Anywhere But Here (17 page)

 
"Yeah, well, who the hell cares what people around here think about me?  I told you the truth and I told Damon when he was in here earlier and that's all that matters," I said as a fit of anger hit me followed by a dose of anxiety.  "Um, you do believe me, don't you?"

 
"Of course I do," he said, his face falling while his other hand cupped my cheek.  "You know I do."

 
My heart lightened as a true smile burst out on my face.  "Good.  Now get your drink and get the hell out of here so I can get my work done."

 
He chuckled, his eyes crinkling in the corners.  He grabbed a raspberry sports drink in one hand and laced his fingers through mine with the other, jerking me toward the counter.  I tried not to think about how comfortable it was having my hand enclosed in his and how heartening it was to have someone willing to go to bat for me should I need it.  I didn't, though - I could and would handle things myself.  But it was still a nice feeling.

 
"So, Damon told you what everyone is saying, huh?" he asked as we wound around a display of ice scrapers to where Isaiah waited patiently by the register.

 
"Yeah, sort of," I said.  I wrestled my hand from his to walk behind the counter.  "He told me that some girl who works in the office saw a file on me or something.  I nearly shudder to think what the rest of the population has dreamed up in their wild imaginations.  I'm sure by the time I get to school tomorrow I'll be an alcoholic hopped up on drugs or something equally scandalous.  Who knows?"  I shrugged and bestowed a quite embarrassed Isaiah with a smile.  "I can handle the gossip because I don't really give a damn what people around here think of me."

 
"Not everyone thinks it," Isaiah said in a soft voice.  "Most people know how the gossip mill goes and they don't buy into all the stories."

 
"Yeah, well," I qualified.  "Whatcha going to do?  I suppose I could go home and sob in my pillow but I prefer to go to school and force these people to look me in the eye."

 
A broad grin took charge of Fin's face as he beamed proudly at me.  He nudged Isaiah with his shoulder as all tension left both their bodies.  "Told you she was made of tough stuff."

 
I rolled my eyes as I rang up their purchases.  They just didn't understand that rumors were nothing - I'd faced much worse in my short time on earth.  I could handle high school gossip easily and as far as being made of tough stuff - well, that wasn't exactly by choice.  My heart had hardened itself against hurtful things the day after my sister disappeared without so much as a trace.

 
After I took their money and handed over their change, Isaiah bid us both goodbye and scooted out the door leaving me alone with Fin.  Fin smirked as he leaned against the counter, something I couldn't quite identify raging in his eyes.  My heart picked up an extra beat or two as I stood, mesmerized by his gaze.  A pull - sort of like the magnetic kind - strengthened between us and I rolled to my toes, unmindfully drawing closer.  His pupils dilated as he traced my cheek bone before gently touching his lips to mine.  My eyes fluttered shut as his sweetness filled my heart.  He didn't deepen the kiss, just allowed his lips to linger lightly over mine but it was enough to chase away all the gloom and the rumors and the worries that had clouded my mind for months.  I didn't care - I wanted them to go away - far away - and it didn't matter where.  Anywhere but here.

 
Fin grinned as he detached his lips from mine and took a half step back.  "Told you we were a couple."

 
"Sure, whatever you say," I teased.

 
His grin melted my heart and had the same effect on the rest of my body as his kiss had.  I had to clamp my lips together to prevent myself from oozing utterly disgusting words of romance.  All I could manage was a stupid, dopey look.  But Fin didn't seem to mind.

 
"Just admit it already.  You know you want me to be your boyfriend.  You probably dream about it," he teased.

 
"Don't delude yourself," I said, half in jest.  "I don't dream about sweaty hockey players chasing small little disks on an ice rink."

 
His smirk curled tightly on his lips as the creases in the corners of his eyes deepened.  "Now who's delusional?"

