The bell rang signaling the end of second period. I had completely missed two classes and now I was stuck with James for the rest of the day
“Fine, let’s go,” James said. “I don’t want you to get into any more trouble.”
To say that every student in the hallway stared at us was an understatement. People shamelessly turned all the way around to get a better look at the new guy. James was eating up the attention. He nodded and flashed smiles at every girl we passed.
We entered third period American Literature. I introduced James to Mr. Eubanks and gratefully left him at the teacher’s desk as I headed to the back of the classroom.
“Who’s that?” Sadie Williams asked as soon as I took my seat next to her.
“New boy. James Van Curen. I have to show him around today,” I said.
“Lucky you.”
“Not really. He seems like a jerk.”
Sadie tucked a short piece of jet black hair behind her ear. “Typical. I didn’t see you before school this morning.”
“I was late again. Mr. Armen sent me to see Mrs. Pratt. That’s how I got the babysitting job.”
Lucas slipped into the desk next to me. “Sorry about this morning, Ramsey. I don’t know how Mr. Armen saw you with his back turned.”
“Don’t worry about it, Luke. It was my fault,” I said.
“Morning guys.” Logan Cooper, Lucas’s twin brother, plopped down in the desk behind Sadie. “I heard there was a new guy. Have any of you seen him?”
I pointed to the front of the room.
“Great,” Logan moaned. “More competition.”
Lucas rolled his eyes at his brother. “Right, because you’ve clearly been winning with the ladies.”
I’d known the Cooper twins since grammar school, but I was better friends with Lucas. Both boys were tall and lanky with shaggy blond hair and blue eyes. They were mirror images of each other, except for the tiny scar over Lucas’s right eyebrow. Most people had trouble telling them apart, but if you really knew them, like I did, you would know they were as different as night and day.
“Everyone settle down,” Mr. Eubanks said. “We have a new student today. This is James Van Curen. James, please take a seat.”
James strolled down the aisle, winked at me and took the empty seat in front of Sadie.
Mr. Eubanks cleared his throat. “Don’t forget, book reports are due next week. James, I’ll talk to you about that later. Okay, class, today we are delving into the mind of Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of the greatest American authors of all time. We will be reading one of Mr. Hawthorne’s most famous novels, The Scarlet Letter.”
James opened a spiral notebook and started doodling.
“Hazel Cove has a few connections with Mr. Hawthorne,” Mr. Eubanks said. “First, obviously, our school is named after him. Second, he was from northern Massachusetts. Mr. Hawthorne was born in Salem in 1804. Salem’s only forty-five minutes away, so I’m assuming most of you have been there.”
Of course, we’d all been to Salem. It was a major tourist destination, especially around Halloween. I made the quick drive down to Salem at least once a month to visit my Grandma Claudia.
Mr. Eubanks sat on the edge of his desk. “Most of Hawthorne’s work is Puritan inspired, likely due to the fact that his ancestors were Puritans. In fact, his great-great-great-grandfather, William Hathorne, was a magistrate and judge in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Notice at this point in time, the surname is spelled H-A-T-H-O-R-N-E. I’ll explain the significance of that in a moment.”
Was Mr. Eubanks going to test us on Hawthorne’s biography? I looked around to see if anyone was taking notes. Lucas was listening, but he was about the only one. Most of the class had already zoned out. Sadie scrolled through her phone underneath her desk. Logan had fallen asleep. James was still doodling.
“Now, Nathaniel’s great-great grandfather, John Hathorne, was one of the judges who oversaw the Salem Witch Trials. The Trials were conducted between February 1692 and May 1693 throughout Essex, Suffolk and Middlesex counties in colonial Massachusetts.”
My ears perked up when Mr. Eubanks mentioned the Witch Trials. I’d heard the story a hundred times—how could you not living in New England your entire life? But it was fascinating to hear, especially around this time of year.
