That is, if all the dominoes fall as they should.
39
Following detailed instructions from this morning’s note, I shove the folded paper into Gabby Stein’s locker seconds before students start arriving to dress down for gym. Without being too obvious about it, I watch Gabby find the note, read it, and blush.
In that moment, I know that domino number one will fall: Gabby will go to the Driver’s Ed. room at lunch looking for Christopher. Unless there is some uncontrollable coincidence, he obviously won’t be there. But I know from notes that Jamie and Mr. Rice will be.
That’s gossip too rich for Gabby to keep to herself.
Five periods later, I arrive early to Brit. Lit., anxiously awaiting the arrival of Gabby and my next domino, the evil Alex Morgan.
Gabby shows first, and I know by looking at her that she saw them. She’s practically bursting with her newfound secret. I try to hide my excitement as Gabby furiously whispers to Alex the second she arrives. Then, before the bell—before Ms. Jenkins can remind her about the “no texting in class” rule—Alex types and sends a message on her cell phone that I can only hope is meant for Carley.
After school, I ask Luke to drive me to an address from this morning’s note.
“Again?” he asks.
“Guess so.” I shrug.
Luke drives but doesn’t seem happy about it. When we arrive, he pulls into a space down the block and points to the house in question. In minutes, a white car zips into the driveway. Carley Lynch gets out.
“What are you looking for this time?” Luke asks.
I squint to be sure, and then I answer.
“That,” I say, pointing.
“What? Carley?”
“Not Carley. Her expression. Her posture. She looks worried.”
“So?” Luke asks. “You think that means she knows?”
I take a deep breath and let it out, relieved. It’s a small victory.
“Yes,” I tell my boyfriend. “She knows.”
“Now what?” he asks.
I look him in the eyes, so glad to have him in my life.
“Let’s go,” I say.
“That’s it? That’s all we came for? To see Carley’s expression?”
“Yep,” I say.
“You aren’t going to do anything else?”
“Nope. Don’t have to.”
Luke shakes his head at me as he starts the ignition and pulls out of the parking space.
“Seems like a waste of time,” he mutters.
“I hope it wasn’t,” I say quietly.