Last Dance

by Linda Joy Singleton

  “Sabine, it’s about time!” Penny-Love said when she heard my voice. “I was beginning to think you’d never call. I was starting to worry.”

  “Nothing to worry about, I’m fine.”

  “It’s the dance I’m worried about! I have boxes of ribbons, streamers, and paint, but zero talent for decorating.”

  “Anyone can twist crepe paper and put up banners.”

  “Not me. I’m counting on you to help me whip up some awesome decorations. You were due back yesterday.”

  “Sorry. Things got crazy.” It would be easier if I could be completely honest. But explaining about my gift was tricky. My last best friend turned against me when she found out. So I was in no hurry to tell Penny-Love.

  “Things are way more crazy here,” Penny-Love went on in her usual overly dramatic way. She may have some faults, but being boring was not one of them. “I’ve been stressing over the dance, going to cheer practice, doing tons of homework, and helping your grandmother. Did you hear about her losing electricity and how I loaned her my laptop?”

  “Yeah, she told me. Thanks for helping her.”

  “It was fun. I’ll tell you all about it in person as soon as you get your butt to my house. We’ve got tons to do. How soon can you come over?”

  “Well …” I bit my lip. “It could take a while.”

  “Where exactly are you?”

  “Uh … in Pine Peaks. And it gets worse.” I blew out a heavy sigh and admitted I wasn’t returning till tomorrow.

  Her shriek was so loud my ears stung. “I can’t believe you’re doing this to me!”

  “I’m sorry. It’s just that nothing’s worked out right. The family friend I came to see still isn’t back yet and Thorn’s car needed repairs—”

  “Thorn!” Penny-Love cried accusingly. “What does that Goth loser have to do with anything?”

  “She’s not a loser,” I defended. “And she was nice enough to drive me.”

  “You could have refused. Obviously you’d rather be with her than me.”

  “No, that’s not true—”

  “Prove it. Come home now.”

  “I can’t. You don’t understand—”

  “Oh, I understand perfectly now. You’re blowing me off. And I thought you were my friend. Guess I was wrong.” When she slammed the phone in my ear, the sharp click slammed into my heart.

  I deserve that, I thought miserably. She’d counted on me, and I let her down.

  Unfortunately, I had one more person to let down.

  Maybe Josh won’t be home, I hoped as the phone rang a second, then a third time. He’s probably out shooting hoops with Zach or at one of those secret magician meetings. It’ll be easier to leave a message. It’ll give me time to come up with a good explanation and for him to cool off.

  But Josh answered on the fifth ring.

  “Sabine!” He sounded so happy to hear from me that I felt even worse.

  “Hey,” I said feebly.

  “So how was your trip?”

  “Okay … just longer than I expected.” Before I chickened out, I sucked in a deep breath and told him I was still in Pine Peaks. Then I braced myself.

  Only Josh didn’t yell or even hang up. Instead he said something that cut sharper, deeper than the knife that sliced through Thorn’s jeep. And I was the one who ended up angry—and hurt—because Josh was still going to the dance. Without me.

  But that wasn’t the worst part.

  Before Josh hung up, he told me he was hanging out with Evan again. Evan Marshall—living up to his “Moving on Marsh” reputation—had moved on from Shelby. He was going to the dance with a new girlfriend from a Bay-area school. I didn’t recognize her name, but I nearly died when Josh told me what school she attended: Arcadia High—my old school.

  If Evan didn’t already know my secret, he would soon.

  Then he’d destroy me.

  As Dominic drove us back to Thorn’s aunt and uncle’s, I stared out the window at skeletal trees and infinite darkness. I thought back to when I’d first started dating Josh. I’d been noticing him since I arrived at Sheridan, but never had the courage to talk to him. Then suddenly he was in trouble and my sixth sense warned me in time to help. He’d been more than grateful—actually interested in me. And just like that, we were going out.

  I was so proud to have such a cool guy interested in me. My girlfriends congratulated me and said I was so lucky. But tonight girls would line up to dance with Josh. And when he dumped me, no one would think I was lucky.

