"Why does he have to lock everything?" she asked, annoyed.
"Uh, because he doesn't want people breaking in?" I suggested.
"Do you smell that?" she asked, wrinkling her nose. I did as soon as she said it; it was a stale, moldy smell, strong enough to make me gag. Like something was rotten inside.
"Gross," I said, and we frowned at each other. It didn't seem to fit the picture of the spotless showroom house. Her face had gone ashen, and I could tell she was getting spooked.
The sound of a car pulling up made us move. We ducked behind the crab apple trees as McPherson zipped his car into the driveway. My pulse stomped my eardrums, and I silently prayed that we'd become invisible, like children who think if they shut their eyes they'll disappear.
His headlights blasted on the trees in the backyard, then shut off. After a moment, he exited the vehicle and stormed up the sidewalk to the front door, which slammed seconds later.
Without words, we bolted down the driveway and retrieved our bikes. We pulled the bikes upright and hopped on, pedaling away as fast as we could. My legs burned as I attempted to gain speed, but fear propelled me. I could hear Theo's breath huffing out in gasps.
I heard a car behind us and glanced behind my shoulder. Was McPherson chasing us? Had he seen us take off? But it was just a stranger in a red truck who didn't even look at us as he passed.
"Wasn’t the plan that we were going to spy on him?" Theo asked breathlessly as we slowed down, having put distance between ourselves and McPherson.
"The plan was to determine if he was living with his mom, if I recall correctly," I said sarcastically. She stuck her tongue out at me. "Besides, we both ran away, not just me."
"Didn't you see him? He was not in the best mood," Theo said. Her shoulders shuddered, and she took her hand off of the handlebars to push up her glasses.
"Exactly. If he had caught us snooping, he probably would have tied us up and stuck us in his unnaturally clean basement."
As we passed the next street, I caught a flash of blue out of the corner of my eye. A little girl wearing a blue coat was creeping down the sidewalk, her hair falling in her eyes. Trying not to step on cracks. It would break her mother's back.
"Careful!" Theo shouted. I braked on my pedals, lurching hard as I gripped the handlebars. A parked car sat mere inches from my front tire. I would have hit it if I'd kept zoning out. I looked around, but the little girl must have scampered off.
"Where did you go?" Theo asked, reaching out for my shoulder.
"Just thinking," I mumbled, trying to shake the fogginess out of my head. I couldn't look Theo in the eye, too busy searching the road.
"What do you think was in the shed?" she asked as we finally biked into her driveway unharmed. "It smelled disgusting, like sweaty feet with old socks."
We parked the bikes up against the fence separating our lawns. I was shaking so hard I could barely hold mine up.
"I don't know," I replied, thinking it over in my brain now that we were safe. "But whatever it was, it didn't belong there."
###
"I like to call this test 'the kicker'," Mr. Vanderlip said smugly during geometry. He fondled his garish purple tie, sliding his hand up and down. "Does anyone want to guess why?"
"Because it'll kick our a—er, butts?" One girl called meekly from the back row.
Vanderlip's thin-lipped smile spread. It was not attractive. I was surprised to note a wedding band on his finger, and found myself trying to guess what a treasure his wife must be.
"Precisely," he said. "This'll separate the men from the boys."
"What about the girls?" someone else muttered, but Vanderlip ignored her.
"Friday is D day, people," Vanderlip announced, tapping the chalkboard with his nails. "The test is comprised of a random selection of problems from this entire marking period. No study sheet. Be prepared."
Just great. Another thing to be anxious about. As if I needed another reason with missing friends, snotty girls, and my crush running off with the snottiest one of all.
I hadn't spoken to Henry since I'd overheard his dating status at the movie theater. I had been trying my best to avoid him, which wasn't easy considering how many classes we had together. I went back and forth from feeling like an idiot, remembering his words about my being the death of him, and feeling betrayed.
Either I was naive, or I had been tricked. Or both. I didn't know which option was worse.
