* * *
Jason had to work the entire Fourth of July holiday, but we made plans for a date night the following Sunday, after church of course. I always met him at his house, it made it easier, but I never actually went in to see his mom—it just seemed better that way.
"Hey, there you are," Jason called as I pulled up into his driveway. My stomach did a little flip when he came racing across the hot pavement in bare feet and just mesh shorts. He jumped up on the running board.
I gave him a quick kiss. "Nice to see you too. Where are we headed?"
"Miniature golf again, but you have to promise to give me a chance."
"What fun would it be if I let you win?"
"Ahhh." He hopped onto a shady spot and opened my door. "Before we go, I want you to come inside for a minute."
"I'm not so sure that's the best idea, your mom—well, you know she's not my biggest fan."
"It'll be okay, it's important."
"I guess, but if—"
"Perfect." He held out his arm and escorted me to the backdoor. I intentionally went slowly to see if he'd let go because of the hot pavement, but he didn't, he just smiled and kept walking. By the time we reached the steps, tears were streaming down his cheeks. "Hey Mom, Izzy's here," he half gasped, obviously relieved to be off the hot pavement.
I was surprised not to see her at the sink, it seemed like she was always there when I came around. This time, she was in the family room, on the sofa, knitting. She looked up, but didn't say anything. Jason tried to steer me toward the sofa where she was sitting, but I redirected him over to the chair by the fireplace.
"I'll be right back," Jason said as he raced off up the stairs.
I folded my hands in my lap and sat quietly in the awkward silence. Jason was fumbling around in his room like he'd lost something. "I wonder what's keeping him?" I said and glanced up. It was then that I realized his mother was looking at me, and then the picture over the fireplace—not good. "Maybe I should go and see," I said as I stood.
"I'm sure he'll be along, you're a few minutes early." She returned to her knitting, but I moved to the chair closest to the kitchen just the same. A few minutes later, Jason came stumbling down the stairs. He stared at the piece of paper in his hand like he was reading something and then stuffed it in his pocket.
"Hey," he said, apologetically, "sorry about that." He glanced over at his mom. "Mom, you paying attention? This involves you too." He seemed very anxious—excited.
His mom set her knitting down and looked up with a placid expression.
"So, you know Izzy and I have been seeing each other and all, so this isn't really a big surprise, but I just wanted to make it official." He turned to me and reached down in his other pocket. "From this moment on, I live for your happiness, beside you is where I belong. For you, I'd give my last breath. You've made all my dreams come true." He pulled a ring out of his pocket.
Jason's mom and I both gasped.
"So, we're like exclusive now, okay?" he added.
I nodded and his mom sighed—definitely relieved.
Jason slid the ring on my finger and then tossed his cell phone to his mom. "Will you take a picture?" He turned and whispered to me. "That's okay, right?"
I playfully punched him. "Sure, I don't think you'll break the camera."
Jason glanced at the clutter behind us. "How about over by the fireplace?" He steered me over and before I realized where we were standing, his mom took the picture. I glanced up at the photograph of us directly over my head. We were in almost the exact same pose—definitely not good. Jason was oblivious until he looked at the photo his mom took. "How about one more, Mom. Over here might be a little better." We sidestepped away from the photo on the wall to the other side of the fireplace and his mother took another picture. "Thanks, Mom." We started toward the backdoor. "Don't wait up, we'll be late."
His mom stirred, like she was going to object.
"If that's okay with you," I added.
"You kids have a nice time."
"First stop, the sight of our first date." We hopped in his Jeep and were off.
It was so different than I remembered; it was probably the time of year—the thick underbrush, but it just wasn't the same. Then, there was the whole Derrick and Lisa thing back at the pool.
"What's up?" Jason said as we strolled along the riverbank.
"Something that happened earlier."
"Oh, don't worry about Mom. Did you see her face? I think she thought—"
"Not that."
"What then?"
"You have to promise not to say anything, I gave my word."
"Sure."
"Melanie and I were out in the woods, when we heard someone at my pool."
"You have a pool?"
I frowned. "It's just a tranquil bend in the creek, it's been a place of refuge for me—not anymore though."
"What happened?"
