When Kristin walked away from her locker, my line of sight fell on my teammate opening hers. Should I or shouldn’t I help Jody? The question ping-ponged through my mind as Kenny, the guy whose backpack I’d carried a couple weeks ago, opened his locker next to Jody’s. At least he was finally off his crutches.
Why was everyone’s wellbeing suddenly on my radar, anyway? It wasn’t fair.
Shutting my own locker hard, I turned and stalked off to my car to get my gear for practice.
During the first half of practice, I managed to stay focused and worked extra hard throughout the drills. I’d hoped the exertion would expel some of the frustration that simmered inside me every time Jody entered my line of sight. Then scrimmages started.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to not look at a soccer player while you’re scrimmaging each other? Especially one who’s a leading scorer and you’re playing goalie? Watching Jody’s dark head buzzing all around was like an annoying hangnail that wouldn’t stop snagging on everything, tearing deeper and deeper.
“Nara!” Coach yelled down the field. “Sophia needs some time in the goal. Take the sweeper position.”
The change Coach made meant I’d be the last defender between Jody and the goal. As I pulled off my goalie gloves, I realized I’d just been given another way to help my teammate. I was going to yank this hangnail until it bled.
When the opposing players passed the ball down the field and Jody took possession, my heart thudded and my leg muscles tensed. I was ready.
Another player stole the ball from Jody, but then her teammate got it back, punting it down the field to Jody once more.
Jody’s shorter stature made her lightning fast on the field. She quickly dodged one of the fullbacks before sprinting straight toward me.
I could’ve met her head on, but I wanted to approach from behind, so I let her think she’d beat me as she zoomed by.
Pivoting, I quickly sprinted after her, then bent my right leg as I slid my left one between her feet in an aggressive slide tackle. Yeah, I admit it. I went for her cleats and not so much the ball. Illegal, all the way.
As Jody tumbled forward, Coach’s whistle screeched across the field.
“Nara! What the hell was that?”
“Not cool, Nara,” a couple players mumbled as Coach jerked his finger toward the bench with a deep scowl. “You’re out the rest of practice for dangerous play.”
Glancing at Jody, who was rubbing her ankle and glaring at me with hateful eyes, I stood up and held my hand out to her, saying in a sincere tone, “I’m sorry, Jody. It’s been a while since I’ve slide tackled. Are you okay?” I didn’t mean to seriously injure her. I was just hoping to bruise her enough that she’d decide to skip her horseback riding lesson today.
“What does it look like to you?” Ignoring my offer to help her, she pushed herself up. As she began to hobble around and test her ankle, she stopped briefly and snapped at me, “Aren’t you supposed to be on the bench?”
After practice, I sat in my car listening to the radio and worrying my bottom lip until it felt twice the size of my upper one. All I’d accomplished during practice was to piss Jody and Coach off. I’d be lucky if I got to play in the next game.
As I watched Jody kick off her flops and pop open her trunk, tension made my shoulders and neck ache. When my cell phone rang, I turned down the radio and welcomed the distraction that kept me from making a final decision. “Hello?”
“How was school?”
I was surprised to hear from Ethan, but my heart ramped at the sound of his voice. “Boring. How’d the roof repairs go?”
“Done.”
He sounded tired and relieved. “Now you can come back to boring old school tomorrow.”
“School’s never boring with you around.”
“Ditto,” I said feeling warm inside, but my attention snapped back to Jody when I saw her pull another bag and her riding boots out of the trunk. “Listen, I’ve got to go. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”
“Wait.”
I paused. “Yes?”
“I wanted to talk about our history project.”
Jody had opened her passenger door and set the bag and boots inside. My stomach churned. “Well…I—”
“I was thinking maybe we should pick a different angle on war than the teacher would expect. The U’s library should have resources—”
“Ethan.” Jody had opened her car door.
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry, but I’ve got something I need to do. We’ll talk about this tomorrow in study hall, okay? Bye.” I hung up before he could say anything else.
