Spectral (11 page)

Thankful to be outside in the warm sunshine and out of the Antarctic, I headed to a lawn chair next to the kidney shaped pool. A stone waterfall splashed rhythmically at the back of the pool, and large dolphins spouted water on either side of the steps that descended into the pool.

I held my face up to the sun, thankful for its warmth, and then scrunched the tail of my shirt together, looping it up and around my bikini top. Taylor climbed the stone rocks and dove in, then swam to the side of the pool, and hoisted her elbows at the ledge to face me. She opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly averted her eyes over my shoulder, mouth gaping.

I twisted around to see Jack hopping the fence…followed closely behind by a shirtless, buff Chase.

Chapter Fourteen

After Jack explained that he and Chase had decided to play hooky from soccer practice, he jumped in the pool with Taylor. Chase sat next to me on a patio chair.

“I hope you don’t mind we just crashed the whole girl party thing,” Chase said, leaning back on his elbows. “Jack was worried about Taylor with everything going on in her life, and well, when I heard you were coming here too, I was hoping you might be happy to see me?” he asked, and then smiled hesitantly.

His tanned, golden skin glistened under the hot sun, and my eyes drifted away from his, down to his sick six-pack. At that moment I didn’t know if there was a girl on Earth that wouldn’t be happy to see
him
. Forcing my eyes back up to his denim blues, I smiled back.

“Sure, I’m happy to see you.”

Jack and Taylor were deep in conversation at the side of the pool, and Chase gestured with his head, asking if I wanted to go for a swim. I was getting hot, and Chase being half naked around me wasn’t helping, so I agreed.

Chase grabbed my wrist and pulled me up. “What about the shirt? What are you hiding under there, Maple Leaf?”

My cheeks warmed, and I tugged away with a laugh.

Diving under the water, I swam to the deep end until I could hear the gushing of the man-made waterfall. I kept swimming until I went all the way back beneath it. In that moment, I felt so free that I wished I could stay under forever. Although I sank only a couple feet below the surface, I imagined I was worlds away from all my worries. When I came up for air, I grabbed onto the rock-face at the edge of the waterfall. It was beautiful watching the bits of twirling blue mixed with white cascading down beside me.

Chase’s head popped up a few feet away. “You okay?” he asked, swimming up beside me.

I searched his face for some clue as to what he could mean and got none. “Yeah, I’m fine. Why would you ask that?” I bit the side of my lip, wondering if I should be even talking to Chase. I mean, I didn’t really know him, and I couldn’t trust anybody. Especially now.

Chase twisted around until his back pressed against the side of the pool. He spread his arms wide and held on with both hands. “Because of what Olivia did.”

Again I blushed. “How’d you know about that?”

Chase sighed. “I think pretty much the whole school knows about that, True.” He looked away and then back at me again. “I feel bad about it, too, like it’s my fault.”

“
Your
fault?”

“Well, it’s just that she zoned in on you because I like you. Olivia doesn’t know when to quit, you know? Anyway, I’m sorry, and I think I managed to clean the mess she left on your locker.”

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “
You
cleaned my locker?”

Chase inched closer to me and brushed my wet hair away from my shoulder. “Yeah, and I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time at school. I wish I could make things better for you. I’d like to try, if you’d let me.”

I smiled at him and his eyes softened.

Lifting his hand to my cheek, he rubbed the back of his fingers across it gently. Leaning in, he whispered into my ear, “I like you, True…”

His familiar scent enveloped me, taking my breath away. I opened my mouth to gasp and he placed his lips on mine, softly at first, and then hungrily, until my head spun, a burning fire growing inside me.

Roman’s face entered my mind, and I reeled with the memory of his kiss.

I pressed my hand against Chase’s chest to stop him, to push him away, but he tightened his chest muscles, dropping his arm around my waist and pulling me closer as he deepened his kiss. I let go of the rocks and pushed my hands down against his arms until he released me. Sinking below the water, I shook my head, allowing its coolness to clear my thoughts before coming back up.

After a few moments, I resurfaced and swam the couple strokes back to him. “I’m so sorry. It’s not that you’re not awesome, and cool, and everything,” I fought for the right words to try not to hurt him. Of all people, I didn’t want to hurt Chase. A part of me didn’t understand—
why can’t I just kiss him back
—
be with him
? He was amazing, sexy, and even better, he was into me. Me. The freak.

Chase sighed. “What is it then?”

I treaded water in front of him, my gut wrenching with guilt. “My life’s confusing right now, Chase, and I’m probably moving soon, and well…I kinda like someone else.”

