by Cindi Madsen
Kendall frowned, sticking out her lower lip. “You’ve been distracted all night.”
“I know. I just have to go say hi to someone real fast, and then I’ll come back and we can talk dance moves, handbags—whatever you want.” Summer stepped around Kendall, determined to go meet Ashlyn.
But the spot where the group had been a moment ago was now empty.
All the energy flowing through her faded, and confusion filled her. Time slowed to a crawl, and it felt as if the earth had fallen off its axis, nothing quite making sense anymore.
Cody walked up, put his arm around her, and kissed her cheek. “Come on, baby. Let’s go sit by the fire.”
“But I…” Summer glanced around once more before giving in. How could they all disappear so fast? Was she seeing things now? No, Troy was there. Lexi saw them, too. She allowed Cody to lead her away. A sick feeling settled in the pit of her stomach, growing worse with every step she took away.
Jack thrust a bottle in Summer’s face when she and Cody neared the circle of remaining people. “Beer?”
Summer waved it away. “No thanks.”
Jack extended it to Cody.
“Yeah, I’ll take one,” Cody said, wrapping his hand around it. “I’m going to need it since Summer wants me to be celibate forever.”
Summer pulled away from him, mouth hanging open. “I can’t believe you said that.”
“It was just a joke. You know, like the jokes you’re always telling? Besides, Kendall tells Jack everything anyway, so it’s not like it’s news to him.”
All she could for a moment do was stare. When did things get like this? I never used to take this kind of crap. This whole night kept showing her how passive she’d become. How she’d simply started fitting in and going with the flow, even if it headed a way she didn’t especially want to go.
“You made me the brunt of the joke,” she said through gritted teeth. “Am I just supposed to hang on your arm, bat my eyes, and tell you how amazing you are, even though you’re being an ass to me?”
“It was supposed to be funny. I don’t know why you’re getting all moody.” Cody reached for her, and she pulled away.
“Here’s a little FYI for you. Girls don’t like to be called moody! Ever!” Summer stormed toward her car, glad she’d insisted on driving.
Cody caught up to her in the parking lot. “Summer, I’m sorry. I keep screwing everything up.”
“Yes you do.” She unlocked her doors and got into her car. She tried to pull the door closed, but Cody grabbed it. “I’m done, Cody. I’m going home.”
“But if you go home now, your dad won’t let me come over anymore. Remember his strike out rule? I swear I was trying to be funny. I see now that it wasn’t funny. Just cut me some slack.”
Summer looked up at him, her chest tightening. “I think I need a break from us.”
“I don’t want to take a break. We’ll get past this rut we’re in. Like when you decided to treat me like shit for a month. It sucked, but we worked it out. Because that’s what you do when you care about someone.” He squatted down and grabbed her hand. “I don’t know why everything’s so hard with us lately. I just know I love you.”
She hovered the key over the ignition. A couple months ago, she was angry and depressed, not doing a good enough job of keeping that door in her mind closed, and everything Cody did irritated her. He’d been supportive and understanding, holding her tight and talking her down, even when she’d been horrible to him. The harder she pushed him away, the nicer he’d been. She apologized once she snapped out of it, and he forgave her without making her feel guilty.
“Baby?” Using his grip on her hand, he brought it to his chest. She felt his pounding heart, his warmth. “Let’s just forget about this weekend and start over. Will you let me do that?”
Summer looked into his blue eyes and thought of that dark period when they’d steadied her time and time again. They were a mess together, but she felt like even more of a mess when they were apart. She let out a long exhale. “Get in.”
Chapter Four
Summer dumped her notebook and chemistry book on the desk Monday morning and flopped into the chair. Her day had barely started, and she was already irritated at life in general. The ups and downs with Cody were still eating at her. She wasn’t sure she was ready to go back to happy, cuddly couple, like he wanted. But then she’d think of life without him, and she couldn’t decide if that meant she cared or she was just weak.
Troy took his usual spot to her left and draped his long arms across his desk, leaning in her direction. “I’ve got some scoop for you.”
