Save Me

by Jenny Elliott

  She forced a thin smile.

  “I’d be happy to do the interview,” he finally said, and shared his lopsided smile with her.

  She tried to catch his eye, but his gaze dropped to the floor. “We can do it during class. We’ll make it a free-for-all day.”

  She fell back against her chair and felt her face fall, as well. Free-for-all didn’t sound like quite what she had in mind.

  * * *

  Garren waited by her car in the student lot. His rigid posture and steady gaze hinted at an underlying concern.

  Reaching out and putting a hand on his arm, she asked, “Is everything all right?”

  He moved aside to let her open the driver’s door. She tossed her backpack on the passenger seat.

  “Rachel skipped class,” he said, as though she’d broken the law.

  Cara gritted her teeth. “You were right about Ethan. I tried to talk to her, but she said Ethan doesn’t want to hang out with us.” She gestured between herself and Garren. “Now he’s got her skipping school. I don’t know what to do.”

  “You should go see her.”

  She thought about it for a second. If she could talk to Rachel alone, outside of school, away from both Ethan and Garren, maybe Rachel would act like her normal self again.

  She nodded. “It’s worth a shot.”

  * * *

  At home, Cara talked her mom into baking early batches of the oatmeal gumdrop cookies they froze each year, then doled out at Christmas. Rachel loved them. An hour later, the kitchen swelled with warmth and a sweet, buttery scent.

  The mixer wound down from a frantic spin to a slow churn. When the machine’s groaning stopped, her mom leaned against the counter and stared at her.

  “You still seem down, honey. Are you and Rachel fighting? Is that why you want to bring her cookies?”

  Cara went to the sink to wash her sticky hands. “Rachel basically ditched me for the first guy who showed interest in her at school. She’s all about her new boyfriend.”

  “The school year just started and Rachel already has a boyfriend?”

  Cara dried her hands and popped the lid off a cookie tin to make sure it was full, then clamped it back on. “She’s been hanging out with him at lunch and after school since the first day. And she’s been distant with me since I started eating lunch with Garren.”

  “Maybe Rachel’s jealous of your new relationship.”

  Cara shook her head. “Rachel knows I’m not interested in Garren. But she said she and Ethan don’t like him.”

  “Garren’s new in town. I can’t imagine they’d know him well enough to dislike him.”

  “I agree. But the only thing I can think to do is to try to talk to Rachel when Ethan and Garren aren’t around.”

  Her mom put an arm around her and squeezed her shoulder. “Sounds like a good plan. And don’t worry. Good friends almost always outlast boyfriends.”

  ELEVEN

  Rachel’s Corolla sat parked in front of the Clarks’ house. She still hadn’t answered any of Cara’s texts. Hopefully Ethan hadn’t picked her up and taken her away somewhere. Maybe Ms. Clark had found out about Rachel skipping class. Then Rachel might be grounded for life.

  Ms. Clark gave Cara an odd look when she found her on the doorstep holding a Christmas tin before Halloween. Cara popped the lid off and held the tin out.

  Ms. Clark patted her ample belly. “I shouldn’t, but I can’t help myself.” She selected a cookie. “Thanks, sweetie.”

  “They’re Rachel’s favorite. I thought I’d bring her an early batch.”

  Ms. Clark ushered her inside. “That’s nice. Rachel came home sick, though.”

  Rachel probably told her mom she didn’t feel well so she wouldn’t get in trouble when the school called and reported her absence. “She can always save them for later, I guess.” Cara gestured with the tin toward Rachel’s room down the hall. “I’ll bring them to her, if that’s okay?”

  “Sure. I hope she’s not contagious.”

  Not likely.

  Though Cara had walked in on her best friend in her room countless times in the past, Rachel shot her a tight-lipped look when she entered without knocking. Sitting on her bed with her knees bent, Rachel held a thick, hardcover book against her thighs. Before Cara could catch the title, Rachel slammed the book shut and shoved it under her pillow.

