by Julia Gray
“Dane, your parents will be looking for you.”
“Let them look.” His arms clutch me tight. My phone vibrates in my pocket.
“That’ll be Aunt Scarlett wondering where I am.” I hesitate to leave. I hate it when the two of us are apart. Without him, I go back to being just Mikki.
“Alright,” he says, disappointed. His broad shoulders tower over me. “Tomorrow . . . we’ll spend the entire day together.” Tingles in my chest almost lift me from the sidewalk. A branch begins to rustle in the night breeze, and the once orange sky is now almost black.
“Deal,” I whisper. It takes everything in me to turn around and run back to our tiny apartment. My footsteps are quiet on the pavement. I try to steady my rapid heartbeat, but it’s no use. My muscles feel tight, and my palms are sweating. I’m still asking myself why me? Out of all the girls on the east coast, Dane chose plain old Mikki Copelun from Seaside, Oregon.
* * *
“Mikki!” Scar is waiting outside with the trunk open. “There you are. Come help me load the car.” My throat tightens. I didn’t tell Dane about his surprise party or that I’ll be there playing servant girl.
“Sorry,” I mumble, keeping my head down. I pick up a box and hand it to her. The back seat smells like seafood.
“The last box is inside,” she hurriedly instructs. “And don’t forget your apron.” I roll my eyes, dragging my feet back to the kitchen.
The sound of a blazing siren shocks my entire body. My arms have goose bumps, and I immediately jerk around to see an ambulance speed past our complex and down the street. Scarlett stops what she’s doing and raises an eyebrow.
Please don’t turn left. Please don’t turn left.
The ambulance turns left.
“Whoa,” Scar exhales. “That scared me. I nearly dropped half the menu.” I stare down the street until I can’t hear the wailing. “Mikki? The box?”
“That ambulance looked like it was headed for the Haskells.”
She turns her head and follows my gaze.
“Don’t be silly,” she chuckles. “It could be going anywhere.”
“I’m serious.”
“You’re paranoid,” she says even louder. “Now hop to it.” My fingers fidget as I jog into the kitchen and grab the last box. I'm not paranoid. I’m just a concerned girlfriend. Okay, I'm a concerned secret girlfriend but what’s wrong with being worried when you see an ambulance headed down your boyfriend’s street?
Boyfriend. It will be nice to say that out loud someday.
I wait eagerly as Aunt Scarlett drives in the same direction as the ambulance. I rub my sweaty palms as we turn a corner and see flashing lights. I hate it when I’m right.
My chest sinks. Aunt Scarlett jumps out of her car and runs up the winding driveway. Dane lives in one of the largest houses in Seaside. House? I guess it is more of an estate with a backyard facing the ocean and a private beach. The windows are illuminated with twinkling lights, and the sound of music is faint on the porch.
“What’s going on?” Her hands cover her face as Mr. Haskell is rolled out on a stretcher. The police lights start hurting my eyes. I search the crowd for Dane. “Matt,” Scarlett gasps.
“I’m alright,” he manages to say as the paramedics lift him into the ambulance.
“What happened?”
“Just an accident. No big deal.”
Mrs. Haskell pushes her way through the crowd just to stare daggers at Aunt Scar. Like mother like daughter. Mrs. Haskell looks tall and thin in her champagne cocktail dress. Ruby heels costing more than our month’s rent grace the soles of her feet and her long, blonde hair is curled to perfection.
“I’m so sorry,” Scarlett replies. The ambulance door slams and the sirens ring through my eardrums.
“Well,” Mrs. Haskell says, looking at the wrinkled apron around Aunt Scarlett's waist. “I guess we won’t be needing your services after all.” Her smug look makes Scarlett frown. She glimpses in my direction. “Good night, ladies.”
Paige pokes her head out the front door. One look at me and a mischievous smirk spreads across her face. She folds her arms. Her party dress looks similar to her mother’s. Sparkling diamonds hang from her ears.
“Do you want to come in?” Paige smiles. My stomach churns. No. But I’m desperate to see Dane and to know that he’s okay. I feel Scarlett staring.
