Undercover: Book 1 — Chapter Twenty-Eight

Clover's Point of View

Last night, Tori ended up staying over, which I was grateful for. We were both sitting in the kitchen eating breakfast that Tori also made. I swear that girl is a goddess.

"Honestly, the paparazzi are so loud today," Tori commented. “I wonder if another celebrity moved on this street."

"I mean that one NBA player lives not that far down. Maybe he’s back finally? I know he has like three different houses or something and he’s rarely in town. But still, this street is crazy. I’m surprised I still have neighbors.” I thought about it for a second before holding up a finger. “Correction neighbor. Miranda and Jack went to their beach house in Florida for the rest of the year," I said, putting my plate in the sink.

"Yeah, I would, too. Hey, we should see if Mary and Megan can hook us up for a photoshoot or a fashion show in Paris soon," Tori said.

"Oh my gosh, that would be amazing," I squealed. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been to Paris.

"I've never been to Paris before,” she said, pouting. “I really want to go."

"I would love to go to London, too," I said.

"We should just go on a road trip when we finish school," Tori said. "Oh, imagine all the hot boys."

"I would agree but I'm taken," I said, realizing I hadn’t had a chance to tell her yet.

"Who? Are you dating Chris?" she asked suspiciously, making me raise an eyebrow.

"Why would I date Chris?" I asked, confused.

"Why wouldn't you? I mean, have you seen that boy’s body," Tori said, fanning herself.

"Yeah, sure. I mean he is hot, but I wouldn't date him," I said, scrunching up my nose.

"Oh, I would totally take him anyway and anywhere. Now, off the subject of Chris for a minute. Who. Are. You. Dating?" she demanded. I stayed silent for a moment and she gasped.

"It's not—" Tori started saying and I nodded.

"Andrew Carter?" she asked with disgust.

"Surprise," I said with a small smile.

"Why the hell would you date him? You know he’s trouble. I mean, you went to freaking jail with him,” she said, shaking her head. “Clover, you have never been in jail before that. He’s not good enough for you. He’s a player who won’t think twice before breaking your heart,” Tori said desperately, trying to make me see from her point of view.

I twisted the stem of an apple sitting in the bowl in front of me as I listened to her rant on. “Tori, in all honesty, when was the last time you’ve seen him with someone?" I asked her.

"Last week," she exclaimed.

"Okay, you’re not wrong, but I’ve actually gotten to know this player. I’ve sat and had breakfast with his mother and sister.  I can’t be one hundred percent positive, but I’d like to think he won’t dump me so quickly," I said as she put her plate in the sink.

"Fine," Tori said seriously with a shrug. “But if he’s an idiot and he hurts you, he better expect to never have kids after I’m done with him.”

"I know, now, let’s get to school. No one wants to be late on a Monday," I said, grabbing my Gucci sunglasses and my black bag. It went perfectly with the romper I was wearing. I looked in the mirror one last time; my hair was staying in its natural blond waves and the sandals I slipped on matched perfectly. Tori had borrowed a ruffled peach shirt and a pair of white shorts and she had her own sandals.

"Yeah, I'm ready, let’s go," she said, hooking her arm through mine as we went out the door. I cringed as we stepped outside. We were hit with tons of flashing lights. I pulled my sunglasses down over my eyes and handed Tori an extra pair of Coach Sunglasses I had in my purse.

"Clover, over here! Talk to me, babe. Let’s talk about jail,” a guy yelled, causing me to freeze in place. Tori tried pulling me along but I stayed frozen.

"What did you say?" I asked, looking at the guy behind me who said that.

He held up the newspaper and I gasped. I grabbed $20 out of my purse and handed it to him.

"Here, buy yourself another one," I said and quickly pushed through all the paparazzi to get to my car, which I for once didn’t park in the garage.

"What the actual hell? “Tori exclaimed, looking over my shoulder at a picture of me against the wall with handcuffs on. It was the front-page picture with the headline of the day said,

CLOVER THOMPSON REALLY WENT TO JAIL.

"This unknown person is really playing games now,” I said furiously. Words couldn’t describe how mad I was right now. My body was shaking in anger.

"Where has Mary been through all of this?" Tori questioned.

"I don't know, but after school we are heading straight to her house," I said, leaving my driveway in my freshly repainted Ferrari. Yes, I got my baby fixed and cleaned looking as good as new. I sighed in relief when I saw the school. The worst of it all? The paparazzi now filled the parking lot.

