Mortal Kiss (16 page)

“You’ve got Finn all wrong,” said Faye quietly. “I think he’s a good guy. Anyway, he said he’d look for Jimmy, and that can’t be bad, can it?”

Liz shrugged reluctantly. “I guess not.”

Faye’s phone jingled as a text arrived. “Darn it,” she said, holding up her wet nails. “Can you get that for me?”

Liz pulled Faye’s phone out of her bag and examined it. “There’s no name,” she said with a frown. “And whoever it is isn’t in your contacts.”

“Probably because it’s my old phone,” said Faye. “I dropped my new one in the woods. What does the text say?”

“It says,
Meet me by the stage door tonight
. That’s it.”

The Battle of the Bands was being held at Winter Mill High. The students and teachers involved had spent the past week preparing for the event, decorating the gym, where the main stage had been erected. Everyone seemed excited about it. After the weeks of constant snow, it was a chance to enjoy some color and fun.

It had taken Faye and Liz so long to decide what to wear that their original plan to get there early had gone out the window. Instead, they actually had to hurry so as not to miss the first act.

“We’re going to be late!” Liz exclaimed as she drove her car into the school’s parking lot.

“Don’t worry, we won’t miss anything,” said Faye, looking around at the streams of chattering people walking up to the school. “See, there are plenty of people still on their way, like us. They’ll want a full house before they start the show, won’t they?”

“Yeah, but I wanted to get a really good spot,” Liz moaned. “Now we’ll be squashed in at the back or something.”

Faye shook her head, smiling as she opened the car door. “It’ll be fine. Stop worrying! And anyway, it was worth being late—you look great.”

Liz got out and glanced down at the outfit she’d finally chosen. She looked at Faye and sighed. “You know, here I am worried about how I look and who’s going to win this competition … and Jimmy’s somewhere out there, lost … or … or worse. It just doesn’t feel right.”

Faye walked around the car and gave Liz a hug. “I know. I feel guilty too. But us staying at home isn’t going to help him. Maybe if we’re here and ask everyone plenty of questions, we might find something out that can help.”

Liz nodded. “I know. You’re right. I just don’t understand why we’re the only ones who seem to care that he’s missing. Look—everyone else is acting as if nothing’s wrong at all.”

Faye had to agree. Around them, students were laughing and joking, excited about the evening ahead. Faye also had to admit that the usually boring high school building looked amazing. It was lit with multicolored laser lights, and there were streamers everywhere, billowing into the air on plumes of smoke from little machines.

She felt Liz tug at her sleeve and turned to see her friend nod toward a car parked in a shadowy part of the school’s parking lot. It was Mercy Morrow’s servant, Ballard. He was just sitting there, and he seemed to be looking right at them. As both girls watched, Ballard smiled his creepy smile at them.

“He’s watching us,” Liz hissed with a shudder. “I don’t like it.”

Faye couldn’t stop the shiver that ran down her spine, but she forced herself to shrug as they turned away. “He’s probably here to wait for Lucas. Just ignore him.”

“I wish we hadn’t let him help with the tire,” Liz muttered. “I don’t want him to think we owe him anything. I feel like he could tell my dad at any moment.”

Faye squeezed Liz’s arm. “He won’t do that. Why would he? Anyway, don’t think any more about it tonight. We’re here to have fun!”

“We’ve got to find out who this mystery texter is first,” Liz reminded her. “Come on, let’s find the stage door.”

They walked around the corner to where a team of roadies were still busy hauling equipment from trucks into the school. It was gloomy, but Faye could see someone leaning up against the wall, silhouetted against the light spilling out of the stage door.

“Do you know any of the roadies?” Liz asked in a hushed voice.

Faye shook her head. “I don’t think so. None of them looks familiar.”

Liz pointed at the person leaning against the wall. “I guess that must be who sent the message asking you to meet them here, then.”

The light was so dim that it was hard to figure out who the person was, but then, as they got closer, Faye realized it was Lucas Morrow! She cast an anxious look at Liz, worried about what her friend would think. She didn’t want Liz to think she’d given him her number.

“Lucas?” she asked as he stepped forward out of the shadows.

“Hi, Faye. I wasn’t sure you’d come. How are you?”

“Fine … but how did you get my number? I don’t remember giving it to you.”

