Inevitable

by Tamara Hart Heiner

  At nine a.m., my phone started ringing. I glanced at it and saw that it was Dana. Of course she’d be wondering where I was. How could I begin to explain to her everything that was going on? She was so out of the loop. I heaved a sigh and buried the phone under my backpack, ignoring the twinge of guilt. I just didn’t feel like getting into it now.

  Dana called again at ten. At eleven she left me a message. “Where are you, little miss Jayne? I know you’re not sick because you would have called me! Or should I call your mommy and ask her where you are? I will if you don’t call me back!”

  The threat in her voicemail was all too real. I groaned and gave in. I pressed Dana’s number on the speed dial.

  “Where are you?” Dana demanded as soon as she answered.

  “Hello to you too,” I said dryly. “I’m great, thanks for asking.”

  “Cut it out. You lost the right to cordiality when you ditched your BFF with no word. Why are you skipping school and where are you?”

  “I’m at the beach. You know the place. And I’m fine. Just dealing with things.”

  I could practically see the wheels turning in Dana’s mind. I’d haunted this beach a few months ago—back when Stephen and I broke up. “What things?” she asked.

  “Things.”

  “Jayne, I’m warning you,” she growled. “Don’t make me come get you.”

  And she could. She knew where this spot was. I grasped onto the item that required the least explanation. “I’m trying to figure things out about Aaron, okay?”

  There was silence while she digested that. “Aaron? You mean the guy who dropped you like a rock when his Wales princess came waltzing in?”

  “Yes, that would be the one.” This was getting redundant.

  When she spoke again, her voice was nothing more than a hiss. “Did something happen? Something you’re not telling me?”

  “No,” I sighed, and even I could hear the regret in my tone. “Nothing happened.” Not even a good bye hug as he left my house.

  Dana laughed out loud. “You like him still! Fabulous! Hey girl, we’ll get it worked out. We’ll have him running circles around you again!”

  “Dana!” I cast my eyes about, even though I knew I was alone. “I’m not desperate!” My face warmed as I imagined what ridiculous charades Dana might come up with to get his attention. “I can handle this on my own.”

  “Sure you can,” she purred. “Well, at least let me take your mind off it. There’s a bonfire at Mike’s beach house tonight. Lots of hot college guys will be there. Come?”

  “On a Tuesday night?”

  “Parties have no boundaries, sister.”

  I could see Dana in my head now, tossing her springy blond curls over her shoulder and flirting in the flickering firelight, while I stood close by, can of soda in hand, a painfully awkward smile on my face. “I don’t think that will help.”

  “Don’t make me go alone!” Dana gasped. “You’re my conscience! You’ll keep me from doing something irresponsible!”

  Whatever. I rolled my eyes. “Dana, you’re a big girl. And you’re smart. I’m not worried about you. And anyway, I have to work.” Thank goodness.

  “Fine. Ditch your best friend. I don’t care.”

  This conversation was exhausting me. “See ya later,” I sighed, clicking the end button.

  The phone jangled in my hand as soon as I hung up, making me jump. I looked down with a scowl, expecting to see Dana’s number. Aaron. My heart fluttered and I popped the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

  “Jayne, it’s Aaron.” His lilting voice washed over me and I smiled. The sun suddenly felt warmer, the ocean brighter. No! I wasn’t supposed to fall for him!

  “Yes, I know. It’s a cell phone.”

  “Oh, of course. Are you well?”

  “Am I well?” I repeated.

  “You’re not in school. I thought you might be ill. You seemed rather down yesterday.”

  “Oh.” I cleared my throat, not about to tell him the reason for today’s melancholy. “I’ve been a bit under, but I’m okay. How are you?” Oh, that sounded stupid. I winced at myself.

  He chuckled, and this time I heard the familiar self-assuredness. “I’m fine. In that case, there’s apparently a big get-together tonight on the beach. Would you like to ride with me?”

  “At Mike’s house?” I asked, suddenly suspicious that Dana was behind this.

  “Oh, you already know.” His surprise sounded genuine, and I pushed my suspicions aside. “I can pick you up. Do you work tonight?”