Chase grimaced and closed his eyes a moment, groaning. “It’s that new guy, isn’t it? The one I’ve seen you with a few times?”

I nodded.

Chase frowned. “But you said you guys were just friends.”

I stretched my arm to the rocks again, grabbed ahold, and faced him. “We
are
friends. I just don’t know what else we are. It’s all very confusing. Even for me.”

“Sounds like homeboy’s the one who’s messing up, if you’re not sure. There shouldn’t be any doubt.” Chase shrugged and then smiled at me. “If you change your mind, believe me—I’d make sure you knew I wanted you. I know I’d be there for you, and I’m damn sure I’d never let you go.” He kissed my cheek softly, and leaned back.

What is wrong with you
?

Those five words rang through my head. Chase was right. Roman admitted he couldn’t be with me. But he also said he wasn’t sorry he kissed me. And whether or not he wanted to be with me, I knew that when Chase kissed me it wasn’t right, because it was Roman I thought of.

“And did you say you might be moving?” Chase screwed up his face in surprise, drawing me out of my thoughts.

“Looks like it. Dad got offered a cool new job in Sacramento,” I lied. The moment I did, my stomach twisted with guilt, and I knew I needed to get away.

Who was I kidding? I couldn’t be friends with Chase. Friends don’t lie to each other. He didn’t deserve it. I didn’t deserve him.

“I gotta go, Chase. Thanks for cleaning my locker. You rock,” I said before hopping out of the pool.

I looked over to the far side of the pool where Taylor and Jack were in the middle of a make-out session. “Tell Romeo and Juliet I had to run, will ya?”

Chase climbed out. “You want me to walk you out?”

“Nah, it’s okay, I’m good.” I waved and then turned, running into the house. My wet skin prickled into instant goose bumps when the air-conditioning hit me. Like walking into a deep-freeze. “It’s like a morgue in here,” I mumbled, rubbing my hands up and down my arms.

I ran through the kitchen, my wet feet sliding against the marble floors, heading toward the staircase. The Egyptian eyes on the sarcophagus stared down at me, but I bit my lip and took the stairs two at a time, avoiding eye contact.

I headed to the bathroom where I’d left my clothes, still upset from having hurt Chase, and noticed flickering lights at the end of the hall. They cast shadows dancing across the eerie gargoyle that sat perched like a gate-keeper, awaiting its bidding.

Someone’s voice echoed against the walls, startling me. I followed the sound to the end of the hall and hid behind the creepy statue, curiosity getting the better of me. Its wings were spread wide like a bat in flight, and its eyes were made of crimson red stones that made them look like lasers. Pressing my back to the wall, I bit down on my finger to stop from screaming. Reassuring myself the gargoyle was made of stone, regardless of how disturbing it looked, I peeked out and into the shadowy room where the voice came from.

A woman kneeled with her back to me in the center of the room surrounded by two rows of candles. I clasped my hand over my mouth, scared I would gasp aloud. A row of small, white candles dripped, creating little pools of molten wax on the floor. Behind the wall of white were a mix of red and black candles and the woman held a white satin ribbon.

Her voice rose as she chanted. “With this ribbon I plead for power, growing stronger by the hour. To make me brave when I am weak. To grant the wisdom that I seek. For access to the truths untold, and witch’s blood to soon unfold.”

“True!” Taylor’s voice called out from downstairs.

The woman twisted around, and I jerked my head back behind the gargoyle.

Snap! I’m so caught now.
I recognized Taylor’s mother from the picture on her nightstand. Her words lingered in my head.
Witch’s blood to soon unfold?
Was she a witch too, or trying to become one? Horrifying thoughts rushed in, overwhelming me. Did she know about me, or was she planning to hurt me? Aunt Eva said it was okay to be here, but that knowledge was only partially reassuring. Inching my head out, I saw she had turned away, snuffing out the candles and swiping everything into a bag.

Relieved she didn’t see me, I dashed down the hall without looking back. My heart whooshed in my ears as I reached the bathroom and dipped inside quickly. I locked the door behind me and then leaned against the counter, steadying myself.

“True?” Taylor called from behind the bathroom door a couple of minutes later.

“Uh-huh. I’m just getting changed, Tay. Gimme a minute?” I called out, keeping my voice even.

“Sure.”

I quickly changed and pulled my hair back into a ponytail, anxious to get out of there.

“Mom? What are you doing home?” I heard Taylor say. I tensed.

“Oh, hi, honey. My meeting was cancelled. I didn’t realize you were home.”

