Saving Zoe

by Alyson Noel

  a vacant, numb, pill-popping mom and an absentee dad, and to have the whole town point and whisper whenever you

  go by. They'll never know the pain of hearing the exact same people who left angels and cards for my sister's

  memorial, gossiping behind her back, slandering her character, and acting like she somehow deserved it.

  But I do know what it's like to live like that. And that's why I'll never be able to blend. I'll never be able to care

  about pep club or which jeans to wear to a party or who will ask me to a dance.

  I'm a freak. There's just no getting around it. And even though it wasn't by choice, now that it's a fact I have to

  find a way to live with it. And hanging with Abby and Jenay and all of their "normalness" only emphasizes my

  "weirdness." So I need to find a place where I won't always feel so strange and obtrusive. I need to be with someone

  who's a lot more like me.

  "Hey," I say, sliding onto the bench next to Marc and tapping him on the shoulder, since he's wearing

  earphones with his eyes closed, which means he can't hear or see me.

  He opens his eyes and smiles, then scoots over to give me more space.

  And when he removes his earpiece I say, "Is it okay if I sit here with you?" I tear into a bag of chips, then thrust

  it toward him, offering him first pick.

  "What about your friends?" he asks, looking at me intently, his deep dark eyes traveling over my face.

  But I just shrug. "I thought you were my friend."

  He looks at me for a moment, then nods and inserts his earpiece.

  And I eat my lunch while he listens to music. And even though it may look strange on the outside, on the inside,

  where it really counts, I'm finally at peace.

  Abby and Jenay were so freaked about lunch, the whole way home it's pretty much all they talk about.

  "I just don't get it," Abby says, while Jenay nods in agreement.

  "There's nothing to get," I tell them, trying to maintain my calm, yet feeling completely annoyed at having to

  defend myself.

  Abby shakes her head. "Urn, actually there's plenty to get. Like your sister for instance? Not to mention what

  everyone's saying." They both look at me.

  Before I respond, I take a deep breath, reminding myself not to get angry, that they're my best friends and they

  only want what's best for me.

  But it doesn't work, so I shake my head and say, Tm only going to say this once so I hope you both listen.

  Marc is in no way, shape, or form, the least bit responsible for what happened to Zoë." I look at them. "And if you

  guys think you or anyone else in this town knows more about it than I do, well, you're wrong. Because I'm the only

  one in this school, the only one in this whole entire town—outside of the cops and my parents—who knows all of the

  facts and details. And believe me, sometimes I wish I didn't, but I do, and there's nothing I can do about it. I'm also

  well aware of what all these small-minded idiots are saying, and how ninety-nine percent of it's lies." I shake my head

  and fold my arms across my chest. "But the worst part is knowing that half the people responsible for those lies used

  to be Zoë's friends. So I'm hoping you guys can do a little better. I'm hoping you can be a better friend to me than

  they were to her, and try not to judge me or second-guess me, because I just might know something you don't."

  By the time I'm finished I'm totally shaking, and my friends just stand there, eyes wide, mouths open, not saying

  a word. And feeling kind of embarrassed for going off like that and not knowing how to recover, I just turn away and

  head toward home.

  Later that night Teresa calls. But when I see her number on the display I completely ignore it. And then right before

  I've almost fallen asleep, it rings again. Only this time it's Marc.

  "I'm outside. Wanna go for a ride?" he offers.

  And after throwing on some jeans, boots, and my favorite sweater, I brush my hair, swipe on some lip gloss,

  spritz some perfume, open the french doors, shimmy down the tree, and run across the wet frosted grass toward his

  car.

  As he navigates the dark quiet streets, I wonder if we're going to the park. But when he brakes at the top of old

  Water Tower Hill, all I can do is laugh.

  "You're joking, right? The water tower?" I say, shaking my head. "I mean, if you've really got your own

  guesthouse all to yourself, then why are you bringing me here?"

  During the day Water Tower Hill is known as the local eyesore. But at night, it's known as the local underage

  make out place—where teens from as far as three towns over come to park, drink, smoke, and hook up. It even has

  its own creepy legend that seems to attract more people than it scares away.

  Rumor has it that a long time ago, like back in the seventies or something, some girl from the next town over

  came here to cheat on her boyfriend. But evidently he was on to her, because he followed her here, parked far

  away, then crept toward her car. When he peeked in through the window and saw her and her lover kissing, he

  freaked out so bad he reached for his gun, pressed the barrel against the glass, and pulled the trigger twice, one

  shot for each head.

  Apparently the impact of the blast tore them apart, leaving one hanging half out the window, and the other

  slumped over the seat. And it wasn't until he opened the door and the lover fell out that he realized he was a she.

  So now the story goes that the two slain lovers both haunt the place, protecting all the young innocent girls from

  men with bad intent.

  And when I gaze at Marc I wonder about his intent, because I know I'm innocent, though maybe not for long.

  Besides, it's not like I'd ever actually believe a story like that.

  Because ghosts are only real if you don't really miss someone. When you do, they're just a cruel joke.

