Wolves at the Door

  “A little sick to my stomach. Can I just lie down for a while and see how I feel next period? Maybe I won’t have to go home.”

  Giving her the impression I didn’t want to miss out on school was apparently the exact thing she needed to hear. She showed me to a cot right away, then found a thermometer and put it under my ear. After a few seconds, she pulled out the thermometer and examined it.

  “It’s normal.”

  “Maybe it was something I ate and I’ll feel better in time for my next class.”

  She patted my shoulder. “Lie down. I’ll check on you in a bit and we’ll see.”

  I smiled but kept it subdued, since I was supposed to be sick. She wandered off, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Damn.

  Zack had made arrangements with Gina earlier in the day which allowed plenty of opportunity to tell me during lunch. But it was typical of Zack to withhold information, wasn’t it?

  Why aren’t you in class? Zack asked me. Where are you?

  Oh, crap. The long distance talking started off cool, but now I had no escape. After a lovely talk with Gina at lunchtime about your date with her, I didn’t feel like going.

  So you’re playing hooky?

  He wasn’t going to comment on his date with Gina? Zack really knew how to drive me crazy. The nurse bustled past me and I closed my eyes. Technically, no. I’m in the nurse’s office, but I plan to go to sixth period.

  I’ll meet you at your car after school, okay? he asked.

  After going to school, then the auto shop and doing your homework, then having Gina over tomorrow, are you sure you can squeeze me in?

  Autumn, he growled into my head. Would you just wait for me at your car?

  I hesitated, too annoyed to willingly commit to more aggravation. Still, I wanted to see him.

  Autumn?

  Fine. I’ll see you then.

  Why were we meeting at my car if we were broken up? Did Zack want to break up with me for real? Apologize? I wished he’d just left me alone during fourth period. Now I’d spend the rest of this class and my last one dwelling on what he might say. Plus, I’d mentioned Gina twice and he hadn’t commented or denied anything either time.

  Now I really did feel sick to my stomach.

  I spent the next half hour agonizing over Zack, the same thoughts rolling over and over through my head. The bell went off and it was time to go to last class. I got up and found the nurse. “I think I’m okay to go to my next class.”

  She smiled and handed me a letter addressed to my parents. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

  I took the envelope and left for Social Science, claiming my usual seat. Natalie perched on her desk at the other end of the half-full room. Usually, she arrived at the last second. Why was she early? As my eyes passed over her, I caught a sly smile. What was up with her?

  The teacher cleared his throat, sitting behind his wide desk. “Autumn, would you come here please?”

  Leaving my books on my desk, I approached the front of the class.

  “Your test from Friday.” He handed me a sheet of paper with a giant red F scrawled across the top.

  How was that possible? I’d aced that sucker. No doubt in my mind. “I don’t get it.”

  The teacher lifted his chin and put his shoulders back, giving me a stern look. “After class, I’d like to speak with you about this. Don’t leave, okay?”

  “All right.” I frowned and backed up.

  Every time I’d walked into Mr. Collins class, I was always left with the impression that every part of his life was a business arrangement. No exceptions. Of all the classes to have something go screwy with a test, this would’ve been my last choice.

  By the time I made it to my seat, the room was packed, but the only presence I felt was Natalie. I glanced over at her again. Her smile wasn’t sly — it was openly smug.

  She’d set me up on the test. But how? This had to be the surprise that witch Gina had been brewing up for me.

  When the bell rang, I stayed in my seat. Natalie weaved toward me through the tables and chairs. “Good luck,” she whispered conspiratorially. “You’re going to need it.”

  So she had framed me. Fury rose up and consumed me at her confirmation.

  “Autumn, come here, please,” Mr. Collins demanded.

  I obeyed, seeing Natalie’s smirk before she disappeared beyond the doorway. My hands balled into fists.

  Mr. Collins leaned back in his chair and watched me, brows raised as he pointed at my test sheet. “Care to explain this?”

