by June Sproat
I showed Steve the newspaper.
“Okay, so this is very nice. But what does it have to do with you, or me, or going to the art exhibit?” he asked.
“Look at the woman and then look at her necklace.” I tried to be calm but I just couldn’t understand why he was being so dense!
“Lovely, did you want it?” he asked sarcastically.
“Yes, I mean no, I don’t want it, but it’s just like the one I have.”
“The one you have?” his voice cracked a little on the word ‘have’.
“Come on, keep up would you! The necklace Coach found in the car after Roger was arrested,” I snapped
“Um, Kate, you never said anything to me about a necklace,” Steve said.
“Oh,” I hadn’t realized I didn’t tell him. He was in the car when it happened so I just figured he knew about it.
“Don’t you remember? Coach found a necklace on the floor of the car. He thought it was mine, but it wasn’t. I was supposed to drop it off in the lost and found, but I forgot. I remembered the necklace after Roger attacked me in the hall.” I stopped to breathe.
Steve stared, his eyes wide.
“You see, the necklace,” I pounded the newspaper with my hand, “she has almost the same exact one.”
It all started to make sense.
“Don’t you see? If Roger was after the necklace, then he must have realized he lost it during the accident. That’s why he probably broke into the Driver’s Ed car. Only he didn’t find the necklace. Since I was the one driving, he probably figured I had it. And then when he was at the gym, he was probably trying to get to my locker to see if it was there.”
“He was in the gym? When?”
“The night you guys won that important game. I thought I saw him, and went after him.”
“You did what?”
I saw Bob look over at us. I was afraid he would come over.
“Shh. Calm down,” I said smiling at Bob. I waved to let him know I was fine. He nodded and looked away again.
“I didn’t actually approach him; I just followed to see if it was him.”
“You didn’t think to, oh I don’t know, tell anyone?” Steve said throwing his hands in the air.
“No, I thought everyone would think I was crazy. I mean, everyone apparently was getting mixed ideas about me. You called me a snob, remember?”
“Yeah, but that was different.”
“Anyway, he never got into the school that night because the doors were locked and then he took off.” I decided to leave the part out about me hiding in the caf because Steve was acting crazy enough.
“So, you think maybe he was the one who trashed your locker?” Steve asked.
“That’s what I’m thinking. When he didn’t find it there, he must have thought I had it on me. So the necklace has to mean something, don’t you think?” I finished and exhaled loudly.
“You want to go and find out? Alone?” he asked.
“Um, no, that is why I asked you to go with me,” I said matter of factly.
Steve looked at me and then one eyebrow slowly rose.
“Come on, Steve, you know you are the only one I could ask. Bob will not give me a second alone, and I figured he might slightly let his guard down if I was with you. After all, you owe me,” I added.
“I owe you?” his eyebrows shot up and again his voice cracked on the word ‘you’.
“Um, well yes, when Roger was choking you, remember, I got him off you?”
“He wouldn’t have been on top of me in the first place if it wasn’t for you!” he said.
“Technicalities!” I shook my head.
Steve looked at me, at the newspaper and then back at me.
“So basically, you’re just using me for my body?” he said, and the corners of his mouth slowly broke into a smile.
“Something like that.” I tried desperately not to smile back. It was impossible.
“And here I thought you were only interested in my brain.” He smiled fully now.
“Well, I did need to pass Chemistry,” I said. Then I just stared at him.
“Ok, what are you staring at?” he asked.
“I was just thinking, you really aren’t like them, are you?” I angled my head toward the cafeteria.
“What do you mean?” his eyebrows scrunched up and made deep lines across his forehead.
“I’m not sure,” I said focusing my eyes on him.
“Well, they are all so into themselves. You’re not like that at all. Why?” I asked.
“Maybe it’s because I come from a different place then they do,” he said.
“What, like Mars?” I snorted.
“I’m serious, but if you’re not…” he started to get up. I grabbed his arm. He stopped, looked down at my hand on his arm and then looked up at me.
“No, I’m sorry. Tell me.” I let go of his arm, slowly.
I scooted back on the bench and leaned back on the pillar. I wrapped my arms around my knees as I pulled them up to my chest.
“I moved to Wainscott the summer before freshman year, so I didn’t have all that junior high baggage. I came in fresh in more ways then one.”
Interesting. I looked at him, unable to raise one eyebrow; I just kind of looked down my nose at him this time letting the deep lines form across my forehead.
“I wasn’t always good at sports, and really, I didn’t always look like I do now,” he said.
Even more interesting. I was hooked.
“Let’s just say where puberty was unkind to some, it blessed me.” He reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet and dug through the contents. He pulled out a little picture and passed it to me.
“That was me in the seventh grade.”
“Oh my,” I sucked in my breath and made a face. I didn’t mean to. I quickly glanced up at him and hoped he hadn’t seen it. He had. I felt my face get warm.
“It’s okay,” he looked very amused. “That’s the exact reason I carry it. No one ever believes what a geeky kid I was. I use it for proof.” He smiled.
God, I love that smile.
I held the picture in the air in front of him so I could see the before and after shots. “Amazing!” I blurted out.
