Beautifully Unnatural: A Young Adult Paranormal Boxed Set (40 page)

After McKay let us out of Trig, still no sign of Joel. Which totally blew since I’d ended on “He likes me”.

My shoulders slumped and my brain-snooping bravery was deflating. Major drag since I’d even thought up several excuses to explain why I was suddenly so touchy-feely with Joel. If he likes me: “
Wasn’t it about time we held hands
?” If he thinks of me as a friend: “
Ooops, I thought you were someone else
.” If he doesn’t like me: “
Just wanted to see if weight-lifters lotionized. Guess they don’t
.”

Those responses were golden. I couldn’t let them go to waste, could I? But, Joel was MIA. Hmmm. Julie’d texted him earlier. Maybe she knew where he was. With renewed purpose, I grabbed lunch, headed to our usual table in the cafeteria, and slid into a metal folding chair. “Hey, Julie. I don’t suppose you’ve heard from—”

“Kylie, thank goodness you’re here! I’m having serious drama. Last night, my mom gave me crap over buying my new jacket online with her credit card. She was like ‘
Three hundred dollars a month is plenty for a clothes budget. There’s no reason to go over.
’”

“Real quick, Jules, I just have to know if—”

“And I’m all, ‘
Mother, that barely buys me a t-shirt and jeans. What do you expect me to do about outerwear? Freeze?
’”

I held up a finger. “Hang on. Can you tell me if—”

“Then she goes, ‘
You get more than I spend on my own clothes and I manage a full wardrobe
.’”

My mouth clamped closed. No point in asking Julie something when she was venting. Goes to show how desperate I was for even trying. I poked my macaroni and cheese with my fork as Julie went on. Maybe Joel had ditched school.

Julie flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder. “And I’m all, ‘
Yeah, my point exactly, mother. Look at the clothes you wear. I’d be laughed out of school if I dressed like that
’. Then she had the nerve to suspend my budget until next month. Can you believe that?”

“Mmhmm.” If Joel cut class, he could be at the bowling alley right now, or the arcade, or whatever guys did with their free time.

“You’re not listening to me, are you?”

“Uh-huh.” Wait. Did I want to date a guy who skipped classes for the fun of it? I mean, if he’s that irresponsible now, how’s he gonna hold down a job later in life? I’d bet money Edmond Dantés never skipped school. Well, he was tutored inside of a prison so he was kind of stuck. But, still. If he’d had a choice, I’m sure he would’ve showed.

“Hello?” Julie leaned across the table till our faces were inches apart. “Earth to Kylie.”

“Huh? What?”

She gestured in annoyance. “I said my mom took away my clothes budget till November.”

That sounded familiar. “Why’d she do that?”

Julie scoffed. “She said that if I thought her clothes were in that much trouble, she needed the money more than me. Isn’t that totally rude?”

“I guess so.” Looking down at my second-hand jeans and ten-dollar (on sale) t-shirt reconfirmed that Julie and I had totally different priorities. My focus was studying hard to earn a scholarship for college and then get a decent paying job. Doing what? I didn’t know yet. Hopefully I’d figure that out before I got my degree.

Julie, on the other hand, was more into how she looked, guys, and, well, there wasn’t usually much else on her agenda. We probably wouldn’t be best friends if it weren’t for what happened in the fourth grade.

“Girl, you’re spacing.” Julie raised her brows.

I pushed my uneaten lunch away. “I was just thinking about when we were nine. Remember Kenny Peterson kept following me around the playground? He copied everything I did and said, even after I told him to knock it off.”

“Of course I remember. I socked him one.”

I smiled, remembering how good it had felt when Julie had stuck up for me like that. Even though Kenny had been kinda cute. Pestering aside, mind you.

“Then, I told him he’d better leave you alone or he’d be dealing with me.”

“I was so shy back then.” I sighed. “It’d taken all my guts to ask him to stop, but he wouldn’t listen.”

She laughed. “What do you mean shy back then? You’re still quiet as a mouse.”

I sat upright, feeling offended. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Don’t get mad. I’m not judging. You’re just not the outgoing type. That’s all. It’s no biggie.”

“Whatever.” Deciding to peek at Joel’s mind wasn’t even close to shy. Although Julie didn’t know about that. Quiet as a mouse. Was that really what Julie thought of me?

She pulled out a compact, checked her reflection, and then applied a fresh coat of hot pink lip-gloss. “You’ve been acting weird all day. What gives?”

