Monday morning, walking through the school front doors feels like walking into hell.  News have a way of getting around, and my incidence on Saturday night sure did. A couple of extra ears beyond the door in the hallway when Jude and Nicki came along took care of that. As if things aren’t bad enough, I see Cole walking purposely towards me. It’s the first time I’m seeing him after he acted all cool and unaffected after our friends walked in on us on Saturday night and I really don’t know what to say to him. If anything, I don’t want to be seen talking to him. The rumour mill in this school has the uncanny ability of spinning and twisting each little detail every possible way. I clutch onto my bag and walk faster. Any contact with Cole would not be a good idea, especially not before I’ve gotten a chance to clear things up with Nicki. I speed walk but then I hear running steps and a

"I finally managed to get an appointment with Julia, Saturday morning at ten, so cancel any plans you might have," my mother says on the evening of the Thursday that marks the end of one week since school closed. I'm passing through the kitchen to the back when she says this, so I stop in my tracks. "Julia?""Julia," she expounds. "Doctor Ings, ring a bell?"My insides freeze because the only Doctor Julia Ings I know around is a gynaecologist. "Why?" I whisper, feeling the anger that has been a constant feeling in my radar awaken.One week later, Jude still hasn't found anything incriminating on Maria. Not surprising since she has been quite the golden daughter of late, running errands, not staying out later than six in the evening, and putting the library in the house to use for the first time since we were in lower primary school. She's being extra cautious, and the longer she keeps up the good girl act the longer I continue to suffer.Comi

 I walk into the house like I’m walking on a tight rope. A very thin tight rope placed miles and miles above ground, and one misstep will mean the sure death of me. I close the front door softly behind me and scan the living room. It’s not empty. Dad is sitting on his favourite arm chair watching prime time news. That’s my luck, it runs out fast. Wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I still try to push it a little further though. Heart racing, mind a little jumbled — this from the little near kiss experience in Jude’s car. Well, to some extent, I think. Some part of me was sure he was going for it. I’m sure I didn’t imagine it, he even looked at my lips and— “Jo? Is that you?” I must have jumped ten feet high because Mum’s voice comes out of the blue. Or maybe it’s because I was

 "Oh my God. Oh my God.""What?" I turn to Trey, puzzled at his sudden panicky outburst. I follow his gaze. "Oh, there's--"Trey pulls me backwards, bringing me around a corner and pressing against the wall. I try to pry my arm from his hold."Hold still!" he whispers frantically."What's wrong with you? That was Jade, right?"He nods, curls bobbing."Are you avoiding her?" I ask, trying to look around the corner. I see Jade, now walking in the opposite direction."It's complicated."I turn back to my brother. "Complicated?"Trey huffs, lets go of my arm, and walks off in the direction we just came from. We are at the mall, shopping for Trey's new cleats. I only came along because afterwards we’ll head to a football game happening some thirty minutes away."Trey?" I insist, prodding his side.He looks over his shoulder, then slows down."I kissed her," he says."What? You ki

49. Kiss Me “So what, you’re really not going to talk to me now?” I jump and turn with my heart in my mouth to find Jude leaning against the pillar behind me. I put my hand on my chest, trying to calm my heart. “You scared me!” “Sorry.” I take a deep breath and look around. Some students walk past us to the front of the school. The school is otherwise empty, since we had stayed behind. “What are you doing here?” I ask Jude. He shrugs. “Waiting for you.” “Me?” I ask, a little surprised. “Yes.” He jingles some keys in his hand. “Want a ride?” “I… Uh… Actually I’m not going home.” “Yeah?” “I promised Nicki I&r