  “Oh. I was hoping you would do the explaining. I don’t understand why I’d get an F.”

  He sighed, shaking his head. “Because all your answers are exactly the same as Peter’s.”

  Peter always sat to my left. That made sense, I supposed. “But if he copied my answers, shouldn’t he be the one getting an F?”

  The teacher gave a quick laugh. “He didn’t copy yours. You copied his.”

  “I did?”

  “Friday, you were distracted. You wanted to be anywhere but here and when the bell rang, you took off like a rocket. You didn’t do the test at all. Instead, because you couldn’t be bothered, you copied Peter’s answers.”

  Friday? Oh, yeah, Favianne was in the hospital and I’d been worried about her. True, I’d been fidgety, but I still took the test. And they should’ve been all correct. “Can I see that answer sheet?”

  He pushed it toward me. “Be my guest.”

  I scanned the page, but it showed only the answers. I couldn’t remember the questions that went with them. “And these are the same exact answers as Peter’s?”

  “Yes, they match exactly.” His lips thinned.

  I squinted at the page. “How do you know he didn’t copy from me?”

  He inclined his head. “I worked with Peter the other day after school. The exact questions he missed on the test are same things he had trouble with before. These are his answers.”

  I wiped my palms on my jeans and sucked in a breath. “Mr. Collins, if I’m sitting in class and I know the answers — which I did — why wouldn’t I just mark them? No matter what, I still had to stay there and I knew that. Why would I take a chance on messing up my grade point average by copying answers from someone else who might not get them right? It doesn’t make any sense. Mr. Collins, don’t you see? Someone set me up.”

  “Autumn, you know how long I’ve been teaching?” He continued when I shook my head. “Twenty-nine years. And in that time, do you know how many kids I’ve caught cheating?”

  “I have no idea.” My voice went flat. This wasn’t looking good for me.

  “Unfortunately, a lot.” He smiled, but it wasn’t pleasant. It was the condescending face you give your opponent just before you take your turn and end the game, slaughtering him. “No one ever admits to cheating. They claim they’re innocent, accuse me of favoritism, racism, threaten to get me fired and the list goes on. But the most common defense is that they’ve been set up.”

  I heard a slam as that last nail hammered into my coffin.

  “We’ll have to call your parents,” he said.

  If my mom and dad had to come back to deal with this, they’d be annoyed. And disappointed. They’d also be very insistent that I leave with them. I wouldn’t go and they couldn’t make me, but it would be very unpleasant while they tried. No way could I allow the school to call them. “Mr. Collins, how about I redo the test? Give it orally right now and you’ll see I know all the answers.”

  He groaned. “Autumn, getting an A won’t prove to me you didn’t cheat. I already know you could do better — if you wanted to. This is about copying answers from someone else because you didn’t feel like making the effort that day.”

  He rose as if done with me.

  “But… you can’t call them. They’re out of town.”

  “No problem. We have their cell phone numbers on file.” He locked a desk drawer and closed a cabinet, then picked up a briefcase.

  “Wait. Wha
t can I do? What if I can prove to you I was set up? Please don’t call my parents. Please give me a week. Please. Please.”

  He stared at me as if he couldn’t believe I was begging, couldn’t believe a cheater would have such nerve.

  “Since I came to this school, my conduct record is perfect in academics.” Panic was setting in and breathing became a chore. “If I really didn’t cheat, which I did not, I deserve the chance to set things right. It’s just a week. It won’t hurt you, but it could mean everything to me. Please!”

  He nodded. “You’ve been an ideal student on all counts, it’s true. Fine. You have one week to gather evidence and make your case.”

  I almost wept in relief. He motioned me out and I left, stopping at my locker to get my homework.

  One week. How would I prove my innocence if I had no idea how Gina and Natalie nailed me? I had to find out. But how?

