The Boarding School Experiment (4 page)

No contest.

I swallowed, and walked toward the lectern. Weak claps accompanied disappointed murmurs. Everyone liked me well enough, but if I had a shot, they had a shot, and I’d just taken the last spot.

Thane didn’t look at me. He followed the Principal, and I followed him, for once not trying to overtake anyone. A government coordinator brought up the rear. She wore a navy suit and had pinned her hair into a tight bun. Not a single strand escaped. We stopped at the door to the teachers’ conference room.

Our parents sat inside, Thane’s and mine. His dad wore a business suit and his mom a conservative dress. Both seemed polished, proud, and strained. Their focus stayed on Thane, their postures tilted away from my parents.

My parents wore their own Sunday best. Mom’s hands twisted together and tears fell into her smile. Each track represented relief from a thousand worries.

My gut churned as guilt threatened to swamp me. I had to confess. I had to erase Mom’s happiness.

Dad grinned too. His big hands swiveled the wheelchair so he faced me. “Knew you could do it, kiddo.”

I had to destroy his pride. I swallowed against a tight throat and hugged him, clinging, and Mom hugged us both. Her powdery perfume coupled with Dad’s woodsy cologne. I took comfort from the familiar while delaying the moment of truth.

“I’m Coordinator Steele. I’m here to tell you how very fortunate you are.” The government coordinator laid packets on the table in front of my parents. “You are expected to read the details at home.” She placed a red sheet of paper on top of the pile. “Most important for now is the summary information. This top figure is what you’ll receive each month while your child stays in the program. In addition, a percentage will be placed into a scholarship for your child. After graduation, that sum will go to the U.S. college of his or her choice.”

The paper crumpled under Mom’s grip.

“Next is your child’s email address so you may stay in contact every day. Underneath is his or her camp assignment.”

Alaska
.

Oh. The only thing I knew about Alaska was that I’d gotten its location wrong on a geography test. I’d thought Alaska was an island, because on every map I’d ever seen, it was stuck off to the left, floating in space. Who knew we just liked to ignore Canada?

“We strove for variety and hope you’ll be excited about which campus your child has been assigned to.”

“Alaska,” Thane’s mom said in a thin voice. “Isn’t there a school opening in Texas?”

Thane got Alaska too.
My head jerked back.

“There are approximately 400 students at each school in this first round. Selection and placement are final and random.”

Random? My ass. They picked the smart kids.

Thane’s mom said, “Well, I don’t know about all that.”

Thane didn’t say anything, but his dad cleared his throat and inclined toward his mom. “Honey, we agreed he could go if he was chosen.”

“And what’s this informed consent about vitamins? He has to take a daily vitamin regimen?”

“All students do. It’s not an easy trek from the school to the nearest doctor, so we want everyone healthy. But don’t worry, there’s an outstanding clinic on site and they’ll receive regular health checks.”

“Alaska’s just so far.”

Thane’s dad said, “There are daily flights from Houston to Anchorage. People in big oil commute there regularly.”

“Yes, daily flights,” Coordinator Steele said with a stiffened mouth. “The government will pay for two flights per year.” She said it in a dampening tone, as if we’d asked for routine weekend trips home.

“Flights leave Saturday, so your children are excused from the rest of classes today. Nor will they be expected to attend class tomorrow.”

It felt like the ground moved under my feet. Today was Thursday. Things were moving so fast. I pressed a hand to my stomach.

“Everyone has known about this opportunity for months.” The coordinator chuckled. “We hear some families packed in expectation of getting into our immersion program.”

My face burned. Packing in anticipation of my getting in would never have occurred to us. Did we even own suitcases anymore?

Thane’s mom tilted her chin. “Well, we have purchased a few things.”

One jab at her pride, and she was back with the program.

“The students will return for visits and can contact you without restriction from the campus.”

Mom and Dad never thought I’d get selected. When they found out I’d switched the tests, their honored, relieved expressions would shrivel. If they brought Piper in and tried to ship her away, Piper would freak.