“Well,” Scarlett whispers. She’s grinning. “Go on.”
“Are you serious?” I reply.
Paige shrugs.
“On second thought,” Paige does a once-over of my serving uniform. “Don’t come in. You wouldn’t want anyone seeing you like that.”
I look down at my outfit. I don’t own anything nearly as glamorous as what she’s wearing. Paige tilts her head and raises an eyebrow before joining her friends back inside.
“Scarlett,” I sigh. “I’m sorry we lost the gig.”
“Don’t stress it.” She clutches her stomach as she walks back to the car. “I should’ve known the Mrs. would pull a stunt like that.”
“But Mr. Haskell-”
“I know,” she continues. “Hopefully he is fine. So . . . the party.” She pauses.
“Don’t even go there.” I hop into the passenger’s seat.
“What? It might be fun?”
“I thought you said the Haskells were a bunch of selfish liars?”
“There will be other people there,” she answers. “And when was the last time you were invited to a party like this?” How about never. “I do sort of owe you.”
“No. I have nothing to wear.”
“Borrow something of mine.” She starts the car, shaking her head. “What the hell am I going to do with all this food? Matt better still plan on paying me. We can’t afford to let this stuff go to waste.” I put my seatbelt on and stare out the window. “At least you have your Friday night back to do whatever it is you were going to do.”
“Homework,” I lie. “Oh and there’s something I need to tell you. I got that summer internship.” Scarlett nods. “I know that means I won’t be around as much but it’ll help me get a job when I graduate.”
“Don’t worry,” she responds. “I’ll find a way to manage without you.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I eagerly pull it out and take a deep breath when I see Dane’s name on the screen.
“Who is it?”
“Oh,” I gulp. “Uh, Zanna.” My eyes skim over his message. My chest is starting to tighten again. I quickly read Dane's text.
Our spot. One hour.
DANE
Chapter Four
“If you don’t tell him . . . then I will.”
“Out robbing another cradle are we?” Andrew chuckles. I keep typing on my laptop, ignoring his pathetic ploy to get me to yell at him some more. He’s the world’s worst roommate, and his mouth is as big as my sister’s. “What no comeback today?”
“She’s eighteen.”
“Barely,” he laughs again. I feel something stir deep in my chest. I stare at my computer. I see him smirk and walk closer. He flexes his biceps like something intimidating is there. I roll my eyes. I have to get out of here. I need to see Mikki.
“Whatever,” I mumble. “Just leave me alone.”
“I’ll do what I want . . .” his hand hits the back of my laptop and slams it shut. I jerk my fingers away just in time. “. . . when I want. You got that?” His smirk is even wider as he laughs and leaves our dorm. I put up with him all semester, and all I got for it was two written warnings and a threatened suspension. I remember the words of the Dean’s Assistant like it happened yesterday. Your dresser isn’t an alcohol storage unit. It wasn’t mine it was all Andrew’s. And the pot was Andrew’s too.
What am I still doing here? I can’t concentrate. I’m sucking at all my classes. I can’t get Mikki out my head. I can’t not think about her. It’s like I need to get my fix. I close my eyes and think of home, but the thought soon makes my stomach queasy. When I go back, I’ll have to te
ll her.
My chest stirs again. Just do it, Dane. Do it and go home.
Most nights I don’t sleep. When the sky is black, and my dorm is engulfed in silence, my mind is awake. What am I going to do? Dad’s already ashamed of me. He probably wishes he could trade me in for another kid. I can tell by the way he keeps his head up and calls me son. He uses the same tone of voice as the time I fell riding my skateboard and screwed up my knee right before that college scout came to soccer practice.
He’s going to give me hell if I do this. If he finds out.
I stand up letting a rush of pure anger boil inside me. It runs through my torso and branches down to my fists, allowing adrenaline to pump through me. I feel my face getting hotter, my forehead getting sweaty, and my jaw clenching. I run down the hall, hearing my footsteps pound in my ears.
