CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Enjoying the sun, Annabelle?” asked the middle-aged redhead women who worked the morning shift at Rosie’s Restaurant and Pub. She handed me my coffee in one hand and my change in the other.
“Yeah, it’s beautiful out…” I paused.
“Dorothy,” she said.
“Right… sorry, I’m horrible with names. It surprises me how quickly you guys get them in this town.”
She smiled and gently fluffed her freshly permed hair in the reflection of the silver spoon in her hand. “New faces aren’t so common around here.”
“Thanks for the coffee Dorothy.”
She waved and waddled back to the kitchen. “Bye now.”
I stepped outside and let the sunrays beat down on me. I closed my eyes and indulged the in warmth radiating over my exposed skin. It reminded me of the few months Uncle Felix and I lived near the coast in Florida.
“Don’t you wish we had more days like this?”
“Do I ever,” I replied, reluctantly opening my eyes.
I really didn’t need to open my eyes to know it was Lamar, his deep voice was unmistakable.
“I gotta say,” he said, shielding his eyes as he looked up at the sky. “This has me missing Cali weather.”
“We lived there once.”
“Oh yeah, when?”
I paused with one finger on my chin. “Before Florida, but after Tennessee. So, that was maybe three to five years ago,” I nodded slowly. “Yeah, I think that’s right.”
“I moved a lot when I was younger, too.” He scratched his head. “Same state, though, so I guess I had it a little easier.”
“Maybe, but I bet you’re just as sick of it as I am.”
He threw his back exhaustedly. “You have no idea. It has been so nice being in the same place for a while.”
I nodded, knowing I couldn’t relate.
“Well, I would ask you if you wanted a coffee,” he said gesturing at the clear glass door to Rosie’s. “But I can see you beat me to it.”
“Yeah, I’m all set. Thanks though.”
I started down the boardwalk, enjoying the little knocking sound each step made.
“Maybe some other time then?” he said.
I turned around and took in his body language and facial expression. I wasn’t sure what to make of the offer, but I knew Jane would explode if I so much as spoke kindly to him. Besides, even with Carter acting like a total weirdo, I knew what I wanted.
“Tell Jane I say hi.”
I continued down the boardwalk leaving the awkward silence behind me. I had originally set out for school this morning and at some point convinced myself to walk to the square. The coffee was excellent, but it wasn’t the reason I came. I knew that the second I spotted his black Charger parked outside the bookstore.
I decided there was really no subtle way to drop in, so I didn’t bother fabricating a reason to show up. Instead, I just showed up.
The chime sounded as I stepped inside. I could hear the sound of cardboard boxes crunching and then sliding along the hardwood floor.
He appeared from behind one of the many bookshelves lining the store. His hair was disheveled and his eyes looked bloodshot, like he had been up all night.
“I wasn’t expecting you,” he said, running his hand through his hair.
“Yes, well I enjoy the element of surprise,” I said. “Are you alright? You look…”
“Devilishly handsome?” He smiled, but it was lacking his usual cocky flare.
“Tired.”
“Yeah, well, I was up late. That’s all.”
“I guess that’s understandable.”
He nodded and leaned against the counter next to him.
It was quiet for a moment. Too quiet.
“Well, could I get a ride to school with you?”
“Actually, I’m going to be kinda late today. There’s just something I need to do right away,” he said looking over his shoulder at the clock mounted to the wall.
“I could help you and we could probably both be out of here in time for school,” I offered, setting down my school bag.
He picked up the bag and placed it back on my shoulder.
“Actually,” he said hesitantly. “This isn’t something you can help me with. Why don’t you just head to school and I will catch you at lunch?”
“Okay…” I said eying him curiously. “Are you sure you don’t need any help?”
He placed one hand on my back and slowly guided me to the door. “No, I’ve got it.” He glanced over his shoulder at the clock again, the minutes closely approaching the hour. “Thanks for stopping by.”
We reached the door just as Trish stepped through it. Her eyes automatically fixing on me. She seemed surprised.
“Annabelle,” she said, looking from me to Carter.
I, too, looked at Carter, who stepped back from the door.
“Trish, what are you doing here?” I asked.
She looked at Carter again, waiting for him to give her the answer.
He shook his head. “Trish is just here to pick up her books on order.”
