Brazen Girl by Ali Dean Page 0,9
It was me.”
“Yeah, and you lost focus because of the messages,” Zora snaps.
I shrug. “Skateboarding’s dangerous. Besides, this whole cyberbullying, internet trolling thing is a pretty new crime. Usually it’s schools dealing with this kind of stuff. There are cases with kids killing themselves that don’t even warrant criminal charges, so I’m not really on anyone’s priority list.”
“I want to get that phone and do my own investigation,” Zora announces. “Find out who these people are and hunt them down.”
“Relax, I’m deleting all my social media stuff anyway. It’s done.”
A lump forms in my throat, and I rub my chest.
It’s been five days since I left Beck’s apartment. Four days since I left California and sent him a text message.
“Have you told Griff?” Lucy asks softly.
“About quitting social media? I didn’t have it in me to call him about it. I mean, I could have used my mom’s or dad’s phones like I’m doing now, but I sent him an email instead. Told him I want to be done with all of it, not just social media. The competitions, the brand repping.”
“What’d he say?” Ellie asks.
“Same thing Beck said when, well, you know.” It’s hard to actually say aloud that I broke up with him. “That I was making a rash decision. That I had a head injury and needed time to recover. Griff said he understood and would give me time.”
There’s a pause. That’s not exactly what Beck said. But then again, Beck’s about to start filming on a show that doesn’t allow him in relationships, while Griff’s about to officially launch Brazen.
“So, have you talked to him?” Lucy asks.
I don’t have to ask who she’s talking about.
“No. Aside from that email exchange with Griff, this call with you guys is my first contact with anyone from Summerside.”
I know I should call Naomi and Summer, but I don’t have their numbers, and I’m not about to get on social media to reach out to them. I guess I could ask Griffin on email but… it’s hard to know how to talk to them about Beck now. He must have told them by now, and I don’t know if they’ll be mad at me or ask questions, or what.
Ellie changes the subject and I’m grateful. “So, what have you been up to at home since you can’t skate?”
“My parents have been hovering. Phoebe and Wyatt are off now too, so I hung with them yesterday. Other than that, I’ve actually been sleeping a lot.”
“You okay?” Lucy asks.
No, I’m never okay when I can’t skate, and I’m mopey and moodier than ever.
“It’s just from the concussion. The doctor said this is normal.” I can’t remember if the doctor said it was normal to sleep so much. But Google says so. “My mom thinks I’m depressed or some shit, but I’m fine.” I notice Lucy exchanging looks with Zora and Ellie, so I reassure them, “I have to see a doctor here tomorrow and check in every week until I get cleared to skate.”
My finger runs along the chain of my necklace, fiddling with the heart and skateboard pendants.
“You should call him, Jordan,” Lucy urges in her gentlest voice.
“I’m sure he wants to know how you’re doing,” Ellie adds.
“He does. He texted me. You know, since you contacted him from my phone right before you hopped out of my car at the airport?” Zora says pointedly.
“What did you say?”
“That you’re an idiot and you’ll come to your senses eventually.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“No.” She doesn’t crack a smile and I narrow my eyes.
“I’d smack you if you were in front of me for real.”
“Just call him.”
Ellie raises her hand. “I agree with this advice. And I rarely agree with Zora’s advice, so that’s saying something.”
Lucy opens her mouth, to put in her vote too I assume, but I pretend to call out to my mom. “Oh, what’s that? It’s dinner time? Okay, I’m coming!”
Glancing back at the screen I can see I haven’t fooled anyone. “Man, you’re really bad at that,” Zora says, like she’s truly offended.
“Remember, she never had to lie to her parents or anyone about sneaking out or going to parties. This is new to her,” Lucy defends me.
“It’s something we can work on. The lying thing,” Ellie clarifies. “Takes practice. You know, like kissing.”
“Not so subtle,” Zora murmurs.
“I’m just reminding her about her first kiss with Beck in that storage closet, in case she’s already forgotten just how far she’s come.”
“I think I hear my mom calling again.”
Lucy leans forward