Hotblood (11 page)

“
Nice goal. Do you want to come with us to get ice cream?” Someone threw Osmond his shirt and he pulled it on, still grinning.

“
Ice cream?” my low voice sounded incredulous.

“
Sure. What, don’t you do sugar? They’ve got protein shakes too.”

I laughed. “You’re a football player, aren’t you?” Osmond nodded. “All right, so these friends of yours, the athletes of Sanders are going to go get ice cream?”

Osmond shrugged. “We keep things pretty clean around here. Besides,” his grin widened, “There’ll be girls there.” Someone hooted and I couldn’t help another chuckle.

“
Girls huh, well, I can’t miss that.” I fell in beside Osmond, the rest of the guys laughing and talking. “So, is this how it always is here?” I asked Osmond, my voice low.

“
I know, it’s like stepping into a fifties TV show, but it’s a good place to live, a good place to grow up. Where are you from?”

“
Around. I was at a boarding school for awhile. Now I’m staying with my great uncle.”

“
Who’s that?”

“
His name’s Peter Olsen. He lives…”

“
Oh, the retired veterinarian. Sure. That’s pretty close to where I live. I could give you a ride to school if you wanted.”

“
That’s ok, I’ve got my own ride. Besides, you’re in football right? You probably have to go early.” My voice was a little bit edgy, like being offered a ride might have been an insult.

“
You don’t think you’ll do football?” Osmond sounded disappointed.

“
No.”

“
Don’t like the violence?”

I laughed. “No, that part’s just fine. It’s following the coach’s orders I don’t like so much. Besides, football takes up too much time.”

“
What do you like to do with your time?” Osmond sounded wary.

I shrugged. “I’m helping out my great uncle. He’s got a small farm. He’s going to keep me busy.”

Osmond nodded like that made sense. “Yeah, of course, if you have to help out your uncle...do you have to get back?”

I shook my head. “He’s gone to bed for the night. It’s good to get out and meet people.”

Osmond nodded understandingly. “Anytime you get bored, you can call me. We’ll find something for you to do.”

I laughed. “I think I can take care of myself.”

Osmond shook his head. “You’re a pretty big guy; Snowy could use someone like you for one of her service projects.”

“
Snowy?”

“
Yeah.”

“
Is this one of the girls who’ll be eating ice cream?”

“
That’s right. She’s kind of the queen of high school.”

“
I see. Thanks for warning me. I’ll watch my step around her.”

Osmond laughed. “You sound like you know her.”

“
Queens are dangerous and so are their boyfriends, usually.”

Osmond shook his head. “She’s not dating yet. Her boyfriend died.”

“
Her boyfriend? So this Snowy was Devlin Sanders girlfriend?”

“
You knew him?” Osmond looked at me intently.

“
Not really. I went to the funeral with my great uncle.”

Osmond looked disappointed. “Of course. So, you probably saw Snowy, the blonde girl, nearly white hair, that’s why we call her Snowy. She’s been doing really great after what happened.”

There was a long silence, then I asked; “What did happen?”

Osmond frowned and shrugged. “There was a car accident. Devlin, I can’t quite explain about him, but he held us together. I know that sounds strange, but he wasn’t like a normal kid. He had vision.”

“
I’ve heard a lot about him. He seemed by all accounts to be pretty decent.”

“
Yes, he was.” There was a touch of the fervent to Osmond’s voice.

We walked in silence for a few minutes. “This feels awkward but can I ask you about the sister?” I sounded reluctant and pushed my hands deeper into my pockets.

“
Who?” Osmond looked over at me sharply.

“
You know, Dariana. I saw her at the funeral. I’m a little curious about her, but while everyone goes on and on about Devlin, no one has anything to say about her.”

“
There’s nothing to say.” Osmond said easily.

“
I’m sorry, I just don’t get that. If the brother is so fantastic, wouldn’t the sister be worth mentioning?”