“Yeah I am, but that has nothing to do with it,” he laughed. “I lost about forty pounds, grew about six inches that summer and got contacts. Some metamorphosis, huh?”
I smiled and handed him back his picture.
“So, you were a geek. Interesting,” was all I could say.
“Ain’t it though.”
I looked at him trying to see past the shell that surrounded him and then it came to me. He had the body of a jock, but inside he had the heart of a geek. That’s why he was so different. That’s why I was sure I was totally in love with him.
“So will you take me?” I asked interrupting my own thoughts.
“All right, you win. I’ll pick you up at seven.” He handed the newspaper back to me.
“Great,” I said and jumped up. I almost flung my arms around him, but stopped before I made a fool of myself.
“See you at seven,” I said and walked away.
Now I just have to figure out what I’m going to do once I get there and how I was going to warn Mrs. Montgomery she was in trouble.
Chapter Twenty Three
“I wish to leave all my worst teachers with their mounds of homework to my sister, and guess what, my wish is coming true!”
— Lori Perkins (sister of soon to be freshman Chris Perkins)
“Is it all right if I go to the art exhibit tonight after dinner?” I asked swirling spaghetti around my fork.
“Art exhibit? Where’s it at?” my dad asked
“It’s at the Town Hall.”
“Since when are you interested in art?” Stacy asked annoyingly.
I just shot her a dirty look. I didn’t need any help from the peanut gallery.
“I have to agree, Kate; why the sudden interest in art?” my mom asked.
&n
bsp; “Well, it’s an assignment for school.” I focused more on the noodles than the question.
“Is Jodi going with you?” my mom asked.
“Um, no, I’m going with Steve,” I answered.
“Oh?” It came out more of a question and then Mom added, “I didn’t realize you had any classes with him.”
“I don’t, he’s just, you know going with me.” My face was so hot I knew it must be totally red.
“Oh, well, of course you can go,” my mom said.
I looked up, that was too easy.
My dad’s mouth dropped open like he was going to say something but the look my mom shot him caused him to snap his mouth shut quickly.
Oh, my God! She thought it was a date! I opened my mouth, about to clarify the mistake, but then I realized it was probably more to my advantage to let them think what they wanted. I shut my mouth; if my mom thought I was going on a date and that was the only way to get to the exhibit, then so be it.
After dinner I got ready. I picked a violet sweater, one of the new ones my mom bought me, and the only pair of black dress pants I owned. I had no idea what to wear to an art exhibit, but I knew jeans were probably out. I slid the pendant on over my head and brushed out my hair. Not bad, I thought as I looked in the mirror. I tucked the pendant into my sweater, not wanting anyone to see it until necessary.
****
Steve was right on time. As I walked out of the house he was standing by his truck talking with Bob.
Steve wore a sports coat and nice pants, really nice pants, and then when my heart felt like it skipped a beat, I wished, for just a minute, that this really was a date.
“Ready?” he asked as I walked up to them.
“Yep,” I said and eyed them suspiciously.
Steve opened the door to his truck and I jumped in, literally jumped. I had to because I’m so short.
“What were you talking to Bob about?” I asked, wondering if he let him in on my little plan.
“Oh, guy stuff,” he said and gave me a little smile and a wink.
“So, why don’t I believe you?” I glared at him and desperately wished I could raise that one eyebrow to emphasize my point.
“Really, Kate, I just asked him not to hang on us so much tonight. I assured him I wouldn’t let you out of my sight, and he said he would try to give us some privacy,” he said.
“Oh really!” I was about to tell him that he was out of line, that if I wanted some privacy, I would arrange it myself. I didn’t need him to set anything up. But, for the first time, I thought before I blurted anything out and realized that this was probably not a bad thing. I mean if I asked Bob for some privacy, he would probably say no, but it was Steve who asked, so that must have been why Bob gave in. Because I only asked Steve to take me tonight for the sole purpose of getting away from Bob to investigate the whole necklace thing, I figured he was really just doing what I asked him. I really couldn’t complain about that, right? I looked back at him.
“Yeah. So, what’s your plan?” he asked.
Truthfully? I had no clue. I mean to me the biggest hurdle was just getting to the art exhibit.
After that, I was just going to wing it.
“Well, I guess we just try to find Mrs. Montgomery,” I said.
“And then what?”
“Um, I’m not sure, any suggestions?”
“Sorry, I’m not the devious one, you are,” he said
“Somehow, I don’t believe you.”
“Well, why did you ask me to help you if you don’t trust me?” he said, with another wink.
“It’s just for your body, remember?” I elbowed him in the arm. That wasn’t true; I did trust him, completely.
“Oh yeah, I forgot.”
We sat in silence the rest of the way.
Which was good, being quiet I mean. It gave me time to think. Although I must admit, it was very hard to concentrate on anything with Steve being such enjoyable company, which might mean he’s starting to like me again, and maybe as more than friends.
****
“So, where do you think she might be?” Steve whispered after we got inside.
Bob was still tailing us, but I knew we would be able to get rid of him if what Steve said earlier to me was true.