I’d just opened my car door, when my radio’s sound bumped up. Frowning, I reached over to turn it off and the digital numbers started flickering in and out. The radio station switched at such a rapid pace that all I heard was a snippet, “Do—” before the station moved again.
“—not.”
And another station buzzed in.
“—enter.”
Annoyed, I pushed the button, but the radio didn’t turn off.
“—ear”
My heart slammed my ribcage and I pounded on the button harder. But the radio kept up its station selection schizophrenia, blaring out in rapid succession.
“Don’t.”
“Enter.”
“Fear.”
Freaking, I jerked my keys out of the ignition to cut off the power. Instant silence filled my car, but the hairs on my arms stood on end. I clenched my shaking hands into fists, welcoming the pain as my keys dug into my skin. What the hell?
When Jody’s car light’s flicked on and I heard the engine roar to life, I couldn’t let her go without trying. Jumping out of my car, I hurried over and knocked on her window.
Jody jammed her hand through her spiky, sweaty hair, then rolled down the glass with an annoyed grunt. “What do you want?”
Wiping my suddenly damp palms on my shorts, I said, “I’m sorry about practice.”
“You did that on purpose, Nara.” She scowled. “What’s your deal? You’ve been acting so weird lately.”
“Nothing. I just…really am sorry.” As Jody started to roll up her window, panic set in. “Um, I also wanted to say—” An icy shaft of air shot through me, stealing my breath and making my scalp itch. I shivered and smoothed the stray hairs floating around my face as I tried to think what to tell her or how to stop it.
“What?”
Her impatience made me anxious. She’d think I was nuts if I told her the truth. “Just…be careful riding.”
Rolling her eyes, she zipped the window closed.
When her car shot out of the parking lot, the tire’s squealed like she couldn’t get away fast enough.
Chapter Eleven
“Nara.”
Jody called my name as I walked into school after first bell. I moved to the side and waited for her to catch up.
Stepping beside me, she spoke in a low voice, “You, uh…kinda freaked me out yesterday.”
I quickly glanced at her head to see if she had a bandage or a lump on it. “I’m sorry about that, I was just—”
“No, no, that’s not it.” She waved her hand impatiently. “I’m trying to say thanks. You looked so upset, it bugged me a little, so last night I took it easier than I usually would’ve.” Rubbing her shoulder, she winced. “Good thing, too. My horse’s saddle strap slipped and I was thrown.”
Feigning surprise, I said, “Oh, no. Are you okay?”
She started to shrug, then flinched. “I landed on my shoulder, but it could’ve been much worse if I’d been in a full gallop when it happened—” Pausing, her eyes drilled into me. “How’d you know?”
“Know what?”
“How’d you know that I’d get hurt?”
My face heated, but I tried to sound casual. “I—I didn’t. I just felt bad that I might’ve hurt you during practice.”
Doubt reflected in her face. “No, you said to be careful—”
�
�Hey Jody,” Janelle from our team called as she walked in the door. “Heard you got hurt yesterday.”
Waving to her, Jody returned her attention to me, but I thumbed toward the locker hall and turned in that direction. “Gotta head to my locker. See you later.”
Jody frowned after me, but I wasn’t hanging around for more questions. It had taken me eons to fall asleep last night. I couldn’t quit thinking about what had happened with my car radio, to the point I’d sat up in bed and jotted down what I’d heard: Don’t. Enter. Fear. When I read them aloud, that’s when the meaning finally lined up in my mind. Don’t Interfere!
The words had been purposeful and clear. Had whatever it was also tried to block the bathroom door that day I’d helped Kristin? It was hard to believe I’d imagined a jammed bathroom door suddenly swinging free. What else could it be? Questions kept turning over in my mind.
When I did finally fall asleep, I’d dreamed about my day today. Yet again Ethan wasn’t in my dream, which put me on edge. I really hoped he’d be here, because my day wasn’t going to start off very well.
