By the time Allison had finished with her, Lucy had two hands full of makeup. She shuffled to the counter to buy it all. I was beginning to have a sneaking suspicion that Lucy’s new penchant for makeup had something to do with Dan. It worried me; I did not trust Dan to be with my best friend. I didn’t trust Dan period.
After Lucy purchased her makeup, Allison finally announced that we were done. We left the hallway of horrors behind us and piled back into Allison’s car to drive back to my house. Ten minutes later we came crashing through my front door, hands full of bags. Lucy and Allison headed straight up to my room so that Al could give Lucy a makeup tutorial. I paused to toss my new tube of lip-gloss to my mom, who was sitting on one of the couches in our living room watching TV.
“Thanks hun,” she called as I started up the stairs.
When I got to my room, Allison had already spread all of Lucy’s makeup out on the floor. There was a pile of plastic wrappers, which had once encased the little containers, lying discarded to the side. Lucy and Allison were sitting on the floor facing each other, so I sat down near them, forming an uneven triangle.
“What’s this?” I asked holding up a fat pencil with a light gold, shimmery tip.
“Highlighter,” Allison answered, keeping her attention on her job of applying eye shadow to Lucy’s eyelids.
“For what?”
Allison grabbed the pencil from my hand and crooked her finger at me. “Come here and I’ll show you.”
I raised my hands in surrender and scooted a little farther away. I watched as Allison continued to work on Lucy’s eyes. I found out what the highlighter stick was for . . . kinda. It didn’t seem to make much difference, at least to my untrained eye. Once Allison was finally finished, Lucy turned to face me.
“What do you think?” she asked me.
“It’s . . . different,” I answered hesitantly.
“It’s perfect,” Allison corrected. She held up a mirror in front of Lucy’s face.
Lucy’s eyes widened. “Wow, Al, I have to hand it to you, you know what you’re doing.”
Allison turned a wicked grin to me. “Your turn.”
I held my hand up to my ear, as if hearing something far away. “Oh, what’s that? I think I hear my mom calling me. Just a sec mom!” I ran for the door before Allison could grab me.
Allison and Lucy left later that afternoon to eat dinner with their families. Spending time with my friends had temporarily distracted me from the fact that we would see Dan tomorrow. Once they were gone, I sat by my phone, debating on whether or not I should try to wiggle my way out of our plans. I hated admitting it, but I was afraid of Dan. I couldn’t cancel though. Lucy and Allison seemed to trust him. If something happened and I wasn’t there . . . well, I’d never be able to forgive myself, and that’s just for starters. I was going. Everything would be all right . . . Yeah, and pigs can fly.
Chapter Five
By Saturday morning, the feeling of dread was a hard knot in my stomach. I was sick with nerves that I didn’t really know how to explain. That’s a lie, about the lack of explanation I mean. I’d had an inexplicable bad feeling when I first met Dan, but I could explain it now. He was . . . different. Not that different was a bad thing, but Dan’s type of different definitely was.
I ran a brush through my hair and dressed mechanically; black tank top, more holey jeans, and my ever-present sneakers. Allison would loooove it. I grabbed my new shiny brown leather jacket, just in case. The nights were starting to grow colder, warning us of winter, even though September had barely begun.
As I was heading downstairs, I heard a knock at the front door. I trotted across the living room to answer it. Lucy was waiting in her new red dress and a pair of cute, funky brown boots that gave her a little more height. I hadn’t seen her buy the boots on Friday, but I had avoided the shoe section like the plague, so that wasn’t saying much. The outfit was a little dressy, well, okay, a lot dressy for Lucy’s normal taste.
As soon as I beheld her garb I exclaimed, “I knew it! You bought all that stuff to impress Dan!”
She was even wearing her new makeup. Her almond shaped eyes were delicately lined in black, and her lips were freshly glossed. And was that perfume I smelled? Color me horrified.
I gave her a disapproving look.
Lucy’s olive skin darkened with a blush. She turned and walked towards Allison’s dark blue Nissan Sentra, not saying a word.
Lucy wasn’t getting off that easy. I quickly caught up to her side. “How can you like him? All he does is stare! And what about the
weirdness at lunch the other day? I know you haven’t forgotten about that. He’s totally whacked,” I hounded her.
