by A.E. Davis
“I want you to be extra careful, Amber,” Ken was saying, cutting into his thick T–Bone steak that was so bloody I half expected it to Moo.
“Why’s that?” I took a sip of water.
“There was another incident, honey,” Mom blurted.
Ken frowned down at his steak.
“What kind of incident?” This wasn’t the first time an infamous incident was mentioned with no real explanation.
“Just be careful,” Mom added, glancing at Ken, whose jaw was working. By the look on his face it was on something other than the bite of beef he just took.
“Ken?” I prodded. “Don’t you think it would help if I knew what you were talking about?”
“I’m really not supposed to give the details,” he explained, glancing at my mom.
Mom squirmed in her seat and her face turned red. “I’ll just grab those sticky buns for dessert.” She stood abruptly, lifted her plate off the table, and scurried into the kitchen.
“Ken, I won’t say anything,” I sighed, and fidgeted with my napkin.
“I know,” he sighed. “Normally, I would tell you but …” He shook his head. “I just can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?” I snapped, not meaning to but his elusiveness was getting on my nerves.
“Both,” he exhaled and set his fork down.
“I heard some girls were found in the woods…”
“Who told you that?” he snapped.
I shuddered involuntarily. “Um, just a boy from school,” I said.
His eyes narrowed. “Was it one of the Roth boy’s?” he asked.
“Nah…” I shook my head and balled up my napkin. “They weren’t at school today.”
Ken’s expression showed his surprise. “Who then?” he prompted.
“Jason, he’s a boy in my English class.”
Ken’s brows creased. “What’s his last name?” He pulled out his little notebook from his pocket and flipped it open.
“Um, I don’t know, but I can find out tomorrow.”
“What does he look like?”
“Ah, he’s about ah, five eleven, skinny, wears glasses.” Ken frowned and jotted something down.
“Kirk said it was probably an animal attack.”
“Who’s Kirk?” His brow lifted.
“He’s Jason’s friend,” I explained. “Jason calls him Captain Kirk.”
Ken frowned. “Captain Kirk?”
“Yeah,” I exhaled. “I guess he’s into Star Trek or something.”
“Oh.” Ken chuckled and shut his notebook. I guess he didn’t deem Kirk notebook worthy.
“Is it true then?” I leaned forward. “Did you find the girls in the woods?”
“Amber,” he sighed and shook his head. “I really can’t say.”
“Who wants a sticky bun?” Mom said, carrying the package and plates in the room, setting them on the table.
“Not me. I’ve lost my appetite.” I stood and lifted my plate.
“Honey, are you feeling all right?” Mom asked, looking worriedly between me and Ken.
“Yes, I feel fine,” I sighed. “I just have a lot of homework to do.”
“Well, don’t worry about doing the dishes tonight, I can do them.”
“Thanks Mom.” I started toward the kitchen with my plate.
“Amber, don’t you have something to say to Ken?”
I stopped and turned. “Thanks for dinner, it was really great,” I said with meaning because it really was. “Oh and thanks again for the magazine.”
“You’re welcome.” He scrubbed his face with his hands and sighed. “Amber,” he said, “as soon as I can tell you, I will.” I could tell by the look on his face that he meant it.
“Okay.” I conceded. I gave him a small smile and left the room.
thirty one
I woke up feeling pensive but when I saw another day filled with sunshine my mood perked right up. I dressed carefully and even blew out my hair since I didn’t have to worry about the rain making it curl all over my head. I even made my bed again and propped E on my pillow, giving him a good pat on his fuzzy head. I opened my bag and tossed my phone back inside. I noticed the crumpled up paper from lunch the day before that Kirk had wrote on. I pulled it out and smoothed the paper.
There were three names written on it, Glinda, Sandy and mine. “What the…”
Glinda and Sandy’s name were crossed out and mine had an arrow pointing to it that read: “She’s next.”
I spurt of fear shot through me. Maybe the kids at school were right and Jason was a freak. Anger quickly replaced my fear though and I shoved the paper in my bag, fully intending to give it to Ken to see what he thought.