  “I do. It’s so sweet of you to offer, though.”

  “It’s not a problem. What time are you off work?”

  “I’m off at nine,” I said, and then it dawned on me what he was saying. “But it’s a school night, Aaron. I can’t be up all hours.”

  “Just a few hours, then.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “I’ll pick you up.”

  “Aaron.”

  No response.

  The lack of static on the other side was the only indication that he’d hung up. I pulled the phone away from my ear and glared at it in frustration. Such confidence. He had no doubt that I would agree. I hit the send button and redialed. Straight to voice mail. I tried two more times before giving up. Looked like I had a date tonight.

  A flicker of excitement stirred in my belly, and I stood up, shaking off the sand. I needed to get home and find something nice to change into after work.

  I chuckled, imaging the look on Dana’s face when I arrived at the bonfire on Aaron’s arm.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  At fifteen after nine, Aaron still hadn't arrived. At first I was relieved by the opportunity to change my clothes, pull my hair down, and put on some lipstick. But after another five minutes of anxiously waiting outside, the chilly spring air blowing on my bare shoulders, I began to feel apprehensive.

  Tom, our manager, was closing tonight, so Matt had the rare opportunity to leave the restaurant before ten. He waited with me for a few minutes, then pulled his keys out. “I hate to leave you, Jayne, but I gotta get. You should go. It’s not safe lately, you know?”

  Believe me, I did. I put on my best fake smile. “You’re right, Matt. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been stood up.”

  He dipped his head, probably not sure how to respond to that. “Right. See you tomorrow, Jayne.” He loped away, hitching up his falling pants in mid stride.

  I checked my phone for any missed calls. None.

  How long should I wait? I headed for my car, feeling like an idiot. Anger battled with humiliation at having been stood up this way. Opening the door, I tossed in my work bag.

  “Ready, Jayne?”

  I turned around, pressing my hands to my chest. A dark sports car purred up beside me, silent and invisible in the night. Aaron stepped out, his tight jeans and blue polo setting off the blue in his eyes. In an instant, my fright dissipated.

  “Oh, right.” My eyes trailed over his legs and I slammed my car door. Inhaling, I noticed the musky sent of his aftershave and the citrus scent of his deodorant. But no lemon.

  “Are you sure you won’t be cold?” His fingers ran over the tops of my shoulders and down my arms. I shivered.

  “That’s why we’re going to a bonfire.” I tried to play it cool, but his face mere inches from mine did me in.

  “Of course.” He grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “But we won’t get there if you don’t get in the car.” He gestured to his green speed demon, so dark it looked black in the night.

  I grabbed my bag from my car and slid in, wondering how many times in ten minutes he could make me feel like an idiot. Aaron settled in to the driver’s seat. The seat leaned back to provide room for his legs.

  “Did I miss anything special in school today?”

  “Nothing.” Aaron kept his eyes on the road, merging with the traffic. “In fact, next time you skip, take me along.”

  “Will do.” I pictured Aaron up on the sandy cliff with me. He’d lov
e lobbing rocks into the white-crested water. “So who invited you to Mike’s party?”

  He shrugged. “A few people mentioned it to me.”

  Translation: All the cheerleaders at Lacey Township High followed Aaron around today, making sure he knew about the party. “Are you a partier?”

  “I like to hang out with my friends.” He shot me a glance. “You?”

  I nodded. “Yeah.” Mostly, anyway. Dana and I usually went, though we were definitely the milder girls. Neither of us drank or snuck out with guys, preferring to keep sober heads. Though lately I’d sensed a reluctance in Dana to linger with me. I didn’t let it bother me. She’d get her chance to branch out in a few months when she left me for her big city college.

  “Good thing I’m driving, then.”

  It took me a moment to realize what Aaron meant. “Oh! Well, I don’t drink. I just go to socialize.” Actually I hadn’t really been to a party since Stephen and I broke up. And Stephen was always the life of the party, expecting me to drag his drunk butt home when it was over. “So, yeah, I can drive us home.”

