WHITE LIAR

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Justin sat down in his car and stared at his phone.  He had high hopes that this one phone call would give him the answers that he so badly needed.  He still couldn’t explain his obsession with needing to know the truth about Chloe and he had long since quit trying.  Maybe he thought to himself, if he could just figure the dang blamed girl out, then he go on back to his normal life.

Maybe, but not likely.

Before he could think twice about it, Justin quickly dialed the number that John had given him and held the phone up to his ear.  As it began to ring, he tapped his fingers nervously against the steering wheel.

“Come on, come on and just pick up,” he muttered irritably after the third ring.  He was quickly getting frustrated because deep down, he had a feeling that this Cory fellow was his key.  And as each second continued to tick by, he felt those frustrations spiraling out of control.  

“You’ve reached Cory, the man with a plan.  You know the drill- state your business at the beep and if I have time, I might call you back- but don't hold your breath.”

“Damn it!” He cursed under his breath when he heard the recording.  Sighing, he waited for the beep.

“Yeah, um… my name is Justin Pinnix and I play football over at Northeast High.  Your cousin John is a good friend of mine and he gave me your number.  See, I’m hoping you can help me out a bit man.  I just have a few questions about someone that I thought you might know.  If you get a minute, hit me back up at 621-3299.  Thanks man.  Hope to hear from you soon.”

Justin pressed the end button and tossed the phone in the passenger seat.  It was only ten after nine, so the kid was probably in class or something.  Justin wasn’t about to go back to school now, not when he had this feeling clawing in his gut.  There was no way he would be able to concentrate on anything other than the anticipated phone call.  But until he heard back from Cory, there wasn’t much more he could do.

Putting on his seatbelt, Justin closed the door.  He had to be insane, he thought to himself.  Chloe has single handedly turned him inside out.  No girl has ever done that to him.  Was it because he liked her?  Was he beginning to develop feelings for this girl that seemed to drive him crazy with just a single look?

Nah, he told himself as he started his car and backed out of the hospital parking lot.  Justin didn’t fall for girls.  He had a plan in life, one that he has been working his butt off for since middle school.  He was already well on his way to achieving it too.  

His football scholarship was already in the bag.  Next year, he planned to break all the NCAA records that he could manage and if all continued to go well, in four more years he would land himself a prime spot in the pros.  That was Justin’s life-long plan and he couldn’t allow any girl, not even one as intriguing as Chloe get in the way of that.  Which was precisely why it was so important for him to figure her out as fast as possible.  Then, and only then would he be able to get her out of his system.  At least, that was what he was banking on.  He just hoped he was right.

*****

Troy stood outside of the locker room with the phone at his ears.  “Chloe,” he breathed.  “Is something wrong?”

“Um,” she hesitated on the other line, “No, not really.  Why?”

“You aren’t here and Erica said that you’re going back to your old school.  After what Cathy said in the cafeteria that day,” he lowered his voice when a group of guys walked out of the locker room and stared at him funny.  “Well, I just thought that maybe something might be wrong.”