, and in the condition you were in, at such a late hour.”

  My face burned at his words. “Please don’t blame him. He didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “We’re not blaming Shane,” my dad stressed. “But what happened?”

  I took a slow, deep breath, to give myself time to find the right words.

  And hopefully I wouldn’t be grounded for the rest of my high school life after this.

  “Okay. We…went to a party at Chad’s place. He’s Quinn’s boyfriend.” My confession caught everyone’s attention. “And his roommate got…aggressive with me.” Definitely the truth.

  My dad sat up, and his eyes and face hardened. Which I took as a sign in my favor.

  My mother’s eyes tripled in size, and my grandparents became uncomfortably silent.

  “What did he do? Did you get some help?” my dad asked.

  “Nothing,” I swiftly answered, because of how angry he sounded. “I…pushed him away from me and left the party.”

  Their faces and postures relaxed at hearing me say that. And everything I told them next—minus Ella’s cruelty—was the truth.

  Until my mother asked, “What kind of party was this? Was there drinking?”

  I had to lie on this one. But I also knew Ella and Quinn would never admit to drinking.

  “No. Just a party with Chad and some of his friends.”

  She raised her eyebrows, clearly not convinced. Just like my dad and grandparents.

  “Do Quinn’s parents know what kind of friends their daughter’s boyfriend has?”

  I sensed the bad direction this was headed in and said, “Mom, I don’t know. And I don’t need you talking to them about what happened. It’ll embarrass me and get Quinn in trouble.” Which really meant more trouble for me, and I so didn’t need more trouble.

  The corners of her mouth tightened, but I didn’t give a crap.

  “Honey,” my dad began, sounding exhausted. I guess I had worried them. “It’s good you got yourself out of there, and your friends and Shane picked you up. But why didn’t you come home? How did you end up in Shane’s clothes and here at your grandparents’ house?”

  More honesty poured out of me and led to, “Shane gave me all this to change into.” I gestured at the baggy bottoms, gray T-shirt and white socks. “He was being…awesome.”

  My mother’s face slowly relaxed and went back to its normal color.

  “That explains the clothes,” my dad continued. “But why didn’t you call us about what happened and have Shane bring you home? We were home from our party before midnight. And you coming home would’ve been easier on everyone.”

  Maybe it was all the time I’d spent explaining—reliving—last night that made my defenses snap at his words, and I blurted out, “I didn’t want to go to that home.”

  I shocked everyone into silence. I even saw hurt flash through my dad’s eyes. And my mother was now focused on her hands tightly folded on her lap. But all I cared about at this moment was continuing my honesty streak.

  “This is my real home. With Chloe. Where I can just be me. And not judged because I’m nothing like her.” I stared at my mother. Now she actually looked hurt. But I kept going. “I hate leaving this house. Chloe. My room. Where I can have a picture of my dream car over my bed.”

  “Natalie,” Gramps said in a low voice, “we understand you had a terrible night. But that’s no excuse for your tone or talking like that.”

  I gripped Chloe and stood. “I’m sorry. But it’s the truth.” I hugged her as tight as I could without making her squirm. “I’m not leaving this house again without my dog.”

  I turned from them and headed back to my room.

  I hadn’t meant to hurt their feelings. Even my mother’s. And I flinched remembering my dad’s hurt. But speaking nothing but honesty made me feel a little more weightless.

  I stepped into my room, shut the door, then locked it.

  I had no idea where my rebellion would leave me with my parents after today. And it’s not like my grandparents would kick me out.

  But maybe…just maybe…they and my dad would be able to convince my mother to let me have Chloe when I stayed in the city.

  Chapter 30

  I headed for Quinn, waiting outside school with my overnight bag and purse, as Gramps drove off. She was frowning. Probably because she hadn’t expected him to be dropping me off.

  I had absolutely no idea what to say to her. Except the truth. But would she listen?

  “You’re back at your grandparents’ house?” she asked.

  I shrugged. “My parents are traveling this week.” Grams had told me that yesterday. After my parents left without another word to me. And that’s all Quinn needed to know.

  She handed over my bags. “Here’s all your stuff.”

  “Thanks.”

  I headed up the stairs and she followed me.

  When we were inside the building, I looked for Shane. He’d told me before we hung up yesterday he’d find me when he got to school.

  “Why didn’t you text me back yesterday?” Quinn asked, with a hint of irritation.

  I stopped when we reached the stairs. I needed to get this over with. She’d also given me a pretty perfect opening. So I released a quick breath and said, “Because I was pissed at you.”

  Her eyes narrowed into slits. “You were pissed at me? For what? My parents freaked when we showed up at my house without you. And Chad’s upset with me because of what you did to Daniel. He’ll probably never invite us to another party again.”

  My temper flared inside me and I started quivering. Because she was still taking Daniel the dickhead’s side. And had yet to ask for my side of that rotten story.

  “I don’t give a crap,” I hissed. “Because Daniel—” I stopped when my brain registered the disdain radiating from her eyes.

  Quinn was supposed to be the “nice one.” The one who took the time to understand and not jump to assumptions. The opposite of Ella.

