Dead Is a Killer Tune

by Marlene Perez

  What was up with her all the sudden? After she left, I changed into a pair of comfortable but cute jeans and braided my hair into a long plait. I found the slouchy sweater that Mom had given me for Christmas. It was pale pink, but it looked good with my complexion, despite the theory that redheads couldn’t wear pink. I dabbed on a little lipstick and mascara and decided I was dressed up enough for a family celebration.

  When I went downstairs, everyone had disappeared. “Ha, ha, very funny, you guys,” I hollered, but the only sound I heard was the creak of a floorboard.

  “Mom? Dad?” I was getting freaked out. The lights were off in the family room, but when I flipped on the switch, a chorus of voices shouted, “Surprise!”

  The room was suddenly full of family and friends. Mom clapped her hands. “We did it!” she crowed. “We actually managed to surprise you. I thought for sure Katie was going to tell you. She was bursting to say something all week.”

  Eva gave me a hug. “Happy birthday, Jessica!”

  “You knew about all this?”

  “Yes,” she said. “I helped your mom with the guest list.”

  “I see,” I said. I’d spotted Connor and Dominic in the crowd, along with my fellow viragos Flo, Raven, and Andy. “It looks like you invited everyone in Nightshade.”

  “Almost,” Eva said. “There were a few people who couldn’t make it. But Flo has a surprise for you.”

  “Later,” Flo said. She gave my best friend a warning look and Eva made an elaborate lips are sealed gesture.

  There had to be at least fifty people in my house, including our next-door neighbors the Giordanos and the members of Side Effects May Vary. My sisters and Mom were standing in a little cluster by the French doors.

  “Mom, this is amazing,” I said.

  “You didn’t even have a clue, did you?” asked my sister Sydney.

  I grinned at her. “I can’t believe you didn’t spill it.”

  “Jessica, go answer that, will you?” Mom said.

  “How could you hear the door?” I asked her, but she just gave me a mom look. I did as she asked. My brother Sean was on the porch, holding hands with Sam.

  I launched myself at him. “You came!”

  “I wouldn’t miss my little sister’s birthday,” he said. “You’re only twelve once.”

  I punched him in the arm, hard. “Ha, ha, very funny.”

  “Hey, that hurt! You’re getting strong.”

  “Samantha,” I said, remembering my manners. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

  I grabbed their hands and dragged them into the family room. “Look who I found on our doorstep.”

  Mom and Dad and all my little sisters started talking at Sean at once. Katie hung on his arm while Sean did bicep curls.

  My big brother caught us up with college life and then said, “Is there anything to eat? I’m starved.”

  While Dad fixed Sean a plate, I went over to talk to Samantha, who had made a beeline for her best friend and my next-door neighbor, Daisy Giordano.

  “Hi, Daisy,” I said. “Thanks for coming.”

  “Have you seen the cake yet?” Samantha asked. “Daisy made it.”

  “You did?” I asked. “Is it white cake with strawberries again?”

  Samantha laughed at my gloomy tone.

  “I convinced your mom to try something different this year,” Daisy said.

  I looked around, trying to be casual. “Where’s Ryan tonight?”

  “He’s doing nightshift training for the police force,” Daisy said succinctly. “But he sends his best wishes.”

  “Oh,” I said. I tried not to let my disappointment show. Ryan Mendez was my brother’s best friend, and I’d had a major crush on him for years. He and Daisy made a cute couple, but a tiny part of me would always have a thing for him.

  A girl I didn’t recognize approached me and tapped me on the shoulder. “Hi,” she said. “I’m Stella. My older sister Sheila is your dad’s accountant. He invited us to the party. Happy birthday, by the way.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” I said. “Do you go to Nightshade High?” She looked about my age, but I hadn’t seen her at school.

  Stella shook her head. “Nope, we’re from San Carlos.” She fidgeted before she said, “I heard you play guitar.”

  “I do,” I said. “Are you into music?”

  “I’m in a band, actually,” she said. “Me and my three sisters. We’re called Wet Noodles for Three. We’re playing at the Battle of the Bands.”

