Deceptive Cadence (8 page)

“In Cadence’s pants, miss,” James sneered.

I stepped away from the window in disgust.

“You get to your classes right now and stop harassing my students!” she snarled at them.

They scoffed and swore at her before they moved away. I shuffled in beside Geri and covered my face as the whole class stared at me. The teacher turned and called on one of the students. “I’ll be just one moment. Keep things under control.”

She dashed out of the room, most likely to go find the head teacher or a vice principal.

Once she had gone, something small hit me in the back of the head. I grabbed my head and turned to see James climbing in the window.

“What the . . .” I leaped up and scrambled across the classroom as my classmates jumped to their feet.

He rushed after me and yelled at some of the guys, “Grab her for me, would ya?”

One of them snatched up my wrist and held me, while Geri ran across and caught my elbow. “Let her go!”

James grabbed me by the shoulders and pushed me up against the wall. “Cadence Anderson.”

“Get off me!”

“You’re even more beautiful up close.”

I glared up at him, then glanced around to see the whole class watching. “You’re making a scene.”

“I don’t care. I just wanna get your attention.”

I shoved him in the chest and glared up at him. “Well, you have it, so what do you want?”

“I want you to date me.”

I laughed. “You’re insane.”

“Come on, I’ve been watching you for weeks. You’re a total prude, but you’re hot.”

I slapped him across the face. “Get away from me!”

As his gaze fell back on my face, a hint of pain reflected in his eyes. “So, you’re rejecting me?”

“Um, yeah.”

“Yeah, you wanna date me, or yeah, you’re rejecting me?”

The teacher reentered the room with the vice principal behind her. “James Gordon! Get off Miss Anderson this instant!”

“Not until she answers me.” He stared fixedly at my face.

The vice principal walked up beside James. “Mr. Gordon. My office, right now.”

“I’m waiting, Cadence.”

I met his gaze. “No. You’re a bully and a pothead. I wouldn’t touch you with a six-foot pole.”

He pursed his lips and straightened, releasing me. “Is that what you think?”

“That’s exactly what I think.”

He glanced at the vice principal. “Well, Cadence, you’re wrong and I’m going to prove it to you.”

“Go ahead.”

His eyes narrowed on me as he walked out of the room with the vice principal. The teacher came over to me and spoke gently. “Are you okay, Cadence?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you want to go to the nurse’s office for a few minutes? You look a little pale.”

I nodded, glad for an excuse to escape all the stares fixed on me. Geri rushed up beside me and the two of us stepped into the corridor. We headed for the bathroom rather than the nurse, knowing we could huddle by the hand dryer to warm up.

We rushed in, checked we were alone, then Geri pressed the button. We leaned against it as she spoke. “That was nuts.”

“No kidding.”

“What’s up with him anyway?”

“I dunno. He probably just wants to see me naked.”

She giggled. “I’ve never seen anyone do anything like that. Not at this school anyway. You know that’s going to be all over the school by the end of lunchtime.”

I huffed. “I think I might hide away for a few days.”

“If only he wasn’t such a jerk.” She smirked. “But he’s so hot! He has that bad boy look down. He’s got that shaggy hair under his beanie, he wears that chain on his baggy pants―”

“Yeah, he looks like a total bum.”

She laughed. “True. But he’s still hot.”

His face flashed before my eyes as his gray-blue eyes gazed down at me. Those eyes dazzled me. I couldn’t deny that he had the potential to be hot, but his teeth were yellowing, his breath stunk, and he looked like he hadn’t shaved or washed his hair in a month.

“Yeah, he could be hot, but he’s not.”

“Yeah.” She sighed and pressed on the button as the air turned off. “The hot ones are always gay or destroyed by drugs.”

I giggled. “Ain’t that the truth!”

“But James Gordon?” She shook her head. “I never saw that coming.”

“Me either.”

A loud bang echoed around us as the last cubicle door burst open. We both gasped as Melanie stepped out, her glare boring into us. She watched us as we stood stiff while she washed her hands, then stepped over to us. “Move.”

We stepped aside and she pressed the button to use the hand dryer. She glared at me as she dried her hands, and when she finished, she rested her hands on her hips.

“He looks like a bum, huh?”

I winced.

“Mmm.” She turned to Geri. “My brother can definitely do better than one of you.”

We stood frozen as she marched out.

“Oh my gosh,” Geri said breathlessly.

I stared at the door Melanie just walked through. “I don’t remember her ever being this testy.”

“Yeah, well, suddenly her brother is interested in you, and she’s so weird she probably has a Tasmanian-style crush on him.”

“Oh gross, Geraldine!” I couldn’t help laughing.

“At least she’ll most likely tell him we were gossiping about him in a not-so-nice way and he’ll get the hint.”

“I hope so.” I sighed and pressed the button again. “I don’t want to go back to class.”

She looked at her watch. “We’ll give it another five, eh?”

I chuckled. “Deal.”

SEVEN

The school disco came around again and, unfortunately, this time Harper could go. She insisted on driving, which I hated. She had to be one of the worst drivers ever. I had several near-death experiences as she mounted the curb and stalled mid-intersection.

