Seventh Mark (Part 1 +2) (4 page)

“I took the
clothes held out to me, catching the price on a silver tank top and
awesome matching black half-jacket. It was over a hundred bucks.
I’d have to work three weeks to afford it. “You bought me stuff? I
thought I was just going to borrow something to wear. I’ll have to
pay you back.”

“You won’t.
It’s a gift and it’d be rude if you didn’t accept it.” The corners
of her mouth twitched like a playful kitten’s and her eyes
sparkled.

“That’s not the
point.” I didn’t know how to explain I didn’t want hand outs.

“Please. I
wanted to.” She signed. “I promise I won’t do it again.”

Far from an
expert in gift receiving, I did know what to do or say.

My silence must
have been an okay for her. She grinned. “Just check the sizes and
ignore the prices tags.”

I slipped on
the pants and top, somehow not surprised she’d guessed my size
perfectly.

“Full-length
mirrors in the closet.” She followed close behind as I went to the
mirrors. “Hey, cool birthmark.” She lightly touched the bottom
corner of my left scapula. “It looks like some kinda shape.”

I’d never paid
much attention to it. As a kid I wondered if my birthmother noticed
it when, or if, she ever held me. I reached behind, pulling the
top’s strap to try and cover it. “It’s in one of those awkward
spots. I can’t really see it.” I stared at my strange, but pretty,
reflection in the mirror.

“You look
great.” Grace beamed from behind me in the mirror’s reflection.

I’d personally
never bought something in this style, but Grace had taste. The
outfit made my long skinny arms and legs look muscular and sexy.
Turning sideways, I checked to see how the pants fit my butt. I
actually had one in them. “I owe you big time.”

I searched the
mirror for her face. Focussing past her, my breath caught as I
noticed Michael behind her, leaning against the closet doorframe.
He’d slipped quietly into the room unnoticed. He stared at me in
the mirror, his eyes bright, but his expression closed off when his
gaze met mine.

He cleared his
throat. “You, uh, you’re…pretty.”

“Oh no you
don’t!” Grace shouted at him, waving her hands wildly in his
direction. “She’s coming out with
me
tonight. If you want to
hang out with Rouge, you ask her out when she’s available. After
tonight, I don’t think that’s going to be for a very long time. You
might as well get in line!”

Michael
frowned, deep lines etched in his forehead. They quickly
disappeared when he smirked. “No probs. Caleb asked me to drop you
two off and pick you up.”

Why?
The
strange, secretive look that passed between them kept me
silent.

Grace leaned
forward and pulled the price tags off of my clothes. “Caleb just
worries.” She turned to Michael. “If you’re driving, you aren’t
planning on staying, are you?”

“Not really.”
His eyes flitted back and forth as he looked at Grace. “Just let me
know should you need me.”

Was I somehow
missing part of the conversation?

“Fine, then.”
Grace cleared her throat. “Shall we go?”

Outside, we
walked single file toward the parked cars. Grace climbed into the
back of a Mustang and pulled the seat back so I had no choice but
to sit in the front.

I scowled at
her. I was nervous and had no skills around guys. I’d be better
hiding out in the back, listening and pretending to participate in
the conversation.

Michael must
have caught my expression because he chuckled as he got into the
driver’s seat. Nervous, I plopped down in the seat beside him and
fumbled with the seat belt. He reached over and took it from me to
click it in. I let out a small gasp as our hands touched. His hand
went from ice cold to searing hot.

A current of
hot and cold seared up my arm, all the way to my shoulder. My free
hand instinctly went to my shoulder. I rubbed it. The weirdest hot
and cold sensations assaulted my palm.

Grace chattered
the entire ride out to the park. I kept trying to listen, but
Michael’s close proximity made it impossible to concentrate.

“Rouge?” Grace
tapped my shoulder, making me jump. “Are you going to get out or
just stay in the car?”

I glanced out
the window. We’d parked along a line of trees with a sandy beach
off to the right. “Sorry.” I fumbled with the catch in my seat
belt, trying to get out as fast as I could, heat burning my face
and neck.

Michael got out
and held his seat back forward so Grace could crawl out, their
heads bent close, talking quietly. His face was etched with
concern, but I couldn’t miss Grace mutter, “I can take care of
myself -- and Rouge.”