Lucas shrugged. “I asked your aunt Pam. She said you’d lost your old phone somewhere.” He looked suddenly anxious. “You don’t mind, do you?”

Faye shook her head, although inside she was feeling pretty confused. She didn’t know why Lucas made her feel so unsure of herself. She should just be able to ignore him, or just treat him like a friend, for Liz’s sake at least, but there was something about him that always turned her head around.

Liz spoke up, breaking through Faye’s little reverie. “Do you want me to go?” she asked. “I can wait inside, or—”

“No,” said Faye and Lucas together, glancing at each other with a slight laugh.

“No,” Lucas said again, smiling at Liz. “I really just wanted to make sure you were here—both of you, actually.” He looked back at Faye, his eyes warm. “But especially you, Faye. You see—and Liz already knows this—you’re the one who inspired me to sing in this competition, Faye. And I really wanted you to hear me.”

Faye didn’t know what to say. She felt her face burning red as Lucas kept staring at her. “Wow, that’s … that’s amazing.”

“Not really,” he muttered. “But I hope you like it. Because I’m singing it for you.”

Sudden footsteps sounded behind them and they all turned to look at the person who appeared around the corner.

“Finn!” Faye exclaimed, surprised, instinctively stepping back from Lucas. “What are you doing here?”

Finn walked toward them until his face was in the light, and Faye felt her heart jump. Finn glanced at Lucas, and the smile that had been on his lips faded away into suspicion. Faye was suddenly reminded of the last time she’d seen him—she’d been in his arms, and he’d been about to kiss her. But after Aunt Pam’s interruption, Finn had been quiet and distant, leaving as soon as he’d finished helping her wash the dishes.

“Hello, Faye,” Finn said now quietly. “You look great. So do you, Liz.”

“What are you doing here?” Lucas asked roughly.

“Yeah,” Liz added. “You’re not a student at this school.”

Finn smiled grimly. “I am, actually. Signed up last week. I start classes on Monday.”

Lucas made a disgusted sound in his throat. “You’ve got to be joking. Well, as long as you’re not in any of mine.”

Finn stepped forward, obviously angry. “What’s your problem?”

Lucas shrugged, a smirk on his face. “Oh, I don’t know. Just can’t help feeling that you’d be bringing the tone down somehow.”

Faye and Liz looked at each other, feeling the tension between the two boys. “Look, you two don’t know each other,” Faye said. “I’m sure if you—”

“I don’t need to know him,” Finn growled, still staring at Lucas, “to know that he’s trouble.”

“
I’m
trouble?” Lucas laughed. “That’s definitely a joke, coming from you. Don’t you live in a tent or something?”

Finn took another threatening step toward Lucas, but Faye pressed a hand to his chest, holding him back. “Finn, please don’t.…”

“Look, I have to go, anyway,” said Lucas. “The competition is about to start and I have to change. Faye, I’m first up. Don’t miss it, OK? Please.”

Faye looked over her shoulder. “I promise,” she said.

Lucas flicked a triumphant grin at Finn before turning on his heel and heading inside.

“Come on, Faye,” Liz said, “let’s go inside. You don’t want to miss Lucas’s performance!”

Finn stopped Faye before she could answer Liz. “Faye. Just talk to me for a minute. I really wanted to see you. Please?”

“Faye,” Liz said warningly, “come on, let’s go. You’re supposed to be taking photographs of all the acts, remember?”

Faye looked from one of them to the other, desperate to talk to Finn but unwilling to make Liz angry. From a little way behind them, she heard a single, dry cough; they all turned to see Ballard standing half in shadow, watching them. His
hands were in his pockets and his face was in darkness, but Faye was sure she could see his eyes, clear as day.

“Faye,” Finn said again softly. His voice was anxious, and she looked up to see his gaze fixed on Ballard. “I really need to talk to you. It’s important.”

Faye stared at him. She’d only met him for the first time a few weeks ago, and they’d spent so little time together. And when they had seen each other, she’d found it so difficult to know exactly what Finn felt about her. Sometimes it seemed as if she were the only thing he was interested in, but then all of a sudden, he could change and be so distant that he didn’t even seem to know she was there. Yet here he was, right now, begging her to choose him over her best friend in the world, and Faye wanted to be with him so much it hurt.