  Rachel eyed the Christmas-themed tin the same way Ms. Clark had. “’Tisn’t the season.”

  Rachel’s sense of humor would’ve been a good sign, if her tone weren’t mocking.

  “I thought I’d bring you an early dose.” Cara walked over to Rachel’s bedside and held out a cookie. Rachel didn’t take it.

  Cara grabbed Rachel’s hand, placed the cookie on her palm, and folded Rachel’s fingers around it. For a second, Rachel’s eyes flashed clear. When Cara let go and took a step back, they clouded over.

  With a blank face, Rachel tilted the cookie back and forth in her fingers. Then she crumbled it in her hand and dumped the pieces on her comforter.

  “Not cool.” Cara snapped the lid back on the tin and hugged it to her chest.

  No reaction from Rachel, who stared, expressionless, toward her vanity. Maybe she really wasn’t feeling well.

  “Your mom said you came home sick.”

  “I’ve had some stomachaches and headaches. It happens.”

  “I wanted to talk to you about today. It’s too bad that you and Ethan don’t like Garren. But you and I have been friends for years. I don’t want anything to come between us.”

  “I have a boyfriend now. I’m going to spend time with him. You need to understand that.”

  “I do understand. But you can’t spend all your time with him.”

  Again, Rachel offered no response. The reporter in Cara kicked in. She visually inspected Rachel’s room, searching for clues as to what could have so radically altered her friend.

  Photos of the two of them still covered the sides of Rachel’s mirror. But her makeup had been shoved off to one side of her vanity top, her magazines and books to the other. In the center sat two large, cylindrical candles with darkened wicks. One candle was orange, the other black, like Halloween colors. Next to the candles were two alabaster shells. The last item appeared to be a black glass circle.

  Strange new decorations, but nothing that bizarre. As always, a heap of clothes lay on the floor by the closet. The only truly unusual thing was that Rachel seemed to hide the book she’d been reading.

  Cara wanted to dart over and snatch the book. Instead, she left the cookie tin on Rachel’s vanity. “I wish you’d talk to me about whatever’s going on with you.”

  “You want to help me?” Rachel’s tone sounded scornful.

  Cara took a step back, then stood tall. “Of course.”

  “Then shut the door behind you.”

  Cara scowled. But Rachel just sat there, staring off into space.

  “And stay out,” Rachel added.

  Cara reluctantly turned away and closed the door on her friend.

  TWELVE

  Cara woke early Saturday morning with visions of gigantic white teeth flooding her mind—a perfect start to the morning she was scheduled to assist on a whale-watching tour. She shrugged into her Liberty Charters jacket and headed to the kitchen. Over a bowl of cereal, her mom wished her luck on her first trip out since the overboard incident. Cara put on a stoic smile.

  Outside, she climbed into her Civic and drove off toward the highway. She hung a left into the lot at Liberty Charters and braked as hard as she had the day the red Jetta almost crashed into her. Her stomach flip-flopped with nervous excitement. She was sure that the truck parked next to Rick’s was David’s. The only unfamiliar vehicle in the lot was a Dodge Caravan.

  She parked next to the van. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of why David was here. This was the same tour time as the first one they’d gone on together. But it was a different day of the week. Maybe he’d looked at the schedule on the office wall to see
when she was going out.

  Shaking her head, she grabbed her backpack, got out, and locked her car. She strode with all the confidence she could muster to the office door.

  Whatever reason David was here, this was a good thing. She’d be able to spend another day on the water with him after all. And his presence was bound to calm her, if he’d only look her in the eyes and let their warm connection take hold.

  She stepped inside and found the office empty of anyone but Sherry, who sat at her desk.

  Sherry closed the book she was reading and smiled when Cara approached. “I’m so glad you’re going out with us again, kiddo.”

  “Of course I’m going out again. I’m scheduled to assist today,” Cara said, infusing as much casualness in her voice as she could, considering her fists were clenching as she considered the possibility of seeing the transient orcas, and her heart was beating like a wild creature trying to break free from her chest at the thought of being close to David.