Michael set his
lips in a thin line. “Fine. Have fun.” He jumped into the Mustang
and sped away.

“Everything all
right?” Too bad they fought. I wouldn’t have minded trying to talk
to him, or simply having him near would’ve been fine with me.

“We’re good.”
Grace pulled on my jacket and pointed toward the noise on the
beach. “Michael’s a little, um, overprotective. Caleb’s made him
that way. Michael worries way too much about me, and it’s obvious
he doesn’t want you to get hurt either. He likes you. He just won’t
admit it yet.”

“What?” I
stopped walking and put my hand on her forearm. My heart skipped
every other beat.

“He’s my
brother. Trust me, he likes you.” She rolled her eyes. “The look on
his face was priceless when he walked into my room. You’re
definitely going to make some first impressions this evening
too.”

I’d rather hang
out by the shadows. However, if Michael might be interested, I
think could handle a little spotlight. My face scorched. “You sure
about Mi—”

“Positive.”
Grace laughed. “Come on. Let me introduce you to our senior class,
and I’ll point out the cute boys. We might as well make Michael
jealous while we’re here.”

We made our way
through the parked cars towards the music. Someone had attached
huge stereo speakers to a pickup backed onto the sand. Outdoor lawn
torches, which also seemed to keep the bugs at bay, were set up to
maximize lighting the area. Lawn chairs lay scattered around the
fire pit and small groups were all over the place.

“So, which one
of these cliques is yours?” I wished I’d just worn a sweatshirt and
no makeup.

“I kind of
float around. We've lived here three years, and I still kind of
feel like the new girl.”

Definitely a
popular girl
.
Grace had no idea what being the new girl
actually meant.

Skipping the
pathway, we climbed over large boulders and jumped the three foot
drop onto the beach. Somehow, Grace had gotten her shoes off before
we landed, her feet barely making an impression in the sand. My
Mary Janes filled instantly with the cool particles, but I chose to
keep them on.

“Heads up!”

A football flew
in our direction. I ducked out of the way while Grace caught it
with one hand, not even pausing in her stride. A cute, dark-haired,
athletic-looking boy came jogging up.

“Nice catch,
G!” He skidded to a stop. “Whoa, wait a moment. Who’s the new
hot-chick?”

“Simon, your
ball.” Grace tossed the football expertly. “This is Rouge.”

Simon bowed
dramatically. “Welcome to Port Q High’s unofficial
before-school-starts official party night.” He held out his
hand.

“Hey.” This guy
babbled like a girl back at my old high school who drank Red Bull
all the time.

“Let me
introduce you to the rest of the gangstas.” He grabbed Grace’s and
my hands, pulling us over to the group of guys waiting for the
football. “This is Tommy, Damon, Sean and Jake.” Except for one,
all were similar build to Simon. The other guy was absolutely huge
with these dark, almost black eyes. He seemed to be shooting
daggers at Grace.

I stepped close
to Grace. “What’s with the big guy?”

“He’s
interested. I’m not.” She rubbed her forehead with the back of her
hand, making an “L” shape with her fingers. “Loser,” she
whispered.

Simon stuck
close by me, trying his best to entertain. Twenty minutes later, I
needed space to breathe. I tried to catch Grace’s attention, but
she was chatting away with Sean or Jake, I couldn’t remember which
one. “Bathroom break. Where are they?”

“Up the hill.
Over there.” He pointed in the direction. “Do you see the line of
trees? Just follow them and where the one big tree is, they’re just
behind there. See a few people heading back? I can take you.”

“No!” I’d
rather die. “Uh, no thanks, I’m pretty sure I can find my way.” I
stood and made a beeline for the trees. Glancing back, Grace stood
by Simon, blocking my view of him. Quickly sneaking into the
forest, I figured I had about four minutes before Simon came
looking for me.

Simon was nice
but a little overbearing. He seemed the long-term kind of guy. I
planned on bolting after graduation. Now, Michael, he might be an
interesting short-term thing. I scoffed. Who was I kidding?

The thick grass
and leaves muffled the music and noise from the beach, making it
peaceful. I walked farther into the trees. Enjoying the moment, I
leaned back against a large oak tree, closing my eyes.

