Rory had to force herself not to make a face. “Great,” she replied, her voice void of any and all enthusiasm. Rebecca didn’t look particularly thrilled, either.
* * * * *
Late that night after the rest of the family had gone to bed, Rory sat sulking in her bedroom. Why was her mother so clueless?
Back when Rory and her siblings were kids, Nancy had been the coolest mom on the block. She loved to bake and always had fresh cookies or other goodies waiting for her kids and their friends after school. All the kids in the neighborhood loved her.
Being an elementary school teacher, Nancy instinctively knew how to relate to young children. In the summers when she was on holidays, she’d take the kids on exciting excursions to the city to visit the zoo, museum or aquarium. She’d also organize elaborate scavenger hunts for all the kids in the neighbourhood and they’d spend hot summer evenings searching for goodies under rocks and behind shrubs while the boys played street hockey out front.
Rory had nothing but fond memories of her childhood.
The problem, she supposed, was that teenagers puzzled her mother. While Nancy was great with younger children, she seemed to be baffled by adolescents. So, while she clearly meant well when she did insane things like force Rory to babysit Rebecca to house parties, Nancy had no idea what she was doing.
Suddenly Rory’s cell phone, which was never far from her reach, began to buzz. She grabbed for it and saw an unknown number.
“Hello?”
“Rory, is that you?”
Her heart skipped a beat. She’d know that voice anywhere! It was Carson!
Thinking fast, Rory decided to play dumb. She didn’t want to seem too eager, so she replied with, “Who is this?” It wasn’t that Rory wanted to pay mind games. She didn’t. But she’d die if he knew she was so completely and utterly infatuated she was with him that she could recognize his voice on the first syllable.
“It’s Carson…Carson Keller?” He phrased this as a question, almost as though he was asking Rory if that was, in fact, his name. If she didn’t know better she’d think he was nervous, but she was sure Carson Keller didn’t get nervous. Why would he? He was, after all, the sexiest guy in the entire school…and her opinion was only slightly biased.
“Oh. Hey!”
“Hey. I hope you don’t mind me calling you. I got your number from Hilary,” he explained. There was a momentary, somewhat loaded pause.
“How are you?”
“I’m good.” Her heart was pounding and her hands felt clammy. No guy had ever had such an effect on her. She wondered if their chemistry was truly that strong or if she’d just built him up in her mind so much that she overreacted at the drop of a hat.
“Good.” He said nothing for a moment and Rory began to wonder if their connection had been dropped. Then he asked, “You’re in my English class, right?”
Rory’s heart fell. She spent every English class dreamily staring at the back of Carson’s head and finding every excuse she could to walk past his desk whenever the teacher stepped out. And yet Carson wasn’t even sure if she was in that class with him. That, Rory concluded sadly, spoke volumes about his interest – or lack thereof – in her.
“Yeah, we’re in the same English class.”
“Great. Listen, I missed class on Friday because we had an away game,” the high school football player informed Rory even though she was already well aware of it. “Rumor has it there’s going to be a pop quiz later in the week, so do you think I could borrow your notes from Friday?”
“I, uh…” Rory thought fast, feeling a bit panicky. Finally she blurted out, “I don’t think I took any notes on Friday. I, er…wasn’t paying much attention.”
“Oh.” Carson cleared his throat and then rather stiffly said, “Okay. Well sorry for bothering you…have a good night.”
“Bye!”
Rory hung up the phone and noticed her hands were clammy. She muttered every curse word she knew under her breath. She’d fantasized many times about Carson calling her out of the blue but reality certainly hadn’t lived up to the daydreams. It just confirmed what she’d already feared: she wasn’t pretty, interesting or memorable enough for Carson to notice.
To make matters worse, Rory had lied to him about not taking any notes in English class. She didn’t know why she’d said it…to sound badass, she supposed, and to keep her pride intact. It was okay to be a horrible student if you didn’t try. There was no shame in that. What was shameful was being hopeless even after putting in a decent effort.
