The Gossip Web (17 page)

“Oh God,” I mumbled, lying down hastily.

I glanced over at my alarm clock, and the red numbers blinked repeatedly at me but I ignored them. After situating my body comfortably against the plush waves of my bedspread, I shut my eyes and tried to fall back asleep. I wasn’t aware of how long I laid in bed or what time it was when my mind finally drifted off, but I didn’t care if it was five PM. All I wanted to do was sleep, and dream about Trace. Nothing else would’ve made me happier.

20

             
THE FOLLOWING MORNING,
I somehow managed to avoid everyone. When I walked through the halls, the student body swarmed around me, but I ignored their loud whispering and penetrating stares. How I did this without cracking amazed me, but I did it. I made it to homeroom in one piece, then first, and when second period rolled around I thought I was going to be okay. But this was my life, remember? Someone had to constantly spoil it for me---and this someone had been ruining my life ever since she had set her cold eyes on me.

             
“Oh, Jade? Is that you? I didn’t recognize you with all those clothes on.”

             
Gloria snickered at me as she passed by my locker, her perfect blonde hair bouncing as she went. When her back was to me, I suppressed the urge to take off my shoe and throw it at her head. She was walking alone and the idea that I could take her filled my mind, but I realized that there were too many witnesses in the hall. How fortunate for her. I watched Gloria’s blonde head dissolve in the crowd, and with it went my chance at revenge.

“And I was having such a great day too…” I grunted as I shoved my history book onto the metal shelf, unaware that someone was standing directly behind me. After grabbing the necessary materials for my next class, I whipped around in fury, bumping my forehead against Trace’s chin.

“Ouch!” I yelled out. I was shocked from the pain. and to find him standing there.

“Jeeze,” he grumbled, rubbing his perfectly crafted chin while I massaged my head. “I knew you were mad at me, but I didn’t think you had the intent to kill.”

I cracked a thin smile at his comment but I avoided laughing. Reminding myself I was mad at him, my smile quickly dissolved and I glared up at him. I realized I should just walk away; I was not in a good mood, and I didn‘t want to say anything else I‘d know I‘d later regret. Besides, after accusing him of setting me up for Gloria’s prank, why the hell would he want to be around me?

“What do you want, Trace?” I asked him impatiently.

He seemed nervous as he stared down into my eyes. “Well…” Trace began, and his face turned a shade redder.

“Is it important?” I asked him swiftly, and I glanced down at the floor as I waited for him to respond. I was still so furious…I couldn’t even look him in the eye.

He frowned. “Yes---sort of, I guess…”

I rolled my eyes in annoyance and checked the time on my phone. I wondered what he wanted, but then again, I didn’t. For once, I just wanted him to leave me alone---along with everybody else. After glancing back at him, I replied sharply, “Well, Trace, it’s been lovely chatting with you, but I have to get to class…”

I had already moved away from him when he called out, “I’m sorry.”

His apology caused me to freeze in my tracks. I glanced over my shoulder at his slumped posture and frowned. “What was that?” I asked him warily. “I must be going crazy, because I just heard you apologize to me.”

He took a few steps in my direction and said, “I did. I’m sorry for everything, Jade. For the other night…for the way I reacted. I shouldn’t have treated you that way.”

My heart jumped into my throat. I didn’t know what to say, so I simply stared back at him, shocked and confused. Why was he apologizing? I’m the one who messed up everything the night of the formal. I didn’t deserve an apology! I had treated him so badly…and for what? He hadn’t helped Gloria, I was sure of that. The only thing he was truly guilty of that night was trying to console me. If that was the case, why was I still so angry at him?

Trace rejoined my side, and after he searched my eyes with his, he said, “I know how upset you are about Gloria’s prank, and I’m sorry if I came off as insensitive…but I was just trying to make you feel better about what had happened.” He looked off then, squeezing his blue eyes shut. “I should’ve just kept my mouth shut. You wouldn’t hate me right now if I had.”

I sighed, guilt swarming my thoughts; he was really beating himself up over this. “What? No, Trace…don’t say that. I don’t hate you.” I reached a hand out to touch his shoulder. “I’m the one who needs to do the apologizing, Trace. Not you. What I said the other night---”

“It doesn’t matter what you said, Jade,” he interrupted, grasping my hand. “I know why you have doubts about me, but you have to know that I had nothing to do with that stupid prank.” His eyes searched mine frantically as he asked, “Please tell me you believe me.”

I bit my lip and nodded. “I believe you, Trace,” I told him softly.

Then, Trace smiled at me, and it was as if our fight had never even happened. Glancing down at our joined hands, my face grew red when I recalled our “almost kiss”. I gazed back at his face, blushing even harder when I found him staring at me the same way he had the night of the dance. Was he thinking the same thing I was? He had to be…his eyes were sparkling. I bit my lip nervously when Trace lowered his head dangerously close to mine.

“Mr. Gibson, Ms. Cannon! I think it’s time you two made your way to class!”

It was the voice of our teacher, Mr. Reid, that interrupted our moment this time. I quickly backed away from Trace, and my neck heated from embarrassment as we turned around to find Mr. Reid staring at us with his arms crossed. He was giving us “the look”, the one that usually meant trouble…but I ignored his angry stare. At the moment, I was perplexed by the many things Mr. Reid held in his grip. In one hand he was holding a large amount of folders, and in his other, a full cup of coffee. I was flustered from the fact that he’d witness our P.D.A, but I was more amazed that he was able to keep everything in his hands from spilling over. It looked a little difficult.

