Inevitable (21 page)

“Whatever.” And they say teenagers are dramatic. I put my head in my hands, seriously annoyed. “What’s the project?”

“It’s at a house I’m selling,” Mom interrupted, looking triumphant. “The owner’s in the hospital and asked me to tidy up the spare bedrooms. This’ll be perfect for you.”

“There,” my father said, nodding. “You can accept the project or be grounded to your room for the next two weeks with no car privileges.”

Clean out some old house. That wasn’t so bad. How long could it take? Just a few evenings, maybe a Saturday. “I accept.”

My dad extended his hand, and I shook it.

“Congratulations, Jayne. The project is yours.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“B
eth! We're leaving now!” I slammed the front door, impatient to get to school. I was in a bad mood. I’d slept through my alarm?again—and there'd been no hot water in the shower. My breakfast was a cherry pop-tart, still wrapped in the crinkly foil. Today was not going to be good.

My phone jangled in my bag, and I yanked it out. It was Aaron. I paused by the white patio bench, giving Beth a moment to catch up. “Hello?”

“Jayne, hey, it’s Aaron.”

What, did he think my cell phone didn’t have caller ID? “I know.”

“How are you today? Will you be in school?”

I shifted my bag from one hip to the other. “Planning on it.” The front door opened, and Beth slipped out, twirling lightly in a lime green sundress, the lemon scent drifting off her like a matching cologne.

Wasn’t it Aaron’s fault I’d been at the bonfire? “I’ve got to go.” He started to say something, but I hung up. I was being irrational, petty, and spiteful, but I didn’t feel like changing my attitude just yet.

Mom had taken me over to the house last night, which was just two blocks from ours. It was a disaster. It didn’t look like the old lady had thrown anything away in years. A hoarder, maybe? Last night I could hardly walk through the mess of boxes, some open, others closed and making tall leaning towers of potential catastrophe. It was almost midnight before I got home.

Beth stood by my car, examining my windshield.

“Beth, let’s go!” I said, slipping my sunglasses on. “I can’t be late today!”

She turned around. “Someone left something for you, Jayne.”

I ducked my head in one smooth motion before she met my eyes. My gaze landed on her hands, where she held up a single white rose.

I quickened my pace down the driveway. “Thanks,” I said, taking the rose from her.

A small piece of paper was taped around the stem. I pulled it off and opened it.

“Missed you in school. Want to talk. Aaron”

Just like that, all my anger wiped away. I was never very good at keeping grudges, anyway. The sunshine felt warmer, the day cheerier. I allowed a small smile to cross my face.

“Is it from your boyfriend?” Beth asked, still standing there, her lemon smell drifting past me on the breeze.

I took a deep breath, but not even her scent could dampen my sunshiny day. “I don’t have a boyfriend,” I said, but I couldn’t keep a smile from tickling my lips. I climbed in, placing the rose carefully on the dash.

I dropped Beth off at the middle school, then parked quickly and hurried to my locker. I felt anxious and jittery. Was I on speaking terms with Dana? I waited for her to call me yesterday, but she never did. I considered myself lucky that I’d gotten my phone back from my mom this morning.

I glanced around as I pulled out my books, tucking a strand of wavy hair behind my ear. No sign of her.

No Aaron either. My heart rate slowed as disappointment replaced excitement. The tardy bell rang. Sighing, I spun the combination and pulled out my Spanish and calculus books.

Dana wasn’t in second period. In fact, there was no sign of her or Aaron all morning, and I was starting to think I’d imagined the rose. Were they both angry with me?

I noticed Aaron right when I walked into English class. He sat on the edge of a desk, leaning in toward Poppy and laughing. I froze, feeling like someone had just punched me in the gut. I tried to sit down quietly in the back, but dropped my book with a thud. The giggling stopped, and I knew they were watching me. My heart pounded as I retrieved it. Had something changed?

Mrs. Siegfried came in and launched into a discussion about our upcoming exam. Her words barely registered. I couldn’t take my mind off Aaron. I heard Poppy fold up a piece of paper and slide it across the desk toward him. I resisted with all my might turning toward them. Then the paper went back to her and she giggled loudly.

Mrs. Siegfried paused and looked at Poppy. “Did you have an example to share with the class?”

“Hm?” Poppy widened her eyes. “Oh, no. Sorry.” The class snickered, and I felt a tiny bit better.

I wasn’t given much time to relish in Poppy’s discomfort before Mrs. Siegfried’s eyes turned to me. “Jayne? How about you? An example?”

My cheeks grew hot. Of course, when I had no idea what she was talking about. I tried to bluff my way out of it. “I’m not sure if you want me to give a literal example or a figurative one.”

“How about just give one from our reading assignment? Such as, ‘although Othello showed great strengths as a military strategist, his lack of confidence in his personal life and friends brought about the destruction of the relationships he held dearest.’”

Sounded like a thesis. Taking a guess that we were discussing theses in general and Othello in particular, I said, “Othello was able to be deceived because he slowly let himself fall prey to Iago’s villainy, allowing Iago to enter into a more intimate position than even his wife.”

“All right, let’s talk about this example.” Mrs. Siegfried turned to the white board and began writing.

I heaved a sigh of relief. Certainly not the best thesis I’d ever come up with, but it got the attention off of me.

My thoughts turned back to Aaron. I swallowed hard, surprised to feel a lump in my throat. My eyes stung and I pressed my palm against my forehead. Our relationship had barely gotten started! It couldn’t end yet!

What was I supposed to do after class? Linger by my desk in the hopes that he stopped to talk to me? Flee as quickly as I could so he wouldn’t see how he affected me? March up to him and fling his white rose at Poppy?