The last thing Rory wanted was for Carson to think she was stupid. If he read her disjointed and often confused English notes, he’d know at once the secret she fought so hard to keep under wraps.
A loud noise at the window suddenly made Rory jump. She hopped off her bed where she’d dramatically thrown herself in a fit of self-pity and peered out the window. Sheck was sitting on a branch of the sturdy, ancient tree beside her bedroom window, throwing pebbles at the glass to get her attention.
Rory opened the window and leaned out, careful to keep her voice down so as to not wake her family. “What are you doing?!” she hissed, secretly pleased that he was there. “You’re going to break the window!”
Sheck shrugged and climbed in the window with ease like he’d done many times before. “You didn’t hear me at first,” he replied nonchalantly, “so I found some bigger rocks.” He paused and studied Rory’s face intently. “What’s wrong?”
Sheck and Rory had known each other for so long that he could read her like a book. As he was an only child, Rory wasn’t sure he would be able to fully appreciate what she was about to tell him…but she desperately needed to rant to someone.
“You know Grace Myers is having a party next weekend, right?” she demanded, face flushed and eyes flashing with anger. “Well my mom will only let me go if I take my sister along. Can you believe it?”
Sheck looked confused. “I’m surprised Rebecca would even want to go,” he commented. “But okay...so take her along. I don’t see what the big deal is?”
Rory threw up her hands in frustration. “Of course you wouldn’t. You’re like, one of the only people at school who’s able to be friends with everyone. But it doesn’t usually work like that,” she complained.
“Is that so?”
“Hilary and Monica and the rest of them won’t want to hang out with my nerdy sister and it will probably hurt her feelings. Also, Rebecca doesn’t know how to act at a party. Knowing her, she’ll want to talk about chemistry homework or the chess club. It will be so embarrassing. My stupid sister is ruining my life!”
“I see.” Sheck tried to hide his amused grin, but wasn’t quick enough.
Rory scowled at him, hands on her hips. “You think this is funny?” she pouted, looking defeated and irate all at once.
“Nah,” he replied kindly. “I just think you’re a drama queen.”
Rory threw herself back down on the bed dramatically and pouted like a two-year-old. “I’m not a drama queen, I’m just passionate,” she grumbled childishly.
She knew Sheck was right. If there was one thing she could count on him for, it was to be honest with her – even if the truth was something she didn’t want to hear. “I just really want to go to the party and not have my socially awkward sister humiliate me,” she explained. “It’s going to be like...the party of the year.”
Sheck looked unconvinced. “First of all, Rebecca’s not the socially inept loser you make her out to be. Second, I think your expectations are probably a bit high,” he cautioned. “It will just be another dumb high school party, exactly like all the others. Monica Cross will make out with half the football team, Jeremy Beal will drink too much and puke on Hilary Trudeau’s insanely overpriced shoes and the parents will probably come home early and ground Grace whatsherface until she’s thirty.”
“Grace Myers,” Rory supplied helpfully.
“Oh, right. What’s she like, anyway?” Sheck wanted to know.
A brief expression of annoyance passed over Sheck’s face. “Let me guess,” he said, “Hilary is suddenly Grace’s new best friend now that she has a chance to throw a party at Grace’s parents’ house.”
Rory studied her feet sheepishly. “Yeah, I guess,” she admitted, embarrassed that Sheck had hit the nail on the head. Although he wasn’t someone who had enemies, she knew that he secretly wasn’t a fan of Hilary’s.
Sheck stifled a yawn. “I’m not even sure I’ll go to the party,” he confessed, sounding bored with the whole idea.
Rory rolled her eyes. “You’re almost as nerdy as my sister,” she teased, even though it wasn’t true. Somehow, despite his aversion to football, recent disinterest in parties and police officer father, Sheck still managed to have credibility with the cool kids. She didn’t know how he did it. She paused and glanced at the clock. “Hey. It’s late. Aren’t your parents going to be wondering where you are?”
Sheck shook his head. “I doubt it. They were having another one of their stupid arguments tonight. I don’t even know what this one was about...probably just the usual pointless stuff. I walked right past them and out the front door and I don’t think they even noticed. They were both too busy trying to ‘win’ the latest battle.”
