Marked (The Pack) (13 page)

He nodded and sat there staring at his melting ice cream. “I know you’re angry about the party. You should be.”

“I’m not angry about the party. You can dance with Channing. She likes you and I think she has for awhile.”

“I don’t care about Channing. That’s not what I’m talking about. Things got out of hand while we were dancing. I drank too much punch. I don’t remember everything, but I do remember pulling at your clothes. That definitely wasn’t what I intended when I asked you to dance.”

I nodded. “Yeah, the punch wasn’t so good for me either.”

He reached across the table and took my hand. “So you’re not mad at me.

“I…”

“It won’t happen again, I promise.”

I squeezed his hand and sighed, staring at our fingers locked together. “I’m not mad about that, I promise. It’s just the whole thing with Channing. Is there something between the two of you? Because, if there is, I don’t want to get in the middle of it.”

“I’m not dating Channing.”

“I get the impression she thinks if I stay out of the way she still has a chance with you.”

His teeth clenched. “She’s wrong.”

“I’m not sure that she’ll want to continue to be friends with me if you and I are spending time together.”

He pulled his hand away, frowning. “Is that what you want, to be friends with Channing?”

“I would like that.”

“More than you want to be friends with me?”

“And you want us to be friends?” I held my breath, not sure what to say or do next. I only knew something else existed inside of me where Eric was concerned. I didn’t think I’d be able to label it as friendship.

He stirred in the swirls of a now liquid cup of ice cream, his attention focused on the red plastic spoon. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but instead pressed his lips together firmly. Then in a rush he reached over, catching my hand and looking straight at me. “No, that’s not how it’s ever going to be between us.”

I jerked back slightly at the force of his words.

“I’m not sure we should do this, Eric. I feel like I’m in the wrong here.”

Leaning further across the table, he gave me a solemn look. “I promise you, Channing wouldn’t care if the situation was reversed.”

“Well, I’m not Channing.”

“Exactly, so why are you so set on being friends with her?”

I didn’t have an answer for that, not a real one. The first day I saw Channing and her friends, I felt like I needed to be part of them. I was drawn to them, even though there were things about them I didn’t even like. I couldn’t explain it, not even to myself.

I pulled my hand from his and poked the spoon in my ice cream. “I’ve been having a hard time lately, coming here, getting a new step dad.” I could have added having nightmares and wandering off in my sleep, but that wasn’t for sharing, even with Eric. “I need to have friends here. What I don’t need is Channing ready to kill me all summer because I’ve spent some time with you.”

He sat quietly, watching me. Then frowned. “I guess you’re right. Channing could make life miserable for both of us. You’re only here for a couple of months so there’s no sense in you being harassed by her all summer because of me. Now, let’s eat your ice cream because most of mine has melted.”

Before I could comment a flash of tan appeared at the end of the table. Glancing up I saw the sheriff with his arms folded across his chest.

“You’re Louise’s niece down to visit, huh?”

“I… yeah, I am.”

“Went to the day camp and her house looking for her, but she wasn’t home. Know where she might be?”

“She uh… drove over to Slidell to go to Wal-Mart to shop. She should be home soon, though.”

The sheriff glanced at Eric and frowned.

“There was another woman killed over in Mandeville last night. You kids hear anything about it?”

I shook my head, relaxing a fraction. I’d never heard of Mandeville and definitely didn’t know where it was.

“No sir, I haven’t heard anything. Was it another animal related killing?” Eric asked.

The sheriff studied him for a minute. “Yes it was. You two best be careful when you’re out and about.” He turned to me. “You and your aunt, too, especially if you’re going to be out after dark.”

‘Miller girls travel at night’
the words sing-songed in my head in Angeline’s scratchy voice.

I only nodded not trusting myself to speak.

“I’ll be going. Let your aunt know. She might want to take some precautions at the day camp.”

“Okay.”

The sheriff turned and left while I continued to stare at the table until I heard the bell over the door jangling to mark his exit.

“I better go.”

“Alright.” Eric took my hand and squeezed it. “I’m saying I agree to not ask you out or put you on the spot in front of Channing. If you feel like you two are going to be friends, I won’t try and mess that up. It’s not what I want. I promise you.”

I met his eyes and saw the dark blue had turned nearly violet again. I didn’t know what else to say, so I slid out of the booth and tried not to run from the shop. 

Chapter Fourteen

The ringing phone met me when I walked in the door. Before I could make it up the stairs, Louise shouted.

“It’s your mom.”

After the usual formalities about what they were doing in Europe and what I was doing in Lebeaux, the time had come for the important discussion. I took the portable handset to my room for privacy.

“Mom, I am having a little trouble.”

“With what?”

“I’m having nightmares and sleepwalking again.”

“Louise mentioned that.”

“But it’s worse now than when we were at home. A lot worse. She doesn‘t know about every time. And it’s been really bad.”

“In what way?”

I pulled at the blanket on my bed. I hadn’t shared this with anybody and didn’t know how exactly to say it so it didn’t sound completely ridiculous.

“I went outside the other night and walked in my sleep. I think I might not have even been dressed. I had a crazy dream about wild wolves chasing me. When I woke up there was mud everywhere in the room”

“Did you tell Louise?”

“No, and please don’t tell her. She’ll think I’m crazy. She already tried to lock me in my room once. I did tell you that, didn’t I?

“You told me. But you went outside when you were sleepwalking at home, and I’ve locked your door to keep you from doing it again. So I don’t see what the big difference is.”

“You locked my door?”

