Free Kelly Hill by Laura Gibson Page B

chuckled, “but I mean, no one is going to say no to this. Everyone knows that Phillips' grading system is complete bullshit and it’s always fuckin’ everything up for someone.”
    “ I have straight A's.” Jefferson interjected, his chin resting on his hand, partially covering his mouth, “So do some of the other people I associate myself with. They wouldn’t care for this.”
    Caleb shot Jefferson a look that said he was both hurt and angry that Jefferson hadn’t immediately signed off on the idea. Jefferson tried to look like he cared but he knew the expression wasn’t as genuine as Caleb’s, nor as interesting.
    “I know some people who might be interested.” Ryan spoke up, always the peacemaker, always the one that was making it possible for Jefferson and Caleb to be in the same room together. “I mean, I don’t know a lot, but I know some.”
    At that Caleb’s hopes seemed to jump up, he looked at Ryan, knowing that Jefferson would have to sign off on the deal to make it work, “Do you think you could talk to them about it?”
    Caleb paused on the word ‘them’ and Jefferson knew he meant to say ‘him’ and the only him that could possibly need some convincing still was studying Caleb with critical eyes, pretending that he was still on the fence about the whole thing. Jefferson looked at Ryan, waiting to see what he would say, waiting to see if Ryan would agree to Caleb’s plan.
    “ I mean, if it worked and we got caught, it would ruin Phillips.” Ryan mulled over, getting back on the fence with Jefferson, seeing the flaws in Caleb’s design.
    Jefferson felt the shrug, but Caleb actually did it.
    “Then we won’t get caught.” Caleb started gathering up his papers, putting them all back in his folder, “I mean, who would say anything, really?”
    “ And that was the last line before they get in trouble in any crime drama movie.” Ryan laughed. “Come on; let’s not live a cliché here.”
    “ Ryan, your entire life is a cliché.” Jefferson smirked, teasing his friend. “Let’s just live in the reality. Caleb here wants everyone to be able to get the best grades possible without having to earn them. Noble goal, really. Very much a man for the people. Do you agree with him?”
    Ryan raised an eyebrow, “Do you?”
    That was when Jefferson decided to let it show, how he really felt. His lips spread into a grin, “We will be adored.”
    “ And maybe get kicked out.” Ryan said very pointedly.
    Jefferson was still smiling, one that now mirrored Caleb’s, “They wouldn’t dare.”
    “Alright.” Ryan finally conceded, “I’m in.”
    Jefferson, of course, knew he was right. Out of all the families that had attended Phillips over the years, the three collected in this abandoned room could be counted as some of the most powerful. Even if they got caught, nothing too terrible would happen to them. Maybe a slap on the wrist, but nothing he wouldn’t be able to live with. The very sports club they were sitting in was called The Robert Williams Sports Club, for crying out loud. Jefferson was a legacy and he knew it. Now it was time to leave his mark on the school.
    Ryan’s phone pinged and he looked down at it, smiling. Jefferson had seen that smile before, recognized it from the one he used when he first got a text from Rachel.
    She hadn’t really spoken to him in the past couple of weeks, not since she had met Ryan during practice and now Jefferson could see very plainly why. She had found someone new to talk to. Someone she found more appealing than himself.
    Jefferson felt his eyes narrow while he stared at the phone, what a stupid girl. He was Jefferson Williams; didn’t she know what that meant? He sighed and smoothed away the frown from his forehead. He did have his own distraction to deal with. Along with Kelly Hill it seemed that Melody Jeffords had wandered back into town, and what a glorious thought that was.
    The whole gang was back together.
    Aside from the fact that