  Penny-Love was so mad she’d never speak to me again. And after Evan found out, and told what happened at my last school, I’d lose the rest of my friends. Well, except for Manny and Thorn.

  “You okay?” Dominic asked softly as he spun the steering wheel. I sat beside him while Thorn listened to her headphones in the backseat. “Don’t let that note worry you.”

  “It’s not the note.”

  “Then what?”

  I shook my head. “Nothing.”

  “You didn’t get bad news about Nona?”

  “Just what we already know. Otherwise, she’s great.”

  “But you’re not,” he accused.

  I didn’t answer and shut him out by facing the window. Dominic wouldn’t think missing a dance was a big deal. He didn’t seem to need friends or care what anyone thought of him. I doubted he’d ever gone to a school dance. I wasn’t even sure he’d attended school. I knew a little about his past, that his mother was dead and he’d had a rough time with an abusive uncle. Otherwise, he was a mystery.

  As we neared our turn off, Thorn took off her headphones and made arrangements with Dominic for getting the jeep in the morning. When she asked where he was staying the night, he said he was camping out. “No better ceiling than stars and sky,” he added.

  After he dropped us off, I told Thorn I wasn’t feeling well and went directly to my room. I didn’t bother to turn on the light. With the shades drawn, the room was pitch dark. If only I could shut out my feelings so easily. But images kept spinning in my head of Josh, Evan, Penny-Love, Nona, my mother, my sisters, and hostile classmates from Arcadia High.

  Did I have some fatal gene that turned people away? Why was my life so complicated? I worked so hard to be what everyone expected that I wasn’t sure who I was. If only I could be totally honest. But if I told Penny-Love about Nona’s illness and my connection to the other side, would she still want to be my friend? Maybe. But nothing would be normal between us again.

  And what about Josh? He hadn’t gotten upset when I said I couldn’t make the dance. If he really cared, he would have sounded mad or disappointed. Instead he just told me to have fun and said he was only going because he promised to set up the disc jockey equipment for his friend Zach, who was the DJ. And Josh never broke a promise.

  I admired Josh’s sense of honor. Truly, I did. But I hated him going to a dance without me. What would my friends think? That we’d broken up? Would other girls zero in on Josh? If they asked him to dance, he’d be too polite to refuse. And Evan would be nearby spreading his own poisonous revenge.

  Staring up at the ceiling, I was overwhelmed by conflicting emotions—numb yet aching, feeling nothing and everything. I was grateful for my sixth sense when it helped people, but I hated it for making me different. Right now more than anything, I’d rather be at home organizing decorations for the dance.

  I’d made a mess of everything. Nona’s illness would worsen if I didn’t find the remedy book, my mother didn’t want me at my sisters’ party, Josh was going to the dance without me, Evan was plotting revenge, and I’d let down Penny-Love.

  My head ached and I shut my eyes, blinking away tears.

  Darkness closed in and I escaped into dreams …

  *

  “Chloe, you can’t elope! You’re too young!”

  “Keep your voice down, Cathy. And help me shut my suitcase.”

  “You can’t do this,” Cathy warned, but Chloe hopped on top of the bulging suitcas
e, then snapped it shut.

  “Your parents will just come after you.”

  “Let them try!” Chloe said with high confidence. “James and I will be long gone before they even notice I’m missing. We’ll get married and move to Hollywood. He knows important people who can help me become an actress. At last I’ll be a star! My name will be in lights and everyone will admire me.”

  “People already admire you.”

  “The boys do, but the girls are too jealous. Except you, which is sweet.” She hugged Cathy. “James is sweet, too, and I can’t wait to see him again. I’m sorry about Teddy, but my parents pushed me into that engagement. After I marry James, they can’t tell me what to do.”

  “You’ve always done what you wanted anyway.”

  “True, but they don’t know that,” she said, giggling. “If my parents had their way, I’d stay locked away in my room until I was eighteen, then I’d have a dozen kids with boring Teddy and rot in this small town. If it weren’t for my secret escape window, I’d never have met James.”

  “Teddy is a great catch. Are you sure you don’t want him?”