She pushed away her stormy thoughts and spun to face him. “Sweet! I’ve always wanted my very own gossip girl.”
Troy scowled and sat back in his seat, arms crossed. “Now I’m not going to tell you. You don’t deserve to know.” He tried to pull off angry, but a twitch in the corner of his mouth gave him away.
Summer nudged his shoe with the toe of hers and shot him a smile. “Oh, come on. I’m really intrigued now.”
Troy raised an eyebrow, letting the suspense build. Just when she was about to ask if she had to beg, he ran a hand through his messy dark hair and said, “Unicorn Stench is playing at Equinox on Friday night.”
Her heart skipped a couple beats as she thought of seeing one of her favorite bands live. “But I thought they broke up. I heard Johnny and Francie couldn’t play together after their relationship went sour.”
“They got back together. Now they’re playing together again, too.”
Hmm. I guess it’s completely normal to break up and get back together. Everyone does it.
“Apparently, the breakup inspired them to write some awesome new songs.” Troy propped his elbows on his desk and leaned in close. “So, you down? I’m sure you have to check with Studmuffin and all, but you shouldn’t miss it.”
Summer lowered her eyebrows. “I don’t need permission from him. He’s my boyfriend, not my dad.”
Troy threw his hands up. “I just know that things got messy last time. You’re welcome to come with the group I’m getting together if your boyfriend doesn’t want to go.”
Summer and Troy used to go to Equinox together all the time. Kristen, his tattooed, leather-jacket-wearing girlfriend at the time, wasn’t exactly pleased with their friendship. Then Summer started dating Cody, and he wasn’t a big fan either. The last time she and Troy went to a show together, it had caused a major fight with Cody. Right now, though, Summer was annoyed enough with him not to care.
Mr. Jennings stood and cleared his throat, his way of telling everyone class was starting. “Get out your notebooks. This information is going to be on your next test.” He stood at the white board and started writing notes with his green marker.
“I’ll let you know about the show,” Summer whispered to Troy. She turned back to her desk and opened her notebook.
Ashlyn Moore’s name glared back at her in giant print. Summer quickly flipped to another page. And another. Every page had Ashlyn’s name written across it. Her heart rate picked up speed, each beat bringing pang of panic. She slammed her notebook closed. Engraved on the top of the desk, in giant, square letters, was Ashlyn’s name.
“What the hell?” Realizing where the message had to be coming from, she said, “I mean, heaven. Maybe.” Over the weekend, she’d decided the conversation with Gabriella had never happened. It had just been a weird dream. And that odd desire to meet Ashlyn at the beach party, that was just a coincidence. Her mind playing tricks on her. She even convinced herself that the brochure had come in the mail or slipped into her backpack somehow.
So much for my never happened theory. And denial seemed like such a good idea.
“You have a question, Summer?” Mr. Jennings asked.
Summer looked up from the engraving. Most of her classmates were staring at her, eyes wide. “No. I…I grabbed my wrong notebook. I’ll, um, just use the one I’ve got.”
Mr. Jennings took up his lec
ture again, and Summer’s gaze returned to her desk. The name wasn’t there anymore. She ran her hand over the surface of the desk, feeling the smooth, unblemished top underneath her fingertips. When she re-opened her notebook, she found the pages blank.
She exhaled a shaky breath, her heart still pumping way too fast. Okay, I get it. I don’t need any more freaky messages.
Obviously, she couldn’t put off her supposed assignment any longer. Meeting Ashlyn Moore just got bumped to the top of her to-do list.
* * *
The bell rang, and Summer gathered her books. She checked the desk one more time, expecting to see the name again, but found nothing. She put her hand on Troy’s arm. “Hey, do you know Ashlyn Moore?” she asked, wanting to see how well he knew her, and get any possible insight she could.
“Yeah. Cool girl. Good skater, too. I know she’s a fan of Unicorn Stench, so I was going to ask her if she wants to go with us to the show.”
