Truth or Dare (20 page)

“Here.” Caitlin bent down, unclipping her anklet. “Use my lucky anklet until you find it, okay?” She grabbed Emerson’s wrist, clasping the chain onto it. It hung loosely over her hand, dangling next to her chunky gold ring. “I believe the law of lucky charms says it’s okay to substitute,” she told her with a smile.

Emerson gave her wrist a shake, making the charms jangle. “It doesn’t look too bad, does it?”

“Nothing looks bad on you,” Caitlin replied, rolling her eyes in feigned annoyance.

Emerson gave Caitlin a tiny smile as she fiddled with the angel charm. “All right, thanks, Cait. It will work until I find Big Foot.” She nudged Caitlin in the side. “And you’ll be there this afternoon, right?”

The idea of going to a pep rally thrown by the very cheerleading squad that had voted her out sounded about as appealing to Caitlin as an AP bio test. But Emerson needed her. “I’ll be there,” she promised. She forced a smile onto her face. “Front bleacher and center,” she said. “Like always.”

Caitlin had a free period next, so she headed to the home ec fridge to get her angel food cupcakes. It was her only chance all day to hand them out, and Tenley had promised to help her. She had just left the home ec room with an armful of Tupperware when she ran right into Tenley. Tenley jumped a little when she saw her. “Sorry,” she said with a nervous laugh. “Guess I’m a little on edge today.”

“I know the feeling,” Caitlin said. “Ready to hand out some cupcakes?”

Tenley grabbed several Tupperware containers off the stack Caitlin was carrying. “I’ve been waiting for this all day,” she said dryly.

They planted themselves in front of Winslow’s study center. Tenley
seemed to relax a little as they passed out the
VOTE 4 ANGEL!
cupcakes, getting swept up in persuading people to “make the right choice” on Friday. By the end of the period, they’d gone through almost all three hundred cupcakes, and Tenley had elicited even more promises of votes for Cait. Caitlin was getting ready to call it a day when she saw Hunter walking toward the study center.

She ducked her head, hoping to avoid an awkward run-in. But all of a sudden, Tenley called out his name. She waved him over, flashing him her flirtiest smile as she gave him one of the last cupcakes. “Don’t forget to vote for our favorite angel on Friday,” Tenley lectured Hunter. Caitlin’s eyes widened as she watched her. Tenley was tossing her hair, lowering her eyelashes, flashing her smile… and Hunter was eating it right up.

“I’ll need more than a cupcake to make that happen,” he said saucily, raising his eyebrows at Tenley. Caitlin looked away, confused. What was he doing? He was
gay
. Then suddenly it hit her: He was using Tenley. Just like he’d tried to use her on New Year’s with that attempted kiss. It made her so sad, the idea of having to wear a mask like that. But as she remembered how he’d clutched her arm on Sunday night, she couldn’t help but shiver.

“A bribe, huh?” Tenley asked Hunter thoughtfully. “Well, lucky for you that’s my specialty. But,” she added, leaning close enough for her shoulder to brush against his, “let’s just keep it between us. I don’t think our angel over there condones bribes. Even,” she went on, smiling, “fun ones.”

“Of course.” For the first time Hunter looked in Caitlin’s direction. “Let’s just hope she’s as sweet an angel as she claims to be.” He said it brightly, but Caitlin got the message loud and clear. Sweet angels kept their promises.

“Oh, believe me,” Tenley joked, oblivious to the message passing between them. “Angel Thomas has earned her wings.”

When Hunter headed into the study center a few minutes later, Tenley grabbed Caitlin’s arms. “He’s perfect, right?”

“For…?” Caitlin asked, not understanding.

“To make You Know Who jealous! He’s the one I texted you about yesterday. Think about it: He’s hot, he’s popular, he’s a freaking senator’s son. What I don’t get is how no girl has snatched him up by now.” Caitlin opened and closed her mouth, but nothing came out. Before she could muster up a semblance of a reply, the bell for next period rang.

“See you at the pep rally later?” Caitlin asked Tenley before they parted ways.

Tenley tensed, her ease of just a few minutes ago evaporating instantly. “I’m not sure I’m going to go.”

Caitlin put a hand on Tenley’s arm. She had to get Tenley past this dislike of Emerson. “I know you haven’t really gotten to know Emerson yet, Ten, but it’s not like we’re going just to watch her. Besides, I
have
to go. You’re not going to leave me there all alone, are you?”

