The Crushes

by Pamela Wells

  “Well,” she said, “I guess I was thinking that I wanted to compete in a singing contest. And it was only in New York.”

  Mrs. Valenti gritted her teeth. Her nostrils flared. “I can’t believe you went to the city by yourself, Raven! And for a silly contest! You could have gone there to visit a college, but no, you had to sneak off for music.”

  Raven clenched her hands into fists at her side. “Horace and I thought it’d be a good opportunity. You know…something to get me out of Birch Falls, something to make me successful like you always wanted.”

  Mrs. Valenti sighed, rubbing at her forehead. “I never should have called Horace…”

  Raven frowned. “What? When did you call Horace?”

  Her mother stared straight ahead, her lips pursed tightly.

  “Mom?”

  “I called him when he was in Detroit.”

  Raven widened her eyes, her lower jaw dropped. “You what?”

  “I was doing it for you, honey. I just want you to have a good life. I don’t want you to regret anything and sticking around Birch Falls for a boy and a garage band…well, that’s not exactly the kind of life I want you to have.”

  Raven was speechless. That’s why Horace had been acting so weird since he got home from Detroit, why he’d pushed her into the contest—because her mother had called him and planted ideas in his head, because he’d been afraid of holding Raven back.

  “I cannot believe you did that,” Raven said.

  “It wasn’t like I threatened him. I just wanted to discuss with him what he wanted for his future. And yours. We both think you have talent, but I want you to have a backup plan, Raven. When I was your age…”

  She licked her lips, shifted in the chair at the kitchen table. “When I was your age, I thought I had all the answers, but I didn’t and I didn’t plan ahead like I should have. And it took me a long time to do what I wanted to do with my life. I don’t want you following someone else’s ideas or dreams.”

  Mrs. Valenti was silent for a long time, then, “I loved your father, don’t get me wrong, but he wanted different things in life than I did. I was young and optimistic. I figured I had all the time in the world to follow his dreams and mine. But that wasn’t the case. We just followed his dreams and mine were shoved to the back burner for good.

  “That’s why I’ve pushed you girls so hard. I want you to have everything you’ve ever dreamed of. I don’t want you to sacrifice anything for anyone.”

  Raven grabbed the musical note necklace Horace had given her. She rubbed the cool silver between her fingers as she let her mother’s explanation settle in.

  Finally she took in a deep breath and said, “I get what you’re saying, Mom, but this dream of going off to an Ivy League university, that’s your dream, not mine. I love to sing and that’s what I want to do.”

  She stilled, waiting for the wrath of her mother, for a lecture of how irresponsible it would be for Raven to skip college.

  But the lecture never came.

  Instead, her mother stood up. She crossed her arms over her chest, went to the window looking out over the backyard. “I think I see that now.” She turned to Raven, cocked her head to the side. “If that’s what you want, if you’re one hundred percent sure, then I support you.”

  Raven raised her brow. “Really?”

  Her mother reached over, grabbed her hand, and squeezed. “Really.”

  Raven dropped the music note pendant. Was this really her mother? Maybe it was an alien, because she wasn’t acting like her mother.

  “Listen,” Raven said, “I have an idea.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “How about if I take a year off to do what I want to do. Whether that’s music or a road trip, whatever. I’ll take a year off and then, if nothing has come of the music, I’ll apply to some colleges.”

  Mrs. Valenti grinned. “I think that’s a smart plan that pleases everyone. I just…you know…I want you to have a backup plan.”

  “I know.”

  “Sounds like a good deal,” Mrs. Valenti said. “I’m fine with it.”

  When Raven had walked inside the house and her mother had yelled at her, she was certain this argument would rival a dogfight. It turned out, the conversation was one of the better ones Raven had had with her mother in a long time. And at least she wasn’t grounded.

  “By the way,” her mother said, “you’re grounded.”

  Raven exhaled loudly. “I was wondering when you were going to say that. For how long?”

  “A long time.”

  “Well, I guess I’ll have plenty of time to fine-tune my singing voice, then.”

