“If you don't approve of them, why are you here?”
I open my mouth. Then shut it. “I'm here with Jared Campbell.”
Matt looks over his shoulder then back to me. “Look, just be careful out here, okay?”
“What does that mean?”
He starts to say something then retreats. “ I . . . um . . . just, you know, the typical party rules—don't set your drink down, don't go off alone with anyone, don't pee on rattlesnakes.”
“Don't pee on rattlesnakes?” I lower my voice even more. “Is that supposed to mean something?”
He speaks directly into my ear. “It means if you squat over a rattler, you'll get two fangs in your butt.” Matt leaves me to join some friends.
By ten o'clock, I've danced with just about everyone. Truman seems to be forgetting about the Great Blog Disaster. Well, except for Brittany, but if I never regain her friendship, I think I'll still be able to sleep at night.
Great. I am in sore need of a bathroom. Or I guess in this case, a large tree to go behind. I look for Jared to tell him where I'm going. That way if a wild bear comes and hauls me off, someone will know to look for me.
Not finding my date lor the night, T suppress a sigh una walk into a wooded area, my cell phone shining like a weak flashlight. About a hundred paces out, Oh, decide I'm far away from view and pick my tree. Oh, the indignity. For the record. I have never peed outside It's unladylike It's uncouth. Aud-ew-apparently I have bad aim!
All finished and anxious to get out of here, I zip my denim shorts and button the top button.
“Are you sure he's going to do it?”
Who is that? I stop at the voice and plaster myself to the back of the tree. I'm probably stepping exactly where I did my business.
“He's here, isn't he?” That's Dante.
“Between the beer and the music, I think everyone's pretty distracted right now. We should be able to slip out in about an hour. Wait for the signal, then meet at the old bridge.”
An hour? I have to be home in thirty minutes due to my new, restricted curfew. It took an act of Congress to talk my mom into letting me out of the house tonight.
“He thinks Sparks is the missing link, that we need him in the Brotherhood to make us stronger.”
“I don't know, man,” Dante says. “This is getting crazy. We can't afford another disaster.”
“Look, you know he won't let you out of this. It's too important that the legacy continues. We'll make sure there aren't any more mistakes.”
“Mistakes? Dude, accidents happen. People fall. Drivers lose control. We don't have any power over that. And we also can't stand any more bad attention. I'm not going to any more funerals.”
“It's his team. We do what he says, Dante. Now either you're in or you're out. But you think long and hard before you leave the Brotherhood. You know what happened to Reggie.”
“I'm not backing out. You know I'm in this. Just forget it.”
Their voices grow weaker as they walk away.
I know one thing for sure.
I have to get home by curfew—so I can sneak right back out, with Luke at my side. We have some late-night spying to do.
chapter thrity-two
Jared pulls over and takes off my blindfold when we hit the town square.
I smile prettily,like it's not the creepiest thing ever to have your eyes covered. “Thanks for taking me back early. My mom's kind of a stickler lately on the curfew.” I can't imagine why.
He steers the car back onto the road. “I had a great time with you tonight. I always do.”
“Thanks.” And I had a good time with him. Jared has an amazing personality. But I feel nothing for the boy.
He puts the car in park when we roll up to the unwelcoming graveyard a few minutes later. I mean, seriously, if you want to impress a girl, do not ask to meet her at a cemetery.
“So ...” His arm rests on the back of my seat. “How's that boyfriend in New York?”
We both laugh. “Very subtle,” I say. “Um . . . Hunter and I are finding a long-distance relationship to be harder than we thought.”
“Bella—“ His eyes grow serious in the dark of the car. “I would love for us to be friends—hang out. But if you get to the point where New York is too far away, there are guys here in Truman who would like the opportunity to date you.”
My heart constricts. I wish I liked him like that.
My hand covers his on the gearshift. “Jared, if only I had met you a few years ago. Thank you for your friendship. I didn't intend this, but I've noticed a lot more people are willing to talk to me now that I've been seen with you a few times. And if something changes in my life, I'll let you know. But in the meantime, I still want to do things together.” Did that sound suggestive? I mean do things as in go to a movie. Not as in get horizontal on the couch.
“Friends it is.” He nods, his gaze sliding across the stones in the graveyard.
“You'll invite me to a party again?” I open my door and step out.
“Next week there will be a ticket for you.”
I wait until our vehicles part ways at the downtown four-way stop before I call Luke.
“This better be important—it's late.”
“Sorry to disturb your beauty sleep, but I have news.” I fill him in on what I heard at the party.
“And what do you want to do about it? You've obviously got something up your sleeve, and I have a feeling it's not good.”
I should be offended, but I'm not. “How serious are you about seeing this story through?”
He mumbles something then answers. “What do you want, Bella?”
“Be at my house in ten minutes. Park on the dirt road, turn the lights off, and I'll meet you out there.”
“You said you were blindfolded. How do you know where we're going?”
“The GPS on my phone.”
He pauses so long I think he's gone back to sleep.
“Luke?”
“Wear something dark this time, Kirkwood.” And he disconnects.
“You know we're both probably going to get caught and get grounded for life,” I say as I shut myself in Luke's 4Runner.