  Sherry’s eyes twinkled. “You might be happy to know that the good-looking fellow who fished you out of the water is going out on this tour.”

  News obviously hadn’t yet traveled around town that David was the cute new student teacher at Seaside High. Cara would save that news for a time when David was nowhere near. “I saw his truck in the parking lot. What a coincidence.”

  “Uh-huh.” Sherry looked like she was about to laugh.

  Cara ignored Sherry’s goading and leaned over the desk to sign her paperwork.

  “Don’t worry, kiddo. Everything will be fine.”

  Cara practiced her stoic smile again. It came easier this time. She could do this.

  * * *

  David stood aboard the Lookout, adorably casual in a navy windbreaker, jeans, and boat shoes. He was talking with what looked like a married couple and their grade school–age daughter. Cara descended the stairs on shaky legs. Thick exhaust fumes from larger fishing boats drowned out the scents of the sea and stung her eyes.

  Glancing her way, David smiled and waved before turning back to the man speaking to him. Rick helped her onto the boat and handed her a life jacket, then watched as she fastened it. He appraised her carefully, so she gave her stoic smile another go. She must have perfected it by now because Rick’s face lit up.

  He hung his arm over her shoulder and called out to the others. “This here is my first mate, Cara. If I miss anything about the grays, she’ll be able to answer any questions you have about them.”

  David aimed his full, lopsided smile at her. She smiled back, then directed her attention toward the other customers, whom Rick continued to address.

  “Like David and I told you,” Rick said, “we had an incident with some transient orcas the other week. They didn’t leave the area as early as they usually do, so we’ll steer clear of any if we run into them.” He gave Cara a final squeeze and patted her head.

  David waved her toward him. Her nerves were even more charged after Rick’s mention of the transients. She teetered over.

  “Cara, this is Tom and Jean Jameson and their daughter, Katy,” David said.

  Cara closely inspected their life jackets. “Hi there. I’ve been coming out with Rick just about every month for the last three years. We have a local pod of over two hundred gray whales here. We’ve identified and named over fifty of them. Odds are always great we’ll see some.”

  She patted the back of one of the seats. “Please sit while we head out. Rick will give you some information about where we’re going and what we’re likely to see. When we stop, feel free to ask me any questions.”

  The Jamesons sat in the row behind the controls. Cara sat in the second row back from the front. David sat close beside her, as though he’d been doing so for years. She angled toward him and looked into his eyes, ready to look away.

  His face was free of any of the recent tightness she’d seen at school. And he didn’t avert his gaze. Warmth filled her, but her heart continued to beat erratically.

  “Rick called and thought it would be good for both us to get back out on the water,” David said.

  Conflict raged in his eyes. Even though he must have worried that he shouldn’t have, he’d come out anyway. For her.

  She fought the urge to close the distance between them, to run her fingers through his hair and press her lips to his. Realizing her gaze had lingered on his mouth longer than she intended, she blinked and looked down at her lap. But she couldn’t stop herself from looking back up into his eyes. She was sure the longing that burned there was mirrored in her own.

  “I’m glad you came out,” he said.

  Her stoic smile came naturally now. She cleared her throat. “I’m glad you came out, too.”

  An extra splash of pink washed across his cheeks. He looked away when Rick began his spiel and pulled out of the harbor. When the boat had remained docked, Cara had been able to control her nerves. But now, heading out to sea, she gripped the bottom of her seat. Her body tensed and she took in deep, shaky breaths.

  David inclined his head toward hers, close enough that his words sounded soft in her ear. “Try to relax and remember what it felt like in the past when you came out, how much you enjoyed the boat ride, the wind, the grays.”

  She closed her eyes and recalled tours from the beginning of the summer when she’d first met Crossback and Bobbi. Crossback’s markings were distinct and couldn’t be missed. And baby Bobbi never went down for a dive without waving good-bye with his tail flukes.

  Cara’s breathing evened out as she concentrated on pleasant memories of the grays. She opened her eyes and glanced sideways at David, who was watching her.

