Rock Bottom (8 page)

Chapter Seventeen

Coach Stabler was rifling through a filing cabinet in the corner when I stopped to knock on his open door.

“Rylie. Come in.” He moved to his desk. “Have a seat.”

I did as I was told and waited for him to say something to break the awkward tension. He appeared to be waiting for me to do the same.

“Angela mentioned you were looking for me.” This was
his
show. If I started talking first there was a good chance there would be some serious groveling involved.

“I was.” He paused and sighed. “I assume you’ve spoken with your father?”

Been spoken
to
was more like it. A conversation was evidently too much to ask for, but . . . “I have.”

“Look, Rylie, I know you and your father aren’t happy with my decision in this matter. I must admit, I’m a bit disappointed myself. But there are times when my role as coach, and even as a friend, has to take a backseat to my academic commitment to students. Even if they aren’t mine.” He folded his hands and leaned his elbows on the desktop. “I spoke with Mr. Parson. He seems to think that you could benefit from fewer . . . distractions. And I can’t say I disagree.”

This can’t be happening.

There has to be a way to make him see.

Something I can do.

I can work harder, practice harder, study harder.

I can . . .

I can’t.

Because
I’m
no longer the one in control of my future.

There was only one person who could clean up the shattered remnants of my life, and I knew what it was he wanted to make that happen.

“Coach, please. I have a plan. I’m working on a submission for
Science Weekly
. And I’m coming up with ideas for the
International Science Talent Search
—”

“That sounds like an excellent plan. And putting aside running for a couple of months will help you focus on that.”

I
was
focused. I’d always been focused. My entire life. How could it be that one bad grade was enough to wipe out years and years of straight A’s?

“I need—”

“My decision is final, Rylie. I’ve already filed the paperwork. Someday you’ll understand.”

Why did adults always think that was the end-all of explanations?
Someday you’ll understand
. Like one day I’d just hit that magical age of enlightenment and suddenly every bad, misguided decision any adult had ever made for me would suddenly make sense? Life couldn’t possibly be that simple.

It was, however, the end-all of the conversation. Dragging myself from the chair, I trudged toward the door without a word.

***

“You’ve been crying.”

Seriously?
That was
not
the first thing you wanted to say to a girl at the end of an extraordinarily long Monday.

“Gee, thanks a lot, Elijah. I look that bad?”

I headed for the nearest bathroom to check for myself, but a sharp tug on my arm brought me up short. “Stop it. You look beautiful. I can just tell. What happened?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me.”

“I can’t . . . I don’t want to think about it right now. I just want to forget for a while. Could you . . . could you help me forget?”

“Ry, sometimes forgetting isn’t the best solution. Why don’t you try talking to me?”

“Elijah, please. I can’t sleep. I can’t eat.” I’d been forced to throw my lunch in the trash after the sight of it triggered my gag reflex. “I feel like I can’t breathe. Everyone’s mad at me and I don’t know how to fix it. I don’t know how to make them happy. I don’t even know how to make
me
happy.” I started rubbing at the aching tension growing in my neck. “The constant stress and guilt—”

“You shouldn’t feel guilty.” He brushed my hands aside and dug into my tight muscles with magic fingers. “You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“But I
do
feel guilty
.
I do, and I can’t stop. I don’t know how to stop, Elijah.” I could feel my self-control slipping away along with everything else.

“Okay. Shh.” The exhaustion-fueled tears surprised me as Elijah pulled me close. “Can you come over for a little while?”

“My parents don’t get home until five-thirty.” I brushed away the tears and did a quick finger check for running mascara. I was all clear.

“Alright. We’ll go to my place for a bit. But, Ry . . . I think what you really need is some sleep.”

“I will. I’ll sleep tonight. I promise. Just help me relax a little bit.”

He didn’t look as thrilled about the prospect of having me alone in his bedroom again as I personally thought he should have, but at least he’d agreed.

“So, I was thinking about going to Rafe’s tomorrow with some of the guys . . . if you want to come.” Elijah and I stood in the parking lot, watching the slow moving string of cars making their way toward the exit. “I think Meg’s gonna be there.”