“I'm okay with that.”
He takes in my appearance, making sure I'm not clothed in bright pink. Though I was tempted to wear some sequins just to tick him off.
“How do we know where they'll be out there? And what if they see our flashlights?” I'm suddenly panicked by all these details.
He turns onto the highway, leading us toward Byler, the nearest town. “You should have thought of that before you got me out of bed.” His eyes cut to me. “But luckily we have some serious moonlight tonight, so that ought to help some. Let's just hope the wild bears don't get us though. The Oklahoma lakes are just crawling with them.”
“What?” And then I see his lips quirk. “Oh, you're hilarious.”
“Actually,I think I know which bridge they meant. A train runs through the lake area late at night. It crosses an old bridge. It's so rickety, I don't know how it can hold up a train.”
Luke drives on for another few minutes before cutting into a field where a dirt road appears.
“How in the world did you know this road was here?”
Luke lifts a dismissive shoulder. “It's a cool place to take girls.”
“If you're a serial killer.”
Pulling in behind some trees, Luke turns off the engine and faces me. “Are you ready for this?”
His eyes hold me captive. Why is it easier to look directly at someone in the dark? I blink and glance away. “Let's just get it over with.”
We spill out of the SUV, and I follow Luke through knee-high weeds for what seems like an eternity.
Somewhere I hear water lapping, and above us a full moon shines down like a Broadway spotlight just for us.
“We'll have to climb this little hill. Are you up for it?”
I know he's looking at my shoes, expecting me to have worn something totally impractical. I shine my
flashlight on my black Diesels. “Don't cry if I beat you to the top, chief.”
Ten minutes later, I'm wishing I had packed snacks. And I need a foot rub. “I think people have climbed Mt. Everest in a shorter amount of time.”
Almost there,” he whispers. “We need to turn our flashlights off at this point, Bella.”
I flip the switch.
“And you're going to have to take my hand.”
“Why?” I squeak.
“Because I know my way around here. You don't. So unless you want to fall down the mountain and give away our cover, I'd grab hold.”
I stare at his outstretched hand but can't seem to move.
“Suit yourself. See you at the top.”
“No, wait!” I run after him, stumbling on a rock, my body propelled right into his. “Oomph!” Ignoring my throbbing ankle and my battered pride, I give him my hand. Which he ignores. “Oh, just take it!” I hiss.
With a hint of a smile, he wraps his fingers around mine and pulls me forward.
I'm out of breath and totally disoriented when he finally stops. “Right over there is the bridge.” He points about a hundred feet away.
“And there's some of our fearless football players.” I watch as their own flashlights illuminate Dante, his friend Adam, a few guys I don't know, and— “Oh my gosh. That's Matt. What is he doing?”
“Looks like he's drinking.”
“He doesn't drink.”
“Does he jump off bridges?”
I rub my eyes and strain to get a closer look. “Are they tying a bungee cord to the bridge?” In the distance a train sings a warning. My heart triples in beat. “This is his initiation I heard them talking about.” I can't believe he caved in to their pressure. Lindy would die if she knew this.
“That train is really close.” Luke's voice is a soft breeze near my ear. “They're insane. I still don't get the thought behind this.”
“I don't think we ever will. Oh, I can't watch.” But yet I'm powerless to look away.
“They're tying his feet to the cord.”
It's everything I can do not to call out to Matt. Please don't do this. Don't do this.
God, keep him safe. I don't want to watch him crack his head open or see him ripped apart by a train. We have to stop the football team once and for all—before there's another casualty.
The train's whistle grows louder, closer. Its cry seems to bounce off the water and echo.
Matt stands motionless as his teammates move away from him, walking off the bridge.
“Why are they leaving him? Why isn't he moving?” Go, Matt! The train's lights come into view. “Why isn't he moving?”
“It's like a game of chicken. He won't jump until the train's right on him.” Luke's so close I can feel his heart beat.
“He could be killed.”
“That's the point.”
I stare transfixed as the train makes its presence known. The whistle blasts into the night. The wheels beat a rhythm on the tracks. Closer. Closer.
I can't breathe.
Can't move.
Jump, Matt.
He watches it. I can't see his face, but surely he's petrified. I'm about to puke, so Matt's got to be at least a little nervous.
The locomotive barrels down the tracks, its urgent whistle a signal of danger, warning.
Almost there.
Closer.
Feet away from him.
It's going to hit him!
And Matt swan dives off the bridge.
Without thinking, I shine my flashlight on the water. Luke grabs me by the arms and rips the light out of my grip. “We have to go. Go!” He pushes me away from the ledge, toward the trail.
“Did they see us?” I'm panting to keep up with his pace. His hand is a vice on mine.
What if I've blown our cover?
Raised voices float on the wind behind us. They're coming. How did they catch up to us so fast? Did they just leave Matt hanging?
“Run faster, Bella!”
“I can't!” Pushing off the ground with my feet, my calves are groaning for rest. I was made for shopping, not running! I struggle to keep my balance on the downward slope.
Luke's grip tightens, and he pulls harder on my arm. Ow. Does he think inflicting pain is going to magically make me go faster?
