Phase

by E. C. Newman

  My stomach growled again.

  She gave me a mock-sympathetic look. “You gonna faint from hunger?”

  “If I do, you’ll have to carry me.”

  She laughed and started out of the building. I followed. When on the ground, she tipped back her head to gaze up at it. “Coolest thing ever.”

  We headed to the house and heard some shouts of laughter.

  “The guys?”

  She nodded. “What do they do all day in the woods?” She started toward the noise.

  “Play?”

  She gave me a sarcastic “sure” look. “Don’t want to know what kind of play they do.”

  My eyes widened at her tone. “Do you think they’re…you know…gay?”

  She guffawed and continued walking.

  I rushed to catch up. “I mean, they’re always together. Never hang out with anyone else. And for guys, they’re kinda affectionate.” I couldn’t believe what I was saying. But I’d heard it before in school. I’d assumed it was just some other guys jealous over all the girls that liked Ezra and his friends.

  “They’re not gay.” Jules didn’t question it at all.

  “How do you know?”

  “’Cause one of them always hits on me. The redhead tries not to stare at my chest, and I’m pretty sure the little one is scared of me.”

  “Aidan, Nick, and Gil?”

  “And Ezra has a few posters of girls in his room. Not naked ones, but still.”

  “You’ve been in Ezra’s room?” It came out before I could stop it.

  She stopped and gave me an arch look.

  “No reason.”

  “I’ve had the occasional question about math.” She eyed me warily. “Trust me, Sophie. It’s probably a cult more than homosexuality.” She wrapped her arm around my shoulders. “But you are right about them being different. Even with all the weirdos I’ve lived with, there’s something about them. The meat, the rendezvous outings in the woods. The weird conversations. Next time you come out, we’ll follow them.”

  The house came into view. “Why?”

  She shrugged. “Never seen an animal sacrifice before.” She laughed as I shoved her playfully.

  * * *

  Wednesday morning we always had GTV. The journalism class put together highlights from the previous week of school, including sports, clubs, and even local and world news into a ten-minute video that was showed after morning announcements.

  Everyone was talking about the county fair, but no mention of the Show Choir performing. Only that the cheerleaders were raising money for new uniforms with a bake sale. Like they could bake.

  Cheerleaders trumped Show Choir. Of course.

  “Tomorrow night,” Jules said quietly during the tail end of GTV. “I’m telling them I’m hanging out with you for dinner. The guys are probably gonna be out in the woods. We’ll go out early after dinner and find them?”

  My heart beat faster at the idea of spying on them. “But that’s lying.”

  “Not really. I am hanging out with you. Make sure you tell your parents.”

  * * *

  Dad didn’t like the idea.

  “You’ve been spending a lot of time with her,” he said that night during dinner. “I’d hate to see your grades suffer.”

  I nearly spat out my drink, then stared at him in shock. My parents spoiled me; I knew this. Unless I was being ridiculous they usually said yes.

  And I wasn’t being ridiculous. “My grades are great, and it’s only the third week of school.” I looked at Mom for support.

  “I think you have been spending a lot of time with her. And we like Juliet, but she has a rough past and we don’t want her to influence you down a bad path.”

  I jumped up from my chair. “What? I finally find someone who likes me. Like really likes me and wants to hang out with me and you guys are worried about that? I’ve never had a best friend. Ever. Jules has had no one in her life that’s been good to her. I get to be that person. And you guys are worried she’ll be a bad influence? Jesus hung out with the tax collectors and other ‘bad’ people.” And she wasn’t a bad person. Just different.

  “You’re not Jesus.”

  I stomped my foot, then took a deep breath to calm myself down. “I know that. She really likes coming over here.” I thought she did anyway. “We get to be a normal family for her. And when have I ever been influenced by my peers?” I knew I had them there.

  Mom and Dad looked at each other for a long moment. I kept my mouth closed, waiting.

  “OK,” Dad said slowly. “Dinner, but the moment your grades slip, we will talk about this again.”