  “Cool!” I said. “I saw you play at the Black Opal once. You were great!” Wet Noodles for Three sounded like a sixties girl group, like the Ronettes or something.

  As I laughed and talked to Stella, I watched Dominic out of the corner of my eye as he played a game of cards with my sisters Katie and Kellie. Flo walked over to him and said something. Katie and Kellie clapped their hands, and Dominic stood and walked through the French doors to the backyard patio. His Aunt Katrina and Flo’s boyfriend Vinnie followed him a minute later.

  Katie came over and tugged at Samantha’s hand. “It’s time for Jessica’s surprise,” she said importantly.

  “Another surprise?”

  Samantha shrugged. “Let’s go investigate.”

  There was a stage set up in the backyard where the members of Side Effects May Vary were tuning up their instruments. The rest of the guests trickled in and took seats on the lawn or in chairs scattered around. My sisters, Katie, Kellie, and Grace, were perched in the tree house that Dad had finally built them right before Christmas, while Fiona, Sydney, and Sarah grabbed prime front-row seats.

  “This is the birthday girl’s chair,” Dad said. He had the camcorder in one hand as he waved to the easy chair he’d dragged out of the home office he and Mom shared.

  I looked around for Eva, but she was in the back, holding hands with Evan. Connor was sitting at the patio table with Noel, Harmony, and Selena, but he caught me looking at him and we locked eyes until Selena said something to him and he finally looked away.

  Teddie Myles stood at the back with a guy about her age, who was a little overdressed in a suit and tie. I assumed he was her date.

  I went over to say hi and she introduced us. “Jessica, this is Mitch Peverell. He’s looking for new talent during the Battle of the Bands.”

  I shook his hand. “So you’re the agent everyone is talking about,” I replied. “There’s a lot of talent in Nightshade.”

  “Including Jessica,” Teddie said. “She’s an excellent guitar player.”

  How did she know that?

  “Ms. Minerva is an old friend,” Teddie explained. “And she sang your praises. She has trained some of the best musicians in Nightshade,” she said to Mr. Peverell.

  Ms. Minerva thought I was a good guitar player? And she was friends with Teddie? I wasn’t sure which piece of information surprised me more.

  Mr. Peverell’s eyes narrowed. “Tell me more about it. Are you in one of the bands competing?”

  I laughed. “It’s strictly a hobby,” I said. “I’m too shy to get up there in front of people.”

  Side Effects May Vary took the makeshift stage and Dominic stepped up to the microphone.

  “You’re about to see the band to beat,” I told Mr. Peverell. “Side Effects May Vary is the most popular act in Nightshade.”

  My attention turned to Dominic, and that’s when I noticed that his eyes were rolling back into his head. He had that look, the one he got just before he broke into prophetic song.

  I was right. I’d never heard them perform the song “Watch Your Step” by Elvis Costello. And Jeff Cool had a distinct look on his face, the one he got when Dominic went off the set-list, like he smelled something bad.

  “Poor Dom,” Raven whispered.

  Poor Dom was right. His face was bone white and his hands kept clenching and unclenching, as if he were willing himself to sing the planned song. Despite his internal battle, the lyrics to “Watch Your Step” continued to stream from his
mouth. Dominic always sounded good, even when he was throwing out a clue to whatever current mystery was happening in Nightshade. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as good at figuring out the meaning behind the clues.

  The song ended and Dominic regained his focus.

  “Happy birthday, Jessica,” he said. I thought he was going to launch into a birthday song, but instead the R.E.M. song “Drive” came out of his mouth. Was he having a premonition? I couldn’t tell for sure. He was getting better at hiding it.

  There was a loud round of applause after the song ended.

  “See what I mean?” I asked Teddie and Mr. Peverell.

  He stared at Dominic. “Yes, he’s very talented.” He didn’t sound that happy about it.

  I gave him a puzzled look, but before I could say anything, Mom, Dad, and Katie came out of the house. My parents carried an enormous chocolate cake. Katie led me to a table and pulled out a chair. I sat and then they placed it in front of me. Thick curls of chocolate covered the cake and I had to restrain myself from peeling off a piece.

