SEVENTEEN 

 

After banging on her computer keys for a while, Maya left, murmuring something about an interview. Chaz was gone too. I was so bored because no one had told me what to do for the day. Finally, I asked one of the other guys if they wanted help with something.

I spent a couple of hours reading and approving or rejecting comments people had made on the blog. Daniel, the guy I was helping, was getting ready to go, so I thought I might as well leave too.

Then Chaz walked back in.

“Destiny,” he smiled, putting a hand on my back. “You should knock off here and come with me.”

“Uh, okay,” I said.

At a coffee shop, Chaz looked deep into my eyes. I blushed, it was so intense.

“Destiny, I need you to forget what you heard,” he said, grabbing my hand.

“Wha-at?” I frowned.

“Look, just for the next few minutes, I’ll talk about it with you, but then it’s going to be like all this never happened,” Chaz said.

I just looked at him.

“Yes, the video isn’t real exactly, and yes, I know that. But we are going to treat it like it’s real. Neither Billy nor Jeff will ever admit it’s fake. They’re not trying to punk us.”

“But … why?” I asked. “Why did they … ? Why are you … ?”

“We need the story. We need more traffic on the blog to prove we’re in the big leagues. The first unedited Jeff Johnson tape with serious scandal—”

“But it’s fake!” I said.

He held up his hand. “Yes, in a way, but there have been rumors about the mayor and voter fraud in the last election.”

“But why is Billy—”

He cut me off; his eyes narrowed. “He’s got issues with his dad. Serious ones. Legit. If he thinks that illegal activity should be exposed, I’m happy to help.”

“But there isn’t any—”

Chaz held up his hand again. “Time’s up. We’re done talking about it, and I seriously want you to forget it.”

I sat back, stunned and angry.

Chaz grabbed my hand again. “Look, I’m really sorry you got involved in this, Destiny. It’s nothing to do with you and your job, no matter what happens with this. You’re here this summer to get experience, make good money, and get a good reference letter from Holt, right?”

I nodded slowly.

“Holt said you were interested in Grandin. You know that’s his alma mater, yeah? And mine too. You don’t want to mess that up.”

How did Harmon Holt know I was interested in Grandin College? (Not that I was.) Did Ms. Williams say something? I was starting to feel like he was spying on me.

He smiled, making his lips a little pouty. “Holt warned me you were something special. You’re smart enough to see inconsistencies, but you can see the context. Not like Maya—she’s so straight and narrow. Not to mention a little bitter.” He laughed and winked. “Now, you got time to go shopping with me?”

“Shopping?”

“I need some new shoes instead of these raggedy ones.” He held up his foot. “But I need help from someone with style—please?”

By the time he dropped me off at home, I was floating on air. I was so busy thinking about his beautiful eyes and lips and the way he kept touching me, I didn’t even hear Mom yell at me for not getting Darius from the neighbor.