My eyes narrowed on him and then Trish. I’d seen her locker. Her textbooks were still in their original packaging. I’d also been in her room and very vividly remember the reading material; magazines piled high on the floor.
I threw open the door and stormed outside. “Right.”
The door shut hard behind me. I hadn’t meant to slam it, but it felt good. In fact, it felt so good that part of me wanted to go back and slam it again.
He didn’t follow me out and I was glad. I’ve heard talking through your problems is the best solution, but I couldn’t imagine anything aside from venomous words coming from my mouth at this moment. No, it was better to walk away.
I crossed the Square and found a bench near the boardwalk to sulk on. I was on the opposite side of the Square, but even that wasn’t far enough. I could still see the bookstore where both of their cars were conspicuously parked.
They couldn’t even be bothered to cover their tracks. Argh!
I was ready to storm off again when Jane’s car pulled behind Trish’s. She hurried inside the bookstore just as a black Hummer came into view. It was the mysterious founding kid who wore a perpetual look of indifference. Kendrick was with him, holding a small brown file box in his hands and struggling to keep balanced under the weight.
I didn’t need to wait any longer to know who was next to show up. I raced across the park, keeping myself out of sight from the bookstore window. I positioned myself at the end of the block where there was just enough space for one more vehicle to pull in and then I waited.
Finally, the last car arrived and parked exactly where I was sure he would.
“Alec!” I called as he stepped out from his lime green Jeep.
His reaction was similar to Trish’s, but he smiled anyway.
“What’s up Annabelle?”
“I was just going to ask you the same thing,” I said, gesturing at the row of cars lining the boardwalk.
“Uh, just a quick coffee with the pals before school.”
“Oh great!” I said and started for the entrance. “I’d love some.”
He looked at the cup in my hand. “But, you already have some.”
I narrowed my gaze and let the façade disintegrate. I turned my cup over and let the coffee spill onto the boardwalk and seep through the tiny slits between the boards. I tossed the cup in the trash can a few feet away and turned on my heels for the bookstore.
“Wait!”
He was too late. I grasped the handle and swung the door open, reentering the store.
They all turned to see me standing there and each one of their faces dropped, as though their secret club had its first intruder. Jane jumped off the counter she was sitting on and gave Carter a quick look.
Alec stepped inside and all of their eyes turned to him.
“Hey guys,” he said, sounding nervous. “Annabelle wanted to join us for coffee.”
“Stop!” I said, holding out my hand. “I know this isn’t about coffee.”
Alec stepped back as if to say he was all out of excuses. I scanned the room, taking in all of their expressions. They looked uncomfortable and uneasy, except for Carter. He looked torn like his secrets were starting to take their toll on him.
“He’s right,” Kendrick said. “It’s just coffee among friends.”
Carter held up his hand. “Save it. She already got a different story when Trish showed up.”
“Oh,” Kendrick said, sitting down beside the box he had lugged in.
“Way to go Alec,” Trish scolded. “If you just would’ve let things be she would still be under the impression that Carter and I were hooking up.”
I shot her a hateful glare, but she continued anyway. “Which is not what’s happening.”
Cruz walked in, completely throwing me for a loop. I had thought this was some kind of founding family thing, but Cruz wasn’t a founding member.
“What are you doing here?” I asked before turning back to the others. “So Cruz is welcome to your secret club, but I’m not?”
Everyone looked to Carter for the answers, but I looked to Jane. If there was anyone I could trust it would be her.
“Jane,” I pleaded, “just tell me what’s going on here.”
Jane looked at Carter and then back to me. “I’m sorry.”
I sighed. She was my last hope of understanding why my friends belonged to some kind of school club, which they had to hide from me. I gave the rest of them a quick look, but no one met my gaze.
Carter reached for my hand. “Annabelle, it’s not what you think.”
I pulled away and moved for the exit.
“Things aren’t always what they seem,” said Jane.
I shook my head and sucked in a deep breath. “They may not be, but I’m pretty sure this is.”
I left the store and walked directly to school, letting the tears fall in silence. I pulled myself together when I reached the fenced perimeter and headed straight for class. I focused all my attention on my studies for the day, even retreating to the main floor library during lunch hour.
I knew they would all be returning to school after lunch, which meant that I would see Alec in Spanish and Jane in Phys. Ed. We always teamed up together, but I couldn’t see how that was going to happen today.
Burnwood - The Dragon Arum Page 15