Acting Up (17 page)

Addison felt sure her head would explode and turned to Marjorie for an explanation. “What did she just say?”

“They were fighting over a girl,” Marjorie said.

What else would boys fight over? “Right.”

“She's like the most popular girl in school,” Robin said.

“Of course she is,” Addison said, with a deep sigh. “Lisa, come here please.”

Unlike Robin, Lisa Turney approached without a trace of timidity. “Yes, Ms. Covington?”

“You seem to be the source of all these rumors. Care to tell me how this happened?”

“I don't know,” Lisa said, wide-eyed with innocence. “I did eat lunch with Susan. She was crowing about being asked to the dance by two guys. I asked her who she was going with, and she said she liked them both and hadn't decided yet. I may have mentioned something about it to Brittany and Vicki, but I don't know how it turned into this.”

“It's the nature of gossip,” Addison said. “It spreads like fungus and turns into something completely different than when it started. Next time, don't be so eager to spread tales.”

“I won't. I'm sorry.”

Addison eyed Luke and Brad, who were now contemplating their shoelaces. She cleared her throat, and the boys eyed her with defiance and shame.

“I will not tolerate fighting,” Addison said. “I should kick both of you out of the play.”

Luke's shoulders fell, and all the color drained from Brad's face.

She let the threat sink in for moment. “However, I'm going to give you another chance. I understand how things can spin out of control when emotions are involved. You were hurt and took out your anger on each other. What makes me sad is you guys are friends. Or at least you used to be.”

The two boys glanced at each other for a moment, before looking back at the floor.

“Go on home for today,” Addison said. “Cool off and come back tomorrow when you're ready to apologize and work. Then you're going to have to find a way to settle this. The rest of you get in your places for Scene Three. We need to finish the blocking. Robin, please remind everyone where they're supposed to be.”

Brad shuffled past her without a word, but Luke paused. “I'm sorry, Ms. Covington,” he mumbled. “I love doing the play. I… don't even know… I'm sorry.”

Addison pursed her lips. “I know. Everyone's always sorry afterward.”

Luke mumbled another sorry and hurried away. Addison turned to grab her director's book and nearly ran into Aaron who'd come up on stage at some point.

“This might turn out to be an interesting place after all,” he said.

Scowling, she turned him back toward the other way. “Go take a seat. Mr. Olsen should be here in a few minutes.”

Aaron stalked away, but she didn't have time to worry about him right now. Addison headed for the storage room in the wings to gather the props they needed for the scene. With the drama over, she could only shake her head and chuckle. It almost felt like being back on the set of
House of Fashion
.

She flipped on the light and let out a shriek when she realized the closet was already occupied. Michelle Cerillo huddled on a stool in the corner, crying. The girl gasped and wiped her eyes.

“Michelle? What on earth?” Addison asked in alarm. “Are you hurt?”

“No,” she said on a shuddering breath.

“Did your parents make you quit again?”

She shook her head.

Not another round of Twenty Questions. “You're going to have to give me a clue then. You're obviously upset.”

“It's nothing.”

“Nothing has you hiding out in the prop room crying your eyes out? Somehow, I don't believe you.”

Reminded of her tears, Michelle tried to wipe them away with the sleeve of her shirt. “You wouldn't understand.”

“Try me.”

“I'm just tired of him not knowing I'm alive, okay?”

With another sigh, Addison leaned back against wall. “So it's boy trouble. Who is he? Are you sure he doesn't like you?”

“I'm sure.”

“Maybe he's shy.”

“It's Luke Mitchell.”

Addison couldn't contain a wince. “Oh...”

“Uh-huh.” Michelle laughed, but the sound came out garbled and watery. “How crazy do I have to be to imagine Luke could love someone like me, right?”

“It's not crazy,” Addison said in a rush. “I can see why you like him.”

“It's not because he's hot. He's nice, you know? Not like some of the other jocks.”

“I know. He's—”

“He's perfect, and perfect, popular boys date perfect, popular girls like Susan Davidson and Lisa Turney.”

Addison couldn't deny the assessment. “Look, he's a teenage boy, and they tend not to look past the surface of pretty to see if there's anything more.”

Adult boys didn't always look past pretty either.

“I know. They don't go for the fat, ugly girls.”

“Michelle Cerillo, you are
not
fat,” Addison said, her tone sharper. “And you're not ugly. You have a very pretty face, and amazing eyes, if you'd ever lift your head up so people could actually see them. Not to mention the kind of talent most people would kill to have.”

“You're only being nice,” Michelle said, scrunching her nose.

Addison hunched down so she could look the girl in the eye. “No, I'm not. When you sing something magical happens. You have a special gift and it's rare.”

The expression on Michelle's face was akin to wonder. “Really?”

“Yes. If you get nothing else out of this experience, I hope you'll start to believe in yourself.”

For a moment, Michelle's face lit with pleasure. Then the brief happiness faded. “That doesn't mean Luke will ever notice me.”

Hard truths could be a real pain in the…
neck
. “Michelle, I can't promise Luke will wake up tomorrow and decide he loves you, but someday you will meet someone who will recognize how wonderful you are. I know that probably doesn't do much to cheer you up right now, but it's all I've got.”

Despite the rather lame pep talk, Michelle pasted on a brave smile. “Thanks anyway.”

“Why don't you go to the bathroom and clean yourself up? We've still got a scene to block, and we're already behind.”

“Okay.”

Addison watched the girl go, wishing there was something she could have said to make Michelle feel better. Then she realized something amazing. In only a few weeks, Addison had started to think of these kids as more than a means to an end. She cared what happened to them. She worried about them and genuinely liked them.

