“Are you gonna talk to me, or just ignore me for the rest of the school year?”
Pouring milk over my bowl of cereal, I let his question linger in the air for a while before I answer. “What is there to talk about? You lied to me, stole from me, and went behind my back.”
Ren huffs behind me. “You heard the tape. What would you have done?”
Slamming the jug of milk on the counter, I spin around to face him. “I would have talked to you. I would have told you everything right away instead of playing fucked up games.”
“I’m sorry, Quinton. I meant what I said. I thought I was protecting you. I don’t know what else to do.”
“Was the helicopter crash planned?”
“I don’t know. I really don’t. Your father asked me to get her away from Corium. That’s all, I swear.”
“So, you work for my father now? Was your friendship with me nothing but a ruse? Let me guess, you’re here to babysit me so I don’t make any stupid choices that my father might not approve of?”
Ren shakes his head. “No, of course not. I’m not a spy, and I don’t work for your father. It’s not like that.”
The sting of betrayal intensifies, and merely looking at Ren right now makes me want to punch him in the face.
“I don’t know if I can believe anything you say anymore.”
“Fuck, Quinton.” He throws his hands up in frustration. “Tell me how to fix this. I can’t take this bullshit between us.”
“I don’t know how we can fix the trust, but if you really want to make it up to me, you could start with two things. One, I want to know how you got those recordings. Two, I want you to help me make Matteo’s life miserable. I’ve started already, but it’s time to kick things up a notch.”
“Well, one is easy. Your father sent them to me.”
“Of course, he did.” That was what I was thinking.
“I’m not sure what you have planned for Matteo, but I can promise you, I’ll have your back there. We can make his life hell while he is here, and I’m all for it.”
“Good, because I already have something in mind.”
Let the fun begin.