Boy in the Mirror

by Robert J. Duperre

  Bah! Who needs boys, anyway?

  When she opened her eyes, Jacqueline was only a few paces away, smiling warmly, those sad eyes of hers pleading for acceptance. She looked so vulnerable, like a stiff breeze would blow her over. Annette let out a breath and stepped away from her locker. That contradiction was the main reason why she couldn’t stop being friends with her—because the same girl that could fearlessly stomp on Todd Sowinger’s foot and stand face-to-face with a murdering psychopath without flinching was also the most fragile person she’d ever met.

  “Hey Annette,” Jacqueline said as she stuffed her backpack into her locker. “What’s up today?”

  Annette shrugged. “Y’know, school. Got a test in French, a quiz in Physics. Same old same old.”

  “No, I mean after.”

  “After what? School?”

  Jacqueline nodded.

  “Don’t know. Probably homework. Why?”

  “Wondered if you…‌y’know…‌might want to hang out?”

  “Maybe. Why?”

  Jacqueline looked at the floor, a shy, Ronni-like gesture. “I haven’t hung out with you guys in a while. Not since Olivia’s.”

  “And whose fault is that?” said Annette, staring up at the girl in faux disappointment. Jacqueline frowned, obviously not taking it as a joke.

  “Sorry,” Jacqueline said. “I just…‌forget it.”

  She turned to walk away, almost getting trampled by a pack of whooping junior boys in the process. Annette grabbed her arm and dragged her back to the locker.

  “I was kidding, Jackie!” she said.

  Her friend still looked hurt. “Oh. Okay.”

  Annette wanted to scream at the girl to snap out of it, but she didn’t. She knew doing so would hurt Jacqueline, and for some reason she was afraid to do that. But still…‌it’d been a full week since Jacqueline had apologized to the four of them, and no one had spoken a bad word to her about the subject since. You’d think she’d just get over it already. We have.

  “Listen,” Annette said, “Neil’s in first period with me. I’ll talk to him.” An idea spawned in her brain. “Hey, maybe we can meet at your house this time. How’s that?”

  Jacqueline’s eyes widened. “Um…‌I uh…‌not a good…‌I don’t have any game systems.”

  “That’s okay. We don’t need to play video games. We can watch a movie. Your aunt does have Netflix, right?”

  Jacqueline nodded, but it was obvious the thought of having her friends over scared the hell out of her. Annette couldn’t guess why it’d scare her, but that was another reason Jacqueline was so intriguing. While Annette was an open book, Jacqueline was full of secrets. And if there was one thing that Annette loved more than anything, it was unlocking mysteries. That’s why she wanted to be a physicist.

  “Okay, don’t worry,” she said. “We’ll do my place. Just let me call my mom and make sure it’s okay.”

  Jacqueline visibly relaxed, color came back to her cheeks. She leaned forward and hugged Annette. Jacqueline smelled like jasmine and spice, and her embrace was soft. Annette hugged her back. Annette never hugged anyone that wasn’t her parents.

  Yup, I’m a sucker.

  “All right, that’s enough,” she said, and Jacqueline released her. “Listen, I’ll talk to you after first period, okay? Mrs. Jacobson’ll be pissed if I’m late to homeroom again.”

  “Okay. See you soon!” Jacqueline said cheerily.

  Before either girl could walk away, someone large stepped out of a passing column of students. Todd Sowinger leaned his elbow against the lockers, blocking their way to homeroom and examining the two girls with his wild eyes.

  “Hey Jackie, hey Annette,” he said, his tone strangely civil. Annette froze, confused and a bit frightened.

  Todd turned to Jacqueline, whose knees visibly shook. “I heard you were going to Drew’s Halloween party on Saturday,” he said. “That true?”

  Jacqueline just stared.

  “Well?”

  Annette opened her mouth to say no, she wasn’t, but didn’t get the chance.

  “I’m not sure,” Jacqueline blurted.

  Todd frowned. “Well, be sure, milady!” he said. “You should go. You need to go. It’s gonna be extra-duper-special amazing this year. Project X don’t got nothin’ on the Cottards.”

  “You’re…‌you’re asking me?”

  “Of course!”

