by Adam Kunz
I run over to the window and scan the yard below for any sign of someone, but there’s no one there. The picture looks like it was taken from the right side of the yard, looking up at my room. It’s blurry and not completely in focus, but there’s no mistaking who’s in the picture. I stare back down at the phone, fear setting in and the feeling of being secure completely swept out from under me. I worry this is only going to get worse.
After the local news report last night, today at school was all about Janice’s disappearance. The fact that the news openly stated she went missing at Gunnar’s party makes the situation even more of a hot-button topic. To say I received the cold shoulder from the majority of the student body who attended said party is putting it lightly. It’s no secret that my dad grilled Gunnar for information about Janice, and I guess everyone now assumes I was the snitch. Technically, they’re right.
“Did you get the plague and not tell me?” Alex jokes, coming up next to me as I sift through my locker.
I just roll my eyes and don’t answer.
“It’s just that I’ve noticed a lot of people giving you a serious case of stink eye.”
“Really? Huh, didn’t even notice,” I respond.
“Sorry, I couldn’t resist,” she says, wrapping her arm around me and pulling me in for a side hug.
“I kind of wish you could’ve, though.”
“Hey, I know something that will cheer you up. Want to know what it is?”
“Sure,” I reply, though I’m not at all convinced that it will cheer me up.
“You, me, Rory, and the Brick House. This Saturday night. The band is performing there, and I know how much you love hearing us play.” She sounds excited, but then falters when she doesn’t see the same enthusiasm reflected on my face. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. Did you really get the plague?” she jokes again, which causes me to crack a smile even though it was a bad joke. “Ha, I knew I could do it—mission accomplished. I figured you needed a laugh after what I heard today.”
“What exactly did you hear?”
“Oh, you didn’t hear?” she replies, dodging my stare.
“Uhhh, no. I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”
She pauses before she starts to answer. “Rumor is you snitched on Gunnar’s party.”
“Oh, that. Yeah, I knew about that,” I say, pulling out two schoolbooks and placing them in my messenger bag.
“Wait, there’s more,” Alex says, almost like she’s about to tell me a secret. “People are kind of saying you’re somehow responsible for that Janice girl’s disappearance. And by ‘people,’ I mean Portia and her bitch squad. Gunnar may have mentioned it as well, but there’s really no telling, right?” Her hollow laugh sounds nervous and I can tell by her face that I must be making a strange one.
“What the shit?” I blurt out, feeling enveloped with anger, while at the same time trying to ward off the sting of multiple backstabbings.
“Yeah, totally agree,” she says in a consoling tone with a hand on my shoulder. “Which is even more of a reason why we should go dance off these shitheads and get drunk at the Brick House Saturday night.”
“I don’t know, Alex. My dad’s really been on my case lately, and now it seems he’s not the only one who thinks I’m to blame for Janice. And let’s not forget, I’m kind of grounded for life,” I reply, sounding defeated.
Not to mention there’s this crazy psycho bastard out there effing with me.
“Please, please, please. If it’s any consolation, I don’t think you had anything to do with the whole Janice thing.”
Regretting the words even before they leave my mouth, I say, “I’ll see. I can’t promise anything, though.”
“Perfect. Hey, that’s better than no, right?” she replies with a huge grin before wrapping me up in another hug.
“Right,” I say, thinking to myself that I wish she knew what I was going through. Then she might not be so insistent.
As I watch her walk away, a scary thought enters my mind. If Unknown is so hell-bent on messing with me, I wonder how long it will take for the person to start taking it out on the ones I love. I shudder at the thought.
My locker slams behind me and I turn to see who did it. Gunnar stands there with a shit-eating grin on his face, but it doesn’t quite meet his eyes.
“I really wish you’d stop doing that,” I say.
“Stop doing what exactly?” he asks.
“Whatever. I assume that since you slammed my locker, you have something you want to tell me?”
“You know, there was a time when I thought you were kind of cool, Dani. But it turns out you’re just a little nark,” he replies, the grin now gone from his face.
“I didn’t mean to nark on you. My dad just has this way of getting the truth out of people. He didn’t become sheriff for nothing, you know. ”
“It’s just a shame it all went down like this. I was kind of starting to like you,” he says, sounding completely conceited.
“Like I’d be interested in you anyway,” I counter.
“I could have any girl in this school, and you’re telling me you wouldn’t be interested in this?” he asks, pulling up his shirt and showing off his chiseled abs.
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter. I don’t date nark bitches like you,” he comments, making me want to punch him right in the throat.
“Screw you, Gunnar,” I say before walking away.
“No thanks, I think I’ll pass,” I hear him call out after me, which only succeeds in making my footsteps that much angrier as I stomp down the hall.
Chapter Sixteen
Sitting in the newspaper office after school, I can’t shake how everyone’s been treating me all day. First Gunnar, and then Portia got her chops in with her twat squad by her side. I swear, if looks could kill I’d probably be dead a hundred times over already. Screw Hester Prynne, I freakin’ have the scarlet letter on my chest.
“You okay?” I hear Mr. Whitman ask over my computer screen. “You seem to be out of it today.”
