Entice (12 page)

“So, it was my mom who trashed our family room?” I thought about how out of it Mom was when I found her outside. She did seem asleep. She definitely wasn’t lucid. I suppose it made sense.

Carol placed her hand over mine. “Kenzie, your mom has been wrestling with demons for years.”

“Demons? Like the devil, you mean?”

Carol laughed. “No silly, it’s an expression. It just means that she’s had a lot of issues. It’s not your fault, Kenzie. It’s just the way it is.”

“But lately, she’s just been acting so weird, Carol.” I wanted to tell her about the other day when Mom attacked me with her vicious words, but I couldn’t bring myself to. I was still so embarrassed, so ashamed by the whole thing.

“I know, and that’s what has me so worried. I just wanted to come talk to you and let you know that I’m here if you need me, honey.”

I nodded, grateful to have someone on my side.

“I still can’t believe I’m not gonna see you over Christmas break,” I whined over the phone to Isaac. The minute Carol had left, I’d called him. It always comforted me to hear his voice. “When she first told me we weren’t going I thought I’d just hop in my car and drive to you without her permission.”

“Kenz, you can’t do that.”

“I know. Grandma said the same thing. I guess there’s something in the Bible about obeying your parents or some junk.” I stuck out my bottom lip in a pout.

Isaac chuckled. “Yeah, I’ve gotten mad about that verse before too.”

“It’s just that I’ve been looking forward to seeing you so much. I miss you .”

“I miss you too. But hey, just because you’re not coming out here doesn’t mean I can’t come to you.”

My heart jumped in my chest. “Really? You would do that?”

“I would do anything to see you, Kenzie. Don’t you know that yet?”

A smile spread across my face. “When are you coming?”

“Well, nothing’s set in stone yet, but I’m saving my money. I’ll come to visit you as soon as I can.”

“Oh, Isaac, I love you so much.”

“Remember that when you’re hanging out with Tanner.”

My chest tightened at the sound of Tanner’s name coming out of Isaac’s mouth. “What do you mean?”

“You’re still hanging out with him, right?”

“Yeah. But like I told you, we’re just friends.”

“I know. I trust you. I was just teasing.” As light as he tried to sound, I heard the hint of jealousy under his words.

“So, now you’re poisoning my friends against me, huh?” Mom said the next night when she returned from work.

“No, not at all. Carol came over because she’s concerned about you.”

“And I bet you just couldn’t wait to tell her all about how awful I’m being. Don’t think by enlisting my friends to help that you’ll get to go see your boyfriend for Christmas.”

“It has nothing to do with that, Mom. I’m just worried about you, that’s all.”

“There’s no reason to worry about me, okay? I’m just fine. In fact, I’ve never been better.”

I wasn’t surprised when he showed up at my door on Saturday night. Mom was out and I’d been home alone watching TV and eating popcorn. He stood in the rain, his hair matted down to his head. Both hands were stuck in his jeans pockets, and he looked up at me sheepishly.

“You promised you wouldn’t hate me.”

“I don’t, Tanner.”

“Then why are you avoiding me?”

My face flamed. “It’s just….I don’t know. If it had been anything else, but what you shared with me has just been difficult for me to process.”

He sluiced water from his face. It was coming down in sheets now. Our house didn’t have much of an awning and he was almost completely drenched.

“Can I come in please?”

“Oh, yeah, I’m sorry.” I moved out of the doorway so he could pass.

When he got inside he shivered, rubbing his hands together.

“Can I get you something warm to drink? I think I have a couple packets of hot cocoa.”

“Yeah, that sounds great.”

“Okay, I’ll make some.” I started walking toward the kitchen.

“I’ll help.” He followed.

“It’s okay. You can sit down and get warm.”

“No way am I sitting alone in your family room with that creepy statue. I can’t believe your mom still has that in her house.”

If only he knew all the weird things going on lately.

I filled the teakettle with water and put in it on the stove. Then I reached into the cupboard and pulled out two mugs. On the counter, I found the box of hot cocoa mix. I was super grateful to find two bags inside.

“Here.” Tanner reached out his hand. I gave him the packets and he dumped the contents into the mugs.

“It’s because of what happened with you and Caleb, huh?” he asked, staring into one of the cups.

“How does everyone know about that? Was it in the school paper, or something?”

