Phase (23 page)

The classroom door opened and shut. Jules was gone. Like I wasn’t jumpy enough anyway.

Several minutes passed. Mr. Townsend found his flashlight and pushed its switch. Didn’t work. First time I’d ever heard a teacher curse, ever.

The intercom crackled to life. “Please take your classes outside in an orderly fashion. The electricity company is on its way.”

“You heard them. Everyone to the door in a single line,” Mr. Townsend said.

I sat in my seat for a few moments, still thinking about the video on GTV. Would they really have shown it? And had the journalism kids seen it already?

Someone had seen him phase. On screen.

Was the secret out?

The classroom door opened. Everyone filed out. I grabbed my stuff and joined them. I was surrounded by a sea of students in the supercrowded hall. Everyone was chattering and laughing or trying to scare a friend. I wasn’t sure if I was with my class anymore.

Halfway down the hall, I could see the outside light shining through the door windows, but someone grabbed me and pulled me into a classroom. I yelped, but no one noticed. They couldn’t hear me above the din.

My assailant pushed me against the closed door. I opened my mouth to scream, but a hand covered my mouth.

“It’s just me.” Ezra’s lips feathered along my ear.

“What are you doing?” I asked, jumpy at the dark and his nearness.

“Protecting you. That video… Nick cut the electricity.”

I closed my eyes, my body tingly with awareness.

“Hopefully, the lights will come back on soon.” His breath tickled. “Sophie? You all right?”

I nodded, unable to talk. I felt him move, his breath on my lips. His lips caressed, and I leaned closer. His nose brushed mine a few times before he kissed me solidly. Just when I thought he’d deepen the kiss, the door burst open.

Ezra turned so he was blocking me. “Nick.”

“Protecting her? After that?” Nick’s voice was ragged. Growly.

“She didn’t do it.”

“Sure.” He scoffed.

I heard rustling. “What…?”

“You don’t mind me checking your backpack, do you, Sophie?” He spat out my name with venom.

I didn’t get to answer because Ezra growled, pushing me back farther.

“What’s this?” Nick’s voice dripped with dark humor. “A DVD case.”

Ezra stilled.

“What? I don’t have—”

Ezra let go of me and moved toward Nick. “It could be…”

I could hear the opening of a plastic DVD case and a few sniffs. Ezra pulled out his cell, flipping it on for the light. I didn’t move closer, too scared.

The light went out, the room dark and silent.

“I swear I have no clue what—”

“How could you?” Ezra’s voice was rough with anger and hurt, though he’d only just spoken to me with concern.

“What…it was in there?” I didn’t know why I asked. The moment I’d heard the sound of plastic, I’d known.

Like anything else could go wrong. He thought it was me.

“I didn’t, I swear to you, you know I didn’t do it.” My breathing became more like gasping. I felt like sobbing on his shoulder, but I couldn’t. “You can’t believe that I did.”

“What the hell am I supposed to believe, Sophie? I’ve tried. Convinced you wouldn’t do it. Then who did?” he asked harshly, his hands darting out to grip my arms hard. “Who would take a video like that and put it on display? Who’s been to our house and could have picked it up? Who else? Don’t lie to me. It’s right there. In your bag.”

Tears started falling down my cheeks, and I tasted their saltiness.

“You have to come with us,” Ezra said, his grip loosening some. “To the house. You can come or we can drag you.”

“But, but…” I took a deep breath, my mind racing. “If we go now, someone will know something’s up. I can’t come until school is over. We’ll all talk and hash things out.”

“Ez, we have our orders.” Nick moved closer. “Micah wants it taken care of.”

“Quiet. She never skips school. It’ll be noticed.”

After silence, a knock on the door. I jumped.

“That’s Aidan,” Nick said.

Ezra’s mouth was near my ear. “After school. Come straight to the house. You don’t show up, we’ll find you.”

“Ezra, you know how I feel about you and—”

“Shut up. I can’t stand to hear your voice,” he snapped.

“Don’t try to run. We can track you. Easy.” Nick told me before they left.

I was alone.

I couldn’t move for several minutes. I stayed there. Leaning against the wall, staring into the darkness, crying and feeling ill, with a sickness of the heart and soul.