Liz threw up her hands. “You know what? If you want to hang out with him, be my guest. But I’m not getting into trouble again because of some college dropout who lives in a tent. Got it?”

“Liz, wait!” Faye shouted after Liz as she marched away, but her voice was lost in a wave of music that surged out of the building as the Battle of the Bands began. Faye tried to reach her friend, but in an instant they were surrounded by students, all desperate to get inside before the contest began. Faye pushed forward, trying to find Liz, but someone grasped her hand, pulling her back. She turned to see Finn behind her.

“Faye, wait. I’ve got some news. About—”

The crowd swallowed them, sweeping them up the steps and into the gym before either of them had time to get out of the way. Then the music changed, and Faye realized that the competition had started. She scrambled to get her camera out
of its case—she’d promised Jimmy she’d get good pictures of all the contestants for his piece in the
Miller
. It didn’t seem right to let him down, especially now.

The stage was in darkness, but someone was up there, playing the guitar better than Faye had ever heard anybody her age play before. It couldn’t be Lucas, could it? If it was, he was amazing. She recognized the song as an acoustic version of “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon. She saw Liz, her head bobbing up and down among the crowd. Faye tried to move forward through the noisy students, still holding on to Finn’s hand.

And then the performer onstage started to sing, and everyone in the crowd fell silent.

Lucas’s singing was incredible. Right from the first lines of the song, his voice filled the gym, and everyone was totally transfixed. Faye saw Liz turn her head, looking for her. When their eyes met, Faye realized that Liz was so caught up in the amazing music that she’d forgotten her earlier anger. Faye was relieved—she really didn’t want another fight with her best friend. Liz pushed her way through the crowd to Faye. No one minded; everyone was too busy listening to the performer onstage.

“That can’t really be Lucas, can it?” Liz asked when she was near enough. “He’s amazing!”

Faye shook her head. Liz was right—the singer really was incredibly talented. It was too dark for her to take pictures, though. She needed to get closer to the front of the stage.

Finn’s voice whispered in her ear, very close, and Faye realized that they were still holding hands. Finn had laced his fingers through hers as if he didn’t want to let go.

“Faye,” he said, his breath tickling her ear, making her heart jump. “I’ve really got to talk to you. It’s about your friend Jimmy. I know—”

At the mention of Jimmy, Faye tried to lean closer to hear what Finn had to say, but his words were drowned out by the growing noise of the crowd and the performer onstage. Finn leaned down, so close that his lips brushed against her ear, but Faye still couldn’t hear what he was saying.

At that moment Lucas reached the song’s chorus, and as he did so, all the lights onstage exploded into life. Flashes of white and blue lit up the background as the performer was illuminated in a bright pool of incandescent light. The crowd shouted in delight as the singer was revealed amid the glare.

“Omigod,” squealed Liz, “Faye! Look! And he’s singing this for
you
!”

Lucas stood comfortably in front of the microphone as if he belonged on the stage, his voice rising above the shouts of the audience. He was dressed in pale blue jeans and wore an elaborately decorated but old leather jacket. He turned, and Faye saw that it bore a large emblem on the back, one she was sure she’d seen before; but she couldn’t place where. She glanced up at Finn, who was staring darkly at the figure onstage, and it suddenly came to her—it was a Black Dog biker jacket. She’d seen all the bikers wearing it that day in the mall.

“Finn,” Faye shouted, “isn’t that—”

There was no way that Finn was going to be able to hear her while Lucas was still performing. The crowd was going wild. As the song reached a crescendo, more lights came on, raking the gathered students with color as everyone rocked to the music.

“Finn!” Faye shouted again over the noise. His gaze was fixed on Lucas, and he looked angrier than she’d ever seen him. Faye raised a hand to his cheek, trying to get him to look at her.

At Faye’s touch, Finn jumped, his head snapping toward her. Their eyes met, and his anger dissolved into something else, something so powerful and raw that it changed her insides to lava. He turned his cheek into her hand where it still rested against his face, pressing his lips into her palm. They were pressed together in the crowd, staring at each other as if there were no one else in the room.

The song came to an end, and the crowd exploded in rapturous applause. Faye thought Finn was about to lean toward her, when Lucas’s voice boomed out from the stage.