  Mrs. Valenti gave Raven a hug. “By the way,” she said, “I heard you singing at work, and I thought you sounded good.”

  Raven smiled. Coming from her mother, that meant a lot.

  FORTY-SIX

  Rule 1: Be playful, fun, and flirty! Boys like girls who know how to have a good time!

  The number one rule of the Crush Code was to be playful, fun, and flirty. The good thing was, when Kelly was with Drew, she didn’t even have to try to be fun. Drew automatically brought out the fun side in her.

  And what was the point of flirting when she could just kiss him?

  She gave her bedroom door a shove, wrapped her arms around him, and planted her mouth on his.

  “Mmm,” Drew muttered against her lips, then, “Shouldn’t I be the one kissing you today? It is your birthday, after all.”

  “Right,” she said, “which means I get to kiss you whenever I want. And do whatever I want.”

  He grinned and took off his glasses, setting those neon blue eyes on Kelly. “I’ll be more than happy to let you do whatever you want.”

  A dog whined from behind Drew.

  “Aww,” Kelly said, ducking down to Bear’s level. The husky sat quietly on his hind legs, his tail swishing over the carpet. Drew had brought him over because, according to Drew, Bear wanted to wish Kelly a happy birthday before the party. Now, unfortunately, the dog had to go home.

  It was so cute.

  “Are we ready?” Kelly asked, scratching the dog beneath the chin.

  Bear barked.

  Kelly slipped on her pink flip-flops. “Birthday party, here I come.”

  Tonight was proving to be the best night of her life.

  Drew turned his truck down an unmarked road and the woods instantly swallowed them up. Todd had wanted to have Kelly’s party at Matt Turner’s barn, but Kelly had quickly vetoed that. The abandoned barn had no bathroom, which meant she’d be using the woods and Kelly really didn’t feel like going au naturel.

  Somehow, Todd had talked their parents into renting part of the park on the east side of Garver Lake. The slot they had was tucked back in the woods and down a long gravel drive. It was secluded enough that the party’s music wouldn’t bother anyone else.

  Drew pulled onto the grass on the side of the road and parked in a row of five other cars. Todd was already there with Adam, Kenny, and Matt, but judging by the group beneath the pavilion, a few people had carpooled. There were at least twelve guys.

  Kelly and Drew got out, loading their arms with supplies. When they reached the pavilion, Kelly pulled off her sunglasses and looked around. Gold Christmas lights hung from the rafters and wove around hot-pink streamers. Pink and gold balloons floated from weights on several of the picnic tables.

  “It’s so pretty!” she exclaimed and lunged at Drew with a hug. “Thank you.” She pulled away quickly when she got the urge to kiss him. She didn’t want her brother finding out about her and Drew. At least not yet, and certainly not on her birthday. Kelly wasn’t sure how he’d react, but she didn’t want any drama at her party.

  Kelly went to her brother next to give him a thank-you hug. Todd grimaced, but managed to mutter, “You’re welcome,” before pulling away from her and patting her back.

  As the guys broke away to finish a few last-minute things, Kelly went over to Adam. He looked more than hot today
in a pair of cargo shorts and a black T-shirt. The sleeves of his shirt definitely showed off his muscles.

  It would have been so much easier if Kelly had fallen for him this summer. Part of her regretted not trying harder. If she were with him, there wouldn’t be the risk of losing a best friend. Or alienating all of her other friends.

  “Happy Birthday,” Adam said, wrapping her in a hug. “You look good today.”

  She glanced down at her cut-off jean shorts and white baby tee. “Thanks to you. I’ve lost about fifteen pounds this summer because of kickboxing.”

  “Well, you did great at the lessons.”

  “Yeah.” She looked over her shoulder for Drew. He and Todd were plugging in more Christmas lights.

  “So,” Adam said, “you guys are together finally?”

  Kelly blushed and looked down at the concrete floor. “Yeah, but please don’t say anything. We haven’t told anyone yet.”

  “When are you going to tell people?”

