Speaking of… I tried to glance around without being too obvious, but I didn’t see Trent anywhere. I didn’t sense him, either. But Simon was here, leaning against the wall of lockers, waiting patiently for me to finish getting my stuff. When I finally had what I needed, I closed my locker and smiled at Simon.
“Everything okay with you?” I asked, tilting my head. “You said something came up Saturday…”
He rolled his eyes. “Just Livi causing trouble again. Mum and Dad made both of us stay in the house all weekend.” He started to reach for my hand, then suddenly stopped and shoved his hand into his pocket instead. “I can drive you home today, yeah?”
“Yeah.” I nodded.
“We’re stopping for ice cream first, so you might want to let your dad and step-mum know.”
I laughed. “What is with you and ice cream?”
I’d never known anyone who ate as much ice cream as Simon—and he never seemed to gain an ounce, either. If only I were that lucky.
“It’s good.” He shrugged.
We arrived at the door for my first class, and Simon tugged me toward the wall, out of the way of students rushing down the hallway. My heart stuttered. He wasn’t going to try to kiss me, was he?
“I really am sorry about this weekend,” he said, a frown pulling at his lips. “Can I make it up to you?”
“You don’t have to,” I said, then quickly added, “I mean, yeah, I’d love to hang out, but don’t feel obligated or anything.”
He laughed, and my face heated with embarrassment. Why did I ramble like that when I was nervous?
“I like hanging out with you,” he said.
“Okay then.” I nodded. “Just let me know when.”
“How about today?”
My jaw dropped. He really wasn’t kidding about wanting to hang out, was he? Considering I’d quit, I didn’t have to tutor Jaxon this afternoon, and I didn’t really have anything else to do, either. All the pictures I still needed to scan weren’t going anywhere.
“Sure,” I said with a smile.
“Good.” Simon winked and then sauntered down the hallway, drawing the attention of every girl within eyesight.
Once again, I couldn’t help but wonder why he was wasting his time with me when he knew I was leaving. And when it was so obvious that there were a hundred other girls in this very building who’d kill for the attention Simon gave me.
With a heavy sigh, I turned and walked into class. Olivia glanced up, gave me a dirty look, then returned to gossiping with her friends.
I took my seat, intent to ignore Olivia and her posse when I heard one of them say Trent’s name. Curiosity piqued, I pretended to rummage through my backpack while listening to their conversation.
“He’s not here today,” Olivia said. “His car isn’t here, and he wasn’t at his locker this morning.”
“Maybe he’s just late,” Nichole said.
Olivia shook her head, and not a single strand of hair fell out of place. I huffed, which earned me a nasty stare. I averted my gaze, face heated.
Trent wasn’t here because of me. I didn’t know how I knew that, but I did. Discontent burned deep in my gut and quickly spread until I couldn’t sit still. I fidgeted in my chair, unable to get comfortable.
What had I done or said to cause Trent to skip school? I’d been nothing but honest with him, and I’d even promised him to be careful and trust my instincts—whatever that meant. His words were loud in my head, though. We never should’ve come here…
Had he and Jaxon left for good? Or maybe it was like Nicole had suggested, and he was just late. But that wasn’t the case.
And it wasn’t the case the following day, either. Or the day after that.
By the end of the week, rumors were spreading that Trent had gone missing. I’d laughed when I heard that the first time, but I began to wonder if that were true. Unless he was really sick—which I doubted—something was wrong. Why else would he just disappear from school?
Part of me wanted to ask Olivia if she’d heard from him, or if she tried to call or text him. But having a civil conversation with her was about as likely as a snake and a mouse becoming BFFs. She probably said something to Simon about it, but I didn’t dare ask him about Trent. Simon hadn’t mentioned him at all, and he really didn’t seem all that concerned.
But deep down, I knew I was the reason Trent wasn’t here. I considered texting Jaxon to find out if my suspicion was correct, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Because what if I was right? Or worse, what if he never answered me? Or told me something I didn’t really want to know?
“Hey there.” Simon draped his arm around my shoulders.
I smiled as he guided me out of the school.
Next week was the final week of classes, and then it was officially summer break. I still hadn’t worked up the courage to ask Dad about going to Keene Valley as soon as school let out, despite Abby’s repeated pleas to do so. I missed her like crazy, and I couldn’t wait to see her again.
“Chloe?” Simon’s voice snapped me from my thoughts.
“I’m sorry. What?”
He chuckled, the sound so light and carefree. “I asked if you talked to your parents about my party next weekend.”
Oh. Right. Simon’s end of the school year party. “Not yet.”
He frowned.
“I will tonight. I promise.”
He dropped his arm from around me and dug his car keys from his pocket. He pushed the button on the key fob. A moment later, he opened the passenger’s side door for me.
I slid in without a word, and he closed the door. I knew Larissa wouldn’t tell me no about hanging out with Simon, but she might say no if she knew it was a party without adult supervision—a tiny detail I’d only recently found out about while listening to Olivia talk to her friends.
Simon got into
