I groaned. “Not fair.”
“Come on, it’s not like you had any plans.”
“I was going to sit in my room and wait for Hannah to call,” I said.
“That’s not a plan, that’s a sad excuse. Plus, you have a cell phone. She can call you at the party.”
I pulled into my driveway and turned to look at him. He raised an eyebrow, waiting me out. I groaned again. “Fine, I’ll go to the party with you. I’ll have to be home by eleven though.”
“Fine.”
Nick scrambled out of the car, probably trying to leave before I could change my mind. I got out after him, sighing and leaning on the roof of my car. I watched as he hurried across my lawn and down the street toward his house. Once he had disappeared, I glanced up at my bedroom window, thinking of the notes there. I hadn’t worked up the courage to confront Rachel. I decided to let it go. If nothing else happened, then there was no need to cause a scene. At least going to the party with Nick would keep me from over thinking the fact that Hannah still hadn’t called.
Chapter Twelve
Five Months Ago
Keys jingled in the front door. Hannah and I broke apart on the couch, both of us straightening clothes and smoothing our hair. We sat staring at the TV as footsteps crossed the entry.
“Hi, girls.” Mom smiled from the living room door. “How are you, Hannah?”
“I’m good.” Hannah turned away from the TV to smile at her. “Good day at work?”
Mom shrugged. “I suppose. One step closer to closing on a place over on Oakwood Road. Nice couple. They have a son about your age.” Her eyes drifted over Hannah to me. “Maybe I can introduce you to him once they are moved in.”
Hannah turned to look at me, smirking and raising an eyebrow. “Is he cute?” she asked, her eyes never leaving mine.
“He was in the picture I saw.” Mom set down her briefcase and kicked off her heels. “Dark complexion, short brown hair. Beautiful eyes.”
I couldn’t help smiling then. “I am a fan of dark complexions and beautiful eyes.”
Hannah snorted a laugh.
“Great.” Mom was oblivious. “If everything goes well, you can come with me to welcome them to the house.”
“Awesome.” I grinned widely.
“Would you like to stay for dinner, Hannah?” Mom asked. “I’m going to try a new Tilapia recipe.”
“Sounds good. I’ll call my parents to make sure it’s okay.”
“All right. I’ll leave you two to the show.” Mom started to turn, then stopped. “Have you seen your dad?”
“He called to say he was going to be a little late, but should be home for dinner. He said he texted you too.”
“Probably.” Mom shook her head. “I hate this new phone.” She left the room muttering to herself.
Hannah fell over on the couch, burying her face in a pillow to contain her laughter. I leaned down close, shushing her through my own laughter. Still smiling, she pulled her face from the pillow. After I glanced up to check that Mom was gone, I pressed my lips to hers, intending it to be a short peck. As I pulled away Hannah followed me, lips finding mine again as she pressed me back against the couch. My mind split, half of it listening to the sounds of Mom in the kitchen, and half focusing on the way Hannah’s whole body was pressed against mine and one of her hands was creeping steadily up my leg to my hip.
I pushed her away with a frustrated groan. She smiled as she settled in on the other end of the couch and pulled out her phone. It only took a quick call for her to get permission from her parents to stay for dinner. She scooted closer on the couch, nothing that would raise eyebrows if Mom walked in, but close enough that she could rest a hand between us. She reached to rub her pinky on the side of my leg, which somehow burned a hole straight through my jeans and into every nerve ending in my body.
“So, dark complexions and beautiful eyes, huh?” she asked in a quiet, teasing voice.
“I wasn’t lying.” I glanced her way, but had to look away because she was too close. “I like those things.”
“You going to meet the guy?”
I shrugged. “Probably. She is always trying to hook me up.”
“Think you will like him?”
I turned to look at her. She bit her lip and raised an eyebrow at me. I wanted to kiss her again.
“Not as much as I like you.”
Hannah smiled, but it faded quickly. “Do you ever think about how much easier it would be to like him? I mean, your mom would be ecstatic. Madison and Genny would approve.”