"Derrick and Lisa were there."
"I can see how that would pollute it for you. I don't get her, the guy's a creep."
"It's worse. They seemed to be just having fun, so Melanie and I left, but halfway back to her house, we heard Lisa scream. It was that scream."
Jason jerked away in anger and slammed his fist into a tree. "Crap! That hurt."
His hand swelled quickly, but I couldn't feel any broken bones. I wrapped my hands around his to keep the swelling from getting any worse.
"Sorry about that, it's just—well, I don't think any girl should have to face something like—" His expression suddenly went ashen.
"What? What's wrong?"
"Isn't that what I did to you? I guess I'm just as much of a creep as Derrick."
"No! It's nothing like what happened between us. Lisa didn't want to, we just couldn't. That's completely different."
"But I attacked you. The only difference I see is that you were strong enough to defend yourself."
I let go of his injured hand and then cupped his cheeks between my palms. "It's not the same." I pulled his face to mine and kissed him. "We're in love, I just wish—"
"I'm glad you stopped me, it wouldn't have been right, not like that. I would have regretted it for the rest of my life." He pulled back and changed the subject. "Is Lisa okay?"
"She got away."
"You mean you got her away."
"Yes, we got to her before—well before he could hurt her. She's not who she pretends to be, you know?"
"I kind of figured that when she let me borrow the lights for our big night." He pointed to the wires in the tree above us. "Why does she act like that?"
"I think she thinks that's the way she's supposed to act in her position."
"Her position?"
"You know, Miss Popularity, Cheer Captain, it's just a mask, like her makeup."
"Now that's funny. Okay, not so funny. You want to go somewhere else?"
"Sure, although I'm thinking miniature golf might be out." I looked down at his hand that was already starting to bruise.
"How about pizza? We could get some ice for my hand."
"Sure, pizza it is."
Jason let me drive since steering and shifting gears required two hands. The pizza place was crowded for Sunday night, but we found a table in the corner. We'd just ordered when someone walked up to the table.
"Hey."
I looked up. "Oh, hey Lisa."
"She tell you she saved my life?"
"No," Jason said, "no, she didn't."
"I got lost in the woods—God only knows why I was in the woods in the first place—not really the outdoorsy type you know. Anyway, she helped me get my bearings and find my way home."
"Guess you were lucky she was out hiking," Jason said.
"Sure was, I won't forget it. See ya round." Lisa walked away and then sat down at a table with a few other girls from school.
"Why'd you talk to her?" One of the girls asked.
"She's okay."
"If you say so. Was that a ring on her finger?"
&n
bsp; "That was pretty cool," Jason said, bringing my focus back to our table.
"Yeah, she didn't have to do that." I leaned forward and kissed him. "Where were we?"
"So, you like the ring?"
"It's beautiful. Did you write what you said when you gave it to me?"
His face turned red. "That obvious?"
"I saw you look at a piece of paper in your hand. It was beautiful, I just wondered if you wrote it."
"It's actually bits and pieces from the lyrics of a couple of songs I like. Songs that remind me of you and how you make me feel. I hope that doesn't take away from what I said."
"No, absolutely not. You put a lot of effort into it. No wonder you make me feel special. I love you."
"And I love you."
Although I was pretty sure I'd regret it, I nibbled on a piece of pizza. I passed on the soda; I just couldn't stomach that again. We hung out at the pizza place until almost closing. He left the waitress a nice tip since we occupied one of her tables the entire night and she was nice enough to keep bringing him ice for his hand. We headed out to the Jeep.
"Ahh," I cringed when we got outside.
"The pizza?" Jason asked.
"The sirens."
"What—oh, there they are. Wow, sounds like the whole department's going out on this one."
Moments later the first of four engines sped past. I covered my ears, but it really didn't help all that much. Finally the last one faded in the distance.
"Want to see where they're going?" Jason suggested.
"Sure, I guess."
Jason hopped in the passengers seat and I climbed in behind the wheel. I pulled out and headed after the trucks. Once we got through town, I turned south on Route 67.
"Look there," Jason said, pointing to the tower light at the top of Lambs Knoll. "You can see smoke in the light. You don't think—"
I slammed on the brakes and veered toward the side of the road. Up ahead, I could see the flickering light of a large group of headlights.
