Front Page Face-Off (21 page)

This time he stopped talking, and I knew my safest answer would be a nonsarcastic one.

I tried to keep the quaver out of my voice as I said, “A lot, sir.”

“Oh, that's an understatement!” He narrowed his eyes at me. “No allowance. No friends. No phone. No life outside of school … if they'll even let you keep going here.”

“Suspension is definitely a possibility,” said the headmaster with a frown.

“Since you've screwed up your life so royally,” said Major, “any other crimes I should know about?”

At that moment, Marcus chose to make his appearance.
Since he was taller than most of the students, he was able to see me cowering in the corner, and since he was stronger than most of the students, he was able to push his way to the front.

“Delilah, what's going on?”

Major grabbed Marcus's shoulder before he could reach me. “Who are you?”

Marcus gave him an evil look and jerked free. “I'm her boyfriend. Back off.”

Of all the times he could have chosen to declare our relationship status, he chose that moment. The fates clearly had it in for me.

Major looked as if Marcus had slapped him. “I recognize you. You're a red border!”

“A
what
?”

Instead of explaining, Major cast dooming eyes on me. “You're dating someone I expressly forbade you to date?”

Marcus frowned at me. “What's he talking about, Delilah?”

“I … I …” I looked from him to the headmaster to Ben to Major, their faces all melting into one giant blur of
tears.

I'd lost my paper. My best friend hated me. My soon-to-be stepfather would never trust me again. My first boyfriend was about to be my first
ex
-boyfriend. And on top of all
that
,
half the school was watching my self-destruction—and no doubt loving it.

My heart throbbed in my ears. I blinked several times and tried to speak, but suddenly it felt like my head was clouded with cotton, and I found it hard to focus. And then all the light went out of the world and I felt the cold squish of Cool Whip beneath me.

I woke up in a way I hoped would never happen again …
with my face in the sweaty armpit of the school nurse. She was leaning across me for something and jumped back when I let out a startled scream.

“Major Paulsen,” she said, clutching her chest, “I believe Delilah's awake.”

Major was standing beside my cot in a matter of seconds, his bushy eyebrows wiggling furiously, as if he wasn't sure whether to be mad or relieved or concerned.

I reached out for his hand. “Please
don't yell. I know I messed up big-time.”

His eyebrows relaxed and he squeezed my fingers. “There won't be any more yelling. I think you've had enough for one day.”

I closed my eyes, remembering the crowd of students who now knew all the horrible things I'd done. “I got what I deserved.”

Major pulled a chair up beside my cot. “And what makes you say that?”

Behind him, I could see Jenner sitting on another cot, her arm in a sling. My lower lip trembled, so I couldn't speak. Instead, I just pointed.

Major glanced over his shoulder at Jenner, and she looked at him, avoiding direct eye contact with me.

“Ah. I see,” said Major. “Well, that was an unfortunate consequence, yes.”

“I turned Ava into a laughingstock and made her cry.” I started crying myself. “And I snuck out of school and lied to you and ruined my best friend's life.” I breathed deeply and choked a little. “I'm a monster!”

Major handed me a tissue. “First, there are no such things as monsters, so you most certainly aren't one. Second, why did you do all that?”

I took the tissue from him but merely clutched at it, wiping my eyes on my sleeve. “I wanted to win the war.”

“You wanted …” Major trailed off and pressed his hands together, bringing them to his lips. “That was why you came to me.”

I nodded. “You said Ava was the enemy, and that I had to neutralize the threat.”

“Of course.” Now Major closed his eyes, shaking his head. “That was some … terrible parenting on my part.”

“No!” I sat up on my cot. “It's my fault—”

Major stopped me with a raised hand. “Delilah, I talked to you as if you were one of my men. I didn't stop to think how different the world works for someone your age. I should never have compared your situation to mine.”

His eyes narrowed and he frowned. “Of course, I may have handled things differently if I'd known
exactly
what was going on. Telling someone you're doing a project on war is much different from telling them you're going to wage war, isn't it?”

I sniffled and nodded again. “Yes, sir.”

Major got to his feet and paced beside my cot. “In the future you will stick to the
whole
truth about a problem, and you will tell an adult how you plan to solve it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You will also …” He paused, glancing down at the way his hands were folded behind his back. “I'm doing it again.”

For the first time since I'd woken up, I smiled. “A little.”

Major let his shoulders drop enough to look sad but not sloppy. “You know, I've always excelled in every field. I was top of my class at West Point, and I mastered night drops in jump school before anyone else. But being a father …” He held his arms out, as if expecting to be handed the Worst Parent of the Year Award. Instead, I leaned into the empty space and hugged him.

“You're going to be a great dad,” I said. “Because you always want what's best for me.”

“I do,” he agreed, squeezing me. “Even if my efforts
are … slightly misguided.”

I leaned back. “And I still would have tried to beat Ava with or without your advice. Because I want the best for me too.”

“But you shouldn't have to hurt other people to get it.” Across the room, Jenner finally spoke, though it was directed at the floor.

I slid off the cot and approached her cautiously, but she didn't move to stop me. “I know.” I sat beside her. “You were right … about everything. I should have just let Ava have the position.”

Now Jenner glanced up, shaking her head vigorously. “No, Delilah. I never said that. You should
totally
be the lead reporter, and I still think you deserve it more than Ava does.”

“Thanks.” I ventured a small smile. “But I'm sure you would have preferred I not break your arm in the process.”

