Keaton School 01: Escape Theory (23 page)

Name: Matt Dolgens

Session Date: Sept. 27

Session #3

“W
HY DON
’
T YOU TAKE
my seat today?” Devon crossed her legs in the bigger leather chair, and held out a stiff arm toward her upright desk chair.

“Whatever,” Matt said as he sat down across from her. His eye was still conspicuously bruised. She let her eyes quickly dart around the room before landing back on Matt. The small camera had been installed behind her old seat, wedged between the ceiling and the wall so Mr. Robins and his cohorts would have a clear view of Devon’s subjects. But, no one said her subjects
had
to face the camera. Hopefully given how small it was, obscured by the soundproofed walls, nobody would notice it.

“Does it hurt?” Devon couldn’t think of anything to say beyond the painfully obvious bruise staring back at her. Her thoughts were focused on the frequency jammer turned on inside her backpack, sitting below the camera.
Sorry, Headmaster Wyler. I guess the monitor malfunctioned. Too bad there’s no footage from the student sessions, Mr. Robins. Bummer
.

“Feels great, actually,” Matt said. His good eye glared at Devon.

“Do you want to talk about how it happened?”

Matt shrugged his response.

“Okay, how about I tell you what I saw at the Cove last weekend?”

“You were there?” Matt asked. His head hung a little lower. A witness he probably would have preferred not having.

“I got a ride down there. Wanted to get off campus for an afternoon. I saw you argue with Bodhi.” Devon paused, giving Matt ample opportunity to jump in. He didn’t. “And I saw Bodhi give you that black eye.”

Matt kept silent.

“So, then to get even with Bodhi you had him arrested on campus. Am I right?”

His head jerked up. “You think I did that? That’s funny. I thought
you
were the rat.”

‘Why did you think that?”

“Duh! Because you’re all Miss Anti-Drug Crusader. So you’d make an anonymous call about Bodhi, knowing he would be on campus for the lacrosse game.”

She blinked, hurt, even though she knew she couldn’t blame Matt for thinking that way. “Wow, that’s what you think of me?”

“Look, I didn’t make that call. Why would I?”

Devon’s mind raced.
If it wasn’t Matt, who did?

“Come on, think it through,” Matt said gruffly, with a cruel smirk.

“If Bodhi goes to jail, he’s likely to tell them about your business up here. I get it. Mutually assured destruction. You rat on him, he rats on you. Okay, so it wasn’t you that called the cops, it wasn’t me. Who was it then?”

“Look, I don’t know and I don’t care who ratted out Bodhi. What I’d like to know is who had Cleo give me this.” Matt pulled a green slip of paper from his pocket and flicked it at Devon. It hit her arm and landed in her lap. Devon felt the blush coming to her cheeks.
Oh, no. Please don’t be
.… She opened the paper to find her handwritten 30Ox/10.
It was
. “I told you, I don’t deal with this stuff. Not for you. Not for Cleo. Since when do you have Cleo doing you favors, by the way? All this power seems to be going to your head.”

“Look, Matt, I realize this was probably unprofessional—”

“Unprofessional? Really? That’s the first word that comes to mind? I got one. Two actually. City. College. Because that’s the only college that will take you if you keep trying to throw me under the bus. My dad will make sure Stanford burns your application next year.”

She shook her head queasily. “Matt, I wasn’t trying to throw you under the bus. No one else knew, okay? It was for Hutch. I needed to know.”

His eyes held hers, one injured, one blazing. “Let’s just draw this line right here so there’s no confusion. When it comes to Hutch, you don’t need to know anything. He’s gone, Devon. That’s all there is to know.” Matt leaned back in his chair, his chest heaving up and down. “Missing him doesn’t make you special,” he added quietly.

“I really am sorry. It was totally stupid of me. I was still debating about whether or not to give you the paper, but then I heard what happened to Sasha in Calc. I didn’t want anyone else to get hurt.”

“No one’s going to get hurt. I didn’t know how much she had, okay? She was squirreling the pills away because normally we, Hutch, would keep tabs on how much they were taking. I guess I wasn’t paying enough attention. It got away from me.” Matt swallowed hard.

“You know, I looked it up. It is possible to die from an Adderall overdose. Someone could get seriously hurt here. And, if I was you, I’d be worried that ‘It got away from me’ wouldn’t really hold up in court.”

