Free Gone Too Far by Natalie D. Richards Page B

Except that I have my charger in my camera bag and I’ve got technology lab later and could charge it there.
    Ten minutes later, I’ve got my books for the day under my arm and a half-eaten granola bar in hand. I’m waiting at our usual breakfast table when Tacey arrives, pink-cheeked and looking scandalized.
    She slides in beside me with an enormous coffee and a folder with an extra credit history paper under her arm. I’m convinced she never sleeps. “Hey, early riser. Did you hear about Jackson Pierce?”
    Before I can answer, Manny arrives from the other doors, walking a wide arc around the empty chair beside me to sit by Tacey. All’s definitely not forgiven. “You guys talking about Jackson?”
    Tacey sags. “You heard?”
    â€œJackson’s benched,” he says.
    Tacey practically slams her cup down but speaks in an exaggerated whisper. “No. Way.”
    Manny nods, stretching his arms overhead like it’s all old news to him. “Yep. Coach Carr was in the office with the principal. They talked for all of five minutes before Coach said under no circumstances would Jackson set foot on the field this year if he has anything to say about it.”
    â€œI don’t get it,” I say. “I thought football was over.”
    â€œBaseball, baby.” Manny says it to Tacey, even though I’m the one who asked. “Pierce is ridiculous on the pitcher’s mound. They were talking college scouts, scholarships. And he can kiss it all good-bye.”
    I never considered him as a scholarship contender. I don’t know much about the Pierce family, but since he drives a fifteen-year-old pickup truck, I doubt they’re loaded. Am I really okay with maybe taking away his shot at college?
    A voice reminds me that I should be fine. It sounds a whole lot like Stella DuBois. And I’m pretty sure I agree with it.
    â€œThat’s…huge,” Tacey says with wide eyes.
    â€œThings like this should happen every day,” Manny says, looking dreamy. “It’s like Christmas. There’s Connor. I’m going to fill him in.”
    I don’t call after him to tell him that Connor was there. Come to think of it, I didn’t tell him I was there either. Not that he would have listened if I did. I’m clearly persona non grata right now.
    Manny meets Connor in the middle of the cafeteria. They share a fist bump, and even from here I can see how animated Connor is. People all around are buzzing, and why shouldn’t they be? Jackson Pierce, reigning king of the upper echelon, just got smacked down a whole lot of notches. After how many years of us all putting up with his crap? Too many.
    Yeah, this needed to happen.
    I pull out my phone and navigate to the message I closed earlier. Because maybe Manny’s right. Claireville High could stand a little more justice. And since no one else seems to be offering, maybe I am the girl for the job.
    Because Jackson’s not the only one who turned Stella’s world upside down that morning.
    I send a text with Tate’s name and have to bite my lip to keep from smiling. That’s when I see him. Standing in the doorway with his arms crossed and his backpack at his feet.
    Nick again. And he’s staring right at me for the second time this morning.
    Whatever this is, I’m ready to deal with it. Nick’s eyes are flashing in a way that tells me he knows things , so I should be freaking out. I don’t know why I feel so calm. I don’t know why I get up at all, crossing the cafeteria with long strides.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    I’m pretty sure Marlow will lose her mind if she finds me in close proximity to her boyfriend again, but I’m over that. I don’t stop until we’re maybe four feet apart.
    â€œNick Patterson,” I say, inclining my head.
    He smiles. “Piper Woods.”
    He smells like laundry detergent, and his thumbs are hooked in the pockets of his