I shrugged. “It’s been an odd morning.”

She pressed her lips together and then closed her compact. “Tell me about it. That lecture in McKay’s class was a snoozer.”

“Hmmm.” She didn’t get it, but there was no way I was going to tell Julie what had happened with Mark Hernandez and Mr. McDonald. Instead of shy, she’d think I’d lost it. “I also kinda wanted to talk to Joel. But, he ditched class.”

“You want to talk to Joel.” Her tone of voice said “yeah, right.” “What exactly are you planning to say? You barely got a word out to him in the parking lot this morning and I seem to remember you biting his head off at your locker just yesterday when he asked you about tutoring.”

My face flushed. I hadn’t realized she’d seen that. “So? Maybe I’d like to . . . apologize, or something.”

“Fine by me.” She shrugged lightly before glancing over my shoulder. “Here’s your chance.”

The blood drained from my face. “That’s not funny.”

She tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder and waved at someone behind me. “Hey, Joel. How was your doctor’s appointment?”

“Fine.” Joel’s deep voice sent chills over every inch of my body. “The doc released me for football practice.”

Julie hadn’t been kidding. Joel really was standing behind me. Suddenly, my head went dizzy. What did I want to do again? Oh yeah, shake his hand. But, I couldn’t remember how I was supposed to get him to do that. Hadn’t I practiced some lines? Something about lotion?

Julie twisted the straw in her diet soda. “So your ankle’s better then?”

“Yeah, it was just a sprain. Not a big deal.” He leaned against my chair, and I could feel his fingers brush my back. “How’s it going, Kylie?”

My face flushed, but I was determined to be flirty. Only problem was that my neck muscles refused to turn around to even look at him. “Uh, fine.”

Okay, not flirty. But, not hostile like yesterday and not ditching him like I accidentally did in the parking lot earlier. Cheers for improvement.

“Shawn said something happened in class this morning,” he went on. “You screamed at him or something?”

“Sh-shawn?”

“Yeah.” Joel’s voice was smooth. “He’s got first period with you. He thinks you’re mad at him, but can’t figure out why.”

Uh, oh. Shawn must be that guy who thought I was yelling “stop” at him in Chem Lab. Just my luck that he’d be one of Joel’s friends.

“Wait a minute.” Julie held her hand out. “You yelled at Shawn? Why? What’d he do?”

I bit my lip, hoping she wouldn’t haul off and sock that guy Shawn. We were juniors now, not in grade school. “I didn’t really yell at
him
.”

“What then?” Julie leaned toward me.

“Well . . . ” I grappled for a better explanation than I’d read the sub’s mind, spazzed out, and screamed. “I, uh, . . . ”

The bell rang then, signaling the end of lunch.

“ . . . have to get to class.” Lame, but what else could I say? I stuffed my lunch remains in a paper bag, swung my legs around to get up—and Joel held out a hand to help me.

I slipped my right hand into his as he pulled me to my feet.

An intense tingling sensation floated over my wrist, up my arm, and burst in my head. Shimmery images filled my mind. Joel and me, holding hands, walking toward the football field. A big blanket. The sun setting. Joel, laying on top of me. Kissing me. Taking off his clothes. Stripping off
my
clothes. Rolling around on the blanket and—

“Aagh!” I jerked my hand from Joel’s and jumped back.

“What happened?” Joel put a hand on my arm. “You okay?”

My face went red hot and I stared at him in shock. He’d been picturing me naked! And fairly accurately too, not that that’s the point. Did that mean he liked me? Wait. Was he thinking of me in the buck right now, too?

Immediately, the slideshow started again. Joel. Me. Kissing. Naked. In theory, it was kind of hot. But, knowing it was a real visual of Joel’s thoughts made me feel faint. I mean, I couldn’t even flirt right. How was I supposed to do any of
that
?

For some reason, the slideshow started a third time. I swung my head back and forth. “No! I’m not ready for this!”

“Ready for what?” Joel said.

“What did you do?” Julie’s voice sounded far away. “She’s totally wigging out.”

“I just helped her up,” he answered.

Suddenly, the images stopped. I took deep breaths, and then opened my eyes. Every student in the cafeteria had gathered around us and all eyes were staring at me.

Did. I. Just. Scream. AGAIN? My face burned, hot tears filled my eyes, and I did the only thing I could. Pushing past the small crowd, I ran out of the cafeteria.