  Kelly shrugged. “Just not today.”

  “Secret is safe with me,” Adam said.

  She gave him another hug and whispered in his ear, “You and Drew are the best things that happened to me this summer.”

  Raven parked along a row of cars and got out, tugging down the hem of her skirt and then straightening her loose gray tunic. She had to promise years of servitude to get her mother to lift the grounding restrictions for one night. She’d be working at Scrappe without pay until she was eighty.

  Dropping her keys in her shoulder bag, Raven headed down the gravel drive to the main part of the park. Kelly had told her the party was starting at seven. Raven was only twenty minutes late, but already the park was crowded with clusters of cliques.

  Kelly had always had a knack for befriending just about everyone. She belonged to no clique at school, but she had friends in almost every circle.

  Music blasted from a stereo system hidden in the enclosed food area. A song by the rock band A Mighty Saint finished up as Raven neared. A Kay-J song replaced the rock. Raven smiled to herself.

  She was still having a hard time believing she’d met Kay-J in person. Raven hadn’t heard the contest results yet, but she would be content with either answer. If she were rejected, she still had Horace and the band. She’d be more than happy sticking with them.

  Speaking of Horace…

  He stood by the brick fire pit near the lake’s edge. Dean and Hobbs were there poking the fire with sticks as if it were some feral animal.

  When Horace saw her, he nodded. Raven hurried over, kissing him eagerly. Being grounded sucked, but it did make the heart grow fonder.

  “Dudes!” Hobbs said. “Get a room.”

  Raven chuckled as she pulled away. “I’m so happy to see you.”

  “Me, too.” Horace smiled. “Your friends here yet?”

  Raven scanned the crowd. “I’m sure they are. Mind if I go look for them?”

  “No. That’s fine. I’ll be here with Dean and Hobbs.” He kissed her quickly on the cheek before she broke away from the fire pit, heading for the pavilion. Beneath the roof, Raven looked up at the twinkling gold lights and pink streamers. Balloons bobbed over the picnic tables. There was a table near the back, covered in presents.

  “Raven!” Alexia called, waving above the crowd.

  Alexia looked absolutely adorable in a pair of longer khaki shorts and a chocolate-colored blouse. Her hair was half pulled back in a barrette and the rest hung around her shoulders.

  “I’m so glad your mom let you come,” Alexia said over the music. “How long do you have tonight?”

  “Midnight.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Are you still grounded?” Raven asked.

  Alexia shrugged. “My parents aren’t home as much as they were. They finally found a new office, and they’re remodeling a lot.”

  “That’s cool.”

  Alexia nodded. “It’s given me a little more time to hang out with Ben before he leaves.”

  “Have you talked to him about that?”

  Alexia frowned and shook her head. “It’s been so much easier not thinking about it.”

  “You’ll have to confront it soon. Isn’t he leaving in a few days?”

  “Six, to be exact, but I really don’t want to think about it tonight. I’d rather just enjoy the party.”

  Raven could understand that.

  “Is Sydney here yet?” she asked.

  Alexia shook her head. “She’s coming soon, though.”

  “What about Kelly? Where is she? I wanted to wish her a happy birthday.”

  “I think she’s in the enclosed eating area. I’ll come over there with you.”

  They left the pavilion and walked over to the eating area. It was a long building with two large openings on each side. Picnic tables made two neat rows, their tops covered in pink tablecloths. There were bowls of chips and tubs of dip. There were ten different bottles of soda and a cooler full of chilled bottled water.

  Kelly was in the corner unwrapping napkins and chatting with Drew.

  “Happy birthday, birthday girl!” Raven called, raising her hand in the air as she navigated around the guys setting up more food.

  “Hey, Ray!” Kelly said, dropping the napkins on a table.

  Raven gave Kelly a hug. She smelled like vanilla and strawberries. She looked thinner, too. Had she been spending more time with that Adam guy? The hot personal trainer? Maybe Raven needed a hot personal trainer.

