The Curse: Touch of Eternity (The Curse series) (3 page)

I was annoyed. Screw the nachos, I thought.

I got up and started walking home. Silver Lake was pretty close-by, just a few blocks from school, past the hospital where Mom worked

I was about halfway there when Ryan caught up with me. Sure, he lived in the same neighborhood, but we hardly ever crossed paths. And he was still in his football jersey, so I was confused. Had he come after me? That seemed unlikely. I was wearing my favorite Levi’s 501s, which were a bit worn and frayed at the hem, my gray Converse sneakers, and my mom’s old Nirvana shirt. Not exactly the most alluring ensemble.

“Hi, Sam.”

“Uh… hey, Ryan.”

Even an exchange this mundane would rate high on Kim’s Ryan Scale, but I stared at the sidewalk, hoping that aliens would come down and take me away.

“I saw you at practice,” Ryan said.

Man, his voice was sexy.

“Um… yeah. I was keeping Kim company.”

“That’s what she said. She also said that you’re both coming to the beach.”

“If she said it, then it must be so.”

What was with me? Why was I suddenly spouting philosophy? I had no idea what Ryan wanted from me. I truly did not want to spend time with him; I always felt like an idiot around him. I could hardly wait to get to the next corner when I would turn onto my street and Ryan could go along his merry way. We walked silently next to each other until I crossed the street.

“Bye,” I mumbled.

“Bye! See you on Saturday,” called Ryan. “I’ll see you there!”

I almost stumbled. Do not turn around, I told myself. I felt like he was looking at my back as I walked away, but since when was Ryan interested in me?

When I got home, I went into the kitchen and threw my backpack in the corner. My mom was waiting for me.

“I went to help Kim with the school paper,” I said, explaining why I was late.

“It’s OK. I just wanted to talk to you about something.”

Mom took a plate out of the cabinet and loaded it with lasagna. She put it on the table, with a fork and a glass of water. I started to eat, but—ow!—the lasagna was piping hot. There was hot oil hiding underneath the melted cheese. Swearing under my breath, I gulped down almost all of my water.

“What did you want to talk about?” I mumbled as I tried to examine the roof of my mouth with my tongue.

Mom shook her head and made some soft clucking sounds. I burned my mouth all the time. I just wasn’t capable of eating slowly. She set a whole bottle of water next to me and started washing the pans in the sink.

“Uncle Eddie called yesterday and asked if Ashley could visit us for a couple of weeks this summer. What do you think of that?”

I swallowed and gave her a strong, hard stare. She shrugged and turned back to the dishes.

“That’s what I thought. But your dad thinks it’s a great idea. Ashley’s going to come right at the beginning of the summer, since Eddie has a tour to finish then. I’m not sure how long she’ll stay. It’ll probably depend on the weather. She loves the lake, you know.”

Oh, I knew. Ashley is my cousin from Illinois. Her father, Eddie, is a truck driver who seems to always be away on long-haul tours across the Yukon. Her mom died in an accident seven years before, so Ashley had been with us a lot since then. Although we were both the same age, we didn’t really have much in common, and I wasn’t psyched about her coming to visit.

I pushed the plate away and got up, stopping at the window to look out at the lakefront, which stretched right up to our garden. Silver Lake really was beautiful.

When I was still small, my dad and I built a wooden pier so that we could jump off it into the water, and to have a place to tie up our boat. I had happy memories of us sitting there together, letting our feet dangle into the lake. But since last summer, I didn’t like the pier as much.

Ashley had spent the month of June with us, and within a week, half the boys in town were in love with her—if love is the right word. Including Ryan. He’d been glued to her side the entire summer. One evening after I’d said good night, they went for a walk alone and then headed for the pier together, where they did God-knows-what. When Ashley came
into the room we had to share, I pretended to be asleep. I couldn’t say what annoyed me more: that she sucked up so much of the town’s attention or that she had ruined my pier.

The thought that that terrible summer might repeat itself was depressing. And I was pissed that my parents had made the decision without me.

“Great. Sounds just great!” I grabbed my bag and stormed up to my room.

I felt quite content with the loud bang that reverberated through the house when I slammed the door. I turned my music way up and dropped onto the bed. I couldn’t believe I’d have to welcome Ashley for her magnificent comeback. And just when Ryan seemed to have noticed me for the first time. Oh well, I thought, who cares about them?

As I raked around in my backpack looking for my homework, I came upon Grandma’s red book.

I’m usually pretty tidy, but my bag is the exception—it’s ruled by anarchy. I thought I’d put the diary, or whatever this leather book was, onto my bookshelf, but apparently I hadn’t.

I leafed through it. Each page was filled with beautiful old-fashioned handwriting—tight, perfect, curvy shapes. I figured I’d have plenty of time to read through it on summer evenings, while dodging the Ashley-Ryan lovefest.

Then I remembered my real find. The necklace.

I tried to recall where I’d left it. I rummaged through the hamper in the bathroom until I found the pants I’d been wearing in Grandma’s attic. Phew, the necklace was there, in the pocket. I pulled it out and went back into my room. Twisting and turning the pendant under my desk lamp, I could now see that there was something written on
the front above the arrows. The elegant writing was so delicate it was hardly visible.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t read all the letters. I brushed my fingers over the old words, and suddenly the pendant radiated a strong heat—so strong that I almost dropped it. The feeling disappeared as suddenly as it had come. I wondered whether I had only imagined it. But I could have sworn that the metal had almost scorched my hand. No, scorching wasn’t the right word; it hadn’t hurt. It was more of a very intense, good feeling—warm, like sitting in front of a campfire. I shook my head to sort my thoughts.

