The Society

by Jodie Andrefski

  What made Tuesday’s plan epic was where Patrick came in. He’d be there with Jessica to capture the moment in all of its face-sucking glory. Of course, he wouldn’t realize that Zena was also on a task. I’d tried to make his sound like he was meant to immortalize whatever poor souls happened to stumble down to the popular make-out spot.

  We all know students love to sneak out over lunch and head down to the football field to duck under the bleachers for a little romance. What better moment to capture for posterity? Your task is to convince Jessica that this is the place to capture real student memories. Use your pull on the yearbook staff to get our fearless editor to realize real life is what should be captured. Wait for any young lovers to appear. Who is this week’s “It couple?” Kisses!

  Just as I’d finished reading over Patrick’s info, the hairs on the back of my neck tingled, that weird prickly sensation you get when you know someone is watching you, and has been for a while.

  I glanced up, slowly lowering the lid of my flame red Asus, and looked around. I half-expected to see Jeremy, with his disapproving stare aimed my way, but he wasn’t there.

  An old couple sat a few tables away, pointing at some newspapers and nodding to each other. They weren’t the least bit interested in me. I continued to scan the small coffee shop. Some business-type dude sat one table over, tie flung over the shoulder of his dress shirt, while he scarfed down a sandwich and muttered into his Bluetooth. Not him either. I twisted in my seat to check behind me.

  Piercing green eyes stared straight at me. My hand slipped a little on the computer lid. He didn’t look away, or even bother pretending not to stare. I looked around to see if maybe he was watching someone else and I was just imagining things. When I turned back, he still looked right at me. Then he winked, complete with a slight smile on his full lips.

  My heart rate sped up and I tried to act nonchalant—like hot guys stared and winked at me all the time.

  He looked just a little older than me, maybe eighteen or nineteen. A black fitted T-shirt practically invited drooling over his chest and arms. Thick, dark hair, long enough to make most mothers nervous, and a corded necklace with some silver symbol I didn’t recognize completed his badass look.

  I swallowed.

  He tilted his coffee cup in my direction and raised an eyebrow.

  Who was he? I’d never seen him before in my life. I’d remember if I had.

  I wasn’t used to the attention, so I busied myself stuffing my netbook back in my bag. In my hurry, I knocked over my tall paper cup, splashing the few remaining sips of coffee all over the table. Damn it.

  Warmth crept up my neck and into my face, causing my cheeks to feel like I’d spent too much time in the sun. A metal dispenser rested in the middle of the table, so I grabbed a handful of napkins and wiped up my mess. Of course I’d do that while some strange, gorgeous guy sat ten feet away from me. I prayed he’d gotten bored and was no longer paying attention so he hadn’t seen my latest graceful move.

  “Can I help?” He materialized next to me.

  Cripes, talk about tall.

  I closed my eyes for a second in mortification before responding. “Nope, I’m good. Thanks.” Wild horses couldn’t drag my eyes to meet his. I wiped longer than necessary, waiting for him to take the hint and walk away. Images of the whole Chase debacle that Jessica had orchestrated flashed in my mind. Paranoia that she’d somehow planted some hot stranger to talk to me so I’d make a fool of myself kicked in…I told myself I was being ridiculous.

  He didn’t leave.

  Dark jeans leading to black biker boots met my downward gaze.

  It finally reached the point where continuing to scrub nonexistent coffee would just make me look mental. My stomach, all tight and fluttery, reminded me of the time I’d ridden the Steel Force rollercoaster one too many times.

  Screw it.

  I jerked my head up to face him head on. “Did you want something?”

  His eyebrows rose at my abrupt tone.

  I shook my head and grabbed my bag, ready to walk away, until his hand shot out to stop me. I tensed, and looked down to where his fingers—his skin a delicious shade of light mocha—grasped my forearm and slowly raised my eyes to meet his once again.

  He dropped his hold and raised both hands in mock surrender. He smiled, revealing toothpaste-commercial-worthy white teeth. One was just a little crooked in the front.

  “Whoa. Sorry, I was only going to introduce myself.”