Tenley shifted the books she was carrying to her other arm. “Maybe…” she said hesitantly.

Caitlin smiled at Tenley. “I’m taking that as a yes,” she said.

The rest of the day flew by and before Caitlin knew it, it was time for the pep rally. She wanted so badly to go home and crawl into bed with Sailor, but she’d made a promise to Emerson. So instead she huddled with Marta in the front row of the bleachers, a cotton throw blanket wrapped around their legs. It wasn’t even that cold yet, but they’d brought that blanket to the very first game Emerson had cheered at, and it had attended every pep rally and game with them since. It was
covered with Sharpie doodles by now, drawings and notes from the hours and hours they’d spent watching Emerson cheer.

“Hey, look.” Marta pointed toward Tenley, who was standing at the very end of the bleachers. “It’s Mama Grizzly.” From the sour face Marta was making, it was clear Caitlin wasn’t the only one Emerson had been complaining to about Tenley.

“Her name’s Tenley,” Caitlin scolded. “And she was your good friend, too, once,” she added. “Remember?” She nudged Marta with her knee. “All those sleepovers? How much fun we used to have?”

Caitlin waved at Tenley, trying to catch her attention, but Tenley seemed fixated on something in the distance. As Caitlin watched, a few football players stopped to talk to her, and she jumped a little. It always amazed Caitlin how Tenley seemed to draw guys’ attention without even trying. She was such a tiny person, but around guys she seemed to grow and grow—until she was all you could look at.

“She never was boring to be around,” Marta admitted.

Caitlin laughed. “I don’t think
boring
is in her vocabulary.”

“Okay, here’s a question.” Marta turned to Caitlin, her eyes gleaming. “Truth or dare?”

Caitlin felt every muscle in her body tense up. “W-what?” she stammered.

“Truth or dare?” Marta repeated calmly.

Caitlin could feel the color draining from her face. What was Marta talking about? Did she know something about the dares?

Marta elbowed Caitlin playfully in the side. “I was
hoping
you’d choose truth so I could pick your brain about Tenley.” Marta’s smile was easy and relaxed.

She doesn’t know anything,
Caitlin told herself.
It was just a coincidence. That was all.

“Oh, right.” Caitlin let out a shaky laugh. Her heart felt speedy all of a sudden, as if she’d just downed three coffees. “Okay, uh, truth.”

“Why do you think she came back?” Marta asked. “I mean, I know her mom married Lanson Reed and everything, but isn’t this technically his summerhouse? Why not move into his Boston penthouse?”

Caitlin looked back at Tenley. “I think she and her mom just missed their home,” she said.

“If you say so.” Marta turned around, scanning the crowds filling the rows of bleachers above them. “Big turnout this year,” she remarked. Suddenly she grabbed Caitlin’s hand. “Uh, Cait, don’t look now, but somebody really seems to have his eye on you….” Marta jerked her chin expressively to the left.

Caitlin took a deep breath.
See
, she told herself.
It meant nothing. It was nothing.

“Seriously, Cait,” Marta hissed. “Creepster at three o’clock.”

Caitlin turned her head slowly, pretending to be stretching her neck. Her eyes landed on Joey Bakersfield. He was sitting alone, his green notebook on his lap, and he was staring at Caitlin. Not an I-just-happened-to-look-over-at-you stare, but a real stare. For a few seconds, they just looked at each other. Then, finally, he broke the stare, looking down to scribble in his green notebook.

Caitlin was about to turn away when she noticed Tim Holland, sitting a few seats down from Joey. His messy blond hair fell into his face. He was laughing at something Tray Macintyre was saying. “Since when do the surfketeers go to pep rallies?” Marta whispered next to her. At that moment, Tim looked over, catching her eye. As he lifted his hand in a wave, Caitlin quickly turned around, her face flushing red.

“Hey, guys,” Tenley said, dropping down next to Caitlin as the marching band began its traditional pep-rally march. Caitlin had
been so distracted by the crowds that she hadn’t even noticed her coming over.

She smiled at her. “I’m glad you came, Ten.” As the cheerleaders burst onto the field in a flurry of handsprings and cartwheels, Caitlin clapped loudly, cheering for Emerson.

“Looking hot, Em!” Marta cheered next to her as Emerson leaped into a graceful toe touch.