“Don’t be so sure. They can be pretty judgy about what guys are datable.”
“I’m serious.” Hannah elbowed me. “You could just get on with life, never have to come out to your parents or anything.”
I glanced toward the kitchen, hoping Mom hadn’t heard that. “Well, yeah, I mean it would be easier.” I sat up straighter, moving away a little. “Do you want that?”
Hannah shook her head. “No, I just wondered if you thought about it.”
I sighed, relaxing again. “I do, but just because how can I not?” I took her hand, squeezing it tightly, trying to get across everything I felt for her. “It would be so much easier, but it would never be as good as this. Never feel as right.”
Hannah’s face practically glowed with happiness. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to mine. I broke the kiss too soon, scared I had missed the sound of Mom coming in. I hadn’t. I stood and reached back to haul Hannah up. I pulled her toward the stairs.
“Call us when dinner’s ready. We’ll be upstairs,” I yelled as we were halfway up the staircase.
“About forty-five minutes,” Mom called back.
“Plenty of time,” Hannah said quietly, squeezing my hand.
I wanted to correct her, tell her there would never be enough time, but I didn’t need to, she knew it. Instead, I pulled her into my room and shut the door, reveling in the soft click as I turned the thumb lock.
Chapter Thirteen
I hunched up against the steering wheel as we crept along the dark road. Trees grew oppressively close to the road and it was easy to miss the few driveways until you were already past them. We’d been crawling for half a mile.
“I thought you’d been to Cameron’s house before?”
“I have.” Nick leaned forward in his seat, trying to see the next driveway before we reached it. “Just not at night. This is the worst part about living out here.”
“I’m glad we live in town.” I shuddered. The idea of living out in the middle of the woods freaked me out.
“There. It’s this one.” Nick leaned back with an exhale that puffed his cheeks. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made you slow down so far back.”
“No problem.” I pulled into the driveway. Like the others, it was surrounded by woods. The trees leaned even closer over the dirt road. I flicked on my high beams, chasing away images of werewolves stalking out in front of us.
Forty feet in, the woods disappeared on my side and opened up into fields. Another five minutes and we reached the house. It was a square old farmhouse with a couple of random additions sticking out at odd angles. A dozen or so cars were parked in the yard and I pulled in beside them.
“Wow, the house is gigantic,” I said as we climbed out.
“His million times great grandfather built it or something.” Nick zipped up his hoodie and adjusted his baseball cap.
“Seriously?” I grabbed my jacket from the back seat and slipped it on over my long-sleeved T-shirt.
“Yeah, it’s been in their family forever.”
More headlights were coming down the driveway as we walked around the side of the house to the backyard. Open land spread out in all directions, barely illuminated by the gibbous moon above. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to live out here.
The fire already blazed, surrounded by a couple dozen kids. Music drifted back to us as we strolled across the yard. It twanged aggressively of popular country hits. Someone called to Nick and
he jutted his chin toward them in response. We turned that way.
“You made it.” The boy clapped hands and bumped shoulders with Nick before handing him a beer.
“Yeah, Alissa gave me a ride.”
“Cool.” The guy nodded and held a beer out to me.
I took it, knowing I wouldn’t be able to stomach more than a couple sips. When I’d gone to parties with Madison and Genny there had always been something fruity to drink. I wasn’t about to ask for that here.
“Alissa, you know Cameron.”
“Yeah.” I nodded, finally realizing who the boy was. “I think we have English together.”
“Yeah.” Cameron grinned. “Mrs. Turner drives me crazy.”
I rolled my eyes. “Tell me about it. I’m surprised she doesn’t walk around with a ruler to snap people on the head if they look sleepy.”
Cameron laughed. He was good-looking in a farm boy sort of way, with messy brown hair, wide set eyes, and an easy smile. He wore a plaid button-down under his Carhartt jacket.
I’d never been to a party with country music playing or a bonfire blazing. Boys and girls alike wore hoodies or thick jackets, more concerned with staying warm than fashion. They were definitely a different group than I was used to, but it was nice not feeling like I needed to put on a performance. With Genny and Madison I would’ve spent an hour getting ready; makeup just right, jeans too tight, expensive shirt that inevitably would have something spilled on it. No, this was much nicer.
