Tomorrow school would begin again. Skylar was looking forward to mingling with the yearbook staff, particularly Carly. Being the photographer for the Yearbook Club was a baby step for Skylar in with the hierarchy of teenage life. Avoiding Samantha and her posse of scum would be tough but at least Trevor would be there—she hoped.
Helping Haley find friends for Haley, though, would be difficult even under the best circumstances.
“Hey, kiddo, let’s get you home,” her dad said, helping her from the chair.
“What time is it?”
“A little past nine. You’ve been out for a while. Your mom sends her love.”
Skylar kissed her sleeping mom on the forehead and left the room. She was so tired she’d forgot about her hospital paranoia. At her car, the cool air woke her. Stretching, she waved to her father as he climbed into his car as they both left for home.
Skylar woke a minute before the alarm was set to go off. She gathered her clothes and showered. After breakfast, she rounded up her school materials. With the camera hanging around her neck, she was headed out the door.
For once, Haley was waiting on the sidewalk. As usual, Haley had her nose in a new book.
“Do you have bionic eyes from reading so fast?”
“I just love reading. Sometimes I wish I could live the stories, be the characters in them.”
“Sort of like watching a movie and wanting to live in it.” She understood Haley’s desire.
“I wish you read more. We could have something in common.”
“We have lots in common, Haley,” she said, even as she realized they really didn’t have much at all.
“If you say so, boss.” Haley turned a page.
At school, Skylar parked in her normal spot. As they walked inside, Haley continued reading. In no mood to put up with anyone’s crap, Skylar prepared to take on anything or anyone.
To her surprise—and chagrin—Samantha was a no-show. According to the rumors, Samantha had a host of ailments. She was dead, had rabies, lost her hand, lost her arm, or was infected with a rare disease causing her skin to melt like microwaved butter.
The best rumor had been started by Skylar. Samantha had become crazed and uncontrollable from the bite, turning Samantha into an untamed, wild girl. She had been locked away in a psyche ward, bound in a straitjacket. The authorities believed that she would try to bite and turn anyone she came into contact with. The false story quickly became the number one topic in school, even spawning some even more horrific versions.
At lunchtime, she and Haley sat alone at their usual table. Today’s gourmet special was chicken sandwiches, fries, salad, and a brownie so thick that it tasted like sludge. They drenched everything in ranch dressing and Haley even covered her brownie in it.
“That’s just wrong,” Skylar said, grossed out.
“You—mmm, you don’t know what you’re missing.”
Skylar tried a bite and spat it out. Almost everything tasted better with ranch—brownies, not so much.
“Oh, but I think I do.”
Carly sat across from Skylar, dressed nicely as usual.
“Interesting,” Carly said in an unsure voice.
“It’s different,” Skylar responded, not knowing how else to defend their ranch obsession.
“Haley, right?”
Haley quickly nodded and answered, meek. “Yes.”
“Would you recommend I try ranch dressing on my lunch too?” Carly asked her.
A sheepish grin crossed Haley’s lips and she slid one of her dressings to Carly.
“You’re such a sweetheart.” Carly gave Haley a wink. She poured some on her fries and turned to Skylar. “Did you enjoy your weekend?”
Skylar was surprised when Carly tried a fry and appeared to enjoy it.
“It was interesting but fun. How about you?”
“Great. I spent yesterday recovering from too many deep-fried candy bars. Please tell me you tried at least one.”
“I did. The peanut butter cup one.”
“Oh my Gosh, that’s my favorite. We must be twins! How about you, Haley?”
“She wasn’t there. Stuck at home with the parents.” Skylar raised her eyebrows.
“Joy. Hey, I’m looking forward to seeing your pictures after school.”
“I’m looking forward to sharing them with you. I do have a confession to make,” she began to say, not wanting to disappoint Carly.
“I know. I heard what happened. You left early, it’s cool. No worries. I’m just glad my star photographer is safe.” Carly winked.
“Thanks. If I didn’t already have problems with that clique, I sure do now.”