“Emerson should have been captain, in my opinion,” Caitlin whispered to Tenley. “I mean, Jessie’s great, and obviously a direct descendant of the Energizer bunny, but just look at Emerson. She makes it look so effortless, you know?” Caitlin knew it was a stretch, trying to get Tenley to warm up to Emerson through gymnastics moves, but she figured anything was worth a shot right now.

But when she looked over at Tenley, it was clear she hadn’t heard a word she’d said. Her eyes were focused intently on the field, watching closely as the cheerleaders lined up for synchronized splits. “You okay, Ten?” Caitlin touched her shoulder. She wondered if watching the cheerleaders was making Tenley miss gymnastics. It had been her whole life once. And then, just like that, she’d cut it out. “Ten?” she said again.

Tenley started, as though she was hearing Caitlin for the first time. “What?” she asked, keeping her eyes on the field.

“You okay?” Caitlin repeated.

“Oh, yeah, fine,” Tenley said, waving her off.

Her eyes were still glued to the field, and she was digging her thumbnails into her palms. Caitlin frowned. Something was obviously up. Tenley was rarely so distracted.

“Ten?” she said softly. But before she could say anything else, Marta let out a gasp.

“Look at Jessie!” she blurted out, pointing to where the cheerleaders had formed a pyramid. Jessie was at the top, doing her famous arabesque. But something looked off. She was tilting a little to the right, as if she couldn’t quite keep her balance. “Oh my god,” Marta said. “She’s going to—”

She never finished the sentence. Suddenly Jessie’s eyes rolled back in her head and she slumped forward, crashing to the ground with a thud.

The entire bleachers were on their feet in an instant, people crying out and yelling and reaching for cell phones to call 911. That pale boy they’d skinny-dipped with—Calum—sprinted out to the field, kneeling next to Jessie, who was now convulsing. “I’m a lifeguard,” Caitlin heard him shout. “I’ve been trained in seizures!” Abby Wilkins ran out after him, and Marta hurried down, too, going over to Emerson.

Caitlin knew she should probably go down there, but she couldn’t seem to move. Her legs felt like lead and her heart was pounding in her chest as she watched Jessie shake and convulse on the floor. She grabbed Tenley’s arm for support. “What just happened?” she whispered, turning to her for reassurance.

But Tenley didn’t reply. Her eyes were on Jessie, her face a pale, pale green. When Caitlin looked down, she realized Tenley’s hands were trembling.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Tenley whispered. She shook Caitlin’s hand off her arm and, without another word, took off at a sprint.

Tuesday, 9:45
PM

I’M READY FOR THIS.” SYDNEY CHANTED THE WORDS
out loud as she steered her car toward the Seagull Inn. It was probably the hundredth time she’d said them that night, but as she glanced at the clock—only fifteen minutes until she was supposed to be at the inn—she felt the need to say them once more. “I’m ready for this,” she repeated.

And she was. She was wearing her favorite sweater, the black boat-neck one that slid softly off one shoulder. Underneath she had on her brand-new purchases: a lacy bra and underwear set that had cost her nearly two paychecks. But it was worth it. The lace was the exact same turquoise blue as her eyes, Guinness’s favorite color on her.

The more she’d thought about the dare today, the more certain she’d become that it was from Guinness. He wanted them to be all alone, in a hotel room… Sydney squeezed the steering wheel as she pulled her car into the Seagull Inn parking lot. Maybe this was Guinness’s
way of saying “I’m sorry for the summer”—wiping the slate clean and letting them start again.

She’d had a whole speech planned out to get up to the room, but the guy at the front desk barely even glanced at her. She ducked her head as she hurried past him. Apparently lack of security was one perk of seedy roadside inns. The smell being another, of course. She wrinkled her nose as the scent of must and mothballs and overly perfumed Lysol overwhelmed her.

She jogged up the stairs, trying to stay calm. It wasn’t as if she and Guinness had never been alone before. But when she found room 147 and heard the faint scuffling of movement behind the door, she could practically
feel
her blood pressure spiking. Hotel-room alone was not the same thing as regular alone, and she knew it. For a second she just stood there, listening to the sounds inside the room, a door creaking and something scraping against the floor and what sounded like laughter. She squared her shoulders, trying to banish the nerves waging war inside her. Before she could wimp out, she knocked on the door.

“Uh, one minute,” a voice called out from inside. Sydney furrowed her brow. That voice sounded almost like—

The door swung open and there, standing shirtless in front of her, was a man. But it wasn’t Guinness.

It was her dad.

All the color drained from his face as he stared at her. “
Sydney?
” he whispered. “What are you doing here?”