  Lugging my backpack on one arm, I stopped in my tracks and stared straight ahead, unseeing. Would cheating go on my permanent record? Either way, word would spread to the other teachers, maybe even the rest of the school. For the remainder of my senior year, I’d be known as a cheater.

  After graduation, I may never see any of them ever again, but that wasn’t the point — I was innocent and refused to go on record as being a cheater. And ignoring what had happened wouldn’t stop Gina from sabotaging me again — or someone else less capable of defending herself.

  Damn Gina! No wonder she’d seemed overconfident. It wasn’t about stealing a boyfriend or starting a vicious rumor. Nothing so frivolous. She was out to make me miserable.

  ~~~

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Autumn. Why are you just standing there?”

  I looked up at Zack, my mind blank.

  “You were supposed to meet me at your car.”

  Should I spill it and burden him with my problems? Between his job, werewolf scouts and a dying mother, he had enough to worry about without piling my crap on his plate. Besides, I wasn’t even sure if we were still together.

  “Um… Mr. Collins wanted to go over last Friday’s test with me. No big deal.”

  He scrutinized my face. “Not sure if I believe that’s all there is to it, but okay. C’mon.”

  Zack walked me in silence down the corridor, through the double doors of the school building and along the path to my car, stopping at the driver’s side. “So…”

  “Yeah?”

  “Did you break up with me?” he asked.

  “Well… that’s the story we’ve been telling everyone,” I answered.

  “No.” He leaned on the side of my car. “I meant did you break up with me for real?”

  “Uh…” I stared at him, unsure how to answer. I hadn’t broken up with him, of course, but if I said no, would he be relieved or disappointed? “Is that what you want?”

  “You’re not answering my question.” He studied me, eyes narrowed.

  “I… thought maybe you broke up with me.”

  His brows drew together. “Why would you think that?”

  “You were annoyed earlier.”

  He rolled his eyes. “You were… weird. Distant. And it kinda freaked me out how good you are at lying. It still does, actually.”

  “So you do want to break up with me?” I asked, hoping and praying his answer was no. After my awful day, being dumped might start me bawling like a baby.

  “No.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Are you coming over tonight?”

  Much to my horrification, my eyes blurred with tears. “I’m sorry. It’s been a very stressful day.”

  He growled deep in his throat. “I can’t touch you right now. Someone might see.”

  I nodded and wiped my eyes.

  He inched toward me, but kept his arms at his sides. “This morning, I told my mom about our breakup.”

  “Oh.” I wished to God I could come up with a more intelligent response, but I was too wasted from my day to manage it.

  “She was pretty upset. When I told her we were still friends, she insisted you come over for dinner. Are you up for it?”

  “I guess so.”

  “So… meet you at my house at 5:30?”

  “Um, okay.”

  “And maybe later, after Gina’s gone, you can go to the coffee house and we can accidentally run into each other.” He smiled.

  I laughed, but it came out embarrassingly like a sob. “That sounds good.”

  “Autumn?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Today was hard for me too,” he said softly.

  I nodded, afraid to speak.

  “You know what else?”

  I shook my head. “What?”

  “Trevor took Maya home in my Jeep.” He grinned. “I need a ride to work.”

  I gave a watery chuckle. “Get in.”

  † † †

  After dropping Zack off at work, I stopped at the grocery store so I wouldn’t starve during the week. I did my homework in record time, finished my laundry from the day before, then headed to Zack’s house for dinner.

  Cara answered the door and smiled, swinging it open. “Trevor’s not back yet from picking up Zack, but they should be here any minute. Come on in.”

  When I went inside, I found Favianne sitting on the couch playing a video game with Patrick. The boy scowled, but she looked like she was having a blast. She was probably slaughtering him.

  She saw me and held out her arms. I went to her, reaching out to take her hands. She swatted mine away, stood and drew me into a hug. “Let’s go talk in private.”