“I know, okay?” Matt yelled. He banged his hand on the chair. “Not like it matters anymore. Bodhi and I are done. He’s in jail probably ratting me out. Everyone here’s going to hate me for dropping the ball. It’s done.” He chewed at a cuticle on his thumb. “You know, if this gets out, people are going to think it was you.”

“Me? But, I’ve had nothing to do with you and Bodhi. That’s your thing.”

“Yeah well, people are talking. This little position hasn’t made you a lot of fans.”

Devon felt queasy again. “What are you talking about?”

“What do you think? No one trusts you anymore, Devon. Word is you’re telling Robins everything that happens in here. So, I’m going to go. They can’t require me to be here for this bullshit.” Matt brushed his stringy hair out of his face, wincing when his hand swiped his black eye.

“But.…” Devon started.
But nothing, he was right. It was
better if he didn’t tell her anything
. “Matt, who said I was telling Robins anything?”

“Why would I tell you that?”

“Just curious.”

“If I was you, I’d drop this counseling thing completely. Stop talking to me, to Isla. We don’t need you poking your head in our lives, okay?”

“Wait, did Isla tell you to say that? Did she tell you that I’m telling Robins everything? That’s not the truth, Matt. I swear it isn’t.” She knew she sounded as if she were begging, but she couldn’t help it. She
was
. “Let’s keep talking.”

Matt was already opening the door. “I can’t tell you anything else,” he said over his shoulder.

H
EADMASTER
W
YLER PACED ACROSS
the gravel circle at the bottom of the amphitheater. A vast semi-circle of stone steps and wooden benches sunk into bright green grass, the amphitheater was used whenever the weather was good enough for the school to conduct their daily assemblies outside—about 80 percent of the school year. But why this special assembly had been called out of the blue had everyone guessing. Wyler silently watched students file into their seats.

Devon saw Presley and Pete squeeze onto a bench near the top. Their arms were intertwined, as if sitting next to each other wasn’t close enough. Devon was glad she hadn’t chosen a seat yet. They would be completely annoying to be near right now.

“How’d it go this morning?” Raven asked, popping up next to Devon.

“I turned it on and chilled. After that, who knows, right?” She spotted Grant taking a seat on a middle bench with Raj. Grant nodded to Devon, beckoning her over. “Wanna sit down?” She asked Raven. Raven followed her and they sat down next to Grant and Raj.

“Ten bucks says it’s a new drug rule,” Raj Kahn leaned in and whispered to Grant and Devon. His eyes landed on Raven. “Raj,”
he said, extending a hand to shake Raven’s. She smiled, shaking hands.

“Raven,” she said.

“Raven has a boyfriend, Raj,” Devon said. “Watch yourself.”

“I’ll consider myself warned then,” Raj said with a smile.

“You been in session?” Grant whispered in Devon’s ear. He directed his eyes at Raven. She shook her head, no. “Just a friend,” she whispered back.
Whose brother I am trying to investigate
. Raven was spinning her bracelets on her arm again, lost in thought.

Grant wrapped an arm around Devon’s shoulder as Headmaster Wyler cleared his throat and tapped the microphone. “As you are all well aware, our community has suffered a terrible tragedy already in this short school term,” he began. “We, as the faculty appointed by your parents are here to protect you.” Raj slapped Grant’s arm. Other students mumbled and shifted in their seats. Wyler continued. “But, with that in mind, we felt as if we could all use a little break. A way of looking forward.” He smiled. “So we’re going to have a Pop-Up Party. No sports this afternoon. The party will start at six
P.M.
Dinner will be served on Raiter Lawn.”

Students jumped up and cheered. Grant slapped Raj’s arm. “You lose, dude! Ten bucks!”

Raven laughed and put a hand over her heart. “I don’t know why, but I was really worried he had bad news or something,” she whispered. “I don’t think I could have handled it.”

Devon nodded, even though she felt unsettled. Maybe wallowing in misery wasn’t the best response to the Hutch “tragedy,” but maybe it was a bit too soon for a party? On other hand, she appeared to be the only student who felt that way. “It’s perfect timing,” she heard herself say. “Now you can get out of here early and go meet Bodhi when he gets home. I’m sure he’ll have a lot to tell you.”
What are you doing, Devon? She’s not your spy
.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m going to do. I’ll call you later.” Raven hoisted her backpack over her shoulder.