“Um, I’m not sure. I guess we could just look around.” I eyed Bob, “I thought you said he was going to give us some privacy?”
“He said he would, maybe he just wants to look around first,” Steve glanced at Bob over his shoulder. “Let’s look over here,” he said and slipped his hand in mine. He led me to the front of the exhibit room. I stood there hand and hand with Steve. I couldn’t help but think how good this felt and that it was too bad it wasn’t the real thing. All of a sudden I saw her; Mrs. Montgomery came out from behind a display and stood just a few feet from us. I squeezed Steve’s hand and dragged him toward her. I tried to make eye contact with her, because I read on Google that if you make eye contact, the other person feels compelled to acknowledge you. That is just what I wanted to do. Get her to acknowledge me. I found out that wasn’t going to be easy. I mean, she did look at us, looked me right in the eye, but then someone came up and took her by the arm and led her away. Apparently she was required to make some kind of speech to open the exhibit.
“We’ll get her attention after her speech,” I whispered to Steve. Then, I looked around and added, “I think we finally lost Bob in the crowd.”
Steve scanned the room and then looked down at me and smiled, “I guess you’re right,” and tightened his grip on my hand. Maybe we should lose Bob more often!
After what seemed like forever, she finished her welcome to the exhibit speech. Then she had to shake hands, and more talking, blah, blah, blah, before, finally, we were able to approach her.
“How do you do, Mrs. Montgomery?” I stuck out my hand. I had no clue what to do or say to the women. I really had no idea what I expected to happen when we met. I didn’t really think this out very far. How was I going to explain what happened to me and that it might happen to her while standing in a room full of people. Then I had a fabulous idea. Okay, not fabulous, but really pretty good.
Mrs. Montgomery politely shook my hand and then her eyes seemed to land on the chain around my neck.
“Nice to meet you…?” she said with a question. “Oh, I’m Kate and this is Steve. We go to Wainscott High and we’d like to interview you for the school paper, that is if you have a few minutes,” I said.
Steve looked at me and then up at the ceiling shaking his head.
“Oh, well, that would be pleasant. Would you mind if we found someplace a little quieter and we could sit? I’m an old lady and all the commotion can get a bit taxing.” She patted the back of my hand, which she was still holding from when we shook hands.
“Of course,” I said, this was perfect.
Steve looked like he was going to say something, but I just glared at him and pulled him along.
We followed her to the back of the exhibit hall and through a doorway that led to a private room in the gallery. It looked like a store room, or a room they used for preparing the presentations. The room was only half lit and there was a variety of equipment like choir risers, stacks of extra chairs, and coat racks. There were also huge hanging banners that reached from the ceiling to the floor. I looked around the room. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up and for the first time I actually wished Bob was with us. Some security guy he turned out to be!
“Well now, what shall we talk about?” Mrs. Montgomery took a seat at a small table set up with some coffee and pastries, probably for the exhibit workers.
We sat down across from her.
“Oh, um well…what can you tell us about this art exhibit? I mean, why did you pick Wainscott to have it?” I just said the first thing that came to me. I never expected to be alone with the women let alone interview her! I couldn’t stop thinking about the pendant she was wearing and what it had to do with the one hanging around my neck. How was
I going to get her to talk about that?
Mrs. Montgomery began by telling us about her late husband and that it was his wish to have the art exhibit put on display. She explained how after months of searching for the best location to share his love of art, she chose Wainscott. I was too preoccupied by the pendant to pay much attention to what she was saying and then she caught me staring at her.
“I don’t presume to tell you your assignment, dear, but shouldn’t you be writing this down?” she asked.
“Um, I don’t need to. I have a great memory and attention to detail,” I said.
“Oh, how very interesting. I used to be the same way. However, I never tried to pretend I was something I was not.” She looked directly at me. “I can’t help but notice you seem very interested in my necklace.”
I swallowed. “Um, yes, it’s very unusual.”
“Just like yours I see.” She eyed the pendant peaking out from the top of my sweater.
I glanced down at the necklace, “oh this? I found it.” I tried to act like it was just an old piece of jewelry. I’m sure I didn’t fool her; I mean she saw right through my whole school newspaper thing.
“Listen, Mrs. Montgomery, we aren’t with the school newspaper. I just needed to talk to you. You see, there is this guy, Roger, who escaped from prison. I ruined his escape, but that’s a whole other story. Anyway, yesterday, he attacked me and pulled off my necklace, only I wasn’t wearing the necklace I think he was after. I think he was after this necklace.” I held up the pendant. “And since he didn’t get mine, I’m afraid he might come after you since yours is similar to this one. I mean if he knew I had this one, I’m sure he saw your picture in the paper like I did, and now he knows you have one, too.” I stopped to breath. I was babbling again.
“Oh, what an imagination you have. But if you think that I might be in danger, why not go to the police?” Mrs. Montgomery asked.
“Well,” I looked over at Steve and blushed, “let’s just say my investigative skills aren’t that great.”
“Yes, I know,” she said, and then she turned slightly to her left. “I told you she still had it, Roger. You just hadn’t given her the right bait,” she said.