Deceptive Cadence (24 page)

“You can do that?”

"Oh, yes. Follow me."

He led me out the front door and I found myself standing in Melanie’s room. She was in the twelfth grade, with a pile of books on her desk. But she wasn’t looking at them. Instead, she sat on her bed, cutting her wrist open. By the bandage on her left arm, she had no intention of killing herself, she just wanted to cut.

I gasped and collapsed onto my knees in front of her. “Oh no! Melanie!” I tried to grab her hand to stop her, but my fingers went straight through.

“This is just a shadow,” the man said. “The only way to avoid this outcome is by you making different choices. All she wants is friends and to feel cared about. She cuts to relieve the pain of rejection by her peers.”

He waved his hand and the room changed to several years later. She must have been about twenty-two and wore more feminine attire. But she was packing her bags. She was going somewhere, and fast.

“What happened?” I asked.

“James isn’t in her life anymore,” he said. “He was the only person she believed ever cared about her, so without him, she wants to run away and start over fresh.”

I stepped over to her desk and saw a plane ticket to London Heathrow resting open on it. “She’s running clear across the world? Is there really nothing here for her? What about her parents?”

“She doesn’t want to have anything to do with them. They remind her of James.”

I watched as she zipped up her two full bags and grasped her ticket. Then, the scene changed, but we were somewhere else completely. We were back at school earlier that year. I glanced around, confused by the sudden change, and asked, “What are we looking at now?”

“This is about Geri now. This is the day you and she fought.”

Like the last time, the scene split in two so I could watch both timelines. In the first one, I saw myself holding Flynn’s hand and gazing into his eyes with a flirtatious smile. In the new one, I sat with James at the table while he drew something on my hand.

Both Geris left the main building and headed right for me. She sat beside me in the new timeline, grinning at me even though I didn’t even acknowledge her, and sighed before pulling out her food.

In the first, she paused and her face fell. Her fists clenched and she stormed over to me. “Cadence!”

I turned to her and smiled. “Hey, Geri.”

“Why . . . you . . . and . . .” She turned bright red. “I hate you! We’re over! You are the worst friend ever, you backstabbing slut! You think you’re so wonderful with your perfect blonde hair and your flirty eyes! But you’re not! You’re selfish and . . . and . . .” She shoved me. “We’re done! I did
everything
for you, and you . . .” She glanced at Flynn before pointing at my chest. “I hope you rot in hell!”

She marched away while I stared after her, gaping. Then, I said something that made me cringe with shame.

“What’s her deal? Whatever, she’ll get over it.”

The scenes froze.

I covered my face in utter horror. How could I have never seen that? How had I never known?

“Cadence.” The man took my elbow and led me over to the second timeline. I didn’t want to look, I felt so ashamed of what I’d done. I’d hurt my best friend so badly, and in my ignorance I’d never known why. I’d just grieved for her loss and wondered where it had fallen apart.

“Cadence, look.”

I shook my head. I didn’t want to see. I wanted to curl up in shame and hate myself for hurting Geri.

“Cadence.”

His stern tone made me open my eyes. Geri sat, watching me with James.

“Look at her eyes.”

I bent over to get a better look. In them, I saw devotion, love, and above all, fierce loyalty. “It wasn’t about Flynn. It was about
me
. She’d been there for me for everything, and she loved me like nothing else. The one time she’d wanted me to do the same for her, I threw it in her face and stole her chance. Her strongest trait, her loyalty, was betrayed by the one person she’d given it all to. But it was different this time, because I wanted to
be
that friend for her. I wanted to make sure it worked out so I was conscious of her feelings. It didn’t matter what happened with Flynn, as long as I was there with her.”

“Very good, Cadence.” He bowed his head. “You’re a fast learner. Geri mourned the loss of your friendship every day until you graduated. She watched you and missed you, but never dared go near you again. When she saw people turn against you, she wished she could trust you enough to support you, but she always felt a hint of justice in your loss of friends. After all, she’d learned that you weren’t a very good friend at all.”

A sob wrenched free from me as I fell to my knees beside her. How could I have been so blind? Why had I never gone to her and apologized, admitted my ignorance, and made amends? I truly was a terrible friend and I wished more than anything I could take it back.

But then again . . .

“I’ve made up for it, haven’t I?” I asked. “I did everything I could to be a good friend this time. She’ll never know what I did to hurt her, but I’ll always remember and will never do it again. She means too much to me.”

He touched my head and the scene fell dark. As light returned, I found myself kneeling in the middle of my living room on New Year’s Eve again.

“Now, sweet Cadence, what are your plans for this year?”

“I . . . I don’t know." I wiped my tears. “Eleventh grade was fairly uneventful, and the few things that were bad I’ve already eliminated by still being with Geri and not having so many boyfriends.”

“Think about where things are going for you in this timeline.” He gestured around the room. “Harper is about to venture off into the adult world, you have a second chance with Geri, you know what could happen to Melanie, and you cannot forget your continued relationship with James. Things are very different for you now, so you will need to rely entirely on your own good judgment rather than memories of what happened before.”

