Twisted(32)

“Newsflash, your contract says neither of you are going anywhere.” Lila sighed. “Look, people, just try this my way. See what you come back with and we’ll go from there. Okay?” She glanced from one member of the band to the next, landing on Gray last. “Okay?” she repeated softly.

Gray focused on Jazz. She lurked by the door, her eyes huge and stricken, her cheeks still flushed. She gripped the guitar pick necklace he’d given her like a lifeline. “You willing to do this, J? It’s your call.”

She shut her eyes and nodded. “Yeah. I’m in.”

Gray returned his attention to Lila. “Guess we’re going on a field trip.”





CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Then



“So what do you think of Shadyside High?”

Jazz smiled at her new friend Stacey and tucked her leg up closer to her chest on her new bed. So much new. Mrs. Duffy had taken her shopping last week to buy stuff to redecorate Brent’s bedroom and she’d gotten to choose a bedroom set, rainbow sheets and a dresser for her early Christmas gifts. Not thrift store finds either but brand new.

She could hardly believe all the wonderful things happening to her. Now this. She’d finally made a friend at school. It had only taken three months. Stacey was super popular too and had promised to introduce Jazz to all of her cool friends, including Toby Daniels, last year’s prom king. Stacey claimed to know “for a fact” that Toby had been asking questions about Jazz.

Jazz figured it was too good to be true, but she didn’t care because she wasn’t looking for a boyfriend. School and her music kept her busy enough. Still, it was nice to pretend Toby might’ve taken notice of her for a positive reason instead of a negative one.

“I like it. It’s too huge, though. Kind of overwhelming. I only stopped getting lost on the way to my locker just two weeks ago—” Jazz broke off and frowned as Stacey pointed at Jazz’s knee. Today’s artwork included a G-clef and a stack of books. “Yeah, I draw on myself when I get bored.” She tried to laugh. “Weird, huh?”

“A little, but you’re like, creative, so that’s part of the deal, right?” Stacey flopped on her back and spread out her arms. “Wow, this room is just so amazing. You must freak living here.”

Jazz leaned back against her headboard, looping her arm ever so casually over the top of her knee. “It is pretty sweet.”

“Sweet? That pool out back is gigantic. I even saw a frigging Benz in the garage. Your family has serious moolah.”

Jazz started to explain that the Duffys were her foster family, not her real one, but she pressed her lips together and nodded. What did it hurt to pretend for a couple of minutes? She wanted them to be her family more than anything. This was the closest she’d had to a real home since she was little, back when things had been semi-okay with her mom and grandma. Her mom had worked long hours, but she’d always come back eventually and Nana had been so much fun.

After her mom hooked up with Jacob and gave birth to Molly, things started to change. By the time Nana died, they were moving from house to house. It wasn’t long before her mom started coming home from nights out with Jacob with a black eye. When her mom had begun talking about moving them in with her boyfriend, Jazz had rebelled hardcore. She knew they shouldn’t live with a guy who was abusive, but her mom had refused to listen.

Then she’d thrown up her hands and Jazz had ended up in foster care.

Stacey giggled. “I mean, if you gotta be a foster kid, it’s better to land with a rich family, right?”

Jazz smothered her sigh. No point in pretending after all. She should’ve known that word had traveled all the way through school. “I don’t really care about the rich part.” She stroked her silky pillowcase. “The Duffys are incredible. They’ve made me feel so welcome.” Except Brent.

“You’ve gotta tell me what it’s like.” Stacey rolled on her stomach and propped her chin on her fists.

Jazz smiled, glad for the distraction from her thoughts about her mom and Mol. She tried not to dwell on them, but sometimes she couldn’t help it. Where were they now? Did they ever think of her?

“Jazz?”

“Yeah, sorry. What did you say?”

“You have to tell me what it’s like to live with Gray. He’s so…gah.” Stacey grinned and grabbed her chest.

Jazz’s smile faltered. She should’ve known this was coming. Only she would be dumb enough to think she’d actually made a genuine friend when she hadn’t managed to make any in three months. “He’s pretty awesome,” she said, dropping her arm to her side.