Phantoms of Fall (The Haunting Ruby Series Book 2)

by Joy Elbel

  Zach shook his head. “You’re making way too much of the whole Misty situation. If you just ignore her, she’ll go away. It worked for me.”

  “Did it really? You guys hooked up one time almost a year ago and she still doesn’t seem to want to go away.” I knew he wanted nothing to do with her, but part of me wondered if he didn’t enjoy having her pant around after him like a dog in heat.

  “Whoa, we didn’t ‘hook up,’” he snapped back heatedly. “To me, that phrase is just another way of saying I slept with her which I didn’t. And yes, she did leave me alone at least until you came into the picture.”

  “Did she really? It seems kind of strange that she would all of a sudden become obsessed with having you just because you have a girlfriend now.” I didn’t want to fight with him about Misty, but I just didn’t think he was looking at the whole picture. Maybe he didn’t want to admit it, but I had a feeling she’d been dogging him ever since they “hooked up”.

  “Seriously, Ruby. That’s just how she is. She wants what she can’t have. Yeah, she followed me around for a while after that night but then she lost interest. The only reason she wants me now is because I’m even more unattainable.” He reached over and slid his hand up my leg. “She knows I’m hopelessly in love with you and when you get jealous, well, it just adds fuel to her fire.”

  The more I thought about it, the more I realized he was probably right. The last time she saw us together I clearly wanted to rip every strand of expensively dyed hair right out of her head. And I’m the type of girl who can’t hide her emotions—anger especially gets written plainly across my face. But I had an advantage this time that I didn’t have before—this time I would be able to kiss him right in front of her if the mood struck. And let’s be honest, the mood struck every second I was with him. Why did he have to be so damn hot?

  “Are you calm now?” he asked as we turned into the drive of what had to be the Sterling house. Dozens of cars were parked on the lawn and the sound of music and laughter rang around from the deck out back.

  “I’m calm,” I replied. But the word “determined” better fit my mood. I was determined to put Misty in her place and I was going to do it tonight. Zach and I were in love and she was about to get the full scope of what that meant. When we kissed, we were explosive—she was about to get hit with some of our shrapnel.

  “Good. Let’s go—we’re already late and we’re going to hear about it from my sister.” He draped his arm around my waist and I linked my arm around his. Raise the curtain—the show’s about to begin.

  My confidence soared through the roof as we rounded the landscaping all the way to the back of the house. I was Zach Mason’s girlfriend and I was about to prove it to the world. Until I saw the gigantic in-ground pool and the bikini clad girls lounging around it. Great, just great. I’d been frightened to death of water since Lee drowned when Destiny Bridge collapsed into the Susquehanna last summer and it didn’t help that I almost drowned in the fountain only a week ago. Why didn’t Zach tell me there was a pool? He had to realize that being around that much water would be traumatic for me? Something smashed down from my head to the pit of my stomach. What was that? Oh yeah, right, that was my confidence swimming around down there in a churning sea of acid.

  I had to regain my composure quickly because all eyes were suddenly on us. Smile and play the part, I kept telling myself. Smile and play the part.

  “There you are, Romeo! I was hoping you could keep your hands off of Ruby long enough to make the party,” Boone called down from the top of the diving board. “I haven’t seen you much since you two hooked up.” With a flourish, he dove into the water splashing a group of giddy girls as he hit the surface.

  Hooked up. I glanced around hoping that Misty was nearby and heard that phrase. Funny, only a few months ago I was worried about what the kids in school would think if Zach told anyone about seeing me in my underwear that day at the shelter. Now I was wishing for everyone to think we were having sex. And to be completely honest, wishing we actually were.

  Zach’s face turned red at the suggestion and Boone noticed the instant he resurfaced. “Hey, don’t get embarrassed, dude! She’s hot and if I were you, I’d be all over that, too.”

  Now it was my turn to blush. But before the embarrassment set in, Zach went off. “That’s my girlfriend you’re talking about and don’t forget it,” he barked. Gone were the days when Zach would brush off a comment like that from Boone and just keep going. He was clearly angry and not doing anything to try to hide it.