  Okay. Maybe I had gotten Quinn into a little trouble with her parents. And, yeah, I’m sure Chad wanted nothing more to do with me. Which didn’t bother me one bit. But she and I were supposed to be…what were we?

  “Daniel…?” Quinn crossed her arms. “What did he do, Natalie? Because he’s always been really nice to me.”

  I stared at her for several seconds. Then burst into laughter. Because telling her the truth would so not be worth my breath. And it’s not like I’d ever be going to another party with them.

  Those days were over.

  She looked at me as though my laughter had slapped her across the face. “Ella’s right. You’ve gotten so weird since you got grounded.”

  I guess Ella had shared those feelings with Quinn. But hearing her name reminded me I did have to tell Quinn the truth about Ella and me.

  I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter what Daniel did to me. Or tried to do,” I muttered under my breath. I looked at her. “But Ella lied to you, too, Saturday night.”

  Her eyes rolled sideways. “What are you talking about? She has no idea why you—”

  “No!” I snapped. “I pulled her outside, to tell her what happened with Daniel, but she didn’t give a crap.” I leaned forward. “She chewed my ass for being in the competition with the club, then left me out there.”

  She stared at me. “You’re doing the competition with your club?”

  Really? That’s all she’d heard? And I guess Ella hadn’t even told her that much.

  I truly no longer existed in her world.

  “Yes. I am. And I’m excited about it.” I just needed to make sure I told them that at lunch.

  I planned on sitting with them starting
this afternoon.

  Quinn’s stare turned into a glare.

  I pressed my lips together and nodded once.

  Of course she would fly to Ella’s defense.

  “How could you do that, Natalie?” She stepped toward me. “Ella’s your best friend. Not those kids.” Her glare turned into a sneer. “And no wonder she lied and didn’t seem to care about what happened to you Saturday night. You lied to her. Us. And betrayed her.”

  Wow. At least I now knew where I stood with Quinn.

  “Well, she made it perfectly clear Saturday night I’m not her best friend anymore.” I started to go around her to head upstairs. “Because of what you said, I guess we’re done, too.”

  “Nat…wait.” She sighed. “I’m sure she didn’t mean it—what do you want?”

  I was about to run up the steps when I looked over and saw Shane had walked up.

  Relief filled every part of me, and I wanted to throw my arms around him. Especially since I’d been practically comatose when he dropped me off at my grandparents’ house.

  He returned Quinn’s glare. “I’m here to talk to her. If that’s okay with you?”

  Several more kids walked into the building. The hallways were getting louder.

  “Why?” Quinn snidely asked.

  A muscle in his jaw pulsed before he said, “I think the answer to that question falls under none of your business.”

  Her face turned so red it looked like her blonde head would burst. “Ella’s right. You are another jerk high school boy. Maddie’s, like, devastated because of you.” She flounced around me and stomped up the stairs.

  And I couldn’t work up an ounce of anything but more relief.

  A swarm of kids came through the doors and were talking at full volume.

  Shane came closer to the stairs. “Well that was a fantastic way to start the day,” he grumbled. Our eyes connected and his face softened. “Are you okay after dealing with her?”

  I nodded. “Yeah. But…” I grinned. “I’m better now that you’re here.”

  He came around to my right side and we walked up the stairs together. “That’s a fantastic way to start the day.” His eyes drifted down and up me. “You look much better than you did the last time I saw you. Natalie Carlisle’s back,” he added in a lowered voice.

  I bit my lower lip. “Stop looking at me like that, Kenickie. No one looks good in these awful uniforms.” Except him. He managed to look hot in anything he wore.

  “You’re not seeing you through my eyes,” he quietly said.

  We reached the second floor, and my entire body flushed.

  We walked to where we’d be out of the way of other kids coming upstairs.

  “So are your grandparents still pissed at you about what happened with your parents?”

  I nodded-shrugged. “I hate when they’re upset with me. But I can’t help my feelings.”

  Also known as the truth.

  “At least you didn’t get grounded.” He smiled. That smile. And I laughed as he asked “Are you…ready for today?”

  I sighed. “Yeah. But I have Yates first. And Quinn’s in there. But so’s Warren.”

  The first two being a double dose of reality I had no interest in dealing with.

  “And I’ll have to beg Ms. Simmons for a new seat because of Ella being in there.”

  “Natalie, it’s Ms. Simmons. You won’t have to beg.”

  True. But I would have to get to her class as fast as I could to avoid Ella altogether.

  He stepped closer. “You really do look great. I mean” —his face turned an adorable shade of pink— “you did look pretty cute in my clothes. But the awful uniform fits you.”

  I giggled at his words. And pink face. “Thanks. But I forgot to bring your clothes.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Sunshine.” He leaned down and placed his head beside mine. “I know where to find you if I want them back.”

  A jolt of electricity shot up my spine and from there exploded and spread…everywhere.

  My head became a little misty.

  He straightened. “I have to go to my locker. Looks like you do, too.” He nodded at the two bags I held. He started to turn, then stopped. “But I’ll see you at lunch.”

  Wait…what?

  For some reason, I hadn’t even thought about us sitting together at lunch.

  He winked at me and headed down the hallway.