When I went downstairs though, Ken was already gone. Mom wasn’t up either. I left Mom a quick note, grabbed a breakfast bar and a bottle of water, then left for school. I wanted to enjoy the sun while it lasted and of course, even though I didn’t admit it, I was also hoping to see Vincent and Viktor.
I scanned the parking lot when I pulled into school, hoping to see Viktor’s SUV. It wasn’t here. My heart did a little dip and my mood plummeted as well. “So much for blowing out my hair,” I muttered despondently and grabbed my bag off the seat, along with my bottle of water and breakfast bar. I climbed out of my car and locked the doors. At first I was going o sit on the low wall that bordered the sidewalk near school but then decided to sit on the hood of my car in case Viktor or Vincent made a late appearance. Climbing up on the hood, I pulled my hair over my shoulder and took out Beowulf to read, to get ahead on some reading for English. At least this way I would get to soak up some much-needed Vitamin D from the sun before class started. A slight breeze ruffled the pages of my book. I pulled back the wrapper on my breakfast bar and took a bite, reading.
“Then at dawn with the breaking of day the war-might of Grendel was made manifest to men; then after the feasting arose lamentation, a loud cry in the morning. The renowned ruler, the prince long famous, sat empty of joy; strong in might, he suffered, sorrowed for his men when they saw the track of the hateful monster, the evil spirit.”
“Well that’s a bit deep.” I lifted my head. A few kids passed by. None of them really paid too much attention to me, which I was glad for. Maybe I was losing my luster to them and was now considered old news. I unscrewed the lid off my bottle and took a drink. I heard footsteps approaching but didn’t really pay much attention. I glanced up and Jason was standing in front of me waving his hand up and down.
“Hey,” I said and placed my finger on the spot I was reading.
“So did you hear?” he asked, sounding breathless and jumped up beside me on the hood of my car without asking, which kind of annoyed me.
I turned to look at him. “Did I hear what?”
“The Terrible Twins are having a party tonight.”
“Who are they?”
He gave me a look of disbelief. “Who are they?” he scoffed. “Only the two best wrestlers in school. They are going to take us to State, maybe even the Nationals.”
“Um, okay.” I screwed the lid back on my bottle. I could care less. I didn’t know squat about wrestling.
“Well,” he hedged, kicking his feet out, “you want to go?”
I remembered the paper I found. “That depends,” I said, getting riled up all over again.
He frowned and shoved his glasses back up. “On what?” he asked, squinting against the sunlight.
I pulled my bag over on my lap and handed him the piece of paper. “What is this?”
He opened the paper and his face flushed. “It’s just a theory,” he mumbled.
“A theory for what exactly?” I snapped and jerked the paper out of his hand. I was still giving it to Ken.
“We didn’t mean anything by it,” he said, shifting uncomfortably.
“Why is my name written down…” I jabbed the paper, “with, she’s next?”
“It’s not what it looks like,” he tried to explain.
“Then explain
what it is,” I said, fuming.
He raked his hand through his hair and tugged on his shirt that read: “We’re not alone.” “We just do that when we are trying to figure out stuff.”
“Why is my name on it?”
“Because Kirk thinks you’ll be next,” he rushed out. His face burned red.
“Thanks a lot.” I shoved the paper in my bag.
“Amber, I’m sorry. We didn’t mean anything by it, promise.”
“Yeah, well…” Some of my anger dispersed. “That isn’t very nice.”
“I know and I’m really sorry,” his voice shook. “Please don’t be mad at me.” He looked like he might cry and I felt a wave of guilt. “If I could take it back I would.”
“Imagine how that makes me feel,” I said.
“I know, it was stupid,” he said and jumped off my car. “I didn’t even think you’d come to lunch…with us.”
“So that gives you a reason to jinx me?” My voice cracked.
“No.” His eyes widened. “I…we didn’t mean any harm by it.”
“Kirk thinks I’m next?”
