"Are you talking about Grant?" Lance asks. "What's going on with you two? Is it serious? Are you going to ditch me every time we go off campus now? Because I'm responsible for knowing where you are. And nights like the carnival can't happen all the time."
"Why don't the two of you have to take drug tests?" I ask, deflecting what was starting to sound like an overprotective interrogation. Lance really is taking his chaperoning role way too seriously. "You were both busted for drugs."
"My parents won't allow it," Ashton explains. "They don't want it on record in case it gets leaked to the press."
"My dad won't allow it either," Lance repeats. "Doesn't want it potentially used against me."
"But I have to?" It's not that I need the drugs, but I hate my every move being monitored ... by Lance and the school. I don't need anyone dictating what is best for me, or questioning where I go, with whom.
"Yours is court ordered," Brendan says.
"Why do you know that?" Lance scowls at him. "I'm seriously starting to wonder if we should be trusting you."
"Don't," I interject automatically.
Brendan scoffs. "It's an obvious conclusion to make. She's the only one who has a record among the three of you, so I'm sure there were conditions to her sentencing."
"I think we're done," Ashton announces, assessing the room and trying to deflate the growing tension.
"Thanks for helping me," I tell them all. The guys don't say anything; they just nod awkwardly. Ashton chooses to hug me and give me a sloppy kiss on the cheek.
Ashton and I carry the only two bags of clothes that survived the attack, while the guys leave with trash bags filled with the remains.
When I'm lying on Ashton's couch that night, she asks, "Tell me about everyone's curses again. What is Brendan?"
"Perception. He sees everything."
"Except how I feel about him."
"That's part of his curse too. He can't see what's most important to him, that's why it'll eventually ruin him."
"Yeah." She yawns. "What about Lance?"
"Lance is cursed with Nobility. He's a good guy, but may not always stand up for the right people."
"I like Lance," she mumbles. "Tell me more."
I list everyone and their curses until we're too tired to open our mouths any longer.
Mr. Garner wakes me for a yoga and meditation class first thing the next morning, followed by a detox session (his words) in the sauna. Ashton decides to join us, and I hate them both for their ability to stand on one foot, with their eyes closed, in a still tree pose. I look more like sea grass blowing in the wind than a tree. Peace and I did not find each other once again. But the hot steam of the sauna did help leach the toxins from my body. I haven't felt this clear-headed in forever.
Grant isn't working when we arrive at the country club. I should probably ask Sophia for a copy of his schedule. Or maybe I could just ask him. But that would be weird.
No. I'll ask Sophia. Also weird, but not as bad.
I finish my shift at The Deck and find Grant clocking in on my way to the locker room.
"Hi," he says. I smile like I just inhaled helium. "What happened to you yesterday?"
I frown. "What?"
"Our tutor session? You didn't show."
A flash of panic shoots through me. Did I read that message wrong? "I got a message from my teacher that it was changed to tomorrow."
"You did?"
I nod. "Why didn't you call me?"