by C. C. Hunter
The next thing I know Kelsey is moving in front of me. I see her eyes, bright with fury.
I try to pull her back, but she doesn’t budge.
She appears so mad that she can’t speak, but she lifts a finger and puts it in Candace’s face.
I see Candace’s eyes tighten into angry slits. I shoot between them again, hoping to stop an out-and-out fight.
But I’m too late, because Candace’s fist swings and lands right on my face.
Holy shit! Pain explodes in my eye socket, light explodes in my vision.
“What’s going on!” I hear someone yell. I’m pretty sure it’s the teacher, but I can’t respond. I have one hand against my eye and with the other I grab the back of my desk to keep from falling.
“Are you okay?” I hear her say. I think she’s talking to me, but I’m not able to answer. If I open my mouth, a whole slew of four letter words are going to spew out.
• • •
Twenty minutes later, the right side of my face is frozen. But at least I don’t feel it throbbing anymore. Keeping the ice pack on it, I open one eye and stare at the white ceiling of the school clinic. I’m reclined on the nurse’s table trying like hell to figure out what the frack I’m going to tell my dad.
I begged them not to call him, but nothing I said could stop them.
Shit! I can’t tell him about the casket. It would only hurt him.
I hear his voice in the front of the office and cringe. My mind races for what to say, but I don’t even know what kind of trouble I’m in. I was escorted straight to the nurse’s office and stayed here since the fight. I’m pretty sure that Kelsey and Candace were escorted to the principal’s office.
I’m not sure who’s luckier.
I hear Dad’s hurried footstep down the hall. I sit up, but keep the ice pack on my eye.
He storms in. Worry makes his gait stiff. “I don’t understand. What happened?”
“I uh . . . There was a fight and I got hit.”
“Who were you fighting?”
“I wasn’t fighting. Not really. I just . . .”
He moves closer. “Let me see your eye.”
I lower the ice pack, hoping it’s gone down since I took a peek at it in the bathroom mirror. If not, Dad’s going to . . .
“Oh, baby!” Dad says and from his panicked expression I get the idea it hasn’t gone down.
He looks back at the nurse who followed him in. “Do I need to take her to the doctor?”
“Honestly, I don’t think so. She says she can see just fine. I think it’s just a pretty good shiner. But I just got a call from the principal. She wants to see you.”
My spine draws tight. My heart shrinks two sizes.
Dad and I head to the office. I swear it’s like I’m walking the green mile. Students everywhere are staring at me. Or staring at my black eye.
“Are you in trouble?” Dad asks.
I shrug. “I don’t know.” My lips tremble. All I want to do is go home, crawl in my bed, and cry with my one good eye.
• • •
We are escorted right into the office. I swear my knees are shaking. I’ve never in all my life been summoned to the principal’s office. And my first time is with my dad. Sporting a shiner. How humiliating is that?
Don’t ask me why, but what scares me more is that they are going to tell Dad about the casket. Other than his last two job losses, which may or may not have been his fault, he’s always, always done his best by me.
If he thinks I’m getting made fun of because of him . . .
“Come in. Have a seat. I’m Ms. Hall, principal here,” she says. She looks at my eye and flinches.
I’ve never met Ms. Hall personally, but I’ve seen her walking the school. It’s hard not to notice her. She’s at least six feet tall, dark skin, and wears her hair in tightly woven dreads.
Dad and I take the two chairs opposite her desk. My dad starts in. “I really don’t know what happened, but I’ll say right up front that Riley has never been in trouble like this before. She’s a good kid.”
The fact that he’s defending me pulls at my heartstrings and makes me want to cry.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Smith. I already got the scoop and I’m aware that all Riley did was try to prevent a fight. The two other girls have been dealt with.”
Then bam, I can’t sit there and let them blame this on Kelsey. “It wasn’t Kelsey’s fault,” I blurt out. “Candace was . . . being ugly to me, and Kelsey stood up to her. Then Candace got even uglier to Kelsey. And Candace was the one who hit me.”
