“Oh, that? I tripped. He caught me.”
I didn’t want to talk about it. With anyone. I wanted to take that moment, wrap it up into a sweet little memory, and keep it close to me, to have it readily available to pull out and remember fondly when I needed something warm to hold onto. I had a lot of those with Mom, and they are my anchors in my lowest times.
“Uh huh,” Abby said with disbelief. “Did you kiss him?”
“What?” My eyes nearly bulged from their sockets, and my breaths came in sharp bursts. This was exactly the kind of rumor that would spread like a virus through school. “No.” I punctuated the word with a hard shake of my head.
“Did he hold your hand?” Her eyes were wild with excitement.
“No.”
“Did he ask you out?”
“No.”
That wasn’t a lie, so I didn’t feel bad about not telling her that he was going to pick me up for school Monday morning. She’d find that out when it happened, and by then, it would be too late for her to ask a million and one questions.
“Are you going to see him again?” Abby sat on her bed cross-legged, all but bouncing with glee.
“I’m sure I will. We do go to the same school.”
“You know that’s not what I mean. Oh! We could double date! Marc would love that!”
My throat constricted. Trent suggested I stay away from Marc, and I had no reason to disagree. But how could I tell Abby I thought her boyfriend was creepy?
“Can we talk about this later? I really do have a lot of homework,” I said.
“Yeah, sure.” Her entire body slumped with disappointment, and she pouted, her bottom lip sticking out at least a mile.
I smiled as I left her room. Asking too many questions must run in the family. I suddenly had a new appreciation for what I’d put Trent through on the drive home.
When I got into my room, I locked the door and leaned against it, letting out a long, pent up breath.
Exhaustion seeped through my pores and settled into my bones. Thank God it was the weekend. I yawned so hard tears formed in the corners of my eyes. I wiped at them, then trudged over to my desk to get started on my homework.
I sat and opened my laptop. Dropping my face into my hands, I sat like that for a few minutes. I didn’t want to do anything that required any thinking. So, instead of doing any actual homework, I brought up a search engine and typed in, “Keene Valley.”
Pages upon pages of websites popped up, including a blog written by a local resident. I dug a notebook and pen from my backpack and jotted down notes about the history of the town. When I happened upon the town’s official website, I bookmarked it so I could come back later and click through all the links.
For the next hour, I read website after website, gathering as much research as I could. When I didn’t find much else I could use, I searched for “history of Keene Valley.” Finally, I found an article that mentioned Benjamin Payne.
After writing down more notes, I bookmarked that site, too, then searched for “Benjamin Payne.” A lot of current social media profiles popped up, but nothing about the man who’d settled in Keene Valley. How were Trent and I supposed to write about a man who didn’t seem to exist?
Narrowing my search even more to include “Benjamin Payne and Keene Valley,” I was met with the same frustrating results, but I scanned through them anyway until I happened upon a site I hadn’t read yet. I clicked the link.
Halfway through the article, I froze. My gaze was locked on the photographs of the town’s early settlers.
Staring back at me was an eerily similar image of Trent. The only noticeable difference was a crescent-shaped mark above the man’s left eye.
My heart stopped, and all the breath rushed from my lungs. No way. Leaning closer, I squinted at the caption under the picture. Sean Halstead, 1829. The resemblance between Trent and his long-dead ancestor was uncanny. I rubbed the goose bumps from my arms.
My suspicions about Trent were right. He wasn’t as new here as he pretended. I slumped back in my chair. No wonder Trent knew so much—I’d bet anything his ancestors probably knew Benjamin Payne.
By the time I heard Aunt Beth calling me down to dinner, my eyes burned, and my head throbbed with a dull ache. My stomach growled.
I powered off my laptop, stretched, and then headed downstairs. Everyone was already there, and I took my seat next to Abby.
Tonight’s dinner was homemade pizza and chicken wings. Mom and I used to order pizza every Wednesday night and stay up late watching horror movies.
“So, how was school today?” Uncle Dean asked as he served the pizza with a spatula.
