Chapter 17 Explain Yourself
Grace barely slept.
Every sound outside her window made her sit up. Every vibration of her phone made her heart jump. When morning came, it felt wrong that the sun still rose, that the world kept moving as if nothing had happened.
Maddox had sent one text a few hours after they parted ways, after she had bombarded his phone with text after text asking if he was okay and what was going on.
I'm okay. Go to sleep. I'll explain soon.
That was it.
No call. No visit. Nothing else. How did he even expect her to fall asleep like nothing had happened?
She had killed a man for goodness sake.
She stared at the message until the words blurred. She did not reply as she had no idea of what to say. Relief tangled with dread and left her chest tight.
At least he was alive and that was what mattered. But something was wrong, she could feel it.
She remembered looking outside her window and seeing the moon glare down at her in all its full glory, it was a full moon and it still lingered pale in her memory, bright enough to hurt her eyes when she thought about it. She had half hoped that Enzo would make a startling appearance like the way he did last night but she highly doubted it. He had a way of leaving nagging impressions.
She did not understand why Maddox had sounded so distant, why he had not come to see her after promising that he would.
Even after arriving at school, Molly would not let her catch a break.
"In a few days," she said for the fifth time, leaning against Grace's locker. "You're officially legal!"
Grace managed a weak smile. "Eighteen is not old."
"It is. I mean, people get married at that age," Molly replied dramatically, then she brightened. "I got you something by the way."
She reached into her bag and pulled out a neatly wrapped box tied with a ribbon.
Grace blinked. "Molly..."
"No opening it," Molly waved an index finger in warning. "Not until tomorrow."
Grace took it carefully, the weight felt comforting in her hands. "Thank you." She had not expected a gift at all, considering she hadn't seen her parents for days as they were still in the hospital, she wasn't even expecting a cake.
She was very grateful to Molly.
Molly's smile softened. "I won't be at school for the next few days."
Grace frowned. "What do you mean?"
"My family is moving," Molly said with a sigh. "Something about work, I don't know. Adult nonsense."
Grace's chest tightened. "You didn't tell me."
"I only just found out," Molly said. "I'll call. I promise."
"What'll happen after two days?" Grace didn't want to admit it but she’d miss Molly—the same girl who had refused her being a loner as she had always stuck to her side like glue, and if Molly left now, Grace would have no one to talk to.
"I’ll probably return to at least graduate,” she reassured, rubbing the back of her neck nervously at the sad expression her friend was making. “I can't leave you alone, who would you talk to? You would retreat into your shell and that, Ra-ra is a huge no."
Despite herself, Grace laughed, she must have seen the worry on her face.
"Don't worry, I can't leave you. We’re a pair" Molly said, waving her hand dramatically.
They walked into class together, and the room felt louder than usual, chairs scraping, voices overlapping. Grace barely heard any of it her mind was still stuck on Maddox. On the blood, the way he had looked at her like he was memorizing her face.
Mr. Rudy entered without his usual irritation. He closed the door behind him and stood at the front of the room, hands clasped.
“Everyone, get seated. I have an announcement to make," he said.
The class obeyed.
Mr. Rudy continued. "One of our students was arrested last night."
A hush fell over the room.
"Dylan," he said. "He turned himself in and confessed to killing his friend during a gang altercation."
The words slammed into Grace like a physical blow.
Her pen slipped from her fingers.
The room erupted in whispers, there was shock, excitement and even fear. Someone gasped loudly while someone else laughed nervously.
Grace's pulse roared in her ears, wondering how that story had come to light. And why would Dylan kill his friend and rush to confess?
Her chair scraped loudly as she stood.
"Grace? Are you okay?" Molly whispered, tugging on her skirt.
"Sir," she said, ignoring her and continuing with a shaky voice. "May I be excused?" She was aware of the whole class staring at her now and how suspicious the timing seemed, but she had to speak with Maddox.
Mr. Rudy studied her face for a moment. "Okay, but be quick."
Grace did not wait for further permission. She rushed out of the classroom and down the hall, her footsteps echoing too loudly. Her hands trembled as she pushed into the bathroom and locked herself inside a stall.
She pulled out her phone and dialed Maddox.
It rang once.
Twice.
Her breath came fast. Panic clawed at her ribs.
Then the line connected.
"Grace," Maddox said.
Her relief was instant and overwhelming. "What happened?" she demanded, eyes burning in both worry and relief. "They said Dylan went to the police. They said he killed his friend. What-what did you do?"
There was silence on the other end.
"Maddox," she whispered, "What did you do...?"
"We can't talk about this over the phone," he said quietly.
Her chest tightened. "You promised you would explain."
"I will," he said, "In person."
"When?"
"I'll pick you up after school."
Grace swallowed hard. "You didn't even come to see me."
"I couldn't," he replied.
"Why?"
Another pause. Longer this time.
"I'll explain everything," he said again. "Just hold on until then."
The call cut off.
Grace stared at the phone, her reflection staring back through the phone's screen in her hand, her hands kept shaking as her thoughts raced.
Dylan had confessed.
Maddox had ghosted.
Someone—no—people had died.
How did it all go wrong?
Outside, the bell rang.
Grace stood slowly, wiped her reddened face, and straightened her uniform. Whatever Maddox was hiding, she would hear it tonight.
And she had the sinking feeling that nothing would ever be simple again. Because she couldn’t stop thinking about how he’d killed those men while staying so calm.
When the final bell rang hours later, Grace rushed to get her bag and ran out the door, she stepped outside the school gates and a familiar old red truck waited at the curb.
Maddox stood beside it, a serious look on his face.