  I nodded. “Agreed. Thank you.” I hugged them both.

  Mom sighed. “I do worry.”

  “Isn’t that sort of your MO as a mom?”

  She laughed.

  * * *

  I had rehearsal for Show Choir after school on Thursday, so Jules hung out in the choir room and did homework.

  “You’re really good,” she told me after rehearsal as we walked to my car.

  “You think so?”

  She nodded, giving me a quick smile. “I’m no expert, but I don’t cringe when you sing, unlike that blonde with the screechy voice.”

  I winced. “Amber’s trying too hard.”

  Jules shuddered. “Like fingernails on a blackboard.” She waited as I unlocked her side. “But yeah, I like your song.”

  I grinned as I got into the car. “Thanks. It’s fun. I mean, I wish I could sing the part of the Baker’s Wife or Cinderella, ’cause those are amazing parts, but I can’t sing that high.” I sighed, backing out of the parking space before heading for home.

  “I brought a change of clothes.” She gestured to her backpack. “Black clothes, so maybe we’ll blend in more?”

  “No camo? Good plan though.” Anxiety hit my stomach. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  She nodded. “I think I have the right to know if I’m being taken in by psychos or not.” She snorted. “Not that it would be the first time.”

  We arrived home for dinner and hurried up to my room to do our homework as fast as we could. Jules had to be home by ten, so we were leaving at eight. When we got into my car, all in black, she giggled.

  “OK, I’m weirdly excited about this.” She flashed a big grin at me. “Even if they are psychos.”

  I nodded, not smiling. “I’m nervous.”

  Her smile dropped as I drove onto the street. “Why?”

  “I’ve never spied on someone before. Ever.”

  She shook her head. “You are way too sheltered, Sophie Todd. You need adventure.”

  I grinned despite said nervousness. “That sounds scarily like some famous last words.”

  “So, I think I know the general area where they all hang out. We should park near our hideout.”

  “We need to name it.”

  She gave me a weird look.

  “For posterity purposes.”

  “All right. Avalon.”

  “I know you mean for King Arthur, but you know it’s also a car.”

  She grimaced. “They totally ruined that name.”

  “Agreed. Um, Sherwood?”

  “I like that we both go literary,” she said with a grin. “Maybe…Fangorn.”

  “Where?”

  “Treebeard’s forest. How could you forget?”

  “I like The Hobbit better.”

  She made a face. “Lame. The trilogy is the best. Anyway, Fangorn.”

  “I like it.” I thought about it. “It sounds cool and mysterious. And weirdly threatening.”

  “Fang. Doesn’t evoke flowers and bunnies,” she said. “But Fangorn. Our hideout, Fangorn.” She stared out the window, going quiet.

  I didn’t say anything either, thinking about what we were about to do.

  * * *

  The sun had already set, but it was still light when we parked. Jules picked the spot, and I had no idea how she knew that we were close to Fangorn, but she’d been out h
ere more than I had. We got out quietly.

  She walked around my car and took my hand. “Come on.”

  Jules had an unbelievable ability to get around in the woods. I tripped about three times in the first few minutes.

  “Sophie,” she hissed, glaring at me.

  “I can’t see very well,” I whispered back.

  She looped her arm around mine. “OK, we’ll walk slowly. And no more talking.” She slowed, gingerly guiding me over tree roots and underbrush as we sneaked deeper in the woods.

  She paused after a few minutes. “I can hear them.” She dropped her voice so low that I almost knocked heads with her trying to catch her words.

  I listened. I couldn’t hear anything. She edged me in a different direction and moved in front of me, but still holding my hand to make sure I stepped precisely where she had. I had a random thought about how much it reminded me of war movies before I heard the voices.

  Shouts, laughter, and general ruckus.

  Jules turned to me, her finger on her lips. I wasn’t that stupid.