  "It's beautiful up here. Just look at the lights," he says, the leather of his jacket squeaking as he rolls the

  window down just a crack.

  "Yeah, the only time this town ever looks good is when you're looking down on it," I say, wondering if Zoë's

  looking down on us, and if so, what it is that she's thinking.

  He kisses me then, as I knew he would. I mean, why even come here, if you're not gonna try?

  My fingers are tangled in his hair, the pads of my thumbs smoothing those glorious, high cheekbones, as my mouth

  moves hungrily against his, wanting to capture this moment, willing it to never end.

  "Zoë," he whispers, lifting my sweater as his hands search for my breasts.

  I lean in, kissing him even harder, feeling his fingers fumbling with the clasp at my back. "Here, let me help

  you," I say, reaching behind.

  But then he pushes me away, until I'm back in my seat, his face a horrified mask when he realizes what he just

  said.

  But I don't mind. In fact, I prefer it. So I lean toward him again, my mouth seeking his, but settling for his cheek.

  "Don't worry," I say, my lips grazing against the coarse black stubble that grows along his jaw. "It's okay, really. I like

  being her."

  But he shakes his head and pushes me off, dropping his head in his hands as he says, "Oh God, Echo. Oh my

  God, what have I done?" He hides his face in shame, as he trembles and shakes, mumbling a whole string of words I

  can't understand.

  I just sit there, wanting to comfort him, desperately wanting to rewind and pick up right where we left off. But

  then he wipes his face with his sleeve, reaches for the key and turns it hard, startling the engine back to life. "I'm

>   taking you home," he says, staring straight ahead, no longer willing to look at me.

  But I just fold my arms across my chest and glare at him, refusing to be discarded, refusing to let go of the best

  thing that ever happened to me. "No," I say, my eyes narrowed, my mouth set.

  He rubs his eyes and shakes his head, and suddenly he looks so much older and so incredibly tired. "I'm taking

  you home, Echo. We're leaving, now. So please fix your top, so we can get out of here."

  I sit there, staring out the window, my lips trembling as though I might cry. Doesn't he realize how much I need

  to be here? Doesn't he realize how I'd much rather be Zoë than me?

  But he just looks at me for the longest time, then he rubs his eyes again and says, "Don't you get it? I've done

  enough damage. I can't go hurting you too." His jaw is quivering, his eyes black and hard, and he looks like he's on

  the verge of something he can barely contain.

  And when I realize his words I feel a chill down my spine. So I straighten my sweater, hug my knees to my

  chest, and stay like that the entire way.

  Twenty-seven

  When he stops at the corner, I throw the door open and hit the ground running. Sprinting across the frozen lawn with

  my shoes still in hand, my toes turning blue, my breath coming fast and quick, 'til I finally reach my room where I grab

  Zoë's diary and flop on the bed, desperate for answers, and knowing she's the only one who can provide them, the

  only one who can explain what Marc really meant when he said, "I can't go hurting you too."

  August 7

  Only three more days til Dr. Freud goes on vacation!

  Which means only three more days 'til I go on vacation too! But it's not like we're going together (gag). It's just

  that there's no work for me to do when he's gone.

  Anyway, I can't freaking wait! I feel like I'm finally getting my summer back. And all I plan to do for those three

  blissful weeks is sleep, hang out with Paula during the day, and Marc every night.

  We've been getting along so much better over the last few days, which makes me feel really bad about freaking

  out like that over his mom and stuff. I mean, it's not like he actually dragged me there, or even wanted me to go. It's

  more like I pushed and pushed 'til he finally gave up and gave in. And because of that, now I have to live with the

  consequences, along with the memory of her nasty little "Where'd you find this one?" comment. Like I'm just one

  more slut he dragged home.

  Marc swears that's just her typical passive-aggressive game. So I looked that up in one of Dr. Freud's books,

  and it seems like the right diagnosis to me. He also said she's all freaked out about getting old, and about her fading

  looks and saggy chin (okay, he didn't really say that part about her chin, that was pure me!), so she pretty much hates

  anyone younger and prettier than her. Which is basically like half the population, but whatever.

  So, Carly keeps begging me to go meet this guy she's been messaging back and forth on her Web page. But

  I'm like, "No freaking way. Forget it. Not to mention, hello, what about Stephen?"

  And she goes, 7 am so over Stephen! Why didn't you warn me about that bleep gazing bullshit?"

  And I go, "Believe me, I did."

  Anyway at first I said a definite no. But then, by the time I left I changed it to maybe. But I told her not to tell him

  I was coming too, because then he might get the wrong idea and try to bring a friend. And not only am I not going to

  cheat on Marc, but it will be a lot safer if it's two against one. I mean, just in case it comes to that.

  So she goes, "What do you see in him anyway? I mean, besides the gorgeous, hot, bad boy sexy stuff. Is it the

  money?"

  But I just shrugged. Because even though she finally figured out the whole ugly truth about Stephen, that

  doesn't mean she can even begin to understand a guy like Marc. So I go, "He's just different from everyone else. He's

  not one size fits all."