“He’s cute,” she replied, “and he only stares at you, and that’s probably because you treat him like he’s some sort of freak. He’s pretty normal once you actually talk to him, and the lunch thing was just a joke.” With that, Lucy glanced at Allison, patiently waiting in the driver’s seat, then gave me a look that clearly stated, ‘Don’t tell Allison,’ and slipped into the backseat.
Frowning, I opened the car door and took my usual place in the front. Allison took my grumpy look in stride and started the car. Allison was dressed up as well, but that wasn’t out of the ordinary. She wore dark-wash jeans, a dark purple cami, and one of those fitted vest thingies that were apparently in style in a dark gray. Her suede booted foot pressed on the gas and we were on our way. The theater wasn’t far from my house, well, nothing in Shelby is really far. My anxiety at the whole Dan situation made the ten minute drive seem like hours.
Dan was already waiting when we pulled up into the parking lot of the old, dreary theater. The theater was originally built with only three screens, but had been expanded to fit seven. Dan stood with his arms crossed, dressed in casual gray slacks and a black v-neck t-shirt, topped with his black leather jacket. His near-black hair was styled to perfection, as always. He looked expensive, and dangerous, or maybe I was just projecting. He watched us approach with his pale blue eyes, seemingly at ease. I was feeling anything but at ease.
We reached where he was standing and stopped a short distance in front of him. We then proceeded to stand there in awkward silence. I looked to Lucy and Allison, but Lucy stayed looking down and shuffling her feet, while Allison smiled goofily at Dan. I was surprised to see that Dan looked slightly nervous himself. He usually acted macho and self-possessed. An abashed grin began to creep across his face. Could he get any more confusing?
I sighed and gestured my arms towards the theater. “Shall we?”
Everyone nodded and we were finally able to vacate the parking lot. We continued across the sidewalk and into the theater, past posters of movies I would have loved to see, but knew we wouldn’t end up with. Allison and Lucy’s boots clicked on the pavement while I followed behind them in my quiet sneakers. We purchased tickets to a generic chick flick that was detailed on the least appealing poster, and went in.
Once in the theater, we walked to the middle row, the one that is the beginning of the back half of the theater. Lucy, Allison, and I always sit in that row so we can put our feet up on the bar that’s in front of it. It’s also nice to not have to worry about any tall people sitting in front of us to block the view.
Allison and Lucy sat smushed on either side of Dan, Lucy smiling a contented smile, and Allison looking less than happy. I guess Al had finally realized Lucy’s intent in wearing her new outfit, and was none too happy for the competition. I was pretty sure that Lucy had won the competition before it even started, but for Allison, it ain’t over ‘till it’s over.
We were early. The previews hadn’t even started yet. Sighing, I nudged Lucy with my elbow. “I’m going to get some popcorn,” I whispered. I climbed over the rail to go to the concession stand.
“I’ll come with you,” Dan announced, then hopped over the rail before I could protest.
We walked out of the theater and towards the concession stand. I was trying my hardest to ignore Dan,
when he grabbed my arm and spun me to face him. My heart skipped a beat. I looked at him, startled.
“What are you?” he hissed.
“What are you talking about? Let me go!” I replied angrily, trying to pry my arm loose from his iron grip.
His blue eyes were very close, looking feral. His fingers squeezed my arm, hard enough to bruise. His hand was large enough to enclose my bicep.
“Don’t be stupid, I can smell you, just tell me,” he replied.
Smell me?
Taking in my puzzled expression, he hesitated, cocking his head to the side like he usually did when observing me, then peering at me, continued, “You don’t know do you?”
I kept the same stupid expression on my face, jaw slightly agape.
He laughed to himself and shook his head. “Um . . . nevermind, forget I said anything.”
I opened my mouth to argue and he simply turned around and went back into the theater.
I stood, stunned, rubbing my arm where he had grabbed me. I stayed like that for several minutes, not sure what my reaction should be. I finally walked back into the theater without popcorn. I had lost my appetite. I climbed back over the bar and sat down, ignoring a puzzled look from Lucy. The previews had finally started.
