I opened my eyes, blinking rapidly to make the spots go away. I heard Dashel laughing before I could see him. It was a clear, joy-filled laugh that made me want to join in.
All gone? he said.
I nodded, at a loss for words.
Yosh major, dude! he crowed gleefully. He jumped up and did a little dance right where he stood.
I grinned even though I had no idea what he had just said. He stopped dancing and reached down to pull me up. As I took his hand I felt a sensation like electricity course out of him and into me. I was standing before I knew what hit me. Dash threw his arms around me in a tight hug, then stepped back with his hands on my shoulders.
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Dance with me, he commanded.
What? I cant dance! I laughed.
You just felt Gods arms around you and you say you cant dance? Open up your heart and justdance!
And with that he spun off in a leaping twirl.
I stood awkwardly, not sure what to do. Then I threw up my hands and gave in. At first, I simply tried to imi-tate Dashs movements, but soon I was lost in the feeling and was hardly even aware of his presence. I dont know how long I danced, but next thing I knew I was bone tired. I stopped dancing and collapsed to the ground again. Dash plopped down next to me and then flopped onto his back. I lay back too, our arms touching.
Feels good, huh? he said.
Very. I agreed.
You caught on fast.
Guess I had a good teacher.
The best, but it wasnt me.
Are you always so cryptic?
He laughed, Pretty much. I dont mean to be.
Ive never met anyone like you before.
He sat up. Im pretty unique. He studied me for a minute. Im getting ready to split. But before I go I have a message for you.
I sat up as well. A message? From who?
Dont you know? he asked with a grin. Then he frowned. You are in danger. You were almost killed in this very spot earlier tonight. My mouth flew open, but he raised his hand and continued, In your effort to avoid the pain caused by Seths death, you have forgotten what you started out to do. You have to finish that now. Find Seths killer. Its up to you to bring closure to this horrible thing that has happened. But please be careful. If you take foolish risks, you will have to pay the price. Then, as suddenly as the serious mood and the 226
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frown had appeared, they were gone. Everything was sudden about Dash. His movements, his moods, even his speech. The grin was back and Dash was on his feet again.
Dude, its been so radiotopically unbelievably awesome, but now I have to go.
Why? Where are you going?
He shrugged. I did what I was sent here to do. He started off into the crowd.
Wait, Dash! Will I see you again?
He shrugged, Who knows, dude? Its not really up to me. I hope so.
Killian, a voice called from behind me. I spun around and saw Kane pushing through the crowd with Asher right behind him. Where have you been? Weve been looking all over for you. We were getting worried.
I spun back around, but it was too late. He was gone, swallowed up by the crowd.
Killian? Asher said.
I glanced back at him, then continued my futile search for Dash.
Are you okay? Who are you looking for? Kane asked me.
I turned back to them. Im great. I havent been this good in weeks and weeks. It was amazing!
What was? Asher said, obviously confused.
There was this guy named Dash, and he was dancing and I started crying, and he came over to me and talked to me and he helped me give my pain to God and then we danced and now hes gone.
Whoa, dude, Asher laughed while Kane stared at me as if Id gone crazy, Slow down. Who is this guy?
Ive never heard of any Dash, does he go to our school?
I dont know. No one seems to know him. He didnt even tell me his last name. But he told me I had to find 227
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Seths killer.
Kane snapped to attention at that. He said what?
He said that I had to find Seths killer, and I had to be careful because I was in danger.
This guy sounds really creepy, Asher said.
No, he wasnt. He wasnt like anyone Ive ever met.
Well, it sounds like he was the man of your dreams, huh? Asher said, sounding more than a little jealous,
I thought that was Jake.
You thought what was me? Jake asked as he appeared at my side.
I shot Asher a dirty look before turning to face Jake.
He was wearing a pirate costume, complete with hook, open tattered shirt, and a plastic parrot on his shoulder.
Nice dive earlier, I said.
Jake grimaced. Thanks, I think I got a splinter in my nipple.
So what was that all about, anyway? Asher asked.
Jakes eyes shifted away and he shrugged, Who knows? You know how women are. I just grabbed for the mike cord and hoped for the best.
That was you that jumped on stage earlier? Kane asked, jumping into the conversation for the first time.
Oh, Im sorry, I said realizing that I hadnt made any introductions. Jake, this is my new little brother, Kane. Kane, this is my friend Jake. Hes Gillys brother.
Kane smiled and extended his hand. Jake answered his smile with one of his patented lopsided grins.
So since this is one of your parties, maybe you know who this guy I met was, I started.
Whoa, dont pin this shindig on me. This is Todd and Gillys baby all the way. I just help decorate and do impromptu stunt dives, you know...the normal stuff.