  Boone crawled out of the water. “Hey, sorry man. I was just joking around. I didn’t think you’d take me seriously. Truce?” He held out his hand and Zach begrudgingly took it.

  “Truce,” he said with a serious tone that suggested all was not completely forgiven. “Where’s Rachel?” “She’s in the house grabbing some more snacks— she’ll be right back.” Boone looked truly sorry for what he said, so when he apologized to me, I accepted it with a smile. Zach, however, was still not smiling. What was wrong with him tonight?

  I was about to pull him aside and ask him that very question when Rachel popped her head out of the back door. “Zach, Ruby—is that you? It’s about time you lovebirds showed up. Ruby, can you help me carry something?”

  Gladly. I didn’t see much of Rachel in the past week because I was too busy being glued to her brother’s lips and I missed hanging out with her. Especially after the little scene between Zach and Boone by the pool. It probably wasn’t a good time, but I wanted to talk to her about it. But as always, she started to chatter the second I got in the house and I couldn’t get a single word in.

  “Ruby! You’re a little over dressed, don’t you think? You can change into your swimsuit in the bathroom over there, the first door past the laundry room.” She pointed down a small hallway and motioned toward the far end. “I’ll wait here for you and then we can make our grand entrance together.”

  Rachel looked like she just stepped off the cover of Sports Illustrated. And I’m talking the swimsuit edition, of course. She was wearing a metallic blue bikini with matching flip flops. Her ultra-blond hair was pulled up into a twist and held in place with a pair of blue chopsticks. I looked down at my outfit and felt incredibly crappy.

  When I got dressed for the occasion I thought I looked good. I was wearing a pair of denim shorts—emphasis on the word short—and a red halter top with matching red sneaks. If I’d known this was a pool party, I would have worn something more appropriate. Even just a pair of cute sandals would have made me feel better. Not that I would ever go near the water, of course, but at least I would have fit in a little better.

  “I didn’t bring a swimsuit. You’ll have to make your grand entrance alone.” I compared my outfit to hers yet again and felt like even more of a dork.

  “What? Why not? I knew you wouldn’t go in the pool, of course, but I thought you would at least strut your stuff with me!”

  So Rachel, who always seemed so clueless, made the connection that I was afraid of the water. What was Zach’s problem? We were so close that it felt like he could read my mind—and me his—so what went wrong tonight?

  Maybe Rachel would know. “Zach didn’t tell me there was a pool or what was considered appropriate attire.”

  Her brow furrowed. “He didn’t? He’s been to Boone’s party every single year, how could he forget?” Exactly. He didn’t. But there had to be a reason why he neglected to tell me and I needed to know that reason. We needed to talk, but it would have to wait until after the party. I resolved to regurgitate my confidence and go back out there like nothing was wrong. If Misty sensed that I was mad at him, it would blow my whole plan and open a door for her that I couldn’t afford to have opened.

  Rachel grabbed one tray of food and I got the other and followed her back out to the party, staying as far away from the pool as possible. I scanned the crowd and caught sight of Misty and her coven hovering near the far end of the pool. She was wearing a hot pink one piec
e that might as well have been a no piece. There were so many cutouts there was barely any fabric there. A group of boys stood a few feet from her, their tongues all but hanging out of their mouths. A pathetic cry for attention on her part, but at least Zach wasn’t falling for it.

  Instead, I found him sitting at a table talking to a girl I’d never met before. She wasn’t in a swimsuit either so at least I wasn’t the only one who was overdressed anymore. As soon as he saw me, his face brightened and he motioned for me to join them. He was acting like the incident with Boone never happened so it made acting normal a whole lot easier for me.

  I put down the tray of food and went to join them. As I pulled out the chair next to his, he grabbed me by the waist and pulled me down onto his lap. That was more like it. I put my arms around his shoulders and his hands came to rest on my thighs. Misty instantly glared at me so I gave him a quick kiss.

