Peachville High Demons 01: Beautiful Demons (12 page)

“Loser,” Drake mumbled, then turned his attention back to me. “So what do you say? Please come to the game and sit in the reserved section? Then come out with us after the game?”

What the hell? I nodded. “Sure,” I said. “Why not?”

I suddenly felt as though I had nothing more to lose.

A Better Life

I spent the rest of the week sitting with Drake and the popular kids at lunch. At first, I felt awkward hanging out with Drake, knowing he used to date Allison. I didn't want to do anything that might make any of them upset with me. But when I asked Lark about it one day after lunch, she said that Allison didn't care at all. She said Drake and Allison were really just friends.

In the mornings, Allison, Brooke, and Lark had started waiting for me by the statue. It was like I had just slipped into their crowd and was now an accepted part of the group. And Lark was right, there was never any weird tension between Allison and me about Drake. I started to relax into my new friendships.

Agnes didn't seem to be too happy about my new friends. I told her she was welcome to hang out with us, but she said she wouldn't feel comfortable. When I mentioned it to Brooke, she scrunched up her nose.

“No offense,” she said. “But Agnes is kind of a pain in the you-know-what.”

“No she isn't. She's really nice. She was the first friend I made here in Peachville.”

“I think she's nice too,” Lark said. “But the problem is that she never stops talking. It's like blah-blah-blah all the dang time.”

“It gets kind of old,” Allison said.

I couldn't really argue with that, but I liked Agnes. She'd always been so nice to me. Well, except the past few days, I guess.

“Besides, you can hang out with Agnes anytime,” Brooke said. “But I just don't think she'd really fit in with us.”

I wondered if this had anything to do with Shadowford, but I guess if they really did have something against the place, they wouldn't have changed their minds about me. I still had no idea what made them want to be my friend, but it was nice to be part of a group for once. I'd changed schools so often that I'd pretty much always been on the outside. Being part of the popular crowd was a whole new experience for me.

In class, it even seemed like the teachers were nicer to me. A few of my teachers even gave me extra time on projects and tests. Mrs. King was especially generous, letting me skip a paper on Hemingway.

“I've seen your transcripts,” she said. “You're way ahead of most of the rest of the students in your reading.”

“Thanks,” I said. “I could really use the extra time. I was a little behind after being out so long.” That wasn't totally true. School out here in the sticks was way easier than some of the schools up in Atlanta. But at the same time, I did have a lot of homework to catch up on.

“Have you ever thought about trying out for the team?” she asked.

At first, I had no idea what she'd been talking about. “The team?”

“The cheerleading squad. Unfortunately, we've got an empty spot now that Tori's gone, and I'd really like to fill it with another sophomore. We're having tryouts next week if you're interested.”

A strange shiver ran down my spine. I had never really considered trying out for a team sport or anything before. To be honest, I never stayed at one school long enough to really get involved. Then I thought of the picture I'd found of my mother. She had been a cheerleader here at this school twenty years ago. Maybe it was fate. Besides, I'd been feeling off ever since I got sick. I needed something to pull me back into the moment. “That might be fun,” I said.

When I told the other girls about it at lunch, they freaked out.

“Oh my God! That's the best idea ever!” Lark said. She got up out of her chair and crossed over to give me a big hug. “I know you'd make the team, too. You've just got the look.”

“I've never done anything like it before, though. I'm totally clumsy and uncoordinated sometimes. What if I can't learn the cheers fast enough?”

“We'll help you,” Brooke said. “If she's looking for a sophomore to fill the spot, then you won't have too much competition anyway.”

Competition. I suddenly thought of Agnes and how badly she wanted to be on the team. A knot of guilt formed in my stomach. I couldn't really back out now, though. I'd already told Mrs. King I would try out.

“After the game on Friday night, we should totally have a sleepover,” Lark said.

“Ooh, we can teach you the cheers,” Allison said, clapping. “Then you'll be way ahead of the other girls before practice even starts on Monday.”

“We can have it at my house,” Brooke said. “My parents won't mind at all.”

