Chapter 155: Chapter 155 - Complication
Roxie kept her hand on the ladle even after Miranda Prescott walked away.
The hot chocolate kept steaming in front of her. Students kept laughing near the fire. Someone near the raffle table screamed because they had won a basket of cookies. Music kept playing from the speakers by the gym doors.
Everything kept going like Zac’s mother had not just stood in front of Roxie and said they should speak soon.
Karen stared after Miranda. "What the hell was that?"
Roxie set the ladle down. "Nothing."
Karen looked at her. "That was a very rich nothing."
Angela stood beside the cash box, her eyes moving from Roxie to Miranda’s back. "She knew your full name."
"It was on the apron."
Karen looked down at the donation apron Roxie had forgotten she was wearing.
ROXXANE.
Karen’s mouth tightened. "Still weird. Does she know something we should know?"
Roxie forced herself to pick up another cup. "You’re being dramatic."
"I’m worried," Karen said.
Across the field, Zac had gone still near the football table.
Roxie felt his eyes before she looked.
He was watching the booth. Watching his mother walk away from it. His face had changed enough that Mason noticed and turned to see what he was looking at.
Zac took one step like he wanted to cross the field.
Roxie gave him the smallest shake of her head.
Stay there.
He stopped.
His jaw tightened.
If he came over now, in front of everyone, Miranda would know she had scared them both.
Roxie turned back to the booth and handed hot chocolate to a freshman.
"Two dollars."
The freshman gave her crumpled bills and walked off.
Karen was still staring at her. "I hate this."
Angela touched Roxie’s sleeve. "Are you sure you’re okay?"
Roxie gave her a flat look.
Angela pressed her lips together. "Right. Bad question."
The fundraiser started winding down after nine.
The fire had burned lower. The teachers near it looked tired. Student Council counted cash at one of the tables while Kendall stood over them with her clipboard and a face that said math was personal. Football players packed posters into boxes. Younger kids were being pulled away by parents even though they kept trying to get one more signature.
Roxie helped wipe down the hot chocolate table.
Karen stayed beside her, carrying a box of leftover cups like it was evidence. Angela walked on Roxie’s other side with the cash envelope pressed to her chest.
"We should get this to Coach Miller," Angela said.
"He’s near the gym doors," Karen said. "Counting people like he lost one."
"He probably did," Roxie said.
Karen looked around. "Where’s Caleb?"
Angela smiled before she could stop herself. "Helping basketball carry tables."
Karen made a face. "Of course he is useful."
Roxie laughed softly.
For one second, it helped.
Then she saw Miranda again.
She stood near the edge of the field where the grass met the parking lot. Her cream coat was buttoned, her hair was still perfect, and her hands were folded in front of her. She looked like she had been waiting, calm and patient and sure Roxie would pass that way.
Roxie slowed.
Karen noticed immediately. "Oh God. You’re screwed."
Angela looked toward the parking lot. "She looks like she belongs in a thriller movie."
Karen kept her voice low. "And Roxie just slowed down like the girl who gets taken first."
"Shhh," Angela whispered. "She’s coming."
Miranda stepped forward.
"Roxxane," she said, voice smooth. "May I have a minute?"
Karen shifted in front of Roxie before Roxie could answer.
Angela’s eyes widened a little.
Roxie put one hand on Karen’s arm. "It’s fine."
Karen kept her eyes on Miranda. "It rarely is."
Miranda’s polite smile stayed in place.
Roxie hated her a little for that.
"I’ll catch up," Roxie said.
Karen turned her head slowly. "Roxie."
"I said I’ll catch up."
Karen’s stare sharpened.
Roxie knew that look. Karen was seconds away from planting herself there and making the whole thing everyone’s problem.
So Roxie softened her voice.
"Please."
Karen looked from Roxie to Miranda, then back again. "Two minutes."
Miranda said, "That is more than enough."
Karen’s eyes cut to her. "Respectfully, I wasn’t talking to you."
Angela whispered, "Karen."
Karen handed the box of cups to Angela and stepped closer to Roxie. Her voice dropped. "If she says anything weird, cough."
Roxie almost smiled. "Go."
Karen walked away with Angela, but she kept looking back every few steps.
Miranda waited until they were out of earshot.
That made Roxie’s stomach tighten.
The parking lot lights buzzed overhead. The fundraiser noise stayed behind them, close enough to hear but too far for anyone to catch every word. Zac was still near the football table. Too far to hear. Close enough to see.
Roxie kept her shoulders straight. "What did you want to talk about?"
Miranda looked at her for a moment.
Up close, she looked even more controlled.
"You are a smart girl," Miranda said.
Roxie said nothing.
"Hardworking too," Miranda continued. "Disciplined. Your coach speaks highly of you."