“Can you introduce me to her? Like at lunch or something? I need to get to know her.” That last sentence was supposed to stay in her head. Maybe he wouldn’t notice.
Troy’s dark eyebrows drew together. So he noticed. “Suuure,” he said, drawing it out. “But why?”
“Um, long story. I…” No possible way to explain popped into her head. “Can you introduce me or not?”
His eyes bored into her, and she felt heat climb into her neck. She forced herself not to squirm under his scrutiny—if she’d known it was going to be this awkward, she would’ve skipped it and gone it alone. “Meet me by the front of the cafeteria and I’ll take you over,” he said.
“Thanks.” The heavy feeling she’d been carrying around since Friday afternoon lifted, and her muscles relaxed. Even if it turned out she was suffering from hallucinations and nothing more, the safe bet would be to at least introduce herself to the girl. If she was lucky, she’d simply meet someone new, there would be no follow up, and no one would be worse for wear.
Of course, she’d never been especially lucky.
* * *
As Summer walked with Kendall toward the cafeteria, apprehension churned in her gut. Meeting people had been hard enough when she’d first moved here. As soon as Summer proved she could dance, Kendall had pulled her into her circle of friends. She’d gotten comfortable there and remained isolated in her little group. Once she started dating Cody, she’d been so all about him that she made him most of her world.
And now she had to figure out what to say to a complete stranger. A complete stranger whom she was supposed to help somehow.
“I’m still so annoyed we don’t get to go anywhere for lunch. Closed campus sucks.” Kendall ran her icy-blue eyes down the girl in front of them and leaned closer to Summer. “What was that girl thinking, putting that skirt with those leggings? The stripes are so not flattering.”
Summer didn’t say anything. Already, she was going over greetings and good starter topics in her head.
“Are you even listening to me?” Kendall asked.
“Oh, um, I guess her outfit looks okay to me.”
“That’s right. You used to be fashion-challenged, too. Thank goodness you met me.”
Looking down at her own clothes, Summer realized Kendall heavily influenced what she wore. While she didn’t think she’d ever been fashion-challenged, it was true she’d gotten more into clothing and accessories once she moved here. Dressier, perfectly coordinated outfits had replaced the T-shirts and jeans she used to wear. Her feet were now conditioned for long days in heels. She even noticed when people didn’t match or wore two different styles that didn’t go together, something she never used to think about.
“Hey guys,” Kendall said as Jack and Cody headed toward them. Jack put his arm around Kendall; Cody reached out and grabbed Summer’s hand. Together, they finished the walk to the cafeteria.
Kendall twisted a lock of her hair around her finger. “So once we get to our table, I’ve got a few music suggestions for our dance routine.”
Summer had a feeling this wasn’t going to go over too well, but she didn’t have a choice anymore. “Actually, I’ve got to go talk to some people. I’m going to have lunch with them.”
“You’re not going to sit with me?” Cody asked.
“Not today.”
Cody’s posture stiffened. “Are you punishing me?”
Kendall didn’t let Summer answer him before adding her complaint. “Whatever it is can’t be more important than choosing the music for our routine. We don’t have a lot of time.”
“I’m sure whatever you and the girls decide is fine for music. You can show it to me at practice.” Summer turned to Cody, flinching at his hurt expression. “You’re not being punished. I’ll see you after school, okay?”
She spotted Troy in the corner, waiting for her. “Later,” she called over her shoulder, quickening her step before either of them could protest further. When she reached Troy, she swung an arm in front of her. “After you, Mister Bond.”
She followed him to the back of the lunchroom, where he stopped at the last, tucked-into-a-corner table. “Hey guys,” he said. “What’s going on?”
“Aaron and Darren are locked in a heated death match again,” a girl with mousy-colored hair said.
“A death match?” Summer glanced at the two boys who were the epitome of nerd. They both had giant foreheads, round glasses, and long limbs exploding out of their tiny torsos. “That sounds serious.”
“It’s just chess,” the girl said.
