Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) (32 page)

After school, Miss Amaya paced back and forth in Melvin Pierson’s biology class, talking to herself, and awaiting his return. “So Melvin, has anyone asked you to the dance yet? No, no that won’t do!” she murmured, continuing to pace. “So Melvin, I like to dance, how about you? No, that’s not right either!” Turning and fixing her gaze on his desk chair, “Melvin it would be an honor if you would escort me to-”

“Miss Amaya, what are you doing?” Cat asked while staring confused from the doorway.

“Oh, nothing,” Miss Amaya quickly replied as she plopped down into Melvin’s chair.

“I guess I never realized how much you love…chairs,” Cat said jokingly.

“Oh, you saw that, huh?” she queried. Cat nodded, grinning broadly.

“So, I was just on my way to practice and I thought I’d stop by and see if Mr. Pierson needed help with anything. Where is he, anyway?”

“Haven’t the foggiest. I was here just waiting for him to return so I could-” Noticing Cat’s inquisitive look, Miss Amaya continued, “I mean, I wanted to see if he was doing okay.”

“If you see him, could you please tell him I stopped by?”

“Will do. Oh, and Cat,” Miss Amaya started as Cat began walking away, “they’ll forgive you, just give it time, dear.” Cat poked her head back into the doorway. “Your friends, they’ll forgive you.”

“How do you know my friends aren’t talking to me?”

“Call it women’s intuition,” Miss Amaya joked.

“Thanks, I needed that,” she said in a hopeful tone. “And I hope you’re right.”

Walking into the locker room Cat was immediately ambushed by Shannon. “Aren’t you like totally excited about this weekend’s swim meet? It’s going to be epic!” Cat just nodded as she looked for Duffie and Hannah over Shannon’s head. “So, hey Cat, I think I may need some pointers on my backstroke. It’s still a little wobbly, and I know that I’ll be swimming in that meet this Saturday,” Shannon rambled on. Cat looked down at her.

“I’ll give you a quick lesson before practice, okay?” she replied, watching Shannon grin from ear to ear.

“Thanks Cat, you’re like the best ever!” she squealed, grabbing Cat in a bear hug. Finally letting go, Shannon moved toward her locker. Shaking her head, Cat made her way to her locker to get suited up. “Cat! I can’t wait for our lesson!” Shannon shouted, causing Cat to turn around and look at her. Not paying attention to where she was going, Cat suddenly bumped into someone. She saw Kirsten standing in front of her.

“Oh, I’m so sorry Cat, I didn’t see you there. Please forgive me,” Kirsten said with a huge smile. She then signaled for her two lackeys to follow her out to the pool area.

“Well that was freakin’ odd. No psycho flip out like usual?” Duffie asked, coming up behind Cat.

“I know, right? It’s like she’s broken or something,” Cat replied with a laugh.
Yeah, broken indeed. Ever since Ryan did that mind control thing, Kirsten’s been uber bi-polar. One minute she’s mad at me and the next she’s my BFF. Just as long as she doesn’t remember anything from that night we’re all good,
Cat thought, watching Kirsten leave the locker room. “So, you going to the dance after the meet on Saturday?” Cat asked, turning back to Duffie.

“Nah. Got things to do. Plus, my dad has this whole rule that if Leif doesn’t go to dances or on dates, then neither can I,” she replied.

“Eww, that sucks. Kind of archaic if you ask me,” Cat remarked.

“Yeah, I guess you could say he’s a little old-fashioned,” Duffie joked. “But in all honesty though, with Leif’s
situation
lately, it’s probably for the best.”

Cat laughed. “I’m surprised he hasn’t taken the last two weeks off because of his little fan club. They’ve been trying to ask him to this dance constantly, but he amazingly manages to escape them all the time.”

“Yeah, and he’s becoming quite popular with the guys here too,” she said sarcastically.

Hannah rushed up to her locker next to theirs, her face flushed as she tried to hurry into her swimsuit. “Hey guys,” Hannah said while trying to hide her face.

“What has you so flustered?” Cat asked.

“Oh, nothing,” she replied, smiling sheepishly and fiddling with things in her locker.

“I know what that look is. That’s the look of a woman in love,” Duffie interjected. Hannah didn’t say a word as her blush deepened and her smile grew.

“Hannah? Who is it? Who’s the lucky guy?” Cat whispered excitedly.

“It’s nothing guys, really,” Hannah replied as she tucked her hair into her swim cap.

“Uh-huh,” Cat and Duffie said in unison, totally unconvinced.

“Alright ladies, let’s hit the pool!” Coach Hutchins called out into the locker room.

“Don’t think you’re out of this convo, girlie,” Cat quipped. “We’re finishing this later.” Hannah just grinned.

The doorbell rang at the Colvin residence sending Taylor rushing down the stairs. He flung open the front door. “Oh, it’s only you,” he said dryly, seeing Ryan standing there. “Cat, your date is here!” he called up the stairs. Sam and Rachel, hearing Taylor’s yell, came into the foyer to greet Ryan. As Cat descended the stairs all eyes were on her. She was dressed in a pretty little yellow cocktail dress with shoes to match.

“Wow!” Ryan said stunned. “Shall we?”

“We shall,” Cat replied. After giving hugs to everyone, she took Ryan’s arm as he led her outside.

 Julie stood next to Ryan’s car, looking pretty in a lilac-colored dress. “Hey guys, thanks for letting me tag along.”

“Of course, the more the merrier,” Cat said with a smile, but Julie could see the hurt in her eyes.

“I don’t see why those three are still giving us the cold shoulder. It’s so weird. They never used to be like this. Usually we’re all quick to forgive,” Julie commented as they piled into Ryan’s car.