“They’re scum, ignore them. Hey, I had another purpose for disrupting your lunch.”
“I . . . we’re glad you interrupted. As you can see, we have loads of friends,” she laughed.
“There’s one sitting here with you right now,” Carly dipped her sandwich into the dressing and appeared to enjoy the bite. “Friday night. Come to the movies with me, Skylar. And bring Haley. My sister will be there, too. It’ll be like a sister’s night out kind of thing.”
“Are you sure? We wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“Don’t be silly. And Abbey, my sis, is a reader like you, Haley.” Carly’s words lit Haley’s face like the rising sun.
“Okay, sounds good. Haley?” Skylar asked.
“Yes,” Haley replied.
“I hate to dip and run,” Carly dipped a fry in the dressing. “but I have stuff to get done, people to harass. Just a normal day. See ya’ll!”
“Bye,” Skylar said, and Haley gave her a quick wave.
“See, we’re fitting in already. And you might make a new friend yourself.”
“We’ll see. I still think we’re better off doing school from home.”
Ignoring Haley’s typical fear, Skylar wanted the day to end so she could see Carly. It felt great knowing that someone wanted to be her friend.
Wandering into the yearbook room, Skylar waited anxiously for Carly’s arrival. Several of the yearbook staff looked over at designs and typed on computers.
When Carly walked in, she motioned for Skyler to follow her to a desk.
“Does seven thirty sound good? The movie starts at eight.”
“Sure, I can’t wait.” Skylar set the camera down and Carly took it, examining the photos.
“Let’s see, here.”
Carly was so business-like that Skylar couldn’t tell if she liked or hated them.
Skylar nervously tapped her foot and bit her lip as Carly removed the disk from the camera, inserted it into her tablet and transferred the pictures. She handed the camera back to Skylar.
“Excellent job, Skylar, I never doubted your instinct for photography.”
“Thanks! I tried my best. I’m still learning all the functions, so I’ll get better.”
“Let’s see, nothing much happening this week. Just take any photo-ops you spot. The first football game isn’t until next Friday. Sorry, I know you have the sheet I gave you. Sometimes I get ahead of myself wanting everything to run smoothly.”
“Yeah, I understand that. So . . . you liked the ranch huh?” Skylar rolled her eyes for asking such a dumb question.
“You two are different. I really like that. And yes, quite delicious.”
“Carly,” a girl called.
“Coming, Abbey,” Carly responded. “Gotta go. See you at the movie.”
“Definitely,” Skylar said with enthusiasm.
The rest of the school week went splendidly. Of course, there were the evil stares and comments from Brad and Samantha’s friends, but she didn’t care. She snapped the occasional photo and Carly joined them at lunch several times. Carly told Haley that her sister was excited to meet her. Samantha still hadn’t returned to school. There was also no more unusual activity at her old house.
They visited Morgan every day. She’d had no unusual visitors, and her spirits were high now that she was back in the wilderness, unshackle
d. Skylar kept waiting for Morgan to talk with Haley about not joining her, but she hadn’t broached the subject. Skylar assumed she was waiting on purpose.
They continued to formulate a plan for avoiding The Fathers deadline. It didn’t help that Trevor had been out of school all week. She’d texted several times, but he said he couldn’t come out of hiding without putting himself and them in danger.
Skylar wanted to see that journal.
Skylar’s mom was making a full recovery. Skylar still didn’t know how the sadistic maniac had poisoned her. Friday, Skylar and Carly made final plans to meet at the theatre to see a new animated movie that looked cute. But first, Skylar and Haley went to visit Morgan.
Walking along the trail to the cabin, Skylar stopped. “Haley.”
“What?”
“Remember what we talked about?”
“I won’t say anything about Carly and Abbey.”
“I’m proud of you.”
“What for?”
“Taking a risk tonight. I have a good feeling about it.”
“When Morgan can finally join us for real it, won’t matter. In the meantime, I’ll try to be nice, like you.”
“One day, I’m sure Morgan will understand if you want a friend.”