  “Ruby, I want you to meet my friend Chloe Cosgrove. She was my partner in chem lab last year—we almost blew up the lab together. Chloe, this is my girlfriend Ruby Matthews.”

  I sized her up instantly now that she was close enough to scrutinize. She had long brown hair and a friendly smile. She wasn’t a small girl, but she definitely wasn’t fat. She was one of those girls with lots of curves and she totally knew how to wear them. Her outfit was similar to mine and I found myself instantly at ease with her. There were girls at this party who wanted nothing more than to steal my boyfriend, but I decided that Chloe was not one of them.

  I listened to stories about their misadventures in chemistry from the year before and I all but forgot about being mad at Zach. Chloe was a lot of fun and when she said she hoped we had some classes together this year, my feelings about school started to be more positive. One more friend was a welcome addition.

  As Zach started to tell another funny story, a voice came from behind us, stopping him in mid-sentence.

  “Don’t be greedy, Mason. You’ve had your turn—time to let me have her for a while.” The voice was vaguely familiar and I turned my head to find the boy we talked to for a few minutes at Open House. Ryan somebody or other. He checked me out that day and Zach made it pretty clear that I was his. But just like earlier, Zach overreacted to his comment.

  One minute I was happily snuggled in his lap and the next I was falling out of it as he stood up to confront him. I grabbed the edge of the table just in time to keep myself from falling straight onto the concrete. I stood behind Zach watching in disbelief as he ripped into him.

  “Back off Fedderhoff! She’s mine and she wants nothing to do with you!” Zach snarled. Zach stood only inches from Ryan with his fists clenched at his side, shaking with anger.

  Ryan just laughed in his face. “Geez, Mason! What’s your problem? Are you afraid she’s too much woman for you to handle? Afraid she just might want a real man like me?” He turned as one of his friends called out, “Nice one, Ryan!”

  Suddenly there was silence across the deck. No splashing from the pool, no giggling girls. Someone even turned the music off. Everyone was watching us, listening to their argument. I stood there in complete shock as I watched Zach pull back his fist to take a swing at him.

  It all happened so fast but in a surreal, slow motion kind of way. Zach’s fist flew forward, Ryan high-fived one of his buddies and didn’t see it coming. Just before his knuckles would have smashed into Ryan’s jaw, Boone flew in from out of nowhere and pushed Zach aside. His fist connected with dead air and I could see a seething rage in his eyes.

  Boone dragged Zach into the house as he struggled to free himself. What just happened? I was dumbstruck as Rachel took me by the shoulders and led me in after them with Chloe not far behind us. I could hear Zach’s screams long before I saw him.

  “Get off! Let me go, Boone!” Zach yelled as Boone held him pinned against the wall by his shoulders. “Not until you calm down, man!” Boone screamed back in his face. The more Zach struggled, the tighter Boone’s grip on him became. I stared into the face of the boy I loved so much and I barely recognized him.

  “Ruby!” he called my name desperately, but what could I do? He was out of control. I wanted to wrap my arms around him like always but frankly, I was frightened of him.

  So I kept my distance, huddled between Rachel and Chloe, and called to him, “Zach! Calm down!” “Just tell him to let me go! I promise I’ll calm down!” There was a desperate animalistic quality in his voice and in his eyes—like he was terrified of something. My fear subsided and I stepped forward.

  “Let him go Boone—I’ll take it from here.” I stroked the side of his face with the back of my hand and his rage visibly subsided. Boone released his grip and took a step back as Zach tumbled into my arms.

  He held me with an iron grip, almost but not quite tight enough to hurt. Burying his face in my hair, he whispered “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” I replied, almost choking on the words. I loved him with all of my heart, but I was not impressed with what he just did.

  When they saw that he wasn’t going to go after Ryan again, everyone left us alone in the kitchen. Zach sat down at the table and I joined him. Just as I opened my mouth to scold him for his behavior, he beat me to it.

  “I’m so sorry you had to see that, Ruby,” he said burying his face in his hands. “I never wanted you to see me like that.”

