THE SHADOWED ONYX: A DIAMOND ESTATES NOVEL (8 page)

“I can’t believe we won!” Heather slipped her bikini-clad body into the steaming water. She settled into a bucket seat in the corner of the massive hot tub as Joy draped her towel on the back of a chair.

Coach lowered her book and looked up from her chair on the hotel’s pool deck. “Hey Heather, I can absolutely believe we won. You girls played well. I saw lots of teamwork out there today.”

Heather raised a fist and bumped knuckles with Lauren.

“Joy, if there was such a thing as most valuable player, you’d totally get it for this game.” Amber shook her head like a Labrador, water droplets flinging to the deck. “That one set … what a save. And your serve was a thing of beauty.”

“Thanks. I just lucked out today.” Joy shrugged.

“Well, tomorrow I want your position.” Amber laughed.

She could have it, and the attention that came with it.

“Which brings up a really good point.” Coach raised one finger. “Remember, this was only game one. We’re on our way, but we have more work to do. Don’t lose focus now, or we’ll just hand them tomorrow’s game. Okay?” She stood up from her deck chair and stepped around the puddles toward the restroom.

Joy dipped her toes into the bubbling water then slid her legs and body down.

Amber raised one eyebrow. “So, Heather, what’s happening with you and Taylor? Because it looks like you two have gotten pretty close lately.”

Heather giggled. “That’s for me to know and you to find out.”

“Real mature.” Lauren splashed water at Heather’s face.

“Hey, don’t do that.” Heather wiped water away from her eyes and pulled clumps of hair from her mouth. “This stuff is full of gross chemicals.” She blinked and looked at Joy. “But how about you? Are you and Austin going to get back together?”

Lauren’s mouth dropped open. Her brown eyes wide with horror. “Heather!”

Joy stared at Heather. Had her teammate really just asked something that stupid? How could she? Convenient she’d waited until Coach wasn’t around.

“What?” Heather mustered up an innocent look. “Those two have had a thing for each other for like ever. She’ll forgive him.”

Don’t count on it
.

“Oh man. That was a total fail.” Heather slumped onto the bus seat after the final volleyball game of the State Championships. Well, the final one their team would play, anyway.

“I totally wanted that State banner for the gym.” Lauren sighed.

“Sure. Of course we all did. But we played a good game.” Coach walked down the aisle and chose a seat among the players. “I’m so proud of you guys. Don’t be down about your performance. You did nothing to be ashamed of.”

Sure. Except for the three serves Joy messed up. No one said it, but she knew they were thinking it. Oh, and then there was the out-of-bounds dig that cost her team the ball. And the win. What a difference a day could make. But at least they weren’t talking to her. That was a plus.

“I want to honor a player who is no longer with us. Melanie Phillips would have had a blast at this event…. She deserved to be here.”

And they probably would have won with Mel at the helm.

Coach reached down to the space in front of her seat and lifted one of the large plaques. “This was Melanie’s team plaque. I want Joy to have it, to commemorate Melanie’s forever spot on this team.”

The team broke into applause.

Joy accepted the engraved piece. It would have a spot on her wall, right beside her own. Joy traced her finger along the engraved letters on the gold metal square. How had life become so difficult? So sad?

The bus ride home was somber. The complete opposite of the ride to the State Championships. IPod playlists blared through headphones, and conversations stayed to a minimum … just the way Joy liked it.

“Talk about dropping the ball,” Stephanie Powell muttered as she passed Joy’s locker.

Joy rolled her eyes. The team statistician had been so snotty since they lost the State game.
Just ignore her
.

She came back around until she was directly in front of Joy. “You can’t win them all, I guess. Apparently even when your team is counting on you the most.”

What a jerk. Joy slammed her locker door and spun to walk away.

Steph chuckled and muttered, “Melanie would never have …”

Enough. “What was that? Got something you want to say to me?” Joy felt the rage boiling in her chest and extending out through the tips of her fingers. Must be what the Incredible Hulk felt like as his skin turned green and his clothes stretched then ripped.

Steph inched away from Joy, her face white.

“Just as I suspected. You’re nothing but a coward.” Joy jabbed a finger in her direction. “Keep your mouth shut around me. Understand?”

That’s all it took to snap Steph out of her stupor. “Who do you think you are? You going to stop me?”

“Gladly.” Joy threw her stack of books to the floor with a loud smack. She dove at Stephanie, yanking her by the hair.

“Ow!” Stephanie yelped, fingers clawing at Joy’s hands. “Get your hands off me.”

Joy gritted her teeth and threw Stephanie to the floor with a loud crash. The textbooks slid like dominoes from the impact.

Steph’s eyes grew huge, and she stared at Joy like she was some kind of stranger.

Maybe she was. Joy didn’t much care. She straddled Steph’s body and sat on her stomach then reared back a fist and prepared to let it fly.

A strong hand grabbed Joy’s in midair. “What do you think you’re doing, young lady?”

Joy looked up to a pair of steely blue eyes. Oh great. Mr. Cavanaugh. “She started it!” Joy jerked her head toward Stephanie. The fact that Joy still sat atop Steph like a bull rider probably didn’t help her elicit sympathy from the teacher.

“Physical violence is never the answer, nor allowed, no matter who provoked it. Come on. I’m taking you to the principal’s office.” Mr. Cavanaugh steered Joy down the hallway, directly into the empty office. “Have a seat. We’ll wait.”

Joy crossed her arms and stared straight ahead, unblinking. What a joke.