“Oh.” Rory didn’t know what to say. She loved Sheck’s parents but lately he’d been making the odd comment that suggested there might be trouble in paradise. She hoped she was reading too much into it.
Sheck paused and cleared his throat, looking a little embarrassed by how much he’d disclosed. “Anyway,” he announced, “you’re right. It’s late. I should be getting home. See you tomorrow.”
Before Rory could respond, Sheck turned and climbed back out the window.
CHAPTER 03
The whir of a bicycle’s tires interrupted the soothing sound of gentle raindrops as Rory trudged down the street toward the high school. The weather had suddenly turned cold and damp as though winter was refusing to give up the battle. Rory just hoped it would warm up before Friday night – she’d heard Grace Myers’ parents had a fire pit in the backyard.
The bicycle came to a stop alongside her. “Hey,” Rebecca said hesitantly. Her slender hands gripped the bike handles tightly, almost as though she was nervous. “What are you doing here?”
Rory’s gaze was icy and her tone was colder still. “What does it look like I’m doing?” she snapped. “I’m walking to school.”
“I can see that,” Rebecca replied cautiously, looking as though she wasn’t sure if she should hang around or leave. “I meant why are you walking? Where’s Sheck?”
Rory shrugged and kicked at the dirt. “No idea,” she mumbled. “He wasn’t waiting outside like usual this morning. I went to his house and rang the bell and there was no answer. His car wasn’t there, either. I guess he must have forgotten to tell me he was going to school early.” She looked at Rebecca curiously. “What are you doing? Why aren’t you taking the bus to school?”
Rebecca shrugged. “I don’t really take the bus much anymore. Besides, it’s spring. It’s getting nice out and I could use the exercise.”
Rory eyed her sister suspiciously. Unlike Rory, Rebecca had the slim build of an athlete and seemed to stay trim without even trying. She wasn’t one to worry about her figure. Rory didn’t quite buy the explanation, but decided to let it go.
“It’s not that nice out,” she grumbled, rubbing her bare arms vigorously to warm herself up. She was dressed as stylishly (and impractically) as ever. She was wearing high heeled boots that weren’t one bit comfortable to walk in. She was also wearing a denim skirt that didn’t even reach her knees and a thin, short sleeved t-shirt. Goosebumps were visible on her exposed flesh and her teeth were chattering a little.
With a weary sigh, Rebecca climbed off her bike. “Get on,” she ordered, her blonde hair blowing in her eyes no matter how many times she shoved it aside.
Unlike Rory, Rebecca’s blonde hair was naturally wavy and fell in soft curls around her face. People often mistook the sisters for twins. It was true that they did look remarkably similar even if Rebecca’s figure was athletic and Rory’s was curvier. Rebecca’s eyes were clear and green while Rory’s were the color of the ocean, sometimes stormy and other times calm. But at a glance, there was a striking resemblance there.
Rory, who normally would have scoffed at how lame bike riding was, surprised them both by obliging. Rebecca peeled off her oversized sweatshirt and thrust it at Rory. “Put it on,” she commanded.
Rory did as she was told, even though the sweatshirt was a no name brand that she’d normally refuse to be seen wearing, if only for fear of Hilary’s ridicule. “Thanks,” she murmured, not meeting her sister’s gaze. “I’m sorry for calling you a bitch.”
“I’m sorry for telling Mom Grace’s parents will be out of town,” Rebecca replied. “I know it’s important to you. It’s because Carson is going to be there, isn’t it”
Rory shot a look at her sister. When they’d been kids, Rory had always assumed they’d grow up to gossip about boys and swoon over crushes together. That hadn’t happened. As far as Rory knew, Rebecca wasn’t seeing anyone or even interested in anyone…but then Rebecca had to admit she didn’t know her sister all that well anymore. “How did you know about that?” she asked.