“Well, duh. But lucky for you”—Jenner raised her slung arm—“it's not broken. Just bruised.”

I fell back against the cot in relief. “I thought I heard it crunch!”

With a sheepish grin she reached into her pants pocket and pulled out a cracked container of mints. “The bad
news … my Tic Tacs are now in powder form. The good news … I can still surf.”

I gave a happy squeal and hugged her. She returned it, and when we pulled apart, I crossed my heart with my fingers. “I promise I'll never do anything to put you or our friendship in danger again.”

Jenner repeated my gesture. “I promise to never let you.” We smiled at each other, and I turned to Major.

“And I promise to tell you
everything
when I'm in
trouble … but only if we can get rid of the banned boy book.” I felt myself blushing. “There are guys in there you've … you've color-coded unfairly.”

Major raised an eyebrow. “I suppose you're referring to the red border around that young man who calls himself your boyfriend.”

My cheeks warmed even more, but I nodded. “He's really nice. And he's changed a lot over the last year.”

“So I've read.” Major nodded to a copy of the
Brighton Bugle
sitting on the counter. “I'm not sure how much of it to believe, but you wrote a compelling article, at least.”

“Oh, it's all true,” I said. “I fact-checked everything.” It took a moment for his last words to sink in. “Wait.” I frowned. “How did you know I wrote it? I never mentioned it, and Ava's name is on the byline.”

“I've seen enough of your work to recognize your style.” He cleared his throat. “Also, Jenner told me.”

I looked at her and she nodded. “I told the headmaster, too, when he came to check on you. And Paige stopped by and told him Ava's been bragging about the whole thing, so he's
really
upset with her.”

I sat in stunned silence, cycling through everything I'd just heard. “Paige stuck up for me? Jenner,
you
stuck up for me? Even when you were mad?”

Jenner smiled and bumped me with her shoulder. “Well, of course. You're my best friend.”

I hugged her again. “This is a horrible question to ask right now, but”—I glanced hopefully at Major—“do you think the headmaster might let me back on the paper? Since it wasn't entirely my fault?”

Major smiled, as if he'd been waiting for that question. “The three of us will sit down and talk. I'm sure we can come up with something, even if it's probationary.”

I gave him my most wide-eyed, innocent look. “Does that mean I can get out of being grounded, too?”

“Ha!” Major slapped me on the shoulder. “Never in a thousand years.”

When I was allowed to leave the nurse's office a half hour later, the first thing I did was send a text to Marcus, asking him to meet me in the courtyard. Since it was between classes, I snuck outside without too many people watching, which was a good thing. I'd been the center of attention enough for one day.

As soon as I saw Marcus, I dropped onto one of the benches and clasped my hands in my lap. “Hey.”

He sat beside me. “Hey. Are you okay? I went by the office to check on you earlier, but you were still out of it.”

“I'm fine,” I said, glowing a little at his concern. “I just needed to tell you something, and you might not like me after you hear it.”

Marcus bowed his head and leaned forward. “Is this the breakup talk?”

“No!” I grabbed one of his hands and held it tight. “I mean, you might want to when I'm finished, but … but
I
don't want to.”

“Okay.” Marcus gave me a curious smile. “Who did you murder?”

I told him everything I'd done, from the Renee Mercer incident on. A couple times he smiled, but most of the time he sat quietly and shook his head. When I felt like I'd reached the end of my story, I let go of his hand and took a deep breath.

“Well … now you know what kind of person I am.”

Instead of storming off in disgust, Marcus busted out laughing. “Delilah, I've
always
known what kind of person you are.”

I squinted at him, not sure if I should be offended or relieved. “You have?”

“Yes!” He took my hand. “You want to win at everything, but sometimes you don't think about how you're getting there. It doesn't mean you're a bad person.”

I blushed and nodded. “Thanks … for not hating me.”

“Everybody makes mistakes,” he said with a grin. “Yours are just more exciting.”

He leaned over and kissed me, and I hugged him tight.

“I'm dropping the whole issue with Katie,” I mumbled into his shoulder.

Marcus leaned back. “
Not
because of me.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course not. And not because of anybody else, either. I just … I know people will treat her differently if they find out.”

Marcus smiled. “Cool.”

I wanted to stay with him all afternoon, but I was sure that Major would come looking for me and wouldn't be thrilled to find Marcus attached to my face. So, I gave him one last kiss and said good-bye. I would, after all, see him the next morning … along with the rest of the
school.

Major let me stay home for the afternoon, but I knew I had to go back the next morning or risk becoming a seventh-grade dropout. Jenner waited for me by the front doors, and the two of us braved the hall and the dozens of staring eyes that watched to see what excitement we'd cause
next.

“I feel like one of those celebrities caught in some major scandal,” I whispered to Jenner.

“
I
feel like we're the last humans in a school full of zombies, and they're just waiting to catch us off guard and eat our brains.” I gave her a look and she shrugged. “
Dawn of the Dead
was on last night.”

“Okay, then.” I scooted closer to her, doing my best not to meet any of the intense stares. “How much longer do you think we'll feel like celebrities slash zombie bait?”

“Only until the next major scandal hits our school. Maybe we should convince that juvie girl to go public. Ooh!” She
grabbed my arm. “Or maybe you can get Katie to come clean about her pyro past.”

I shook my head. “It really is her story to tell when she's ready. I'm not going to push her.”