I run past a group of students and burst through the door into the chilly breeze. Andrew is laughing with his lame ass friends. The ones that think Pluto is just a cheesy cartoon character. The closer I get the better it feels. Andrew turns around with a stupid grin on his face. He has no idea what’s coming.
“Sup Assface, back for more-”
My arm is on fire as it cuts through the air, targeting the side of Andrew’s face. It plays in front of me in slow motion, and I don’t regret a single part. My knuckles collide with his jaw. I hear the gurgling of the fluids in his mouth. My fingers feel the ridges of his teeth. His head turns, and his body goes with it. He falls to the pavement. His mouth, now hanging open, blurts out a whimpering gulp.
I look down at the cut on my hand. Andrew's posse stares, speechless. The turmoil in my chest starts to die as if satisfied for the time being. Andrew looks up at me. You did it. Now get the hell out.
I’m going home. Home to her and I’m not coming back. I rub a patch of stubble and let myself laugh. Andrew is wide-eyed and struggling to make sense of it. I glance at his loser friends.
“Later.”
I walk away with a smile permanently ingrained on my face. I’m going to be suspended after this, but I feel relieved. Maybe I’ll join Paige at Seaside Community College. I rub my bruised knuckles. The adrenaline is still pulsing through me, and I start jogging. A voice in my head tries to break into my thoughts, but I push it away.
But the voice echoes through my head, and I can’t get rid of it. You have to tell her. The longer I wait, the worse it will be. I can’t keep this secret from her anymore.
I have to tell Mikki.
* * *
I walk down the street, my chest beating like an MMA fighter pounding into a punching bag. I couldn’t do it. I saw Mikki, and immediately my entire self was hooked. My secret lingered in the back of my head when I kissed her. I still couldn’t tell her. She’d hate me, and I can’t lose her.
I brace myself as my house comes into view. Paige is going to give me an earful and Dad is going to start the night off with an in-depth interrogation. Experience has taught me to answer with silence. Dad hates that. But he’ll hate me, even more, when I tell him I’m not going back to school next semester.
A shoulder bumps against mine like a brick smacking cement. The hooded moron keeps walking, now picking up his pace.
“Seriously, Man?” I throw my arms up in the air but keep walking the other direction. He’s not worth the energy. I approach the front door but and see blinking lights through the bay windows. Paige got her way again. Mom let her plan me a surprise party. I drag my feet and end up sneaking through the side gate to the back door. If I have to sit through a night pretending to be amused at least, I can ruin the “surprise” part. The backyard is dark. I stay close to the shadows and pull the house keys out from my pocket.
I unlock the door and see Dad on the floor in his study. It’s an unusual sight to see him flinching with pain.
“Son?”
My fists clench tight, and the stirring in my chest starts up again. Dad's weathered face grimaces as he grabs his leg. He’s covering the wound.
“Dad?” I gasp. “What-”
“Matt?” Mom bursts through the dining room doors. “Someone call an ambulance!” Dad shakes his head as she kneels by his side, covering her mouth when she sees the stream of blood leaking onto the carpet.
“I’m alright darling,” he reassures her. “I can handle it. Don't call an ambulance.”
“Handle it?” she protests. She stands placing her hands on her hips. “This doesn’t look like handling things to me. I mean, just look at the mess you’re making on my brand new designer rug.”
Dad glares at her.
Paige walks in behind Mom with a phone in her hand. She covers her mouth, then turns to keep her party guests out of the way. I hear sirens down the street and Dad shakes his head.
“You said-”
“I know what I said,” Dad mumbles. He shoots Mom a harsh look. She lifts her chin.
“We’ll discuss this later,” she mumbles. She looks up at me with a scowl on her face. Man, she looks exactly like Paige sometimes. Psycho stare and all. “And you . . . you’re late.”
“I ran into some traffic,” I lie. The sirens grow louder. “Hmmm.” She tosses her hair over her shoulder and returns to her whispering guests.
The sirens are coming from the driveway now. A team of paramedics enter the room. Dad looks up at me. He holds my attention with an intense stare.