I rubbed my arm again where Dan had grabbed me. Yep, there was definitely gonna be a bruise. I gave Dan a dirty look that he didn’t notice, then settled in to watch the movie. Once the movie started I tried to get into it, but ended up letting my mind wander. The feeling of dread was back in my stomach and my thoughts were dark. I was no longer simply creeped out; I was scared. I replayed my unnerving experience with Dan in my head, trying to puzzle out exactly what had happened.
By the time the movie ended I was no closer to coming up with an explanation. The credits began to roll and we all stood to leave the theater. After waiting behind the few shuffling people who had managed to reach the aisle before us, we finally made our way through and walked outside. The chilly breeze made me glad that I had brought my jacket. I slipped it on while only half listening as Lucy and Allison talked about the movie on the way back to Allison’s car. I caught Lucy claiming that the movie was decent, once you got past the done-and-done-again plot . . . I hadn’t noticed.
I walked a little ahead of our group, huddled in my jacket. I stopped and waited at Allison’s car for everyone to catch up. I avoided Dan’s gaze as they reached me and looked to Lucy instead. She had Dan’s jacket draped over her shoulders.
Allison looked towards Dan, then glanced at Lucy and me. “Irvine’s?” she asked the group.
Dan looked confused.
“It’s a pizza parlor,” Allison explained.
Dan nodded. “Yeah, we’ll meet you there.”
We? Dan gave a slight wave and walked away with Lucy tagging a short distance behind him.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“I’m riding with Dan. I’ll see you guys there,” Lucy replied nonchalantly. Lucy paused at the worried look on my face, but quickly recovered and hurried after Dan.
I got in the passenger seat of Allison’s car with her already talking about Dan. “ . . . . I can’t believe Lucy snagged him. She has the best luck with guys . . . ”
As Allison prattled on, I became lost in my own thoughts. What was Dan’s deal? What was I? Why would he ask that? I shouldn’t have let Lucy go with him. My original perception of him seemed to be holding true . . . he was a creep.
After a few minutes Allison realized that I wasn’t listening to her. She turned to me with an annoyed expression. “Hello? Xoe? Are you listening?”
Snapping out of my thoughts I answered, “Sorry Al, just have a lot on my mind right now.” I gave her my full attention.
“Like what?” she prompted, looking concerned.
“Um, Dan said something weird to me,” I replied after a moment of hesitation.
Allison waited a few seconds, and then seeing that I wasn’t going to elaborate questioned, “Well? What did he say?”
As a scowl formed on my face, I began to rant, “First, he stares at me all week in English, but never says a word. He talks to you guys like you’re perfectly normal. Then he manhandles me in the theater demanding to know what I am! What is that supposed to mean!”
Perplexed, Allison asked, “What are you? I should think it quite obvious . . . you’re crazy. And what do you mean, manhandled?”
“He grabbed my arm and got in my face!”
Allison glanced worriedly at me. “Did you provoke him or something?”
I gave her an outraged look.
Allison had the courtesy to look abashed. “Sorry, stupid question. Shouldn’t we just talk to him about it? Give him a chance to explain himself?”
I shook my head, my anger fading into confusion. “No, no, let’s just keep an eye on him, okay?”
“I guess,” Allison conceded, “though it’s probably all just a misunderstanding.”
Realizing that I still hadn’t convinced her, I stared at Allison angrily.
Allison reached a red light and tried to stare me down.
I kept staring right back, jaw clenched stubbornly.
Allison sighed. “I’m sure he was just joking. As for the staring, I think it’s all in your head. He just has a weird sense of humor.” The light turned green and she hit the gas.
I tried a calmer approach. “I have a bad feeling Al, I’ve had it all week, I can’t explain it, but I’m worried.”
The concern returned to Allison’s face. “We’ll keep an eye on him Xoe, but I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.”
Hardly placated, I sat silently with my arms crossed the rest of the ride to Irvine’s.
We met Dan and Lucy in the parking lot and went inside Irvine’s to order our pizza. The pizza at Irvine’s isn’t particularly good or anything, but it’s where we always went. We didn’t really have that many choices. Plus, Irvine’s is relatively adult-free.