No one had ever done that for me before. It was kinda weird.
“Boring.” Abby loaded her plate with wings.
“It was good,” I said.
Uncle Dean set a slice of pepperoni pizza onto my plate. Cheese oozed off the crust and pooled on the plate—exactly the way I liked it.
“We were assigned our final papers in World History, and I’m excited to get started,” I said.
“What’s the assignment?” Aunt Beth asked.
“We have to choose a piece of Keene Valley history and write a paper about it.” I took a bite of pizza and chewed slowly, savoring the taste.
“I’m pretty sure that was the same assignment I had to do back when I was in school.” Aunt Beth laughed. “What’s your topic?”
“Benjamin Payne. I guess he was the first guy to settle in this area. There’s a ton of information online about this town. It’s a little overwhelming.” I took another, bigger bite, letting the cheesy goodness tango with my taste buds.
“I’m not surprised. Small towns like this don’t usually have a lot of information online. You should check the library.” Aunt Beth wiped her fingers on her napkin.
“What’s your topic, Abby?” Uncle Dean asked.
Abby kicked my leg under the table, and I winced. I’d forgotten she’d skipped class. I hadn’t meant to say something that could get her into trouble.
“Um, I haven’t decided on a topic yet,” she said.
“I’m sure Chloe will help you pick.” Aunt Beth smiled warmly in my direction.
I set my pizza down. “Is there a town historian?”
“Ms. Maggie. She’s also the librarian. She’d be the one to talk to,” Uncle Dean said.
“The school librarian?”
Aunt Beth shook her head. “No, the town librarian.” She reached for another slice of pizza. “I’m pretty sure they’re open this evening. You and Abby can go after dinner if you want.” She turned her attention to her daughter. “Maybe you’ll find inspiration for a topic while you’re there.”
I took a drink of my lemonade and then plopped a few chicken wings on my plate. I finished my slice and all my wings before reaching for more. I could successfully polish off an entire medium pizza by myself—that was my one and only claim to fame as far as I was concerned.
“You up for that?” I asked Abby.
She licked pizza sauce from her finger. “I am not spending my Friday night at the library.” She sneered the words as if they were repulsive to her.
“Okay. Whatever you want to do,” I said, not wanting to start an argument with her.
I’d just do more research on my laptop. I could do a search for the Halsteads and see what came up. I still couldn’t believe Trent had such a strong connection to this town.
He baffled me, and I wanted to spend more time getting to know him, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d put up this wall between us, like he was trying to hide something from me.
And Monday when he picked me up, I was going to find out what and why.
CHAPTER EIGHT:
Frenemies
“C’MON, CHLOE! HURRY UP,” ABBY SHOUTED from the bottom of the stairs.
Groaning, I grabbed my messenger bag and headed downstairs. I was not looking forward to spending the day with Abby, Marc, Rachel, and who knew who else. Being that girl who s
pent the entire weekend doing homework and studying was starting to sound really good.
As soon as I reached the bottom of the stairs, Abby frowned. “You’re wearing those?” She pointed at my feet.
“What’s wrong with flip flops? It’s supposed to be warm today, right?”
I already knew the answer to that—she’d spent a good hour last night convincing me it would be warm enough to swim. Unless the temperatures spiked into the nineties, I was not getting in the water, but I packed my swimsuit and a towel to make her happy. Plus, I really missed wearing flip-flops; they were my go-to shoe choice in Florida.
“Nothing, but they’re going to be useless during the hike there,” she said.
“The hike there?” I narrowed my eyes. “I thought we were driving?”
She laughed. “We are, but then it’s a short hike to get to the falls. You really should wear sneakers. Put the flip flops in your bag.”
I grumbled under my breath, then turned to go back upstairs. Abby yelled at me to hurry. I ignored her and took my time.
Ten minutes later, I stood in the kitchen while Abby packed a bag full of snacks.
“Be safe today,” Aunt Beth said. “Four kids from Lake Placid went missing a few days ago, and they still haven’t been found.” She looked back and forth between me and Abby. “Stay together and be aware of your surroundings.”