People came and went from the party, but about twenty of us settled in around the fire. I sat with Cameron and Nick, sipping lukewarm beer and listening to their conversations. As always, I stayed quiet, hoping not to draw any attention to myself. It didn’t work.
“Alissa Reeves, look at you slumming it.”
Garrett Williams stood over me, a half empty bottle of beer hanging from one hand. His other hand curled protectively around a cigarette held between his thumb and forefinger. Greasy dark hair stuck out from under his ski cap and he wore a tan hunting vest over his sweatshirt. He was the kind of kid who might just be the first in his family to graduate high school without a stint in juvie if he was lucky. Behind him, Rachel stepped close, smirking under her bleach-blond hair. Her eyebrow ring glinted in the fire light.
“Lay off, Garrett.” Nick didn’t bother to rise from his lawn chair. It wouldn’t matter much, Garrett was the size of a linebacker.
“I’m sorry, streak.” Garrett took a drag off his cigarette and I winced at the nickname. “I didn’t mean to insult your little girlfriend. Maybe if you’re lucky she’ll lead you out in the woods and steal your clothes again. Man, how can you even put up with her? Did you forget she’s been a bitch to all of us since middle school?” He took a swig from his beer.
“People change,” Cameron said softly. He was focused on peeling the label from his beer bottle.
“Is that right?” Garrett looked over his shoulder at Rachel. “You think she’s changed much?”
Rachel glared at me over the top of a red solo cup. “Just lost her snooty friends if you ask me.” She took a long swig from the cup. “And decided to come clean about how much she likes munching rug.”
I flushed, embarrassed at the phrase. Could she have chosen any more vulgar way to say it? I opened my mouth to respond, but Nick stepped in.
“God, you kiss your mother with that mouth? Oh, wait, she’s probably passed out on her boyfriend’s dick isn’t she?”
Rachel tensed and I thought she might throw her drink at Nick, but she only gripped it tightly and sneered. “Big talk for someone whose dad walked out on them. Why don’t you let Alissa handle her own business? It isn’t like she’s got any interest in you. You were just a convenient option when her rich bitch friends bailed on her.”
This was it. This was my chance to confront Rachel, but I couldn’t. Weren’t Rachel and Garrett right? Hadn’t I been a stunning bitch for all of high school? Garrett’s tongue snaked out to fiddle with his lip ring. I gripped my beer tightly.
“I never meant to hurt anyone.” The words sounded weak even to my own ears. Garrett’s eyebrows shot up.
“What’s that?” He cupped an ear with his big hand. “You didn’t mean to hurt anyone?” He took a step closer and I huddled farther down in my chair. Rachel hung right at his side. “So what were you thinking when you and your friends told Mr. Smith I was cheating off your papers in ninth grade?” He took a puff from his cigarette and flicked it into the fire. “What about when Nina Hanley’s mom had to come get her because you three spiked her shampoo with green hair dye?” He crossed his arms and looked up like he was really thinking. “Or what about when you told everyone that Rachel and Lana double-teamed the entire football team? Stop me if you remember any of this.”
I stood, fists clenched at my sides. “I remember all of it. You don’t think I know what a dick I was? Because I do.” I stepped closer to Garrett, growing angrier as he smirked. “I made mistakes, okay? We all do. I’m trying to be a better person now.” I turned, intending to walk away.
“What about getting Lana killed?”
I stopped in my tracks. Slowly, I turned back toward Rachel. She raised her eyebrows, waiting. Everyone in earshot was quiet. Only the crackle and pop of the fire broke the expectant silence.
“I never hurt Lana.”
Rachel turned to Garrett. “She never hurt her? Sounds like a load of crap to me, right?”
Garrett grinned and nodded. “We’re not saying you were the one who trussed her up and gutted her.” He shrugged. “Just saying Lana might still be here if she hadn’t trusted a stuck-up little c—”
“Whoa.” Nick stood, shoving Garrett back a step. “That’s enough.”