  “It’s gorgeous,” I said.

  As Dad lit the candles, Dominic grabbed his guitar and said, “And now, please join us in singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Jessica.” They sang and then I made a wish, one from my heart, and blew out the candles.

  “Seriously, thank you all for celebrating my birthday with me,” I said.

  “Cut the cake!” Andy yelled. Everyone laughed.

  But before I could, there was the strum of a guitar and then Dominic was singing again. The song was “For You” by Duncan Sheik. He walked to where I sat and stood in front of me a few feet away. It felt like there was no one else there. This time I knew he was singing to me and me alone.

  I was a sucker for a boy with a guitar, especially this particular boy. When the song ended, I thought he’d say something, maybe even kiss me in front of all those people, but instead he turned and walked away.

  I was still sitting there, stunned, when Eva came up and asked, “What do you make of that?”

  “I have no idea,” I said. “I wish he could make up his mind.”

  “Easier said than done,” she murmured.

  “That’s not comforting,” I told her.

  “It’s not meant to be,” she said. But she gave my shoulder a squeeze as she said it.

  The band exited after Dominic, then Connor ran up to the stage with a guitar in hand. “I’d like to sing something for Jessica’s birthday,” he said. He clipped on his guitar and said, “Check, check.”

  Connor dragged a chair to the stage and sat, fiddling with the straps of his guitar nervously. He took a deep breath and then strummed the first chord. The whole crowd went silent when he started to sing.

  Selena and Harmony both pushed their way to the front. I struggled to identify the song Connor sang, but I couldn’t place it. The emotion in his voice gave me chills, though. He looked right at me as he sang and I couldn’t look away.

  The song ended and everyone applauded, but Connor was still staring at me. I had to admit I kind of liked the attention.

  “Didn’t I tell you?” I overheard Teddie say to Mr. Peverell.

  “You certainly didn’t exaggerate the raw talent pool,” he said.

  My family helped me pass out slices of the cake. It had coconut filling and melt-in-your-mouth chocolate frosting. I handed two pieces to Daisy.

  “The other one’s for Ryan,” I said, then blushed when she smiled at me.

  “That’s very considerate of you,” she replied.

  “Can I ask you something?” I couldn’t look at her as I said it.

  “Ask away.”

  “It’s kind of personal,” I said. “About you and Ryan.”

  “Go on,” she said, but more cautiously.

  “Were you two always in love?” I asked. “I mean—oh, that didn’t come out right.”

  “I think I know what you’re trying to say,” she said gently. “And Ryan and I were friends for a long time before we became anything else. Sometimes, you need to be friends first.”

  I finally put my head up and saw that she was looking at Dominic. I couldn’t believe I had just asked advice from a psychic. I wondered what thoughts of mine she’d picked up.“Thanks, Daisy.”

  “And Jessica,” she said, “just give him some time, okay?”

  “Okay.” Her reply answered my question. She had picked up on something with her psychic powers, but it turned out it didn’t bug me that Daisy knew exactly what I was feeling.

  Dominic was sitting with Katie. My baby sister’s hair was in wild curls around her face and there was a streak of frosting on her cheek, but she ate her cake contentedly next to him. He looked more at ease than he had all night.

  I picked up his empty plate and a few others and took them inside. I was loading plates into the dishwasher when Dominic walked into the kitchen.

  “I thought I might find you in here,” he said.

  “Here I am,” I said. It was the first time we’d spoken all night.

  “I wanted to give you your birthday present,” he said.

  “I thought the song was my present,” I said. “Or was that a prediction?”

  “Not a prediction,” he replied. “Wishful thinking maybe.”

  “Does it have to be?” I asked. “Why can’t we . . . I mean, in the fall you said you wanted to try . . .” I didn’t know what else to say. He’d made it pretty clear that he didn’t want to go out with me, at least not anymore.

  “I did,” he said. “I do. It’s just that I can’t.”

  I gulped. “I understand.”

  “Your arm is much better,” he said.