"What are you going to do about all of this?" Tori asked me as we parked.

"I have no idea, but I am not letting this crazy bitch control my life. They say the only way to fix your problems is to face them," I said with a sigh.

"Well, don't worry, I'll be there the whole time for you," she said and I nodded. We stepped out of the car only to be attacked by paparazzi yelling questions.

Tori whistled loudly, causing them all to quiet down.

“This is a learning environment and let me tell you, some of your clothes are definitely not fitting our school’s dress code, so please remove yourselves from this private property,” I told them. “Secondly, I went to jail. I see the picture; you see the picture. It’s not a big deal. You want a story? Go out and make one. Stop using me for your own selfish gain.”

“Did you get that?” a reporter asked her cameraman. He nodded and more yelling of questions started again.

I sighed, giving Tori a frown and she shrugged, unsure of what to do.

"People, back it up. Move it. Let her through," someone yelled, pushing through the crowd.

Jasmin and Chris.

"We know what's happening and we’re going to help you," Jasmin said into my ear and I gave her a thankful look.

"Listen up, you have about thirty seconds to get off school property before the police personally remove you,” she said just as sirens rang through the air.

“Clover, I just have one question,” a reporter said, trying to persuade me, but I shook my head.

The police pulled up in the parking lot and immediately started handling the situation. I took the opportunity to go into school.

"You, my friend, are a lifesaver!" I said, hugging Jasmin.

"Aww, don't I get a hug, too?" Chris said sarcastically, holding out his arms.

"Get your own girlfriend to hug." Andrew’s arms went around my waist as he leaned down, putting his head on my shoulder.

Jasmin squealed. "I knew it! I knew it! You owe me twenty bucks, Chris, pay up," Jasmin said, holding out her hand.

"You guys bet on me and Andrew?" I asked with a scowl.

"Yup," she said, giving me a cheeky smile.

"I don't understand why she would even date a pig like Andrew, but we all know Clover can be a little crazy," Tori said with a shrug, earning her a slap on the arm from me.

"Come on, they will be the cutest couple of the year! Wait till the yearbook comes out! Actually, no, forget about cutest couple. They will be Prom King and Queen!" Jasmin squealed.

"Now, if Andrew isn't an ass and doesn't dump my best friend then he will still make it to Prom with his precious jewels,” Tori said, earning a warning look from me.

"I would like to keep Andrew junior, thank you. And, trust me, I'm not dumping her. She will most likely break up with me before I ever do," Andrew said, turning around andgiving me a peck on the lips.

"Who knew the bad boy player would become a big softy?" I smirked, causing him to roll his eyes.

***

After school let out, we quickly left and made our way to Mary's. She surprisingly doesn't live in Long Beach. She lives right outside of town. I quickly drove there with Tori and we got out and basically started pounding on the door.

"Oh, Clover. It's been a while!" Mary said, stepping aside, letting me in.

"Yeah, it has. I was wondering when you were going to tell me when my next photo shoot is? Or maybe when you were going to solve this problem." I slapped the newspaper on the table.

"Oh, I had no idea this was all going on," Mary said with a innocent look.

"Cut the crap, Mary. You know everything that goes on in this world. Especially when it involves your number one model," Tori snapped.

"Tori, apparently Megan needs to teach you more manners," Mary gasped, earning her a glare from both of us.

"Just tell me what the hell is going on," I told her firmly.

"Nothing at all, Clover," Mary said, taking a sip of her cup of coffee before she started chuckling. "All right fine, you got me. Okay, we’ll make this quick.  Clover, you’re fired and you are no longer my top model. There, said and done."

"What?” Tori exclaimed as I yelled, “Excuse me?”

"Yeah, Clover,” Mary said, nodding. “You haven't been paying attention to your career and I haven’t been able to get a hold of you since we got home from New York."

I looked at her like she was crazy. I almost snorted at how ridiculous this was. She couldn’t fire me. She could quit, sure, but she couldn’t fire me. She worked for me, not the other way around. "You haven't even contacted me once. I have had my phone on me 24/7, so you can’t even say you called me!"

"I'm sorry, Clover, truly, but my niece is taking over for you," Mary said, smiling.

"Who is your niece?" Tori asked, still glaring at her.

"Why don't you come out, darling?" Mary said, and I couldn't believe who stepped out from the next room.