I don’t even have time to move as he swings the keyboard like a bat.
Not again.
The floor rises to greet my face.
My eyes cross.
And I’m out.
chapter thirty-seven
I don’t feel so well. My mouth tastes like rusted yuck. Did someone drive a bulldozer into my face? Where am I?
Omigosh.
Lindy! Felicity!
How long have I been lying here?
Ohhhh, Newton Phillips.
I gingerly move one arm. Ow!
Wait—why can’t I see? I run my hand over my swollen eyes. I’m blind! Help me, Jesus, I’m blind!
The door creaks, and I tense. A shock of pain ricochets through my limbs.
“Bella?”
My mouth hurts to move. “Luke?” I choke back the tears. “I—I can’t see. That karate-chopping nerd must’ve hit my optical nerves and—”
He flips on the light and rushes to me.
“It’s a miracle!” I reach for him. “I can see!”
Luke digs into his pocket and calls 9-1-1.
“Why are there two of you? Aw, you’re both so cute.” I close my eyes again. My head is so fuzzy.
I’m Sure His hands roam over me as he talks.
“Ow . . . Ow . . . Ow . . .”
He snaps his phone shut. “We have to get you to the hospital.” Grabbing a Kleenex from the desk, he presses it to my bleeding forehead.
“Story of my life.” I clutch his lapel. “Luke, is it too late? How long have I been in here?”
“You’ve been out of my sight for fifteen minutes.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t let me out of your sight anymore.”
“I don’t intend to.” He frowns at my wounded face.
Some of the fog dissipates. “Newt—he’s going to hurt Felicity. I don’t know what his plans are, but they involve explosives. We have to get everyone out of the tent.”
“They were winding down the music to announce the prom king and queen when I left.”
“Where’s Lindy?”
“Budge has her.”
I go limp with relief. “We have to go. The police might not get here in time.”
Luke scoops me up slowly, as if he’s afraid I’ll break.
I bite my lip on a yell as I’m lifted into his arms. “When this is over I’m going to have a glass of punch. And a bottle of Tylenol.”
His blue eyes sweep over me and rest on my face. “I’m so sorry this happened to you.” He runs his hand across my battered cheek, then stalks out the door. Every step down awakens a new ache.
“Wait,” I say when we reach the bottom. “I can walk.”
“Are you sure?”
Tempting, but yes . Clutching my side, I follow him through the living room and into the empty kitchen. Everyone is outside for the big announcement.
Luke pushes through the crowd in the tent and clears a path. I struggle a few steps behind, as my woozy head jerks from one side to the other looking for Newt. The king and queen candidates form a line at the front of the tent.
The deejay stands on a small stage and pulls a piece of paper from his jacket. “And now, juniors and seniors of Truman High, your prom king is Jackson Feldman . . .”
“We have to get Felicity off the stage!” I yell.
Luke nods and keeps moving toward the front.
“And no prom would be complete without a queen!” the deejay says. “The Tiger prom queen is . . .”
A fake electronic drumroll rattles the tent. The noise escalates as everyone starts to clap.
The deejay holds up the crown. “Felicity Weeks!”
“Bella!” I stop as Lindy grabs my sleeve. “What’s going on?”
“We have to get Felicity out of here. Newt’s going to hurt her. We need to evacuate the whole place.”
Lindy stares toward the stage. “That’s not the crown I bought.”
The prom king lifts a giant, sparkling tiara over Felicity’s head. She sheds big dramatic tears. Sister, spend an hour in my shoes, and you’ll have something to cry about.
I catch sight of Luke’s back. He’s headed toward the stage. “Lindy, get out of here. Now.”
Pushing past the pain, I rush up the steps to the contestants. Luke stands on the other end of the platform.
I grab the deejay’s mic. “We need everyone to clear the tent. Leave immediately!”
Nobody moves. Idiots!
Felicity rips the mic from my hands. “Get off of here, you lunatic! I’ve waited my whole life for this.”
