Beautifully Unnatural: A Young Adult Paranormal Boxed Set (73 page)

“They have your cell on file, Mom. Geez,” I said glumly. Why did I think, even for an instant, they could go cold turkey? “You’re the only parent who’d speak with the principal in person. No one does that. See, this is a perfect example of why you’ve been blackmailed into leaving.”

She opened the door anyway, then stopped. “Who is that boy? He looks too old to be a student.”

I followed her gaze to the wide double doors of the school and instantly deflated. I didn’t bother hiding the antipathy in my tone. “That’s Zack. And, yes, he’s a student here.”

Her eyes shot to mine, an eyebrow raised. “Sounds like you don’t like him.”

“Not particularly.” Zack was scrutinizing the crowd. I wondered who he was searching for. “He’s an ass.”

“I can call the principal later.” She closed her door and started the car again.

I didn’t know the reason for her abrupt change of mind and I didn’t care. It was enough to know she wasn’t going inside. “Meet you here after school?” I asked.

She nodded and waved, looking a little preoccupied.

“’Bye, Mom.” I glanced toward Zack again, but he’d already left. So had practically everyone else. I needed to hurry or be late for class.

† † †

After fourth period, I took a different route to the cafeteria, hoping to avoid anyone unpleasant. Slipping into the lunchroom through the back door, I scanned for Maya or John. Instead, I saw Daniel. He was in our usual spot talking with Jeff and a couple of his friends. I did a quick visual for Gina, but she wasn’t at any of the tables. Zack and Trevor were seated in their usual place. Maya was there too, right next to Trevor.

I wanted to talk with her, but Zack was a major deterrent. So I kept myself busy picking out a walnut salad, minestrone soup and a banana muffin.

Another glance around the room and I found John in the far corner. He waved at me and I waved back. Tray in hand, I took a step forward to meet him as Maya grasped my arm.

“Trevor asked me out this morning.” She beamed.

I squealed. “I knew he would.”

“What are you doing this Friday?”

“Anything I want.” I grinned. “My parents are leaving town for a few days.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding!”

“Crazy, right? I was hoping you were free to hang out.” I wiggled my eyebrows.

“Perfect. Because I told Trevor we’d hang out with him and his friends Friday night.”

I swallowed hard, feet fixed to the floor and prayed she’d tell me Zack was not part of the equation. “Which of his friends?”

“You and me with Zack and Trevor. Can you believe it?” She said, stepping aside for someone to pass. When she focused on me again, her face wilted. “Are you okay?”

Maya had said
friends
. Plural. Where were the others? But if I told her how badly I wanted to avoid Zack, she’d feel guilty and her plans with Trevor could be ruined. I couldn’t let her down.

“I’m fine. That’s great you’re getting together with him. I’m happy for you.” I nudged her with my elbow and motioned with my head to an empty table. “Come sit with me for a minute. It’ll give Trevor a chance to miss you.”

She giggled as she fell in step with me. “Not a bad idea.”

“Have you seen Gina today?” I asked.

“No, she wasn’t in second period.” We stopped at the nearly empty table and Maya tilted her head. “It’s lunch time and you haven’t spoken to her?”

“Uhm…” I sat at the vacant end of the table, then glanced over at the guys. Zack stared at me as though he was trying to figure something out. I turned my head, unnerved by his intensity. “I caught her making out with Daniel yesterday after school,” I whispered.

“Oh.” Maya eased into the chair across from me as air whooshed from her lungs. “I knew Gina was a bitch, but, wow.”

“Yeah, wow.” But Maya didn’t really seem all that surprised. “Did you know about them?”

Maya glanced over each shoulder as though checking if anyone else could hear. “Not specifically, no.”

“But you know something. Spill it,” I said in a hushed voice, taking the lid off my salad.

“Gina and I were best friends last year,” she said. “Back then, she barely knew Trevor existed until I’d told her about my crush. She started flirting with him the next day.”

I reached for her hand and squeezed. “That’s why you two don’t get along? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It was over a year ago. I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt.” Maya’s eyes lit up. “You’re single again. What about Zack?”

“Oh, no.” I shook my head, imagining the wheels turning in her head. “Don’t even think about matchmaking. Zack is so not my type. Besides, he can’t stand me.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

“Trust me,” I said. “He doesn’t like me at all.”

“If you say so.” She rolled her eyes. “I found out from Trevor why Zack had to switch schools so late in the year.”

“Do tell.” I leaned forward, elbows on the table and rested my chin on my palms.

“Their moms are sisters. Zack’s mom has been sick most of her life. An immune system disorder or something like that. Anyway, between school and work, he couldn’t be there all the time to take care of her. So she and Zack moved in with Trevor’s family where there’s almost always someone home.”

“Where’s his dad?”

“Died when he was a little boy.”

“That’s awful.” My heart ached for him. “How sick is his mom?”

“She gets better, then gets worse. She’s on medication that helps but...” Maya shook her head. “It doesn’t look good. I guess she’s got a few weeks, months at the most. Which is the biggest reason she and Zack moved here. She wanted to spend her last days with family.”

My throat constricted. I couldn’t imagine losing one parent, much less both. “I’m so sorry for Zack.”

“Yeah, so you should try to be nice to him. Get your tray and eat with us. Then we can firm up our plans.”

I shook my head, unwilling to press my luck. I would get enough of Zack on Friday. “You go ahead. I’ll see you after school.”

Maya took off. I was about to relocate to John’s table when the bench moved and someone claimed the spot next to me. I knew by his scent it was Daniel.

“Hi, babe.” Daniel wrapped his arms around me. What the hell?

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Don’t touch me,” I hissed, wiggling from Daniel’s embrace.