 
I opened my mouth to protest but decided to keep my comments to myself.  I enjoyed the banter but he seemed top of his form tonight and I did not want to be bested - I didn't think I could handle his smug, arrogant attitude.  Instead, I rolled my eyes and snatched a dust rag from below the counter.  As I began wiping down the plastic cases that held scratch-off lottery tickets, I could feel his gaze burning into my back. The crack of a broken seal informed me he'd opened his drink and I pictured him taking a long swig.  It was comforting to have him there - maybe a little too comforting - but I wasn't sure I was ready for him to jump headfirst into the boyfriend role.  I didn't want him waiting around for me to finish up so he could walk me to my car.  Yeah, I did like him - no use denying it- but I needed a little time to process everything.

 
"Hey," he said softly, almost as though reading my mind.  I glanced at him over my shoulder, raising an inquisitive brow.  "I need to get out of here so I can study.  I'll meet you at your locker in the morning."

 
"Sure," I said as I turned toward him, dropping the rag on the counter.  "See you tomorrow."

 
He grunted a laugh then tugged on my sleeve, pulling me closer so he could press a quick kiss to my lips.  "Be careful driving home.  It snowed a little and the roads are a bit slippery."

 
"Thanks," I muttered as he smiled and slipped out the door.

***

 That night, as I snuggled under my comforter, I stared at the dark ceiling, wondering what the next day would bring.  I was sure the rumors would be rampant but I'd hold my head up high and ignore them.  I reminded myself that I didn't need friends nor did I need the approval of the entire school population.  Who cared what everyone thought about me?  I sure didn't.  At least I liked to think I didn't.

 
I closed my eyes as I recalled my junior year of high school.  I had had tons of friends and had garnered my fair share of male attention.  And boy had I bathed in it - drinking it up like it was pricey champagne.  I'd been a cheerleader and involved in various clubs.  I'd been constantly on the go - meeting friends at the mall or the coffee bar.  Girlfriends had gathered in my bedroom, giggling and laughing and comparing notes on people at school.  My grades had been fairly decent and I'd been positive I'd be accepted to a good college, although I hadn't quite decided which one I'd wanted to attend.  Life had been wonderful - almost fairytale-like.

 
A tiny ache in my heart caused me to squeeze my eyes tighter.  I remembered how my world had come crashing down.  Camille had been lost - totally vanished.  Instead of girlfriends, cops had poured into my house for hours, talking softly to my parents and questioning me endlessly.  Jared had come storming through the door, his hair a wild mess and his eyes panicked and disbelieving.

 
Things like that just didn't happen in my little suburb and certainly not in my family.  It had to have been some mistake.

 
But it
had
happened and eventually, reality had washed away the initial shock, throwing my family into a gloomy, zombie-like stupor.  The phone rang constantly from well-wishers and distant relatives calling to convey their sympathy and offer whatever help they could give.  But it hadn't mattered.  Camille was gone, her whereabouts unknown.  What had happened to her was a complete mystery to the police and even the FBI.  She hadn't left a single clue.

 
I flipped to my side and ran my hand under my pillow, my fingers searching until they fell on the hard case of the CD.  Withdrawing it, I reached over to my nightstand, shoving the disk into the CD player. I turned the volume on low as the raspy voices of Nick and Joe Jonas serenaded me in the dark.  I wasn't a big fan of the brother band, but as my eyes eased shut once more, a tiny smile toyed with my lips.  My little sister jumped around in my head, dancing and belting out the lyrics as she swooned over the brothers, berating me for not thinking they were the best thing since the invention of the telephone.

 
I fought the terrifying images that came to mind; possible scenarios.  Mostly, I imagined Camille struggling- kicking and screaming as some stranger forced her into a cargo van that stormy day.  Or maybe some neighbor everyone thought they knew coaxing her into his house, out of the rain.  Maybe the neighbor was George Wooden whose wife travelled frequently or Travis Schmidt, the confirmed bachelor who lived roughly halfway between our house and Camille's friend's house.  Maybe this guy offered her a drink while waiting out the storm.  Maybe this drink had some sort of drug in it - like that date rape drug.  Maybe this guy - this monster, took my drugged, baby sister into a bedroom or a basement or a musty cellar and did unmentionable things to her.  Maybe she had been unconscious during the entire thing.  Hopefully.