“We’re going to die!” I yelled as a truck rolled slowly toward us. It stopped, but that didn’t matter—I just saw huge, bright headlights heading right for me.

“Shut up, Cadence!” Harper screeched.

“Stop it, girls,” Dad said. “Harper, just lower the clutch and start the engine again.”

Harper finally started the engine and bunny-hopped us out of the intersection.

When we arrived at school, I leaped out of the car and rushed in while Dad and Harper filled in her logbook.

“Be safe, Cadence,” Dad called out.

I waved, having no desire to be around when Harper finally climbed out of the car.

Geri waited outside the hall and bounded over when she saw me. “Ready?”

I scanned the crowd waiting to go in, wondering when time would jump for me. “Yup.”

We entered and, like the last time, our friends met us. We danced together for about half an hour before Geri and I decided to get drinks. After we ordered, someone stepped up beside me and placed two dollars down. “I got it.”

I glanced up and couldn’t help gaping. James looked down at me and smiled. “What?”

“Oh my gosh!” Geri gasped.

James had washed his hair, combed it back into a ponytail, and shaved.

“Do you like it?” He rubbed his chin.

I gave back his two dollars and paid for my drink before rushing away. I
did
like it, which I
didn’t
like.

“Oh my gosh,” Geri whispered. “He totally cleaned up for you!”

“Shut up,” I muttered.

“He’s
so
into you!”

“
Shut up
.”

She giggled. “Cadence, this is nuts! You should see where it could go.”

I turned to her. “No, Geri. I like―”

“Yeah, yeah, that Austin guy. Whatever.
He’s
not here, but James is, and James is
hot
!”

I scowled. “I have no desire to go out with James.”

“Wow, you sound like a fifty-year-old.” She glanced around and leaned closer. “He’s watching you.”

She nodded behind me. I turned. James leaned against the wall of the school’s hall with his hands in his pockets, surrounded by Robbie and their friends. His friends acted like their normal drunk selves, with Carla’s group mixed in among them.

James saw me looking and straightened, pulling his hands out of his pockets. I swung back around, grabbed Geri’s hand, and dashed into the hall.

Michael met us as we hurried back in. “Did you hand that geography assignment in today?”

“Geography assignment?” Geri turned to me, confused.

I hurried to cover. “Yeah, I got the date wrong.”

“Ah, so that’s why the world hasn’t ended yet.”

I forced a smile as a pit formed in my stomach. “Yeah.”

“Well, do you girls wanna dance with us?”

“Sure.”

We joined him and four of his friends to dance. Three songs later, Robbie and his group pushed in nearby. Geri clenched my arm and met my gaze. We shuffled around so the boys stood between us and them and continued dancing. But when the next song started, an arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me away.

I gasped, frightened, but a hand clamped my mouth shut.

“Do you think you’re too good for Jimmy?” Robbie’s voice hissed in my ear. “Well, my frigid little princess, you’re not, so get over yourself.”

I leaned away as I got a waft of alcohol breath. “Let go of me.”

He chuckled. “I can see why he likes you. You’ve got a bit of fire in you.”

Michael pushed through. “Hey, let her go.”

Robbie tossed me aside and grabbed him by the shirt. “Or what?”

“Or I’ll fight you.”

“Michael!” I gasped.

Robbie scoffed and raised his fist. James appeared, shoving between them and catching Robbie’s wrist. He leaned in closer and spoke into his ear. He wasn’t as heavyset as Robbie, but he stood taller, his nose level with Robbie’s eyes. While James nudged Robbie backward, still talking, Michael grabbed my wrist and pulled me back to the group.

“Thanks, Michael,” I said.

“Any time, Cay. What did he want anyway?”

“He was just harassing me. You know how he is.”

Michael glanced over and encouraged me toward the center of the group. “Stay with Geri, okay?”

“Okay.”

Much later, near the end of the night, Geri and I rushed to the bathrooms. We chatted and giggled as we came out, and found ourselves face-to-face with Carla and her group of five girls.

Our giggling stopped instantly as they glared at us.

“Cay . . .” Geri grabbed my arm.

“Cadence Anderson.” Carla scowled. “I thought you’d at least be cute, but look at you—no fashion sense and no clue. You’re not even showing any skin.”

She reached for my shirt. I pushed back her hand and tried to dart away, but the girls stepped in front of us.

“Where are you going, Cadence?” Carla asked.

“Please leave me alone.”

She laughed. “
Please
? Since you asked so nicely . . .” They closed in around us.

“Hey! Get away from her!”

They turned, and Harper and her friends closed in. “Only I’m allowed to bully that brat.”

Carla and her friends backed down from the older girls and hurried away. Harper walked over to me and rested her hand on her hip. “What are you doing?”

“I was just using the bathroom―”

“Blah, blah, stop giving me excuses. Those girls don’t give a crap about anyone but themselves, so why were they so interested in you?”

My cheeks burned. “James Gordon likes me.”

