by Shawn Sarles
She was embarrassed, but she needed to know.
“Just between us,” Caleb looked back toward the campfire, “it’s all made up.”
Caleb winked at Maddie then. She was relieved to see his old self return.
“But—um—don’t say anything. No need for the others to know.”
“I won’t tell.”
Her face glowed warm in the dark. She liked having a secret with Caleb. And she liked knowing for certain that she didn’t need to worry about some mysterious Mountain Person decapitating her in her sleep.
“So—uh—” fear out of the way, Maddie saw her opportunity to flirt some more and jumped on it. Chelsea would be proud of her. “What do you like to do for fun?”
She cringed at her own question. How pathetic. But it was all she could think to ask. She wouldn’t tell Chelsea that part. Caleb’s head snapped back around.
“Oh, I guess I like being out here the best,” Caleb replied. “Out in the wild. That part of my story was true, at least. I’ve always liked nature, but really fell in love with these mountains a couple of years ago. I dropped out of college to start guiding folks. I’d live in these woods if I could.”
“But wouldn’t you get lonely?” Maddie tried to channel Chelsea as she put a bit of a purr in her voice.
“Lonely?” Caleb thought about it. “I mean, not really. I like being on my own.”
“But—like—what about a girlfriend?” Maddie held her breath and waited for his answer. She felt reckless, exposed. And she kind of liked it.
“Oh—uh—well,” Caleb got sheepish all of a sudden. He pushed his hand back through his hair. “Well, I guess if I found the right girl.”
“And what would make her the right girl?” Maddie couldn’t believe the words coming out of her own mouth. But she felt bold. Invincible. Like a superhero. Like Mustang Maddie.
“Well, you know, I’m twenty-two—” Caleb let the end hang loose, clearly uncomfortable now. “So probably someone more my age.”
Mortifying. There was no other word to describe it. Maddie felt sick with embarrassment as her confidence drained out of her.
“I—I didn’t mean—” Maddie cut off before she could dig herself deeper. Her cheeks were truly on fire now. She was so stupid. He must get this all the time. With every tour group he led.
“I’m—uh—going to head back.” And Maddie shot toward the campfire, leaving Caleb alone at the cooler.
When she got back, Mark still looked like a ghost. He had his drink clutched close to his chest, but his shaking hands only splashed the whiskey on the ground. He jumped up the moment Caleb got back, which wasn’t long after Maddie.
“I don’t appreciate you trying to scare me like that,” Mark slurred. “I want—I want an apology.”
The guide blinked across the fire but didn’t speak.
“I said—” Mark raised his voice, but his wife cut him off.
“That’s enough, Mark,” Kris hissed through gritted teeth, clearly embarrassed by her husband’s antics.
“No.” He ignored her for once. He stomped his foot like a child throwing a tantrum. “I demand an apology. Now.”
Everyone’s eyes shot to Caleb. Except for Maddie’s. She couldn’t look at him. But maybe this would make him forget the last five minutes—her monumentally failed attempt at flirting.
The two men locked eyes across the fire, daring the other to blink first. Caleb’s jaw clenched, and a new set of shadows danced across his face. He wasn’t going to cave.
“We’re paying you,” Mark hollered. “So do your damn job and show me some respect.”
Maddie thought she heard someone gasp, but no one moved or spoke. The tension in the air built with each passing second.
Finally, Caleb flinched. But instead of answering, he turned and walked away.
This only made Mark madder. He stomped his feet and shouted every obscenity in the book. Maddie couldn’t believe it. She’d never seen this side of him. His face turned bright red and his eyes bulged in their sockets, threatening to pop out of his head entirely. He even threw his cup after Caleb, though it didn’t land anywhere near its intended target.
“Oh, come off it,” Ed shouted, finally shutting Mark up. “Stop acting like a damn fool.”
From across the fire, Maddie caught Chelsea’s eye. Maddie couldn’t deal with this circus anymore.
“We’re going to bed,” Maddie said, taking advantage of the lull and pulling Chelsea up.