Abby groaned. “Seriously, Mom. No one is going to snatch us and run. We’ll be fine.”
“It’s my job to worry. So, be safe and keep your cell phone on.” She gave Abby a pointed look.
“I will,” Abby said.
“Good.” Aunt Beth clasped her hands in front of her, and her grin widened. “Don’t you be afraid to have fun today, Chloe. It’s good for you to make friends and enjoy life. It’s what your mom would want for you.”
“Mom,” Abby half whined, half groaned.
“Sorry, sorry.” She held up her hands. “I’m just so happy to see you two getting along so well.”
“We’re out of here before you start crying.” Abby gave her mother a kiss on the cheek, and then she grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the house.
“Is there a reason we’re going to Bushnell Falls instead of the big waterfall on Route 73?”
“Because you can’t swim at Roaring Brook Falls. And because Rachel is terrified of heights and refuses to go there.” Abby tossed our bags in the trunk. “Don’t worry. Today is going to be a blast.”
“So, who else is going?” I got in and hooked my seatbelt.
“Marc and Rachel, obviously.” She started the engine. “I think Rach is bringing Megan.”
“Megan is the short girl with the blonde hair, right?”
Nodding, Abby pulled out of the driveway. “She’s super nice. You’ll like her.”
I’d talked to Megan once during class. She was very soft spoken and seemed like the polar opposite of Rachel. Maybe I could spend most of the day with Megan and not have to deal with Rachel or Marc. My stomach knotted at the thought of him.
“So… is Marc new around here, or has he been in school with you for years like everyone else?” I asked.
“He’s been here a while.” She glanced at me with confusion. “Why?”
I shrugged. “Just wondering. I don’t know much about anything or anyone around here.”
A warm smile lit her face. “Don’t worry. You’ll get to know everyone soon enough. Not that it matters. You seem to have no trouble making friends.” She waggled her eyebrows, and I laughed, knowing she meant Trent.
What was he doing today? I should’ve invited him to meet us there. Of course, this wasn’t my idea—it had been Rachel’s—and I wasn’t going to crash her party by inviting people she hadn’t. She already disliked me; I didn’t need to make it any worse.
Abby slowed to a stop next to a jacked-up jeep. She turned off the car. “Ready?”
No. I smiled. “Let’s go.”
We gathered our stuff from the trunk and began the hike toward the falls. The path wasn’t horribly uneven, but by the time I heard the first sounds of the falls, I was out of breath and sweating. If I was going to be forced to live in a place where everyone hiked everywhere, I was going to need to get in better shape.
The closer we got to the base of Bushnell Falls, the louder the noises were—rushing water, laughter, and music.
“Oh, good,” Abby said, taking a deep breath. “Rachel brought her speaker.”
My lungs burned from the effort of breathing, and pain was a sharp stab in my side.
“Cool.” I took a deep breath and licked my lips.
Thankfully, Abby had packed some water with all those snacks. And I was doubly thankful for the rolling cooler because I could not imagine carrying it all this way. I was so thirsty I could probably drain the falls dry.
“It’s about time,” Rachel shouted, then jumped up and rushed toward Abby. They squealed and hugged each other.
Dramatic much? You’d think they hadn’t seen each other in years with how they acted. I refrained from rolling my eyes.
Rachel looked at me briefly, one eyebrow lifting as if to issue some unspoken challenge.
“Hey,” I said.
“Chloe.” Rachel looped her arm through Abby’s and pulled her away.
I followed.
Rachel and Marc had spread out a large blanket. A stack of towels rested alongside the speaker. Clearly, we were planning to be here a while. But there was no Megan. My mood dropped a bit more.
“Hey, babe.” Marc held out his hand, and Abby went to him, falling into his lap and kissing him in a way that was not suitable for public viewing. He tangled his fingers in her hair, tilted her head, and then his gaze landed on me as he continued to kiss her.