Grown-ups can be so oblivious to what’s going on around them. Of course, Mr. Whitman probably hasn’t heard the latest gossip. It’s kind of refreshing to talk to someone who isn’t looking at me like I just ran over his family pet or something.
“Just tired…been a long day,” I reply.
“Should I even inquire how the essay’s coming?” he asks with a slight chuckle, clearly already aware of the answer.
I shake my head and resort to hiding behind the large monitor. Thankfully, that’s the end of that discussion, but the quick look I receive from him after my response doesn’t bode well for me.
There’s actually something else I’m thinking about as well. I find it odd that Unknown hasn’t erased the picture of Parker and me last night from my messages. Staring at it, I begin to fidget in anticipation of Parker walking through the door so I can show him. I need him to see this so at least someone will truly believe me, and not just tell me what they think I want to hear.
I don’t even give Parker a chance to fully cross the threshold into the room before I bolt from behind my desk and grab his hand, dragging him into the hall behind me. His first reaction is to try and kiss me, but I put up my hand in front of his lips, blocking him.
“Not right now. I have something to show you,” I say quietly.
“Oh you do, do you?” he asks while scanning me up and down. I swear, guys can be such horn dogs.
“Seriously, Parker, check your hormones at the door. This isn’t funny, all right?”
He completely snaps out of his frisky demeanor and becomes serious. “Is this about that unknown person?” he asks in a whisper.
Nodding, I pull up the picture on my cell and show it to him. He grabs the phone from me and studies it carefully, even zooming in with a two-finger gesture on the screen to see it clearer.
“This is really creepy, Dani.”
“Tell me about it. I’ve been getting stuff like this for
days from this asshole, and frankly, I’m getting tired of it.”
“Are you going to show your dad?” he asks, and then realizes how dumb that would be since it’s a picture of him and me at night right outside my window.
“Do I even have to answer that question?”
He shakes his head while handing me back the phone. “This is seriously messed up. And you said this person also sent you a video of us too, right?”
“Yep. In all our glory.”
“What are we going to do? Is there any way to trace this message back to the sender?”
“I don’t know, probably. But that would require us giving the phone to my father. And we’ve kind of already established that as being a bad idea. Besides, what makes you think this one won’t disappear like the rest?” I ask, feeling utterly hopeless.
“Well, there’s got to be something we—”
“Shit,” I say, cutting him off. “It’s gone. Damn this bastard. Damn this Text Destruct app. Unknown keeps doing this to me. What have I done that could possibly warrant this?”
I throw up my hands and turn to lean up against the bank of lockers next to us. Sliding down the cool metal and resting on the ground, I fold my arms onto my knees and bury my head into them.
I feel Parker’s arms wrap around my shoulders as he slides down next to me. “We’ll figure something out, okay? This asshole isn’t getting away with this.”
“I want to believe you, I really do.” I don’t think I’ve ever sounded so defeated in my whole life.
Giving me a light squeeze and kiss on the top of my head, Parker and I sit there in silence for a moment. “We should probably get back into the office before they send out a search party.”
I look at him with the “really?” face fully present and accounted for.
“Oh, my bad. Probably not the best choice of words right now, huh?”
“You think?” I respond and bury my head back into the cradle of my arms. “It’s okay. That’s actually the least offensive thing someone’s said to me all day. It’s kind of a welcome change.”
“I’m sorry you’re going through all this right now, Dani. I wish there was something I could do to help,” he says close to my ear.
“You’re pretty much doing all you can,” I reply, and give him a heartfelt peck on the cheek.
Parker stands and moves in front of me. He extends his hand and waits for me to grab it. Instead of being my stubborn self, I take his hand and allow him to pull me to my feet.
“We’ll face this together…deal?” he asks, making me smile. I love seeing this side of him.
“Deal,” I reply as he leads me toward the office door.
When we re-enter the room, Mr. Whitman turns to us. “Just in time, you two. We were discussing the Fall Festival tonight and how Jenny’s out sick.” Confusion registers on my face as to what either thing has to do with the other. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. Jenny was going to run the newspaper’s booth at the festival. Since she’s sick, I was curious if you’d do it, Dani.”
Perfect timing indeed, Mr. Whitman. You’re on a roll, sir. I wasn’t even planning on going to the damn festival, but now I get the chance to. Yippee.
Mulling over my options, I reply with the only thing I can. “Sure, why not.”
Usually I’m in a good mood while driving to work since I’m surrounded by two of my favorite things there: books and coffee. But today I’m effin’ ecstatic, if only for the simple fact that I won’t be at school anymore. Talk about an awkward-ass day. The only thing that’s stopping me from being full-on excited is the fact that my job has been compromised by Unknown.
The one visual I’m not expecting to see on my way to work is Mrs. Oliver posting up more flyers about Janice. I slow down and pull up to the curb when I see her taping one to the light post on the street corner a few blocks down from Into the Stacks. I’m not sure what I’m planning to do, exactly, since I’m pretty sure this conversation isn’t going to go very well. But instead of hiding from it, I might as well face the music. She’s bound to find out that I took Janice to the party sooner or later.
