Masquerade (12 page)

“
I’ve asked her out three
times.”

“
You won’t go out
with
him
?” she
asked me.

“
Of course I would,” I
blurted, then blushed furiously.

“
So you
are
going out?”

I grabbed the pack of English muffins
and slammed them on the counter. “Let’s do this.”

When Emily went off in search of a
missing ingredient I spun toward him. “Do you have any idea who we
were just talking to?”

He feigned innocence.

“
She’s the biggest gossip
in our entire class.”

“
I guess it will be all
over school tomorrow that we’re together.” He seemed unbothered by
this.

“
Probably before then,” I
muttered, slapping some cheese on the pizza.

“
Easy,” he scolded, taking
the bag of cheese from me. “Like this.” He sprinkled the cheese on
the top.

“
You want everyone to think
we’re dating.”

“
Hand me the chicken will
you?”

I practically threw the
chicken at him.

He snatched it out of the
air with ease and shook it at me. “Maybe I should handle the
chicken today. Clearly you treat it the same way your mother does.”
His eyes sparkled with mischief, and he stifled a laugh. It was a
side of him I didn’t often see, and I liked it. I found myself
smiling back even though I think he had just insulted
me.

When he turned away I was able to
remember that we had been talking. “Why?” I demanded.

“
Why, what?” he asked,
never turning from the chicken he seemed to be so carefully
arranging.

“
Why do you want everyone
to think we’re dating?” I said, exasperated.

“
Because then you’ll have
to go out with me. You wouldn’t ruin my reputation by turning me
down and humiliating me would you?”

“
Like you care,” I muttered
as Emily returned.

We finished our pizzas as
Mrs. Cooper came around to see our handiwork, and then we put them
in the toaster oven to bake.
While they
baked the three of us stood in the tiny kitchenette awkwardly as I
tried to avoid Sam’s gaze, and Emily stared at us with open
curiosity. When the little timer beeped I all but sighed in relief.
I turned to grab the oven mitts off the counter and when I turned
back Sam was already reaching into the oven and grabbing the hot
pan.

“
Watch out!” I cried as
Emily and I both rushed forward.

Sam looked up with a
puzzled expression on his face then his eyes rounded and he dropped
the pan back on the rack. “Shit, that was stupid!” He exclaimed and
shook out his hand.

“
Let me see.” I held out my
hand for his knowing that he had to be covered in blisters. I was
about to call for the teacher when his voice cut me off.

“
It’s no big deal, I’m
fine.”

“
You can’t be fine. The
inside of that oven is almost four hundred degrees.” As I spoke I
leaned forward to look at his hand.

He brushed it down his
pant leg then stuck it inside his pocket. “Really, I’m fine. We
should get those out before they burn.”

“
I’ll get them,” Emily
volunteered when I just stood there staring at him. “They actually
look pretty good.” She said, sitting them on the hot pad on the
counter.

Sam kept his hand in his
pocket and turned away to look at the pizza. Emily hurried off to
get the teacher to give us a grade, and I used the opportunity to
tug his hand out of his pocket. Sam didn’t protest, but watched me
with somber, liquid-honey eyes. I turned his hand palm up and ran
my fingers across where a massive blister was sure to
be.

There was nothing there. His skin was
completely smooth and unmarked.

I was sure that he would be
burned. I saw him touch that pan, why weren’t there any
marks
on his skin? I thought he might say
something, but then Emily and the teacher returned and the moment
was lost. As soon as we received a grade Sam grabbed up his pizza
and ate it in one bite.

“
Did you even eat lunch?” I
grumped.

“
I’m hungry.” He
shrugged,
avoiding my gaze.

I pushed my untouched pizza toward
him. He ate it in one bite too. Emily sat next to him gingerly
picking at hers. “What are you doing after school today?” he asked
around his chewing.

“
I was hoping to go to my
grandma’s. I have a horse there.”

“
Do you need a
ride
?” Sam asked and suddenly the pizza
lost its interest for Emily, and she stared at us, trying not to
make it obvious she was looking
.

“
Actually, that would be
great.” I replied giving up on trying to keep myself out of the
gossip mill. What did it matter anyway?

When
the final bell rang, Sam caught up with me and walked me to
my locker. I couldn’t help but notice the curious glances directed
our way. I pulled the hoodie further down
over my head
and tried to ignore
everyone. Kimber came running up to us just as I was entering the
combination on my lock.

“
You’ll never guess what I
heard!”

Emily worked fast. “I can only
imagine,” I intoned.

Kimber frowned. “Is something
wrong?”

“
No, nothing. So what did
you hear?”

“
They announced the theme
for prom today!”

“
They did?” I’d forgotten
about prom. I’d avoided every dance this year and every other
social activity I could. It had never bothered me until now.
“What’s the theme?”

“
It’s a masquerade
ball
!” She
jumped
up and down.

“
Like with masks?” This
idea intrigued me.

“
Exactly! Isn’t it
cool?”

“
Actually, it
is.”

“
Does that mean you’re
going to come?” she asked me, sliding a look at Sam.

“
I don’t know.” I glared at
her.

Kimber grinned, and I knew she was up
to something. “Well, I am sure everyone will be expecting to see
you with the guy who had to practically beg you to be his
date.”

“
Emily!” I
gasped.

Kimber cackled as she walked
away.

I slammed my locker shut and turned to
Sam. “I’m sorry.”

“
For what?”

“
Now everyone will think
we’re dating.”

“
I’m the one who told her
that in the first place.”