His tone implied it was unimportant, but I could tell my answer mattered to him. “Yeah. I’ll come.”

“Really?”

“Why so surprised?”

“I don’t know. I thought Rafe sort of freaked you out.”

“Maybe a little, but I want to spend time with you. Anywhere I can.” And I knew damn well they’d be smoking again.

He offered me a genuine smile that warmed me all over. “I want to spend time with you, too.”

“Then let’s go spend some time together.” I waggled my eyebrows at him like some kind of creep and climbed behind the wheel, letting him take from that what he would.

The sight of his hopeful and slightly confused face kept me laughing as I followed him all the way to his house.

At the front door I hesitated for only a fraction of a second to go inside—not sure who I might find waiting on the sofa in their undies—but Elijah noticed. He noticed everything.

“Andy’s not home,” he assured me, giving me a nudge through the door.

“Work?”

“Psh, that’ll be the day. My bet would be the bar. That and the unemployment office are just about the only two places he goes.”

“I’m sorry.”

He shrugged. “It’s life. You either roll with it or let it crush you.”

“That was kind of poetic. In a completely warped, morbid sort of way.”

Elijah laughed, leading me down the hall. “That’s me, warped and morbid.”

“And poetic. Don’t forget poetic.”

“Right, how could I forget that?”

He flopped across his mattress on his belly, reaching underneath to produce another joint. Lighting it, he passed it to me for the first toke. It was probably psychological, but I could swear I felt the calming effects almost immediately. The anger, guilt, and stress just melted away as the words evaporated from my cloudy brain.

“Now,” he took a pull and passed it back to me again. “What was that whole eyebrow thing about back at school?”

“What do you think it was about?”

“Are you screwing with me?”

I passed him the joint and flopped down beside him, noticing for the first time the camera on his dresser.

“Will you take my picture?”

“What?”

“My picture. Will you take it? With your camera. You make everything look so beautiful.”

Elijah rolled over me, brushing hair from my face and planting his lips on mine. They slowly worked their way to the corner of my mouth and then down along my jawline. Stopping to suck gently on my earlobe and flick my pulse point with his wicked tongue, he reached my ear just about the time I started to squirm beneath him.

“You don’t need me to make you look beautiful.” His whispered words sent a bolt of pleasure straight through me and I couldn’t stand it any longer.

Twisting my neck, I sought out his lips with mine. Tongues tangled and danced seductively as hands dipped beneath the fabric barriers that lay between us.

My entire body was a raging mess, and the joint had long since burned out in the ashtray by the time the slamming front door drew us back to our senses. Elijah rolled off of me, breathing hard, as I adjusted my shirt and shorts.

“Andy’s home,” he grumbled.

“Shit, what time is it?”

“Oh crap.” He tugged his cell out of his pocket and woke the display. The numbers six-thirty-seven shone back at us, cheerily announcing my imminent demise.

“Crap.” I dropped my head back against the mattress and shut my eyes.

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. Go home and figure it out, I guess.”

“Do you want me to go with you?”

“I’m not really seeing how that would help.” Elijah frowned and I instantly felt terrible. Clearly the drugs were out of my system. “Thank you for the offer, though. And for today. It was exactly what I needed.”

“Text me later if you still have your phone, okay? And if you’re having trouble sleeping, you can always call me, you know?”

“Thanks. You’re the best.” I dropped a quick kiss on his delicious lips and headed for the door, anxiety already threatening to crush me from the inside out.

“Let me walk you out.”

Elijah’s escort services ended up being unnecessary when Andy was nowhere to be seen, but appreciated nonetheless.

“Text me later?”

“Absolutely.”

“Good luck.”

I grimaced and slid behind the wheel. “Thanks.”

I was going to need more than luck to get through tonight. What I needed was an alibi. My eyes landed on the duffle bag in my backseat, filled with the stuff I cleared out of my track locker. If I could sell it, I might just have the perfect solution.