Osmond stopped walking. He gave me a patient smile. “Look, Lewis.” You could hear the effort he was putting into sounding reasonable. “If you want to get along here, forget about the sister. OK?” He patted my back and turned away and walked forward quickly.

I didn’t keep up. The streetlights were getting closer together and I could see the ice cream parlor. In the well-lit parking lot, groups of people stood around talking and laughing together.

I drifted to the back of the group and glanced at the guys around me. I joined their conversation but I wasn’t paying attention to them. I searched the parking lot, then made my way inside the shop. The old-fashioned jukebox was blaring and groups of people were sitting in cherry colored booths or perched on benches along the counter. Osmond made the order for the group of guys. Everyone handed him cash, but I didn’t join in. I saw a girl with white blonde hair, even features, the black of her shirt too sharp a contrast against her fair skin.

“
That’s Snowy,” Osmond said.

I glanced at him and nodded. “I can see that. Do you mind if I talk to her?”

“
Don’t talk about Dari.”

“
Dari? Is that what you call her?”

Osmond studied me intently then shook his head. “I think we’d better go outside.”

I shook my head and said, sounding amused, “I don’t usually fight guys your size.”

“
No? Who said anything about fighting?” Osmond walked towards me, not stopping when he got to me. I had to walk backwards if I didn’t want to get stepped on.

I shrugged and walked outside, letting the guys jostle me as they came along. So much for a fifties TV show. I glanced at a guy next to me. “So a wholesome town like this is used to street fights? No doubt afterwards we can eat some more ice cream.” The guy just shrugged and I was out in the parking lot where an area had been cleared for us.

“
Osmond,” a girl’s voice called and he looked at Snowy with a cheerful smile. “This might not be the best welcome we could give someone new.” She stood with her hands on her hips, her head cocked while she looked at Osmond.

“
Snowy, you can introduce girls any way you want, but I’ve got this. Don’t worry. It’ll be clean.”

“
You’re going to get in trouble,” but she folded her arms across her chest and that was all she said.

I stepped up where Osmond stood. “You realize that this whole thing doesn’t make me less curious about the girl. Is she your girlfriend?” Osmond moved fast throwing a punch, but I ducked to the side. “She didn’t look like your type.” Osmond threw another punch, but I was already under his swing. “Why does an entire town refuse to say anything about a girl? It’s like something from a weird horror movie, not a fifties TV show.” Osmond moved so fast I could barely see him coming, but I managed to stay out of his way.

“
You’re not even trying,” Osmond said as he glared at me.

I shrugged. “I told you, I don’t usually fight guys like you. You’re too clean and direct. I can see what you do before you do it and, believe me, I’m no mind reader.” Osmond’s face turned thoughtful and this time when he moved, he actually came in contact with me before I spun away. “Better.”

“
But not good enough.” Osmond said with half of a smile on his mouth. “You were serious about fighting bigger guys?”

I shrugged.

“
Oh, great,” I heard Snowy mutter as a car drove up, engine squealing as it pulled into the parking lot. It went slow enough that no one got hit but only barely. It was a monstrous thing that looked like it ate other cars, expanding in mysterious ways. The door opened with the inevitable sound that made everyone in the parking lot shudder.

“
Who’s that?” I asked under my breath.

Osmond gave me a look that was nearly sympathetic. “Have you ever fought anyone that big?”

I glanced at the huge guy who looked remarkably satanic as he got out of the car. “Once or twice.”

“
Well, it looks like you’re in luck. If you want to know about Dariana Sanders, there’s no one better to ask than her uncle, right?”

“
That’s her uncle? I…see.”

“
What’s going on here? A fight? Don’t let me break it up. Nothing interesting has happened in this little town since I got here.” Satan’s gravelly voice boomed across the parking lot.

“
Mr. Slide,” Snowy came forward with a sweet smile on her face. “Osmond wasn’t fighting.”

“
No?” he eyed her skeptically.