  “As a friend only.” She waved her hand. “You can have him.”

  “But he doesn’t want me.” Cathy spoke wistfully, her eyes clouding over. “You shouldn’t have led him on. He’s going to be hurt when you leave.”

  “It’s his own fault for believing I’d ever marry a fuddy-duddy like him. Jeepers, he doesn’t have any backbone. He’ll end up selling furniture like all the men in his family.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with selling furniture.”

  “Except that Teddy truly wants to join the Navy. Only he’ll never have the courage to stand up to his father. But I have plenty of courage to go after my dreams. James is my dashing prince and this princess is long due for a rescue.”

  “You should slow down and find out more about James. Where does he come from? What’s his family like? You barely know him.”

  “I know that he loves me.”

  “But can you trust him?”

  “I’m trusting him with my whole future.”

  “You shouldn’t … you can’t! He’s a liar.”

  “Cathy! What are you saying?”

  “The truth. I didn’t want to hurt you, but there’s no other way. Chloe, there’s something I have to tell you about James …”

  *

  Bolting up in bed, I stared around the dark, unfamiliar room, not sure where I was or even who I was. Blackness swallowed me whole, and I fought against panic. Even after I plugged in my nightlight, surrounding myself in an angel’s glow, my heart still raced. I had the eerie feeling of traveling a long distance. I was back now … but not alone.

  Although I couldn’t see Chloe, in some mysterious way, our destinies were entwined. She was giving me clues about her past that were impossible to ignore. Even if I left Pine Peaks, she’d continue to haunt my dreams.

  She needed my help and I needed to help her.

  I only hoped no one got hurt.

  I reread the note I’d just written:

  Thorn,

  Went with Dominic. Back in a few hours.

  Will explain everything later.

  I stared at my message, then decided it needed more. So I added: Your friend, Sabine. Then I left the note on Thorn’s pillow, grabbed my jacket, and left the room. I crept silently down the hall, pausing to listen into the family room where Thorn watched a movie with her aunt and uncle. Then I slipped out the back door.

  When I’d called Dominic and asked for a ride to the ghost festival, he hadn’t sounded surprised. In fact, I’d been the one surprised when he’d not only agreed to take me, but to go along, too. I wasn’t sure if this was a good idea, not after Tawnya’s bizarre warning, but I kept these thoughts to myself.

  Hearing the roar of a diesel pickup, I hurried down the long driveway and met Dominic. He came around to open my door, looking hot in leather and denim.

  “You look good,” he said as I hopped into the truck.

  Self-consciously I pulled my jacket around myself. I was wearing my usual jeans and a comfortable blue T-shirt. I hadn’t even taken the time to put on makeup or braid my hair. “I didn’t do anything special.”

  “Yeah. That’s what I like,” he said with a faint smile.

  And I liked how he looked, too, although I’d never say it out loud. His thick hair waved across thick dark brows and his smile softened his rugged features. I had this wild urge to move close to him, to lean against those hard muscles, to find out if his callused hands would be rough or soft. Crazy thoughts—and disloyal, too. I was happy with Josh—although right now he was probably dancing with other girls.

  Dominic started the engine and I explained about wanting to go to the pavilion to contact Chloe and help her find peace. I hoped it wasn’t a mistake to involve Dominic. I didn’t believe Tawnya’s paranoid story about Chloe. Ghosts couldn’t physically harm humans. I was sure of this—almost.

  Last night had been surreal, but tonight was a festival carnival complete with booths, food, entertainers, and even a band playing fifties music near the pavilion. Crowds of Chloe fans gathered for this final night of celebration. A dark cloudy sky hinted at rain, and the streets were so packed we had to park a mile away. As we entered the park, a costumed ghoul with a powdery face and black lipstick handed me a printed schedule of events.

  “I’ve never been to a ghost party.” Dominic rubbed his chin as he looked around.

  “Wild, isn’t it?”

  “Weird is more like it.”

  “Yeah.” I gestured toward the brochure. “Face-painting booths, a Freaks and Phantoms art exhibit, Poe and poetry readings, a talk about Chloe from some of her closest friends, a slide-show tour of the Chloe Museum, and club president Monique shares ghost-spotting techniques.”

