52. Olivia #3
He offers me a warm smile. “Came by for a visit. I fucking miss you guys,” he groans. “Being cooped up in my mom’s house is driving me nuts.” He shakes his head.
“You good?” Simon asks with his eyebrows raised. “I heard yelling,” he hisses. “He’s so scary; how are you still standing?” He visibly shudders.
I snort. “Hopefully you didn’t hear what he had to say to me.” I hold my breath when Simon waves a hand.
“You’ll be happy to know our rooms are practically soundproof. You’ve never heard my activities, have you?” He wiggles his brows playfully, but I know he’s lying through his teeth. I can only hope he didn’t hear the exact words Jonathan and I exchanged.
“It was raised voices,” Wade pipes up, giving me a strange look I can’t decipher.
“Not what he said. Although he did sound mad.” His eyes dart toward the door Jonathan left through, and he blows out a breath.
“But your secrets are safe with us. You should have heard my mom yelling at me in here one day.” He rolls his eyes.
“It was horrific. Thank God no one else heard it. She can be so fucking overbearing sometimes. Case in point,” he grumbles, pointing to his arm resting in a sling.
“She’s going to drive me up a wall before I graduate. ”
“Crash here, then.” Simon shrugs. “Tell her you’re staying over somewhere.” He grins. “We can watch movies and eat popcorn and all kinds of fun stuff that your mom will approve of.”
“Can’t,” Wade moans. “My mom watches me like a damn hawk. I swear she’s on my ass twenty-four-seven. I can’t shake her.”
I snort. “How’d you get away today, man?”
Thank God. The last thing we needed was Wade sleeping in this dorm while we were fake-kidnapped and dragged to the caves. That would be really fun to explain.
Wade grins wider. “She’s taking a damn nap. It’s the only way I could get away. It’s always ‘Go to class, Wade. Be a good boy, and make sure to come straight back, Wade.’ Ugh,” he groans again.
“It sounds like prison,” Simon says emphatically. “Any way we can convince her you’ll be safe here?”
“Dude, I wish. She really means it this time. And with no leads as to who did it, she’s even more paranoid.
I swear…” He leans forward slightly. “If I tell you guys this, you’ll keep it hush-hush?
” He looks between the two of us with a serious expression as we vow our lips are sealed.
“She’s thinking about canceling the rest of the school year if she can’t find out what’s happening.
Too many parents are concerned. The crimes are getting out of hand.
The police aren’t even helping anymore.” He tosses a hand.
“The horror!” Simon grumbles. “Canceling school? Ugh. Then I’d have to go home, too. And it’s a hellscape there.” He shakes his head.
“She doesn’t want to, believe me. I’m trying to convince her that we’re safe on campus. It only happens off campus. It’s the fucking gangs here in town. I swear,” Wade says.
“The gangs?” I prod.
“Oh, yeah. Don’t get me fucking started,” he huffs, rolling his eyes.
“This whole place is run by stupid gangs. I swear, they’re the reason I’m in this position.
And Dane, too. I swear he was murdered for nothing.
It’s all senseless bullshit.” He shakes his head, a wave of sadness descending on the room at the mention of our former roommate.
“But I don’t want to talk about it. I want to know what you two have been doing. Let me live vicariously through you.”
Simon happily obliges Wade’s demand and eagerly fills him in on our comings and goings.
The parties. The events. Our classes. Life in the dorm room.
And before we know it, Wade is called back to his mother’s house, leaving us standing in the shared space.
Simon yawns, turning to head to his own room.
“You should know, Si. That tonight is the night we’re kidnapped for the initiation. JJ said they’d be coming to us while we’re asleep,” I say softly outside my bedroom door.
“What?” Simon asks loudly with a grin, stopping in his tracks. “Oh my God! What should I wear? How should I sleep? I can’t sleep; what am I saying!” He practically squeals while rubbing his hands together.
I snort. “Calm down. You have to act like you don’t know. I’m not supposed to know, either,” I say, shaking my head.
“Pfft. Act like I don’t know? I won’t get a wink of sleep now,” he scoffs, waving a hand. “How can you even think about sleeping at a time like this? Holy shit. We’re going to initiate. Did he say what was going to happen? I’ve heard fun rumors.” He leans in slightly while grinning at me.
“I honestly have no idea.” Because I didn’t ask enough questions. Although I’m sure it looks better on me if I pretend I have no idea what’s going on.
Either way, tonight is the night I finally fulfill the whole reason I’m here. To spy on Franco and take down his organization. It’s the first time I’ve taken a step in the right direction.
And I won’t fuck it up.
So, as I get ready for bed, I leave my contacts, binder, sweatpants, and loose shirt on, tuck my phone into my binder, and keep my glasses on while I sleep.