Chapter Thirty-Four. Clara
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CLARA
“LOGAN?” MITCHELL REPEATS FOR the third time, shaking his head in disgust.
“I can’t believe I didn’t put it together sooner,” I say. “His whole family were Legacies. In his interview he made it clear how embarrassed and bummed he was that he didn’t get selected. But because I related, I didn’t think that meant he had a whole revenge-plot side hustle.”
“Well, you are making a whole movie about it, too.” Kenji puts his hands out as if weighing scales.
“It’s different,” I say flatly.
“I should’ve seen this coming, too, this is so him,” Mitchell says. “He talked about nothing else last year. It’s why he didn’t want us to be public—thinking it would affect his chances.” He says it like he’s swallowing glass.
I reach out to put a comforting hand on his arm, but Kenji beats me to it. “Couldn’t it be a different Connor?” Kenji asks.
I start pacing, the swish of my dress the only sound in the room for a moment. “It’s possible…”
Delaney’s eyes pop wide. “Wait. Wasn’t Logan also the one who started the rumor about a girl using Josh for Legacy?”
I nod vigorously. “Yes, during truth or dare. I forgot about that!”
“He lives for drama. He’s seen, like, every reality show,” Mitchell says.
“Well, if it really is him, we need to do something before he does any more damage,” Kenji says.
Just then, Delaney’s phone chimes. She pulls it out of the pocket of her cerulean dress, and my stomach drops at the look on her face.
“Too late,” she breathes, and turns the phone toward all of us.
@LEGACY_LORE: An Olympic coach is actually here in Woodhurst, but according to a current teammate and our own cross-country Legacy, the Golden Boy won’t be going for gold anytime soon …
Nicole: Did he tell you what the dr said? Is it serious?
Connor: It’s a tear. Doesn’t need surgery but the trainer said he could be out for the season—maybe longer.
Nicole: Omg that suuuucks. Poor Reid
Connor: I tore my knee junior year. I haven’t been the same since. At least now I have a chance at beating him.
No. No. Fucking Connor.
Reid has gone white. “I had no idea he knew those details. Why would they do this?”
“Especially Nicole,” Delaney exclaims. “She’s, like, in love with you.”
My stomach sours knowing that’s probably exactly why she did this. To get Reid back for the way he confronted her. I didn’t think she had any other ammo against us, or I never would’ve done it that way.
“I bet she just sent in these screenshots to whoever runs Legacy Lore, not realizing it was Logan,” I say to Reid. “This way, all the drama would be focused on the post and not on her.”
“Why?” Delaney asks, trying to keep up. “Why would the focus be on her?”
I take the moment to explain as succinctly as I can how we figured out she was behind the video last year and the confession we just got from her.
“Damn, you two have been busy. I thought you were just making out this whole time,” Kenji jokes.
When Reid doesn’t so much as crack a smile, Mitchell and I exchange a concerned look.
“Sorry about the tear, man,” Kenji says seriously, and pats Reid on the shoulder. “I didn’t know it was that bad.”
Reid stares at his hands. “No one did.”
I hate the heartbreak in his voice. A swell of anxiety goes through me all over again at what I put in the doc. He really didn’t want anyone to know this. Any of this.
Maybe I am no better than Logan. I wonder if there’s time to change it. If I could just make some quick tweaks—
Principal West’s voice filters through speakers introducing the Legacy video. My video.
Guess not.
My mind is racing while he talks, and an idea starts to form. Watching everyone for so long through my lens, I’ve learned a lot about how their minds work.
“I think I know what to do.”
I tell them as quickly as I can, even though it’s a wild, long shot. But if it works, it would be worth the risk.
We race back out to the event.