  Aaron cocked an eyebrow. “Well, I don’t drink either.”

  “Really?” I looked at him and felt a flood of admiration that bordered on worship. Drinking, besides making people do stupid things like make out with the hostess of the party and jump off balconies, was illegal. I always wished I had a guy who was man enough to do the right thing, even if no one else was. I felt myself slipping further down the road to delirium. Careful, girl. I smiled. “What, Superman doesn’t drink?”

  “Superman?” He blinked at me.

  I pursed my lips, a blush creeping over my cheeks. No point in stopping now. “Yeah, you know, the superhero identity of Clark Kent? Wears tights and a cape?”

  “I know Superman.” Aaron sounded puzzled.

  “Well, you sort of remind me of him.”

  He glanced over his shoulder at the backseat. “Oh, right. My cape’s in the back. Don’t let me forget it.”

  I laughed. “It’s not so much the cape as the blue eyes and hair and stuff. Anyway.” I fought to change the subject before he realized I was as obsessed with him as every other girl. “So you don’t drink?”

  “Nah. It messes with my super powers.”

  I laughed and hit his forearm, then jerked my arm back. I was not supposed to be the one making the moves. “Huh. I wonder if it would mess with mine. Oh, turn here.”

  Aaron curved left sharply, almost missing the driveway. “What are your super powers?”

  “Oh. I’m kind of an...enigma. I see dead people.” Before they die.

  He parked his car in the grass behind several other cars. “Unoriginal. That super power’s been taken.” He got out of the car and pulled me from my seat.

  “Oh,” I said. “Guess I’ll have to think of another one.”

  The air was colder than it had been when we left town. I shivered and rubbed my bare arms.

  Aaron grabbed a windbreaker and wrapped it around my shoulders. “This will have to do for my cape,” he teased. He gripped my hand and led me toward the flickering light and laughing voices closer to the shoreline.

  I resisted the urge to pull away from him. Relax. It’s okay to have a romantic fling, even if it doesn’t last. My stomach clenched at the thought of falling in love with Aaron, only to lose him. And to lose him forever.

  But that was high school, right? Most relationships didn’t last.

  “Are you going to prom?”

  Aaron’s question came out of nowhere and caught me off guard. This was the second time he’d brought it up. I laughed. “Surely you’re not as worried about it as every other girl at school.”

  He shrugged. “It’s my only chance to participate in this very important American tradition. I want to make the most of it.”

  “I’m not planning on going.” Yet.

  “And why aren’t you as concerned about it as every other girl?”

  A single curl dropped in front of my eyes, and I tucked it back behind my ear. “No one’s convinced me that I should be.” I met his eyes and quickly turned away. Too bold.

  Our arrival went unnoticed by the dozens of teenagers milling around the fire. I spotted Dana sitting on a log roasting a marshmallow, looking so good in her mini-skirt that I regretted wearing jeans. Then I remembered the mosquitoes. No, jeans were better for bonfires.

  “She’s your friend, isn’t she?” Aaron nodded toward Dana, who was tossing back her head and laughing wildly for the benefit of the boys around her. I felt a little embarrassed.

  “Yeah, that’s Dana.” I paused, not sure if I should go over. I hadn’t even told her I was coming.

  “Let’s say hi.” Aaron put an arm around my waist as if he wanted people to see us together.

  The thought warmed me, making me feel confident and exhilarated. “Okay.”

  Dana glanced up as we approached, her eyes widening. “Jaynie! You’re here!” Her mouth fell open in a small ‘o’ when she saw Aaron. “Hey, guys!” She jumped up and headed our way.

  I stopped moving. A lemony balm smell mixed with bonfire smoke drifted over to me. My heart pitter-pattered in my chest. Which one? Which of the boys around her carried the scent?

  “What’s wrong?” Aaron asked, his eyes trained on me.

  “Hey!” Dana had reached us, and she threw her arms around me. “Wow! I can’t believe you’re here!” She looked up at Aaron. “Good for you, getting her out in public. This girl never leaves the house.”