“Hi, Mrs. Oliver. Need any help putting those up? I’ve got some time before work,” I offer after rolling down the passenger side window. She doesn’t answer me. It’s like she either didn’t hear me, which I know isn’t the case, or she’s ignoring me. “I’m really sorry for what’s happened to Janice. If I can do anything—”
I stop talking the moment Hattie finishes posting the flyer in her hand. She proceeds to bend down, poking her head through the open window. Her trademark glare is ever-present.
“Heathen,” she yells before she rears back to spit at me.
Surprise and disgust register on my face as I wipe off her saliva. “What the hell is your damage?” I ask. Anger makes my voice tremble. “I was only trying to help.”
“God will judge you and you shall pay for your evil deeds, heathen. That is how you may help me,” she declares, drawing a cross in the air as she speaks.
“Crazy bitch,” I murmur as I drive away, not looking back.
When I get to work, I run to the bathroom to wash off my face. Joan tries to flag me down, but I feel too gross to stop and chat. Besides, I’m at work early.
Emerging from the bathroom, I practically crash into Joan. She’s standing there with her hands on her hips and tapping her foot.
“I can’t believe you just ignored me like that,” she says.
“Sorry, I had to wash someone’s spit off my face. Priorities…you understand, right?” I reply.
“Eww, gross,” she comments, scrunching up her mouth and nose.
“My sentiments exactly. Hence, the face-washing and no chatting.”
“Anyway, I need you to run the café tonight. Monica’s had a family thing and won’t be in. I’ve pretty much got the sales floor covered.”
I groan internally, but I can’t promise a little didn’t seep out for Joan to hear. “Sure thing. Remind me to strangle Monica later, okay?” I joke, making her laugh.
“Not if I do it first. This is like the fifth time this month she’s called in.”
“Oh, it’s been six times. I know because every time she does, I have to work the café.”
Joan laughs. “All right, suit up. You’ve already got customers,” she says, nodding her head toward the back office.
Throwing on the apron, I head out to the café and see Joan wasn’t lying. There’s a line. Taking my post behind the counter, I begin prepping the coffee machine so I can take the first order. It isn’t until I look past the register that I see a familiar face standing in front of me.
“Hey stranger, how’s Lexi?” Kevin asks with a smile.
“She’s still hanging in there,” I giggle. “So, what can I get you?”
“A large pumpkin spice latte,” he replies, pointing to it on the menu.
“Large, huh? Got a hot date tonight or something?”
“Actually, yeah I do,” he answers, surprising me. Has he finally gotten over me and moved on? I swear, Kevin hasn’t dated anyone since he proclaimed his love for me back in middle school. He’s a looker too, which is why I’ve been surprised no girl has swept him off his feet yet.
“Oh, really? What’s her name? Do I know her?” I ask, wiggling my eyebrows.
“In fact, you do.”
“Do tell,” I reply, pouring the steamed milk into his cup.
He chuckles. “It’s my truck, Valerie. I’m working on her tonight at the shop until the Fall Festival.”
I roll my eyes. “You really had me going there for a minute.”
“Sorry, you kind of walked straight into that one.”
“That I did, sir,” I reply, handing him his coffee. “So, is that all for you?”
“Actually, no. I was kind of wondering if we could talk about Janice.”
“Uhhh…” I’m uncomfortable with the way he just came right out and said that. “Right now might not be the best time,” I say, gesturing to the line of customers
behind him.
“Oh, yeah, right…that whole thing,” he answers while peering back. Turning around to face me again, he adds, “I just wanted to say I don’t believe the rumors. I know you had nothing to do with it.”
I want to shush him and stress that we can talk about this later since the conversation is making me feel awkward as balls right now. It’s bad enough people actually think I had something to do with this, but now I’m in a conversation about it in public.
Keeping my calm, I reply, “Thanks, but you’re definitely in the minority with that viewpoint.” I notice how agitated a few of the customers standing behind him are getting. “Can we talk about this later?”
“Yeah, sure,” he responds. “I’ll see you tonight at the festival, right?”
“Oh, shit. I mean, crap,” I correct myself quickly when I see some of the customers giving me dirty looks. “I completely forgot about that. Yeah, I guess you will.”
“Later,” Kevin calls out and I send him a wave.
As I begin to take down the order of the next customer, I can’t help but be distracted that Kevin didn’t seem too torn up about Janice. Here I am, a complete mess over the situation, but he seems reserved. Maybe he’s just doing what a lot of guys do and internalizing his feelings. It’s still kind of weird, though, since the whole time I’ve known him, he’s been quite the emotional guy.
As I watch him leave the store, this tiny bad thought weaves its way into my mind. Is Kevin involved with this? Does he know more than he’s letting on?
Nah. It’d be too easy for it to be him.
Chapter Seventeen
Flustered and a touch rattled later that evening, I hurry into the school’s gym and maneuver through the many rows of booths at the festival to get to ours. I’m running late due to Dad giving me the parental fifth degree. If he reminds me one more time that I’m grounded and on thin ice, I may completely lose it. It’s becoming like a ritual for him to torture me every day. Luckily, I got a break from his chauffer services because he allowed me to drive myself tonight. Oh, and you better believe I didn’t hear the end of that one, either.