The moment I saw Ethan leaning against my locker, holding a hardcover binder, pure elation shot through me, chasing away my anxiety about this morning. Instead of his usual Chucks, he wore black army boots, faded jeans, a heather gray t-shirt and an authentic-looking army green jacket. The look was laidback yet tough and it made me want to suggest we ditch school and just hang.
“Hey.” I smiled and hitched my heavy backpack higher up my shoulder. “You got some sun. How was the game?”
“The game was great,” he said, moving out from in front of my locker. “How was your weekend?”
“We bought a new couch.” I kept my tone upbeat, even as I dreaded opening my locker.
“Aren’t you going to put your backpack away?” he asked when I just stared at my locker.
I shot a quick glance at the crowd hanging near the other end of the hall, resenting their furtive looks. “Nah. The latch jammed on me yesterday. I’ll um, do it later.”
Ethan gestured to the door. “Unlock it. Let me see if I can get the latch to work.”
I couldn’t avoid opening my locker forever. I needed two books for upcoming classes. My stomach cramped as I slowly spun the combination. The moment I started to lift the lock, Ethan stepped close, saying, “Here, let me do it.”
“Wait—” I tried to move in front of him, but he crowded me out of the way, pulling up on the latch before I could stop him. When he swung my door open, and I heard a hard thump, I leaned around his broad shoulders. A huge red paint blob covered the hard binder he’d held in front of his chest. Paint was also spattered on his jacket and fingers. My heart tripped with guilt. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry.”
Ethan’s jaw muscle jumped as he set the paint-stained binder on top of the lockers, then reached inside my locker. Groans of disappointment filtered from down the hall. I turned my narrowed gaze on Jared, Miranda and Sophia standing with a group of football players. Apparently, they weren’t happy their paintball booby-trap hadn’t pegged me. Lainey had just walked up. She looked confused when she glanced my way, then turned to fuss at Jared.
People’s steps slowed. They were intrigued by the growing drama, wanting to know what had captured the popular crowd’s attention.
I heard a loud crack, and then broken pieces of a paintball pistol slid diagonally across the hall floor toward their group. I glanced at Ethan in surprise. He stood with his fists clenched. A hulking football player stepped out of the group of pranksters, his dark features twisted in a scowl. “That was my gun, asshole!”
He’d started to cross the short distance between us, but a bleached-blonde girl stepped in front of him. Whispering something in his ear, she pointed further down the hall to the group of curious onlookers. Kurt’s face turned beet red when he realized the girl was pointing at him. I couldn’t believe it…the girl was Lila.
The football player’s attention shot from Kurt to Ethan, wariness reflecting in his dark eyes. Grunting, he turned back toward his buddies, then paused to yell at the crowd watching, “What the hell are you looking at?”
“Mr. Brewer.” Principal Wallum stepped out from behind a tall guy, addressing the running back in a stern tone. “My office. And bring that gun you’re so fond of with you.”
Everyone began to scatter the moment they heard Mr. Wallum’s voice. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Lila casually stroll to her locker, which happened to be five lockers down from mine. Before she opened the door, she glanced at Kurt walking past, eyeing the bruised hump on his broken nose. As she turned back to her locker, she caught me staring at her. A slight yellowish bruise traced her jawbone.
Even though I wasn’t sure what to say, I felt the need to say something. “I—” but she cut me off with a quick jerk of her chin toward Kurt as he turned the corner then walked down another hall. Her gaze lingered on Ethan for a second before it slid back to me.
“Jay doesn’t look any better,” she said, her lips curving in a pleased smirk. “Consider us even.”
Ethan’s warmth radiated directly behind me. After Lila walked away, I glanced over my shoulder and whispered, “By lunchtime it’ll be all over the school that you beat up Kurt and Jay.” More fuel added to the rumors already circling about him. Could the guilt be slathered on any thicker?