I sighed. “Seriously
–
why would you do
that?”

We moved off down the hall as I hefted
my book bag over my shoulder. “I figured it was the best way to get
you to agree.”

“
To date you?”

“
Uh-huh.”

“
Like a girlfriend?” I
whispered.

“
If you want.” He held the
door open and motioned for me to go ahead.

The sun was bright and it would have
been warm if it wasn’t for the breeze in the air. “Why would you
want that?” I mumbled.

He took my hand and pulled me around
to face him. “I do. Want that.” The breeze ruffled his hair
playfully, a stark contrast to his jaw, which was set like he was
expecting rejection.

Something about that
slightly vulnerable look in his eyes melted me. I gave in, if the
hottest guy in school wanted to date me
–
and I know I wanted to date
him
–
then I
would stop wondering why he liked me and just go for it. “Me
too.”

“
Really?” His eyes shone
like the summer sun with a hint of surprise.

“
Really.”

A grin broke his face, exposing
straight, white teeth and suddenly he was lifting me off my feet to
plant a quick, firm kiss on my lips. When he put me down, he took
my hand, and we began walking across the campus to his truck. I
noticed that people were outright staring, and for once, I didn’t
care.

“
Do you usually go to your
grandma’s after school?”

“
As often as I can.
Tuesdays and Thursdays I have to go to Bible study.” He slid his
eyes away from the road to look at me, then back. “My mother is
very religious,” I explained and noticed a tightening around his
eyes and mouth. Was he against religion then? “She wasn’t always
that way, but then my father died.”

“
Your father
died?”

“
Yeah. A few years ago. He
was on the police force here. He was shot during a robbery.” That
single bullet had changed everything in my entire world.

“
That must have been really
hard. I’m sure it still is.” He reached across the seat for my
hand.

“
Sometimes.” I liked that
he didn’t automatically apologize. Whenever I told someone about my
dad, it was the first thing people said: ‘I’m sorry.’ I knew they
meant it, and it was supposed to be comforting; but it really
wasn’t, and it wasn’t necessary. It wasn’t their fault that he’d
died, so why apologize for something they had nothing to do
with?

“
Your grandma is your dad’s
mother?”

“
Yeah. She’s really special
to me.”

“
I’m glad you have her,
then.”

“
Who is special to you,
Sam?”

“
You,” he rasped the word
and sent goose bumps across my skin.

“
Where are your
parents?”

Seconds passed before he answered.
“I’m emancipated. I don’t see them.”

“
For how long?”

“
About a year and a
half.”

No wonder he seemed so lonely, and it
could even explain his rude roommates. “You’re
roommates…?”

“
They’re emancipated
too.”

“
Oh.” It was ironic because
‘I’m sorry’ popped onto my tongue, but I bit it back. “You’re not
alone anymore.”

A groan built in his chest and rumbled
out of him. The topic was clearly hard for him, so I changed the
subject. “What do you do after school?”

“
I have a job,” he said it
low, like he was ashamed.

“
Really? Where?”

“
Planet
Fitness
, at the front desk. They’re
coaching me to be a personal trainer.”

“
Wow. That’s really cool.”
I guess his job explained the muscles I’d seen rippling beneath his
clothes.

He seemed embarrassed, but added, “I
just got hired for a second job too. Down at the lake renting
paddle boats and stuff. It’s just for spring and summer though,
mostly on weekends.”

“
That’s really
responsible,” I said before I could stop myself. He threw me a
look, and I giggled. “Sorry.” I laughed again.

He tried not to, but laughed anyway.
When we sobered he said, “I can take care of myself.”

That seemed really important to him,
and I nodded. I guess he didn’t have a choice. Undoing my seatbelt
I slid closer to him. “You’re doing a good job.”

He cleared his throat but said
nothing. When we pulled up to my grandma’s house he parked, letting
the engine idle. “Thanks for the ride.”

“
How long do you usually
stay here?”

“
As long as I
can.”

“
I get off at nine. Want me
to pick you up?”

Nine was later than I usually stayed,
but I would wait just to see him again. “Sure. Unless you’ll be
tired and want to go home.”

“
I’d rather see
you.”

“
See you later then.” I
peeked up at him from beneath my lashes.

He moved fast, taking my face between
his palms and lowering his head until his lips covered mine. His
lips were full and moist, and he knew how to use them. Too soon he
moved back, and I gripped his wrists before he could pull
completely away. His hazel eyes were an intense burning gold, and I
felt my hands begin to shake. Almost as if he knew, he closed his
eyes and came back to me, his lips brushing a gentle kiss over my
scar. The simple act melted me.

“
I’ll be back,” he
whispered, reaching around me to open the door.

It took a moment for the fog in my
head to clear. “I’ll be waiting.”

I stood in the yard and watched him
drive away. It was only after he was gone that I realized I hadn’t
given him directions to get here.

Chapter Nine

Heven

I walked around in a dreamy
haze for the rest of the week. Sam was my boyfriend. I had a
boyfriend. Somehow I found myself smiling a lot more, and when
people looked at me in the hall, I looked back. Sometimes, I waved.
To my intense surprise everyone was nice. No one whispered about me
when they thought I wasn’t looking. Thursday night I found myself
standing in front of my closet pondering my wardrobe. While I still
knew
my scars were ugly
and the left side of my face was disfigured, I
wondered if maybe people wouldn’t notice it as much if the rest of
me looked nice. I rummaged around and tried on a few things, but
nothing fit. Everything was just too big. I reached for my cell and
punched in Kimber’s number.