  She turned back around and continued. I saw something bright blue and jerked on her arm. She gave me an annoyed look, but I pointed. Only a few feet away lay a piece of clothing. She picked it up. A shirt, or what was left of a shirt. She sniffed it, dropped it, then returned. She whispered, “Smells like boy.”

  I nodded, my heart thumping so loud I was sure anyone within the vicinity could hear it. Her eyes darted back to the side, and she started prowling again. We found more clothing, either shredded or just old.

  The voices grew louder, along with splashing. They were in the creek.

  “Skinny-dipping,” I said to Jules. She wrinkled her nose, making a gagging motion. I tried not to think about it in general.

  “Pagan orgy,” she replied just as quietly.

  Two things I never needed to see in my life. “Let’s go back.”

  She shook her head, intent. I followed, wishing I knew how to get back to my car. She stopped, and something streaked across the trees many, many feet in front of us.

  Fur.

  “Wolf?”

  She made a shushing gesture, looking around, eyes alert and body tense. Had she done a lot of spying before?

  We both jumped a foot at the sound of a long howl.

  “Jules!” I reached for her, not caring if I was too loud. I would not get eaten by a wolf. I wasn’t a method actress, Little Red Riding Hood or not.

  Someone grabbed me, and I screamed like a banshee as Jules spun around.

  “Oh shut up,” a voice growled in my ear. The hands that held me were wet.

  I struggled, and Jules yanked me away. I turned to see Ezra in shorts, hair dripping wet.

  “Ezra?” I was shaking.

  “Who did you expect?” He crossed his arms. “You’re spying on us.”

  Guys appeared, emerging from between the trees. They were all soaked to the skin, hair wet and slicked back. Some were panting like they’d run fifty miles.

  Jules jerked her head in their direction. “We were just out for a walk. Not out for a night of naked moonlight dancing.”

  Some chuckles, but they were hushed by Micah as he moved to next to Ezra.

  “Or skinny-dipping,” Jules continued. “We don’t want to know what you guys do out here. Together. Naked.”

  I pinched her. Did she really need to antagonize them?

  “We were not—” Aidan started to speak, but stopped when Micah shot him a glare.

  Despite the darkness, shadows and outlines were visible. A few of the guys wore only shorts. Gil and Nick both had shirts on.

  Jules whirled at the sound of more twigs breaking. Naomi. In a summer dress, but wet like the rest. She crossed her arms, staring defiantly at Jules.

  “We were just out. Swimming,” Micah said behind us.

  Jules eyed Naomi. “Sure. Gangbangs are illegal in all fifty states.”

  Shouts of protest.

  “Quiet!” Micah roared. “We’ve all grown up together, Juliet. We’re like family. And we hang out here. If that worries you, you can always go back to foster care.”

  Ezra glowered at Micah, snarling.

  Jules gripped my arm, hard. “You’re not a Varden. You don’t get a say.” I heard a tremor in her voice. “Come on, Sophie.” She dragged me away, back through the woods.

  I tripped while keeping up with her. “Jules.”

  “Shut up.” She kept going, her grip never weakening.

  I sighed, relieved when I saw my car. Spying was not my thing. Ever.

  “Jules!” Ezra ran toward us, still shirtless.

  I couldn’t seem to think past that fact.

  “Go away, Ezra,” she said, easing me behind her. Did she think I needed protection?

  “You freaked Micah out, spying on us like that.” He paused, focused on Jules. “Don’t listen to him. He thinks he’s God. You’re family. OK?”

  “Whatever. I don’t need you guys. I have Sophie.”

  I felt like I wasn’t even there.

  Ezra’s eyes flickered over to me, then back at Jules. “Yeah. Nothing weird, OK?” He tried to smile. “We just go for late-night swims.”

  “On a school night?” That was me. They both looked at me with that same “are you for real?” attitude.

  “On a school night.” Ezra glanced at the woods. “You’re taking Jules back to my house, right, Sophie?”

  I nodded. “Sure.”

  “OK? Maybe you’ll come out swimming with us sometime soon?” Ezra spoke only to Jules.

  “Don’t count on it.”

