Evergreen (Mer Tales, Book 2) (17 page)

:::

ASH

Thursday midmorning, April 21
^st

I walked into class like a zombie. Fin hadn’t contacted me in over forty-eight hours and I was losing my mind. Why hadn’t he emailed yet, or even called? I’d texted I had my phone back despite Mom’s warnings that she’d monitor my calls. I’d called him too, on my cell—several times yesterday and this morning. I had to know. I couldn’t wait.

My only comfort was the fact nothing weird hit me like the last time Fin went dark. My undeniable ache for him was strong as ever, which meant he had to be okay. Maybe he was being extra cautious because of my family drama, or the case leaked and wrecked the phone.

As Mr. Branson droned on in History, I zoned out, staring at the cracked paint on the wall. I could feel Callahan’s chocolaty eyes on me, questioning me. I did my best to ignore him at lunch after the incident. I’d kept my word to him and so far Colin and I hadn’t crossed paths.

“Ms. Lanski.” I blinked out of my trance and refocused on Mr. Branson.

“Yes?” My cheeks heated, unsure of what he wanted.

Madelyn, the office TA, stood by his side with a note in her hand.

“You’re wanted in the office.”

“Oh.” I picked up my books and took one look at Callahan before I headed out. He nodded appraisingly, rocking my confidence.

Coach Madsen stood outside the doors in the hall.

“What’s up?” I asked.

She ran her hand through her short blonde hair. “You need to take a drug test.”

I blinked at her in shock.

“It’s no big deal,” she said with flushed cheeks. “It’s the only thing that will confirm you didn’t cheat.”

“What?” My mouth hung open. “You’re kidding me. They think I’m doing drugs?”
Mer ones maybe
.

“I—I know. It’s not me. I’ve been on the phone all morning with our legal department and Meredith Hamusek’s lawyer. At first they wanted the timing equipment tested, but after everything seemed to be working fine, they came after you.”

My heart thumped. What if they found mer blood in me?

“I know it’s unfair, Lanski, but…” Coach squinted, “if you don’t, you’ll have to forfeit your time then.”

“Seriously? That’s ridiculous.” I laughed. “What kind of test? A pee one?”

“Hair and blood actually.”

The thought of a needle jab sent shivers up my legs. “Why not pee?”

“Those tests are more accurate.”

I shook my head. “This is high school, not NCAA.”

“You didn’t happen to get a blood transfusion in the hospital, did you?”

“Of course not. I lost blood actually.” I frowned.

“Okay.” She took a deep breath and gently touched my arm. “If you have something to tell me, Ashlyn, I suggest you tell me now. I’ve defended you all day.”

“Yeah, Coach. I’m clean.” I pinched my eyebrows together. “But I think I need to talk to my parents first.”

“I called your mom and she’s agreed already.”

I gulped. “She didn’t freak?”

“She wasn’t thrilled, but after I explained everything, she said you should do it.”

“What if I don’t?”

“Declining will make you look guilty.”

I bit my lip. “Meredith must be pretty mad.”

Coach took another deep breath. “Well, she was getting a lot of attention especially since she was favored for the race, and now she’s not—so, yes—I’d say she’s upset.”

Visions of the chem panel returning with reports of foreign antibodies filled my mind. Would they know? Would they haul me away for more tests? Lock me up?

“I don’t want to.”

Coach raised her brows. “What?”

“I didn’t do drugs and I shouldn’t have to prove it.”

Coach frowned. “Lanski, this is silly. Do the test. It’s for everyone’s benefit.”

“No. I’m standing on principle.” I put my hand on my hip.

“Are you afraid of needles?”

I looked away. “Yes, but that’s not the point. I shouldn’t have to.”

She put her hand on my shoulder. “It’s a pin prick. There’s nothing more to it. They’ll test for extra red blood cells and steroids. That’s it.”

I gulped in worry. I guessed if something weird was in my blood, they’d have already caught it in the hospital. But still—this was a drug test.

“It won’t hurt. Come on.”

I took a deep breath and stepped through the doors into the nurse’s office.

Afterward, I stared at the bandage on my arm as I headed to class. Coach lied. Nurse Nancy collected four vials of blood, each one hurting a lot. But I had to let it all go and hope the lab they were sending my blood to didn’t find anything. Fin had sworn our blood didn’t mix and I believed him. What if he was wrong?

Fin. Where are you?

My phone vibrated in my pocket with a call. I looked at the caller and almost screamed.

“Fin?” I answered breathless and relieved. “They think I cheated, so I gave blood. I’m afraid they’re going to find something. Where are you?”

“Ashlyn,” a strange man’s voice said. “Ashlyn, it’s Fin’s Dad, Jack.”

I froze mid stride, my knees weakening. “Where’s Fin?”

“I was hoping you’d tell me. I got your message and he’s not at the house.”

My throat tightened. “Why do you have his phone?”

“I borrowed it. He didn’t tell you?”

Tell me what? My chest heaved. “Where are you?”

“I can’t say. But Fin’s not at the house and the RV is gone. Is he driving to California?”

“Yes. Didn’t he tell you?”

“No.”

The blood drained from my face. Why’d he leave without telling his parents?

“Ashlyn—” Static crackled on the phone. “Ash—whe—call me—touch.”