He shrugged. “You know how things spread in high school.”

The kettle whistled on the stove. I pulled it off the burner. “It’s not just Caleb.” I poured the boiling water into our mugs. Steam rose from them, warming my hand. “My mom was raped. I’m a product of that.”

Tanner’s eyes widened in surprise. “I’m so sorry.”

I put the kettle down on a cool burner on the stove. Tanner faced me, grabbing both my hands. I didn’t stop him.

“Kenzie, please look at me.”

I did. His eyes pierced into mine.

“You know me. I could never hurt someone like that.”

I yanked my hands away. “Then why did you buy the drugs?”

He shook his head. “Because I was stupid. But I didn’t think it would knock her out. The dude said it would just loosen her up. I’m not gonna lie to you, Kenzie. I did hope she’d sleep with me that night. I’d been waiting so long.”

The words made my stomach hurt.

“But,” he continued. “I wanted her consent. When she passed out, I left her alone. I promise.”

I bit my lip.

“You believe me, don’t you?”

I stared into his eyes, and saw the genuineness there. This was Tanner, the boy I’d spent almost all my time with the last couple of months. He had become my best friend. At times, he was my only friend.

“Yes, I believe you.”

He exhaled, visibly relieved.

“I also know that you’d never do that again.” I grabbed my hot chocolate off the counter, and took a sip. “I’ve done horrible things before too, Tanner.”

Tanner nodded. “That’s why I was so excited when I went to youth camp. I was so happy to learn there was a God who would love me and show me grace even after all I’d done. He has changed me, Kenzie.”

“I know. He’s changed me too.” I held my cup between both hands, letting the heat seep into my palms. Rain pelted the side of the house, streaking the windows. “Wanna go sit down? See if there’s anything on TV?” I had no desire for him to leave me alone.

“Sure.” He picked his mug off the counter and followed me into the other room. We plunked down on the couch and I picked up the remote. “Have some popcorn.” I indicated the bowl on the coffee table.

“Wow. Somebody likes popcorn. Did you eat all that yourself?”

I looked into the bowl with only a few kernels left in it and laughed. “Sorry. I thought there was more left than that.”

“Where does all the food go?” he reached out and tickled my stomach.

I giggled. “Stop.”

The front door swung open. Cold hair rushed inside. My head snapped up. It was Mom and Drake. I felt Tanner stiffen beside me.

Oh, great.

“Are we interrupting something?” Mom wore a bemused smile on her face. She wore her leopard print heels again, only this time with a skin tight red dress. Where did she even find outfits like that? Drake wore his usual black suit and trench coat.

“No, nothing,” I mumbled.

“Nice to you see you again, Tanner,” Drake said.

Tanner didn’t respond.

Mom closed the door, locking in the heat. Then she held out her hand. “Here, Drake, let me take your coat.”

He shed his coat and then came to sit on the gold love seat facing us. I shivered at his proximity. Tanner was still stiff, frozen.

I bet he regretted coming here. Why had they come back so soon?

“Baby, can I get you a drink?” Mom hollered from the kitchen. “I have some red wine.”

Drake smiled in her direction. “That sounds splendid.”

Splendid?
Who talked like that? I turned to Tanner and rolled my eyes but he didn’t crack a smile. He just continued glaring at Drake. Mom clanged around in the kitchen.

Tanner sat forward. “When are you planning to tell Ms. Smith that you’re a drug dealer?”

I was surprised by Tanner’s boldness. It didn’t frazzle Drake a bit. He kept his face calm, and even kept smiling.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, young man. Maybe you have me confused with someone else. But if I were you I would think twice before making accusations against someone.”

“I know it was you. I’m not stupid.”

Mom breezed into the room, holding a glass of ruby red liquid. “Here you are.” She glanced down at us, pursing her lips. “They’re not bothering you, are they?”

Drake grinned. “Not at all, we’re just having a conversation.”

“Good.” Mom took the seat next to him, crossing her pale legs. “So, what are you kids up to tonight? Anything fun?” She cocked an eyebrow.

“Just hanging out,” I said.

“Surely, two young people like you aren’t planning on staying in on a Saturday night,” Drake said.

I shrugged. “Nothing else to do. Besides, who wants to go out in this rain?”