The pizza parlor was decorated kind of like a retro diner. Red vinyl stools surrounded the counter and an old-style jukebox with neon lights dominated the back corner of the restaurant. We grabbed a booth that kept to the red vinyl theme and waited, Lucy sat next to Dan, still wearing his coat, with her shoulder pressed against his arm. She looked tiny next to him; the jacket engulfed her narrow shoulders. Everyone dutifully ignored the menacing glares I periodically aimed at Dan.
“Xoe?” Lucy asked. I had spaced out from the conversation, as I tend to do.
“Huh?” I replied.
“I asked what your plans are for tomorrow,” Lucy continued. “I was thinking about hiking; we haven’t gone up the trail behind your house in a while.”
Dan looked back and forth between the two of us, as if taking in every detail.
“Oh, yeah, sounds good,” I mumbled as the waitress arrived with our pizza.
She leaned much farther over the table than was necessary, drawing attention to her low-cut red blouse, and making eyes at Dan. Had all of the girls in town gone crazy? It was the only explanation. The smell of sausage and mushrooms wafted up from the pizza and my mood brightened a little. Food was always a sure-fire way to draw me out of my doldrums.
I looked up from the pizza to see that Lucy, Al, and ironically Dan (who was too rude to be polite) were all hesitating, not wanting to be the first one to grab a piece. Etiquette be damned, I dug right in, signaling to everyone else that the awkward moment could end. I chewed the mediocre pizza. Like I said, Irvine’s isn’t the best pizza around, but I don’t refuse pizza, average or otherwise.
I devoured two slices while Lucy and Allison daintily nibbled on their first slices. Dan had taken one bite of his and left the rest abandoned on his plate. Creepier and creepier. After we were all apparently done eating, we sat for another excruciating hour, forcing me to witness Al and Lucy fawning over Dan the entire time, then we finally decided to head home. Lucy rode with Dan again with a promise to call me tomorrow.
As soon as Allison dropped me off, I rus
hed inside to call Lucy, then realized that she might not be home yet, considering that maybe Dan didn’t speed like a maniac as Allison did, and decided to give her an extra fifteen minutes. I sat on the loveseat in my living room, drumming my fingers on a throw pillow in my lap, then after precisely 13.5 minutes I dialed Lucy’s number, letting it ring until the machine picked up. I hung up and waited another five minutes and called again.
“Hello?” Lucy’s voice buzzed back at me.
I let out a breath of relief. “Lucy? Are you okay? I shouldn’t have let you go alone with Dan. There’s something wrong with him. He said the weirdest thing to me . . . ”
“Xoe,” she buzzed back, interrupting me, “something weird happened.”
I paused, waiting for her to continue. The dread was back full swing. I switched the phone to my other hand so I could wipe the sweat off my palm on my jeans.
Lucy continued, “Um, he walked me to the front door. Then he leaned towards me. I thought he was gonna kiss me, ya know? Then I felt pain in my arm and realized . . . he scratched me.”
Shocked, I questioned, “What? Like took his nails and raked you?”
I heard Lucy sigh on the other end of the line. “Xoe, it’s gonna sound crazy, but, well, his hand looked different . . . kinda like he had claws.”
A moment of stunned silence passed.
“Claws?”
“Yeah,” she said. “Or maybe it was just the dim lighting. I keep second guessing what I saw, but the proof is on my arm.”
“Is this some kind of joke?” I was getting angry. I hated jokes like this. I’m the most skeptical person I know, so they never worked. All anyone ever succeeded in doing was making me mad. Though that didn’t explain why my heart was caught in my throat.
“It’s not a joke Xoe,” Lucy replied, tears straining her voice.
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“Stay right there Lucy, I’m coming over,” I ordered.
“No, you-ou can’t, it’s fa-family dinner night, my parents will be home with food any minute.” Lucy replied, hiccupping on her words. “I d-don’t know what to do,” she continued. “I’m scared Xoe. W-what if he comes back?”
Xoe: or Vampires, and Werewolves, and Demons, oh my! (Xoe Meyers Young Adult Fantasy/Horror Series) Page 4