  Say no, say no, say no, Annette thought. She’d been there when Hannah Phillips had told Jacqueline about the party, and the whole idea just felt wrong.

  “Well…‌yes,” said Jacqueline. “I guess I will.”

  Annette sighed, her head drooped.

  Todd clapped his hands so loudly the sound reverberated down the hall. “Awesome! You mind if I pick you up?”

  “Um, sure.”

  “Coolness. I’ll get you at seven. Remember, Saturday.”

  “Okay.”

  Annette stared at the two of them. This can’t be happening. She then looked on as Todd leaned over and whispered something into Jacqueline’s ear. Todd winked at Annette over Jacqueline’s shoulder. Jacqueline then shuddered, her cheeks turned red. Annette suddenly felt very, very cold.

  “Alrighty, see you later pretty lady,” Todd said before bounding away, whooping and slapping palms with other senior boys. The buzzer sounded for homeroom a second later.

  “I gotta go,” Jacqueline said softly. She walked toward her classroom like a zombie, eyes glazed over, a dumb smile on her face. She disappeared through the doorway, and Annette hastily went to her own homeroom across the hall.

  During attendance, she couldn’t stop thinking of what she’d just witnessed. Sure, Todd hadn’t acted like a dick, but there was something off about him, something completely untrustworthy. Annette shuddered. Jacqueline was about to go to a party with him, where there would probably be alcohol. Jacqueline was a vulnerable new girl walking into a den of sharks. To Annette, the dubious wink Todd had given her as he whispered in Jacqueline’s ear had been a warning.

  She’ll never listen to me, she thought. She’ll think I’m attacking her…

  Finally, the buzzer rang out again, only Annette didn’t head to her English class. Instead, she rushed toward the hub, heading for the economics wing, tardiness be damned. There was a person she had to find, the only person in the whole school that she hoped she could trust to make sure things didn’t get out of hand.

  She saw her target—a handsome African-American senior boy who wore his letterman jacket like it was skin he couldn’t wait to molt out of. She rushed up to him from behind, grabbed hold of his jacket, and tugged with all she could.

  Jordan Thompson spun around and looked down at her in surprise. “What?” he said. “Did I drop something?”

  “No,” Annette huffed out. “Please, just listen to me. You know Jacqueline Talbot, right?”

  “Um, not really. A bit. Why? What’s this all about?”

  Annette took a deep breath. “Do you care about her?”

  “I barely know her,” he said with a shrug.

  She could feel her expression change, losing its desperation and becoming the façade of Stern Annette. “Okay, how about this. Do you trust Todd Sowinger?”

  The senior boy’s mouth formed a hard edge. “No. Why?”

  “Good. I’m probably just panicking, but I think something’s about to go down. I think Jacqueline’s about to get hurt. I don’t want her to get hurt…”

  CHAPTER 25

  The clock on her dresser said it was ten minutes to seven, and Jacqueline was a nervous wreck as she fussily applied her eyeliner. He’ll be here soon, she thought, then shuddered in fear. What if he didn’t come? What if this was all a cruel joke? It wouldn’t be the first time someone played her for a spiteful laugh.

  “You look pretty,” said Mal. “You always look pretty.”

  She looked down at the boy in the mirror. “Thanks,” she said. “Kinda frumpy though.”

  “You’ll be with other
people, right?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  Mal winked. “Then I’d say frumpy’s the way to go. Don’t want to draw too much attention. Though I’m a bit confused by your costume. What look are you going for exactly?”

  “A witch, silly.”

  “Then why’d you make your face up like that?”

  She stared at the whiskers she’d etched next to her nose and the lines extending from her eyes. “Because I like it?” she lied.

  “Well, there’s that.”

  Jacqueline took a step back and examined herself in the large mirror hanging behind her dresser. She had on a pair of slacks and button-up shirt, both black and baggy. On her head was the witch’s hat. She wore thick, chunky bracelets around her wrists, and a six-inch-wide red tie with a spider-web pattern on it. A shoddy vest was draped over her shoulders. Mitzy had bought her the whole ensemble, sans her high-heeled boots, the day before at Goodwill. Her aunt had laughed heartily at the getup when Jacqueline showed it to her, but she wouldn’t have laughed if she’d known it was meant to hide Jacqueline’s true costume, secretly borrowed from Mitzy’s own bedroom.