“Plenty of kids do. I’m sure there’s a party going on somewhere.” Drake gave me a pointed look that made me feel funny.

What was he getting at?

“Ooh, a party. Now doesn’t that sound like fun?”

Tanner looked at my mom like she was batty. And I didn’t blame him. Since when did my mom encourage me to go to a party? She spent all last year trying to stop me. I was convinced my mom was going crazy.

“Excuse me a minute. I have to use the little girl’s room.” Mom jumped up and sashayed out of the room.

“Too bad you’re not at that big high school party tonight,” Drake said the minute my mom was out of earshot. “I know some of my friends are there, so I’ll bet it’s a wicked good time.” He cackled and it chilled me to the bone.

“What are you talking about?”

He turned to us, his face transforming before our eyes. Glancing over at Tanner, I could tell he saw it too. His eyes widened, his jaw slacked. Drake’s skin had turned reptilian and iridescent, and his eyes were glowing red.

I tried to scream but no sound came out.

“I know for a fact your old friend Haley is having a real good time. Too bad she won’t live to tell you about it.”

My stomach dropped.

“What? No. How do you know that?” Fear licked up my spine. My body felt like it was on fire. I grabbed Tanner’s arm. He was trembling.

The toilet flushed. Mom’s footsteps clicked on the linoleum. The scales vanished from Drake’s face, and the flesh returned. The whites of his eyes re-surfaced. The bathroom door clicked open.

I stood. “We have to go.”

Mom smiled. “Okay, you two have fun.”

I raced to the front door, and grabbed my tennis shoes. After tying them, Tanner and I bolted outside into the wet and cold.

“Yes, you two have fun,” Drake called out right before we closed the door. I shivered.

“Did you see that?” Tanner was still in shock.

I nodded. “Oh, believe me, I’ve seen weirder stuff than that.”

“Really?” Tanner had an awed look on his face. “I can’t wait to hear about it.”

At that moment I knew I could trust him with everything. However, there was no time. We had to get to Haley. Rain pelted me in the face, and dripped from my eyelashes. I blinked.

“Do you know who’s having a party tonight? We have to get to Haley.”

“You think what he said is true?”

“I don’t know. Sometimes demons lie. But I have to find out.”

“He’s a demon?” His face drained of all color.

I nodded. “I think so. You believe in them, right?”

“Of course, and if anyone is one it’s that dude.”

I smiled. The scent of wet asphalt filled my senses.

Tanner’s face grew serious. “Should we leave your mom alone with him?”

“We don’t have a choice. She’s chosen to be with him. I’ve warned her like a gazillion times but she doesn’t believe me. We’ll worry about her later. Do you know where Haley is?”

“I think Caleb’s having a party.”

“Great. Let’s go there.” I raced toward my car, rain dripping onto my face, arms and body.

Tanner grabbed my arm. “Are you going to be okay to go to his house?”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “I’m going to have to be. I don’t have a choice. My friend’s life is at stake.”

Cars lined the street outside Caleb’s house. Music blared. I was surprised that in a neighborhood that nice, no one complained. All the lights in Caleb’s house were on, emitting a soft yellow glow from every window. Tanner and I parked a few houses down and schlepped it in the wind and rain to get up to the front porch. By the time we got there, my shoes were covered in grass and mud and my legs were numb.

I froze when we got to the front door, a little scared about just walking in. Tanner reached out his hand and grabbed mine. I let him, grateful for the support. The door was unlocked so Tanner pushed it open.

Teeth chattering, I entered the warm house with Tanner by my side. I squeezed his hand tighter as we walked in.

The music was so loud I felt it reverberate through my body. Couples made out on the couch. Others danced in the center of the room, while a few guys seemed to be having a beer chugging contest in the kitchen. Still no sign of Haley or Ian.

A couple of girls noticed Tanner and gave him a flirty smile. Jealousy reared its ugly head. Couldn’t they see he was with someone? Come on, we were even holding hands.

Then I realized how silly I was feeling. I wasn’t together with Tanner. Other girls were free to flirt with him. Then again, these were not the girls he should be going out with anyway.

Satisfied that Haley wasn’t downstairs, we made our way upstairs. My stomach clenched on the way up. I honestly hoped we wouldn’t find her up there either. Who knew what she would be doing.