Good Guy

Part Twenty-five

Cleo was close to giving up.

Scotch was unwilling to talk to her. He wouldn't even answer her knocks on his door. And when they passed each other at school, he never said hello.

Art and Shayla were smart enough to cover for them, but those who'd witnessed how close they had been could tell that something was off. Things got worse after the school ordered Scotch and Jackson to render community service until the night of the acquaintance party. Their punishment basically confirmed that something had gone down between the two of them.

There wasn't any need for her to steer clear of him now that the truth was out in the open. However, she had a feeling that it would be next to impossible for Scotch to change his mind and welcome her back. Cleo knew that she had to find a way to make the first move.

She'd approached Art and Shayla, asking them if they could talk some sense into him and secure her some better odds. However, as much as they wished for her and Scotch to make up, both politely declined. They each told her that Scotch had made them swear not to get her involved anymore.

In exchange, he'd promised not to go drinking, partying, or doing whatever it was he used to do to distract himself from these situations. He seemed to be keeping his word, because he was nothing but sober—and noticeably gloomy—since the night he'd told her to stay away. Because of this pact between the three, she was eventually forcibly excluded from their little friend group.

She did not like this at all, so she decided to take more drastic measures.

She recruited Maggie to help her with the first part, keeping her classmate as oblivious as possible to prevent any more rumors from spreading. Her friend had been more than willing to get Jackson's number from her Social Club clique in exchange for a few after-class tutorial sessions. Maggie's club friends, on the other hand, had given up the guy's number for gossip on Adelih and Jackson's breakup.

In the end, all parties had gotten something out of the deal, despite Maggie's questionable exchange tactics.

Now all Cleo had to do was wait for Jackson to arrive after sending him a vague message to meet at the library stairs.

"If this is some kind of cheap trick from Wilkins," Jackson's voice drifted from the lower landing, "tell him I'm not interested. I've been through enough shit this week without my old man knowing."

He emerged from the staircase's turn with a bag slung over one shoulder and a denim jacket tied around his waist. His white V-neck shirt and matching white pair of slim jeans clung tight to his body, and blacked-out glasses rested over his gelled-back hair. The only thing that flawed his well-composed look was the scowl on his face.

Cleo turned in his direction, swallowing down the discomfort she felt from his presence. If Jackson believed that she and Scotch were having a little tiff instead of a serious fallout, then it was to her advantage. She would let him continue to assume that Scotch knew about their meeting.

"If you're concerned, you shouldn't have gone cuckoo at the Esplanade the other day," she replied, feigning confidence.

"What's this about, Hilard?"

He was getting irritable, and he could walk out on her at any minute. Cleo knew she had to move their conversation along, or she wouldn't be able to get what she needed. She walked down the steps, removing a bit of distance between them.

"Let's make a deal."

"What kind of a deal?"

"Professor Claravera says I still need to submit an incident report about my missing homework, along with the replacement that I'll be passing tomorrow." Cleo gripped the stair railing. "You know what that means, Jackson. The report has to contain a list of witnesses present at around the time my essay disappeared. You're one of them because you were there."