We all laughed. Well anyway, I continued, maybe you know him anyway. His name was Dash. Hes about 228
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Ashers height with curly blonde hair?
Dash? he said, No, Im pretty sure I dont know anyone named Dash. Why, what was so special about this guy?
Killian has a crush on him, Asher volunteered, with just a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
I do not. I just met him tonight. It was just that he was...
Different from anyone youve ever met before?
Asher finished.
Yeah, something like that, I muttered. Just forget about it.
Yeah, forget about him, Jake agreed. Lets dance!
The rest of the night was just plain fun. I hung out with Asher, Kane, and Jake all night and everyone seemed to get along. Marcus came and went with some of his friends. Jake and Kane hit it off and it was obvious that they were going to be good friends. There was no more drama with Gilly; in fact, I didnt even see her anymore. I never saw Dash again either. I caught a glimpse of Zack and Jesse a few times, but they kept their distance.
The party started winding down around 1:00 am and Adam wanted us home by 1:30 anyway, so Kane and I decided to go. We said our good-byes and started back out towards our car. It got darker and darker the closer we got to the gate. It seemed the security light had burned out or something. By the time we got to my car the only light came from a sliver of moon that hung low in the sky, but it was enough light to see that all my windows had been smashed.
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CHAPTER TWENTY
Oh shit! I gasped.
What happened? Kane asked. He sounded scared.
I knew how he felt.
Someone smashed my windows.
What are we going to do?
Were gonna go back to the house and call the police. I said, backing away from the car. Then I remembered the camera Adam had given to me before we left.
It had hung from my belt all night, forgotten.
I grabbed it now and took several pictures of the car. I didnt know why, exactly; it just seemed like the thing to do.
We ran into Jake as we were walking back to the house.
I thought you guys were leaving, he said when he saw us.
So did we, I said.
Someone smashed out all the windows in Killians car, Kane told him.
What? Jake gasped.
Yeah, I need to call the policeand Adam, so hell know where we are and can come pick us up.
You can stay here tonight if you want.
Thanks, Jake, I said, We might end up doing that.
The police got there about a half hour later, just after Adam arrived. He had insisted on coming to get us, 230
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saying he wanted us home. Soon the whole area out by the road was lit up brighter than the back yard dance floor. They worked, while Adam, Kane, Jake, and I watched from a distance. Asher and Marcus joined us after a little bit. Everyone who was still here was being kept in the back yard until the police knew more. The whole thing was being treated a little more seriously because of my stabbing back in September.
One of the cops disengaged himself eventually and came over to us. Mr. Kendall? he asked Adam.
No, Im Mr. Connelly. Adam Connelly. Killian is staying with me while his mother is out of town.
Connelly? the cop asked with raised eyebrows.
Any relation to the Connelly kid...
He was my son. Adam said quietly.
Im sorry, the cop said quickly, That was insensitive. Im Officer Hoetz.
Its okay, Officer Hoetz. You couldnt know.
He nodded, Well, heres what weve concluded so far. In light of what happened last month and how it involved Killian here, we took this more seriously than we normally would have. I mean, windows smashed at a party might be upsetting, but it isnt an earth-shattering event. But under the circumstances...well, as you can see, we took precautions. We searched the car and the surrounding area and we kept everyone that was still here on the premises. It paid off. We found a scrap of material caught on a piece of glass and we may be able to match it up with one of the people still here.
Were trying to do that now. We are also taking names and releasing people as we can. We dont want to keep everyone here all night, but things took a nasty turn when we found this in the front seat of the car. He held up a plastic zip-lock bag with a folded piece of paper inside. Someone threw it in after the windows were smashed, because it was on top of the broken 231
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glass.
What is it? I asked.
Its a note.
What does it say? Adam asked.
Officer Hoetz thought a moment, then nodded and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a pair of rubber gloves and slipped them on. Then he opened the bag and drew out the note, opened it, and read it.
Killian, he read, Youd think after last time, youd learn. This is just a warning. Next time you wont be so lucky.
We all stood stunned as Officer Hoetz folded the note again and sealed it back in the bag. Adam snapped out of it first.
That proves that Seths death was murder, and now the killer is after Killian.
Mr. Connelly, calm down, Officer Hoetz said sooth-ingly. It doesnt mean anything of the sort, necessar-ily. It just means that someone is unhappy with Killian and is trying to scare him. Maybe he stole someones girlfriend or something.
Adam snorted, Here we go again, huh? My son was murdered and no one wants to do anything about it.
Mr. Connelly, I understand your grief, but there was no proof...