  Placing my hand on his shoulder, I leaned in close. “Why did you do that? Why did you get so mad at him?” “I know what Ryan’s like—he’s had his hands down more girls’ pants than I can even begin to count. I know what’s going through his mind when he looks at you—it’s written all over his face. I don’t want him fantasizing about you like that.” His hands started to shake again as he spoke.

  “But you can’t control his thoughts, Zach. He’s a jerk, but that’s all there is to it. It’s not like he actually tried anything with me.”

  “I know! But the idea of you being with anyone else makes me crazy! I can’t lose you, Ruby!” When he lifted his gorgeous blue eyes to meet mine, I saw something I never saw in them before—vulnerability. And my heart instantly melted.

  “You’ll never lose me, Zach. We’re meant to be together, remember?” They weren’t just empty words either. Lee told me from beyond the grave that Zach was my one true love. That was all the proof I needed. But how could I convince Zach of that? Words escaped me so I kissed him instead.

  We kissed until I felt the anger inside of him gradually give way to passion. When our lips finally parted, I asked him, “Can you go back out there and pretend like this never happened?”

  He nodded confidently. “I can. I promise this will never happen again,” he said, gently stroking my hair. So I believed him.

  As we stepped back out onto the deck, all eyes were on us yet again. Ryan stood at the back of a group of guys, staring as we walked back to the table where we were sitting. The tension was palpable until Boone did a cannonball into the pool sending the giggling girls into yet another wave of laughter and taking the attention away from us.

  Before we took our seats, Rachel called to Zach, “Hey can you help me lift this?” She was struggling to move a large cooler all by herself and having no luck.

  “Sure. Coming with me?” he asked me, sounding more like his usual self. Rachel dropped the cooler and it fell with a loud bang. “Now, Zach!” Cans of soda started rolling in every direction and she scrambled to grab them all.

  Zach looked at me and I pointed to Rachel. “Go help her—I’ll gather up the cans.” As he turned his back on me to help Rachel, I kneeled down to pick up a can of soda that came to a halt at my feet. It was only when I started to stand up that I realized how close I was to the edge of the water. My heart began to pound wildly in my chest and a dizzying fear crippled me. I was afraid to move for fear that I would fall in. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. As I reached out for whoever was about to help me, that hand shoved me roughly and I toppled over into the water. As I hit the surface, I saw a flash of hot pink from t
he corner of my eye.

  Panic. Terror. Anger. I could only release one scream before I started sinking toward the bottom of the pool. Flailing wildly, I tried to fight my way upward but my fear worked against me. It felt like hours that I struggled, the water pushing against my chest and sealing me into a tomb of claustrophobia. But within seconds, Zach was beside me lifting me to the surface. He got me to the side of the pool and once my head was above water, I saw Rachel and Chloe with outstretched arms ready to pull me out. Someone in the crowd yelled, “Wet tee shirt contest!” and a round of laughter followed.

  I collapsed on the concrete, shaking and crying with fear. Chloe sat with me while Rachel ran to get me a towel. Where was Zach? He got out of the water right behind me so why wasn’t he there holding me where I needed him to be? Don’t get me wrong, I was grateful to have Chloe at my side but she was no replacement for Zach.

  And then I saw him. Screaming at Ryan again and looking like a man possessed. “This is your last warning, Fedderhoff! Stay the hell away from Ruby!” He grabbed Ryan by the shoulders and threw him into the pool.

  The deck was consumed with commotion. Ryan’s friends getting into Zach’s face, Rachel and Boone trying to stop the soon-to-be fight, and Chloe ushering me into the house. Why was he doing this? I needed him so badly to hold me and make me feel safe again like he always did. But instead he was off in some sort of testosterone-fueled rage. Where was the Zach who held me when I cried? Where was the Zach I loved?

  The shouting from outside slowly diminished and Rachel appeared in the kitchen. “Zach’s waiting for you in the car—you can go out through the front. Do me a favor, Ruby— text me and let me know what’s going on.”

  Following her to the front door, I stopped just before stepping through it. “What’s wrong with him, Rachel?” I begged for an answer but she didn’t have one to offer me.