Roxie did not like that.
So she had asked about her.
"Thank you," Roxie said carefully.
Miranda’s smile stayed polite. "That is why I know you understand what Zac has to lose."
There it was.
Roxie’s fingers curled at her sides.
Miranda stepped closer, only slightly. "He is in a very important year. State Finals. Academy. Interviews. Family obligations. Expectations."
Roxie looked past her for half a second.
Zac had stopped pretending to pack up the football table. His eyes were on them now.
Miranda followed Roxie’s glance, then looked back at her.
"And attention," Miranda said. "A great deal of attention."
Roxie forced herself to meet her eyes. "I know."
"I’m sure you do." Miranda tilted her head a little. "Zac likes girls. He always has. Boys at that age enjoy attention more than they admit."
Roxie stiffened.
Miranda took a folded paper from the pocket of her coat but kept it between her fingers.
"I also know more than you think," she said.
Roxie’s chest tightened.
Miranda’s voice stayed calm. "Your mother. Claire, yes?"
Roxie kept her face still through effort alone.
Miranda watched her closely.
"Your scholarship," Miranda said. "Your work. Your mother. Need I say more?"
Roxie’s mouth went dry.
The sounds from the bonfire faded behind the rush in her ears.
Miranda did not look pleased. That would have been easier to hate. She only looked certain, like she had read a report and decided where the risks were.
Roxie found her voice. "You had me looked into."
"I protect my family."
Roxie almost laughed.
It came out as a breath.
"Is that what this is?"
"Yes."
Miranda’s answer was too fast.
Too clean.
Roxie looked at the folded paper in her hand. "And what am I?"
Miranda’s expression softened in a way that felt practiced. "A complication."
Roxie went still.
Miranda looked at her for another second, then added, "Or maybe only a distraction. That depends on how smart you decide to be."
The word hit exactly where Miranda meant it to.
Miranda continued, "I am sure you have worked very hard to stay at Briarwick. Are you really going to let a boy destroy all that?"
Roxie said nothing.
"And I am sure you understand how quickly people fill in gaps when they hear pieces of a story. Even the wrong ones."
Roxie’s nails pressed into her palm.
Miranda’s eyes stayed on her face. "A girl faints. An older man signs her out. Her mother has a reputation. She works quietly for families connected to the school. She receives help from places she probably prefers people never discuss."
Roxie’s throat tightened.
She refused to blink too much.
She refused to give Miranda that.
Miranda leaned slightly closer.
"I would hate for careless rumors to become facts people repeat."
Roxie’s voice came out low. "Are you threatening me?"
Miranda smiled faintly. "I am asking you to be smart."
"That sounds like a threat."
"It sounds like advice."
"No," Roxie said. "It sounds like you think I’m stupid."
Miranda’s eyes sharpened for the first time.
Only for a second.
Then the calm returned.
"I think you are very smart," Miranda said. "That is why I am speaking to you directly."
Roxie swallowed the fear before it could reach her face.
"What do you want?"
Miranda looked toward Zac again.
This time, Roxie kept her eyes on Miranda.
"I want Zac focused," Miranda said. "I want his name clean. I want his future protected. And I want you to consider whether what you want from him is worth what it may cost him."
She paused.
"Or you."
Roxie’s chest hurt.
She hated that Miranda had found the exact fear already sitting inside her.
Roxie forced her chin higher. "Zac makes his own choices."
"He is eighteen," Miranda said. "That does not make him wise."
"He’s an adult."
"Yes," Miranda said. "An adult who still lives under our roof."
Miranda held out the folded paper.
Roxie stared at it.
"What is that?"
"Information."
"I don’t want anything from you."
"I think you will want this."
Roxie wanted to leave.
She wanted to walk back to Karen and Angela. She wanted to call Zac over just to see Miranda’s face change. She wanted to throw the paper into the fire and pretend none of this had happened.
Instead, she took it.
Miranda’s fingers released the paper into her hand.
"Your mother has been staying there," Miranda said.
Roxie’s pulse kicked hard.
"What?"
"Recently," Miranda said. "I thought you should know."
Roxie opened the paper.
An address.
A motel name she did not recognize.
Then the road.
Route 9.
The same road Mr. Robinson had mentioned.
The same road Roxie had tried to pretend meant nothing.
Her fingers tightened around the paper until the fold bent.
Miranda’s voice softened. "Enjoy the rest of your night, Roxxane."
Roxie looked up.
Miranda was already stepping back.
Across the field, Zac started moving toward them.
Miranda turned before he reached the parking lot and walked away, calm as ever.
Roxie stood under the buzzing light with the paper in her hand.
Route 9 stared back at her.
Behind her, the fundraiser kept going.
In front of her, Zac was coming closer.
Roxie could not move.
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