  Dress sexy, Todd had whispered to her. Jacqueline reached into the pocket of her slacks, touched the two folded-up bundles of wire and fabric inside, and clenched her teeth.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Mal.

  “Nothing,” she whispered. “Just nervous. Never been to a party before.”

  “Do you want me to come? I don’t like being left alone.”

  “No,” she said, a little too quickly. “I’ll be fine. Seriously. I can always talk to Annette if I get too uncomfortable.”

  “Oh,” said the boy in the mirror, frowning.

  “These damn things won’t stay fastened,” she said. She turned away, fiddled with the buttons on her shirt. Guilt churned in her stomach. She hated not being truthful with Mal. He’d been there with her, loved her, when no one else would. But she knew Mal wouldn’t approve with what she was about to do. He’d tell her to stay away from Todd, just as he’d told her to stay away from Tyler. It was because he loved her and wanted her to only love him in return, but that was something Jacqueline had come to realize she couldn’t do. If the dance, and Mal’s disappearance, had proven anything, it was that she wanted something visceral, something real, in her life. And Mal, trapped in his mirror, just didn’t cut it.

  Her phone buzzed; a new text message from Annette. Jacqueline promptly tucked the phone into her purse without reading the message.

  “Who was that?” Mal asked.

  “Annette,” she replied. “She’s on her way.”

  A quick glance at the clock told her it wasn’t far from the truth. Only five more minutes until seven.

  “Okay Mal, gotta go.”

  The boy looked panicked. “I love you, Jackie. Always remember that.”

  “Love you too. Be thinking of you.”

  She clicked the compact shut and gently placed it in her dresser drawer before he could reply.

  On her way down the stairs, she thought of Annette. Ever since Jacqueline first met her, the girl hadn’t ever had a nice thing to say about Todd—though given the history between them, it made sense. So when Annette suddenly sounded interested, Jacqueline took it as an ominous sign. Her guilt ratcheted up even more.

  If she knew I used her as cover, she’d kill me.

  Aunt Mitzy had her laptop open on the dining room table when Jacqueline entered. It was Saturday, and she was still working. She looked exhausted, her eyes bloodshot. That could be from smoking pot, Jacqueline mused before shoving the thought aside.

  “Is it time?” Mitzy asked.

  Jacqueline nodded, leaned in to give her aunt a kiss.

  Mitzy kissed her back, lips soft and warm. “Want me to walk you out to the car? Need me to pick you up in the morning?”

  “Nope,” Jacqueline said. She struggled to keep her composure. “I’ll be staying at Annette’s tonight. Mrs. Shepherd’ll bring me home.”

  Not a total lie, since Annette actually had told Jacqueline she could stay the night. Mrs. Shepherd spent Saturdays at her boyfriend’s, and so Todd could drop her off after the party, which was the plan.

  Outside the house, a car horn blared.

  Jacqueline steeled herself. “Okay, I’m out. Love you, Mitzy.”

  “Love you too, sweetie. Did you remember your phone?”

  “Yup.” She patted her small purse.

  “Good. I want to hear all about it tomorrow.”

  Jacqueline kissed her aunt once more and then turned on her heels, hurrying to the door. The mostly-empty bowl of Halloween candy, still there even though the holiday was three days ago, mocked her when she passed it by. She was outside in a flash, treading cautiously down the steps, heading toward the huge blue van waiting at the curb. The windows were thankfully tinted, and she’d told Todd not to get out of the car in case Mitzy had gone to the window to watch. Jacqueline’s heels jabbed into the cold, hard ground as she pulled on the door handle and climbed in.

  Todd greeted her wearing a fake tuxedo, his naturally blond hair slicked back and dyed black. Twin streams of red paint dribbled down the corners of his mouth. A pair of fake fangs poked over his bottom lip. His eyes narrowed and he seemed to frown. “Hi,” he said.

  “Hey. Can we go?”

  “Oh. Yeah, sure.”

  The van pulled away, and Jacqueline looked through the two square portholes embedded in the rear doors. Mitzy wasn’t watching. Jacqueline let out a relieved sigh.