The coordinator held open the door. “Go on now and clear out your locker. Say
goodbye
to Trallwyn High School.”

Chapter Three

I knocked on the painted metal door of the Zukowski’s trailer. When no one answered, I went around back. The burnt plastic smell lingered in the air, strongest by the rear window, which was patched with duct tape and cardboard. It didn’t take a genius to figure out this was Rhys’s room.

Get ready for a visitor, Rhys
. I gripped the rough hollows of a concrete block, turned it on its side, and leaned my weight into it so the other end settled into the dirt. When the block was stable enough, I climbed up and knocked. No response. I pressed against the cardboard. The corner bent, freeing a wave of acrid air straight to the back of my throat. I gagged and peered in. The same paneling that lined my brothers’ room lined Rhys’s walls. A charred chemistry set sat on the corner of a desk laden with books. An unmade bed wedged into the corner. Rhys wasn’t in. Not a surprise, since no one would survive the smell for more than a few minutes.

Feeling a relief I shouldn’t, I released the flap and stepped down. My foot landed beside a cracked flowerpot. Ours wasn’t one of those trailer parks with pride or standards. I moved past the broken pottery and into the center row between the trailers. Mom had tried flowerpots too, but each one had disappeared after a day or two. Later, I’d seen them squatting on other people’s porches, growing suspiciously leafy greenery.

I turned at the sound of a smooth-running engine purring onto our dirt road. If a ride didn’t have screeching breaks, a whining belt, or an odd knock, it didn’t belong to anyone here. Someone had a guest. Once the car parked in the ruts in front of our trailer, I recognized Piper, here to pick me up for my
bon voyage
party.

The party, thrown by one of Thane’s football buddies, was really for him, but everyone expected me to be there too. The host promised an epic send-off. I’d talk to Rhys there.

***

The suburban house was packed full of seniors. I tightened my grip on the red plastic cup and scanned the crowded living room. Rhys wasn’t here. I eased toward the door, trying to stay in the background and out of range of both well-wishers and criers, using Piper as a shield. I’d happily relinquish my share of their dramatic goodbyes to Thane. The sentiment probably fed his big ego, but it just made me feel bad. This lie was going to blow up, big, with Piper as collateral damage.

Piper squeezed my arm. “Thanks.”

She’d been thanking me since she picked me up, and her gratitude caused my stomach to churn because once I confessed to Rhys, Piper might be taking my place. I forced a smile and took a sip of the bitter beer. Swallowing hard against a dry throat, I said, “Have you seen Rhys?” My voice sounded hoarse.

“No, I heard he’s out with Veronica.”

“I thought he was dating Brooke.”

“Nah, she was just pissed her parents wouldn’t buy her a Land Rover. But they caved when she started hooking up with him. Rhys promised to be more trouble than a monthly car payment.” Piper leaned closer and lowered her voice. “I also heard Thane caught Rhys with Portia. So, I doubt he’d show up at Thane’s going away party. Portia either.”

I shouldn’t have felt relief again, but I did. My shoulders eased at the reprieve. I swallowed another gulp. I’d talk to Rhys later tonight when I got home.

“Look at your smile, I knew you’d like that,” Piper said.

I let her misinterpret my expression. The fact that Portia had cheated on Thane wasn’t the worst news I’d heard all week, even if it wasn’t the true reason for my lift in spirits.

“You’re going to have epic stories to tell when you come back for your birthday.” A small frown flitted over Piper’s pale face and her hazel eyes lifted. “You’ll be back your birthday weekend, right?”

I nodded. “No matter what.” I turned eighteen on Halloween night, and my favorite band was playing at the pavilion. That concert ticket alone would be worth every crap job I worked last summer.

“Okay, good.” Piper dug in her purse and removed a small lip gloss and a compact. After she finished, she held the mirror up and passed me the tube. I layered on a coat of the sparkle-red.

Piper winked. “Now I’m ready to find Jacob. Catch you in a few.”