Gross! I quickly looked away and watched the falls, letting the sound of the rushing water soothe me. But my heart beat erratically, and my skin crawled, and I was positive my face was beet red.
“Get a room.” Rachel laughed.
Abby finally released Marc, but she didn’t move from his lap. “Have you been in the water? Is it warm?” she asked.
“We were waiting on you two,” Marc said, his hand squarely on her backside.
“Chloe.” Abby motioned for me to sit. “Relax. Today’s going to be a blast.”
I was beginning to wonder who she was trying to convince of that—me or her. She patted the blanket, but I hesitated. I didn’t want to be any closer to Marc than I absolutely had to be. I dropped my bag to the ground and sat on a nearby rock.
“Are we going to swim or what?” Abby asked. She stood and stripped off her clothes, leaving her in a cute purple bikini.
Marc whistled his approval.
Abby shimmied her hips. “You want it, come get it.” Then she ran toward the water.
Marc ran after her, tearing off his shirt and tossing it to the ground. He managed to get his arms around her before she reached the water, and then they both went in.
I moved from the rock to the blanket and took off my sneakers. Then I got a bottle of water and drank half of it in one gulp. Watching them together like that had a pang of longing landing in my chest. I missed having a boyfriend. While my ex and I weren’t hot and heavy, it was nice to have someone to be with.
“You two getting in or what?” Abby hollered.
“I am.” Rachel stood and removed her too-large T-shirt.
She wore a bikini, and I was instantly jealous of her figure. Smooth, tanned skin, a flat stomach with curves in all the right places, and breasts that would make a plastic surgeon envious—she looked like a supermodel. She ran her hand through her black hair and glanced at me over her shoulder. “You coming?”
I had a feeling her invitation wasn’t all that sincere. “No, I think I’m going to sit here for a bit.”
She huffed. “I know it’s not sunny and glamorous like Florida, but at least here you don’t have to worry about sharks,” Rachel said, a nasty glint in her eyes.
“Easy, Rach. She just lost her mom.
Be nice, huh?” Abby said, giving me the one look I hated more than anything—pity.
I gritted my teeth. I didn’t need Rachel to go easy on me because Abby told her to, or worse, because she felt sorry for me. And I sure as heck didn’t need Abby telling everyone my business, either. I really should’ve stayed home.
Rachel shrugged and headed into the water. I leaned back, propping myself up on my hands, and closed my eyes. It was warmer out today than it had been since I arrived, and the sun chased away any chill I’d felt earlier.
I lay back and stared up at the clear, blue sky, dotted by a few clouds. Laying here like this reminded me of all the times Mom and I would go to the beach and lay on the sand. We never swam, we just soaked up the sun, read, talked, and sometimes, we’d try to find shapes in the clouds.
My heart ached with grief. And then the guilt crashed into me like a tidal wave, stealing my ability to breathe.
Closing my eyes, I forced my thoughts to something happier—the look on Mom’s face when she laughed, how her eyes would light up and her mouth crinkled—then to Trent and how he smiled—when I was struck with the sudden, unshakable feeling that I was being watched.
My eyes snapped open, and I abruptly sat up. Abby, Marc, and Rachel were still splashing in the water, oblivious to me. I scanned the area but didn’t see anyone.
A few moments later, the three of them got out of the water. Abby’s lips were one shade away from blue, and she shivered. Marc grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her, hugging her as he did.
“I’m starving,” Abby said through chattering teeth. She plopped down next to me and reached for the snacks she’d packed. “You really should get in. It’s only cold once you get out.”
I laughed. “Yeah, I can see that.”
She offered me a bottle of water, and I held up the one I’d already opened. I twisted off the top and took another long drink.
Marc sat beside Abby and draped his arm around her shoulders. “So, Chloe, I hear you and that new guy, Trent, are getting pretty cozy. I’m surprised you didn’t invite him today.” Marc’s smile was nothing but nice, yet the hairs on the back of my neck stood on edge.
Eternal Curse: (The Cursed Series, Book 1) Page 6