He caught up to me one day when I wasn't moving fast enough to get away.
"Why have you been avoiding me?" he asked bluntly.
I kept my eyes forward, hoping he would get the hint.
"I've been busy," I said curtly. "A lot going on."
"So busy that you couldn't even talk to me for a week?" he asked, sounding unconvinced. "Are you working on a time machine or a cure for cancer or something?"
"Ha ha, very funny," I said, rolling my eyes.
"It wasn't a joke. So you've been busy. Okay. Are we still on for studying tonight? I made sure to clear my empty schedule for you."
I had completely forgotten about our tutoring sessions, hoping that he would forget, too. Vanderlip's words about the kicker echoed in my mind in his unpleasant frog voice.
I sighed, breathing in the stale school air. I couldn't flunk, so I was stuck. "Yeah, we're still on. If Lainey says it's all right."
"If Lainey says...?" he repeated, scowling. "What does Lainey have to do with it?"
School was not the place to talk about it. I hated the melodrama. I pushed my feelings down as deep as I could.
"You know what? I need to get going," I said. "Just meet up with me after art."
The last thing I needed was to get all upset and then have to sit in class and stew in my emotional soup. I walked away as quickly as my legs could carry me. My daily sprint to school had afforded me greater stamina than I was used to.
After school, Henry followed me outside. It was much more awkward than our first walk, with neither of us speaking. That wasn't normal for us anymore; we always chatted like crazy when we were together, about anything and everything from our favorite bands to the imaginary hobbies of our teachers.
He didn't seem to be trying to get me to talk anymore, either. Gone was the pressing attempt at prying words from my lips. Finally, when we turned onto my street, he spoke.
"You're being distant again."
"So are you," I shot back. I hadn't realized that I'd been crossing my arms tightly over my chest until now.
"Did I do something wrong?" he asked quietly after another moment of tense silence. "Is it because of what happened at the orphanage? That freaked me out a little, too..."
I looked at his face, unsure of what to say. His features were wrought with confusion, as though he had no idea why I would want to avoid him. I couldn't reconcile the Henry I knew now with one who would ever in a million years want someone like Lainey.
"No. It's not that," I said.
I bent down and picked up a dry, crimson leaf from the sidewalk, twirling it by the stem. I had to keep my eyes busy. He broke down all of my defenses when we made eye contact, and this time I refused to melt into a puddle of goo.
"If I did, I'll apologize a hundred times until you talk to me," he continued. "I'm sorry."
I opened and closed my mouth like a fish, unsure of what to say. The leaf was slowly crumbling in my fingers.
Henry walked around so that he blocked my path and I had to look at him. I tried to concentrate on the space between his eyebrows. Looking into his eyes still seemed too intense. He would know exactly how I felt about him if I did. I didn't even know that myself, yet.
"You didn't do anything to me," I said. I held my breath for a moment, my mouth tasting sour. "I just wish you would have told me that you were planning on asking Lainey out. So I would have been prepared that you two are dating." The words sounded all wrong, like I was attempting a foreign language.
His r
eaction surprised me. First, he stared at me like I'd grown another head. Then he burst out laughing, doubling over and clutching his ribs. He couldn't stop himself. I had no idea what he found so uproarious, and it triggered my irritation.
Was I really that much fun to laugh at?
When he could finally breathe again, he righted himself. The corners of his full mouth were turned up, his face flushed, like he'd been running around the block. Or having sex. I blushed and looked away, hating my involuntary thoughts. Why did he have to be so attractive?
"What are you talking about, weirdo?" he asked, still grinning. "Where did you hear that Lainey and I are dating? Is that why you've been avoiding me like the plague?"
"Well, considering you're a rat," I muttered.
"Seriously, why would you say that?" The smile fled his face, leaving him looking curious and slightly hurt.
"A bunch of people have been talking about it at school," I said defensively, holding onto my elbows with both hands for support. "It's common knowledge, so you can stop pretending."