Chapter Eighteen

“What did we tell you? Home and school. That’s it. You are
grounded
!”

“I didn’t break the rules. I was at school.”

“Until seven o’clock at night? When your father hears about—”

“Where is he?”

“At work. But don’t think I won’t be telling him about this little stunt.”

Maybe Elijah had given me some luck after all because my life just got ten times easier. “No stunt, Mom. Would you just listen for a second, please? I’m trying to apologize.”

“No amount of apology is going to get you out of—”

“Not for today. For . . . earlier. You were right.” The words grated, but it was the only way I could think of to do things my way and maintain my sanity. I had to make them
think
I was still doing it theirs. “I got off track. But I’m back on it now. I know it’ll take a lot of work to get back to where I was, but that’s what I’ve been doing.”

“You were studying? This whole time? At school?”

“No. I’m gonna go study now. I talked Coach into letting me use the track. Just because I can’t compete for a few months doesn’t mean I can’t stay in shape. Get
better
. And when I come back . . . I’ll blow them all away. I’ll break that national record and every single person the scouts start looking at in my absence will disappear. They won’t be able to ignore me.”

“The national record?” She was totally buying it. For an unpracticed skill, I was pretty damn good at this lying thing. “How often are you planning these workouts for?”

“Tuesdays and Thursdays. And whenever I can squeeze in some free time in the weight room.”

“And it won’t detract from your studies?”

“Not at all. I’m going to do that right now.”

She chewed her lower lip as she scrutinized me for any sign of deception, but I held my ground.

“Alright, then. I’m glad to hear you’re back on track. We just want what’s best for you, sweetie.”

What looks best for you, you mean.
I was silently seething on the inside, but outside I maintained a perfect sugar sweet smile.

“I know, Mom.”

“Why don’t you take some dinner up with you? You need to eat. There are leftovers in the fridge.”

“Thanks.”

I scooped out some food, not even bothering to see what it was, and forewent heating it up in my mad dash to get to my room. I still couldn’t believe that had actually worked. And, yes, I felt bad about lying, I really did, but she was happy, and I was happy, and when he got home, Dad would be happy, too. Wasn’t that all that really mattered?

***

You still have your phone?
The message came in a little after nine, while I actually
was
trying to study.

I do!

Wow. Your parents really are clueless.

Actually they’re not even mad. And I bought us some time after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

How did you pull that off?

I’d planned on waiting until I could tell him face-to-face, but I couldn’t. Peeking into the hall to assure myself Mom and Dad were both downstairs, I shut the door, turned the music on my computer up, and dialed Elijah.

“Well, hello.”

“Hi!” I practically shouted at him.

His warm laugh made me smile so hard my face hurt. “So, my little miracle worker, what was this brilliant maneuver that got your parents to accept the new you, and even approve of our budding romance at least two days a week?”

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far.”

“The budding romance? Was that too far?”

“No, you idiot.” I rolled my eyes. “The rest of it. I wouldn’t say they exactly ‘approve’ or ‘accept’ anything.”

“Then what
would
you say?”

“I’d say I lied.”

“You lied?”

“I lied . . . well?”

“What, pray tell, did you lie about?”

“Pretty much everything.”

“Rylie . . ."

“I told my mom I’m going to break the national record. I was out running laps all afternoon. Exactly where I’ll be every Tuesday and Thursday from now on. She ate it up because I convinced her even the Ivy Leagues wouldn’t be able to overlook that kind of accomplishment.”

“Ry,” he groaned. “You don’t even know if you want to go to an Ivy League. And you don’t like running. What happened to making yourself happy?”

“I am making myself happy. It’s bullshit, Elijah.”

“Lying to your parents is going to make you happy?”

“Happier than having them pissed and disappointed with me twenty-four-seven.”

He sighed. It would have annoyed me if I couldn’t hear the worry behind it. “I’m not sure this is the best solution.”

“Please, Elijah, just support me on this? Please?”

I waited anxiously through his long pause, but when he spoke again I could hear the humor in his voice. “So . . . where are we really spending our Tuesdays and Thursdays?”

