Here Comes the Light (Cambrooke #1) (13 page)

“I did.” I whisper.

“Why are you there… picking up a college guy?” he huffs.

“Nova and Jess are.
I’m not.” I sob. “Hudson, I am alone outside. It’s dark and I am really scared.” I jump at the sound of an owl hooting. Hoping it isn’t planning on scooping down and clawing my brains out. “Please, Hudson.”

“You know what? I am not your taxi cab, so no.” The line goes dead and so does my heart. Did he just hang up on me? I look up through my wet lashes. More tears pour from my eyes
what am I going to do now? My dad would be just as mad, grant it he would come get me, but he would ground me for life when we got home.

I swipe my hand across his name.
“I didn’t know who else to call.” I say when he answers.

“Hey, Mi, what’s up?” Declan always sounds happy.

“Well I’m stranded. I need to get out of here.”

“Where is here?” he asks as I hear his truck start up.

“Indian Acres… I’m at a party and Jess and Nova won’t leave. I don’t like it here. I called Hudson first, but he won’t come get me.” I say in a rush. I am rambling, why am I rambling? I don’t ramble. “You don’t have to.” My voice cracks and I really don’t want to cry again. Declan probably thinks all I ever do is cry. “I wouldn’t expect that…”

“Hey.” He interrupts me, “slow down.”

“I’m really scared.”

“I’m on
my way. Where are you at?”

“Well, I’m not sure. I’
m outside a frat house.”

“How far from the dorms are you?”

“A block, maybe.”

“Well, Okay, I
ndian Acres isn’t that big. I’ll call you when I get there and drive around until I find you.”

“Thanks,” I say almost in tears again. It is late on Friday night and he is just dropping everything to drive an hour away to pick me up.

Declan makes the drive in a little over thirty minutes I was prepared to be her for at least an hour. “You must have flown.” I say as I climb into his truck, finally feeling safe.

“I didn’t want you sitting out on the street too long.” He replies as he pulls back onto the road.

“
I,m sorry about this.” I say.

“Sorry about what?”

“I’m sure you had better things to do than come all the way here for me.”

“Nah, just playing video
games with my brothers.” There’s an awkward pause. “So what has been going on with you?” he finally breaks the silence.

“Well other than Nova and Jess pulling me along in their search for college guys?”

“Yeah, other than that, seems like it’s been awhile since we’ve talked.” I look down at my hands in my lap; my nails painted passion pink. I am a horrible friend.

“I’m really sorry about that; I didn’t mean to blow you off.”

“No problem, just want to know how you have been.”

“I fe
el horrible.” I turn towards him. The lights from the street illuminate his face. He’s wearing a white hat tonight. He looks good in a hat.  “I haven’t had time for you and you don’t even hesitate to hop in your truck and drive an hour away to come get me.”

“It didn’t take me an hour to get here.” He laughs.

“I know.” I nudge him with my fist.

“I told you anytime you need a friend, I’m here.”

I look out the window. Why does my stomach feel warm every time he opens his mouth? “Hudson refused to come.” I huff. “I was so stupid. I thought he was going to change this time.”

“Seems crazy to me he wouldn’
t come get you.” He says matter-of-factly.

“The party was awful. T
hree guys hit on me, creepy college guys.” I pull my foot up to the seat and wrap my arm around my knee. “Nova and Jess thrive on that type of attention, but I can’t stand it.”

“You really need to come to youth with me tomorrow.” He says.

“Declan.” I lean my head back and look at him. “Not this again, please.”

“You hungry?” he asks honoring my plea to not ask me to come to church.

“No.” I slide my foot back down onto the floor.

“I’m starving.” He rubs his stomach.

“Is that all you do is eat?” I say through a giggle. “How do you stay so skinny?” I poke at his stomach.

“Hey, watch it.” He jerks aw
ay. “My tummy is tender when I’m hungry.”

“Well, I guess since you came all the way to get me we can get something to eat.
Just no monster burgers.”

“How’s pizza?” he asks pulling into a little whole in the wall
restaurant called The Pizza Shack. Shack is right.

We walk into the Pizza shack and are greeted by a girl in a red tee shirt with The Pizza Shack logo on the front, a single slice of pepperoni pizza. Her dirty blond hair is pulled back in a ponytail.

“Table for two?” she asks all bubbly.

“Yeah.” We follow her to a table there is a stage and someone on it that cannot sing. “Live entertainment.” Declan says with a smile.

“It’s karaoke night.” The waitress says as she hands us menus.

His smile widens. “Awesome!” I look at him a little funny.

“Can I get you guys a drink?” she asks.

“Water.” I nod.

“Root beer.” He smiles.

The waitress disappears and he just sits across from me and smiles wide. “What?” I ask.

“I always wanted to sing Karaoke.” He bounces in his seat.

“Not me, I prefer to be invisible myself.” I cross my arms and lean back.

“You won’t sing with me?” he sounds disappointed.

“I can’t sing.” I reply.

“You don’t have to be
able
to sing to sing karaoke that’s the point.” He laughs as he picks up a menu. “What do you like on your pizza?”

“Cheese.”
I reply.

He looks at me above the menu
, one eyebrow raised. “I know that. What else?”

“That’s it.”

He sits the menu on the table, his mouth gaping wide. “What, that isn’t pizza.”

“It is to me.” I nod.

“No pepperoni?” He shouts over the off key singer. I shake my head. “Mushrooms?” he tilts his head like it is the most absurd thing me, not liking mushroom. I wrinkle my nose at this. “Peppers, onion?”