  It was my turn to raise an eyebrow. “And what makes you think I care who you are?” I tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear, trying to act like I meant it. I wondered if my actions were fooling either of us. I was being a bit of a bitch for no reason, and I knew it. But paranoia was putting me on the defensive.

  He smiled again. A knowing smile.

  Self-conscious, I cleared my throat and stood still, waiting. When he didn’t say anything more, I asked, “Well? Is this like Rumpelstiltskin? Am I supposed to guess?”

  After a heartbeat, he held out his hand. “The name’s Ransom.”

  When he touched my hand, small unexpected tingles shot through me. I yanked away and shoved my hands in my pockets.

  “So, do I get yours?” He looked at me, one eyebrow raised in question.

  “My what?”

  He gave a small laugh. “Um…your name?”

  I tilted my head and examined him, then shook my head. “I don’t think so. After all, what fun would it be if I made it too easy on you?” I couldn’t help my grin. Damn him.

  His eyes lit up in what seemed to be admiration. Definite interest.

  He nodded. “Fair enough. But you should know, I don’t give up quite that easily.”

  “I wouldn’t imagine you did.”

  He laughed and turned to retrieve something from the extra seat at his table. When he lifted it up, I had to laugh too. A black motorcycle helmet. Of course Ransom rode a bike. He must have noticed my expression, because he asked, “What?”

  I shook my head. “Nothing. It doesn’t matter.” Time to go. I offered him what I hoped was a mysterious smile and turned away, headed to the door.

  I’d only taken three steps when his husky voice followed me.

  “I’ll be seeing you.”

  Part of me hoped he was right, but I didn’t look back, or answer. I just waved my hand and left the coffee shop. Regardless of how hot Ransom—if that was even his real name—was, I had other things to concentrate on that had nothing to do with a bad boy on a bike.

  Ten

  Sometimes, good people make bad choices. It doesn’t mean they’re bad people, it means they’re human.

  —Unknown

  “Oh my God! You’re home!” I launched at my aunt the minute I stepped in the kitchen. Relief washed over me like a much welcomed spring rain.

  Aunt Loretta patted my back when I hugged her tighter than I ever had before. “My goodness, Samantha. It’s like you haven’t seen me in a week.” Her tone sounded pleased.

  I pulled back a little to look at her.

  She appeared the same as always, with her bright blue eyes, so like my own, twinkling. Her gray hair was pulled up in a neat twist. But when I peered closer, her face looked paler than usual, and gray smudges shadowed her eyes.

  “You look tired. Are you sure you’re okay? What did the doctor say?” I led her over to the sofa where we both sat down. I didn’t let go of her hand.

  She patted mine with her soft wrinkled fingers. “I’m sure, child. I just had a little spell, nothing to worry about.”

  “What do you mean a spell?”

  She shook her head. “Nothing. The heat probably got to me.”

  I stared at her. She was lying. “Aunt Lor, it’s October. I doubt it was the heat. Now would you please tell me what the hospital said?” A thought suddenly occurred to me. “And how’d you get home, anyway?”

  “Oh, Martha gave me a ride. I called her a few hours ago, and she had some errands to run, so she zipped by and
picked me up. No bother.”

  It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see my aunt was trying to convince herself more than me; she hated asking for help. Must be a family trait.

  I offered her a gentle smile. “Can I get you anything? What about some tea?”

  “That would be nice, dear. Thank you.” Pat, pat, pat on my hand again.

  “Why don’t you go in your room and lie down? I’ll bring you the tea when it’s ready.”

  The fact that it was only a little after six at night and she agreed concerned me even more. She crept down the hallway, using an outstretched thin arm to guide her way.

  I refused to consider the reality that something could happen to her…that she wouldn’t live forever. Instead, I got up to brew her some of her favorite chamomile tea with honey and decided to also make her some buttered toast. Maybe food would help. I tried to convince myself that it would.

