April Fools (12 page)

"Sir . . . Fm very sorry . . . but as IVe told you --"

Belinda eased the phone down, her heart pounding sickeningly in her chest.

But not before hearing one last exchange.

"So he really is going to die? You're positive about that?"

"As the doctor's told you -- many times -- there's absolutely no hope. It's only a matter of waiting."

'Waiting," Adam murmured. 'Waiting, waiting, and we're still waiting. ..."

There was a click as the nurse hung up.

And then Adam made a sound -- a cry? a laitgh? -- that sent shivers through Belinda's soul.

"No more waiting," Adam whispered. 'We've waited long enough."

"All set for the picnic?" Hildy linked her arm through Belinda's as they strolled slowly across campus. Already buses were lined up to transport eager seniors to the park, and those lucky enough to have cars were heading for the student lot, volunteering rides. Hildy spotted Frank beside his own car and waved. "Is Noel picking you up, Belinda?"

"No, he's going to meet me there. He wanted to stop by the hospital this morning."

"Then come with us. You don't want to ride with the rest of the rubble."

"That's rabble." Belinda laughed. "And it's nice to know what you think about your classmates."

"Hey, Belinda -- how's the neurosis?" Frank grinned. "Any new ones we should be aware of?"

Hildy punched him on the chest and tried to look stem. "Frank -- that's enough, okay? You're really going stale on us here."

"I'll find another ride," Belinda said quickly, but Frank grabbed her arm and steered her into the backseat.

"Okay, ril do penance, I promise. Fifty lashes with Hildy's tongue -- or would you like to volunteer?"

"Oh, please --"

"Okay, I give up! You two are so touchy today!" He chmbed in and slammed his door. "I sure hope this picnic puts you in a better mood. And if you don't mind me saying so, Belinda, you look like hell."

"Thanks for the compliment," she retorted and Hildy held up her hands.

"Wait a minute here. What is happening to us? We used to get along so well --"

"Ask Miss High and Mighty," Frank grunted. "Hanging around with the wealthy set now, maybe she's too good for us --"

"Fm just a lowly tutor," Belinda reminded him. "Just one of the help."

"Yeah, well, I wish it'd help your attitude --^"

"My attitude? Look, I'm not the one who's been --"

"Just forget it, okay, BeUnda? I can't take all the craziness anymore. So let's just stay out of each other's way, and when you decide to join the human race again --"

"Stop it!" Hildy covered her ears and glared from one to the other. "Frank, just let up, okay? And Belinda, just don't listen to him." She smiled, settling back. "And then we'll all be happy. See how easy it is?"

Belinda closed her eyes and leaned her head against the car window, not speaking again until they got to the park. While Frank pulled Hildy off

to join the others, she stood there, watching all the familiar faces mingle for one of the last times. It was strange, how she'd never felt particularly close to any of them -- yet now a lump formed in her throat as she realized she'd probably never see most of them again. Suddenly she wished she'd taken the time to know them better ... to socialize more ... to make more friends. . . . And she thought of Adam, alone in the dark . . . and suddenly she wanted to tell Hildy how much she meant to her, in spite of all that had happened these last few weeks.

"You're looking pretty sentimental," a voice said gently and Noel was there beside her, smiling as if he understood.

*Well . . . you know." Belinda laughed selfconsciously and waved as Hildy yelled hello in the distance. "Senior-itis, as my mom would say."

"Is that all?"

She glanced up and shook her head slowly. "No. That's not all."

"Somehow I didn't think it was. Come on."

Noel took her hand and led her through the crowds. All around them kids were laughing and shouting, radio music blaring from loudspeakers, the air filled with the smoky fragrance of barbecue. As they followed the pathways through the park, Noel spotted a bench beside a fountain and they sat down, the noise and activity fading behind them.

"You seemed kind of upset when I got back to the house last night." Noel propped himself against

an ivy-covered wall. "You hardly said a word on the way home."

"It was Adam," Belinda admitted. And that phone call. . . .

'What happened?"

"Oh, he started acting scary again. Just saying things Uke he was trying to upset me. But it was the way he looked. The way he talked. Like he was really enjoying it."