No. You do not understand my grief. And theres plenty of proof, but no one will even look at it. How was that note written?
It was computer generated. Simple red ink on white paper.
Thats exactly like the threatening notes Seth was getting before he was murdered.
Officer Hoetz pulled out a notebook and jotted something on it, flipped it closed and stuck it back in his pocket. Well look into it, Mr. Connelly.
I hope so, Adam said angrily.
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Another officer approached Hoetz and asked if he could speak to him for a minute. He excused himself and they walked off to one side and spoke quietly with their heads together.
This is a nightmare. Its like Seth all over again,
Adam mumbled as he rubbed his forehead.
Kane turned into Adams shoulder and started to cry softly.
Oh, damn, Im sorry, Kane. I didnt mean to upset you any more, Adam said wearily.
Im just scared somethings gonna happen to Killian, he sniffled.
Nothing is going to happen to Killian, he soothed.
Not if I can help it, he added under his breath.
I had been listening to all this as if from a distance, not really taking it in. I felt a pair of arms slide around me from behind and twisted awkwardly to find it was Asher. I turned rest of the way into him and returned the hug. I needed that right now.
* * *
The rest of the night was spent in routine police work, or so Officer Hoetz told us. They couldnt match the fabric sample at first glance, but that was inconclusive anyway since so many people had left before the cops got there. As he said wryly, its not like we lacked for suspects...a couple hundreds worth. Of course, I had my own list of suspects, with Zack and Jesse at the top of the list. I stayed up the rest of the night thinking, since I was too unnerved to get any sleep anyway and I had so much on my mind. I had gone in several different directions, but I seemed to make breakthroughs in every area. I decided that I was ready to come out at school, for one thing. It was obvious that Gilly and I were through, and it might help goad the killer into making a move. If he 233
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got caught, it would be worth any danger to me. Or at least thats what I reasoned at four in the morning.
I also decided to confront Zack once and for all. I was feeling very reckless and angry by this point, ready for action.
Last, but not least, I decided to give Asher another chance. Not that I was ruling out Jake, but it seemed like Asher was always there for me, no matter what. He was definitely a true friend, and isnt that what you want in a boyfriend?
With that last thought still playing through my mind, I fell asleep just as the first rays of light broke over the horizon.
* * *
Adam let me sleep in the next morning, for which I was very grateful. I didnt get up until 1:00 in the afternoon and I was still very tired, but there were things I wanted to do that day that I didnt want to put off. Kane was already downstairs when I came down, but then hed fallen asleep as soon as we got home last night.
Hey, you didnt sleep much last night, did you? he asked me as soon as he saw me.
No, but you didnt seem to have any trouble, I said as I ruffled his hair.
I was really worn out, I guess, he explained.
No kidding.
I wandered into the kitchen, grabbed a pack of cookies out of the cabinet and poured myself a glass of milk before sitting down at the table. Kane followed me in and sat down across from me, snagging a few cookies in the process and dipping them in my milk.
Hey, get your own, I protested, Wheres Adam?
He went down to the police station to see about your car. They impounded it last night.
Oh.
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Asher called this morning and so did Jake.
Oh, I said again. You and Jake seemed to hit it off.
Kane shot me a funny look and I quickly explained.
I meant as friends.
Oh, yeah, he smiled. Hes really funny. So what was on your mind last night that you co
uldnt sleep?
Upset about the whole car thing?
Partly, but I also made a lot of decisions last night.
Like what?
Well, like that guy Dash last night made me realize I had been avoiding a lot of stuff, and its time I faced it instead of pretending it doesnt exist or whatever.
What are you talking about?
Well, I decided to come out at school.
Whoa! Thats a big deal, isnt it? I mean, wont that be really hard?
Oh yeah. Im scared, but Im also tired of pretending to be something Im not. I mean, Im not, like, gonna get on stage at an assembly and announce it, but Im gonna stop pretending.
Im also going to confront Zack. I want to do that today, before I lose my nerve.
Is that the jerk from last night? The guy in the Scream costume?
Yeah, thats him.
Confront him how?
Just tell him to leave me alone once and for all, and all my friends. And find out why he hates me so much.
We used to be friends...kinda.
Kane shook his head. I think you need some more sleep, he said.
Wait, Im not even done yet, I told him.
He raised his eyebrows just like Adam does and I almost started laughing. Im going to give Asher another chance. I mean, hes always there for me when I need 235
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him and hes a true friend.
What about Jake? I can tell he really likes you too.
I dont know what to do about Jake. I mean I like him, but...its different with Asher and me. We have a history, you know? I just met Jake.
Kane smiled. Follow your heart, Killian. Youll know whats right.
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