“I saw the way you were looking at him during the last school assembly,” Rebecca stated matter-of-factly. “Don’t worry,” she added when she saw the look of alarm on her sister’s face. “It probably wasn’t that obvious to anyone else.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Rory tried to sound indifferent. “I doubt he’s into me anyway. I mean, why would he be?”
“Why wouldn’t he be?” Rebecca shot back. “But whatever, you can do better.”
“I can do better than Carson?” Rory repeated incredulously. Oh, her poor sister must be even more clueless than she thought. She felt herself bristle a bit, annoyed that Rebecca had the nerve to criticize the guy of her dreams. “What have you got against Carson?”
“Those guys on the football team are all the same,” Rebecca wrinkled her nose. “There’s a reason they all date cheerleaders…they deserve one another. They’re conceited, self-absorbed, self-serving people.”
“Not all of them,” Rory insisted even though she could kind of see what her sister was getting at. “Carson isn’t like that.”
“Do you know he’s different or are you just hoping he is?” Rebecca asked, always the rationale one. She might always look preoccupied with her latest book obsession, but Rory suspected her sister paid a lot more attention than Rory gave her credit for. She was perceptive as well…too much so, as far as Rory was concerned.
“I know he’s different,” Rory said defensively. Not wanting to consider whether that was actually true, she quickly deflected. “You’d know that if you ever took your nose out of your book long enough to talk to anyone at school, by the way…or go to parties.” Maybe it was a low blow but Rory couldn’t help it. Rebecca had touched a nerve.
“I don’t want to go to the party,” Rebecca shrugged. “I mean, I don’t know what I’m supposed to wear or say or do...”
Rory looked over at her sister and felt her temper mellow. It suddenly dawned on her that Rebecca did want to go to the party – she was just scared and shy. She felt a sudden stab of pity for her sister, as well as a pang of guilt over the way she’d been treating Rebecca.
So what if socializing didn’t come easily to her sister?
Rory was an extrovert. She was just naturally good at handling herself in social situations. Rebecca wasn’t. When they’d started high school Rory should have helped her sister fit in instead of abandoning her. It was no different than Rebecca helping Rory with her algebra homework. Rebecca had made Rory flashcards and everything. The least Rory could do was return the favour.
Instead, Rory
had been so insecure and afraid of rejection that she’d pretty much left Rebecca to fend for herself. She felt like a bad sister. “I can lend you one of my outfits,” Rory offered, eager to make amends. “I mean, I’m so fat that pretty soon I’ll have my own gravitational pull and you’re not, but we can probably something that will fit you.”
“You’re not fat.”
“Thanks.”
Silence fell over the sisters as they made their way to school, but it wasn’t the same awkward silence that had been plaguing them for so long. Instead, it was a comfortable, familiar stillness. It felt good.
* * * * *
Rory was annoyed. After getting caught in the rain on the way to school, her hair had been a big frizzy blonde mess for the rest of the day. Of course, Hilary had immediately noticed it and pointed it out to the other girls at lunch.
And of course, Rory had come face to face with Carson in between classes. He’d been nice about her atrocious appearance, at least, acting as though he didn’t even notice she looked like a hot mess. He’d chatted with her about something or other but Rory couldn’t even recall how she’s responded because the entire time she’d been mortified and planning her escape.
It was all Sheck’s fault.
Truth be told, Rory was more than annoyed: she was worried.
Sheck was a lot like Rebecca in some ways. He was dependable and considerate. Sheck always drove Rory to school. On the rare occasion that he couldn’t, he always made sure to give her plenty of notice. It was so unlike him to just not show up.
Adding to her concern was the fact that Rory hadn’t seen him at school all day. He hadn’t shown up to the biology class they had together and he wasn’t in the cafeteria at lunchtime either. Rory was pretty sure he’d ditched school which, to be honest, was more her style than Sheck’s. Something was definitely up.
“Pick up, you jerk,” Rory hissed as she tried Sheck’s cell for what seemed like the millionth time. It went straight to voicemail, as it had been doing all day long. “Ugh! Why aren’t you answering?”
Catalyst (The Best Days #1) Page 4