"He probably was. Look, Belinda . . . Adam enjoys upsetting people. It gives him control over them." Noel looked thoughtful for a minute, his voice sank low. "I don't think he's had much control over his own life."

Belinda sighed. "I guess you're right. At least when my parents split up, somebody wanted me."

"Yes." His soft eyes went slowly across the path and settled on a small brown sparrow. "That's very important, isn't it? To be wanted? To be loved?"

Belinda watched him, feeling sorry somehow, but not sure why. "You've always been loved, haven't you?"

Noel thought a while. "As much as my mom's capable of loving, I guess. She doesn't love me as much as she loves herself -- or money" -- he broke into a slow grin -- "but I guess I run a close third."

Behnda laughed. "Well, does she love Fred?*'

Noel nodded, his face growing serious. "Fred's been good to her -- and to me. One thing you have to understand, Belinda -- when you've never had money -- and then you get it -- it's sort of like an

addiction. You want more and more. ..." His eyes dropped, and he stared hard at a sunspot on the bench, "and you can't ever imagine being without it again. And that" -- he roused himself and gave her a sly wink -- "explains my mother. Thank God / don't live with her."

Belinda smiled into his eyes as he took her hand. "What happened to your dad?"

"He divorced her, smart man."

"Do you still see him?"

"No, he died when I was thirteen."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. He had a happy life. Especially after he left my mother."

"Hey, you two, aren't you gonna eat?"

They looked up as Hildy appeared, her plate overflowing with food. She smiled winningly at Noel and then eased herself down onto the bench beside them.

"Isn't this great? The band's setting up now -- food and music all day long!"

"Where's Frank?" Belinda peered off into the distant crowds. "Still being a jerk?"

"Oh ..." Hildy looked uncomfortable, shrugging her shoulders. "You know Frank, he'll get over it. If you'd just . . . well. . . you know. ..."

Belinda chose to ignore the hint and stood up, brushing off the seat of her jeans. "Come on -- I guess we'd better go stand in line."

"You know, I'm really glad you volunteered for this." Hildy brightened, beaming at Noel. "She

needs someone to take care of her."

Noel grinned at Belinda's discomfiture. "She seems pretty capable to me, but I promise FU keep my eye on her."

"That's a load off my mind." Hildy smiled sweetly and Noel returned it, steering Behnda away from them and back toward the crowds.

"Interesting friends you have.'* He grinned.

"Yeah . . . well ..." Belinda shrugged apologetically. "They like to give me a hard time."

"I've noticed. You hang out a lot together?"

"All the time --" Belinda caught herself. "Well, most of the time. I try not to be a tagalong."

Noel chuckled. "I understand. You're lucky to have close friends, though. At boarding school, they all live too far away once school's out."

"And maybe we Hve too close sometimes." Belinda laughed. "We get on each other's nerves."

"Well then, it's my pleasure to rescue you."

Belinda took a deep breath and stepped back. "Noel. . . you got trapped into this today, and I'm very embarrassed about it."

"You should be," Noel said solemnly. "Just before the picnic, Frank threatened me, and I had to

come."

"Noel, I'm serious!" Belinda tried not to laugh, and Noel's arms went around her, resting lightly on her waist.

"I know you are. And so am I. I wanted to come. I wanted to be with you. Simple as that. End of discussion."

"But --"

"No arguments. Fm too hungry to argue. Let*s eat instead."

"All right . . . but be prepared for all kinds of stares and introductions," Behnda warned him.

And he was smiling down at her, and she was laughing, and suddenly she really did feel hungry . . . and happy.

Behnda couldn't believe how quickly the afternoon flew by. She couldn't even remember when she had smiled so much and laughed so hard. Today there were no worries -- only cool sunshine and the comforting joy of the people around her, and the special closeness of Noel. She was surprised at how much fun she was actually having just because he was with her -- and how he seemed to be enjoying himself just as much.

As twilight fell and the band broke up, the crowds finally began heading homeward beneath a crisp, starless sky. Belinda was out of breath from laughing as she and Noel helped score their volleyball team's winning point, and he took her hand, lifting it to his lips for a victory kiss.

"Does this mean we have to leave?" he asked, watching their teammates drift away, waving goodbye.