One of the guys froze, his hand hovering over one of the pieces. “Pfht! ‘Just chess!’”
Troy seemed unfazed, like this happened all the time. “So, I want you guys to meet Summer.”
All eyes moved to her.
“This is Aaron and Darren.” Troy pointed at the two boys playing chess. “Twins, in case it wasn’t obvious.”
They flashed her identical toothy grins. “Nice to meet you,” one of them said.
“Howdy,” the other added.
“They’re also amazing with computers and math. That’s Marcie.” Troy pointed at the girl who’d informed them about the death match. Everything about the girl was plain. No makeup. Faded, shapeless clothes. Hair pulled into a low ponytail.
“Nelson.” Troy motioned toward a pale kid with startling black hair. The charcoal hue had to be the result of hair dye.
“And this is Ashlyn.” Troy pointed to the last person in the group. The one Summer needed to get close to.
Ashlyn’s shiny brown hair hung down past her shoulders. She had on a cute red top that brought out the color in her cheeks. She looked healthy. A little too healthy. She’d be really pretty if she did a little exercise and lost twenty or thirty pounds.
A wave of guilt hit Summer. She felt bad her mind automatically went all judgmental. “Hi everyone,” she said when she realized she should say something.
Ashlyn narrowed her eyes and gave Summer the once over. “So, what are you doing over here at the island of misfits? We’re not your usual group.”
Summer shrugged. “I thought I should get to know more people. Broaden my horizons.”
“Yay for us,” Ashlyn mumbled.
This is going to be harder than I thought. Summer had pictured herself swooping in, fixing whatever problems this girl had going on, then moving on with her normal life.
“Mind if I join you guys for lunch?” Summer asked, determined not to give up.
Marcie scooted over, making room for Summer and Troy.
Summer sat down and ate a few bites of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich before trying again. “So, Ashlyn, Troy tells me you’re a fan of Unicorn Stench.”
“I like all awesome bands,” Ashlyn said.
“See, I usually go for the un-awesome.”
Ashlyn glared. Like Kendall, she didn’t seem to be a fan of sarcasm.
Summer looked to Troy for support. He was talking to the Nelson kid, no longer part of the conversation with Ashlyn. Giving up on his help, she turned her
attention back to the girl. “Anyway, I can’t wait to hear their new stuff.”
“Me neither,” Ashlyn said. Not with any enthusiasm, but the hate seemed to be at bay for now.
Summer’s gaze drifted to her usual table, where all her friends sat, laughing and talking. She wanted to be over there with them, where things wouldn’t be all weird, and forget this whole thing. With a sigh, she turned back to her sandwich and the girl she was ordered to get to know by the Angel of Death.
Just power through, and it’ll be done before you know it.
Chapter Five
Summer changed into her T-shirt, shorts, and sneakers and headed into the gym. Most of the girls were already warming up. They had their limbs taut, stretching and prepping for practice. Summer was able to squeeze in a few stretches before Kendall stood in the middle of the floor and ordered everyone to get into position.
No matter what else was going on, at least she had dancing to help block out all the other stress in her life. Back in Chicago, Summer had quit the school dance team before the end of the season, unable to focus or deal with life in general, much less learn new routines. But when she and Dad moved here, she decided she missed it too much—even if it did remind her of Mom. It reminded her of the good things, which helped keep the bad memory at bay.
Kendall displayed the new moves. Since Summer had seen them at the beach party, picking them up was a cinch. They went over it several times all together before breaking into groups and practicing to the music.
An hour later, Kendall declared it good enough for today, bringing practice to an end. “You wanna come hang out at my house?” she asked Summer as they walked off the gym floor.
Summer couldn’t stop thinking about a way to get Ashlyn to stop hating her so she could do her supposed job and get on with her life. She was going straight home and reading that brochure Gabriella had left for her to read, hoping it held all the answers she’d need. “Not tonight. I’ve got tons of homework. Plus, my dad wants me home since I was out all weekend.”