  For a split second, I mentally flinched. I’d easily handled everyone at school, but Zack’s mom? He’d complained I could be very convincing, but would she see through the lies?

  I followed Favianne to her room and got comfortable in the chair. She sat on her bed, bringing up her legs and leaning on her pillows against the wall. Her lungs wheezed and her heart rate went up, but not nearly as bad as before. She sounded great considering her activity the last couple minutes. Her skin looked good too. More color.

  “You look great. I guess you’re feeling better?” I asked.

  “Yes.” She smiled. “But we’re not here to talk about me.”

  “The weather?” I teased.

  She chuckled. “Nope. What happened with you and Zack?”

  Knowing she’d corner me at some point, I’d already given my answer some thought. I’d treat her the same way as I had my over-protective parents — give her selective truths. “Zack and I… we like each other and we get along, but we’re so different.” I rolled my eyes for effect. “We’re practically different species.”

  She nodded and folded her arms over her chest. “So far, you haven’t told me a thing.”

  Fortunately, I’d prepared for that reaction too — I needed to lead her away and throw in a half-truth or two. If that didn’t work, I’d flat-out lie, which I really didn’t want to do.

  “We want different things. Sometimes enjoying each other isn’t enough, you know?” I shrugged and glanced at Favianne, feeling suddenly thirsty. I licked my lips with what little moisture my mouth had left. What else had I been about to tell her? Oh yeah. “We realized we got along better when we were just friends.”

  Favianne took a deep breath, staring at me.

  Sweat tickled the palms of my hands. I was in big hairy trouble.

  “Although I appreciate the effort, I’m not buying it.”

  Uh-oh. “Why not?”

  “You’re trying too hard, for one thing.” She lifted one brow. “I want the truth. Now. And don’t try to feed me anymore merda. It’s not on my diet.”

  “We didn’t really break up.” The words rushed out of my mouth. But, hell, how could I explain why we were pretending to break up without telling her about our werewolf problems? If she knew our lives were in danger, she’d worry and stress. She could get sick again.

  “My ex-best friend has been pretty awful. She’s holding a grudge against me because Daniel and Zack both rej
ected her for me. Rather than dealing with all that drama, we figured if we broke up, it’d be less likely she’d be weird and stalkerish like Daniel was. There’s only a few more weeks of school, then we probably won’t see her again.”

  Whew! I gave her the truth… just not all of it.

  The door opened and my guilty eyes flew to Zack.

  “What’s going on here?” His eyes narrowed. “Autumn?”

  “She was just filling me in on the status of your relationship.” Favianne’s mouth tightened.

  “Really?” His eyes returned to me, cautious as he approached us. “What did she say?”

  “That we staged the breakup, so Gina won’t get any worse. I’m sorry, Zack, but it’s your fault for not getting here in time to rescue me.” I suppressed a giggle, happy that I wouldn’t have to lie to Favianne. “Don’t you think you should’ve warned me that your mom uses guerrilla tactics?”

  Favianne motioned him over, took his hand and held it between hers. “I’m so happy you two are still together. But don’t you dare lie to me ever again.”

  “Sorry, Mom.” Zack gave her hands a squeeze, then walked around the bed and stood behind me, dropping a kiss on the top of my head. “It seemed easier to give the same story to everyone.”

  “Dinner’s ready,” Cara called out from somewhere beyond Favianne’s room.

  “Mom, please don’t tell anyone,” he whispered. “The more people that know, the more confusing it’ll get. Trevor and Maya could give it away at school or at the coffee house or whatever. I don’t want them in the line of fire. Gina can get pretty nasty. It’s just until the last day of school.”

  “Okay.” She nodded. “You two be careful.”

  I can’t believe you got us out of that. Zack said silently. You’re brilliant.

  Yes, I am. I grinned. It comes from lots of practice with my parents.

  † † †

  Feeling antsy all alone in my house, I left for Bill’s Bean and Brew early. I entered through the side door, got my coffee, then carried it through the front door and onto the patio where we always sat. Just as the door closed behind me, my legs locked into place.