  After I’d delivered Aunt Loretta’s tea and toast, along with firm instructions to eat every bite, I made my way to my room. I wasn’t hungry, but I’d grabbed some trail mix since I knew I’d pay for it later with a migraine if I didn’t eat anything. A million thoughts whirled around in my head as I munched on my own snack. I just wanted to talk to someone. Needed to talk to someone or I’d crack.

  I pulled my cell phone out of my bag and automatically searched for Jeremy’s name in the contact list. Just as I was about to press the button to call him and tell him that Aunt Lor was home, it hit me. I couldn’t. We weren’t talking.

  I halfheartedly scrolled through the rest of my contacts. There weren’t very many.

  Even though we weren’t that close, I briefly considered calling Abby. But if Jeremy told her about the plan, she’d be upset with me too. I sighed and dropped my phone next to me on the twin bed.

  Since I’d gone to the library to hide out from Jeremy instead of eating lunch in the cafeteria, I hadn’t been able to get a feel for whether or not the others knew. Even though Jeremy was mad at me, I didn’t think he’d blab to anyone, but I couldn’t be sure. And he’d ignored me in all of our classes, which hurt way more than I cared to admit.

  On the other hand, his attitude also ticked me off. He should support me, period. It’s not like I was asking him to do anything. And to act like doing the whole thing made me some awful person was ridiculous and unfair. Jessica deserved everything I’d planned for her…and then some. And besides that, I was actually helping three other people. With what I was doing, I would change their lives forever—for the better.

  I jumped off the bed to get a shower. Maybe it would help me relax. A quick glance around my room revealed that I was running out of clean clothes. Random piles of dirty laundry were piled all over. Aunt Loretta yelled at me all the time to throw my stuff in the hamper or she wasn’t washing it for me. She always said she refused to come in and pick it up if I chose to live like a slob.

  I wrinkled my nose. Hopefully I still had some clean pajamas at least. A hesitant sniff confirmed the long sleeve sleep tee hanging off my bedpost was still wearable. Maybe not springtime fresh, but it didn’t reek.

  The hot water felt wonderful against my skin a few minutes later. As I lathered shampoo into my hair, the sweet pea scent combined with the steam helped soothe my frazzled nerves and the dull throbbing in my temples. I hummed, rinsing the lather out, and poked at the iridescent bubbles with my toes as they swirled in a lazy circle toward the drain.

  My aunt wanted me to keep my showers to a reasonable time limit, but I didn’t rush this time. The heat massaging my bare skin relaxed me, more than I’d been in a long time. Only after the water began to turn cold did I turn it off and reluctantly wrap an oversize pink bath towel around my shivering body.

  I missed the days of showering as long as I liked, or soaking in the giant tub with jets massaging my skin in my own bathroom with the heated floor at my old house.

  Dried off, I slipped into my sleep top and ran a comb through my hair. As calming as the shower had been, it was still way too early for bed. I didn’t feel like watching television and for once didn’t have any homework.

  I wandered back into my room and sat on my bed, looking around for something to do. There was nothing. I plopped backward and stared at the ceiling. Counting tiles bored me after about thirty. I groaned and rolled over.

  The clock showed that it was only seven thirty. Seventeen years old, the supposed prime of my life, and I sat home alone, bored, with no one to talk to. Other kids my age were all busy hanging out with friends, partying, or making out with their boyfriends. Hell, even being in some after school club was starting to sound good. Better than counting freaking ceiling tiles anyway.

  I jumped up and walked over to my dresser to search for a clean pair of jeans. I shimmied into them and rooted for a hoodie to throw on over my long T-shirt. I wasn’t going for any fashion awards. After slipping my feet into a pair of sneakers, sans socks, I quickly twisted my damp hair into a messy bun and shoved my phone into my back pocket.

  I poked my head into my aunt’s room as I walked past. “Aunt Lor? You awake?” I stage whispered. She lay still on her side, turned away from me. “Aunt Lor?” I called just a little louder this time. She didn’t stir.