“Bed?” Chelsea asked as Maddie opened the flap of their tent and pushed her in. “But it’s not even nine o’clock yet.”
Maddie zipped up the tent behind them and started rummaging through her pack. She kept her head down, hiding her embarrassed, red face from her best friend. But she turned back around as she pulled out a black hat and a flashlight.
“I know. We’re not going to sleep.”
“Then where—”
“Get your stuff.”
Maddie unzipped the flap at the back of the tent and scampered out. Chelsea grabbed her own flashlight and followed. “I just got epically shot down by Caleb and am in need of a little ego boost.”
“Wait. What? Caleb? Where are we going?” Chelsea asked again, and this time Maddie answered by pointing toward the woods. Chelsea spotted a flashlight beam moving through the tree line.
“Oh,” Chelsea said. She knew exactly what Maddie had in mind. And she liked it.
“Hurry. We don’t want to lose her.”
And the two girls stole across the clearing, trying to catch up to Abigail.
FOURTEEN
“SO THIS IS YOUR LITTLE CLUBHOUSE?”
Maddie looked around, disappointed, but not surprised, by the sad state of Tommy and Jason’s campsite—if they could call it that. It looked like a pair of eight-year-old boys had thrown together a secret fort.
Cute, except for the fact that these boys were sixteen.
All they had for light was a lantern that they’d set on a rock. And they didn’t even have a tent, just a blue sheet they’d thrown up between two trees. They must have been sleeping elbow-to-elbow under that thing. Maddie wrinkled her nose at the thought of the smells.
At least they had some music playing. She tapped her foot to the beat and then was shocked when a commercial came on after the song. Not just a boom box, but a radio. Retro, but cool. Maddie could see that they had an ATV, too. So that explained how they’d gotten up the mountain so fast. Abigail must have told them where their campsite was before they’d come. Maddie was somewhat impressed. That took more planning than she’d thought Abigail had in her. She must have really wanted her boyfriend along for the week.
“It’s called galumphing,” Jason said, too satisfied with himself. “The man’s man’s answer to glamping.”
“So you’re cavemen now?” Maddie couldn’t pass up the opportunity to poke fun at him.
“No,” Jason bristled.
“We’re bringing camping back to its roots,” Tommy jumped in. “Dirt under your feet. Open sky above your head. Camping the way it’s meant to be done—all natural.”
He put on a thick French accent for the last word, and Maddie couldn’t help but giggle. Wait. What was happening? Had Tommy Meyers actually made her laugh?
“You know, you can just admit that you forgot to pack a tent,” Chelsea cut in.
“Well… that might also be true.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t rain,” Maddie added.
Tommy pantomimed crossing his heart like a good Catholic boy and pointed up to the sky. When he finished, he looked back at Maddie, beaming.
“See, Maddie, this is exactly why we need you here,” Jason said. “My boy Tommy has been moping for the last two months, but now you’ve got him smiling again.”
Tommy’s gaze flickered away, embarrassed, but Maddie kept her eyes on him. Maybe she’d written him off too soon. He could be funny. And he’d certainly grown up from his eleven-year-old dweeb self.
She looked at him now, at h
is close-cropped hair, his cheeks that looked pink even in the weak lantern light, his muscular arms extending out of his cut-off T-shirt. A Giants shirt, she realized with a start, the black-and-orange SF logo taking up the entirety of his broad chest.
The universe couldn’t have given her a clearer sign. She swallowed and returned his smile.
“I’m bored,” Abigail complained, which really meant Why aren’t you paying attention to me? She plumped her lips and pouted at her boyfriend.
“Take a seat,” Jason said, scurrying into action. Abigail rolled her eyes again and tapped her foot impatiently.
“Oh, right.” Jason fumbled for a second before finding a sweatshirt, which he laid on the ground for his girlfriend. Abigail stepped over to it and did a little curtsy as she sat down.
“Sorry. That’s the only one I’ve got.”
“It takes more than a little dirt to scare us,” Chelsea answered as she sat down. Maddie took a seat next to her. Jason smiled uncomfortably and then disappeared under the sheet. They could hear him rummaging around for a few seconds and then he reappeared, holding up a clear bottle.