His expression was as dark as it had been the day he’d saved me in the woods. “I don’t care what people think about me as long as they leave you—”
When he paused, I quickly turned. He looked tense and had just put his hand on his forearm when I touched his shoulder. “Ethan?” Another terrifying image flared in my mind—this time a wrinkled, emaciated face with hundreds of razor sharp teeth. I swallowed a gasp. Even as the rational part of my brain said Ethan was the source, I shoved the logic and the fear away. He’d just protected me, saved me from harm. “Are—are you okay?”
“Yeah.” He swallowed, lowering his hand to his side. “I just want people to leave you alone.”
I searched Ethan’s serious gaze, but I couldn’t quite get the image I’d just seen out of my mind. The way he’d acted, shielding me when I’d tried to stop him from opening my locker, it was like…he knew. “How did you know about the paint gun?”
“I didn’t know about—”
“Don’t deny it,” I shot back.
When he didn’t respond, my heart began to pound and the concern I’d just shoved to the dark recesses of my mind began to glimmer. “You knew,” I insisted. The bell suddenly rang and I wanted to scream, “Not now, you stupid bell!”
Ethan turned and quickly grabbed a couple books from the haphazard stack in his locker.
“Ethan.”
Pausing, he leaned close. His unique outdoorsy smell surrounded me as he spoke in a tense tone next to my ear, “Later. In study hall.”
His comment put me on edge. “You’re going to tell me, right?”
“Study hall.” He backed away, his lips set in a grim line.
The rest of the day moved like sap trickling down a tree. I could’ve sworn the clock’s red second hand was stuck permanently one second before the end of every class. My thoughts spun. Beyond wondering how Ethan knew about the booby trap, I finally acknowledged the thoughts that had been simmering in the back of my mind. How did Ethan seem to know what I was thinking half the time? It was like he knew me better than I knew myself. The doubts about Ethan that I’d dismissed in the past, especially after I’d seen those freaky images when I’d touched him, rushed forward, along with a creepy, apprehensive feeling. Was Ethan psychic? And what did those images have to do with him?
I was so focused on my thoughts about Ethan that I hadn’t given much thought to what had almost happened to me this morning, or the fact that Lainey’s boyfriend had played a part in it. At least, not until I walked into study hall and saw her sitting with Jared.
Ethan’s protectiveness made me reconsider my friendship with Lainey. She hadn’t looked thrilled that Jar
ed and his friends were responsible for “painting” me, yet she hadn’t sought me out to apologize for them either. How had we drifted so far apart?
“Hey, Nara, you know this morning was just a joke, right? No hard feelings,” Jared said as I started to pass them. He flashed me his classic, I’m-so-goodlooking-you’ll-agree-with-anything-I-say smile.
Lainey’s face was tense and pale. She looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her in one big gulp. Instead of anger, I felt sorry for her. I hoped she’d eventually figure out what a self-centered idiot Jared was.
I shrugged. “No biggie.”
Beaming, Jared hooked his arm around Lainey’s slumped shoulders. “See, Lane. She’s cool.”
“See you at practice, Lainey,” I said, hoping she knew I didn’t blame her. I was just sad our friendship was suffering.
While I waited for Ethan at an empty table in the corner, I opened my math book and was surprised to see a piece of folded notebook paper tucked inside the front cover. Pulling the paper out, I read the note my mother had written.
Inara, I had a great time in Farmville. We should go on another trip. Maybe to Williamsburg? I hope you’re happy with the new couch, since you spend more time on it than me. Ha! I wanted to let you know that I’m coming to your game this week. Aren’t you glad?
Mom
Laying the paper down on the table, I smoothed the crease with my finger and then reread it three times, my heart swelling. Tracing my fingertips over my mother’s intricately swirled writing, I marveled at her penmanship—mine had sharp points and thin lines, resembling a chicken on crack. The fluttery feeling in my chest made me lightheaded. After sending me hundreds of text messages over the past few years, Mom had no idea how much this handwritten note meant to me.
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