I slid my fingers over the letters again, bracing myself, but nothing happened.

Well, of course nothing happened, silly, I told myself. It was a piece of silver on an old chain! Still, I couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

My phone rang.

“Sam! Do you know what just happened?”

It was Kim, of course.

“What?”

“You won’t believe this. Justin Summers kissed me!”

“Justin?”

“After you left—and way to say good-bye, by the way—Ryan left in a hurry. And then all of a sudden, I was standing there alone with Justin.”

“Ryan’s best friend?”

“Yes… You don’t sound like you’re happy for me.”

It was obvious that Kim was disappointed with my commentary, so I quickly changed my approach.

“No, it’s great. Of course I’m happy for you! I just don’t quite understand what actually happened. Start at the beginning.”

“We were just standing around talking, and suddenly Justin looked really shy. Then he said he thought it was very sad that I was so into Ryan. And I was totally confused. But before I could say anything, he leaned down and kissed me.”

“Whoa!”

“I know, unbelievable! But you know what’s weird? I always thought he was kind of cute.”

Kim was speaking so fast that I had difficulty picking up everything. I hadn’t seen her this excited since we visited that candy factory in fifth grade.

“And, oh my God, he was a good kisser!”

“What about Ryan?” I asked.

“Well… it turns out Ryan is in love with someone else.” Kim could no longer hold back. She almost shrieked as she burst out, “And that someone is you!”

I almost dropped the phone.

“Me?”

“Well, that’s what Justin said, and he’s Ryan’s best friend.”

“Oh, Kim. I am so sorry.” I felt awful about this development. “I would never try to take him from you. I swear, I’m not interested in him!”

“Nah, it’s cool. He’d probably never be into me. Anyway, he had his chance, right? You should totally go for him.”

My thoughts were jumping all over the place. I didn’t know if I was happy or not.

“Well, anyway, that’s so cool about you and Justin,” I said. “I’m really happy for you.”

“Thanks! I’d better go now. I need to text Justin and make sure he’s coming to the beach party.”

“Kim, wait—”

But she had already hung up.

I grimaced. Now I wanted to go to the stupid party even less.

Music was booming across the beach and a roaring bonfire threw a red glow toward the sky. Tiki torches lined the wide arc of the shore. Kim was grinning like a Cheshire cat. I could barely keep myself from frowning.

“I don’t understand why I have to come with you,” I groused. “You’re going to be meeting up with Justin anyway. Do you think I really want to sit around watching you two make out?”

Kim laughed. “Oh, come on, it looks like a good party. And Ryan will be here.”

I made a face and shrugged. I had a plan: I’d drop Kim off, and then I’d leave.

Justin and Ryan walked in together, carrying an enormous cooler between them. Their arms flexed, and I have to admit, even I noticed. Kim jabbed me in the ribs with her elbow.

“They’re here! God, I don’t believe it—the two cutest guys at our school, and they want to be with us!”

I didn’t really think it was so unbelievable—they’d probably been with all the other girls. We were the only ones left.

“Kim!” Justin bounded over to his newest conquest and wrapped his arms around her. She melted in his arms.

“Hey, Sam,” Ryan said. “It’s cool about those two, huh?”

“Yeah, cool,” I said as I tried to wander away.

I didn’t know what on earth I should talk to Ryan about, but he didn’t seem concerned. He grabbed my hand and pulled me down to sit in the sand.

“I was thinking,” he said, “maybe we should leave the two of them alone. Want to go for a walk?”

“Why would anyone go to a party if they’d rather be alone? I’ll just stay here, thanks.”

My rudeness seemed to annoy Ryan, and he got up and walked back to the rest of the group.

Why was it always so complicated with boys? I liked Ryan, but it just didn’t make sense that he would seriously like me. I certainly didn’t want to be the one everyone laughed at later on.

I watched as he opened a bottle of beer with his friends. Then Lisa turned up and got a beer, too. Kim and Justin were dancing, and every few seconds they kissed.

I was in a really bad mood. OK, well, what if Ryan really had been serious, I thought. Wouldn’t he just leave Lisa and come to me?

“Sam?”

Ryan’s voice brought me back to reality. Oh.

“Here, I brought you something to drink.”

He handed me a beer and sat down close to me.

“Thanks.”

I took a small sip. I hated beer—I wasn’t a big fan of alcohol. Still, I was nervous, so I drank half the bottle.

“Are you going to spend the whole night sitting way over here?” His voice was soft, and he put his hand on mine, stroking it with his thumb.

“What do you care?” I didn’t know why I was being so rude.

“Why do I care? I like you. It’s that simple.”

I pulled my hand back. “And when exactly did you decide that? At practice, when you had your arms wrapped around Lisa? Or last summer, when you were sleeping with my cousin?”

Wow, it must have been the beer talking. I was being awful. Ryan got up and brushed the sand off his jeans. “I think the two of us need to talk.”

He took my hand and helped me up, pulling me behind him until we were quite a distance past the torches.

“What’s your problem?” he said. “I tell you I’m into you, and you start being mean.”

“Please excuse me for not reacting appropriately to your passionate confession.”

“I know you like me, too. What I don’t understand is why you won’t admit it.”

“You’re awfully full of yourself!” I pulled away and stormed back the way we had come. I hadn’t gone far when he caught up.