  “You nervous?” Todd asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Well don’t be. Our crew’s good people. You’ll fit right in.”

  “You sure?”

  “’Course. You’re my date, remember?”

  Jacqueline beamed for a moment, only to have it fade once they reached the traffic light on Main Street. Todd was looking at her again, disappointed.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  He shook his head when the light turned green. “Oh, nothing,” he said. “I like your makeup.”

  “Thanks.”

  Jacqueline thought of his words—my date—and her confidence rose. She felt mischievous. “What, you don’t like my costume?” she asked.

  “Well, no, it’s not…‌I’m just…‌oh hell, it’s okay.”

  Jacqueline gave him a wink. “I’ll be right back,” she said.

  “Hey!” Todd exclaimed as she unfastened her seatbelt and crept toward the rear of the van. It was spacious back there, with only a single bench seat, leaving a good six feet of open floor. She tossed aside her witch’s hat along with her chunky bracelets, undid her shirt and slacks and stripped out of both. She then fished into the pocket of the discarded slacks and removed the two items hidden inside—a scrunchy headband with black cat ears and a tail with a clip on the end. She’d made both of them the day before, while Mitzy was still at work. She slipped on the headband and held the tail in her hand. She’d have to wait until they reached the party to put it on.

  “What’re you doing back there?” asked Todd from the front seat.

  “Oh, nothing,” she answered in the most seductive way she knew how.

  They hit another red light, and Todd craned around in his seat. “C’mon, Jacqueline, I just want—”

  His eyes widened comically. Jacqueline posed with her legs slightly bent and hips cocked, one hand pressed to the roof of the van while the other fiddled with the lacing that ran up her side. She couldn’t believe how powerful she felt. It was funny what some of her aunt’s lingerie combined with glossy black tights could do to a boy.

  “Meow,” she said, and playfully pawed at him.

  Someone honked, and Todd jumped. A stupid grin came over his face, but he still didn’t move. Cars continued to honk as they swerved around the van.

  “You like?” Jacqueline asked.

  “Oh yeah,” said Todd.

  Jacqueline retook her seat and slid the seatbelt over her chest. Her outfit’s ribbing bit into her
side and the underwire was more than a little uncomfortable, but the look on Todd’s face made it all worth it.

  Another car zoomed past them, honking. Jacqueline tilted her head, smiled, and batted her eyelashes. “Mr. Sowinger,” she said, “don’t we have a party to go to?”

  “That we do,” the older boy answered.

  When he punched the gas just before the light turned red once more, he pumped his fist out the window as if in triumph.

  CHAPTER 26

  Jacqueline’s confidence vanished when Todd steered his van up the hill leading to Highland Park. They passed the street where Neil lived, the houses on either side of her growing more grandiose. Expensive cars sat in nearly every driveway, sparkling in the early-evening moonlight. They then drove by Vulgate Presbyterian, the massive building fronted by trimmed hedgerows and a huge statue of Christ.

  Jacqueline had never seen this part of Mercy Hills before. These people must have a ton of money, she thought. Even the church was garish.

  The McMansions were nothing compared to what waited at the top of the hill. The crossing street was home to estates whose thick, Greek-style columns served as intimidating reminders of who were the haves and who were the have-nots.

  Todd took a left onto the appropriately named Kings Court, a grin on his face.

  Numerous cars were parked along the street and there were people everywhere. Todd inched his van along, braking whenever someone staggered into the road. They were close now, approaching the largest estate on the block, set far back from the road. A giant flatland of manicured grass as smooth as a golf course spread out before her, and Jacqueline sat there, amazed. She’d heard all about how well-off the Cottard family was; seeing the proof of it caused her chest to tighten.

  “Why’re you pulling so close?” she asked, gazing at the cram of automobiles. “There’s no spaces.”

  Todd’s grin widened. “We ain’t parking on the street,” he said. “We get VIP treatment.”

  Todd pulled onto the sprawling driveway. Those gathered on the blacktop quickly dispersed, and the van glided toward the mansion until Todd hit the brakes right behind a black Lexus. Jacqueline had seen that car before, speeding through the parking lot after school. It was Drew’s.