Her tiara bobbles on her head, and I catch sight of a tiny red flicker. A light. “A bomb!” I scream. “It’s on her tiara!”
That does the trick. The floor turns into a stampede. People run in every direction, shooting out exits, diving under tables, and crawling under the plastic walls.
One person stands in the middle. He holds a small device.
“Luke, it’s Newt!” I point to our villain.
Infused with adrenaline, I grab Felicity’s crown, jump down, and run with it across the empty space. I glance back long enough to see Luke on the ground with Newt. They roll around in a scuffle of punches, kicks, and grunts.
Please God. Save us from the exploding cubic zirconias!
Police sirens wail in the distance. Time moves in slow motion.
“Get rid of that crown!” Luke yells. He punches Newt in the jaw then takes a blow himself.
I see my destination stretch out before me. I can’t get there fast enough. Budge steps into my line of vision. “Leave!” I shout. “Go!”
He shakes his shaggy head. “I’m open. Pass it! I’ll get it there!”
We both turn at Luke’s victorious cry. “I have it!” He holds the detonator. “I’ve got it!”
Newt writhes on the ground, clutching his stomach. His shaking hand reaches into his pocket. I see the shine of metal.
“He has another one!” I cry.
Newt’s bony finger presses into the detonator.
“Bella!” Budge calls, arms out.
Grunting like a tennis star, I heave the thing toward him, praying as it sails into the air.
On a yell, Luke charges my way, his body airborne and arcing toward me. I don’t even have time to process the hurt as we go down. He turns to take the brunt of the fall, then rolls on top of me, his body shielding mine.
Budge plunges the tiara into the punch fountain. He ballet leaps away, his form a symphony of baggy pants and frizzed-out hair, and rolls under a table, pulling it on top of him.
Kablooom!
A spray of red liquid falls over us like rain. Shards of glass sprinkle everywhere, and I’m pulled tighter to Luke.
Luke rolls off of me and laughs. “We’re okay.” He pulls me up, picking a piece of glass from his tux. “Are you all right?”
I lick the punch on my hand and taste strawberry. “Yeah, but this totally needs some more sherbet.”
He hugs me to him, still laughing. “I thought I was going to wet my pants.”
I point to his red-stained trousers. “You sorta did.”
Luke pulls away enough to plant a soft kiss on my forehead. “That seriously scared the heck out of me.”
“You were amazing.” With swollen eyes, I try to bat my lashes. “You’re always like, saving me and stuff.”
He quirks a brow. “It is getting old.” He searches the faces around us. “We’ve got to get you to a doctor.”
A crowd has gathered around us as the tent slowly fills back up. The police filter through, and Budge and Ruthie lead them to Newt, still curled like a snail on the ground.
I’m Sure “Oh, my!” Felicity fans herself with a napkin. “I could’ve died. You rescued me! I can’t wait to tell my daddy about your heroics.”
“I’d say you have a lot to tell daddy.” I gesture to a cop. “Like how you and Newt robbed the class and the bank. And how you let Newt keep the money—if he’d sabotage the other queen candidates.”
Sh
e gasps. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” With manicured nails, she gestures to my face. “Clearly you’ve hit your head a few times.”
“Oh, that is it!” With arms outstretched, I lunge for the girl.
Luke jumps between us, his mouth in a crooked grin. “I don’t think so, Bel.”
“No?”
“Nuh-uh,” he drolls.
Ignoring my screaming limbs, I rest my hand on Luke’s chest, but my glare is for Felicity. “But can’t I rough her up just a bit? It would be a humanitarian deed. She needs to know how to defend herself—when she gets to prison.”
Felicity blanches.
Luke laughs and wraps an arm around my waist and guides me toward the doors. “Let it go.”
A woman in uniform grabs Felicity by the elbow, and I hear her sorry wail all the way outside.
“Omigosh, Bella!” Lindy crushes me in a hug, and my eyes cross. “Are you okay?”