“
Blech.”

“Sausage?” he continues like he is determined to find just one pizza topping I like.

“Nope.”

“Ham and pineapple?”

“Well I’ve never tried it, but I don’t think it sounds very good.”

When the waitress comes back he surprises me by ordering a plain cheese pizza and cheesy bread. “You could have gotten what you wanted.” I tell him.

“I never had plain cheese pizza,” he shrugs. “I’d like to try it.”

I have to laugh at this. “Why do I have the feeling you would eat anything?”

“I’ll be right back.” He says before disappearing. Okay, that was awkward. I pull out my phone and check Facebook while I wait. I contemplate switching my Facebook status to single, but since we haven’t technically broken up that may not be a good thing.  “I’m back.” He gushes as he slides into the chair across from me.

“Just checking my F
acebook.” I say holding my phone up, though I don’t know why I feel the need to explain myself to him.

“A
nything good on there?” he asks, lifting an eyebrow.

“No,” I shake my head, “everyone is out partying.” I slip my phone back into the pocket of my jeans. The current song ends and a lady
takes the microphone.

“Next up is
Deeclan.” She says Declan jumps up and jogs to the stage. He smiles as he takes the microphone.

“Yeah it’s short e there, Declan, not
Deeclan.” He corrects her with a smile. He shifts his hat so it is now sitting backwards on his head and the music starts up he begins to bob his head. I don’t know why I am suddenly embarrassed; he is the one up there not me. I watch as he starts to sing the words to Vanilla Ice’s Ice Ice Baby. I can’t help but laugh at him. I find his goofiness a little attractive.

When the song ends he bows and lifts the microphone back up. The place cheers at him. “Thank you, thank you very much.” They cheer some more. “Give it up for my good friend, Miley.” He points towards me and my face flushes as eyes turn to me. “She won’t sing because she is not Miley Cyrus. She is Miley Davis.” More cheering,
only this time it’s for me as I slide down in my chair and shoot him a scowl. He smiles and shrugs as he jogs back to me and sits down out of breath.

“What?” he says when I continue to glare at
him.

“Don’t do that again.” I say through gritted teeth.

“How can you be a cheerleader and not want anyone to look at you?”

“That is different
, I am with my friends. I know what to do when I am on the sidelines.” I huff right before the waitress places our pizza in front of us.

“Can I just say something?” she as
ks us, “I just think you’re the cutest couple I have ever seen.”

“We aren’t a couple.” I quickly correct her. “We are just friends.”

Chapter 10

“W
hat happened to you Friday night?” Nova asks as she follows behind me out of class. I tried to get out of there without anyone asking.

“I called Declan, Hudson wouldn’t come get me but Declan did.” I sigh as I smash my books against my chest.

“Wow that was really nice of him.” she gushes.

“Hey Nova, Miley.”
  A senior football player says as he walks past us looking a little too long for my comfort.

“Hi.” Nova says all giggly. I roll my eyes. “Oh Miley, I can’t believe you didn’t have any fun. It was awesome.” She gushes.

“And what is so awesome about that kind of party?” I ask.

“Hello?” she flips a hand out. “The guys.” She says like I am stupid. Right the guys who tried to molest me, yeah they were awesome. I don’t say this out loud I know this will just go over her head. Why don’t I like the same things my friends do? Is there something wrong wit
h me, I mean I’m supposed to like attention from guys, right? It isn’t like I’m married to Hudson. 

I find myself wondering
where exactly I belong, sure Declan doesn’t party but he is a Jesus freak and all that God stuff really isn’t for me either. I feel a nudge on my side bringing me out of my thoughts. Where did Nova disappear to?

“Hey.” Declan says.

“Hi,” I smile softly.

“What is all the deep
thinkin about?” he laughs.

I sigh, “I just feel so different,” I look up at him and wonder how he always seems to get me talking even when he doesn’t try. “What is wrong with me?” I ask as I pick at the spiral of my notebook still carrying it up against me like a shield.

His face goes from carefree and light to serious his eyebrows come together. “There is nothing wrong with being different, Miley.” He says.

“Then why don’t I like what my friends like?” I ask as I stop at my locker.

“Cause you’re better.” He says leaning against the locker next to mine. I toss in my History book and retrieve my Animal Farm novel for Literature.   “I really hate to bring this up, but have you talked to Hudson since Friday?”

“No why?” I ask as I shut my locker door. Declan pushes off the locker his books dangle in his hand by his leg.

“Cause he is headed this way.” He makes a smacking sound with his lips. “Well, I will see you after school.” He says trotting off right before Hudson gets to me.

“What was he doing?” Hudson growls as he glares at Declan.

“Talking to me.” I snap. “He’s my friend.” Hudson’s jaw tightens. “Did you need something?” I finally ask him.

He shoves his hands in his pockets, “What’s going on with us?” he asks. Is he even serious? I shrug. “Are we still together or are we broke up again?” His leg begins to bounce. “I don’t know what to think.”

“You left me stranded.” I poke his chest. “I was scared and alone and you didn’t come for me.” I shout. I don’t care who’s looking.

“You were the one out chasing other guys.” He comes back.

“But I wasn’t chasing guys.” My ponytail flips through the air as I shake my head. The bell announcing we are late for class chimes, but I don’t care. “My friends took me there; I didn’t want to be there.”

“Well I just thought….”