“It’s just because you’re pretty and new here.”
My brows creased. “What does that have to do with anything?”
He raked his hand through his hair; it shook. “I don’t know.” He stared at the ground.
A vehicle rumbled behind us, the engine revving. I immediately turned to see who it was. Curtis, the guy with blue hair, leaned out his window.
“Hey Curtis,” Jason called, waving.
Curtis made a face and punched the gas. A bank of exhaust swirled around us. Donkeyhole.
A group of geese flew overhead squawking loudly. I grabbed my stuff and jumped off my car. On cue, the warning bell rang.
“I gotta go,” I said to Jason.
“Wait, Amber…” He blocked my escape. “Let me fix this,” he begged.
Inwardly, I groaned. It was hard to stay mad at him when he was looking at me like that—he seemed so lonely and …desperate. “It’s okay,” I said, trying to move past.
He spun around and walked with me. “How bout I take you to dinner or something, to make amends?”
“Ah…”
Curtis jumped out of his truck and headed toward us in a slow jog.
“What does he want?” Jason grumbled following my line of vision.
“What’s up dufus?” He jumped on the sidewalk in front of us.
“Hey, Curtis,” Jason mumbled.
“So, new girl,” he said, smiling. He reached out and handed me a purple flyer. “If you want to ditch the dork and come hang with some real men tonight, this is where we’ll be.” He waggled his brows.
“My name is Amber and no…” I glanced at Jason. “I can’t,” I heard myself saying. “I’m going out with Jason.”
“Yeah right,” he scoffed.
“I am,” I said and linked my arm through Jason’s.
Jason perked up. “Ye—eah,” he stuttered.
He gaped at Jason and then looked at me with a cross between disbelief and outright shock. “You can’t be serious?” Curtis frowned.
“That’s what she said.” Jason gloated and pressed back his thin shoulders.
“Yeah,” I said trying to sound sure but I wasn’t.
“Well,” he exhaled and shook his head again. “I guess I’ll…”
“See you later Curtis,” Jason preened and pulled me forward.
I followed beside him and once we were around the corner of school, I unlinked my arm from his. “Listen Jason…” I began.
He gave me a small smile. “I know you didn’t mean it.”
He was right. “I ah…am just not sure what I’m doing yet.”
“It’s okay,” he assured me. “If you change your mind…”
“Totally, I’ll let you know,” I said, thankful he had given me an out without too much bloodshed.
“Am I forgiven?” he asked, sounding hopeful.
“Yeah,” I sighed. “I guess.” It was hard staying mad at him.
“Sweet.” He leaned forward like he was about to hug me and then stopped. His face paled. “I’ll just… ah…see you,” he said, and dashed off through the doors.
For lunch, I went into the library under the pretense of studying. I was really hiding out from Jason and Kirk. Unfortunately, Cressida and Curtis were both at one of tables, talking in hushed tones. It was the last place I expected to see Curtis. When they saw me, they stopped talking and on cue, Cressida cut me one of her death dagger stares. I ignored them. Once I passed, Curtis said something to Cressida and she busted out laughing garnering a loud, “Shush,” from the Librarian, Mrs. Fitch.
I smiled and headed to the back of the room and settled into one of the tables. The sun slanted in through the open window, warming the area. A slight breeze ruffled my hair and I tucked it behind my ear.
“Who are you hiding from,” an all too familiar voice said. I looked up into the smiling green eyes of Vincent. Involuntarily, my heart did a little flutter.
“Who say’s I’m hiding out?” I said trying to sound aloof but ended up smiling.
“She smiles,” he said, sliding into the seat across from me.
He looked better than I remembered. “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing?” He lifted his brow.
“I asked first,” I defended.
“So you did.” He settled back in his chair and kicked out his long legs. “I thought you were looking for me and what do you know…here I am.”
“Wouldn’t you be the one doing the looking since I was here first?” I asked flippantly.
“You got me.” His lips twitched.
I laughed. It felt good.