I cringed at the thought. I could just imagine Poppy’s tinkling laugh. Besides, I’d left the rose in the car.

The bell rang and I jerked in my chair, my undecided plans taking flight. I grabbed my bag, shoved my book under an arm, and made a beeline for the door.

“Where are you going?”

An arm blocked my exit. I blinked, wondering how on earth Aaron had made it out before me. “Not even going to say hi?” He cocked an eyebrow, that cute boyish grin crossing his chiseled features.

“Well.” I wanted to sound blustery and indignant, but the word came out mild. I gestured behind me. “You looked occupied.”

He dropped his arm and stepped from the room, his eyes on me. “Don’t tell me I’m not allowed to talk to other girls?” He sounded amused.

I blushed and followed him, feeling beyond flustered. “You can do what you want. I don’t own you.” I quickened my pace and pushed past him.

Aaron caught up with me, taking my arm. “We were just talking. And she’s a cute bird.”

I scowled. “Fine. Let me stay out of the way so you can keep chatting with your ‘bird.’” I yanked my arm, but Aaron didn’t let go. He leaned over me, eyes boring into mine.

“Why so angry, Jayne?” he whispered, his gaze probing. “Is everything okay? Didn’t you like your rose?”

The rose. Confusion battled against my anger, and I relented. I lowered my eyes. “I loved the rose. I’m just a bit confused—I thought you’d be waiting to talk to me, to sit by me, I don’t know.” I shut my mouth. I sounded like a lovesick idiot.

“Ah,” he said softly. “I wasn’t sure what you wanted from me.” He lowered his head, and I realized what he was going to do a half second before he did it. His lips brushed mine, and then pushed harder, warm and demanding. I clutched my book to my chest, feeling something ignite in my navel. Aaron pulled back, his eyes darker than usual. “Can I sit by you at lunch?”

I sputtered. There was no turning back now. I’d fallen, heart and soul. “What makes you think you’re invited?” I asked, trying to salvage some control.

He smiled, the dimple in his chin showing. “Because I like you.” He took my hand and I let him pull me along behind him, trying to ignore the tingles caused by his touch.

I led Aaron to our usual spot, waiting for Dana to join us. When she didn’t, I tried calling her, but she didn’t answer her phone either. Aaron watched me while he unwrapped a whole-wheat sandwich with sprouts poking out of the sides. Somehow I doubted his mom made it for him.

“Are you looking for Dana?” he asked, opening a bottle of orange juice.

“Have you seen her?” I furrowed my brow. “You said she wasn’t in school yesterday. I didn’t expect her to miss today too.”

“I don’t think she’s here.” Aaron peered into the orange juice, and then looked at me, his expression somber. “What does she think of you seeing the future?”

I inhaled. Oh please, we weren’t really going to talk about this here, were we? “It’s not something we discuss very often.”

“What else do you know?” Something burned behind his eyes. Curiosity. Hunger. The need to know.

I turned away from his gaze. “Is this why you’re suddenly interested in me? Because of my ability? How cool is that, to be with the psychic girl?”

“Jayne.” He took my hand, gripping it tighter when I tried to pull away. “I’ve been interested in you since the moment I saw you. Yes, you have a unique ability that fascinates me. But it’s you that interests me.”

“And my ability,” I couldn’t help saying.

“Everything about you,” he replied.

He couldn’t have rehearsed a more perfect response. I softened. “It’s not an ability I’m glad to have. I hate it. It’s awful to know when people are going to die, to know how, and not be able to stop it.”

He leaned back, rubbing the dimple on his chin. “You’ve never stopped a death.”

“I’ve tried,” I snapped, suddenly defensive. “I try every time. Every. Single. Time. It never works.” I felt a headache coming on and rubbed my temples. “Can we just pretend like I’m a normal girl? Just be normal people?” My throat choked up and I shook my head, hot tears rushing to my eyes. That’s what I wanted, more than anything.

Aaron leaned over, putting his forehead against mine. “You are a normal girl, Jayne. I just want to get to know you.” He pressed a kiss to my cheekbone. “Really well.”

I really needed to stop spazzing. “Yes. That sounds great. So let’s not talk about this anymore, okay?”

“Okay.” He offered me his orange juice. “Drink?”

I had to laugh. Like orange juice would make me feel better. “Sure.”



“So who is your boyfriend?” Meredith’s wide brown eyes stared at me from behind her glasses when I got to journalism seventh hour.

My face warmed. “I don’t have one.”

“That’s not what I heard. Everyone says you were making out with the new kid in the hallway.”

“What?” I gasped, fanning my face. I hadn’t noticed any gawkers. “There wasn’t anyone there!”

Meredith threw back her head and crowed. “So you were! Everybody saw, Jayne!”

The tardy bell rang just as Ms. Montgomery clicked into the room. Her red hair was pulled into a smart French bun with a ball point pen poking out of it. “Edits, class. Paper goes to press on Monday.”

I pulled out the three sport columns I’d written, two lengthy ones that gave a detailed play-by-play of the games, and a short one with highlights to be printed on the front page. I hooked my camera up to the computer in front of me and began uploading pictures. “What movies did you review?” I asked, hoping to get the attention off me.

“Nothing so interesting as your love life.”

I rolled my eyes, but Meredith wasn’t done. “Are you trying to get Stephen back? Or do you really like this guy?”

I stopped and turned to stare at her. “Excuse me? Stephen? We are so done. This is about me and Aaron, not me and Stephen.”

“Sorry. Aaron. I guess you do like him.”