I examined the people in the room. “I don’t want Melanie to hurt herself, so I’ll do all I can to make sure she knows she has friends and people who care about her. Harper and Geri? I’ll still be there for them no matter what, and James . . .”

I looked into his face, my torn feelings resurfacing as Austin’s face flashed into my mind. “James I will need to resist. I need to remember Austin somehow and all he means to me so I can keep my virtue intact for him. I care about James so much, but I’m not going to marry him. I need to keep that in mind.”

“They are good goals. Now, do the best you can.”

I turned to him. “Wait!”

He paused as he rested his hand on the door frame.

“Don’t you have a name?”

He smiled. “You can call me Angel, if you like.” He nodded toward James. “Quickly, or he’ll be one very confused boy.”

I rushed over to James, resumed my position in his arms, then pressed my lips against his. As the scene reanimated, cheers arose around me as James clung onto me. From behind me, Brian muttered, “Man, I feel like someone hit me.”

TWENTY

Harper sat at her computer hitting refresh over and over. I sat on her bed, my knees shaking in nervous anticipation. She growled, then something finally popped up. I leaped to my feet and stood behind her to see her results.

“What is it?” I asked. “What do you need?”

“Shh, Cadence!” But then she gasped. “No way!”

“What, what, what?”

“I got high enough to go to UNSW! Oh my gosh, I could really get in!”

“Harper! That’s amazing!”

She grabbed her hair. “I . . . how is this even possible?”

I wrapped my arms around her neck and kissed her cheek. “Because you’re an amazing artist and you deserve it.”

The University of New South Wales was right in the heart of the city, right near where she’d met Daniel with her friends. Maybe she
was
meant to be with him. Maybe, despite a different path to get there, it was still meant to happen.

I squeezed her. “Harper, you’re going to be so happy. I just know it.”

“Thanks, Cadence.”

Mum and Dad rushed into the room to see her results, and they were just as excited as us.

The last week of the summer holidays arrived, and soon we had to go back to school. James’ parents insisted I be with them to help him learn how to maintain the car in case we ever got stuck somewhere. I changed the tire, checked the oil, refilled the wiper fluid, and checked the battery without even batting an eye.

“Wow,” John said, looking me over with a nod. “Your parents taught you well.”

I smiled at him while James huffed. “Yeah, she got her learner’s without even studying too, and she’s never once stalled a hill start. How is that even possible?”

I shrugged and bent over the car to avoid answering.

“Seriously, Cadence, sometimes you freak me out with things you seem to just
know
.”

“I don’t mean to
just know
them, I just do.”

“No, I’m fairly sure you look things up and study things you know I’m going to come across just to freak me out.”

“You sound paranoid.”

“So you don’t deny it!” He waved the oil stick in my face. “You have some kind of ninja skills so you can get to me!”

I rested my hand on my hip. “Ninja skills? Really?”

“Yeah, like that song from that album I bought
the day it came out
. You sang it like you’d known it forever! How is that even possible?”

I turned away from him. “We’ve been through this, James. I’m fairly sure it’s a remake.”

“Ah!” He shoved the oil rod back into its slot. “But I looked it up. It’s completely original! You are some kinda psychic or something.”

“James―”

“Leave the girl alone, son,” John interrupted. “You’re just jealous that she’s better with the car than you.”

James muttered under his breath as he leaned over the engine.

Movement from down the street caught my attention and I glanced up. Melanie marched our way, apparently coming back from the bus stop around the corner. I nudged James. “Hey.”

“What now? You see rainstorms coming for us this evening?”

“No. Look.”

He straightened to see over the car. “Mel? But she’s supposed to have a ride home, and not for a few more hours.”

John looked over too, and the three of us watched her approach. She came up my side of the car, and jumped when she suddenly noticed us. She flushed, seeing our eyes on her, and turned toward the house.

“Mel!” I called. “Wait.”

She swung around and glared at me. “Shut up, Cadence! Not everyone cares what you have to say. Not everyone worships the ground you walk on.”

“Melanie!” James surged toward her.

“You can shut up as well!” She shoved him. “I’m tired of your ridiculous obsession with her. She’s not that great, and she’s definitely not that pretty. She’s just got that perfect hair and those giant boobs!”

“Melanie!” John pointed at her. “You do not speak to or about people that way.”

Melanie snapped her mouth shut and ran inside, slamming the door behind her.

I moved to rush after her, but James caught my arm. “I got it. Why don’t you clean up and go help Mum in the kitchen?”

I nodded, and we went inside together. I ducked into the bathroom while he hurried into her room. The bathroom, being right next door to her room, made a perfect place to eavesdrop on their conversation. I turned on the shower, and pressed my ear against the wall.

“Melanie, talk to me,” James said.

“Go away. All you’ll do is take
her
side.”

“Mel, come on. I really wanna know what happened. It has something to do with Brian, right?”

She burst into tears. I held my breath, startled by her sudden change in emotions and desperate to hear the reason why.

“Yes,” she answered almost too quietly for me to hear. “He dumped me. He said he just wanted to be friends because he can’t feel as strongly for me as he wants. When I asked him what he meant by that, he tried to blow it off, but when I pressed him, he yelled at me and said he’s into Cadence!”