  No, no she didn’t. She didn’t need any more guys in her life. Horace was enough for her. She hadn’t told him about the Blake incident. That was a secret better left unsaid, right?

  Raven hadn’t seen Blake since their talk at Starbucks. There was a skating tour going on across the United States. She was pretty sure she wouldn’t see him for the rest of the summer. He’d texted her a few times to ask how she was and whether or not she’d heard from Kay-J.

  Raven was still attracted to him, but she wasn’t afraid of that attraction anymore. She could deal with digging another guy while keeping her hands to herself. It wouldn’t be that hard. Especially when she had a guy like Horace.

  “Is there anything we can help with?” Alexia asked, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

  “Yeah.” Kelly nodded at the napkins and plastic silverware. “Unwrap all those and set them on the tables?”

  Alexia nodded and the girls set to work.

  FORTY-SEVEN

  “Come here,” Drew said. “I have something for you.” He grabbed Kelly’s hand and tugged her out of the enclosed eating area and around the back of the building, away from the chaos of the party.

  They had total privacy back here. The woods grew in close to the building. Leaves tickled the back of Kelly’s neck. She batted them away, leaning a shoulder against the cool aluminum siding of the building.

  “Here is fine,” Drew said, keeping his voice low.

  Kelly bit her lower lip, trying not to smile too wide. She had to stop being such a goof around Drew.

  On second thought, Drew knew better than anyone that she was a total dork. She didn’t have to hide anything from him.

  “Happy Birthday,” he said when he pulled a small white box from his jeans pocket.

  Kelly gasped. “Drew. You didn’t have to get me anything.”

  “Of course I did. It’s your birthday. Open it.”

  She took it with nervous fingers. A small white box almost always meant jewelry. More specifically, jewelry from Adorn Jewelry Shop, the most upscale place in town.

  Kelly slowly popped open the lid. Sitting on a velvet bed was a sterling-silver infinity knot pendant, a silver chain attached to it.

  “Drew!”

  “What?” He smiled.

  “This is…I…” She swallowed back the stinging of tears.

  “I’ve known you longer than anyone here,” he explained. “And this symbolizes our past and present and hopefully our future. I want to keep you in my life forever.”

  Ke
lly’s lower lip trembled, and she knew she’d lost the battle with the tears. A few slipped over her lids and slid down her cheeks. She swiped them away and laughed.

  “I hope those are happy tears,” Drew said.

  “Definitely happy tears.” She pulled the necklace from the box. “Could you put it on for me?”

  She turned, lifting her hair. Drew draped the necklace around her neck and fastened it at the back. The silver was cool against her too hot skin.

  “I so love you,” she said, kissing him quickly, her heart thumping in her chest.

  Something clicked behind them.

  Kelly pulled away from Drew and saw Craig Theriot, his cell open in his hands.

  “Craig!” Kelly shouted. “Tell me you did not take a picture.”

  He chuckled. “Just wanted to take a snapshot for the birthday girl so she can remember this special day.” He hurried off as Kelly lunged at him.

  “Kelly.” Drew grabbed her hand and stopped her.

  “He just took a picture of us kissing!” she said, her breath coming quicker. Craig had the biggest mouth at school. He was going to tell everyone.

  “So what?” Drew said. “People are going to find out anyway. Let’s just try to enjoy tonight, huh?”

  “But…”

  He tilted her chin up with a finger and kissed her, pressing her back against the building wall. His tongue glided over her lips, and she couldn’t seem to think straight.

  “I’ll find Craig,” Drew said softly between kisses, “and ask him to keep quiet just for tonight.”

  “Thanks.”

  Drew kissed her once more before disappearing around the building.

  Sydney turned down the long gravel drive toward the park. A sign at the entrance read: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KELLY! in big block letters with balloons tied behind it.

  “Well, I’m at the park,” Sydney said to Quin in her cell phone. “Want me to call you later?”

  “If you’d like. If you feel like talking.”

  In the last week, Sydney’s mood had been up and down, but Quin had been there for her whenever she needed him. And it helped that when she asked for space, he gave it to her without question.