"It's not common knowledge to me," he protested. He bowed his head, getting me to look straight into his eyes, the exact place I didn't want to be sucked into. I was hooked.
"I am not dating Lainey," he continued, speaking slowly. "I don't know if she passed that rumor on or what, but it's not happening. She is...vapid. And phony."
"And exactly who your parents want you to date," I finished.
"Screw what my parents think," he said defiantly, color rising on his cheeks. "This isn't the old world, I could care less who they want me to hook up with."
He stopped, appraising me for a moment.
"Why didn't you just ask me?" His eyes were filled with hurt, making him look so vulnerable.
"I don't know," I offered. "I guess I just expected it." My gaze shifted all over his face, unable to take him in properly. "It just seemed too good to be true that you would actually want to be..." I struggled to find a proper word. "My friend."
"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," he jeered. "I expected more from you."
I glared at him, the harsh afternoon sun getting in my vision and making me blink, ruining the effect. "Why are you expecting anything from me? And why should I know any different?"
"Because I told you how things were," he argued, irritation flaring up on his usually agreeable features. "I thought you would believe me."
"I did believe you," I said softly, feeling defeated. "I just...thought that my initial feelings were wrong."
I heard him scoff gently beneath his breath.
"I told her that we're just friends," he said emphatically, retrieving the remnant of the leaf still tucked between my fingers and spinning it with his own.
"Then what about all the touching? She's always all over you."
"I know," he said, laughter in his voice. "That's why I put a stop to it."
"You're always together in the halls, you sit with her in class...not that I'm paying attention," I added, laying out my evidence. But of course, I had been paying too close attention, even when I'd told myself I was ignoring him. I could feel the heat race up my cheeks to my forehead.
"Because Lainey always seems to be around," Henry said. He shrugged, and we started walking on our way again. Clouds had begun to cross the sky, gray and heavy as if they held rain. I wondered if we would make it this time.
"Our dads are old pals, so it's an unfortunate requirement," Henry continued. "And I never said she didn't have a crush on me, I'm assuming she does. That's why I made it clear that we're just friends."
"I see."
"Do you now, really? Or are you just saying that?"
"I do. But why don't you like her?" The question just made me blush more fiercely, adding in a bit of lightheadedness, but I had to ask it.
"She drives me crazy," he said seriously, pulling at his hair and pretending to tug it out. "Every conversation is about her clothes and her hair and blah blah blah, and the only input I'm allowed are my views on those things. I just do my part, smile and nod, and it keeps her off my back."
The octave of his voice jumped up to a terrible falsetto. "Oh, and did you know, her dad owns, like, five businesses? Because she never shuts up about it."
"Seven business," I corrected, giggling despite myself.
"All of them worthless," he said. "It's not like when I'm with you. I love talking to you."
The fact that he had used love and you in the same sentence floored me, but I didn't have a chance to react.
"What is up with this, by the way?" He stopped again and snagged an acrylic black and orange spider off of the nearest mailbox. He gestured to the lawn, which was covered in tombstones and glowing orange lights.
"It's like A Nightmare Before Christmas. I've never seen so many people decorate for Halloween. I get that it's not far away, but I've been seeing this crap since I moved here. That was in April."
He gestured to the huge blown up snowglobe on the lawn across the street, where a cutesy grim reaper and his scythe wiggled back and forth. I shrugged, retrieving the spider and plopping it back on the mailbox. The googly eyes rolled at me.
"That's just Hell. Everyone takes a lot of pride in whatever heritage they think we have. Adults are just big kids anyway, according to Hugh. I don't think anybody ever grows up, not really."
"I'm inclined to agree with you," Henry said. "My parents think they're still in high school."
CHAPTER 18
HUGH AND HENRY had begun to strike up an easy friendship. They joked a little when we went inside, Henry teasing my father for his decorations. He seemed like the type that just automatically made friends in any situation. It was a nice change from the interrogation—Hugh getting comfortable with having Henry around and trusting him.