  My arm? For a second, I couldn’t even remember what he was talking about, but then it came to me. That chupacabra bite had messed up my arm pretty good. I hadn’t been able to play my guitar for several weeks afterwards.

  Dominic had started to pull away almost as soon as the stitches were out.

  He looked lost for a moment, then remembered why he had come to the kitchen. “Wait here.”

  He stepped out and came back with a large rectangular package.

  I just stared at it. “You didn’t have to.”

  “Open it,” he coaxed. “I wanted you to see it when we were alone.”

  The package had been beautifully wrapped. I put a finger under one taped edge and tugged gently.

  Inside was a case containing the purple Fender Stratocaster. I gasped and took it out carefully. “I thought Selena bought this,” I said.

  He laughed. “She wanted to, but I convinced her that another guitar there would match one of her other outfits better.”

  I couldn’t take my eyes off the instrument. It was gorgeous and it was mine. “Dominic, it’s too much. Thank you.”

  But when I looked up, he was gone.

  Chapter Seven

  I didn’t have a chance to tell Eva about it until the next day.

  “You mean he gave you an expensive guitar and then just left without saying anything else?” Eva asked.

  I’d invited her to come over to my house to see the guitar, but really, I wanted my best friend’s advice.

  I nodded.

  “He and Connor were giving each other dirty looks all night,” Eva said. “And then that musical showdown.”

  “Musical showdown?”

  “You have to realize that they were both singing about you,” she said. “To you.”

  “I didn’t recognize the song Connor sang,” I admitted.

  She snorted. “It was ‘Fall for You.’” At my blank look, she added, “By Secondhand Serenade? No, nothing? Jessica, you really need to expand your playlist. That song is pretty romantic.”

  “Who has time?” I asked. “Romantic, huh?”

  “Very,” she said. “Now what are you going to do about it?”

  “Nothing,” I finally said. “I had my chance with Connor and I chose not to take it.”

  “Things change,” she said. “He doesn’t seem to be holding a grudge.”
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  “It’s complicated.”

  “That’s what’s great about it,” she said.

  “Only if you’re on the outside looking in,” I replied. “Otherwise, it’s just confusing.”

  “We’re teenagers. We’re supposed to be confused,” Eva said. “In the meantime, let’s do something.”

  “What do you have in mind?”

  She bounced up and down on the bed. “I don’t know,” she said. “Matinee?”

  “There’s nothing good out.”

  Eva’s eyes lit up. “Want to go shopping?”

  “That’s a great idea. I got tons of gift cards for my birthday. But how are we going to get there?” I asked. It was doubtful Mom would have the time to take us.

  “Bethany?” Eva suggested halfheartedly. Bethany was Eva’s older sister.

  “Nah,” we said at once.

  My phone rang. “What are you doing right now?” Andy asked me. My fellow virago was always blunt and didn’t always bother with greetings.

  “Not much,” I admitted. “Eva and I were talking about going to the mall.”

  “I’ll pick you guys up in ten minutes,” she said, and then hung up.

  I stared at the phone. “We have a ride,” I said. “I just need to ask Mom.”

  My mother was surprisingly agreeable, which I didn’t get until she said, “Can you return these for me? Katie’s feet have grown again and they don’t fit her. I’m going to have to take her in, but I don’t have time right now.” Mom handed me a pair of shoes from Nordstrom and a receipt.

  She kept a list of all our sizes and often bought something and made all the girls try it on until she found someone it fit, but Katie was the youngest. Hand-me-downs were completely worn out by the time they reached her, so she usually got something new.

  “Do you need any money?”

  “No, thanks.”

  Andy honked her horn and Eva and I dashed outside. She was in the driver’s seat of an older Mercedes four-door. “New car?” I asked.

  “Dad’s,” Andy said. “He hardly ever lets me drive it. But he’s thinking about giving me his old one.”

  “Nice,” I said. Sometimes I envied Andy being an only child. A little privacy once in a while might be a pleasant change.

  “I’m glad you guys wanted to come,” Andy replied. “Selena was busy.”