Mr. Eubanks strolled down the aisle. “Over one-hundred and forty-five people were arrested and imprisoned. Twenty-nine people were convicted of the felony of witchcraft, which was a capital offense at the time. Nineteen of the twenty-nine, consisting of fourteen women and five men, were hanged. One man was crushed to death under heavy stones. Learning that his own great-great grandfather presided over the Witch Trials, Nathaniel added a ‘W’ to his surname—thus becoming ‘Hawthorne’—in an effort, perhaps, to dissociate himself from his notorious ancestor.”
Jeez Louise. I’d change my name, too. Who would want to be associated with the Salem Witch Trials?
The bell rang signaling the end of class. I shoved my copy of The Scarlet Letter into my bag just as James appeared at my desk.
“Where to next?”
“Lunch,” I said. “With all of them.” I motioned to Sadie and the Cooper twins, who were all waiting to be introduced to the new boy. I made the necessary introductions and the five of us headed toward the cafeteria.
“Our invitation for the party came,” Lucas said. “The design on the front was really cool.”
“Emma spares no expense,” I said dryly. The Halloween party was about the only thing my mother would get out of bed for. That and a martini.
“Party?” James asked.
“Alex’s family throws an annual Halloween party,” Lucas said.
“And it’s her birthday,” Sadie added.
“Your birthday is on Halloween?” James asked me.
“Creepy, right?”
I hated being a Halloween baby. I always thought it was disturbing that I was born on the day—according to our elementary school teachers—that spirits freely roamed the Earth.
“It’s not so bad,” James said and then he whispered in my ear, “I’m not really hungry, are you?”
“Not really. Why?”
James whirled his finger around. “How about that campus tour? We can make it quick and then grab lunch.”
I narrowed my eyes at James, trying to gauge whether this was another ploy to ditch school. Mrs. Pratt had suggested that I give James the tour, but I was a little nervous at his enthusiasm.
“I guess we could go now, if you want. If you promise you won’t try to ditch again.”
“I promise.”
“We’re going to skip lunch,” I said to Sadie and the twins. “James wants the Hawthorne tour.”
James wiggled his eyebrows at Lucas and Logan.
“Fat chance,” Lucas said under his breath.
Lucas said something about Peter, but I couldn’t really hear him from where I stood. I waved goodbye to my friends and led James down the hallway. I shifted into tour guide mode and showed James the student lounge, the gymnasium, the bell tower, the courtyard, the baseball field and the tennis courts.
“What’s that?” James pointed to the long one-story building next to the baseball field.
“The pool.”
“Let’s check it out.” He took off toward the Aquatics Building.
“Wait. What are you doing?” I had to jog to keep up with him.
James jiggled the handle of the double doors. “Why would they lock the pool?”
“I think it’s a liability or something. It’s only open for swim practice.”
“That’s no fun.” James reached into his pocket and pulled out a paper clip. He unraveled the thin metal until it was as straight as a toothpick.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting us inside,” James said.
“You’re breaking in? How do you know how to do that?”
“My dad taught me.”
“Then your dad’s a criminal?”
?
??No, he’s a businessman.”
“Same thing,” I said.
James grinned. He fiddled with the lock until it clicked. He glanced over his shoulder and then pulled the door open. “Ladies first.”
I darted into the building. I’d gone from tour guide to accomplice in two seconds. “We can get into a lot of trouble for this.”
“For what? You’re giving me the grand tour. What are you worried about? The principal said your dad was the town’s hotshot attorney.”
“He is. But I’m probably his least favorite person in the world.”
“We won’t get caught,” James said.
Sunlight filtered in from the skylights of the Aquatics Building. The Olympic-sized swimming pool was in the center of the room. The bleachers were folded into the wall, giving the room an empty feeling.
“Don’t worry about being Homecoming Queen next year,” James said. “I already scoped out all the girls. You’ve got them beat, hands down.”
The strong smell of chlorine invaded my nose. “Um, thanks? I think. Hey, what are you doing?”
