Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) (52 page)

 “So Cat, do you and Ryan have anything special planned for tomorrow?” Rachel asked as they ate dinner.

“Huh?  Oh, I don’t know. We haven’t really talked about it.”

“Cat, you seem distracted. Something wrong?” Sam asked, a frown marring his forehead.

“Nothing really. Just a weird thing happened at school today, and I guess it shook me a little,” Cat answered nonchalantly.

“What happened?” Rachel asked, seeing through Cat’s ruse.

“After school I went to my locker and there were black roses inside. It was kind of creepy and gave me the wiggins. But Ryan took care of them, so no worries.”

“Do you have any idea who might have put them there?”  Sam asked.

“No. But it was probably just someone playing a joke or something,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.

“Is there someone who likes you, but you don’t like them?” Rachel asked, looking at Sam who gave her a comforting smile.

“No. Not that I know of.  Oh well, it’s really nothing right?” Cat asked.

“Of course, a gag I’m sure. Just keep an eye out for anyone acting funny, okay?” Sam replied.

Cat laughed hollowly. “It was probably Kirsten or somebody from her group. She’s still kind of being a pill.” Sam and Rachel looked at each other hoping that was the answer.

Valentine’s Day arrived with a bright sun and temperatures warmer than usual. Cat opened her front door to find Ryan standing there with a bundle of pink roses, a box of chocolates, and his lips exaggeratedly puckered waiting for a kiss. “How long have you been out here?” Cat asked surprised, a huge smile on her face.

“Uh, just long enough to see your neighbor check me out like five times, and have an awkward conversation with your father on his way to work,” he joked, his lips still puckered up.

“You should’ve just rang the doorbell,” she said, trying to hold back a giggle.

He laughed. “Well, then it wouldn’t have been a surprise now would it? Are you going to kiss me or not?”

“Oh Ryan! They’re beautiful!” she exclaimed, taking the flowers from him and then grabbing him in a hug, kissing him soundly. “Thank you, I really needed this!”

“Well, I had to make up for yesterday.”

“Let me just go put these in water,” Cat said as Ryan followed her inside.

“Randy, Randy, you’re never going to believe what I just saw! A boy just went into the Colvin house with Catherine. Without parental supervision,” Maude exclaimed.

“And?” Randy replied flipping through the morning paper.

“And? And? Didn’t you hear me? No parental supervision! On Valentine’s Day! He’s luring her with flowers and candy. Someone has to put a stop to this right now,” Maude announced as she headed for the front door. 

“Leave ’em alone, Maude. It’s none of your business anyway.”

“Darn, I’m too late,” Maude murmured, ignoring Randy’s comment. “They’ve left. You better believe that Catherine is going to get an earful when she gets home.”

“Everyone always gets an earful from you, my dear,” Randy said under his breath as he turned the page of the paper.
Great, she remembered it’s Valentine’s Day. I guess I’ve got to go get her something now. Damn holiday!
Randy thought.

After driving her to school, Ryan left Cat at the gym entrance with a quick kiss. The hallway was deserted except for a few stragglers. As Cat made her way to her locker, the warning bell rang, but in her current mood she didn’t care. When she opened her locker, Cat came face to face with a huge paper heart hanging there.

Something was attached to the heart with a large paper clip.  Cat’s heart sank when she saw it was a pocket protector. She gasped, realizing it was not just any pocket protector, but Melvin Pierson’s. His name was written in bold print on the back. Beginning to tremble with worry, Cat grabbed both items and rushed to the biology classroom. Everyone looked up as Cat burst through the door. Whispers began flowing through the class as she just stood there in shock.

“Class, please begin reading page 401. I’ll be right outside, no talking,” Miss Amaya instructed. With a gentle push she guided a stricken Cat back out into the hallway.

“Cat, what’s wrong?” Without a word Cat held up the paper heart and Melvin Pierson’s property, with tears filling her eyes.  “This is Melvin’s. Where did you get it?” Miss Amaya clutched the pocket protector tightly.

“It was in my locker. Yesterday I got black roses. Today I got this. He always had this on him. It was his security blanket. He’d never be without it.” Cat stared at Ms. Amaya’s hand, “Do you think he’s still alive?” she whispered as a teacher walked by.

Ms. Amaya raised her head to look at Cat, “He might be. I have to talk to Gretchen. Don’t tell anyone about this until I do. This is our secret. Oh Cat, I hope he’s alive,” she answered with tears in her eyes.