“Easy.” Luke pulls me back to him. “Bella’s been knocked around a bit.”
Matt Sparks stares in the direction of Newt in the patrol car. “I knew you shouldn’t have gone out with him.”
“It wasn’t a date, Matt,” Lindy protests. “But thanks for dragging me to safety. That was really . . . sweet.”
Matt blushes and gives her an awkward side hug. “I just wanted you out of there.”
I look at Luke and grin.
“Good catch, brother.” I ruffle Budge’s hair when he walks by. “You saved the night.”
He rolls his eyes. “If I’d taken you home in bits and pieces, my dad would’ve totally killed me. So don’t think it was about you.”
“Isn’t he the best?” Ruthie clutches his arm and sighs. “Oh! Your forehead is bleeding.” She digs a tissue out of her cleavage and begins to daub. “My brave champion. If I had known it was going to be like this tonight, I would’ve brought my favorite knife.”
The media covers the area and cameras flash like lightning. Even the familiar two goons from Pile Driver of Dreams are in the action.
My policeman friend Mark Rogers breaks into our group. He opens up a kit and commands me to sit on the ground. “Let me take a look at your face. The ambulance will be here shortly.”
I let him swab and bandage some bleeding cuts, then beg him to leave. “I’m fine. Really. Go away.”
“Only if you promise to have the medics take you in for observation.”
Luke rests his hand on my shoulder. “She promises.”
“Hey—where’s Hunter?” In all the craziness, I totally forgot about him.
Anna Deason saunters by. “If it’s the boy I saw you with on that TV show, I think he’s over there with that girl.”
Standing next to the pool, Hunter faces my direction. A girl has her hand going as she proceeds to gripe him out.
“Hunter!” I call.
The girl turns around, and for the umpteenth time, I’m dizzy.
Mia.
I stomp over to them. “What are you doing here?”
“The reality show paid me to come out here.” Mia snarls at Hunter.
Sure enough, the camera team has moved to a prime spot, their lenses focused right on us.
“What is she talking about, Hunter?”
He opens his mouth, only to snap it shut.
“Tell her,” Mia barks.
Hunter’s hands reach for me. I shrink away, warning sirens blaring in my ears. “Spill it.”
“Bella, I care about you. Please believe that.”
“But?”
He moves to touch me again but lets his hand fall. “The show has nothing to do with how I feel about you.”
Mia jerks her hand toward the cameras. “Hunter broke up with me when they called him.”
“What?” And I thought the hits were over. “You were just a prop for the show?”
“It’s not like that.” His voice is a plea. “Maybe at first, but not later. Not now.”
The dark sky tilts, and I struggle to focus. I need to sit down. All these punches, kicks, and body slams are catching up with me. Oh, yeah, and the skanky lies of an ex-boyfriend.
“You don’t understand, Bella.” He runs a hand through his hair. “They went to my dad first, and everyone was pressuring me. My dad is on the verge of bankruptcy. He needed me.”
My laugh is bitter. “Well, I hope you and your big fat check have a lovely flight back to New York.”
“I’m sorry I hurt you. Please believe me.”
“Believe you?” I laugh. “I can’t even look at you right now.”
Mia squints. “Your eye is pretty swollen.”
I turn on her. “And I guess you were here to rub it in?”
She shakes her head. “No. The producer told me to throw a big fit, but I just wanted to warn you. I don’t want him back either.”
“And what about your disease?” I spit.
Mia snorts. “I’m sure.”
“That was a lie too?”
Hunter reddens. “I do have a stomach condition. And it is debilitating.”
“Irritable bowel syndrome,” Mia snaps. “You know, like, when he gets stressed he has the runs.”
“For a while they thought it was serious.”
I close my eyes at the whine in Hunter’s voice. And to think I thought he could’ve been dying!
“Bella, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. But I have changed—that wasn’t fake. I really did go to church.” Hunter plants himself directly in front of me. “Tell me you weren’t considering getting back together, and I’ll go away without another word.”