“What an idiot.”

“I know! She’s so horrible.”

“No, don’t say that about her! He’s an idiot for not seeing how great you are.”

“But even you think Cadence is better than me. I hate her! She’s so . . . so . . .” There was a long pause. “So
fake
! She pretends to be everyone’s friend so everyone loves her, but it’s totally self-serving. She just wants to be worshiped.”

“Melanie! That’s my girlfriend you’re talking about, and she’s not like that at all. She’s been nothing less than a good friend to you―”

“Yeah, so she can please
you
! So she can keep her social climbing stepping stone on the leash. She never cared about me. It’s her fault this happened. If she’d just left me alone I’d never have dated him and I would never have felt this way!” Her sobs lifted again.

My heart broke for her. She’d put herself out there, been with the guy she’d liked for a long time, only to be dumped for another girl . . . her brother’s girlfriend . . . me. My anger at Brian bubbled over for doing that to her, and I felt angry at myself for not intervening sooner.

Then James spoke. “But aren’t you glad you did put yourself out there? You went from no friends to one of the biggest groups in your grade, and now have great friends who love you to show for it. Cadence loves you, Mel, and as much as you hate her now, you really don’t want to lose your friendship with her. I’ve seen you with her and Geri, and you love being part of their little circle. Forget that loser and look at what you’ve got.”

She didn’t say anything as she continued sobbing. Then, “I don’t want to be friends with her anymore. I refuse to let her use me for her own selfish agenda. I don’t even want to see her ugly face again.”

“Geez, Mel! Well, you’re gonna have to because
I
want her around, so you’re just going to have to deal with it!”

“Get out!”

“Gladly!” He slammed the door behind him.

I stepped away from the wall, shaken and concerned. If Melanie turned her back on me, she’d have to turn her back on the rest of our friends as well, and that thought sent images of her cutting herself through my mind.

I sank onto the tile and silently cried. Stupid Brian! Why did he have to ruin everything by pining after me? I’d been with James for over a year and wasn’t even showing hints of ending it with him, so how could he think he stood a chance?

Poor Melanie. I really was the bane of her existence.

Someone tapped on the door and it cracked open. James’ head popped in and he saw me on the floor.

“James!” I jumped to my feet. “I could’ve been naked!”

He slipped in and shut the door behind him, then rushed to me. “I knew you’d be listening. I also knew you’d be sitting on the floor, crying.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“Yes, I did. I know you, and I know you care too much
not
to do those things.” He wrapped his arms around me as I cried. “Melanie’s just hurt right now. She’ll get over it. She’ll see sense and come around. It’s not your fault that idiot would think he stood a chance with you when you’re taken. It’s not your fault he couldn’t see the great thing he had right in front of him.”

“I make everything worse for her. I don’t mean to, but I do.”

“No, don’t think like that.” He stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head. “You’ve made everything so much better for her. Those things are because other people are stupid. They’re not your fault.”

I nuzzled into his chest, more grateful than ever to have him. He let me cry in his arms, his warm presence soothing my anguish. He was right, and I loved that he stood by me so firmly.

There was a tap on the door. “James?” Karen’s voice echoed into the room.

James reached across and opened the door. “It’s okay, Mum. We’re not doing anything.”

She looked at me, and seeing my tears, rushed over. “Cadence, honey.”

Her hand rested on the small of my back.

“It’s okay, Mum, really.” James nodded toward Melanie’s room. “Go talk to her. I’ve got this.”

She nodded and hurried out as James let me go. “Now, seriously, take a shower. You smell like oil and sweat.”

I giggled as he brushed the tears from my face.

Geri stood beside me in the line to enter the pool with her arms folded and her jaw clenched, absolutely livid. “I’m gonna kick his butt. What an idiot!”

“Maybe you should focus on Mel," I said. "She’s not talking to me, and she needs someone.”

“I hate drama.”

I giggled. “You love it.”

We paid and entered the pool area. Most people had already arrived, so we rushed to the tree where our group had set up. As I set down my bag and squatted to pull out my towel, Brian appeared at my side. “Hey, Cadence.”

I tried to ignore him.

“Do you need some help?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“How do you think you’ll do today?”

I huffed. “Same old, I guess.”

He snatched the sun lotion from me as I pulled it out. “I can help you with this.”

I snatched it back. “No, I’ve got Geri or James to help me.”

He leaned closer. “Hey, I don’t wanna freak you out or anything, but there’s a rumor going around that James is gonna dump you.”

My heart stopped and I froze. But then my logic kicked in. “James and I are fine. It’s just a rumor.”

He lowered his voice. “But I heard he’s done because you won’t put out.”

I threw him an icy glare, furious he would even say that. “Get away from me.”

I leaped to my feet, and rushed to the starting line to check in for the first race. I’d put my sun lotion on later. I lined up and a moment later, Flynn wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Hey, kid.”

“Hey, Flynn,” I answered flatly.

He looked into my face. “Oh man, is the rumor true? Did James dump you?”