  Nice. Before I could come up with a retort, one of the boys slipped over and put his hands around Dana’s tiny waist. “Come back over, little bird. We’re just getting started.”

  She giggled like a maniac and batted her eyes at him. This kid wasn’t from our school. In fact, he looked like he was in college. He handed Dana a can of beer. I felt a jolt of alarm.

  “Oh, thanks.” She winked at me and set it down on a log. “I’ll just get to that later.”

  “Let’s go back by the fire.” The boy nuzzled her neck. “We were just getting cozy.”

  “You two enjoy yourselves!” She waved at us and started back.

  “Dana!” I reached out a hand to grab her arm, but she had already danced away.

  “She’s a party-animal, huh?”

  “I-I don’t know.” I hated to admit that Dana and I hadn’t gone to a party together in months. If this was how she acted away from me, I wasn’t the only one keeping secrets.

  My cell phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out. Text message from a number I didn’t recognize. I opened it.

  Jayne?

  Getting my thumbs into texting mode, I replied.

  Yes. Who is this?

  The response was almost immediate.

  Ive got ur number Jayne.

  Okay, definitely alarming. I stared at my phone, all of my fears about a crazy psycho stalking me coming back in full-force. I had the police officer’s card in my wallet. Should I call him right now and tell him about this?

  It was just a text message, after all.

  “You okay?” Aaron asked.

  I shook myself and forwarded the message to the police officer, hoping he had texting.

  Unknown number. Possible stalker?

  I put the phone in my pocket and the incident out of my mind. There was nothing I could do about it now. “Huh?”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Oh. Yes.” Great. I was acting weird again.

  Aaron shifted his weight. “You want to stand by the fire? It’s a bit warmer.”

  “Great idea. Come on.” I hurried toward the music and the fire. I had to lift my arms above my head and thread my way through the jibing, shaking crowd which thickened the closer I got to the fire. “Dana!” This time I succeeded in reaching her. “Dana, have you been drinking?”

  “No.” She glanced at the beer that had somehow opened itself and placed itself in her hand. “Oh, Jaynie.” She looked back at me, large eyes pleading. “Just a little. It’s a party, ok
ay? Don’t spazz on me.”

  Don’t spazz? My best friend was drinking!

  She had already forgotten about me standing there. She wrapped her arms around another dude, not even the same one that had given her the beer. I felt a hard pit in my stomach. What else did she do that I didn’t know about?

  “Aaron! Hey!”

  A couple of kids I recognized but didn’t know came over to Aaron. It looked like they were trying to do the whole boy-swagger-handshake thing, but Aaron didn’t quite know how. Which made me bite my lip to keep from laughing. These guys were on the football team, and they walked as if each step weighed their shoulders to the ground. Most shouldered their letter jackets next to hair that was either too long and in their eyes, or too short and spiky.

  And then there was Aaron, standing straight like a concert pianist, his hair nicely parted and combed to the side. His form-fitting jeans were similar to theirs, but his sweater and white shirt with the top two buttons undone gave him the look of a law student at a frat party.

  Fingers closed around my forearm, and I jumped, startled out of my deep study of Aaron. I came face to face with Stephen, a chunk of golden-brown hair falling across his tanned forehead. I resisted the urge to reach up and brush it back.

  “Jayne.” He smiled at me, and the faint hint of alcohol that emitted from his breath killed all tender urges I might have for him.

  “Stephen.” I sighed and pulled my arm away. Stephen had his father’s tendency when it came to alcohol, and he was always inebriated within ten minutes of arriving at a party. “I should have known you’d be here.”

  “The surprising thing is that you are,” he countered. “I never see you anywhere these days.”

  I peered over his shoulder. “Where’s your girlfriend?”

  He gave a grunt that I recognized as annoyance. “I told you. We broke up.”

  I crossed my arms and settled back to stare at him. “So you came alone?”

  He wrapped an arm around me and nuzzled my neck, his stubble tickling me. “I’m not alone now.”

  “I hope I’m not interrupting.” Aaron’s voice caused me to jerk back. He had a bemused expression on his face while he regarded us.