  “Thanks,” she told him.

  A sweet smile touched his lips.

  Instead of heading toward Seagoer’s Cove, as Rick usually did, he steered the boat northwest toward Cape Cornell. At least two dozen gray humps dotted the water near the inlet. A few disappeared beneath the surface.

  Pulling her binoculars from her backpack, Cara stood and tried to make out any familiar markings. David pulled out his own binoculars and the Jamesons moved to Cara’s other side. Cara pointed out the whales she recognized, gesturing toward Barney at the back of the group, whose back was covered with barnacles, and Dotty, a darker gray with circular white spots, who dove underwater.

  Rick called out from the controls. “I can’t remember a time I saw a group of grays this big feeding together.”

  Cara leaned down, handed her binoculars to young Katy, and helped her home in on the whales. The little girl giggled and held tight to the binoculars.

  When Cara rose to a standing position, David gently nudged her arm.

  He passed her his binoculars. “That might be Bobbi in the front. He’s the smallest of the bunch.”

  Cara raised the binoculars and focused on the front of the group. Sure enough, a small whale tail lifted.

  She pointed. “Did you see the little whale tail wave?” she asked the others. “That’s the signature move of one of our newcomers, a calf named Bobbi. That large whale in front must be his mother, Crossback.”

  The tension eased out of Cara’s muscles. Crossback’s head lifted enough for Cara to make out her unique markings before she turned and dove underwater. The other grays all followed suit, many flipping their tails up as they dove and seemed to turn in the opposite direction.

  “Everyone take a seat, please,” Rick commanded.

  To their left, five transient orcas swam at a fast clip toward the boat.

  The Jamesons retreated to the third row.

  Cara gripped David’s arm and dragged him down to sit with her.

  “Let’s head after those grays,” Rick said, sounding jovial as ever, but Cara knew better by the way he sped away from the transients in the direction of the harbor.

  David brushed Cara’s hair away from her ear and leaned closer to speak over the roar of the boat’s motor. “It’s not common for transient orcas to overturn boats. Right?”

  More muscles than Cara knew sh
e had tensed up. She couldn’t answer him, so she shook her head.

  He pushed his sleeves up to his elbows and leaned in again. “So we’ve already learned that at least one of these transients is aggressive. Now we’re avoiding them. We’re going to be fine.”

  She sucked in a lungful of air and nodded. Exhaling, she squeezed his bare forearm and her body warmed. She breathed deeply and scowled at the transients as they receded from view.

  Rick sped toward safety. David sat close to Cara and let her continue to hold on to him. She couldn’t crawl into his lap right now like she wanted to, even if they were a couple. But it would be so easy to lay her head on his shoulder, to forget that he would be her teacher come Monday.

  They entered the harbor and pulled up to the dock. She reluctantly let go of David. Standing, they faced each other. She avoided his eyes.

  “Thanks for helping me calm down out there,” she said. “I’m more angry than scared at this point. I hope the transients will leave soon. But even if they don’t, I think I’ll be good from now on.”

  “Don’t be ashamed of being scared.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.

  Rick’s booming voice carried over as he spoke to the Jamesons.

  “That was more whales than we usually see on a week’s worth of tours, even in peak season,” Rick was telling them as he helped them onto the dock.

  The Jamesons waved their good-byes and Rick came over and clapped David on the shoulder. “Thanks for watching out for my first mate.”

  Cara and David unfastened their life jackets and handed them over.

  “Those transient orcas are a fierce brood,” Rick said, stowing their life jackets. “But I promised to steer clear. And I did. So don’t you worry about those blackfish anymore, you hear?”

  Cara nodded and allowed Rick to ruffle her already windblown hair. Wanting to leave things on a good note, she said good-bye to Rick and David and hopped off the boat before awkwardness could set in.

  The guys remained onboard talking. Cara glanced down as she climbed the stairs. David was watching her. Maybe there was hope for their future yet.

  THIRTEEN