“Is this a girls only party or are guys invited too?” Drake asked. He poked Foster in the ribs and they laughed.

Brooke rolled her eyes. “Duh. Girls only. But nice try.”

“I was planning on throwing a party out at the lake house after the game,” Foster said. “But it won't be any fun if you ladies can't be there.”

“Do it next weekend,” Lark said. “We can celebrate Harper making the squad.”

Foster considered it. “Alright, that works. It's another home game,” he said. “So party at the lake next Friday after the game. I expect all of you to be there.”

I studied him. Foster had been dating Tori for over a year, yet here he was just a few weeks after she'd been brutally murdered, throwing a party for his friends like nothing happened. It was as though she were a part of their lives one day, and the next she was gone, and it was no big deal. They were all just moving on with their lives. It was weird.

Drake caught my eye and winked. I bit my lip and looked away, my face flushed with warmth. I couldn't believe that the most popular guy in school, the quarterback of the football team and son of one of the richest families in town, was flirting with me. It was like I had been reborn while I was sick and a new life had been given to me. A better life.

Tori's life.

I shook the thought away. No, this wasn't about Tori.

Friday afternoon came fast. As I was contemplating putting a temporary demon tattoo on my cheek for the game, something caught my eye out by the barn. Jackson Hunt was down there watching me through the window.

It wasn't the first time I'd seen him staring at me, either. After that first day in the courtyard when he interrupted me and Drake, I'd seen him watching me a lot. Both at school and here at Shadowford. Looking down at him now, I suddenly had a flash of memory. I'd seen him down there that first day I moved to Shadowford. Agnes had told me he was trouble and that we weren't supposed to be talking to him.

He waved up at me, but I didn't wave back. There was something so sad about him. It clouded my new happiness and brought back that same fuzziness that I'd felt when I first came out of the fever. I didn't like feeling like that. I wanted to be happy. I liked my new friendships even if I didn't totally understand why I had them.

I turned away from the window and walked into the bathroom to put the demon on my face.

I Must Have Seen it Wrong

At the game, Agnes asked me where I wanted to sit. She'd barely even talked to me the whole week, and I was surprised she even cared where I was sitting. Still, I hated to admit I'd been invited to the reserved section.

“Of course,” she said. “Next thing I know, you'll be showing up at the tryouts next week to audition for the squad.” There was so much bitterness in her voice.

I couldn't look her in the eye. “Agnes...” I'd been trying to figure out how to break the news to her, and now that the time had come, I wasn't sure what to say. Guilt twisted my stomach. Was I wrong to want something better for myself?

“You've got to be kidding me.” She looked at me as if I'd just slapped her across the face. “I didn't think you'd actually do it. You know how much this means to me, Harper. And since when do you want to be a cheerleader? When you moved here, what was it you said about them? That they were ego-maniac airheads? My, my how things have changed.”

“Agnes,” I said. “Don't be upset. I'm sorry. It's not like I expected things to turn out like this. But-”

“But what? You're going to stab me in the back anyway?” Tears formed in her eyes. “Come on Courtney, let's go. We're not good enough to sit in the reserved section with Harper.”

Courtney shrugged apologetically and gave me a little wave.

I felt like a real jerk. I knew how important the squad was to Agnes, but at the same time, didn't I deserve to be happy too? Never in my life had a group of people invited me into their circle the way the cheerleaders had. It was the first time I felt special, and I didn't want to give it up for anyone.

I made my way through the crowd to the small reserved section of bleachers just in front of where the cheerleaders stood. Mrs. King was already there and she smiled brightly when she saw me.

“Harper, I'm so glad you made it,” she said. “Brooke told me you girls are going to her house to practice tonight, and I think that's such a great idea. Some of the other girls trying out were there for the auditions last year, so a lot of them will already be familiar with the cheers and the dances. It's really sweet that the girls are spending so much time with you. Friendship on the squad is so important, and even though we want to pick the best girls for the team, it doesn't hurt that you already get along with them so well.”

I smiled. “I really feel lucky to be included,” I said.