I look deep into his eyes and will the dizziness to abate. “Hunter, tonight I was going to tell you that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I wanted nothing more from you than friendship.” His face falls. “But you’ve ruined even that. I need reality—not some I’m Sure hyped-up TV version. Not someone playing my friend. Someone who’s genuine when all the charm slips away. But I truly do hope you find Jesus one day. So I’ll pray for you.” I rub my temples and take my last look. “But this friendship is deader than a tiara in a punch bowl.”
chapter thirty-eight
Mom, quit staring at me. I’m not going to shoot lasers out my nose or anything else fabulous.”
My mother takes a seat next to my hospital bed. “You have a concussion. The doctor did say to watch you.”
“We’re never leaving you guys alone again.” Jake bounces Robbie to his other knee. “Last night was a close one.”
I feel bad the big guy had to cut his Vegas trip short. They took the red-eye and got here this morning. Jake’s missing out on lots of promos and interviews. Necessary things for the country’s next big wrestling star.
“Yeah, well, you have to leave me alone,” Budge says, patting the Band-Aid on his forehead. “ ’Cause I’m meeting some friends at the movies tonight.”
I lift a sore cheek and smile. “One of those people wouldn’t happen to be Ruthie, would it?”
Budge suddenly finds his hands very interesting. “Yeah, her and some people from her church.”
“Can we come in?” Dolly sticks her Aqua Net head in the room. Mickey follows her in.
Mom’s face is a flashing question mark as she hugs her friend.
“We met in the hall,” Dolly whispers. “No big deal.” She rests a hip on my bed. “How are you, hon?”
“I’m alive, and none of my friends were blown up. What more could a girl ask for?”
All heads turn at the knock on the door.
I see the flowers first. Then Luke.
“Hey.” He smiles and speaks to everyone in the room.
“Let’s go get some lunch.” Mom stands up and grabs her purse. “I could use something to eat.”
“Bring me something back. They tried to feed me mashed peas a while ago. I need a burger.” I deserve a burger.
Everyone files out, with Robbie trailing behind. He runs to my bed, crawls up, and plants a big one on my cheek. “You’re my hero,” he says and scampers out.
/>
My eyes grow blurry, and I blink it away. Just fatigue, I’m sure.
Luke wears a dashing smile as he walks to my bedside and brushes the hair away from a bandage. He stares deeply into my eyes, and I wait for his sweet words.
“Kirkwood, you look awful.”
Okay. That ain’t it.
“Wow, Chief. Words like that just make my insides tingle.”
He pulls a chair beside me. “So how are those broken ribs?”
“Bound tighter than a Victorian corset.”
“I should’ve never let you out of my sight,” he says.
Now these words I like. “Because you’re crazy about me?”
“Because every time I do, you wind up in the hospital.” He laughs. “Because the ER doctors know you by name.”
“That’s not true.”
“They probably send you birthday cards.”
“No, they don’t.” Just Christmas greetings.
“We’re a pretty good team.” Luke holds out his hand. I place mine in his palm.
“We saved the world.” I smile into his eyes.
He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out an ice cream bar. “For my fellow crime-fighter. It’s not from the Truman Dairy Barn, but it was the best I could do.”
I unwrap it in one tear. “You’re pretty good for me, I guess.” I take a bite and sigh. “And face it, my coming on the newspaper staff was the best thing that ever happened to you.”
He grabs my hand, drags the ice cream to his mouth, and takes a bite. “Since knowing you, I’ve been shot at, attacked, and nearly blown apart.”
“Is this your way of asking me out?”
“Is it working?”
“I’ll go out with you, Luke.” I grab my ice cream back. “But just because you obviously need protecting.”
He laughs. “You are pretty scrappy.” His hand disappears into his coat again and pulls out two envelopes. “Recognize these?”
I take another bite. “No.”
I'm So Sure (2009) Page 23