Chapter 39: Master plan (Alex's POV) "Today sucks," I groaned as we sat under the tree in the field. Me, Hannah, Abby, and Zach. He was only here to pay his hellos to Abby. He wouldn't be staying. "You'll be fine, Alex. You were fine before you had a boyfriend, you'll be fine now too," Hannah said, patting my hand that rested on my knee. "But I miss him," I mumbled mostly to myself. "Hey." We looked up and saw Connor standing there with Carter looking everywhere but at me. "Ignore his existence," Connor mumbled while sitting between me and Hannah. "I can only try," I mumbled. Whatever lessons we had together today, we spent in petty arguments. I was tired of it. I just wanted my bed and loads of sleep. I stared off into space, watching as the freshman students played soccer, some of the girls out there sitting and watching their boyfriends. "Who is that?" Abby asked, nudging my shoulder. "Who?" I asked in confusion, turning to her. "That," she said while staring out. I followed her eyes and saw Asher. Coffee shop Asher standing there with coffee in cup holders and two bags full of donuts. Probably for some teachers. Someone must have ordered them. "That's Asher," I answered absentmindedly. "Who's Asher?" she lifted her eyebrows at me. I thought about it before answering. This was immature. But I was going to do it. I was pissed. Carter was being immature too. "A friend," I smirked before standing up. "Where are you going?" everyone but Carter asked. "To say hi," I shrugged before walking away. He handed over the coffee and was about to turn around and leave when I called out his name. "Asher!" He halted and turned in my direction. "Hey," he smiled. "Hey," I said while walking over, stopping in front of him. "I didn't think I'd see you here," he chuckled. "Why not?" I asked. "Don't take this the wrong way, I thought you'd be with your boyfriend," he said. Just bite your tongue, Alex. Don't say it. "What boyfriend?" I asked. His eyes widened for a split second before he nodded slowly. "Oh." "Yeah," I laughed awkwardly, "Oh." "Are you sure?" he asked while looking over at the field where all the others were sitting. Everyone seemed to be doing their own thing. "Yeah, why?" I frowned, following his gaze. "Because he's kind of glowering at me," he chuckled. "You can ignore him. Anyway, I'll see you around," I nodded before turning around and heading back, trading out the small smile on my face for the fakest, most believable grin I could achieve. "So?" Abby asked as I sat back down. "So?" I mocked. She raised her eyebrows at me. "So, nothing. I'll probably see him around, he's at the cafe every morning anyway," I shrugged. The bell rang and Carter was the first one up and out of his seat. I turned to Abby and Hannah, all of us looking at each other knowingly. "Somebody seems a little jealous to me," Hannah mumbled, walking with me after Abby went left for biology and we went right for creative writing. "I think so too," I said as we entered the classroom. "What do I do?" I questioned. "Something a little different than what we planned." I looked at her quizzically. "Make him jealous," she shrugged. "No," I shook my head, "Not until he knows what really happened and knows I didn't lie." "Fair enough. Once he learns the truth, make him jealous, and pull him back. It's no secret you want him back, so just- just make him work for it. A little," she shrugged. "That's your master plan? Make him work for it?" I asked. "That's my master plan, hun. Take it or leave it." I thought about it while our teacher walked in and assigned our work. "I'll take it," I sighed. ◆:*:◇:*:◆:*:◇:*:◆ I was walking home with my earphones plugged in, enjoying the moment. Or at least I was trying to. I was used to Carter walking me home, talking to me the whole way, making me smile, laugh, giving me his piggyback rides. I missed him. A car pulled up beside me and stopped. Before I could move, the door opened, someone grabbed my arm and yanked me inside. I looked inside and saw Zach sitting beside me while Connor drove. "What the hell is wrong with you guys? I thought I was getting kidnapped," I said breathlessly. "Relax. You're not that special," Connor snickered. Zach smacked the back of his head before turning to me. "We wanna help." "With what?" I asked in confusion. "With convincing Carter, you didn't cheat and then getting you guys back together." "Huh?" I stared, dumbfounded. "Hannah told me," Connor said. Of course, she did. "I don't even know how we're going to do this. You should ask Abby. She kind of came up with it," I said to Zach. "She already told me what she knew, I just wanted to hear it from you," he shrugged in response. "Hear what from me?" "What happened," he sighed. "From what I can remember," I huffed, "I left my drink on the counter for like five seconds, and when I came back and finished it, I started feeling sick. I was waiting over there for Carter, but almost an hour later he hadn't shown up and I was feeling worse by the second. I ran into Nate, I think that's his name, and I told him to tell Carter when he sees him that I'm here waiting for him. Carter says it was an hour until Nate found him, almost an hour anyway. I was out like a light by then and Hudson had already grabbed me. I remember his car and I remember the smell of it. It was his car. I woke up the next morning, my memory swiped clean. I just assumed Carter brought me home," I shrugged, "That's all I know." "Do you think it was- what's his name?" Zach asked. "Hudson." "Hudson, right. Do you think it was him just because of a scent?" he questioned. "Abby saw him." "She was wasted. I don't know if I would count on that," Connor said. "If she's the only person who saw it, wasted or not, I will believe it. And. He's the only one except for Carter and Hannah who knows where we hide the spare key." That had them convinced. "So, what's the plan?" Connor questioned. "The plan," I sighed while looking out the window as we reached my neighborhood. "Is to catch him doing it again." "That seems fine. But you're not going to take any risks are you?" Zach asked. "I have to. There's only one way to know if the drink is really drugged," I shrugged. "Um- yeah. By watching him do it," Connor deadpanned. "Knowing Carter, he will probably confront him. And knowing Hudson, he will probably lie his way out of it. We don't know the details yet. We'll tell you when we do. Thanks for the ride by the way." I opened the door in front of my house as they pulled over and hopped out. "Bye." I walked in and went up to my room, grabbing the spare key on my way. That needs a new spot. I thought I would ask my dad later and went straight to the kitchen, putting the key in my pocket. I grabbed some chips and went up to my room where I plugged my phone on charge and put my bag in the corner before sitting at my desk and opening my laptop. I had a creative writing assignment due tonight and I hadn't written anything except for my name on that page. I wrote while snacking on the chips and listening to music. Fool's Gold by One Direction to be specific. I took my earphones out once I was finished and focused completely on my work, scanning in over to correct any errors when I heard a car pull over. It couldn't be my dad, he's at work. I opened my window and stuck my head out. I saw a black Camaro sitting in my driveway. The door opened and Hudson walked up the steps, heading to the front door. I watched cautiously as he didn't even bother ringing the bell, he went straight to the spot under the porch where we hid the spare key. Thank God, I brought that in with me. He stood straight while nodding and laughing. He rang the doorbell, then pounded on the door, repeating that process until twenty minutes had gone by. "Ay!" I looked up where our neighbor had come out. Mr. Hall, I owe you. Mr. Hall is a grumpy old man but I have a deal with him. He doesn't bother him, I take him to McDonald's twice a month. I don't mind it. The old man is funny if he likes you. "What the hell are you doing? Get out of here!" he yelled. "Ignore it," Hudson huffed, rolling his eyes. Mr. Hall walked up to my front door with his cane. He had an injury that caused a little damage to his left knee. "I said get out of here!" he yelled, lifting his cane as if he would hit Hudson. Hudson left pretty quickly after that. "Idiot!" Mr. Hall called out after him as he drove off. He looked up at my window and grinned. "Did that do it for ya, Alex?" he asked. "Thank you, Mr. Hall," I laughed. I laughed, but I was terrified. What if I didn't move that spare key? . . . . . Chapter thirty-nine