The cicadas,
crickets and every other insect around me abruptly went quiet. A
strange, hushed silence. The hairs on the nape of my neck rose.
Holding my breath, I strained to hear something, anything, around
me. Opening my eyes, I stared into the forest. Eyes not adjusted to
the dark, I couldn’t make anything out but trees and shadows.

My heart
hammered over-adrenalized and fight or flight screamed. Stumbling,
I suddenly couldn’t remember the way back to the beach. Muffled
music seemed to come from all around. Placing the sound grew
impossible. The blood rushing in my ears made it even harder to
concentrate.

Swallowing
hard, I took a tentative step forward and froze. In front of me, a
pair of large amber-yellow eyes with obscenely black pupils shone
crystal-clear in the dark. A low, guttural growl escaped from the
darkness. Hot putrid breath slid across my face. I nearly
gagged.

Whatever the
freakin’ thing was, it was mammoth. I couldn’t find an outline of
its body, just a shadow. Terrified, I was positive if I screamed
the thing would jump out and attack me before I could get the sound
out.

“Crap, crap,
crap…” Body still frozen, I looked left to right and tried not to
move my head. Hadn’t Grace said she could take care of both of
us
?
“Grace…Michael?” I whispered. Shuffling slightly around
the tree, my eyes never left the spot where the wicked monster
stood. Tears of fear ran down my cheeks when I bumped into the
rough bark of the tree behind me.

This is
it.
There was nothing I could do. I’d walked straight into this
den of death. Realizing the certainty, I exhaled a slow breath,
willing my heart to calm. I began to hear and think more clearly.
Someone called my name. The monster’s eyes shifted slightly, as if
it too listened.

I managed a
hoarse whisper, “Over here.”

A snarl filled
the air and the yellow-eyed beast disappeared too fast for anything
that size. Suddenly, Michael appeared, lifting me like a feather
and cradling me tight against him. His hot chest, cool breath and
husky scent distracted me from the terror behind us. In seconds, we
were out of the forest, in the lightened area by the bathrooms.
Grace came rushing over.

“What the heck
happened?” Her brows crushed together and chest rose with fell in
quick bursts.

Too soon,
Michael set me down on the grass carefully, like a flower that
might break.

The horrible
eyes wouldn’t clear from my memory. “I, um, I, damn it! Sorry. Just
give me a sec.” I pressed my hands on my knees, bending over and
trying to fill my lungs with the air I’d forgotten to breathe. “I
stepped into the edge of the trees to give myself a break…from
Simon. Everything went all voodoo quiet, a-and this
huge
thing with funky eyes showed up!” I shivered, looking behind them
to the trees and darkness. It had happened, right?

“Stay here. I’m
going to have a look.” Michael disappeared into the forest.

I reached out.
“You can’t –” I sputtered, but Grace held me back. “He can’t go in
there. It isn’t safe.”

She pressed a
finger to her lips. “Shh…It’s all right. Michael’s going to see if
he can catch it.” She gripped my hand.

“Catch it? Are
you crazy?” My voice rose and I pulled away. “I couldn’t tell where
the thing ended or where the shadows began.”

Michael emerged
from the tree line.

Relief flooded
through my veins. Shaking his head, he looked ticked.

He grabbed our
elbows and started to steer us towards the parked cars. “Time to
go, ladies. This party’s over.” He turned to Grace, whispering, but
I caught everything. “It’s gone…caught the scent but it took off as
soon as it heard us.” His pace picked up.

Grace jumped in
the backseat. Michael patiently, but not looking so patient, helped
me into the front and clicked my seat belt in.

We pulled out
of the parking area.

“Wait! The rest
of the kids. Someone needs to warn them.”

“It won’t be
back.”

“You don’t know
that for sure.”

“Positive.”
Michael’s curt reply stopped me from asking again.

I didn’t argue.
For some reason, I believed him. We drove the rest of the way in
silence.

Parking the
Mustang with the same annoyingly-crazy driving skills as Grace,
Michael shoved the car into park. As he ripped the keys out of the
ignition, he glanced into his rear-view mirror. “I need to talk to
Caleb. Take Rouge inside. Get her something sugary to drink. It’ll
take the edge off.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re in
shock. Head to Grace’s room. I’ll come up later when I’m finished.”
His fingers raked through his hair, he gave me a quick smile and
then he ran into the house.