James pulled off his blazer and stepped out of his shoes. “You didn’t think we came to talk, did you? Let’s take a quick dip.”
“Absolutely not. Are you crazy?”
James raised his eyebrows. He unknotted his tie and flung it on top of his blazer. His fingers moved lightning fast over his shirt buttons. He unzipped his khakis and pulled his pants down without batting an eye.
He was only wearing boxers. I averted my eyes because I wasn’t sure if he was going to take those off, too. My cheeks grew warm.
“You can turn around. I’m not naked,” James said.
“Call me stupid, but for some reason I don’t believe you.”
I heard a splash.
“The water’s nice.”
I cautiously peeked. He wasn’t lying. He was still wearing boxers.
“Come in,” James said.
“I’m not getting in the pool.”
“Okay, okay. At least sit and talk to me. You can put your feet in.”
“I have tights on,” I said.
“So? Take them off. I won’t look.” James disappeared under the blue-green water. When he resurfaced, his back was to me.
I guess there wasn’t any harm in sitting by the edge of the pool seeing that we’d already broken into the Aquatics Building. I kicked off my heels. They echoed loudly against the concrete.
“Yes!” James said. “I knew you had it in you.”
“I’m putting my feet in. That’s it. Then we have to go. Don’t turn around.” I reached up my skirt to pull my tights down. I slipped the thin stretchy fabric off one leg. As I was about to pull the tights off my other leg, the double doors swung open.
The janitor, pushing his cleaning supply cart, squinted at us from a distance.
James swam to the edge of the pool. “Well, that didn’t go as planned.”
* * *
Spittle erupted from the side of Mrs. Pratt’s mouth. She’d been yelling at us for the past ten minutes. James and I, partners in crime, were seated side by side in chairs facing her desk. Thank goodness fourth period had already started and the halls were empty when the janitor escorted us in from the pool. I could only imagine the gossip this little incident would generate.
Mrs. Pratt folded her fat arms across her chest. “Mr. Van Curen, I’m not sure if you’re used to pulling stunts like that at your old school, but we do not tolerate that kind of behavior at Hawthorne.”
Regardless of her scolding, Mrs. Pratt didn’t look that angry at James. Her eyes drifted over him like he was a leg of lamb. I was willing to bet she was picturing him half naked.
James leaned forward in his chair. “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”
His hair was wet and dripping onto his shoulders. His face was full of remorse and he looked like he was sorry. If I didn’t know him any better, I’d believe him, too. But half a day with James Van Curen was enough to know better.
“And you, Alexandria.” A sneer spread across Mrs. Pratt’s face. “I can’t wait to give Mr. Ramsey a call. I’m sure he’ll love to hear all about this.”
I closed my eyes. Victor. That was the last person I wanted Mrs. Pratt to call. I couldn’t believe I was dumb enough to follow James into the Aquatics Building.
Mrs. Pratt pulled the phone toward her. “Taking off your tights? You should know better, especially with your upbringing.”
James in his boxers and me taking off my tights. I realized how it looked to the janitor and a new wave of embarrassment rushed over me. “It wasn’t like that, Mrs. Pratt! I was just putting my feet in the water!”
“Right,” Mrs. Pratt said. “Well, you can explain that to Victor. And why you were sent to the office twice today. Definite grounds for suspension.”
“Suspension? I didn’t do anything!”
James sat up in his chair. “Mrs. Pratt, really, it’s my fault. Alex was giving me the tour and I ran off. She didn’t have anything to do with breaking into the Aquatics Building.”
“She should have known better.” Mrs. Pratt smiled at me.
I clamped my jaws together to stop myself from saying something I’d regret.
Mrs. Pratt pulled out her Rolodex. “Let’s see. I know I have Victor Ramsey’s telephone number in here somewhere.” She leisurely flipped through the index cards.
If anyone should be in trouble, it was James. Suspension? Calling Victor? My fingernails dug into the arms of the chair. My top and bottom molars crushed against each other.
This wasn’t fair.