“I don’t want any besides you two.”
Haley’s reasoning’s worried Skylar. She feared Haley was so attached to them as a pack that she couldn’t grasp being with others. Yet, she had shown glimpses of hope when Carly had mentioned her sister’s love for books.
Catching up to Haley, they walked into an open prairie, the flowers and grass transitioning to their dormant state as fall neared. It made her think about the three of them coming to an end once Morgan left forever.
Something hit Skylar in the back.
“Ouch!” Skylar whipped around.
“That hurt,” Haley pouted.
Pine cones lay on the ground. Another headed for her, and she dodged it. Haley slapped one out of the air. Skylar looked to the trees and spotted Morgan standing on a branch, her shirt pulled up as a makeshift a basket holding the sharp weapons.
“Hey, you brat!” Skylar said, grabbing a pine cone and aiming at Morgan. Unfortunately, the pine cone lost velocity and hit the tree several feet below.
Haley joined in and together they defended against Morgan’s barrage, but her height in the tree gave her the advantage.
“Queen of the wilds!” Morgan hollered and climbed down.
“Queen of the cheat!” Skylar yelled.
“Yeah no fair,” Haley tossed her pinecone into the air and kicked it.
“I’m starfed. I’m going on a hunt, unless you bringed me Thai!” Morgan rubbed her belly.
“I forgot, sorry. Tomorrow, a double portion, promise.” Skylar felt bad.
“You two stay here or come back tomorrow. I gone long timed.”
“Can I come along, Morgan? Please, I want to hunt with you!” Haley begged.
“No,” Morgan said, glancing at Skylar and back to Haley. “I don’t want yous to.”
Morgan ran off into the woods roaring out a haunting howl.
The small denial from Morgan, Skylar realized, was the beginning of her plan for Haley.
“She’s upset with me. I must have disobeyed her.” Haley hung her head.
“She’s regressing. Once everything is back to normal, we’ll get back on track with our plan for her. Okay?” She wanted to spare Haley’s feelings.
“It still hurts.” Haley cuddled up to Skylar’s shoulder.
“I know, sweetie, I know,” Skylar said, wondering if Morgan was really on a hunt, or watching and waiting for them to leave.
Driving to the storage shed, Haley looked blankly out the window instead of turning to her book for comfort. After switching vehicles, Skylar spotted the black SUV a mile down the road.
She braked, coming to a stop in front of it. The windshield was too tinted to see who was inside, but she already knew. Debra and Jake were likely still trying to locate Morgan.
Skylar wanted to get as far from them as possible. Haley didn’t ask why they’d stopped—she appeared to be in her own world. Checking the mirror, Skylar watched as the SUV turned and tailed them.
“Tracking them?” Haley asked.
“Huh?” She said confused.
“When we were at that black rig, I briefly heard them talking about tracking us.”
Skylar almost swerved off the road, “How the hell did you hear that, Haley?”
“Dunno, just did.”
“We’re going to lose them.” She pressed the accelerator.
Skylar neared eighty miles an hour on the straightaway. She knew she’d have an easier time navigating the upcoming twists and turns versus the bulky vehicle behind. They were catching up, but she didn’t care. That was part of her game.
“Skye!”
“Hold on!”
Skylar braked and took the first corner. Tires squealed, the rear of the car fishtailed, and she increased speed. Rounding corner after sharp corner, another straight portion of the road was ahead. Haley looked sick.
“You okay?” Haley shook her head.
There was no sign of the SUV in the mirror until Skylar skidded at a stop sign. Blazing through, she zigzagged through town. Checking the time, they still had four hours before meeting Carly, and Skylar was hungry.
Inside the Thai cafe, her favorite employee was working the counter.
“How may I help you?”
“I’ll take a Panang Curry with Tofug-I mean tofu and extra bamboo shoots.” Skylar held her laughter.
“And for you?” Doug asked Haley with a sneer.
“What’s that dish Mor—”
Skylar slapped her hand over Haley’s mouth.