Which was so unexpected.

Nothing good came from phone calls at one in the morning. Especially phone calls that told her to come pick up Aaron at the police station. As Addison pulled into an empty spot in front of the precinct, she contemplated how much time she'd get in prison for strangling a minor. Surely a good defense lawyer could argue she'd been provoked. No jury in the world would convict her, especially if they were parents of a teenager themselves.

Turning off the car, Addison took a couple deep breaths, trying to get hold of herself. Trying not to feel ashamed about Aaron sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night without her knowing.

One week. Merrick's son had been in her charge one week, and already she'd screwed up. She'd probably get her adult license revoked now.

Unable to put off the inevitable any longer, Addison slipped out of the car and hurried up the short flight of steps to the station. In the dead of night, her shoes echoed on the pavement like gunshots. The heavy oak door took nearly all her strength to open. Then blinding fluorescent lights almost caused retinal damage. When she could see again, a quick scan of the room revealed a long, chest-high counter, and behind the counters were several scarred, wooden desks. An open door at the back led to a hallway. No one seemed to be manning the front.

She opened her mouth to call out and heard her name. Ethan Thomas was slouched in a plastic orange chair. He unfolded himself from his seat and ambled over.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Aaron refused to give his name, so the deputy called me to see if I could identify him.”

“Oh, no,” she said. “I'm so sorry you had to come. What did you do with your boys? I hope they aren't alone.”

“I called Elizabeth to stay with them. I'm sure they're asleep and won't know I ever left.”

Great. Just. Great. “This is so embarrassing. I can't believe you got dragged into my mess. They'll probably make me send Aaron back or something. I should have put him on the next plane. What made me think I could handle being a parent?”

Ethan put his hand on her shoulders. “Hey, hey, take a deep breath and calm down.”

Several deep breaths through her nose worked to calm her down… a little. Unfortunately, the extra oxygen also made her hyper-aware of Ethan. Heat from his touch invaded her body even through her shirt. Chills went down her spine, which seemed so inappropriate considering she was in a jailhouse to pick up her errant stepson.

“Thanks,” she said, taking a step back. “Sorry I lost it for a moment. I feel like a total failure.”

“You're not a failure. You didn't do anything wrong. Aaron's a kid, and sometimes kids do dumb things.”

Addison managed not to lower her head to his chest and wail. Instead she let out a deep sigh. “Where is he?”

“They're holding him in one of the cells.”

“They really put him in jail?” she asked, in surprise. “For getting caught with a few beers?”

“I think it was mostly to put the fear of God into him. Tough love.”

“I'll give him tough love,” she said, anger roiling inside her.

Ethan's lips twitched. “Believe me, I already dealt him some myself. He was looking pretty pitiful the last time I saw him.”

“Thank you again. How do I—”

Just then the deputy in charge walked out from the back hallway. Addison started at him in shock. The man was enormous. Like bouncer-in-a-club enormous. His shoulders barely fit through the doorway. He had a square head with military-style cropped hair. He was reading something on a clipboard and didn't see her at first.

“Excuse me,” Addison said. “I'm here to spring my stepson.”

The clipboard clattered to the floor. In a surprisingly graceful move for someone so gigantic, the deputy bent down and scooped it up. He walked to the counter, doing a pretty good impression of a fish out of water.

“Hi,” Addison said, flashing her warmest smile. “What's your name?”

Bear-man blinked. “Gordon Howe. Most folks call me Gordy.”

She let her eyes roam from stem to stern. “How big are you, Gordy?”

The blond giant blushed. “Six-six.”

“You ever done any stunt work?”

His eyes widened. “You mean like in Hollywood? I've never acted before. Lived in Covington Falls all my life.”

“Too bad,” she said. “I bet you'd be great at it. A big, strong man like you.”

Okay, she was pouring it on a bit thick, but it didn't hurt to play nice when her stepson was being held in the brink.

Gordy's blush turned nuclear. “That's sweet of you to say, ma'am.”

Addison dialed back the flirting. It wouldn't do to get the guy too flustered. Plus, it was getting late, and she needed her beauty sleep. Not to mention she had a teenager to strangle.

Resting her elbows in the counter, Addison leaned closer. “I understand you have a juvenile delinquent in custody who refuses to identify himself. I'm sorry to say I think he belongs to me.”

Gordy took the bait and snapped back to full attention. “Yeah, he's in the back.”

“What happened anyway?”

“I was out on patrol, and I caught him and three other boys in the parking lot over at t'
Gas Up
. Had a couple six packs in the car.”

“Where did Aaron get his hands on beer? I don't have any in the house.”

“An older brother of one of the boys bought it for them.”

At least Aaron hadn't supplied the booze. “Where are the other three boys now? I hope they got locked up, too.”

“They got to sit in the cell, don't worry. Their parents already picked them up, though. Aaron's the last one, since it took us awhile to identify him. Had to call Ethan here to give us a name. Captain always knows what's what.”

The nickname had Addison looking over her shoulder. “Captain?”

“Gordy was my center for four years in high school,” Ethan explained. “He saved my hide more times than I can remember.”

How perfect. Addison grinned. “There, you see? I knew you were a hero, Gordy. I'm sorry you had to go to so much trouble. Aaron is usually such a good kid. I can't imagine what got into him.”

“Boys,” Gordy said, as if that explained everything.

Maybe it did. “Do I have to post bail or something?”

“No, ma'am. He wasn't arrested,” Gordy said, shaking his head. “We put him in the cell to teach him a lesson. I'll go get him.”