Mrs. Pratt dramatically pulled out the index card with Victor’s contact information. She twirled it in the air like it was a winning lottery ticket. Twin chins jiggled as she laughed. She picked up the receiver and placed the phone on her thick shoulder. Very slowly and very deliberately, she started dialing Victor’s number.
Anger coursed over my body. It rode through my veins and arteries until it reached the tips of my toes. I inhaled deeply and exhaled. My heartbeat pounded in my ears. The tips of my fingers went numb. I glared at Mrs. Pratt with as much hatred as I could muster. If looks could kill, I was trying my hardest.
A gust of wind blasted in from the open window, violently whipping the curtains in the office. Picture frames toppled over. Papers scattered onto the floor.
Mrs. Pratt’s thick neck snapped toward the window. The phone receiver dropped from her hand. “What the hell?”
She reached to shut the window, but her body froze. Her right hand flew to her left arm and her face contorted in pain.
I shot out of my chair. “Mrs. Pratt? Are you okay?”
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Drool slid down her chin. She gasped and her entire body shook with violent tremors.
Mrs. Pratt let out an ear-piercing scream. Her eyes rolled up into her head and she collapsed face forward onto her desk with a resounding thud.
Chapter Two
“She collapsed on the desk?” Sadie asked.
I nodded. I couldn’t shake the awful vision.
“I can’t believe Mrs. Pratt had a heart attack,” Sadie said. “Is she going to be okay?”
“She’ll be in the hospital for a while, but she should be back in a few weeks.” Sadie pulled into a parking spot. We were a few blocks west of the harbor. A cluster of local businesses crowded this stretch of Main Street. If you wanted to purchase anything in Hazel Cove, you had to do so here.
“Does this mean you’re not suspended?”
I placed a few coins in the meter. “For now. But when she comes back, who knows? I do know that I’m not hanging out with James again.”
Sadie smiled. “He seems like a wild child.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
“You have to admit he’s nice to look at.”
I shrugged.
Sadie stopped in her tracks.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
I followed Sadie’s gaze to a pink missing persons fl
yer stapled to a telephone pole. Megan Lackey’s senior portrait was the focal point of the flyer. She was wearing pearls and a black draped top.
Sadie frowned. “I hope they find her.”
I hoped so, too. Pink flyers covered most of the trees and telephone poles on Main Street. I didn’t personally know Megan, she went to Hazel Cove High, but I’d seen her around town. Hazel Cove was small. Everyone knew everyone else. Going missing in this town was practically unthinkable.
“Let’s try to find a costume,” Sadie said.
Kitty’s Costume Closet was filled with Halloween costumes, masks and props. The front window displays contained the winning jack-o-lanterns from the pumpkin carving contest. Fake cobwebs hung from every visible surface of the undersized shop and spooky music seeped out of hidden speakers.
I went to the back of the store where Kitty placed the new arrivals. Sadie grabbed a mermaid costume and pressed the beaded fabric against her clothes. She sucked in her cheeks. “What do you think?”
“It’s perfect.”
“Really? Do you see anything you like?”
I ran my palm along the rows of costumes. There were tons to pick from, but none seemed right.
Sadie twirled in front of the mirror. “I wonder if Emma and Victor are going to invite James and his family to the party.”
Her question caught me off guard. It hadn’t even crossed my mind.
Would Emma put them on the guest list? Did she know about them? After what happened at school today, I wasn’t sure if I wanted anything to do with James Van Curen.
* * *
I didn’t find anything at Kitty’s Costume Closet. Sadie chose the sequined mermaid costume. We even bought shells to make a necklace. I had a few weeks until the party and, hopefully, I could come up with something by then.
I was lying on my back, hanging off the edge of my bed reading The Scarlet Letter, when someone knocked on the door.
“Lex, all the blood is going to rush to your brain and that pretty little head of yours is going to explode.” Peter bit into a green apple.
“You’re going to ruin your appetite,” I said.
“I doubt it. What’s on the menu?”