Ms. Hall nods. “I’m aware of that, too. But it sounds to me as if they both were antagonizing each other. I’m dealing with them. Don’t worry.”
I shake my head. “I have to worry. Because you should deal with Candace, not Kelsey. She didn’t do anything wrong.”
Dad reaches over and squeezes my arm. “Let’s let Ms. Hall do her job, baby.”
“But she’s wrong,” I say and my chest gets tighter. My lungs are about the size of golf balls.
I keep my mouth shut for fear I’ll start blubbering. Ms. Hall promises to take into account my complaint, but I’m betting she’s already dished out punishment.
We leave. Dad says he’ll drive me to school to tomorrow, because he’s worried about my eye. On the ride home, I hug the door and don’t speak. He lets me sulk, or does until we’re almost home. “Why was that girl ugly with you?”
I panic for one second and then answer. “Her best friend is the girl who thinks I’m after her boyfriend. They’re just a pack of mean bitches.”
• • •
“Man, I’d hate to see the other person.”
Asleep, I open my one eye—the second is swollen shut—and stare at Hayden who’s lying in bed with me again. I’m in such a pissy mood, I almost call him out on not announcing himself again.
I stop short of it and just say, “It’s not funny.”
He bites back a smile. “Seriously, what happened?”
“What does it look like happened?” I look at the clock. It’s almost time for Dad to be home. I probably should go fix some dinner, but then I think getting sucker punched should give me a kitchen pass.
Hayden’s eyes widen. “You really got into a fight? Really? I mean, I was teasing. I thought you . . . ran into a wall or something.”
I almost want to go with that, but I don’t have the energy to lie.
“No wall,” I say.
“Wow. Riley Smith is a badass. I didn’t have you pegged for that.”
“I’m not a badass. I just had the misfortune to have to deal with a badass who also happens to be a bitch.”
“Damn. What happened?” He lifts up and leans against the headboard.
“What always happens,” I say. Then I explain, “Everyone found out what Dad does and started giving me a hard time.”
“So you belted someone?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Kelsey, Bessie’s granddaughter, stood up for me. Then this bitch, Candace, got pissy with her. I got between them, hoping to prevent anyone from getting hurt and I got hit.”
“Hmm,” he says. “Sorry. She is a bitch.”
Something about the way he said that makes me think . . . “Do you know Candace or Kelsey?” I haven’t considered that he could be from here.
He hesitates. “They are the ones who were at the car show, right?”
“No. Well, Kelsey and Jami were there, but not Candace.” My eye throbs and I reach up and touch it. “Where are you from?”
“God’s country, of course,” he answers.
I study him, not sure if he means . . . ?
“From Texas.” He reaches up and touches my cheek. “That’s a pretty bad shiner. I know it hurts. Have you iced it?”
“Yes.” I look at him. “Have you had one before?”
“I’m a guy. We get them all the time.”
“So you’re a badass?” I ask. “I hadn’t pegged you for one.”
He laughs at me fo
r tossing his words back at him.
“Not really a badass. I just have allergies.”
“Allergies?”
“I’m allergic to assholes.”
I laugh. I can’t believe he got one out of me. Especially when it hurts to crinkle my face.
“Actually,” he says, “I’ve only been in three fights. My worst shiner I got from playing basketball. Elbowed right in the eye.” He stares at me. “You’re kind of cute with it.
“Please,” I say.
He laughs. “Really, the bluish-purple bruise brings out the color of your eyes.”
I shoot him the bird.
He chuckles. “See, you are a badass.” He adjusts the pillow behind him to get more comfortable. I swear he’s in my bed as if he has every right to be. Yet I’m not complaining.
“Help me!” The voice draws my attention at the same time the cold lifts goosebumps on my skin.