“Wait, Raven,” Devon said. “Thanks again for helping me this morning. It was sort of above-and-beyond of you.”

Raven smiled and suddenly pulled Devon into a hug. “I’m happy we’re friends. It feels like Hutch would approve, you know.” She walked away, leaving Devon with a pit in her stomach. Raven was right, Hutch would approve of their friendship, while he would completely disapprove of Devon’s second guesses about Bodhi. Wouldn’t he?

“So, you wanna make good use of this Pop-Up?” Grant’s question brought Devon back into the celebratory chaos.

“Good use?”

Grant wrapped an arm around her waist. “You can’t tell me that now, when the whole school is stopping to have fun for the night, that you have other things to do.”

“Don’t you have the same classes I do? I’ve got crazy amounts of homework.” But even she could hear how thin that excuse sounded.

“Devon, there will always be homework. Always. But you and me? If that’s not better than homework, then I should just give up now. Seriously. If you’d rather do homework, then I won’t stand in your way.” His eyes searched her face for an answer.

Devon smiled. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It feels like I haven’t had free time in so long, I don’t really know what to do with it.”

“Yeah?” Grant’s smile spread across his whole face. His eyes crinkled into smiling lines.

“Yeah. You and me is definitely better than homework.”

“Cool. How about you go do what you gotta do for a bit. I’ll come by and get you when it’s dark, okay?” Grant kissed her on the lips and stood.

“Okay,” Devon said back.

Grant turned and disappeared into the jubilant crowd, filing out of the amphitheater. She fell in line, her head reeling. What did she just agree to? She had to find Presley. Devon turned toward Bay House and saw Cleo walking across the lawn toward her. Devon gave her a slight wave. “Hey.”

“We gotta talk,” Cleo said.
“Faire une promenade?”
Devon squinted in response. “Wanna go for a walk?” Cleo explained, steering her toward Bay House.

“Oh, okay sure. Why? What’s up?”

“You and Grant are a thing now, huh?” Cleo asked.

“Yeah, I guess. Why?”

“I don’t want to rain on your parade or anything, and seriously, you’re a little high strung. You deserve a parade. But, just keep your eyes open with Grant. I don’t know that he’s everything he fronts.”

Devon stopped walking. The wind picked up and she wrapped her arms across her chest as a chill rippled through her body. “Why are you saying this? Grant’s been really great.”

“
D’accord
. I’m sure he has been, but I’m just looking out for you.” Cleo smiled and walked away. Devon scowled. Why would Cleo say that to her? It had to be because she was jealous? Grant was a good guy. Devon wasn’t sure she wanted a boyfriend, but she trusted Grant. He had earned that after two years of being her friend. Cleo was probably laughing at her ability to mess with Devon.
Don’t let her get in your head, Devon. She’s just playing with you
.

“W
HEN IT
’
S DARK
? T
HAT
’
S
what he said? Oh, baby!” Presley squealed, applying eyeliner in her dorm room mirror before dinner.

“What? Why ‘oh baby?’ ” Devon muttered from Presley’s striped duvet.

“Because someone’s gonna get laaa-id!” Presley sang. “You ready for that?” Presley moved onto mascara.

“But really? How did you know just from that?”

Presley paused and arched an eyebrow. “Simple. ’Cause guys don’t actually go to the trouble to make plans about anything unless there is sex in it for them. Grant wants to seal the deal. So the only question is, do you?” She turned and waited for Devon’s answer. “Well, bee-yotch? Do you?”

Devon slumped over to her side. “I don’t know. I mean, how do you actually know?”

“Good point,” Presley turned back to the mirror. “You don’t know necessarily. I think mostly it just happens and then you decide afterward if you were ready or not.”

“That’s not the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Look, my theory is that losing your V card is like taking the training wheels off a bike. You gotta lose it first to know what you’re really working with. Then you can start having fun and all the romantic stuff you think comes along with. Should I wear black and sexy, or pink and lacey?” Presley held up two different bras.

“I don’t know. Clearly I’m out of my depth here.” Devon stood and shuffled to Presley’s door.

“Hey, slutface.” Presley stopped her. “Don’t stress. Don’t over-think, ’cause I know you will. Grant’s a good guy. Just relax and enjoy the ride. And if you don’t do it, that’s cool, too. I’ve seen the way Grant looks at you. He’ll still like you afterward no matter what.” Presley squeezed Devon’s hand.