She leaned back, stunned, then burst out laughing. “James Gordon? Oh, Cadence, how did you manage that? He’s a pothead and you’re, well, you’re you.”

My face felt so hot even my ears burned. “I dunno.”

She patted my cheek. “Oh man, if Dad found out, he’d lock you up and ship you off to a convent.” She laughed again and shook her head. “I’m gonna leave this one to you because it’s just too funny.”

She turned to walk away, but paused and looked at me. “If those girls try anything on you again, just let me know, okay?”

I nodded, shocked. She tapped my cheek again, then she and her friends moved off.

“Whoa!” Geri breathed. “Was she just
nice
to you?”

I nodded, speechless.

“That’s so weird!”

“Yeah.”

We headed back into the hall and stood at the edge of the crowd, scanning for our friends.

“They’re right in the middle!” Geri hollered over the noise.

We pushed through the crowd toward them, but someone grabbed my hand and pulled me off course. I found myself in James’ arms as he smiled down at me.

“Hi, beautiful.”

I swallowed, dazzled by how good he looked. Up close, I saw he’d brushed his teeth, and he even smelled like men’s cologne rather than the normal cigarettes. I couldn’t help breathing in his scent as my eyes took in the rest.

He grinned. “Dance with me, just for one dance.”

I nodded and he wrapped his arms tighter around my waist. I couldn’t pull away. I couldn’t even
look
away. Our eyes locked and he smiled.

“So, Cadence, your name’s a little ironic. The only thing that comes close to musical about you is your hollering on the sports field.”

I grinned. “I know. It’s a family thing, musical names.”

He leaned a little closer. “It suits you, though.”

I held my breath and, without realizing, my gaze darted to his lips. He gave me a crooked smile and shifted closer. His nose brushed against mine and he paused, our lips not quite touching.

“Don’t you dare kiss me,” I said.

“Why not?”

“Because . . .” But his breath on my lips when he spoke pulled me in and I pressed my lips against his.

His right arm tightened around me as his left hand came up and caressed my face. My whole body tingled with excitement as I clung to him, our kiss intensifying. But when his tongue slipped into my mouth, I pulled away. “Crap!”

He pulled me back against him and planted his lips firmly against mine again. I melted into his arms, as he clasped the back of my head.

Flashes of Austin and Melody burst into my mind and I pushed him off. “I told you not to kiss me!”

“You kissed me first.”

“I . . . you . . .” I huffed and marched away from him, riddled with guilt. I didn’t know how to feel. Was I cheating on Austin? Technically, no―I was only fourteen-years-old! But all the memories, our wedding vows, remained. I hated myself for enjoying how it felt to kiss James, and I hated that I wanted to do it again.

Geri burst through the crowd, noticeably relieved to see me. “What happened to you?”

“I, ah . . .” I glanced back and James smiled and nodded to me. I swung around and leaned toward her ear. “James just kissed me.”

“What?” she screeched excitedly.

“Shh!”

“Does that mean you and him . . . ?” She winked.

“No!”

Her face fell. “Cadence!”

“It was an accident. I’m not going to do it again. He’s still him―a total jerk.”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You’re totally getting into him.” She squeezed my hand. “But, since you seem to be in denial about it, let’s just have some fun for now.”

We returned to dancing. About two songs before the end, James approached me again. My friends stepped back with wide, wary eyes as he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and pulled me against him. “Are we dating yet?”

I pushed him off. “No.”

“Do I need to be nice to your friends?”

“Go away!”

“Okay.” He ran his hand through my loose hair.

I shuddered, but turned to face him. A crooked smile spread across his face. He had confidence, I’d give him that.

On the ride home, I was surprised, and relieved, when Harper didn’t mention anything about James to Dad.

When we arrived home, we both trudged to our rooms, shutting our doors behind us. I hurried to change and before I turned out the light, I glanced at the clock.

Just after eleven.

I paused, frightened. I’d forgotten the significance of that night, and any minute I would jump in time.

Just as I thought it, the room fell black.

My eyelids felt heavy, but I forced them open. The past three weeks felt like a bizarre blur of events. I knew I hadn’t experienced them, but yet, somehow I had. The memories from each timeline blurred, becoming one.

I rubbed my head, trying to regain my orientation. I knew we were in the second week of the spring holidays, but I couldn’t recall much of what happened . . . yet somehow I could.

I swung my legs out of bed and made my way into the kitchen for breakfast. Dad had already gone, and Dusty sat playing a Mario video game. I stared at him, and had flashes of memories as things settled down over the past week. I shut my eyes and rubbed them again, hoping the confusion would pass quickly.

“Hey, Cadence, wanna play me?”

I opened my eyes to see Dusty staring at me. “Sure, just let me get something to eat first.”

I grabbed a bowl of cereal and sat cross-legged on the carpet next to him. He handed me a controller and changed the game to multi-player. He shuffled closer to me and leaned against my shoulder.

He would turn thirteen in January, but in so many ways he was still just a boy. I ruffled his dirty blond hair and his dark blue eyes turned up to me.