"Why'd you—" Jason stopped midsentence when he saw the rows of headlights begin to crest the hill.
"Hold on," I said as I trounced on the gas and we took off through the weeds toward the edge of the woods.
"Kill the lights," Jason yelled.
I was out of the Jeep almost before it stopped. "Jason, you think you can drive?"
"Sure, no problem, I'll manage."
"Wait here until they're gone and then go straight home." I glanced up toward Lambs Knoll. "I have to know—"
"Go, go, make sure she's safe. I'll wait up for you."
"Thank you for understanding." I leaned in and kissed him and then raced off toward Melanie's. I stopped a short distance away to make sure the motorcycles past Jason, but once they were clear I wasted no time. I did a loop past the house just to make sure Melanie wasn't there, but then headed straight for her house. I'd gone less than two miles when we crossed paths.
"Oh, thank goodness," Melanie said and wrapped me in an embrace. I thought—"
"Me too." I hugged her.
"Is Jason okay?"
"Yes, I left him in the edge of the woods. The bikers didn't see him and kept going. I told him he should go straight home when it was safe."
"That's good."
"They burned down the house, like in Georgia. What do we do now?" I asked.
"We have to stay together and I think we better stay close to Jason. They're here to destroy more than just our house."
"You think they're after us?"
Melanie's face reflected the same fear I felt.
"I can't believe my entire existence is gone, consumed by fire just like my human life."
"I'm so sorry." Melanie tried to cradle my cheek, but I turned away. "Did you sense any of our kind?" she asked.
"No, I don't think so—no, I'm sure, I would have noticed like before."
"Before?"
"I thought I was being followed before, but I haven't noticed anything for a longtime."
"Then why? How'd the bikers know?"
"We should go, I don't like leaving Jason alone. The bikers were headed toward town, his house is in that direction."
"Which way?" Melanie asked.
"West toward Sharpsburg and then we'll follow the river to his house. This way."
The run to Jason's was agonizingly slow even at our pace. Finally we arrived at the small clearing behind his house. Jason had all the exterior lights on, including the floodlights that shown through the backyard toward the creek.
"Wait," Melanie said, grabbing my shoulder as I started up the bank. "We need a plan."
"No!" I slapped her hand away. "All I need is to know is that he's safe."
"Look," she said, pointing to the driveway, "his Jeep. Look, look there, at the window."
Sure enough, Jason stepped in front of the kitchen window and peered out into the darkness.
"Okay, he's safe," I agreed. "What now?" Neither of us had any idea what to do. On the one hand, it seemed we should lead them away from Jason, but on the other, it seemed unlikely that Benjamin would intentionally let them get this close to us without a warning. Did that mean the unthinkable had happened?
"Mom, I'm going out to check the trashcans, sounds like the raccoon is back."
"Be careful, those things can have rabies."
"I will, I've got my bat."
Melanie and I both looked toward the house as the backdoor banged closed and Jason started to walk down the steps. He obviously wasn't thinking to clearly, he was wearing a pair of mesh shorts and a white tank top.
"Oh be still my lonely heart," Melanie teased.
"Not the best time for that," I replied.
"Sorry."
"Evenin', ladies," Jason said when he got to the top of the bank. "I'm glad to see you're both okay. So what's the plan?"
"We don't have one," I said.
"That's a tough one." Jason started pacing back and forth with the bat over his shoulder.
I glanced over at Melanie. She fanned her face with her hand and mouthed, "Oh my."
"That's not going to help," I scolded.
"What's that?" Jason asked.
"Nothing," I leered at Melanie. Suddenly there was a noise downstream. Melanie and I both moved simultaneously between Jason and the sound.
"Company?" Jason ventured, bringing the bat down from his shoulder to rest the barrel in his other hand.
"Nathan!" Melanie squealed, splashing through the water and then jumping into his outstretched arms.
"Elizabeth?" I peered into the darkness as two more silhouettes took form. "And Benjamin!" Tink appeared out of the shadows behind them.
"Ahh," Jason said holding out his arms, "nothing like a bonfire to bring the family together."