Stolen Innocents (The Shadow Series Book 2) (46 page)

“Hold on, let me get my camera out!” Bridgette yelled as she scurried to the end table to grab her camera. As Tristan came down the steps she started flicking away.

Cole looked up as Tristan began to descend the stair case. Her deep red strapless gown swayed as she moved. The dark red accentuated the flush of her cheek and the dark of her hair. He felt like he was seeing her for the first time through new eyes. They may be young, but he knew he could never love anybody more. Tristan smiled at Cole. Her blue eyes sparkled and her dark hair was styled perfectly to mask her yellowing bruises from their ordeal in the mines. Cole thought she looked stunning and had never saw her look so beautiful before.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d swear that was Catherine standing right before me,” said Jack in amazement.  “You look beautiful, honey.”

“Thanks, Dad… Hi Cole…” said Tristan reverting her attention to her date that was still awestruck and silent.

Jenna nudged Cole, “Give her the corsage!” effectively embarrassing him.

Cole smirked as his cheeks turned red.

“You look incredible,” he said to Tristan as she smiled.

“You don’t look so bad yourself.”

Cole smiled sweetly as he slipped the corsage on Tristan’s wrist.

“Okay everyone! Line up for pictures!” Bridgette yelled.

All the kids lined up first in the Morrow living room, followed by the chaperones. Tristan thought that the adults were more excited to be attending a prom than they were.

Shortly after, Blake, Natalie and Shane boarded the limo. As Cole helped Tristan inside, he noticed Jack approached him.

“Don’t worry Jack. I’ll take good care of her.”

Jack smiled sheepishly as he held out his hand. As he shook Cole’s hand firmly, he said, “You always do. Have a good time.”

Jack and Frank watched as the limo pulled off with the kids inside. Frank patted his friend hard on the back.

“You’ve come a long way, brother. Proud of ya.”

“Thanks. Now let’s go party and embarrass the kids,” Jack said with a laugh.

***

Strobe lights threatened to blind Jack as he walked into the dim gymnasium of Steeplechase Academy. A pop rock song was playing on the radio and the dance floor was crowded with students. He looked for Cole and Tristan, but assumed they were swallowed by the crowd. Shane was standing by the punchbowl chatting with a pair of blonde girls in matching dresses. Blake and Natalie stood nearby and saw the adults as they walked in.

“Oh, God. They’re here,” said Natalie as she ducked with Blake into the crowd.

“This is much nicer than our old gymnasium! Huh, Joe?!” said DiNolfo loudly.

“Yeah! This is where the rich kids go…” teased Joe.

“Rich. You’re real funny… I inherited a money pit,” scoffed Jack.

“Where are all the kids?” wondered Bridgette.

“Probably hiding from us…” laughed Frank.

“C’mon Joe, let’s dance!” said DiNolfo as she lugged Joe to the dance floor.

Cole swung Tristan around the dance floor making her dizzy. She had two left feet and Cole was only slightly better. They were having a good time though, and that’s all that they cared about.

“Let’s get some punch.”

Tristan and Cole found Shane, Blake and Natalie by the punch bowl where they were gawking at someone or something in the crowd.

“What are you looking at like that?” asked Tristan perplexed at Shane’s facial expression.

Shane had a look on his face of sheer mortification.

“Look at them!”

Tristan followed Shane’s stare towards the dance floor. Joe twirled Jenna all over the dance floor. Meanwhile Frank and Bridgette were showing off their moves in the center of the floor, clearly unafraid of the spotlight. Meanwhile, Jack had decided to take another chaperone for a spin around the dance floor. Jack twirled Edna Harrow under the strobe lights as her floral dress twirled around her. She had even put in her dentures for the occasion.

“They’re so embarrassing!” yelled Shane.

“I think it’s cute,” said Tristan.

Natalie, Shane and Blake looked at Tristan like she was nuts. Cole shrugged his shoulders and grabbed him and Tristan a cup of punch and found a place to sit down.

***

“It’s the time you’ve all been waiting for!  Time to announce this year’s Prom King and Queen. Drum roll please….” The drummer shimmied his sticks on his drum ever so slightly as Vice Principal Irwin began to read the results.

“This year’s prom king by popular vote is…. Cole Piedmonte!”

While the audience clapped, Cole looked embarrassed and mortified. Tristan urged him to go to the center of the dance floor against his greatest wish. Principle Irwin slapped a crown on Cole’s head as he glared at the crowd. Tristan couldn’t help but laugh. She knew she would never be picked for Prom Queen, and quite honestly, she didn’t want to be either. She wasn’t nearly popular or vapid enough for that role. She had a pretty good idea who was though.

“And now… the class of 2000’s prom queen is…. Trixie

O’Mara!”

The crowd cheered as Trixie rose from the table where she was holding court. She waved at everyone and sneered at Tristan.

