I turned toward Sam. He was watching me. “Guess I’ll go put this gift inside.”
He took my hand and deftly steered us through the crowd. By the time we made it to the gift table I was shaking inside. “Everyone is staring,” I said, feeling silly and self-conscious.
“It’s because you look so beautiful.”
I snorted. It was very unladylike. I gasped and brought my hand up to cover my mouth.
Sam laughed. “You’re so cute.”
I put the gift on the table and then turned to look out the huge glass doors at the crowd.
“This is a nice place,” Sam said into my ear from behind. He was standing super close, and I knew all I had to do was lean back, just slightly, to be surrounded by the warmth that emanated from him.
“It’s beautiful.” Past the multi-tiered deck and across the grass-covered lawn, the trees seemed to part just for the gorgeous view of the rippling lake. Evening was falling, and the sky was streaked with pink. Soon the sun would slide beneath the water, and we would be blanketed by night.
“So where are the marshmallows?” Sam asked.
I giggled and pointed through the glass toward the lower deck. “There’s a huge stone fireplace down there.”
“Come on,” he said, grabbing my hand and leading me out into the music and crowd.
Not many people were gathered around the fireplace, which was a relief. Sam grabbed a bag of marshmallows off the coffee table and a long stick and sat close to the flames. He patted the bench beside him.
“I guess everyone’s where the spiked punch is,” I said almost to myself.
Sam shrugged and pulled a flaming marshmallow out of the fire. “I like them crispy.”
“Ewww,” I said, batting it away. “I like them lightly brown.”
He shoved his into his mouth and grinned.
“Be careful! That had to be a hundred degrees!” I waited for him to scream. Surely he was burned.
“Taste’s good,” he said, licking his fingers. Talk about a distraction. How in the world could he stand his food so hot? It made me remember that day in home-ec when he shoved the fresh from the oven pizza right into his mouth. Just like tonight, he hadn’t even blinked at the extreme temperature of the food.
Next thing I knew there was a perfect, lightly-brown marshmallow in front of me. I grinned. “For me?”
“I wouldn’t eat that undercooked thing.” He said, screwing up his face into a grimace.
I laughed and accepted the treat. I took a bite, and it was good. Crispy on the outside but warm and gooey inside. “Mmmm.”
“You’ve got it all over your lips now.” He grinned. “You’re supposed to eat it all in one bite. Less messy.”
I made a face and started wiping at my mouth with my fingers. He grabbed them and leaned in, his lips doing a far better job of getting the candy. “Much better,” he said, pulling back.
I caught movement out the corner of my eye and looked over. Amber and a few other cheerleaders were standing there with their mouths hanging open. I blushed.
“Marshmallow anyone?” Sam smiled, holding out the bag.
I held my breath. They were going to run off. No one wanted to hang with the disfigured girl anymore.
“Only if it’s extra crispy!” Amber said, sitting near me and grabbing a stick. All the other girls did the same.
“Ah, a woman who knows how to cook them. Hev likes hers browned.”
Amber laughed. “I know.” She turned toward me. “Remember that insane campout we had last spring?”
I laughed. “That was a crazy weekend.”
“Totally,” Amber agreed, looking at Sam. “We decided to go hiking, and we got lost.”
Everyone laughed at the memory, and Sam smiled, the corners around his eyes crinkling. I grabbed his hand, lacing our fingers. “When we finally made it back to camp, it was dark.”
“And there was a bear ransacking our campsite.”
“It was eating everything it could find!” one of the girls laughed.
Sam didn’t laugh, he stiffened. “Did it attack you?”
I squeezed his fingers. “No. It left when all the food was gone.”
He relaxed and smiled.
“Yeah, and then we had to spend the rest of the night trying to set up the bent tent and cleaning up the mess,” Amber exclaimed.
“Some weekend,” Sam said, smiling. The firelight cast a beautiful glow across his face.
“That wasn’t even the half of it.” Amber grinned. “But I’ll never tell…”
We all laughed. I could hardly believe that I was sitting at a huge party with a cute guy holding my hand and the friends I thought I’d lost all around me, laughing.
Maybe this night wouldn’t be as bad as I thought.
Chapter Twelve
Heven
“I see you’re having a good time,” Kimber said, sliding beside me.
“Actually I am. You throw a good party, friend.”
“It’s a talent.” She sighed, taking a sip of her drink. By the way she was swaying, I would say it was spiked.
“Where’s Cole?”
“Getting some food. He thinks I need some.” She took another sip and giggled.
“We were just thinking of getting some food, too.”
Kimber looked past me to Sam. “Looking good.”
Sam smiled. “How much punch have you had, Kimber?”
“Just a few.”
Cole walked up behind us with a huge plate of food. “Here, Kimmie. Eat.”
She laughed. He looked at me and rolled his eyes.
I grinned. “Hey, Cole.”
“Birthday girl’s had too much sauce.”
Kimber laughed.
“We’re going to get some food,” I told them.
“Oooh, meet me on the dance floor!” Kimber said.
“Sure, Kimber.” I agreed, hoping she’d forget.
Unfortunately, she didn’t.