As soon as she left, I veered right and headed down the corridor, away from the influx of guests. If the school administrators would believe I switched my test for Rhys’s and put him in my spot, I’d speak up—even if doing so meant everyone thought I was a cheat and hated me. But I couldn’t guarantee that the outcome wouldn’t be a full audit or retest and I wasn’t risking Piper’s future without even talking to Rhys first.

Maybe I should wait until Alaska to confess. Surely, they’d change me out with Rhys without an investigation if we were that far away. I put the cup to my lips but tasted only fumes. Only a few drops of the bitter beer remained at the bottom of the white well. Weird, I’d never finished a whole beer before. I usually carried the cup to keep people off my back.

Laughter ahead drew me into a game room. A small group sat on the hardwood floor, in front of the big screen, playing Spin-the-Bottle. Thane was with them. He wore jeans and a pale blue T-shirt. No doubt someone had told him the color matched his eyes. What an ego. The bottle’s neck swiveled and landed on him. I expected him to jump up, bow, or rate his own kiss, but he said nothing. His perfect mouth tightened, ruining its curve and the girl beside him snickered. Her laughter had a mean edge. I followed her gaze and realized why. Thane’s ex, Portia, was here tonight and she was the spinner. I laughed too. Thane had to kiss his cheating ex-girlfriend. Good one.

Portia snatched the bottle. “Oh, I don’t think so. Spinner’s choice.” Her gaze jumped over the girls in the circle and peered through the crowd. Her eyes narrowed and she pointed the cap. “You.”

Me
?

The laughter increased in volume and meanness. One guy said, “Yeah. Let’s show them what isolation in Alaska looks like.” He jumped up and snagged my elbow. Two football players grabbed Thane and a third opened a closet door. They shoved him in. “Seven Minutes in Heaven.”

I wrenched my arm to pull free, and my skin burned with the effort. “Don’t.” The behemoth must have benched more than my body weight daily because my struggles weren’t affecting him at all. He dragged me across the hardwood. Swinging my free arm, I went for a right hook.

“Oh no,” one of the other barbarians said, laughing. He grabbed my waist and they pushed me into the closet with Thane.

I landed against a wool coat, and the musty smell was a welcome reprieve when compared to the cologne worn by the behemoths. I pitied their dates. More laughter sounded from the other side of the door. I turned, banged on the wooden surface, and jiggled the handle. It refused to open.

Furniture scraped against the floor. The scraping stopped with a thump. They’d barricaded us in with something heavy. My breath came in pants and I stared at the doorknob, trying to think of a way free.

Thane sank to a seated position. “What? No kiss?”

He didn’t sound pissed at all.

“Great friends you got there.” Narrow light shone under the bottom of the door. I dropped to my hands and knees, keeping my gaze on the gap, and touched the light with one finger. “Nice girlfriend.”

Thane didn’t respond to my observation. He shifted, making himself comfortable in our two-by-four space. “They’re going to pay.”

It was the first time we’d ever fully agreed. “Yeah. They are.”

He kicked out a foot, nudging my wrist. “This must be a dream come true for you.”

And, we were back to disagreeing.
I sank onto my butt and swiped at the winter coats hanging overhead, shoving the hems out of my way. When it was clear, I pushed Thane’s knees with mine, trying to steal some room. He stretched out his long legs, taking up more of my space.

Laughter, chatter, and loud music filtered steadily through the wall. I breathed in and out. One Mississippi, two Mississippi.

Thump, thump, thump.
The noise sounded like the side of a fist high against the door. “We don’t hear any kissing.” The behemoth followed his remark with the smacking sound of fake kissing.

They’d pay. I dropped my forehead to my knees, knowing I didn’t really have time to make them regret this. I might be leaving in the morning, depending on Rhys. My heart thumped harder. I hadn’t even packed. My wardrobe of T-shirts, shorts and jeans wouldn’t be warm enough in Alaska. I could layer, I guessed. My old coat didn’t fit anymore.