I pressed my ear to the door in case there was some comment I might miss. Did Taylor know what her mom was into, or worse, was Taylor really a witch and just not telling me? I couldn’t really blame her if that was the case, since I wasn’t exactly a wealth of information and honesty myself. But then, if Taylor knew her mom was into witchcraft, why did her mom seem to panic when she heard Taylor was home?

“True’s here,” Taylor said.

After a long pause Taylor’s mom spoke up. “That’s nice, dear. You didn’t mention she was coming. Do you girls want something to eat?” Her words came out shaky.

I took in a deep breath, hoisted my backpack on my shoulder, and then opened the door slowly. Stepping out into the hallway, I cleared my throat and said, “Hi, Mrs. Snow,” I reached my hand out to shake hers, and she grasped it firmly. She looked normal enough. Blond hair styled in a pixie cut, make-up so perfect it was as if the woman traveled around with her own stylist. Hard to believe she was the same woman I watched chanting over some ribbon a few minutes ago.

“You hungry, True?” Taylor asked.

I withdrew my hand from Mrs. Snow with a smile, and looked at Taylor. “No, thanks. I’ve really gotta get home.”

Taylor tapped me on the shoulder. “That’s why I came in. I was wondering how you planned on getting home. You took off so fast I could’ve sworn you sprouted wings or something.”

I laughed. “You were a little busy,” I said with a smirk.

Taylor giggled. “I’m just gonna give True a ride home, Mom. C-ya in a bit, kay?”

Taylor’s mom’s gaze roamed over me and then back at Taylor. “All right. Don’t be too long, I’ll order pizza.”

Pizza and witch’s blood, perhaps
?

As we walked to Taylor’s car, I suddenly felt claustrophobic. Too many things were happening at once, my life was a mess and I needed time alone to process. Taylor seemed to be better for now, jabbering on about Jack and prom night.

“Hey, Tay. You know, I think I’m gonna walk home…”

Taylor blinked dramatically at me. “Walk? But it’s like a mile away. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, seriously. Don’t worry about me. You take care of you and your mom,” I ticked my head toward the house. “I just need some air…some warm air…you know, now that I’m outta the meat locker.” I snorted. “And maybe you could hang back a few minutes before heading in, so your mom doesn’t know I’m walking and send the hounds after me.”

“Aunt Cujo?”

“Yup,” I said with a laugh, backing away toward the gate. “See ya tomorrow. Thanks for the swim.”

Taylor walked me out, pressing a button to release the gate, and I left.

Taylor’s house was on an isolated road, and in that moment, I was thankful for the quiet. A warm, swift breeze pressed against me and the leaves on the trees above me fluttered, twirling like ballerinas. The gravel crunched beneath my feet, the hot Floridian sun warmed my skin, and the colorful flowers grew wild in the fields. I should’ve enjoyed the walk and the beauty around me, but I didn’t. I couldn’t. I felt anxious. Anxious to get home. Afraid of the shadows under the trees and the unknowns behind the bushes.

Soon my feet hit the sidewalk, and the smack of my flip-flops sounded out into the silence. Then, someone screamed.

My skin prickled and the fine hairs on my arms stood on end. I twisted around to find the source of the sound, only to see a little girl giggling and screaming as her father chased her around their house, into the backyard.

I released a relieved sigh.

I seriously need to chill.

But I couldn’t
.
The mostly empty street seemed ominous, and a zing of nervous energy flowed through me. What I’d hoped to be a peaceful walk was quickly turning into paranoia. I quickened my steps, noticing several cars crossing the intersection a few blocks away. I wished I’d worn runners since running in flip-flops wasn’t the easiest task.

A man rushed out of a driveway in front of me, covered in sweat, causing me to jump and squeal. He held his hand up as if to apologize and continued running on past me. His eyes surveyed me as he went.

Everything suddenly seemed so surreal, and I felt like a dog with enhanced hearing. All the background noise I normally didn’t notice suddenly blared. The man’s footsteps slowed down behind me in the distance, until they stopped. A car engine’s whir grew increasingly louder in the distance. I twirled around to see the man stopped behind me, staring at me and talking on his cell phone. He sauntered back toward me, eye’s hollow.

The car! Find the car. They’ll help you
. I reached down, yanked off my flip-flops, and threw them at the man. Gripping the handle of my backpack, ready to whip it at him if he touched me, I fled, my feet hitting the pavement as I ran. I listened closely for the hum of the engine, focusing. Reaching the corner, I took a right and saw the car heading in my direction.