Inevitable (33 page)

Beth pulled back. “Does it hurt?” she asked, touching my neck.

“No. But I might have a scar.”

She smiled. “You’ll look like you were beheaded.”

“That might be fun.” My words slurred at the end, and the exhaustion hit me like a semi-truck. I closed my eyes just for a moment.

“Come on, Beth,” Mom whispered. “Let her be.”



I slept most of Friday away also, waking up only when my mom came in with food. I checked my phone every time my eyes opened. No Aaron.

“How can I be so tired?” I complained to my mom when she brought dinner. “I wasn’t even that hurt!”

“It might be emotional, honey.” She smoothed my wavy hair and kissed my forehead. “You took a terrible blow.”

Maybe I was depressed. I closed my eyes and hunkered down for another snooze.

The doorbell chimed and Mom closed the door to my room. A moment later she poked her head in again. “Jayne.”

“Hmm?” I startled from sleep, blinking rapidly.

“There’s someone here for you.”

I sat up and patted my hair down. “Who?” My first thought was Dana, but my mom would’ve said that.

“It’s a boy. He gave me his name, but I can’t remember it. I think it might be that one. You know.”

Aaron. “Oh!” I gasped. “Do I look okay?” I didn’t wait for her to answer. I knew it would be a lie. I pushed myself to my feet, using the bed for support. My Mickey Mouse pajamas weren’t going to cut it. “Help.”

Mom immediately went into primping mode. “Here, put this on.” She pulled a pink v-neck shirt from my closet and tossed it at me. “Don’t you have any jeans anywhere, Jayne?”

I rarely wore pants except in winter, but a dress didn’t feel right at the moment. “Bottom dresser drawer.” I yanked the shirt on over my head, biting my lip to keep from crying out when it pulled on the bandage around my neck.

She tossed me a pair of jeans, then came over and fussed with my hair. I dabbed on lip gloss. “There.”

I threw her a smile. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Do you need help walking?”

“Walk behind me in case I fall.” Trying to appear calm, I stepped out onto the landing and went down the stairs.

Aaron stood in the entryway studying a family portrait, his hands clasped around a thick book. Our English textbook, I noted as I got closer. I stopped a few feet from him. “Hey.”

He turned around. “Oh, hey. You said you wanted to borrow my English book?”

It took me a split-second to place the conversation. The walls spun around, and I leaned my head on the railing, closing my eyes. “That’s what you came over here for? I didn’t really need your book, you know. I just made that up for your girlfriend.”

Aaron stepped over to me and took my elbow, guiding me away from the stairs. I wanted to protest, but was too weak to do much more than follow him. “Oh. I wasn’t sure.” He dropped the book to his side. “I got your call.”

I shrugged. He must mean the one I made three days ago. “Thanks for getting back to me.” I couldn’t keep the bite out of my tone.

“Didn’t you want to talk?” He helped me through the entryway and down the steps to the den.

“Why didn’t you come visit me at the hospital?” I blurted out.

“I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“Disturb me? You saved my life.”

“Yes, but I thought it might distress you to see me.” He hesitated. “You told me you never wanted to see me again.” He settled me on the sofa and sat on the opposite end, back rigid.

Oh yeah. I’d forgotten about that. I felt the blood rush to my face. “Well, it’s just that I think the way you broke up with me was really really lame.” I crossed my arms over my chest and tried to glare at him. The walk took a lot out of me, though, and it was hard to glare as I panted for breath.

A hint of a smile graced his lips. “The way I broke up with you? Jayne, I wasn’t even sure we were together.”

“Oh? Does your girlfriend know you go around kissing random girls?” I clutched a throw pillow to my stomach and pulled my knees up. “Well?”

Aaron leaned back against the couch, putting more space between us. “Listen, I’m sorry I couldn’t talk when you came over.”

I shrugged, trying to push down the hurt I’d felt at seeing them together. “Obviously I was interrupting.”

“Interrupting an argument.”

The first of many.
I bit back the words. “Is that why you’re over here? Because you’re fighting with Libby?”

He hesitated, his eyes wandering over the edge of the couch, giving me an opportunity to study him in profile. “You know I broke up with her a few weeks ago, right?”

“Right.”

“That’s because I found someone else I liked more.” He turned toward me.

“Are you sure it wasn’t just because you found someone local?”

“Libby thought so. She finished her senior year early and moved out here. Thought all I needed was to have her close by.”

“Turns out it’s true, huh?”

He touched my toe through my white sock. “What was I supposed to do, Jayne? You made it clear you didn’t like me. I thought you were angry at me for kissing you. So, I let it go. Or tried to.” His eyes flickered to mine before darting away. “I couldn’t get you out of my head. First you show up at the hospital. Then you show up at my house. I thought it was a sign.” He shrugged. “So after you left, I went out to the game to find you. The rest you know.”

I pulled my knees in tighter. “Well.” I took a deep breath. “I didn’t mean to push you away. But?I was scared.”

“Scared? Why?”

“It’s hard to explain. I just...” How could I tell him that I couldn’t take the ending?

But now I knew it didn’t have to end that way. I might be able to change it. Whose life would I shorten when I changed his? I inhaled and turned my head, staring at the red and gold flower patterns on the couch.

Aaron’s hand squeezed my shoulder, and I looked his direction, not focusing on anything. “Did you see something about me?”