  I stepped into her room, taking care not to make noise and disturb her once I realized she was fast asleep. She probably needed her rest. Her favorite afghan was folded at the foot of her bed, so I reached out and opened it up, then gently pulled it over her. I smoothed it across her thin shoulders before leaning down and brushing a kiss against her cheek. “Sleep well,” I whispered.

  In case she woke up while I was gone, I wrote a note and propped it against the coffeemaker on the kitchen counter.

  Went for a walk, might go to the park for a little. I won’t be late. Love you, S.

  I grabbed the spare house key from a glass dish on the counter and slipped outside. The early evening air was cool but not uncomfortable. Headlights from the occasional car broke the twilight darkness ahead of me. An owl hooted somewhere in the distance, and crickets sang to each other. My footsteps made muffled crunching sounds against the uneven blacktop. I had no specific destination in mind; I’d just needed to get out.

  After walking about twenty minutes, more buildings and houses began to pop up. My old house was only about five blocks north, over on Cherry Blossom Drive. I purposely walked in a different direction.

  Lights from the coffee shop I’d been in earlier came into view. My steps slowed, and without thinking, I searched for familiar dark hair.

  He wasn’t there. Not like I’d really expected him to show up again the same day, right when I just happened to stroll into town.

  I grabbed a coffee and left. I kept walking, but paused outside an old bookstore to check out the displayed titles. It’d been a while since I’d read for pleasure. I used to do it all the time. I’d just leaned in closer to the glass, trying to read the fancy script written on a small book resting against a pedestal, when rumbling sounded from down the street, getting closer.

  A single approaching headlight reflected in the window in front of me for a couple of seconds then turned off a few feet from where I stood, frozen. Really, what were the chances? I wasn’t sure if I wanted it to be him or not. Maybe a little of both.

  “Hey, mystery girl.”

  I’d recognize that husky drawl anywhere. I reflexively swallowed then licked the dryness away from my lips. It felt ridiculous that the voice of some guy I just met could transform my insides to mush. It crossed my mind for about a millisecond to ignore him and walk away.

  Then it hit that he didn’t know me…didn’t know my family’s disreputable past. I could be anyone I wanted with him, and it wouldn’t matter. So instead of doing my usual introverted disappearing act, I turned and faced him.

  Ransom pulled his helmet off with one smooth motion. His hair fell almost to his shoulders in a completely sexy mess. He smiled. “I wasn’t sure it was you.” He raised his eyebrows and glanced at the cup in my hand. “You m
ust really like coffee.”

  I laughed. “You have no idea.”

  “I was hoping maybe we’d bump into each other again, I just didn’t expect it to be so soon.”

  I willed myself to relax, to be a normal seventeen-year-old girl. Flirty, fun. I smiled back at him. “Well, then I guess it’s your lucky night because here I am.”

  Wait…that came out wrong. I hoped he didn’t think I meant lucky night. Like, he was going to get lucky. I was so not good at flirting.

  Thankfully, he didn’t seem to take it like I was one step shy of charging him by the hour. He grinned again. “Are you going to keep me guessing, or do I get your name this time?”

  I took a few steps toward him. “And why should I tell you?”

  He cocked his head, studying me. “You don’t have to. Just thought it would be nice to know your name before I take you for a ride.”

  My eyes widened, and my eyebrows shot up somewhere in the middle of my head.

  “Well? You in?”

  He held the helmet out toward me. His expression held teasing, along with something more. A challenge. I lifted my chin and walked up next to where he straddled the bike.

  “You don’t think I will.”

  One eyebrow rose. “Prove me wrong.”

  That’s all it took. I reached up and pulled my hair free from its bun and shook my head, allowing the still damp waves of my hair to cascade over my shoulders and down my back. I slipped the hair tie around my wrist. Ransom watched each movement with appreciation.

  I snatched the helmet from his hand and shoved it over my head. It fit a little loose, but didn’t wobble too much. The tinted visor was raised, so I caught the pleased expression that crossed his face.

  I was done playing everything so safe in my life, watching everyone around me have fun and live their lives. Besides, Jeremy wasn’t speaking to me, so it wasn’t like that had a chance in hell of going anywhere…so why not do something just for me?