  And she just shook her head and looked at me and said, "I'll say."

  August 8

  Okay, so we're meeting Mr. Internet tonight at seven. And I've lied to just about everyone I know to pull it off. My

  parents think I'm going out with Carly (which I am, just not to where I said we were going), her parents think she's

  going out with me (ditto), but not a soul knows anything more. Not even Paula knows the truth, cuz I know she'd just

  totally freak. Actually, they'd all freak.

  Though I do feel really bad about lying to Marc and telling him I'm staying home to hang out with Echo for a

  change. I mean, I know that's actually really really really seriously bad karma, since I've been meaning to spend

  more time with her, and now I supposedly am, only it's a lie.

  But I swear, if this guy turns out to be totally cool and not some Dateline Special Internet predator freak, then I'll

  take the kid out for shopping and lunch. Really. Scout's honor.

  August 9

  Okay, so at first Carly and I were totally amazed that the guy turned out to look a lot like his picture, which was

  actually pretty cute. But what wasn't so amazing is that apparently the picture was taken like, over ten years ago.

  Because up close and in person he looks a lot more like thirty than twenty like he said on his page.

  Anyway, you should've seen his face when he saw Carly and me walking toward him. His eyes went all wide

  and he got this big grin, like he just won the lottery or something. So we totally hung out and talked for a while, then

  Carly told him we wanted to party and asked him to go buy us some beer since we're underage and can't score it

  ourselves.

  Well, it was pretty obvious that the whole "underage" bit got him major excited. So the second he returned and

  set the package down, Carly grabbed the bag and said, "Adios, loser!"

  And then we totally took off!

  Seriously, we just started walking away, but all casual, not like rushing or anything, which actually made him

  pretty mad, to say the least. So he yelled at us to come back, but I turned and went, "If you take one more step toward

  us I'm calling the cops and reporting you for the pervert you know that you are. "And I held up my cell phone like I was

  just about to do it.

  You should've seen his face! He just stood there, totally stunned. But still, he totally backed down. He just

  looked at us all sad and said, "Well, can I at least have the wine back? That's an expensive bottle."

  But Carly goes, "No, because you're a pervert! Which means you don't deserve any wine."

  Then we took our stash over to Paula's, where we hung in the Jacuzzi, and told her the story over and over, and

  each time it just got better.

  August 10

  Today was a short day since Dr. Freud had a flight to catch, so we said aloha then I waited outside for Marc.

  Only he didn't show.

  So then I called him and went, "Where are you?"

  And he said, "Home."

  'Well you're supposed to be here," I told him.

  But he pretended he didn't know what I was talking about, which is totally ridiculous since I told him twice this

  morning and even left a message at lunch.

  But he just goes, "Didn 't get it."

  "Well you're getting it now. So hurry up and come get me," I said, my patience running big-time thin.

  And then, I still can't believe this, he goes, "I can't."

  "What do you mean you can't? I thought you said you were home?" I was completely fuming and no longer

  trying to hide it. 7 mean, it's like a hundred degrees o
ut here and I'm melting," I tell him.

  But he just gives me a bunch of bull about how busy he is, which is total crap since it's not like he has a job or

  chores or anything. And when I asked him just what exactly he was busy with he totally ignored me! He just went,

  "Sorry, I can't get you, but I'll definitely see you tonight though, okay?"

  I felt like throwing my phone at the building I was so mad. But I didn't. Instead, I just sucked it up and went

  straight to Carly's. And by the time I got there I was still so pissed I ended up telling her the whole ugly story, which is

  something that I never, ever do. Mostly because once you tell your friends the bad stuff, that's all they seem to

  remember.

  But still, it felt so much better just to get it off my chest. Not to mention how she was totally sympathetic and

  only a little bit judgmental. And then she grabbed her laptop and tried to find me a new boyfriend on the Internet,

  which I took as a joke, even though I think she was partly serious.

  Then we clicked over to my page so I could upload some more pictures we took of us pretending to French-kiss

  each other. Then we made fun of all the perverts who messaged me, telling me how I looked totally cool and laid back

  and asking me if I wanted to maybe hang out and chill—please.

  But I still hooked up later with Marc, and even though

  I was still pretty mad, I decided to just let it go because my vacation just started and I was determined to be

  happy and have fun. Plus, I hate to stay angry and carry grudges and stuff.

  But still, every time I asked him where he was, he just changed the subject and moved on to something else.

  I must have fallen asleep, because when I wake up my mom is standing over me and staring down at me. "Echo, are

  you feeling all right?" she asks, leaning toward me brushing her palm across my forehead, fever sweeping.

  Physically, I'm fine. But emotionally, I'm a wreck. All I can think about is Marc, and the words he said right

  before driving me home. I mean, what exactly happened between my sister and him? And what was he hiding in his

  pocket that day? So far, I've yet to read a single thing in Zoë's diary that could even begin to explain.

  Not to mention how there's no way I can face Abby and Jenay. Not after yesterday's emotional tirade.