It was undeniable that Henry had carved out a place in my life.
We took our seats in the den again, which had become our meeting place. It was hard to concentrate on the numbers and shapes in the book, but I forced myself to listen to the hypnotizing sound of his voice. I had to cram this stuff into my brain for the test on Friday.
After we worked, we talked about the Halloween dance. It was an unavoidable subject, considering how enthralled the school was with it. And Henry was the one who brought it up.
"So, the dance is almost here. You would think the president was coming to town, the way people are talking about its earth-shattering possibilities."
"Again, small town. We get excited over corn," I said. He snickered, shaking his head at me and grinning.
"Dances can be fun, though."
"Ugh, I hate them," I said, flopping back on the sofa and kicking my geometry book. "All that money spent for one lousy night. And all the girls competing over their looks while the boys get sweaty and start pawing them. No, thank you."
"I see." Henry said cryptically. He frowned suddenly, a crease appearing in his forehead. I sat up, realizing that he had probably brought it up for a reason. Had I completely screwed up my chance? I didn't know how to get back into the topic, though, as he started quizzing me again.
By the time the Lexus arrived, lighting up the den curtains, I felt prepared to at least not fail the kicker. We headed for the front door, ready to say our goodbyes.
"Don't forget your sweatshirt," I reminded him. He'd started putting it on the dining room chair whenever he came in. I turned and crossed the floor to the dining room, when I noticed the familiar, heavy bouquet of Claire's perfume. She hadn't met him yet, thanks to careful maneuvering on my part. I groaned internally, having known this day would come and yet not prepared.
"Is that your friend, Ariel?" Claire called from behind the kitchen cabinets. I had half a mind to push Henry out of the front door, but I didn't get a chance before she swooshed into view.
"Are you trying to sneak out on me?" Claire asked cheerfully, but I could hear the undertone in her voice that said get over here. She'd pestered me about meeting him all the
time, and now she'd finally gotten her wish. "Hi, you must be Henry. I'm Claire."
She held out her hand for him to shake. Her blonde hair was swept into its usual work updo, and she wore a pinstripe suit, looking as though she had just gotten ready to leave instead of having worked for ten hours.
"Nice to meet you," he said warmly. I think she was disappointed he didn't say she looked like my sister.
"My daughter and husband have said nothing but great things about you," she said. "The improvement in her grades really has me impressed."
When Claire spoke to people who weren't her family, she went into charm mode. Her voice became strong and mega-cheerful, all of her attention directed at that one person.
"Well, Ariel did all the work herself," Henry said. "I've just been sitting there."
I felt the opposite about our study sessions, but I didn't want to correct him. Let her think I was good at something.
"I'm sure that's not true," she said, smiling coyly. Of course she wouldn't believe him. I could tell by the way she was looking at him that he had worked his charms on her, however, and not the other way around.
"It's completely true," he said. "Your daughter is a very smart, capable person. She just doesn't always believe it herself."
"Okay, enough about me," I muttered uncomfortably. I yanked his sweatshirt off of the chair and handed it to him. "Henry has to be going, Claire, his dad's in the driveway."
"You should stop by for dinner sometime," she pushed. She hadn't stopped smiling since she introduced herself. "We would love to have you, and since you're here every week anyway..."
"Sure," Henry said, nodding.
This time I did push him towards the door as they bid each other goodbye.
"She's not as scary as you made her out to be," he whispered quietly to me on the porch. The rain had let up, leaving nothing but muddy puddles in the grass. The Lexus sat silently, headlights glowing. I still couldn't make out Henry's mysterious father inside.
"That was just her company face," I insisted. "She has a whole 'nother side, believe me. One that breathes fire."
"I'm glad you're talking to me again," he said, and touched my nose with his finger. I felt the warmth from his skin spread through me. "I missed our talks."
"Me too. I just hope you stay on my side."