“You don’t find it a little coincidental that Alissa was the first one to say Lana was a lesbian? Sophomore year, she swore up and down that nothing was going on between the two of them, but now she has a girlfriend.” Garrett grinned maliciously. “Seems to me like maybe Alissa and Lana were a thing, but Alissa didn’t want anyone knowing.”
“I might have heard something about that.” Rachel nodded and smiled a smile that didn’t make it to her eyes.
“I didn’t get anyone killed.” My voice was barely more than a whisper. My heart was beating so loudly I heard it in my ears. I could feel a dozen sets of eyes on me.
Garrett shrugged. “Maybe not directly, but you got her started down that path.”
Cameron tugged Garrett back a step. “That’s enough, dude. Go get another beer and cool off.” Cameron remained even and calm.
For a moment, I thought Garrett was gonna argue. Then he backed away. “Yeah, okay.” With a jerk of his head he gestured to Rachel and she followed him away after one last glance at me.
“Are you okay?” Nick stepped close and gripped my arms. Around us, conversations slowly picked up again. “That was completely out of line.”
“Sorry.” Cameron joined us. “Garrett can be a real dick, but you can’t have a party without him showing up.”
“It’s fine.” My voice was hollow and it was all I could do to keep myself from shaking. “Can I use your bathroom?”
“Yeah, of course.” Cameron pointed toward the house. “Just go in the back door and through the kitchen. It’s right there.”
“Thanks.” I started to turn.
“You want me to come with you?” Nick asked. He half-stood, ready to follow me inside. It almost hurt to say no.
I managed a weak smile. “No, thanks. I just need a minute alone, okay?”
Nick’s lips formed a tight line before he nodded. “Yeah, of course.” He slowly sank back into the lawn chair.
I turned and walked off toward the house.
Chapter Fourteen
I watched the cold water running down the drain for a long moment before cupping my hands under it and splashing my face. My skin felt like it was on fire, but the water was soothing. I shut off the faucet and dried my face on the hand towel. The bathroom was barely more than a
sink and a toilet and the four close walls were somehow comforting.
“Get it together.” I stared at myself in the mirror. My face was white and my hair a windblown mess. If Madison still cared, she would’ve been clucking and tearing a brush through my hair. I smirked at the idea, but it faded almost instantly.
With a sigh, I dropped the hand towel on the edge of the sink and reached for the door. I stopped with my hand on the handle. How many people were just as convinced as Garrett and Rachel that I had been lying about Lana all along? How many people thought I was lying back then? I’d been so self-involved I hadn’t even considered that when I started dating Hannah people might revisit the rumors about Lana and me and decide they were true.
Crap. Why hadn’t I ever thought that people would know I’d been lying about Lana once I came out about dating Hannah? How stupid could I be?
Finally, I left the bathroom. It was wonderfully quiet in the house and I stopped for a moment to look at a wall of family pictures. Cameron had two younger sisters and the family seemed happy. Just from the pictures on that one wall I could see they all got along. I wondered if it was true, or if the smiling faces in the pictures masked a father who was upset his son wouldn’t be taking over the farm and a mom who wished her older daughter wasn’t quite so chubby.
The kitchen door shut, interrupting my thoughts. “Hello?” I stepped toward the kitchen, expecting to find someone else heading for the bathroom. The kitchen was empty.
I frowned, but figured it had just been someone grabbing more beer. I was halfway across the kitchen before I spotted the freshly made drink on the counter. I gasped. It was like the air had been sucked out of the room because there was no way that drink could be there.
The martini glass stood on the counter, almost brimming over with a fizzy blue concoction. It was so familiar that my mouth watered in anticipation of its sweet and tart flavor. My hand shook as I reached for the glass. Some spilled onto my fingers as I took a tiny sip. I barely got the glass back to the counter without spilling it. Blue raspberry flavor coated my tongue. It was Lana’s favorite drink.
18 Months Page 6