They were going to kill me. It seemed too intense to be real. But the one thing I’d learned over and over again was that the pack truly was everything. Higher than human law.

They had killed before. Over territory.

How much worse was what they thought I’d done?

If they killed me as wolves, they’d never be suspected.

I shuddered. I hated my brain.

As I continued to stare into nothing, I had a thought. A very random, errant thought.

I had to find out who did this. No one else was going to. I had to do it.

Who could have done all this?

If it had been another pack, they swore they could smell them. Someone in the pack? Who would do it? Aidan? Naomi? They were the only two that could maybe…

But Aidan wouldn’t go after Jules or me. That didn’t make any sense. Naomi hated Jules, sure, but she loved her brother. I couldn’t believe she’d hurt her pack.

Who would know the secret?

“How do I prove it?” I whispered, wiping my eyes for the billionth time.

The lights flickered back on, and I hurried to the door to wait until everyone came back in so I could join the throng. Hopefully no one would notice I’d been missing. We got back to class and Mr. Townsend started the lesson. Seemed like everyone had forgotten about GTV. I hoped so.

But Jules didn’t come back. None of the wolves were at school for the rest of the day, as though they’d all decided to just play hooky. Probably preparing my punishment.

I sat with Connie and Mary-Beth at lunch. They didn’t comment on the fact that Jules wasn’t with me. I scanned the cafeteria, hoping that someone else, something else would stand up with an I Did It sign.

“So, nice personal ad.”

I looked at Connie. “You saw that?”

Connie gave me a “duh” look. “I put it in. I work on the newspaper which you would know if you ever paid any attention to someone other than Juliet.”

I felt tears threaten, but I refused to cry. “I forgot that you worked on the paper, OK?” I realized what she’d just said. “Wait? Who brought in the ad? You know I didn’t.”

“Of course I know you didn’t. You still stare at Ezra.” Connie chuckled.

Mary-Beth sighed. “He is so hot.”

I leaned closer. “So, who brought it in?”

Connie shrugged. “No one. We get them in an in-box outside the classroom. It was unsigned, except for ‘S.’”

“And you just put it in?”

She looked affronted. “Hey, I just put stuff in. As long as it’s not dirty, or rude, my job is to print it.”

I felt defeated. “So no ideas?”

She shook her head. “I mean, Summer hates your guts, but I can’t imagine she’d care that much about you to go and do that.” She went back to her food.

“Summer?” That wasn’t completely out of left field.

Mary-Beth shrugged. “She does hate Juliet. I mean, in the bathroom, always trashing on her. And you.”

I swallowed. “You don’t defend me?”

They both looked up. “What?”

“Never mind.” I eyeballed the cafeteria until I found the perfect red hair.

Summer.

Things began to fall into place.

She’d grabbed my bag that morning. After I’d seen Ezra.

Summer had done it. But how did she know? How had she gotten the DVD?

“If you’re going to throw up, go to the bathroom,” Mary-Beth told me.

“What?”

“You look green.”

Connie nodded in agreement. “Yeah.”

“Thanks guys,” I said hoarsely. My brain kept churning as I tried to figure it all out. I knew Summer didn’t like Jules or me, but how could she have found out about shifters? But still…

As I took a bite of my carrot, the big question flashed in my brain.

How could I prove it?

Chapter Sixteen

After lunch, I swung by my locker and opened it. I grabbed the minirecorder I still had there. Mom had bought it for me when my hands were all cut up to take notes, but none of my teachers were comfortable letting me record their lectures.

I pressed Record and spoke into it. I rewound it and pressed Play.

“What am I doing?” it asked me. My voice didn’t sound a thing like mine. More like a very timid mouse.

I slipped it into my bag and headed to Chemistry by myself, feeling so completely alone.

* * *

After classes that alternately seemed to go by really fast then really slow, I took a deep breath as I left Spanish. I reached into my bag and checked on the recorder again, fiddling with the buttons, then searched for a head of rich, perfect red hair.

My phone rang, and I answered it quickly, slipping one of the quieter halls, still focused on the passing crowds. “Hello?”

“It’s Mom,” she answered. “Wanted to make sure you were on your way home.” She wasn’t used to me being grounded either.

I closed my eyes for a split second, then remembered I was looking for Summer. “Haven’t gotten all my things together,” I replied.