“Don’t worry I’ll give him back,” Trixie said snidely.

“Don’t flatter yourself, Trixie. It’s just a dance.”

Cole stood in the middle of the dance floor, clearly not wanting to dance with Trixie. Tristan motioned for him to just be nice and go with the flow. It was only one dance, after all.  As the music played, Cole looked like he was being punished, while Trixie looked like she had just won the lottery. After the dance was over, Tristan joined Cole on the dance floor and laughed at how uncomfortable he looked. He eventually forgot about his discomfort though, as he and Tristan danced the night away. Two left feet and all.

Chapter              33

June 29, 2000

Morrow Manor

Fox Hollow, PA

Prom went off without a hitch and though some of the kids were embarrassed by their party animal parents, everyone had a good time. The next morning, Cole packed everyone into his father’s SUV to drive to school, since there were no other available cars. Both Jack and Cole’s vehicles were trapped in the mine, and he was definitely in the market for a new one. They only had a half day of school, and it was the last official day before graduation. Everyone was eager to hear the results of their final exams. Tommy remained at home with permission from Vice Principal Irwin since he had already finished his exams and was injured.

Tristan had never seen Shane look so nervous before.

“If I fail, will you sing at my funeral?” Shane asked Tristan somberly.

Blake quipped, “Are you sure you want that? She’s tone deaf. No… seriously… She sounds like a dying cat when she sings.”

“I do not!”

“Yeah, Tris. You really do,” admitted Cole as he laughed loudly in the driver seat.

Tristan rolled her eyes, “They won’t kill you.”

“She might,” Shane said referring to his mother.

“Aunt Bridgette is not going to kill you. Your uncle might make you paint the barn though.”

“In order to graduate you need at least a D,” reminded Cole.

“I hope I can swing that…” said Shane glumly.

Tristan shook her head at her cousin. Only time would tell if he’d be walking down the aisle tomorrow and receiving his diploma or if he’d be back for another year of classes at Steeplechase.

***

“Alright, ladies and gentlemen… The day of reckoning is upon us! I have your final exam scores….”

Students groaned loudly from their seats. Shane simply slunk his head and waited to hear his fate. Mr. Kessel read out the names and grades of the students in front of the class for all to hear.

Anderson- 86

Berk- 44

“See me after class, Eddie.”

Cosgrove- 79

D’Agostino- 95

Felton- 82

Fries- 79

Gordon- 91

Jacobson- 88

Kilpatrick- 71

“Seventy-one?!” Shane yelled as he jumped from his seat.

“Yes. Is there an issue?”

“None! Thank you!” Shane said excitedly as he hugged his teacher.

“Mr. Kilpatrick. Would you please take a seat,” said the teacher with a raised eyebrow.

“Moving on…”

Leaman – 85

Morrow, Blake- 96

Morrow, Thomas- 74

Morrow, Tristan- 99

“Nerd!” whispered Shane to his cousin. Tristan rolled her eyes.

O’Mara- 55

“See me after class, Trixie.”

Piedmonte- 100

Richards- 64

Walsh- 73

“That’s it, folks. You’re free to go.”

When Shane got out into the hallway the relief was visible on his face. He slammed his back against his locker and smiled broader than ever before.

“I really passed!”

“Nice job, bud…” Tristan said.

Cole and Blake patted him on the back.

“Thank God Tommy passed, too,” Tristan said in relief.

“C’mon let’s go home…”

***

They arrived back at Morrow Manor around noon and found all the adults in the yard. Frank was at the grill teaching Bridgette the fine art of not burning chicken, while Jack, Joe and Jenna sat at the picnic table shooting the breeze.

“So you and Edna, huh?” said Joe to Jack just before he broke out into a fit of laughter.

“I was being nice to the old bird,” said Jack getting embarrassed.

“Any chance on you settling down with a special someone anytime soon?” Joe asked Jack

“No, Joe. My heart is completely unavailable. It is still all wrapped up in Catherine. Maybe someday, but right now, definitely not. Besides, I have enough on my hands…”

“That is definitely true. Hey look who it is!” said Joe as the kids arrived.

“Classes are over!” Tristan announced happily.

“That’s awesome! I have a happy surprise to announce, too….”

“You do?!” said Jenna in surprise.

“I sure do.”

“Joe’s got secrets…” Jenna said mockingly to Bridgette.

Bridgette added, “Him and everybody else.”

“So what’s this big surprise?” Cole asked.

Joe stood up and spoke to everyone, “Well while I have everyone here, I wanted to tell you all a story.”

Everyone’s eyes focused on Joe. He was acting so peculiar.

“I’ve had a gift for one of you in my pocket for the past three weeks, trying to find the perfect time to present it. But considering the events of the past three weeks, it hasn’t been easy. So here goes…”