The game was much more exciting than the first one I'd gone to. I tried to pay special attention to all the cheers, but the thought of having to learn everything in just one week made me nervous. Plus, I couldn't help watching for Drake out on the field. He was really a star out there on the field. A couple of times when the defense was out on the field, I caught Drake watching me from the sidelines.

Everything was going great until the pyramid incident.

Sometime near the end of the third quarter, the cheerleaders did a cheer that had them piling up into a giant pyramid. A small brunette climbed to the top and stood, then with a little bounce, she was thrown high into the air. It was a beautiful stunt at first. She did a full flip in the air, but something went wrong on the landing. Her foot got caught on someone's arm and I gasped as she fell to the ground. Sitting so close to the squad, I had a clear view of the entire stunt. The girl's fall happened so fast. I jumped up, helpless to stop her. I could swear I heard a crack as her head hit the ground.

I screamed and jumped from my seat. The crowd around me gasped, then went silent. Mrs. King rushed out to where the other girls had huddled around the injured girl. I looked around, waiting for the paramedics to rush over, but I didn't see them.

My pulse hammered in my veins. She had to be hurt really bad. Possibly paralyzed. I watched as Mrs. King emerged from the huddle. She was smiling.

The small brunette stood up and waved to the crowd. Applause broke out all around me, but I stood there, stunned. How could that be possible? She had fallen at least ten feet straight down on her head. There was no way she was fine.

“Sherry never misses that toss,” Mrs. King said. “Good thing Ella broke her fall.”

I shook my head. “Are you sure she's alright? I could have sworn-”

“Goodness Harper, don't worry so much.” Mrs. King laughed like it was nothing. “She's fine. In fact, I'm almost more worried about Ella's leg. Sherry practically fell right on top of it.”

“I guess I must have seen it wrong,” I said. But to be honest, I didn't think I had.

It's Not That Simple

Peachville won the game 21-7. Lark ran up to me in the bleachers, grabbed me by the arm, and pulled me out onto the field with her and the rest of the squad.

“You should go say hi to Drake,” she said with a giggle. “He's so into you.”

I blushed. “You really think so?”

“Duh. Don't even try to pretend you don't know he likes you,” she said, then pushed me toward him on the field.

“Harper!” Drake called. He grabbed me up in a big bear hug and lifted me several inches off the ground.

I laughed harder than I remembered laughing in a very long time. “You were great,” I said when he finally put me down.

“That's because I had the prettiest girl in the whole school right there, front and center,” he said. “I wanted to impress you.”

Me? The prettiest girl in school? Something about this felt so fake, but there was a part of me that wanted to believe it could be real.

“Have fun tonight,” he said. He leaned down and kissed the top of my head, then ran off to join the rest of the team.

Afterward, at Brooke's, the girls drilled me about my relationship with Drake. We had all changed into cheer shorts and tank tops and were hanging out in Brooke's living room. The place was unreal. Sure, Shadowford was big, but this place was fancy. Plush carpeting. A huge stone fireplace. High ceilings. I was scared to touch anything.

“Has he asked you out yet?” Allison asked.

I searched her face to make sure there was no sign of jealousy about me dating her ex. She didn't ever talk about him, and now it seemed like she was encouraging me to date him. It was odd, but at the same time, I was glad I had the go-ahead to date him if he asked.

“No. He just mentioned that he hoped I'd be at the party next weekend.”

“That's pretty much the same thing as a date, then,” Lark said.

“I bet he's going to kiss you,” Brooke chimed in.

“He practically kissed her tonight. Did you see him kiss her head? It was so sweet,” Lark said.

“Stop,”I said, hiding my head under a large velvet pillow. “You guys are embarrassing me.”

“Harper's got a boyfriend,” Allison sang.

“Oh Lord, what are you? Ten?” Brooke threw a pillow at Allison and she kicked back. Soon everyone was giggling and play-fighting, tossing pillows around the room and being silly.

I hid behind the couch, but Lark came around and started tickling me. We rolled on the floor and her shirt came up slightly, revealing a strange tattoo in the small of her back.

“What's that?” I asked, out of breath.