Couples were dancing on the grass beneath white lights that glittered in the trees. Kimber managed to drag Sam and me, along with several others, onto the dance floor with her. I tried to stay as close to the edge of trees as possible. Sam and I moved enough to make it look like we were trying to dance. I think Sam hated dancing more than me, which was a little surprising. He moved so gracefully all the time, and he always seemed so comfortable in his skin that I figured he’d be a natural. Instead, he was tense and almost nervous, his hazel eyes scanning the trees and the shore of the lake. If he wasn’t sticking so close by I would think he was embarrassed to be dancing with me – the girl with no rhythm.
Finally, a slow song came on, and I thought we would make our escape, but Sam towed me out into the crowd and wrapped his arms around me. This kind of dancing was really good. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, Sam relaxing right along with me. We moved with each other to the music, and I hoped the song would never end.
Then the power went out.
The music stopped playing and all the lights went out. I didn’t realize how dark it would be without any lights. Sam stiffened and tightened his arms around me. People around us screeched and laughed. Some of the guys made ghostly sounds.
Then a wolf howled.
It sounded way too real for it to be a drunken guy. People around us started whispering nervously.
Sam tucked my head further into his chest, and I could feel his heart hammering away. He leaned in to whisper, “Let’s make our way toward the house. Don’t let go of me.”
I nodded.
“Do you have your whistle?” he asked.
Panic bubbled up in my chest. Did he think that some wild animal was going to take advantage of the dark and start attacking people? What if it was the same animal from the other night? I reached under my shirt and palmed the whistle.
“Sam?”
His muscles were bunching and rippling beneath his skin in a way that I never knew was possible. I tried to take comfort in the fact that he was clearly ripped.
&
nbsp; Before I could truly start freaking out the lights came back on. Kimber’s dad was on the upper deck and yelled down at the crowd. “Sorry! The breaker blew!”
Everyone cheered, and the DJ started up another slow song. I wondered when my heart would return to normal. Sam titled my head back and stared into my face. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Are you?”
He nodded and pulled me close again. Seconds later he pulled back. “I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” I asked, alarmed.
“The bathroom,” he called and ran toward the edge of the dance floor. Instead of turning toward the house, he disappeared into the trees.
Where was he going? Last time I checked, the bathroom was not in the woods. I was about to follow when someone caught my hand. I turned, ready to yell, when I saw who it was. “Brice.”
“I thought he’d never leave you alone.” He smiled.
That smile used to make my palms sweat. Before. We were practically an item last summer. Then I was attacked, scarred, and emotionally wrecked. Brice had come to visit me in the hospital once. He’d taken one look at my face and hadn’t talked to me since.
“Who? Sam?” I stuttered.
“Dance with me,” he said, flashing a smile and blinding me with his dimples. I let him sweep me forward because I was so shocked.
“You want to dance with me?” I asked. He was holding me a little too close so I eased back, creating some distance.
“Haven’t seen you around much this year,” he said.
“I’ve been busy.”
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered, leaning in.
“You have?”
He nodded. “It’s good to see you out, having fun. Like old times. Remember?”
Was he hitting on me?
“I heard you were going to take Jenna’s place on the cheer squad next year as team captain.”
Ahh, he thought I was going to be popular again. I stepped back, cutting off our dance. “I need to go find Sam.”
“Let him go. We had something good last year.”
“Maybe,” I said, wetting my lips. “But that was before you came to the hospital and were disgusted by my face.” Where had that come from?
His blue eyes widened, and he shoved a hand through his perfect blond hair. “I wasn’t, I’m not…”
“It’s okay, Brice. Really. I’m with Sam now.”
“You’re going to blow me off?” He seemed incredulous. “For the new guy?”
I noticed that people around us were staring. This was going to be all over school tomorrow.
I tried to think of something to say that wouldn’t embarrass him. Or me. A deep hard voice answered for me. “You heard her. She’s with me now.”
Sam stepped around me to face Brice. They measured each other for long moments, and I held my breath. Then Brice smiled. “Hey, man. That’s cool. Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
He walked away.
When he was gone everyone turned toward Sam and me. Kimber came through the crowd. “The DJ’s giving away free stuff at his booth!” she announced.
That took all of the attention away from us. I let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you,” I told her.
“You looked like you needed some help.”
I turned questioning eyes to Sam. “I thought you were going to the bathroom.”
“I did,” he answered vaguely, his eyes darted through the crowd to land on Brice again. I wasn’t worried about Brice. He was an idiot.
I grabbed his hand. “You went into the woods, Sam. You didn’t go to the house.”
Beside me Kimber burst out laughing. “Guys pee all over the place, Heven.”
Sam laughed and looked down at me, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
“I guess they do.” I laughed, feeling silly. What else would he go in the woods to do? All the excitement lately has been going to my head; I’m seeing danger in my boyfriend peeing in the woods, what next?
Some guy walked by carrying a tray full of drinks. The cups were so full they splashed over the sides as he danced. “Oooh! I need one of those.” Kimber said and went off to grab one.
Sam touched my fingers. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah. I guess that blackout just made me a little nervous.”