 
I sat straight up, my lungs squeezing every ounce of oxygen from my body, my head pounding, my heart fluttering and sputtering like an outboard motor.  I scrubbed furiously at my face as I gasped for air, panic shooting through my veins, my body urging me to give in to a full-blown anxiety attack.  But I fought it bravely, pushing all thoughts of Camille out of my head.  I switched the CD player to radio and let the music enter my bloodstream like a calming drug as I lowered my head back to the pillow.  I drew long, deep breaths as my body settled, giving way to exhaustion.  I closed my eyes as the music swept me away to a quiet place.

 
A couple stray tears dribbled down my cheeks to dampen my hair as a slow number lulled me into sleep

The halls were quiet when I entered the school early the next morning. I stomped the snow off my feet near the door, surreptitiously surveying the surroundings to see who was there and if they were whispering about me. No one was around so I slowly walked to my locker and took my time organizing my books, waiting for Fin to get there as though he were some sort of knight that could protect me with a shield. The image made me giggle as I just couldn't imagine Fin galloping into the school on a white horse - instead I pictured him skating to my rescue, knocking people aside with his hockey stick.

"Pathetic," I whispered, chastising myself for thinking I needed someone to cower behind. Words couldn't hurt me so let everyone talk all they wanted.

"Hey, you're Trina, right?"

I snapped my head around; my brows pulled down near my eyes, and considered the two boys standing behind me, both reeking of the sweet scent of marijuana. Neither of them looked like the stereotypical 'stoner' as they both wore hoodies in muted colors with designer names scrawled across the front and expensive tennis shoes.

"My name is Rena, if you must know," I retorted, hugging my books to my chest. "And what do you want?"

The taller boy chuckled, his eyes raking my body while a queer little smirk appeared on his face. "Sorry, chicky, my bad." He lightly punched his buddy before continuing. "Anyway, just wanted to warn you that if you try to deal in school, you'll get busted."

My jaw fell as I blinked stupidly. "Deal? What are you talking about?"

"And this is
Cam's territory, anyway," the other boy said. "He helps out the students before and after school. He's not too happy to hear that you're butting in on his business. Sent us to let you know."

"Wait a minute," I said as my blood began to boil and heat scorched my cheeks. My anger-demon hopped up and down on my shoulder, pulling his leash taut. I jabbed a finger in their direction, struggling to compose coherent sentences. "I don't deal drugs. I don't do drugs. I don't know what you heard but you're dead wrong."

"We're just relaying a message," the first boy said, his eyes glazing over and his shoulders drooping.

"Hey, she's not into all that, man," Fin said as he pushed the boys apart and stood beside me. "She's no competition for anyone so clear out. Get away from her."

The boys looked at each other, shrugging, and then ambled off down the hall in a slow, unhurried manner. I shook my head when they turned a corner and then released a long, frustrated breath. "Wow. That rumor evolved quickly, huh?"

"This is ridiculous," Fin seethed, fire blazing in his eyes. "Totally ridiculous. I want to know what idiot started the whole dealing rumor..."

"Relax," I said, placing a palm on his chest. His eyes met mine, tripping my heart. "We know how the rumor got started - people heard about what happened at my last school and got bored with it so they embellished. Who cares?"

"I do," he said, his teeth still clenched. But the taut muscles under my palm relaxed slightly and he gently removed my hand to lace his fingers through mine. "Come on, let's go."

I slammed my locker door and walked with him, listening as he chatted freely about practice the night before. As we strolled through the halls, I tried not to notice the huddles of students talking behind their hands as their eyes watched me pass. Fury built up inside me and I wanted to stop a few times to set them all straight. But of course I didn't. I feigned interest in Fin's words as I grew increasingly more aware of the others around me. It was only a matter of time until I snapped.