“That’s fine, I’m on my way back. I expect you home soon.”

“Right.” I hoped I sounded distracted and couldn’t be held responsible for the extremely blatant lie I was spewing.

“You make up with Juliet?”

My throat closed, but I managed to say, “Not really.”

“Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry.” A horn blew in the background. “I’m sure it’ll all be fine. I love you.”

I swallowed hard, and my eyes began to sting. “Love you too.”

She hung up, and I stared at my phone. I’d lied. I might not be getting back home. Ever.

I didn’t need to think like that. I just needed to find Summer.

Like that didn’t feel like a death sentence in its own right. I shoved my phone into my coat pocket and looked up to see the halls pretty much empty. I’d missed her.

I turned around and hurried along the Social Studies hall to the outside, dreading and hoping I could find her before I had to get to the Varden home. Fear gripped me again, but I shook it off, determined to get to the bottom of this. I opened the outside door and heard two very familiar voices.

“Why did you put it in Sophie’s bag? I told you—Jules!”

I stopped.

“What does it matter? You don’t tell me to do anything, by the way. I decided to help you.”

I peeked around the corner to see… Yes! Summer talking to, of all people, Naomi Varden. My heart leaped.

“Whatever, you have no idea…” Naomi glared at her. “You don’t know what you just did.”

“Who cares? Sophie’s hurt, Freakgirl is upset. It’s a win all around.” Summer flipped back her hair. “I would watch your tone. If you want to be one of my friends, you need to know your place.”

Naomi’s eyes narrowed. She smiled, but it wasn’t happy. “If you only knew…” She whipped around, heading toward the parking lot.

“Bitch,” Summer muttered.

Now or never. I stuck my hand in my bag and pressed the button. I walked out. “Summer?”

She wore her usual expression. Disgusted. “What the hell do you want?”

I took several breaths. She was alone. No minions around. I could do this.

My life depended on it…

…but I had to stop thinking about that.

“The personal ad was you.”

She snorted. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

My stomach dropped.

“One of Naomi’s little friends did that. I wrote it though.” She grinned. “And seeing your face right now makes it all worth it. It’s not like you have any proof.”

“You also put the DVD in my bag,” I blurted. So much for trying to be subtle.

She looked surprised for a moment before she sneered. “I don’t believe you were supposed to hear that conversation.”

“Why did you?” I didn’t back off.

Her hand balled into a fist. “Because.”

“Why?”

“Where’s your girlfriend? Or your backup? Did Ezra dump you already?” She laughed. “You’re not even remotely good enough for him.”

I blinked at her. “You like him?”

Her face stilled, then the dark, angry glare returned. “What?”

“You like Ezra?”

“Whatever. He’s hot. That’s why he dumped your ass, fat girl.”

Summer’s motivation hit me hard. She really was jealous. Of me. My life needed to be filed in the weird column.

“What about the DVD? Who did you get it from?” I edged closer, hoping the recorder was picking up on everything.

“None of your damn business.” She shoved me hard.

I fell. I didn’t see it coming, although I should have. I looked up at her, determined despite the fierce pounding of my heart. “Did Naomi?”

“What?”

“She gave you the DVD… Why?”

Summer towered over me, her foot slamming down on my ankle. Pain lanced through me. I winced, but didn’t cry out.

“Why would I tell you?” She dug in her heel.

“Who’s gonna believe me? You said I had no proof.” I gritted my teeth. “Naomi gave you the DVD to show on GTV, and you got it back and put it my bag.”

She bore down with more weight onto my ankle. “So what?”

Tears leaked out of my eyes. “But she wanted it in Jules’s bag.”

“She hates that girl more than I hate you.” Summer’s foot was heavy and painful. My breathing became labored. “I didn’t even know what was on it. Naomi just came up to me and asked for my help. Seemed she couldn’t do it herself in case her family found out. I don’t know, I don’t care. All I see is you without Ezra or Freakgirl and that’s good for me.”

I nodded, having gotten what I wanted. “OK.” I tried to stand.

She pushed in her heel so hard I heard something grind. I cried out.

“What’s going on?” Not the voice I wanted to hear. Through blurry eyes, I saw Aidan approach.