I tugged on Aaron’s shirt, pulling him closer. “Come here.” He did, scooting next to me. I pushed my forehead against his. My heart leapt into my throat with what I was about to do, making it throb so bad I thought I’d start bleeding again. Gathering my courage, I pressed my lips to his. I felt his sharp intake of air seconds before his arms went around me. He crushed me against his body, a musky male scent intoxicating my senses. His lips moved to my jaw and I turned my head.

“Ow!” I cried out at the movement.

Aaron pulled back, his blue eyes wide. “Did I hurt you?”

I touched the bandage around my neck and laughed. “No. I’m fine.”

My phone chimed, the ringtone for a text message. I pulled it out and scanned it.

Do you have a request, Dekla?

I gasped. It was from Laima. It couldn’t be this simple. My thumbs flew over the buttons as I responded.

Yes. Two to begin with: Aaron Chambers and Beth Lockwood.

I paused, and then added,

More to come.

“Good news?”

“Hmm?” A silly grin spread over my face. “Great news. Changes everything. So.” I shut my phone. “I take it you don’t have a date for prom tomorrow night?”

He settled back on the couch, one hand resting on the rim. “See, there’s this problem. The girl I wanted to go with wouldn’t talk to me. So I didn’t buy tickets. Instead, I’m hanging with my dog at the beach. It’s probably going to be pretty lonely.”

“You have a dog?” I quirked an eyebrow.

“Yes, Ma’am. Brand new.”

“I was just thinking how I need a good dose of sea breeze.” I tapped his hand .

He clasped my fingers, intertwining them with his. “A pretty girl would help me get over not going to my one and only prom.” He pulled me forward until I reclined on his chest.

His heart thumped under my ear and I smiled, all light and fluttery inside. “Don’t worry. I might invite you to my prom next year.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“T
his will be your desk, Jayne.” Mr. Edwards led me around several cubicles in the Lacey-Barnegat Times upstairs floor, finally stopping at an empty one. There was a small table, a flat-screen computer, a two-drawer file cabinet, and a telephone. “Welcome to the Times.”

“Thanks,” I breathed, moving my chair back and sitting down. My skin tingled with excitement and I powered the computer on. My first real job. Well, technically it still wasn’t a real job, since it was a summer internship. Still, if I did well, Mr. Edwards had hinted that they might take me on as a junior journalist next summer after I graduated.

A hint of lemon wafted into my cubicle seconds before the tall brunette walked over. Her green earrings danced as she tossed back her straight, long brown hair. “So you’re Jayne, huh?”

I stood up, giving her a shy smile while not quite meeting her eyes. I would at some point; it was my responsibility, after all. But I would decide when. I stuck out my hand. “And you are...?”

“Kate.” She shook my proffered hand. “I started here as an intern four years ago. I’m going to Seton Hall University. You’re still in high school, right?”

“Right.” I nodded and sat back at my desk, turning my attention to the computer. “Lacey Township High. Graduate in a year.”

“Figures. Well, we’ll be working a lot together, Jayne. Anytime I’ve got overflow, I’ll pass it on to you.”

Mr. Edwards had briefed me on this. I would learn from Kate by being her assistant. I nodded, watching her reflection in my screen. “Got it. I’ll help however I can.”

“Awesome.” She flashed me a brilliant white-toothed smile. “We’ll get along just smashingly.”

And someday soon I’ll learn how you die
, I thought. That was alright. I could handle this.

I got home from my first day with a confidence that felt wrong in my body; insecurity and paranoia were my usual style. I dropped  a few work assignments on my bed and picked up my phone.

“Dana?” I said the moment she answered.

“Hey beautiful!” she said, affection radiating from her voice. “Coming over?”

Warmth filled my chest, and I swallowed back the lump in my throat. Parting time. “I’ll be right there.” Soon she would be in college, having a blast and making new friends. And I’d be hanging out here for the summer, trying to find other people to share the joys of my senior year with.

I still had Aaron.

But there was something else I needed to do, now, while this new confidence flowed through me. Someone I owed a phone call to.

I flipped open my ghetto phone and dialed Stephen’s number. I didn’t have to search my contacts; I still had it memorized.

He answered on the second ring. “Jayne,” he said, his voice a mixture of surprise and...happiness?

“Stephen, hey. Sorry it’s been so long.”

“No, no, you’re fine. What’s up, Jayne?” He sounded so normal that it made my heart ache. He had no idea what was coming.

I cleared my throat. “How was prom?”

“It was... great. I’m sorry you couldn’t go. I hope you’re feeling all right.”

He knew about my run-in with the serial killer, then. Not a big surprise; most of the city knew. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m glad you had a good time. How’s your mom doing?”

“My mom?” His voice took on a defensive tone. “I mean, she’s doing fine. Why?”

I searched for a good explanation for how I knew she was dying. “Aaron works at the hospital.” I crossed my fingers, hoping his mom was already in and out for treatments. “He told me she is really sick.”

“She’s fine, Jayne.”

There was a finality in his voice that worried me. I wasn’t sure if Stephen was brushing me off, or if he was in denial. “Well, I know you’re a great son for her. I’m sure she’s proud of you. I bet your dad’s having a hard time, though.”

“He’s doing all right.” Now Stephen sounded cautious.

I cleared my throat. “I met him a couple of months ago. We talked about you for a few minutes.”

I couldn’t change Mr. Harris’s fate; that was Karta’s jurisdiction. Even if I knew how to reach her, I wasn’t sure how to supplicate on his behalf. He took his own life, after all. But Stephen, I could help. “He told me something kind of personal. He said that he wished he spent more time with you, that nothing’s more important than his family.”