“Yes, Sir,” Trace blurted out quickly, his voice tearing me out of my insignificant thoughts. He elbowed me lightly and sent me a wink. I grinned up at him and winked back.

Mr. Reid nodded. “Good.” He turned and walked in the direction of his classroom, not giving us another thought.

             
As Trace watched Mr. Reid leave us, I studied his profile. It was only because Trace was so handsome that I let him get away with everything he had done. I knew if he were just some ordinary, boring guy, my infatuation wouldn’t have lasted this long. But he wasn’t ordinary. Trace was the man of my dreams---well, boy of my dreams.

             
“I know you didn’t set me up,” I said suddenly, catching Trace off guard. “I’m sorry for ever considering it. I was just so upset Saturday night…but that’s no excuse. I know what kind of person you are, Trace. You could never do something like that to me, or to anybody else.”

             
“It’s alright, Jade. I‘m just glad you‘re not angry at me anymore,” he replied.

             
Trace smiled, and I noticed that his eyes began to sparkle again. I had a feeling that if I didn’t leave now, I never would, and I did not want to get caught by Mr. Reid twice. The penalty would be detention for sure.

             
“Me too, but we’d better get to class before Mr. Reid comes back to check on us,” I told Trace, edging away.

             
“Okay,” he sounded disappointed, and I gleamed on the inside; I didn’t want to leave him either. Truth be told, I always wanted to be around him---but I didn’t tell him that though. I was afraid it would sound too creepy.

             
“See you around?” I offered with a smile.

             
“You bet. Bye, Jade,” Trace told me, returning the smile.

             
He smiled at me once more before taking off down the hall. I watched him go with a fluttering stomach. Instead of tearing us apart like I thought it would, that stunt Gloria pulled only made our connection stronger. Trace and I could make things work, I was sure of that. We both cared about each other enough to put all the bad stuff behind us. Maybe, this time, everything would finally be alright…

             
But Gloria had it in for us---and she wouldn’t stop until Trace was wrapped around her evil little finger. Unfortunately, I had no way of finding out what she planned to do next, but I knew Gloria all too well. She definitely had an agenda, and whatever her next evil scheme was, I was not looking forward to it.

21

I WAS SITTING IN HOMEROOM,
listening to Heidi gush about her crush on her new substitute drama teacher, when Camille walked into the classroom looking distressed. She paused by Jodie Munson’s desk (a semi-popular girl who sat near the back), and I heard her whisper Gloria’s name. All of a sudden, the entire room grew very quiet and all heads turned in Camille’s direction. When the words passed by her lips, it seemed like the room shook from the aftershock. Some people gasped while other dropped their jaws from surprise. I simply raised my eyebrows at the news, and when I glanced at Heidi, she seemed shocked.

After strolling over to her desk, Camille settled herself down with a smile. It sickened me to see her so satisfied with herself for doing a nasty deed. There she was, Gloria’s supposed best friend, and she was openly spreading gossip about her! Glancing over at Heidi’s stunned expression, I felt appreciative that I didn’t have to deal with that kind of backstabbing from her.

“Can you believe that?” Heidi asked suddenly, once the classroom chatter had returned to its usual rowdy buzz. “Gloria really broke up with Freddie?”

I shrugged, replying, “Who knows? Maybe Camille is just trying to start something…”

“I don’t know, Jade.” Heidi said. “She seemed really confident about it.”

“That’s true.” I glanced back at the back row of desks, and watched Camille while she flipped through a magazine on her desk, twirling a lock of her chestnut hair as she read. Noticing that Freddie and Trace’s desks were still empty, I added, “It’s a good thing Freddie wasn’t here to catch her performance.”

“Yeah,” Heidi agreed. “I wonder if he has a rule against wailing on girls?”

             
I laughed and grinned at her comment, imagining Freddie striking Camille in the face. “I would pay good money to see that happen.”

             
“I think everyone would,” she giggled along with me.

             
Then, the warning bell rang, and the remainder of the class started pouring in…but Trace and Freddie were nowhere to be seen. I’d been anxious to see Trace all morning, but after fifteen minutes passed by, I realized he probably wasn’t coming to class today. I tried to keep my eyes off of the door for the rest of the period, but it struck me as odd that they both weren’t showing up. It really wasn’t unusual for Trace and Freddie to ditch, because they did on occasion. But today? The day Gloria broke up with him? It seemed a little strange. Plus, why did Trace have to ditch with him? Freddie didn’t seem the emotional type to need a shoulder to cry on…and he probably had his eyes set on somebody else already. The boy moved fast.

As I thought about it some more, I realized that there was something very odd going on, and of course it had Gloria written all over it. I started to wonder if Gloria had planned the whole thing. Maybe she instructed Camille to spread the word in homeroom so I would hear about it… but why would Gloria do that? Why would I care if she broke up with Freddie? I wondered and pondered as the time ticked by, and when I got my bag ready for first period I decided to casually glance in Camille’s direction. That’s when my suspicions were proven true.