  I went in the opposite direction toward my locker, but paused. To scan the faces of kids walking through the hallway. But nobody was paying any attention to me. No looks of surprise. Or judgment. So if anybody had noticed Shane and I standing so close, smiling blindly at each other while we talked, it hadn’t made an impact. A good sign nobody did care, but…Would that change after lunch today?

  I started walking as excitement mingled with…fear…built inside my stomach.

  I’d been really set on sitting with Kassidy, Meg, Warren and all of them at lunch. But what if he wanted me to sit with him? With his friends? Was I even ready to meet all of his friends? And what if they hated me? Bitchy Natalie…Then Shane’s question appeared in my mind. A question that now seemed pretty loaded.

  Are you ready for today?

  I shoved the fear to the back of my mind and lifted my chin.

  Yes. I’d prove to myself and him I was ready. For more than just sitting together at lunch.

  I, smiling, entered the cafeteria and went straight for my new table. I also made it a point not to look over at the table where I used to sit. But not knowing what Shane had meant by “I’ll see you at lunch,” I did give his side of the cafeteria a quick glance—my smile dipped.

  He wasn’t there.

  Where could he—I halted when I reached my new table. Because he was on Kassidy’s left side, an empty chair between them. J.R. sat to her right.

  Everyone stopped talking when they saw me.

  A twinge of fear took a hold of me. There was an empty chair beside Shane, but—everyone gave me warm, friendly smiles. Except Shane. He unleashed that smile.

  My brief moment of tension left my body in a quiet breath.

  “Hey.” Kassidy scooted her chair closer to J.R. “I had a feeling you’d be sitting with us, so we saved you a spot.” She casually eyed the space between her and Shane.

  I smiled at her and everyone else, and went directly for my seat right next to him.

  I sat down, and Shane clasped my left hand under the table.

  My tummy did a little flip.

  “I’m so glad you’re sitting with us,” Lexi chirped from her seat next to Warren, sitting across from me. “Are you okay? You were so sad on Friday.”

  As more pieces of my heart came together, I said, “I’m a hundred times better, Lexi.”

  She gave me a bright smile and popped an orange slice into her mouth.

  Shane turned his head away from everyone. “I figured you’d be more comfortable sitting here,” he whispered in my ear. “So where’s your new seat in Ms. Simmons’s class?”

  His soft breath on my ear made me shiver. But the kind of shivering that made me want to be All. Alone. With him. Especially since he’d sat over here for me.

  I swept those thoughts aside—for now—and whispered, “Thanks. And the opposite side of the room.”

  I’d slyly watched Ella, handing out buttons to kids before class started. She had exactly what she wanted. All the attention for her campaign. Something she would never give up, meaning she and Quinn wouldn’t breathe a word about Saturday night, either.

  It would take the attention off of Ella.

  I guess it was a good thing for me she-devil Ella Walker wanted to be the first female president of student council.

  My eyes then landed on Warren, Lexi, and Jade and Nate, who were sitting on Shane’s left side. And a soft smile lifted the corners of my mouth. Because they didn’t seem too curious about Shane, or me, sitting with them all of a sudden.

  Maybe we really had been super obvious that day during the meeting. />
  Or maybe nobody did care.

  “Lexi, Natalie wasn’t just sad on Friday. She was pissed. Like all of us,” Meg said. She sat between Warren and Owen. “I’d love to know who’s been hating on the club.”

  “Same here,” I grumbled.

  Shane gave my hand a quick squeeze and released it.

  I felt the childish urge to face him and push out my lower lip. But I guess we couldn’t eat our lunches with one hand.

  “Guys, we’ll never know that,” Kassidy stated. “We have to let it go, too.”

  “But we don’t have to let go of the competition.” Warren spoke directly to me. “You seem to be in a much better mood today. Though I did notice things were very chilly between you and Quinn. And now you’re sitting here. What’s going on?”

  I busied myself with emptying my lunch bag. I had a sandwich and chips today instead of salad and fruit, and I grinned at the really nice change.

  Shane, Kassidy, Meg, J.R. and Owen had also become focused on their lunches.

  “It’s…a long story,” I finally said. “I’ll tell you about it some other time.”

  Warren’s eyes bounced from me to Shane and back. “Okay. We’ll absolutely talk later. But what about the competition?”

  “Nat, we know Friday was rotten.” Jade leaned forward to see me past Nate and Shane. “But please change your mind. We can still have fun and kick some ass.”

  I laughed at hearing Jade talk like that and sensed everyone’s eyes were on me as I said to her, “I did change my mind. And we’re so doing the competition.”

  Silence followed my strong statement. Until my club—my friends—laughed with relief.

  “Yay.” Lexi quietly clapped her hands. “I’ll call my aunt after school and tell her we’ll still need her studio this week.”

  I caught Shane giving me an I-told-you-so smile. Meaning they did love the real Natalie.

  Something about his smile made me want to grab the folds of his sweater and kiss him. Over and over…

  “Our routine’s gonna to be so awesome,” Owen said before taking a bite of his sandwich.

  That earned him a dirty look from Meg, followed by her elbowing his side. Which made him choke a bit on his food.