“We talked it over the night after you came back in. Don’t you remember?”

“Maybe.”

I didn’t remember, but now I didn’t want to admit it because my own mother might think I’d lost my mind.

“This is different, Mom. It’s way worse.”

“Then you have to talk to Louise.”

I opened my mouth, but couldn’t bring myself to tell her about the sheriff, the images in my head and the yellow t-shirt.

“No, she won’t understand.”

“I think she will”

“You’ve got to come home or let me go back to Chicago.”

“Being in Chicago won’t stop this. It was happening there, too.”

“But not as bad. It’s worse here. I need to go back. I’ll go to counseling, see a head doctor, whatever. Mom, it’s scary, please.”

Silence. The seconds ticked away as I held my breath. “It’s going to be fine, Alexis. You’ll stay there. Louise will help you. I’ll talk to her.”

I could hear the same strain in her voice that I felt in mine. “No, don’t tell her anything. She can’t help. I’ll deal with it.”

I punched the off button on the phone without saying good bye. The knot in my chest tightened until it spread to my throat. Whatever was happening here, the dreams, the sleepwalking, the wolves, the woman’s death all seemed to be tied to each other with a thin thread that I couldn’t see, but inside me I felt it. I couldn’t do anything about it, couldn’t stop it, didn’t know where I fit in the picture. I snatched the edge of the bedspread to swipe at the tear that slid down my face. It reminded me of the dew drop that had run down my face the other night in my dream. I shivered. Picking up the phone, I looked at it for a few seconds, then carried it downstairs. Briefly, I’d thought I might try one more plea for help from my friends in Chicago, but they’d ignored me thus far so I didn’t imagine they’d suddenly had a change of heart. Louise was right. They weren’t the kind of friends you dreamed of having, but they were the only kind I’d ever known. Maybe, they were the only kind someone like me would ever have.

In the kitchen, Louise had a pan of something cooking that made my mouth water. After returning the phone to its base, I walked to the stove and leaned over sniffing.

“What’s that?”

“It’s going to be crawfish pasta. If you want to help you can check that pasta for me.”

I got a fork from the drawer and swirled it in the boiling water.

“What did your mom say?”

“Not much.”

“You ready for her to come home.”

Desperation swept over me like a tidal wave. “Yes.” It was the only word I could force past my tight lips.

She kept stirring. “I’ll bet you are. Is it so much more boring here than in the city?”

“Just different.”

“I think you’re handling it well.”

“Really?” That wasn’t what I expected. I figured Louise thought I was a cranky, whining teenager. “Thanks. Does that mean it will be okay for me to go to Channing’s tomorrow after camp?”

Louise laughed. “I guess so.” She shook seasoning in the pan of sauce, then turned to look at me. “Be careful with those girls, Alexis. Sometimes they act before they think and I don’t want you to get mixed up in a situation you’ll have a hard time getting out of.”

I didn’t answer. Louise’s voice held a warning that was truly scary. An uneasiness settled in my middle. What would I not be able to get out of? Right now I didn’t want to know more, but the yellow t-shirt covered in red flashed in my brain.

“I went to the ice cream shop and while I was there the sheriff stopped by. He said another woman had been killed not too far from here by a pack of wild dogs.”

Louise stilled then said. “Mandeville.”

“Huh?”

“The woman was killed in Mandeville.”

“Oh, yeah, that was it.”

She turned and leaned against the counter watching me. “Did you tell him anything?”’

“What was there to tell? I don’t know anything about that. He’s weird, always staring like I did something wrong.”

“You think he believes you did something wrong?”

I dipped a fork into the pasta, captured a strand on the tines, and blew on it until it was cool enough to taste.

“This is done.” I announced and went to the sink to empty the pot in to the colander before answering her. “I have no idea what he believes.”

Turning to stir the sauce, Louise didn’t respond immediately, but then, she spun so quickly sauce dripped from the spoon onto the granite counter top.

“Did you tell him about the wolves that you keep seeing?”

I looked away from her and turned the faucet on, running water over the pasta. “No, I didn’t say anything about them.”

After several seconds I turned off the water. I studied the noodles waiting for Louise to say or do something. I glanced toward her, and she’d turned back to the stove.

“The sauce is ready.” She announced.

I let go a deep breath and went to the cabinet for plates. Neither of us mentioned the sheriff again. 

Chapter Fifteen

I changed from the grimy clothes I’d had on at day camp into a swimsuit, then pulled on a nice pair of shorts and a sleeveless button up shirt over it. Stopping in front of the mirror, I chewed my lower lip. Occasionally, I wondered why I bothered. I’d spent the past year changing myself, trying to be popular, running scared really. For what? Friends? People who hadn’t bothered to call, send a text, or an e-mail since I’d been here. When I went home Channing, Jana, and Celina, would never think of me again. Back in Chicago the whole thing would start over. It made me kind of tired thinking about it. I turned away and headed outside to the four-wheeler.

Rounding the curve by the lake, I saw Eric sitting on a jet ski that was tied off to a tree on the bank. I stopped, turned off the engine of the four-wheeler and waited. He threw his leg over the seat, splashing through the knee-deep water until he was standing next to me. He put a hand behind my head, leaned over and closed his lips over mine. My heart hammered inside me. I put my palm against his chest and could feel his beating with the same intensity. Sliding my arms around his neck, I held on as his body pressed against me, his lips and tongue on mine making me forget every decision I’d made about avoiding him. Then he pulled away and pushed a stray hair away from my face and let his hand slide along my arm.