I look over and Abby is standing there, her back to me. I release a breath and see steam snake up in front of my face. She feels colder this time. It reminds me that Hayden isn’t cold.
“I want to help you,” I say. “What did you mean by the truth?”
“What?” Hayden asks, then looks around. “Is it Abby?”
I nod.
“Tell her if she can tell you where the ring is, I can go and make sure it’s still there. That way when we drive up there to get it, you’ll find it faster.”
I never told Hayden I’d do it. But right now doesn’t seem like the time to say that.
Abby turns around. I gasp and scoot my ass to the other side of the bed. Her face is . . . It’s bad. Bloody. There’s a deep gash on her cheek, one on her throat, and blood is pouring down her pale dress. Her arm is dangling downward, a bone is protruding out of her elbow.
I thought my eye was bad, but both of hers are bloody and swollen shut and one side of her head seems caved in, as if her whole cheek bone is crushed.
My heart hurts. My stomach lurches. I look away.
“What is it?” Hayden asks.
“She looks bad,” I say. This hasn’t ever happened. They always look nice. Nice like my dad leaves them.
Then I know this is what she looked like before Dad fixed her up. Instantly, my heart goes to my dad. How many times has he had to see death this ugly?
“You have to help me. Please,” she starts sobbing.
I try to look at her, but I can’t. It hurts to see her. I turn away again.
Right then a knock sounds at my door.
I hear it click open. “Riley? You okay?”
I swallow, turn to my dad peering inside my room, and try to hide the horror from my face. “Yeah.”
He stares at me and frowns. I hope it’s from my eye and not that he sees the sheer horror I’m feeling.
“How about we order Chinese tonight?”
I nod.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah.” I stand, refusing to look at Abby.
“You have to help me,” she pleads and her words cause a spasm of pain in my chest.
“I’ll order for us,” Dad says and moves out into the hall.
“Okay,” I manage. And I hear Dad’s footsteps tapping down the stairs.
I get to the hall. Then I get black spots in my eyes and for one second I’m not in my hall anymore.
I’m running.
I’m in the woods.
I’m on the edge of a high overhang.
I’m terrified.
I’m falling.
Holy shit!
I’m Abby.
Then I’m not.
I put a hand on the hall wall. Force air into my lungs
“What’s wrong?” I hear Hayden ask behind me. His arms come around me. I let him hold me. I need someone to hold me. Even if it’s a dead guy.
Somewhere in a distant part of my brain I recall he’s not cold. I swear he feels real. I need real.
Then Abby appears in front of me. “Please.” Blood runs out of her mouth as she speaks. Her cheek is cut so deep I see bone.
I sidestep around Abby and run into the bathroom.
I shut the door, rush to the toilet, and throw up my lunch of Rice Krispies Treats.
There’s no way I’m eating Chinese tonight.
Chapter Ten
Dad drops me off in front of my school the next morning. He told me I could stay home. But I know the longer I stay away, the harder it will be to go back. And I have to go back. There’s even a part of me that doesn’t want Candace to think I’m scared of her.
It’s true.
I’m not afraid of Candace. Not after what I felt last night. For that flicker of a second, I was Abby, I was falling off that ledge, and I knew I was going to die. The realization that she didn’t go quickly makes it worse.
Nope. Not scared of Candace. Now, what Abby went through . . . that scares me.
But holy shit, I don’t want that to happen again. Don’t want to feel what she felt. But I don’t think I can stop it either.
Well, there is one way. I can help her find the ring and whatever truth she needs. And to do that, I’m going to have to go to Lake Canyon State Park. I’m going to take Hayden up on his offer to go with me, too.
Yeah, I know he’s dead and he can’t really help me. But just his presence makes me feel . . . not so alone.
I turn around in the parking lot and watch Dad drive away. As I walk inside the school, I remind myself I only have six months left of high school. As the door swishes shut behind me, those six months feel like a prison sentence.