"No ... we could just walk around in the dark for a while till you get tired."

"Cute. Real cute. Well, just because the picnic's over doesn't mean we have to be. Know any good restaurants?"

"Still hungry?" Belinda laughed. "You are so crazy --"

"No, Adam's crazy. You and I are the sane ones, remember?"

The mention of Adam sobered her a little. They walked along side by side, and then suddenly Noel caught her close in a quick hug.

"BeUnda . . . you are really something."

She felt warm inside as he smiled down at her, his fingers brushing her hair. It seemed natural to slip her arm around his waist. . . natural that they fit together so perfectly. And then, as he slowly tilted her chin, his lips closed gently over hers.

Belinda felt lost in the breathlessness of the moment. When she opened her eyes again, Noel was watching her, a thoughtful smile on his face.

"It was all a plot," he mumbled, shaking his head. "The volleyball games, the Softball games, the dancingf not to mention all the chaperones -- all that just to keep me from kissing you -- God, BeUnda, a simple *no' would have done the trick --"

"Oh, you!" Belinda aimed a punch at his arm, but he caught her hand easily and laughed, pressing it to his lips.

"I liked that kiss," she said shyly.

"Yeah?" Noel teased and unlocked the car, giving her a shove into the front seat. "Well, if you must know, so did I."

Since Noel decided nothing would satisfy his hunger pains except Mexican food, Belinda suggested a favorite restaurant outside of town. The popular

place was overflowing with Friday night crowds. After a lengthy wait for a table, Belinda tried to concentrate on her enchiladas but was uncomfortably aware of Noel staring at her.

"Don't watch me. I can't eat if you're watching

me."

"I Hke to watch you. You look nice in this soft hght.'^

"The light's bad, and your eyes are bad. Quit looking at me."

"I don't want to quit looking at you. And as a matter of fact, I shouldn't quit looking at you, since I'm supposed to be taking care of you."

Belinda shook her head, remembering Noel's promise to Hildy. "I don't need to be taken care of. I can take care of myself."

"I'm not so sure about that." Noel grinned. His leg brushed hers under the table, and Behnda flushed, catching his wink before she looked away.

The sky was still overcast when they got back in the car. For a few moments they sat there, staring out the windshield, Belinda's head on his shoulder. The breeze was chilly and damp, and a thin fog had begun to swirl along the ground.

"I don't want to take you home," Noel said reluctantly. "It's been such a perfect day --"

"After you got roped into it," Belinda teased.

"Hey -- I thought we settled that." He tried to look stern but ended up smiling instead. "Will anyone be there at your house? I don't want to just drop you off there alone --"

"I'm always alone. It's okay."

"You*re making me feel unchivalrous. Maybe I should just stay."

"Oh. My mother would love that."

"Okay." He gave an exaggerated sigh and pulled out onto the road. "But at least let me come in and look around before I leave you there."

She nodded and sank back against him, his right arm curled protectively around her shoulder as he drove. From time to time she could feel his cheek nestled against her hair, and she closed her eyes, drifting in a safe, happy glow.

The crash snapped her forward without warning.

Blinking her eyes in confusion, she felt Noel's arm tighten around her -- heard his angry, stunned voice as he pushed her back onto her own side --

'Whoa, what the hell's this guy --"

Something rammed them from behind.

Belinda gasped and flung out her hands, grateful for the seat belt that held her in place.

'What's happening?" she cried, yet in her deepest fears she knew what was happening -- because it had happened once before --

"This guy's crazy!" Noel yelled. He sounded scared, and Belinda's own fear threatened to choke her. "Hang on -- I'm going to try and outrun him--"

Ohy God . . . ohy God . . . this time ifII be me . . . and Noel. . . .

She gasped as Noel gunned the engine, as the car shot forward, flinging her back against the seat. She tried to turn around ... to see the driver face to face. ...

The car had no headlights.

She screamed as they skidded around a curve ... slid over the foggy wetness of a one-lane bridge. The car jerked with another ram from behind. The tires screeched and the darkness was everywhere and Noel was muttering something under his breath that she couldn't make out --

They flew over a pothole -- sailed several feet into the air --