“She’ll take the glass noodles in garlic soy sauce and chicken.”
“Yeah, that one.” Haley sat at a table.
“Is that all?”
“Two Thai iced teas also,” Skylar added.
“Twenty-five even,” Doug said, donning the tofu hat.
Skylar couldn’t hold back any longer and let out a laugh.
“Tofug, stop it, please!”
She dropped the money onto the counter, and he started laughing along with her.
“It’s so funny, isn’t it?” he laughed even harder.
“I really feel bad they make you wear that stuff.”
Her eyes widened as Tofug looked at his cell phone and turned it for her to see. He still had the picture he took of her with the cotton up her nose and the clothespin cinching it closed. She tried to grab the phone, but he was too fast.
“Have you shown anyone?” Skylar asked, hoping no one had seen it.
“Order up!” Doug attached the order to a clip on a metal wheel and spun it to face the kitchen.
“Doug? Come on, delete it, please?” She begged.
He looked past her to Haley.
“I’ll discuss my terms at a date to be determined. Now, if you would kindly take your seat, I have other customers to serve,” Doug turned his attention to the next people in line.
Skylar had no response to Doug’s insinuation of wanting a date with Haley. Just as she sat, the Thai Tea was served, and she took a long sip of the sweet drink.
Haley snapped her fingers “Skylar? Hello? Are you in heat again?” she asked in a hushed voice. Skylar was focused on only one thing—Doug’s terms.
Carly and Abbey were waiting for them at the ticket booth. Carly had already purchased everyone’s tickets. After Skylar thanked her, Carly introduced them to Abbey, who wore glasses and her brown hair two pony tails. Instead of saying hello, Haley hid behind Skylar. Even stranger—Abbey did the same.
“Are we ready for a great time, or what?” Carly asked.
“I’m so ready! Haley?”
Haley nodded, her eyes glued to Abbey.
“Abbey?”
Her sister only stared at Haley.
“I think we’re ready,” Skylar giggled.
So did Carly.
“I’m glad we could do this. Abbey has no friends, and Haley seemed like a perfect fit.”
“I have to agree. I appreciate your kindness.”
“Anytime. So how long have you lived here again?”
“Two years, both of us have. We were homeschooled. Grew up together, you know, in the backwoods of pig country,” she said, as they entered the theatre.
The seats were set-up stadium style and they followed Carly to the top. The view was spectacular with everyone else seated below. The theatre was roughly a quarter full, and more people with children were filing inside.
“Gah, who cares where you lived, I mean it’s the person that counts right?”
“I know, right?”
They sat Haley and Abbey next to each other, with a single separating Skylar from Haley.
“Carly?” Abby said.
“Guess what? I forgot popcorn, candy and drinks,” Carly exclaimed.
“Oh, I can stay and—”
“Come with me. Give them some time.”
Skylar whispered in Haley’s ear. “Talk to her, okay. For me? I’ll be right back with something peachy for you if they have it.” Skylar rubbed her head against Haley’s.
She and Carly made their way to the concession stand. The lines were long but moving fast. So, this was what making friends felt like. Skylar wanted to cry.
“I hear they’re still searching for that girl that bit Samantha.”
“They are?” Skylar stammered, acting clueless.
“Yeah, but I hope she’s never caught. She protected you and took a chunk out of that nasty Samantha. I’m team Morgan,” Carly nudged Skylar with her shoulder.
“Me too.” She nudged Carly back.
“So, what are you into?”
“I like my car.”
“She’s sweet, for sure.”
“I don’t know. I like most television shows. If you can tell, I haven’t gotten out much.”
“We’ll fix that, don’t worry.”
They loaded up with buttered popcorn, peanut butter cups, two sodas and some peach-flavored gummy candies for Haley. They were about to return to the theatre when Carly stopped.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure, anything.”
“Are you into Trevor?”
Carly’s question made her almost drop all the food.
“No. I mean yes . . . I don’t know. He seems nice, but I haven’t really talked to him much.”
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