“Mr. Helton. Hello? I can’t hear you. Hello?”

“Ashlyn,” Principal Wright called down the hall, “hang up and get back to class.”

I blinked at her, my phone still against my ear.

“Now!”

I turned and headed to History, but not before calling Fin’s dad one last time. The phone rolled over to voicemail.

:::

FIN

Thursday afternoon, April 21
^st

A loud clang from the engine ripped the dreams of my reunion with Ash from my mind—her body wrapped tightly in my arms. Thick black smoke engulfed the vehicle, hiding the road. Then the RV slowed, though I hadn’t let off the gas.

“What was that?” Galadriel shrieked.

Blinded, I yanked the wheel to the right. The RV slowed and died on side of the road.

“What’d you do?” Galadriel slugged me in the arm, then jumped out of the vehicle.

“How is this my fault?”

I gripped the steering wheel, unwilling to admit defeat; we had only five miles left to the nearest town. I pulled a lever under the dash and the hood popped open, launching one large smoke signal of doom into the sky. I cursed under my breath and scrubbed my hand through my hair.

Why?

Galadriel ran to the RV side door and threw it open. She tugged on the handle of her suitcase.

“Help me!”

I contorted my face.

She blew her bangs from her eyes and kept yanking. “It’s going to explode!”

I laughed as I exited the RV, finally understanding the source of her distress. “Better hurry up then.”

Inside the engine compartment, charred remains of a possible oil fire stained the mangled remains. This baby needed some serious work. I wished for my phone to call a tow truck and groaned at the thought of how many days this would put us behind schedule. Beyond the grassy flatlands and sparse trees, a jet climbed high into the sky. Maybe we should fly.

When I finally decided to check what Galadriel was up to, a silver Cutlass sedan pulled along side me.

“Hey man, you going to stay here?” The kid driving wore a black Metallica shirt.

My eyes focused slowly on Galadriel as she smiled at me from the passenger seat.

“Hank, here, has offered to give us a ride, brother.” She winked. “Get in.”

I stood in shock, unsure what to do. When did she flag down the driver? Should I find a tow truck and deal with a mechanic instead or go with them? Visions of shattered hearts from here to California rocked me.

“Uhhh…”

“Beat ya to Tahoe.” Her teeth flashed as she wove her hand within Hank’s.

He smiled and I felt sorry for the guy. She could go and I’d finally be rid of her, but my conscience wouldn’t let me off the hook. Hank would never be able to fend for himself with this shark. And knowing her, she’d desert him when he was no longer any use and ruin his life.

“Suit yourself, man,” Hank said. The tires crunched against the gravel.

“Wait!” I called out, not sure why I cared so much. “I’ll go. Let me get my stuff.”

I crawled in with my damp duffle bag and rummaged inside for the phone, hoping it would work and remembered Galadriel left it on the dash.

Dang it!

Galadriel toyed with Hank’s hair, filling his head with nonsense as he drove. Though he stared at her legs more than the road, I didn’t care. As long as we were headed for Tahoe and she kept her lips to herself, I wouldn’t complain. How she managed to find someone headed the same direction blew my mind.

“Hank, can Fin borrow your phone real quick?” Galadriel asked sweetly.

“Oh sure,” he said, handing it over.

She smiled extra big. “Say hi to Ash for me.”

I shot a thankful smile and dialed her house. She’d be out of school already and I hoped she’d answer. Could I chance talking to her mom? Disguise my voice? I almost handed the phone to Galadriel so she could ask for Ash, when a girl answered the phone—my ginger girl.

“Ash,” I said, my body filled with relief. “Thank Poseidon.”

“Um, no. It’s Lucy,” she chuckled. “Wow. I’m surprised you’re calling here, Fin.”

I hiccupped, choosing not to acknowledge her comment. “Hey, Lucy. Is Ash around?”

“Nope. I thought you guys broke up.”

My chest constricted. “Not that I know of.”

“Well, my sister said she dumped you, but I’m not sure why. I like you a lot better than Colin anyway, so…. Can I leave a message?”

Colin? I wanted to crush Hank’s phone in my hand. “Is Colin there?”

“Not right now, no. But yeah, they’re dating. Well, maybe. She did throw up all over him the other night.”

Bile rose in my throat.

“Which terminal?” Hank asked as he exited the freeway on the 3
^rd
Street exit.

“I don’t know. Fin?” Galadriel turned in her seat and smiled at me.

Planes jettisoned off the runway parallel to us.

“Wait. I thought we were driving!”

Hank laughed. “I’ve got to get to work, man. Lia said you guys only needed a lift to the airport.”

Galadriel bit her lip to hide her smile.

I shook my head. “This is ridiculous. We aren’t flying.”

“What?” Lucy said in my ear. “You’re flying here?”

“But we have to. Great-aunt Sissy’s funeral.” Galadriel started to fake cry. “She was my favorite aunt.”

Hank did his best to comfort Galadriel as terror struck me. Colin apparently was manipulating Ash’s family. We needed to get to Tahoe today.

“If we don’t fly, we’ll miss the special day,” Galadriel said.

“Fine,” I said, unwilling to argue about details while Lucy was listening. We’d have words after he dropped us off. “Take us to the U.S. Airway terminal.”

“I’ll call back later, Lucy,” I said and hung up the phone.