  “Too many people and too much noise for me,” Dominic said. “But Nona would love it.”

  “She would, wouldn’t she? I wish she were here. I worry about her.”

  “Then call her. You can use my cell.”

  “I’ve made enough calls today.” I thought of Josh and Penny-Love. “I’ll call Nona when we have news about the remedy book. It’s been missing for so long, I sure hope we can find it before Nona gets—well, you know.”

  He nodded solemnly. “We’ll find it,” he assured.

  I looked up at him, grateful for all his help and especially because he cared so much about my grandmother. “Thanks for driving me tonight.”

  “Why did you want to come? You can talk to ghosts anytime.”

  “Not Chloe,” I said with a bitter laugh. “She doesn’t play by the rules.”

  Then, because he was looking at me curiously and I owed him an explanation, I told him about my dream visions of Chloe. “I don’t know what she wants, and she might even be dangerous. Tawnya sure thinks so.”

  “Tawnya?”

  “The girl from the store.” I felt a rush of satisfaction that he didn’t even remember her name. “She told me a wild story about Chloe attacking her ex-boyfriend and warned me to keep a close watch on you.”

  “Sounds like fun,” he said with a teasing look.

  My cheeks warmed and I glanced at a middle-aged couple walking by holding hands and sporting matching dove temporary tattoos on their faces. Something like longing filled me, but I wasn’t sure why. Uneasily, I turned back to Dominic.

  “I don’t believe Tawnya’s story,” I told him. “Chloe doesn’t feel dangerous to me … just confused and lost.”

  “So you came to help her. That’s cool.”

  “It’s not like I had a choice. Chloe is one persistent ghost.”

  “Still you could have walked away. But you didn’t and I admire that.”

  “Well …” The way he was staring at me made me a little dizzy. “It’s my last chance to help her.”

  “What can I do?” Dominic offered.

  “Driving me here was enough. I have to do the rest alone.”

  “I’ll st
ay nearby if you need me,” he said with sincerity.

  “Just don’t get too close to the cliff.” I meant this as a joke, but neither of us laughed and chills rose on my skin.

  While Dominic wandered over to the Freaks and Phantoms art display, I wondered how to privately contact Chloe in the midst of all this crazy activity. The earlier connection I’d felt with her had faded. So I headed for her center of energy, the pavilion.

  I hadn’t gone far when I heard someone call my name. Turning around, I was surprised to see Cathy hurrying toward me. After dreaming of her and Chloe last night, it was jarring to see Cathy as an elderly woman. As a young girl, her rich auburn hair had been styled in a flip, very different from her wispy, fluffed, pink, cotton candy hair. Now she seemed much smaller, a withered shadow of the robust girl who loyally stood by Chloe.

  “You aren’t wearing a Chloe T-shirt,” Cathy said with a mischievous grin that gave me a glimpse of the young girl she used to be.

  “Neither are you.” I pointed at her sweater and slacks.

  “Chloe won’t mind.” She laughed. “She’d love all this hoopla in her honor. She had such big dreams of being a star. But this isn’t how they should have come true.”

  I nodded sympathetically, then glanced down at the printed schedule. “Are you one of the friends scheduled to talk about her?”

  “Yes, and I’m so nervous about public speaking. I can’t believe I let Monique rope me into this. Thank goodness Teddy came along with me for moral support.”

  “He’s here?” I glanced around, but didn’t see any sign of Chloe’s former fiancé.

  “He went to get us some sodas. I was surprised when he decided to join me. He usually avoids the celebration like poison.”

  “Will you mention him in your talk?”

  “Heavens, no.” She shook her head fervently. “He’s a very private man and I would never embarrass him. I’ll talk about the fun things Chloe and I did together.”

  “Do you expect to see her ghost?” I asked.

  “No, although I’d love to,” Cathy answered with a sigh. “I’ve attended every celebration but haven’t even seen a ghostly glimmer. It hurts that Chloe shows herself to others, but not to me—her best friend. Maybe she blames me—”