People turn and stare at me. I let them. I just keep walking, remembering that Hayden said I looked like a badass. I wear that shiner like a badge of honor.
I swear if someone says anything to me, I might shoot them the bird.
I put my books in my locker and head to auto tech. I walk in, step into my coveralls to keep the oil off my clothes, and turn around to be seated.
Everyone is staring. Mouths drop open. Haven’t they heard what went down? “Stop staring!” I say.
They don’t. So I do it. I shoot them the bird.
Laughter explodes. For some reason, so does my tension.
I spot Jacob and the empty seat beside him and go sit down.
When I lower myself in the desk, I see his expression of total discontent. I’m feeling pretty brave, so I just turn to him.
“Look, if you don’t want to be the one showing me the ropes, speak up! You afraid of Mr. Ash?” Yeah, I’m playing the badass card really good right now. But you have to go with it while you’ve got it.
His frown deepens. “I don’t mind.”
I cut him a cold look. “Then stop scowling at me.”
“I’m not . . .” He exhales. “This isn’t my scowling face. It’s my I’m sorry face.”
“Well, you need to work on your faces!” I say, glance away, and cross my arms.
I hear him chuckle. “I’ll try,” he says. “Look, I’m sorry about what happened yesterday.”
I glance back at him. “Why are you apologizing? You didn’t do this.”
“No, but I’m pretty sure my girlfriend—or rather, my ex-girlfriend—was behind it. She has this stupid idea that I have something for you.”
I didn’t miss the “ex” part or the “stupid” part, but I try not to react. I do digest what this means. Jami broke up with him. No wonder he’s not happy. I just hope he doesn’t blame me.
The next few seconds of silence get awkward.
Frankly, I didn’t know what to say, so I ask, “Are we doing a brake job today?” I don’t even look at him. Instead I inspect my nails. They still have a smidgen of grease on them from taking a starter motor off yesterday. A job I already knew how to do, by the way. But I’m not bragging.
“Yeah. Brake job.” He pauses. At least ten conversations are going on around us. Why is it I think we need to be talking?
He speaks up before I do. “I guess I need to say thank you, too.”
That draws my gaze ba
ck to him. He’s just full of surprises. When he doesn’t continue, I’m forced to ask, “For what?”
“For making me realize what a bitch Jami is. She had no right to put Candace up to that.”
I shrug and look back at my nails. “It’s not a big deal.”
He leans in and focuses on my eye. “It’s a pretty big deal.” He grins. “You actually look like a badass, wearing mechanic coveralls and sporting a shiner.”
The badass comment takes me right to Hayden. Hayden, who can’t attend school, because he doesn’t have a life anymore. My thoughts run wild just a second and I wonder if Hayden were alive if he’d be flirting with me.
I realize Jacob is still looking at me. “I’m not a badass,” I say. “I’m just a girl who needs to learn to bleed brakes.”
• • •
I actually learned something new in auto tech. Now when my car needs new brakes, I’ve got it covered. But I’m baffled about Jacob. He’s being too nice. Even called a guy out when he made some sly remark about me being careful not to break a nail. I recall what Dad said about him liking me. But then why would Jacob say Jami was “stupid” for having the same idea?
I go to lunch hoping to see Kelsey, but she isn’t there. The crazy cashier is super friendly again today. I wouldn’t have thought much about it if she’d commented about my eye, but nope, her comment is about dealing with difficult situations. What does she know about my situation?
While eating alone, I watch her cash out other people. She never speaks to any of them. What gives?
When I walk into history, Kelsey’s not there, but neither is Candace.
I sit down. Jami turns around and frowns at me. Just to confuse her, or maybe to piss her off, I smile and wave. I can’t help but wonder if it’s the black eye making me so nervy. Heck, if so, I think I finally understand why guys fight so much.
When Kelsey never shows, I start thinking about how unfair it is that she’s in trouble because of me. I can’t stand by and do nothing.