Sam wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “You’re safe.”
I shifted and rose up on tiptoes to brush a kiss over his lips. He always made me feel so much better. He made a low growl in his throat as he deepened the kiss. I laughed against his lips.
“Break it up you two.” Kimber exclaimed. Sam pulled back but swiftly came back to press a quick kiss to my lips.
I giggled. Kimber reached out and wrapped her arm through mine. “Let’s take a walk.”
“Sam and I were dancing,” I protested.
“Oh, please. You managed to find the only person on this planet as bad at dancing as you are.” Kimber said. “Besides we haven’t had any girl time.” As she towed me away I looked back over my shoulder. Sam was standing in the crowd with a frown on his face. I smiled and blew him a kiss. His lips titled up.
Beside me Kimber slurped her drink. “Maybe you should take it easy on those,” I said, eyeing the cup.
“It’s my birthday.”
For the first time I noticed that she was towing me toward the lake. At the water’s edge she stepped onto the dock. “Kimber, this is far enough.”
“Oh, come on, the stars are beautiful over the water.”
Fear licked into my belly, and I turned back to look for Sam. He wasn’t far behind us, someone had stopped him to talk, and he was smiling.
“Oh, come on, Heven. Don’t be such a baby.” Kimber said a hint of annoyance in her voice.
Maybe it shouldn’t have, but her comment stung. I knew she was half-drunk, and I knew that she was probably kidding, but she hit a soft spot. I was scared a lot. I was always looking over my shoulder, and I was always seeking out reassurance from Sam. I did act like a baby. But, I didn’t want to. Bravely, I stepped up on the dock, ignoring the shivers of fear that ran up my back. I looked up at the stars and realized that Kimber was right. They were beautiful. When we stopped I realized we were almost to the end and the lake stretched before us. My nerves, not long forgotten, returned. “Let’s go back now.”
She didn’t respond, and I looked over at her. She was drinking her punch and looking out across the water. “What did Brice want?”
I rolled my eyes. “To get back together.”
She turned and stared at me.
“He somehow got it in his head that I would be back on the squad next year and be team captain. He’s only interested in popularity.”
“Sam and Brice.”
“What?”
“You have two hot guys after you.”
“C’mon Kimber. You know how Brice is. Sam and I are together.”
“Soon you’ll be back on the squad, head cheerleader.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want that anymore.”
She snorted and rolled her eyes. “Get real. I saw you earlier with the girls. Giggling, laughing – just like old times. Everyone just loves Heven, even my own boyfriend. ”
I drew back in shock. She seemed angry that I was having a fun time tonight. “We were just reminiscing, telling Sam about that campout last year.”
“They just ate up your words. This is my party. My night.” She pointed to herself as she spoke.
“I wasn’t trying to take anything from you.” I said, still trying to understand what her problem was. How drunk was she?
“You never mean to take anything – but somehow you are always the one who has it all.”
“Kimber–” I started but she ignored me and plowed on with her words.
“Before your accident everything was always all about you. No one ever saw me. I was always in your shadow. But then you started hiding and everyone started to see me.” She looked over at me, her eyes spearing me through the dark. “Now you
’re trying to take what I finally have.”
“Kimber, I had no idea that you felt this way – I …” My words trailed away when she pulled her shirt over her head and kicked off her shoes.
“What are you doing?” I asked nervously.
“Doing what you’re too chicken to do.” With that she dove off the deck and into the dark water.
“ Kimber!” I yelled after her. Was she insane? That water had to be freezing! And she was half-naked.
I waited a few beats, but she never came back up.
“Kimber!” I yelled again. “This isn’t funny.”
My stomach began cramping. What if she’d hit her head? What if she was too drunk to swim? I looked across the water, praying she would pop up and laugh.
She didn’t.
I itched to jump in after her, but I couldn’t. She knew I couldn’t. Terrified of the water from a young age, I’d never learned how to swim.
I wondered if my stupid fear would get my best friend killed.
Frantic now, I turned to yell for help. I knew Sam was close by. Just as I was about to yell, a group of guys ran by without their shirts.
“Skinny dipping!” one yelled and they all began jumping.
I tried to step back, to hurry out of their way. But the dock was narrow and there wasn’t anywhere else to go.
Except down.
I slipped right off the dock and plunged down into the dark water.
I struggled, trying to find my way to the surface, but everywhere I turned there was water. I couldn’t see anything, and it was so cold. Panic seized me, and I felt as if a giant hand reached out and squeezed my lungs. My chest burned as I struggled to figure out which way was up. I forced my eyes opened searching for light, but there wasn’t any. Only darkness. I felt something brush against me, and I reached out, hoping that Kimber had seen me fall and was trying to help. My hand closed over something soft. Something furry. I let out a scream, bubbles filling my vision. The next thing I knew I was being tugged down, toward the empty bottom of the lake. My body spun into action, kicking out, trying to get away. I looked down trying to see what had me but strands of my hair covered my face and I pushed at them all the while kicking. When I realized that my kicks weren’t strong enough I let go of my hair and started punching. I felt a surge of satisfaction when my fist connected with something solid.
Masquerade Page 14
