Read Meg at Sixteen for Free Online Page B

the police. If you don’t want to get arrested, you’d better leave right now.”
    â€œArrested?” Nick said, and he laughed again. Meg marveled that his laugh could be so cold when his smile was radiant.
    â€œThe police,” Clark said. “Meg, please. There’s going to be awful scandal.”
    Meg laughed. “I imagine there will be,” she said.
    â€œHe’s nobody,” Clark said. “Robert says he hardly knows him. He isn’t even a year-rounder.”
    â€œI love him, Clark,” Meg said, and it seemed odd that Clark should be the first person she told, but then it was right. Clark was her friend. In his own foolish, feeble way, he cared about her.
    â€œYou don’t even know him,” Clark said. “Meg, come back with me, and you, you get out of here if you know what’s good for you.”
    â€œI do know what’s good for me,” Nick replied, and he held Meg’s hand.
    â€œThe police, Meg,” Clark said. “Do you really want this guy arrested?”
    â€œNo,” Meg said. “Nick, you’d better go.”
    â€œI don’t care,” he said. “I don’t want to leave you.”
    â€œI’ll be fine,” she said.
    â€œNo,” he said. “I’ll take you back to the party. That’s the least I can do.”
    Meg thought about the scene Grace was likely to make and shuddered.
    â€œYou don’t have to be scared of her,” Nick said. “Come on, Daisy. Let me take you back.”
    â€œI’ll go with you,” Clark said. “Meg, you don’t have to protect him. You can tell Grace the truth, that he made you leave with him.”
    â€œI know what the truth is, Clark,” Meg said. She walked hand in hand with Nick back to the party. The band stopped playing as they approached.
    â€œI guess they don’t know the death march,” Nick whispered. Meg laughed out loud. Clark looked grimly determined to guard Meg from further contamination.
    â€œI bring you back your niece, Miss Winslow,” Nick proclaimed as they rejoined the party. “Safe and sound.”
    â€œGet off of my property this minute!” Aunt Grace shouted. “I’ve called the police to chase you away!”
    â€œI’m leaving,” Nick said, but he seemed in no hurry to go.
    â€œMargaret, go to your room immediately,” Grace said. “Your behavior has been shameful. We will discuss your punishment later.”
    â€œNo,” Nick said. “You won’t punish her.”
    â€œWill you shut up,” Clark whispered. “You’re only making things worse.”
    â€œIt was my fault,” Nick said. “I made her go with me. She didn’t want to. She begged me not to, but there were things I had to say to her, and I needed privacy. Daisy, Margaret, was a victim. You don’t punish a victim.”
    â€œNick,” Meg said.
    â€œI’ll stay if you want me arrested,” Nick said. “If that will give you pleasure, fine. But you have to promise not to do anything to Margaret. It’s her birthday. This party is for her. Isn’t the embarrassment she feels punishment enough?”
    â€œI don’t know who you are, young man,” Grace said. “But I intend to find out.”
    â€œDo you promise not to hurt Margaret?” Nick asked.
    â€œI’ll promise you nothing,” Grace said.
    â€œThere, there, Grace,” Clark’s father said. “This has all been very unpleasant. Let the boy go, and let’s forget the entire incident. Margaret’s unharmed, no damage has been done. We don’t really want to see this incident in the papers, do we?”
    Grace stood still for a moment, considering the situation.
    â€œI’m sorry, Aunt Grace,” Meg said, but the words weren’t hateful, the way they usually were. She could say anything if it protected Nick. “I’ll apologize to all the guests if