“
Of course not. They were…what’s the word when they pretend to fight? This new guy, Lewis, was demonstrating something. Look, they haven’t even hit each other. What kind of a fight is that?” She kept smiling, fluttering her eyelashes wildly and standing between Satan and me.

“
Are you sure?” he directed that question to Osmond. Osmond gave me a thoughtful look then shrugged.

“
No, sir. We were just messing around.”

“
That’s too bad. You, new kid, I’m going to give you a ride home now.”

I glanced at Osmond and he grinned at me. “Have fun.” He melted into the crowd along with Snowy, while I took slow steps towards the enormous guy in the crumpled hat. A cigar hung out of his mouth and he lit it up while I waited in front of him. I was tall enough that I stood on eye level with his nose.

“
Mr. Slide?” Satan nodded once and jerked his thumb towards the car door. I opened it and slid in without making as much noise as Satan did when he settled into the seat beside me. “Can I do something for you?” My voice sounded like I found something about this whole thing funny.

He glanced at me and I saw that his eyes were bloodshot around the dark blue iris. “What’s your name, boy?”

“
Lewis.”

“
All right, Lewis, so what was that back there? I haven’t been able to ruffle anyone’s feathers in this unnatural town. You walk in and five minutes later you’re in a fight with the local scoutmaster. How do you do it?” He sounded impressed.

“
I guess it’s a gift.”

“
Hmm. It wouldn’t have anything to do with the way you’ve been asking about my niece, would it?” I shrugged uncomfortably. “Come on, you haven’t gotten shy all of a sudden, have you?”

“
I didn’t mean to offend anyone. I saw her at the funeral. I still don’t know why no one wants to talk about her.”

“
How comfortable are you with truth?”

“
I guess that depends on whose truth it is.”

“
Nice evasion. Truth is, the girl’s none of your business. Isn’t that so?”

“
Yes, sir.”

“
Glad we understand each other. This is your place, isn’t it?” I turned my head and saw a small house lit by a bare light bulb that hung from the tiny front porch.

“
Yes, sir. You already know who I am.”

“
Sure. One thing you might have noticed, we’re a little protective where Dariana’s concerned. You might even call it paranoid. When you get dangerous people paranoid about something, it’s best to watch your step. Do you get it?” I nodded, opened the door and slid out. He grabbed my wrist before I got a chance to slam the door. “You should have fought Osmond. Someone should knock some of the niceness out of him.”

“
Why? I like him.”

“
Don’t tell me. You’re one of the nice guys? What, did Devlin send you to look after her?” Satan gave me another long look. “That would explain your fascination.”

“
I never met Devlin.”

“
No, but you wouldn’t have to. Good night, boy. Take good care of that uncle of yours.”

I slammed the door and watched as Satan pulled out, spraying gravel around him. I stood watching as the red taillights disappeared from sight.

4 Life is but a Dream…or a Nightmare

When I woke up, my dad was watching me from his chair. I could tell by the light outside my window that it was early morning.

“
Good dream or bad?” he asked closing his book.

“
Dad, don’t you ever sleep?” I rubbed my temples. The last time I’d dreamed about that soft-eyed boy, I’d ended up crying. I didn’t want to cry in front of my father.

“
Not in the summer. About your dream…”

I shook my head. “I’m not comfortable talking about it.” My reaction to him was more defensive than I’d meant it to be. I let out a deep breath. “Sorry, dad. I’m not used to dreams being so vivid and intense. I’m not used to any dreams at all.” I didn’t want to talk about my reaction to some dream boy. I knew from my biology classes that it was perfectly normal for a seventeen-year-old girl to think about boys, but I’d never done it before Devlin died. Snowy would have taken him apart piece by piece from his haircut to his shoes like she always did. Devlin’s girlfriend or no, she wasn’t blind. I had always wondered what she was talking about and now I knew. It was something to talk to girls about, not my dad who I hadn’t seen since I was six.