“I’ve got vodka,” he said merrily. “But—um—no mixers. Or cups. Oh, and pot!” He held up a half-smoked joint.
“No smoking tonight. I need a drink. Give it here,” Abigail snapped. She took the bottle and drank from it. She wiped her lips with the back of her hand. She took a second sip and Maddie couldn’t help thinking of Mark. Like father, like daughter. Maddie must have made a face, because Abigail caught her eye and glowered right back at her.
“Your turn.” The girl shoved the bottle at Maddie, but she waved it off.
“What? You think we have cooties or something?” Abigail shot back indignantly. Pink splotches had already started to speckle her cheeks.
“I’m not five,” Maddie replied, still not taking the bottle.
“Stop pressuring her.” Tommy reached across and grabbed the vodka away from Maddie’s face, taking a small swig for himself. “She’s an athlete. Drinking is a no-no.”
“That never stopped you.” Abigail’s words crackled. Tommy paused and then took another drink.
“Well, I don’t have to worry about that anymore, do I?”
His smile dropped into a sour grimace, and an awkward silence fell among the teens.
“So… what exactly did happen… with the baseball team, I mean?” Maddie rushed to finish the question. She’d heard about Tommy getting kicked off from her brother, but he hadn’t said much more.
“The coach and I didn’t see eye-to-eye.” Tommy said it softly, his jaw clenched. Maddie could tell it was still a sore subject.
“It was a bit more than that,” Jason coughed, taking the vodka from his friend.
“What?”
Jason looked at Tommy with wide eyes. “You took a baseball bat to Coach’s car. Knocked the side mirrors right off. Talk about swinging with your hips. It was impressive. Really. Too bad he called the cops on you, got you arrested.”
Jason said this last bit into the bottle, losing his nerve under Tommy’s stare.
“I’m gonna take a walk,” Tommy said with a quiet intensity.
“You want a flashlight or something?”
Tommy didn’t respond to Jason but took off, disappearing into the dark woods.
“Okay. Fine. Ignore me. See you in a bit. Hope you don’t get lost.” Jason finished the conversation as if his friend had actually responded.
“What a tool,” he mumbled to everyone else.
“Let him mope,” Abigail said. “Just means more vodka for us.”
She snatched the bottle from Jason and took another drink.
“I—I’m gonna go check and make sure Tommy’s all right,” Maddie got up, surprising herself. She gave Chelsea an apologetic look and scrambled to her feet.
“So, what did you all get up to tonight?” Jason asked. Chelsea took the cue and jumped right in, telling Jason about the fight and Caleb’s story. Maddie mouthed a thank-you to her friend and retreated, using her own flashlight to go after Tommy.
It didn’t take her long to find him.
“Hey,” Maddie whispered, crossing her arms at the last second, trying to make it seem like she didn’t care too much. He turned and she saw the tension loosen in his face almost immediately. She studied that face, those brown eyes.
“So, how are you? Really.”
Tommy sighed. He scratched his head and leaned against a tree.
“I’m fine… better now.”
“What happened?”
“Do you really care?” Tommy asked. Maddie felt bad for him then. She knew what it felt like to be the talk of the school. The center of all the gossip. People only cared about the scandal. They blew it up and made it bigger and badder than in reality.
“I do care.”
“Well.” Tommy paused, taken off guard by Maddie’s sincerity. “I mean, I was struggling for a month or so with my swing. But everyone goes through slumps. It’s part of baseball. I guess Coach wasn’t happy, though. He comes to me out of the blue one day and tells me I’m benched. And then he promotes some freshman into my starting spot.”
He paused again and Maddie waited. She didn’t want to push him.
“I guess—I guess I just lost it. My anger erupted, you know. I couldn’t control it. I saw Coach’s car there after practice, and I had a bat with me, and something inside me snapped. I blacked out.
“Next thing I knew, a couple of the guys were pulling me back. Coach’s car was busted up. Windows broken. Mirrors knocked loose. Dents everywhere. Coach was there yelling at me. He probably would have throttled me if I hadn’t had the bat in my hands still.