****

Tears seared my eyes as I pushed open the door to the girls’ bathroom, shut myself in one of the stalls, and tried not to die of humiliation. I’d caused a scene. Me, Kylie Bates, had caused a scene today. Twice. That’s two more than in my entire life and two times too many.

So, Joel had been thinking of me naked. What was the big deal? He was a guy. And that must mean he likes me. So, why had I freaked out when I should’ve been savoring the moment?

Maybe I am a mouse like Julie said. Or a chicken. Or whatever’s the most scared, nervous creature out there. I banged my head against the stall door. My reputation, or lack thereof, was so ruined.

The last bell sounded. I was late for History. I’d never been late in my life. Not that I was going to class now. I couldn’t show my face at Sac Valley High after this.

The bathroom door squeaked open then. Footsteps clipped across the tile.

“Kylie?” Julie knocked on the stall door. “You in there?”

I couldn’t answer. It was too humiliating.

I heard movement, saw a sweep of blonde hair under the door. “I recognize your shoes, girl.”

“Go away.”

Bubble gum snapped. “I’m not leaving till you come out.”

“That’ll be never.” I groaned.

“Would you like me to go to your place then? Bring back your
Count of Monte Cristo
movie posters and some scotch tape so you can decorate your new home?” Another bubble popped and then giggling. “Come on. It’s just me. Now open up or I’m coming under. And it would be cruel to make me slide under the door and get my skirt dirty.”

I slid the metal bolt to the right, the door swung open, and I buried my face in my hands. “Tell me honestly, Jules. How bad was it?”

“In the caf? I’d say on a scale of one to ten—with ten being the worst—your performance was a twelve.”

“Twelve?”

Julie shrugged. “You asked for the truth.”

I dropped my hands from my face. “Does Joel think I’m a total weirdo?”

Julie shrugged. “Don’t beat yourself up. You’re just not comfortable talking to guys yet. It’s no biggie.”

I banged on the paper towel machine and it spit out a scratchy brown paper towel. “Talking to Joel wasn’t the problem.” I ran the towel under the faucet.

“Oh, really?” Julie leaned against the wall by the mirror. “Then, what was?”

I fiddled with the wet paper towel. “I c-can’t tell you. It’s too confusing.”

She raised her perfectly penciled brows. “Try me.”

I studied my best friend. Her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulder, her blue-lined eyes were wide with attention, and she’d even stopped chewing her gum.

“Well . . . ” I hesitated. I’d always told Julie everything. When I got my period. Every time I got an A. My crush on a fictional character. Joel Templeton. But, how could I tell her I had a peeping Tom brain? Would she think I was on drugs? Having a mental breakdown?

“Hello?” She waved a hand in front of my face. “Just spit it out already.”

“You’re gonna think I’m weird.”

Her mouth crept into a smile. “You’ve already crossed that line, sweetie. Half the student body just saw you wig out in the cafeteria. Now, what gives?”

Why was I hesitating? She was my best friend. That meant I was obligated to tell her. Then, she’d have to help me figure this out. “Okay, I’ll tell you. You have to keep it in the vault though.”

Her penciled brows went up as she nodded.

“This morning.” I leaned toward her, my heart pounding wildly. “This sales guy came to our front door. And you’re not gonna believe this, but when I shook his hand, I was able to read his—”

The bathroom door burst open. “You two have hall passes?”

It was Guadalupe, the patrol lady. She was in her thirties, had a pixie haircut, weathered cheeks, and a no nonsense look.

“My friend’s not feeling well,” Julie said, quickly.

That was an understatement.

Guadalupe gave me the once over and then nodded. “Okay, that’s her excuse. What’s yours?”

Julie smiled casually. “I was waiting to take her to the nurse. She just blew chunks in the toilet.”

“Thanks a lot,” I said. Why’d she have to make me the sick one? I glanced at my reflection. Pale face, sweaty forehead, glassy eyes. Oh, that’s why.

“I’ll take her.” Guadalupe put a hand on my elbow and then gave Julie a look. “You. Get to class. Now.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Julie said, rolling her eyes when Guadalupe turned away. “Feel better, Kylie. I’ll call you later.”

I nodded and let Guadalupe lead me out the door with a grip on my arm that was surely cutting off circulation. It would’ve been good to share my secret with Julie so she could reassure me I was normal. What would Guadalupe think if she knew? I glanced at her squinty eyes and figured she’d probably just give me detention.

My legs felt numb as we made our way to the nurse’s office. When we got there, the nurse gave me a glass of water, called my dad, and told me he’d pick me up right away.