“What has become of you, Joy? You are so different. You used to be so happy. You were the life of the party, someone everyone could depend on for a kind word or a smile.” Mr. Cavanaugh looked at Joy, his eyes sad. “Now you’re …”—he gestured to her body—“always in black with the dark makeup. I don’t get it. Plus the things I’ve heard coming out of your mouth lately … such morbid things. Where is all this coming from? I get that grief has a powerful effect on people, but this is really extreme.”

Joy looked down at her clothing. Was it all black? Hmm. Black jeans, black T-shirt, black Converse. She hadn’t made that change on purpose. Hadn’t even noticed it really. She shrugged. “Sorry. I don’t know. I guess I’m sad. I guess I’m in mourning.” She turned a glare on him. “I mean, didn’t people used to wear black and cover mirrors and never smile while they mourned the loss of someone they loved? Don’t I deserve at least a little bit of time to get over the death of my best friend?”

Mr. Cavanaugh nodded. “Well, sure. As long as that’s what it is. But something tells me it goes deeper.”

You think?
Joy slumped down in her seat. She just wanted silence while they waited for the judge and jury to enter the courtroom. Ridiculous. She was getting busted for something that wasn’t even her fault.

The seconds ticked into minutes.

Mrs. Crosby burst into the office, panting and fanning her pink cheeks. She sank into her desk chair and unbuttoned the top button of her blouse. “I don’t know why I wear this shirt on days I know I’ll be back and forth across this school a thousand times. It’s too tight.”

Well alrighty then.

“Okay.” She exhaled and turned to Mr. Cavanagh. “What’s the deal? What happened?”

“Well,” Mr. Cavanaugh said, “maybe we should let Miss Christianson tell the story.”

Joy nodded and raised her chin. “Yeah, I’m all for it.” Finally, she’d have a chance to say her piece. Joy uncrossed her arms and leaned forward. “You know, it’s tough. It’s really hard for me right now. People are picking on me for things and, you know, saying stuff to me that … I don’t know … I don’t even know how to explain it. But Stephanie pushed my last button. I had nothing left in me to restrain myself.” Joy clenched her fists. “It was all I could do not to choke her.”

Mr. Cavanagh jerked his head back and looked at Mrs. Crosby, his eyes wide.

Oh great. Now they were going to think she needed to be committed.

Principal Crosby waited for Joy to say more.

“You guys, I don’t mean literally choke her. I just mean I came unglued. I’m human, and a lot has gone on in my life. How about cutting me some slack?”

Mrs. Crosby folded her hands under her chin and looked into Joy’s eyes. It took almost a full minute before anyone moved.

How awkward. Joy tried not to blink or look away.

Mrs. Crosby nodded. “Okay, I understand. But I have to address the fact you got physically violent with another student. You will be suspended for two days, which is minor compared to what could have happened.”

“That’s cool.” Two days off. Sounded more like a reward than a punishment.

“But because I’m reacting so minimally to your actions, I want you to meet with the guidance counselor at least once a week for the foreseeable future, to talk about how you’re doing.”

Oh great. More emoting.

“Don’t see the counseling as punishment. It’s meant to help you.” Mrs. Crosby smiled like she was proud of herself.

“Yeah, I can see that. I should tell you though, I’m already in counseling. Did you know I see a shrink every week already?”

“Well, I’m glad to hear it. I would hope so after all you’ve been through. I would really hope so. But here at school we need to make sure we’re dotting our
i
‘s and crossing our
t
‘s.”

Right. Not about Joy at all. Just taking care of business.

“There have been some changes in you we simply can’t ignore. Your personality, style”—she looked Joy over from head to toe—“demeanor, actions, self-control … mood … all of those things signal there’s something really deep going on.”

Joy jumped from her chair, knocking it to the floor. She put her hands on Mrs. Crosby’s desk. “What? Did you really just say that? You
think
there might be something deeper going on?” Joy stared her down. “Why can’t you people just let me grieve in my own way instead of pressuring me so much to be this perfect person you think I’m supposed to be? Just back off.”

Principal Crosby stood up. “The order for counseling stands. The two-day suspension stands, and I will be talking with your parents because they need to know what’s going on. I can’t ignore all of this. I hope you understand.”

“Whatever. Am I excused?”

“You’re excused, but I really want you to realize you dodged a bullet here today. If I hadn’t known you your entire life, you’d be facing some deep trouble for the way you acted in this school today.” Principal Crosby shook her head. “I’d like a little gratitude for the light punishment and some recognition we’re trying to work with you. Can you dig deep and find some?”

If it were in there, Joy would have already brought it out. “I’ll do my best.”

Whatever that meant.

J
oy’s damp hair clung to her neck in icy strips. She stretched her arms above her head and yawned, her dry lips cracking like they did when she snored with her mouth open most of the night. Lovely. She squinted to see in her dark room. It felt like morning, but where was the sun? Pulling her covers tight around her shoulders, Joy rolled to her stomach and parted the blinds at the window behind her head.

Snowy mounds covered the bottom few inches of her garden-view bedroom, and judging by the sky, it had no intention of stopping anytime soon. Just what she needed. Now she could pull the covers back over her head and hide from the world all day long. No one would notice. With Mom and Dad already off for their day of Saturday real estate showings, Joy could probably make it for the next ten glorious hours without talking to a single living soul.

Then again, a day stuck in the house was probably the last thing she should be hoping for. She threw the covers off her body. She had to do something. But what?