“Then the cops got there and put me in handcuffs. Threw me in the back of their car. I spent the afternoon in a holding cell.”
Tommy stopped, worrying that he might have already said too much and scared Maddie off. But she leaned in and looked at him without any judgment in her eyes, and he forged on.
“Sitting in that cell, I—I had time to think about what I’d done. And I felt terrible about it. How could I let my anger take over like that… let it ruin everything in one idiotic moment?”
Tommy looked up as if Maddie might actually have an answer for him.
“And that was the end of my baseball career. Haven’t been back to practice since. Not that I have time for it anymore. I’m working overtime to try and earn the money to fix Coach’s car. And my mom’s on my ass. Livid. Says I’ve ruined my future. Says she’s not going to let me live at home when I don’t get into college because of my criminal record.
“And my dad’s no help, either. Six months since the divorce and he’s already got a new family all set up. Two perfect little stepkids who’d never take a bat to someone’s car. He’s practically forgotten me and Mom even exist.”
Tommy got quiet again after that. How had Maddie not heard about this sooner? It had to have been all over school.
“That—that really sucks.”
Maddie knew it sounded lame, but what else was there to say? It was hard for her to believe that Tommy had really taken a baseball bat to someone’s car. He’d always been a bit of a dweeb. A cool kid, sure, but only because he made everyone else around him seem cooler.
“But you’re doing better now?” Maddie asked hopefully.
“Yeah.” Tommy hesitated, but then decided he could trust Maddie. “I actually started seeing a therapist. My mom said I had to—but it actually really helps. And your brother has been great, too.”
Her brother? Maddie’s mouth popped open in surprise. She hadn’t known that Charlie and Tommy were close. Sure, they played on the same team, but it was a big team. She’d never heard Charlie talk about Tommy at all until a couple of weeks ago.
“Yeah. Didn’t he tell you?” Tommy went on. “He’s actually the one who picked me up from the police station after they released me. He’s been going through some hard stuff lately, too, what with losing his baseball scholarship and all.”
> Maddie’s eyebrows shot up her forehead and threatened to rocket to the moon. What was Tommy talking about?
“Shit.” Tommy put it together quickly. “I’m sorry. I thought you knew.”
“It’s fine,” Maddie heard herself saying. Her mind was racing, though. Why hadn’t Charlie told her? They told each other everything.
“Really, it’s fine,” Maddie said again. Tommy had moved closer, a concerned look pinching his cheeks in. She looked up at him and bit her bottom lip. She could tell Tommy wanted to kiss her. And isn’t that why she’d come out here? To forget about Caleb? She wanted to kiss Tommy. She wanted to show Caleb exactly what he was missing out on. But she couldn’t stop thinking about her brother. Why had Charlie lied to her? Was this why things were off between him and Dylan?
“We should probably head back.” Maddie flipped her flashlight around. “Chelsea’s going to kill me as it is.”
Tommy gave her one last hopeful look, but then nodded.
“After you.”
FIFTEEN
MADDIE’S FLASHLIGHT BEAM LEAPED AHEAD OF her, showing the way through the dark forest as she and Chelsea walked back to camp. She had to admit that she’d had a good time with the boys. Shocking, really. But exactly what she’d needed after the day’s series of disasters.
Abigail, however, had been intolerable. Her usual bitchy self. Maddie hated thinking it, but she’d actually felt relief when the girl had passed out, her head slumped against Jason’s shoulder, a long thread of drool running down her chin and wetting his T-shirt.
They’d left then, after watching Jason tuck his girlfriend in, rolling her on her side and leaving a full water bottle by her head. This apparently wasn’t a new routine for him. Good that Abigail had found a sweet boyfriend. Maddie prayed the girl would be back on her feet in the morning because she didn’t actually want to have to explain Abigail’s absence to Kris. That woman scared her.
“So, he just went apeshit on the coach’s car?” Chelsea asked. Maddie had told her Tommy’s story the second they’d gotten out of earshot of the boys, and it had taken her friend a while to process it all.