  He smiled like he knew a secret. “Right. No more spying, though.” He jogged away.

  Neither Jules nor I spoke for several seconds.

  “No animal sacrifices,” I said optimistically.

  “I would have preferred that,” she grumbled, going around to the passenger side of my car. She got in and slammed the door closed.

  I thought I heard another howl, but it was so faded, my overactive imagination probably made it up.

  * * *

  Friday was the first day of the weeklong county fair, which meant early dismissal. Best day of the month. The Show Choir would be performing tomorrow night, so tonight I’d have just pure fun without nerves. I was really excited about sharing it with Jules.

  I found her by her locker that morning. She was swinging the door open and shut, almost nervously. Her eyes stared into the dark abyss of her locker like she was watching a dramatic movie.

  “Morning, sunshine!” I greeted her cheerfully. I don’t know where it came from. I sounded like my mother.

  Jules shot me a dark glower.

  My smile dropped. “Sorry.”

  She’d still been upset when I’d dropped her off at the house last night. I didn’t blame her. I wanted to hit Micah for being so cruel. But I thought maybe, knowing that they weren’t a creepy cult would make her feel better.

  Obviously not.

  Her forehead smoothed out as if doing that was an effort. She didn’t smile, but the frown was gone. “It’s OK. Just not awake yet.” She took out a book and then shut her locker, pushing the lock through and spinning the dial. Once. Twice. Four times in total. She noticed that I watched and jerked away almost like the metal burned her.

  “You OK?”

  She shrugged as we headed to English. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired. Like I said.” Strain hardened her voice.

  When we sat down at our desks, I gave her an encouraging smile. She didn’t return it.

  Worry covered my heart like tar. By the time I saw her in fourth period, I’d come to the conclusion that her mood wasn’t a lack of sleep. Something was really eating at Jules. Her hair, which had been brushed and smooth that morning was tangled and knotted. She looked like a street urchin from The Christmas Carol. And the darkness under her eyes seemed more pronounced than usual. Even her copper skin looked pale.

  “Jules.” I leaned over, my voice low. “Are you feeling OK? You know if you’re sick,
you should go home and rest. I can take you home if you—”

  She turned toward me, her eyes narrowed into little slits. “Thanks a lot, Sophie. Why don’t you just tell me I look like shit?”

  My stomach turned with hurt. I gulped. “I’m sorry, I just meant—”

  “Shut up,” she growled.

  Mrs. Lange came in, and Jules faced the front of the classroom. She didn’t look at me the entire period. I almost broke down and wrote a note to her, but with the way my day was going, I’d be caught and the note read aloud.

  After class, I caught up with her. “Jules, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, you just don’t seem like yourself today.”

  She whirled around in the middle of the hall. Her faded blue eyes sparked. “You think hanging out a few times makes you an expert on me? Don’t even think that you know me. You don’t. No one does.” Her upper lip curled into a snarl.

  I took a step toward her, opening my mouth to say something, anything.

  She scooted back, almost cringing. “Just leave me alone!” Her voice had risen enough that we got some curious looks from passersby. She turned away, stalking toward the library.

  I watched her go as my heart fell into my stomach. I trudged to the cafeteria, positive that Jules wouldn’t be joining me. I plopped down across from Mary-Beth and Connie.

  “Where’s your friend?” Mary-Beth asked slyly as she and Connie chuckled. “Doesn’t care to lower herself to us peons today?”

  I opened my mouth, shocked. “What?” I knew they weren’t much for Jules, but I’d thought we were friends because they were generally nice girls.

  “Juliet. She’s so snobby.”

  “She is not. Not even in the slightest sense.” I took a bite of my apple. Jules was reserved. Big difference. “She’s just…have you guys noticed that she seems strange today? Like she looks different?” Connie and Mary-Beth were in the same French class with Jules.

  Connie rolled her eyes. “We don’t care.”

  “Now who’s being snobby?” I asked under my breath, peeved at my “friends.”