He scooted closer. “Just forgive me already so we can kiss and make up.”

“Are you kidding me?” I pushed on his chest. He didn’t budge, but my butt slid across the bench.

“What’s wrong?” Daniel frowned.

“What happened to Gina? I thought you were with
her
now.” I scooted further away.

“No need to be jealous. I told her you were the one I wanted.” He smiled patronizingly, like he was doing me a huge favor.

“You cheated on me.” My eyes narrowed to slits. “And I’m supposed to act like it was no big deal?”

“We were drinking at the party and she came on to me. I didn’t know what I was doing.” He swept a hand through the air as if to wave it all away.

“Were you drunk
yesterday
too, Daniel, when you were making out on a toilet?”

Daniel sighed. “I’m sorry. It was a huge mistake. But you could be a little more understanding about a man’s needs. If you were taking care of me like you shoulda been, it would’ve never happened. We’re in the real world and,” he shrugged, “things happen. But I still love you.”

I stared at him. “Well, I don’t love
you
.”

“Aw, grow up, Autumn.”

“Oh. Getting
so
drunk that you do stupid things is
really
grown up.” I flattened my hands on my lap to steady them, on the verge of making a big, fat scene in front of the whole school. The bell rang and I rose to put my tray away, hoping he wouldn’t follow, so I didn’t have to smack him.

“You’re being ridiculous,” he said. “I’m trying to give you a chance to make this right.”

I ignored him and kept going.

“This isn’t over, Autumn,” he called after me.

Forcing himself on me had been disturbing. Cheating on me was vile. But acting like it was
my
fault, then stalking me? Psycho.

“I said I was sorry!” he shouted.

Hoping Daniel would give up on me if I ignored him, I continued at a brisk pace without looking back. At my next class, I slapped my backpack on the surface of my desk and rooted through it for my English book.

A shadow loomed over me. I could tell it was Zack by the warm scent of fresh rain that seemed to be his calling card. “It sounded like he was threatening you,” he said.

I spared him a glance over my shoulder and resumed my search. “Just expecting me to blow off the whole incident.” When the shadow didn’t move, I straightened and turned to meet Zack’s gaze. Our arms brushed and I realized how close he stood.

“You’re not thinking of forgiving him, are you?” he asked.

“No way.” Students brushed past Zack as they filed into the classroom and he shifted toward me to get out of their way. I inched back until my butt hit the edge of the desk. We were still almost touching.

“Good.” Zack’s face softened. “He’s not ready for a relationship.”

“He’s not ready to mix with people at all.” I grimaced.

Zack seemed pensive as his eyes roamed my face. Heat radiated through me as I held his gaze. It was as if Zack emitted an energy which reacted against my own, turning my brain to mush. What were we talking about?

Zack shifted his weight, bringing him closer. “I don’t think Daniel’s balanced. You should probably avoid him.”

Uh-huh. Like I didn’t already know that. And if Zack hated me so much, why would he take the time to talk philosophy regarding the guy who’d just cheated on me?

I made myself ignore the sexy dimple in his chin and glared at him. “Make up your mind, Zack.”

He gave me a blank face. “About what?”

“About me. Either be all judgy without ever allowing me to defend myself — in which case you don’t get to be my friend. Or be nice to me. You can’t have both.”

His eyes narrowed, then the bell rang and he slipped behind his desk.

I didn’t want to give him or Daniel any more thought. They’d already wasted enough of my time. Instead, I concentrated on what I’d do once I dropped my parents off at the airport, just hours away.

Freedom.

With them gone, I could scrap the Internet research and go straight to experimenting. I couldn’t wait to see what else I was capable of.

† † †

When my mom drove me home at the end of the day, I didn’t see the Taurus anywhere. “Where’s my car?” I asked as she pulled into the driveway.

“We had it towed to the mechanic. You need something to drive since we won’t be around to chauffer you.” My mom closed the car door and hit the clicker.

“I thought I could use yours while you’re gone,” I said hopefully.

“Not likely.” She laughed. “Yours will be ready later today. We’ll pick it up, so you can do your homework and still have time to drive us to the airport later.”

“Fine,” I said half-heartedly.

True to their word, my parents retrieved my junk-heap just before dinner. They did their run early and when I came downstairs from wrapping up my homework, their luggage met me at the door.

“Oh, good. You’re ready.” My mom grinned as she bustled and threw things into her suitcase. “I wouldn’t want to miss our flight.”

She seemed a little too excited about it. “Really? Or are you joking?”

My dad chuckled. “As crazy as it sounds, we’re looking forward to it. Ever crazier, we’re not afraid to leave you.”

“Oh.” I blinked. Wow, what a one-eighty.

Mom shrugged. “You’ve shown some real maturity lately. You’ll be eighteen in a few days and legally, well, you’ll be an adult. It’s time we got used to you not being our little girl anymore.”

“Oh,” I echoed, too stunned to say more.

“Let’s go.” My dad nudged me lightly with his elbow.

On the way to the airport, my mom reminded me to do my homework every day, warned me not to throw any parties at the house, then took a moment to stress that they were trusting me and not to let them down. She just had to go one step further by reminding me that the school principal still had her cell number.

They hadn’t changed as much as I’d hoped.

While Dad parked at the airport and went in search of a cart, Mom trapped me in a bear hug. Slowly, she released me, then handed me her keys. “Drive home and put these away. Use the Taurus the entire time we’re gone unless it’s an emergency. Okay?”

Dad collected a cart and began stacking their luggage. “Not having gas money does
not
constitute an emergency.”

“Got it,” I said, following them into the building.

Once at the security stop, Dad hugged me fiercely, kissing the top of my head. “We’ll miss you, sweetheart. Check your email often, huh?”