He zigzags us through a wooded area, different from the way we came. I know it's a matter of time before I trip over something and fall like a girl in a cheesy horror movie. So unoriginal.
“Bella, we've got some distance between us, but it won't be long.” Luke's barely out of breath. It's insulting. I'm sweating right through my Soft & Dri.
Though the guys are still a ways back there, it sounds like a herd of elephants stampeding the hill.
“Don't let up until you're in the car. You got that?”
Can't talk. Sucking air.
“Bella, I'm going to need you to trust me to get us out of this. Can you do that?” He doesn't wait for my response. “Go!” he commands as we break through the trees, his 4Runner in sight. I push my remaining energy into sprinting for the door. We jump into the seats, and Luke locks the doors and turns the key. Pushing buttons on his iPod, he suddenly makes a slow country song pour out the speakers.
“What is that?” I say, holding my panting chest. “Pick your music later. Let's get out of here. They're going to be here any minute.”
Luke shakes his head, his expression grim. “No time. It's inevitable they'll see this vehicle. So they can't see it tearing out of here.”
In the side mirror I spot three of them, their faces shining in the moonlight. They're running right for us. I grab Luke's arm. “Do something! What's your plan?”
He crushes me to him. “This.” His mouth hovers over mine. “You said you'd trust me.” And his lips cover mine in a kiss. I tense in shock. One muscular arm slides around my back, the other around my head. He deepens the kiss, and I feel myself falling into it. The voices outside grow louder. Their steps, closer. Yet it becomes background noise, a distant thought, as Luke leans into me.
He shifts and frames my face with his hands. I sigh into his kiss and let my fingers thread through his soft, dark hair.
“It's just a couple making out.”
“Who is that?”
“Who knows. Let's go. Keep looking.”
Seconds, minutes, hours later, Luke pulls away. He rests his forehead on mine and exhales slowly. “They're gone.”
My brain spins. My lips tingle. Heart somersaults. “Hmmm? Who?”
He removes his hands and leans back into his seat. With a curious glance at me, he starts the engine. “Thanks for, um . . . playing along. It saved us.”
I blink a few times. “Right.” I stare at my lap. “Good plan.” Good kisser.
“We should probably stay here just a few more minutes to throw them off.” He changes the song to some upbeat number about a man and his tractor. “So the Brotherhood has initiations.” His fingers comb through his hair—the same hair my hands were in seconds ago. “We know these things happen at parties, when everyone else is occupied. What else?”
“Huh? Oh ... um, we know that...” My editor kisses like a movie star. “These extreme sports feats probably had something to do with Zach Epps's injury and Carson Penturf's death. And there's a pressure to not only join and participate, but to keep your mouth shut.” The fog in my head begins to evaporate. “We've got to talk to Reggie Lee. We could have the power to clear his name.”
“You could. You're the one who overheard the conversation in the woods tonight.”
Luke puts the car in reverse and pulls us onto the path. We continue the rest of the drive in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. I toss the facts around in my head. They're all in pieces, like a jigsaw puzzle. So close I can see the big picture, but still not enough there to completely connect.
And I realize I haven't thought about Hunter in days. There have been a couple calls this week. Some texts. An e-mail or two. But he's been so wrapped
up in his world. And I've been wrapped up in—well, a few minutes ago, my editor.
The car stops on my dirt road. Luke turns, holds me with his stare. “Bella, I...” His eyes look as dark as the sky. “I'll, um . . . see you tomorrow.”
I nod and fumble for the door handle. “Right.” My foot tangles in my purse straps. “Bye.” I jump out and run to the porch.
Letting myself in the house, I close the door so quietly even I can't hear it. I tiptoe through the entryway and pass the living room.
A light flares to life.
“Good evening, Bella.” Jake sits in his recliner and consults his watch. “Or I guess I should say good morning.”
chapter thrity-three
My alarm goes off, and I shove it to the floor. “Shut. Up.” So tired. I've been asleep less than five hours. The events of last night play in my fogged head like a bad movie reel. The party, the bridge, the make-out session with Luke.
Jake's lecture.
I jerk the blankets over my head and try to block out the images. But I'm right back there. Jake sitting in his chair. His face blank but his eyes cautious, untrusting.
“Do you want to tell me what you're doing sneaking in and out of the house?”
“I haven't been drinking. I promise.”
“That's not what I asked.”
He stared me down with a gaze that he probably reserves for his toughest opponents.
I shook my head. “I had to go back to the party. It's for the paper.” I held up my hand to stop him. “No, I'm serious. I can't tell you what it's about, but it's big.”
“So's being grounded until you're thirty.”
“You could send me back to New York City.”
He closed his eyes for a second. “Bella, you know that's not going to happen. Your mother loves you. She wants you right here with her. And whether you care or not, I want you living with our family too.”
I twisted my hair around my finger. “I know this looks bad. I just got ungrounded, so you know I wouldn't do anything to get myself in trouble again so soon.” No, I'd totally wait a few more weeks under normal circumstances.
“Are you in trouble?”
I considered this. “No. But people are in danger. That's all I can tell you.”
So Not Happening (2009) Page 20