He leaned forward and grabbed my book. “Beowulf?” His brows lifted.
“English paper.”
“Ahh,” He pushed the book over and the tips of his fingers brushed my hand. “And here I thought you were into one of literary gems of the century.”
“Have you read it?”
“Yeah, of course,” he said too quickly, and his lip tilted up at the corner.
I didn’t believe him. “Why don’t I believe you?”
“I guess you have some trust issues.” He lifted his brow and gave me a look that made my stomach swirl.
“Hmm, who’s your favorite character?”
“Huh…” He propped his chin in his hand, leaning forward. “That’s a hard one.” His lips twitched. “Beowulf is a pretty great character as is Grendel, the first bad ass dragon but who really won me over was Wiglaf.”
“Me too,” I gushed a little too enthusiastically. No one ever picked Wiglaf; instead, they immediately picked Beowulf or the Dragon. I tried to pull my enthusiasm back at bit.
He stared at me. “You do something different to your hair?
I tucked it behind my ear, feeling self-conscious. “Yeah, I blew it out.”
“It looks …”
Curtis walked up with Cressida trailing behind and ruined the entire mood. “What’s up my man,” he said, doing some clap hand thing with Vincent.
“Nothing much, just chatting up my girl Amber, here.” He grinned at me and my heart did another flip-flop.
“Really?” Curtis cut me a cursory glance. “That’s not what she says.”
I wanted to kick Curtis in his leg.
Vincent frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You haven’t told him?” Curtis glared at me.
I shrugged noncommittally.
“She’s going on a date with Jason tonight.” He made a smug face. “Isn’t that right Amber?”
The way he said my name made my skin crawl. “Ah…” I didn’t know what to say.
“Well?” Curtis prompted when I didn’t say anything. “Tell him what you told me.”
Cressida laughed in that maniacal way of hers and put her hands on Vincent’s broad shoulders, massaging them.
I wanted to knock them off.
&
nbsp; “Yeah right,” Vincent scoffed. “No way,” he laughed and then sobered. “He’s messing with me right?” He stared at me, his expression unreadable.
I felt sick. “Well, ah, I, um…” I couldn’t say it was just for show with Curtis standing here. “Yes but…”
“What?” Vincent gaped.
“See man, I wasn’t lying…” Curtis laughed.
“Well…” His eyes flashed. “No big loss.” Vincent lifted his hand and placed it over Cressida’s.
My heart fell.
Cressida leaned over and her big boobs mashed up against his back. The sunlight sparkled off her face. She leaned forward and whispered something in his ear. He smiled and pulled her around onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck, blocking me.
I felt sick. Gathering my things, I shoved them in my bag. “I guess I should go.”
No one seemed to know I even said anything.
“You going to the party tonight at the twins place?” Curtis asked, flipping his long bang from his eyes.
“Sure, I’ll be there.” Vincent lifted his hand and tucked a piece of Cressida’s hair behind her ear. It made me want to puke.
I knew I didn’t have any right to be upset. He wasn’t my boyfriend or anything but it still felt like a big slap in my face.
“Yay,” Cressida gushed, bouncing up and down on like she was giving him a lap dance.
If I didn’t leave, I was either going to be sick or cry, I didn’t know which.
“Is Viktor here?” Cressida asked Vincent a little loudly.
My ears perked up.
I didn’t hear him speak so I took a peek and immediately regretted it. He was looking right at me. I swallowed past the lump already forming in my throat.
“Nah, he’s not here today.” He gave me look like he could see right through me. Like he knew I was listening and was daring me to show a reaction at the news. The proverbial knife twisted a little deeper in my heart. I lifted my bag and pulled it over my shoulder.
“See you,” I said, and took off across the library, making a hasty exit.
After I left, I stopped off at the bathroom and splashed cold water over my heated face. I was shaking. I took deep breaths trying to get my rampant emotions under control. I was mad and sad and felt like crying. I wasn’t sure what my problem was exactly but my good mood was definitely shot.