“You and I have business to discuss,” he says in a low voice. “Remember that.” I nod in agreement.
“Sir,” I gulp. The team of paramedics start checking his vitals as they move him onto a stretcher. Dad makes a face when they touch the wound on his leg, but he doesn’t make a sound. Not even a quiet yelp. He holds his stare as they roll him away. The hairs on the back of my neck stick straight up.
“Where were you?” Paige chastises. I barely realized she’d been standing right behind me the whole time. She tightens her jaw and smacks the side of my shoulder.
“Like I told Mom.” I roll my eyes. “Traffic. And I said I didn’t want a homecoming party. What part of that didn’t you understand?”
“You were supposed to be here,” she says through her teeth. “None of this would have happened if you’d have come straight here.”
“Don’t blame any of this on me,” I reply. “I don’t even know what happened to Dad.” I clear my throat, afraid to ask. “What did happen?”
She shrugs.
“I don’t know,” Paige snaps. “I was somewhere else entertaining your guests. I even invited-”
“No Paige, you didn’t.”
“Someone had to,” she mutters with a pleased look on her face. “Now stop embarrassing yourself and come to your party.”
“No,” I laugh. “I just traveled halfway across the country. I’m not going to waste the rest of my night in a room full of your idiotic friends.” I twirl my house keys and head for my bedroom. I grin, hearing the sound of Paige’s heels stomp against the hardwood floor.
“This is all your fault you know,” she continues. “Mom and Dad have been fighting for weeks. And what a surprise! They’ve been arguing about you.”
“What else is new?” I keep my back towards her.
“You just had to run off and leave me here to rot.” These are just mind games. This is Paige's way of messing with people to get what she wants. That won’t work on me. “Dane!” She stomps her heel again. “You were supposed to be here. I needed you.”
“Sorry, your little plans didn’t work out,” I respond. I’m almost out of earshot. I hear Paige follow me. I take a deep breath. She isn’t going to give it a rest, even with Dad on his way to the hospital. Spoiled brat. “I’m going to take a shower, and then I’m going to see Dad.”
“You were with her weren’t you?” Her accusation frustrates me. I stop and turn around. Her eyes are bulging, and her cheeks are the color of her red lipstick.
“What?”
“You heard me,” she says quietly. “You were with that girl. Mikki.” I try not to make a face when Paige s
ays her name but my entire body freezes. I’ve given too much away. Her angry glare turns to a smirk when she realizes she has reeled me in.
“How did you-”
“Oh come one, I’m not a complete moron. I’ve known for a while.”
“Who told you?” I demand.
She chuckles.
“No one. It was obvious.”
I take another deep breath and clench my jaw.
“Dad’s going to figure it out eventually,” she goes on. “If he hasn’t already.”
“What do you want?” I ask. She played her cards. Now she is going to name her price.
“I want you to tell Dad.”
“No.”
“If you don’t tell him . . . then I will.”
“No, you won’t.” I keep a straight face, holding in the frustration boiling inside me. I can’t let her get to me. All she wants is to see me upset. “If you tell Dad, I’ll tell Mom you’ve been skipping your sessions with Dr. Caldwell." She bites the corner of her cheek and folds her arms.
“Fine.” She runs her tongue over teeth. “Have it your way.”
Chapter Five
“Let’s run away.”
My dad sits quietly on a hospital bed watching the nurse stitch his skin together. His expression barely changes. I look down at my phone. I sent a text to Mikki on my way here telling her to meet me at our spot.
“You were late,” Dad mutters as the nurse nods and leaves the room.
“What happened to you, Dad?”
“Exactly forty-three minutes late,” Dad continues. “You made an unscheduled stop didn’t you?”
“You’re worse than Paige.”
“Your sister went to great lengths to plan you that homecoming party,” he scolds. “The least you could have done was show up on time.”
“Really? You’re going to lecture me right now?” I stare down at the bandage on his calf. “Your leg was sliced open, and all you want to talk about is how I was a few minutes late coming home?” He scowls. “Dad, what the hell happened to you?”