I said goodnight to him, grinning like a fool. I may have even swooned—just a little—when he wished me his traditional ‘sweet dreams’. Even without those dimples in play, that boy could make my head and heart do funny things.

***

After the final bell, I met up with Elijah, Meg and Liam in the gym.

“Heard you were joining us again tonight.” Liam dropped an arm casually over my shoulders until Elijah’s glare practically withered him away.

“Yay.” Meg was bouncing on her toes with excitement.

“So you joining the party tonight, or what?” Declan finally arrived and together we moved outside and around the corner of the building.

“Maybe.”

“Oh, man. Your girl’s smoking now? What are you doin’ to her, Eli?”

“Shut up, Liam.” Elijah budged between us when he started getting too close again, sending him scurrying after Meg. “You really planning to smoke tonight?”

“Why not?”

“No reason. You just usually only smoke with me.”

We’d been to a few more parties at Rafe’s house, but I’d never felt comfortable enough to relax there. Which meant neither had Elijah. If I was committed to helping Elijah keep his friends and me close at the same time that was going to have to change.

“I want to party with you guys.”

We settled beside the others in the grass alongside the building as Liam pulled out his bowl.

“Are you sure this is such a good idea? At school?” Anxiety kicked up a notched and I scanned the grounds for any sign we were about to get caught and kicked out on our butts.

“There’s the old, predictable Rylie we all know.” The tone Declan used did not imply that ‘and love’ was left out accidentally.

“Don’t be a dick, Declan.” Meg elbowed him in the gut and then passed him the bowl like some kind of peace offering.

“Do you want to go?” Elijah spoke low enough for only me to hear.

I was tempted to take him up on the offer, but I got the distinct impression that he’d seen a lot less of his friends since I’d come along, and I didn’t want to do that to him. We’d spent every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon hiding away together in his room where the supply of weed and kisses never ran out since I’d worked out our cover story nearly two months ago.

“No, I’m fine.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.” I leaned back on my arms and tilted my face into the sunlight.

“Damn you’re beautiful.”

I flushed and then suddenly remembered, “Hey, you never took my picture.”

“No. I guess we got a little . . . sidetracked.”

“We kinda did, didn’t we?”

“Yeah, we did. Not that I’m complaining.”

“Next time?”

“Sure. But only if you pose nude.”

“Elijah!”

“Kidding.” He lifted his hands and ducked away from my attempts to swat him. “I’m kidding. Unless you want to, because I’m totally game for that.”

“Just a regular portrait will be fine, thank you. Something I can actually hang on my wall or post on the computer.”

“If you insist.”

“I do.”

“So you’re one of those virtual people, huh?”

“Not really, but I go on now and then.”

“I see. And when you go on, what does your relationship status say? Are you ‘in a relationship with Elijah Prince’? Inquiring minds need to know.”

I pretended to contemplate the question for a moment before answering. “More like ‘it’s complicated’.”

The stunned look on his face was priceless. “Oh it is, is it?” In a flash, he had me pinned on the grass. “You want complicated? I’ll show you complicated.”

His fingers assaulted my belly and ribs, causing me to squirm and shriek in tickle survival mode. I had no control whatsoever over my flailing limbs.

“Keep it down, would ya?” Declan hissed at us from where they were still passing around the illegal contraband.

“Oh, chill out. They’re cute.” I grinned as Meg jumped to our defense.

Elijah withdrew his vicious attack, though, and helped me back into a sitting position. We whiled away the next few hours talking about nothing much and enjoying the feel of the sun on my skin until I needed to at least put in an appearance at home.

“So, I’ll pick you up at eleven?” Elijah leaned against the door of my car, obviously no more excited about saying goodbye—even if only for a few hours—than I was. It was official: I was addicted to that boy.

“Sounds good.”

“Okay.” He pressed a quick kiss to my lips and pulled away before away before I could take it any further.

With the promise of good times to come, I started the car and watched him watch me go in the rearview for as far as I could see.