Unmaking Hunter Kennedy (22 page)

Dustin shook his head. “Wow. Awkward.”

“Yeah. She was seriously frozen in mid-pucker with her eyes bugging out,” Charlie added.

Vere rushed on, “When I stopped moving Curtis decided to go for it. He came at me fast, which made me totally flip out and lose my balance. My hands went all crazy and I clocked him so hard in the head that he actually fell down.”

“Chin, actually. She hit his chin. With a closed, fast moving fist,” Charlie said. “A perfect upper cut.”

“
Woah-no-you-didn’t!
” Dustin’s eyebrows shot up.

Vere nodded. She could hardly swallow, let alone finish the story.

Charlie kept going for her. “Vere looked like some sort of elbow-knees-and-fists tornado. Curtis was just in the perfect position to go down hard. He’d been slightly bent over, because Vere’s so puny. He’d also puckered up big-time. Scrunched his eyes closed right before Vere went,
SLAM, BAM, KA-POW!
”

Charlie did his best rendition of Vere on that day, and Vere couldn’t even fault him for one move.

She could finally speak again. “And let’s not forget. This happened. In. Front. Of. Everyone.”

Dustin let out a long, low whistle. “So how did you draw the blood?”

“Curtis bashed his whole face into some huge garden rock when he fell.” She shrugged.

“No shit?” Dustin looked at Charlie for confirmation.

He nodded. “Knocked out cold. Blood spurted everywhere. From where his face hit the rock.”

Vere sighed. “Kristen was the first, and the loudest screamer. Everyone and everyone’s parents came running, of course.”

Charlie piped in again, “The whole time Kristen was howling:
VERE DID IT. VERE KILLED HIM. Poor Curtis tried to kiss her and she went crazy and attacked all of us. Vere beat Curtis up like a maniac!
”

“No way!”

“Way.” Charlie made a face.

“So, Vere and Kristen weren’t friends after that?” Dustin asked.

Vere caught Charlie hiding a pitying look as he nodded. “That girl didn’t need friends. Somehow, she brainwashed and then
dated
Curtis until the end of freshman year. Almost killed our bro-friendship forever.”

Dustin let out a long whistle. “
Eee-vil
. Beyond evil.”

Vere looked up and gave Dustin a resigned shrug. “Turns out, Kristen had liked Curtis all along. She’d been really jealous after the sleep over. Kind of planned the whole thing to get rid of me.”

She sighed again. “All’s fair in love and war, I guess.

“Worse, Curtis had double black eyes for months. Everyone teased him even more than they teased Vere,” Charlie added.

“I know that made him hate me. My blushing and stuttering act started shortly after. It’s never stopped. Obviously. Do you think there’s hope for me?” she asked.

Dustin nodded. “Yesterday, we all thought you couldn’t
unmake
me.” He put his glasses back on. “And look how I’ve changed. If we can sneak me into your high school, then turning things around between you and Curtis should be cake. Let me gel with this. Get through my first week of school and we’ll come up with a plan. I’d like to observe you two in action before I solidify anything though? Okay?”

“Yeah. Okay.” She reached into her pack and passed out the water bottles.

Dustin and Charlie took one each and in seconds drank half of each bottle. “Damn, that’s good water. Like you said Vere,” Charlie smiled, heading down the trail. “Let’s get home.”

Dustin was blinking at his half empty water bottle and finally met Vere’s gaze. He looked kind of stunned.“It’s true. Best water in the whole world. Damn!”

Vere grinned at him, completely happy that she’d managed to hold—what she was certain—had to be the longest conversation she’d ever had with a guy besides Charlie!

Dustin shook his head. “Why are you standing there grinning at me like that?”

“I don’t know. I guess it’s because I’m so happy you came—to our house—to our lives.”

He sighed and seemed to tense up.

“What? Did I say something wrong? Now you know my whole life story, and you didn’t even judge me—so we must be at official trust levels now. I can’t be happy about having a new friend?” She frowned.

He looked at the sky. “
Hell
. I don’t know. I don’t want to rain on your parade, but could you please try to remember that I’m not exactly thrilled to be here? This is not just about
you.
”

“Oh. Right.” She swallowed. “Of course.”

He softened his tone. “I know I said I’d help you out, but I hate being used. Maybe it’s me—being paranoid—but I feel like somehow, somewhere, you mean to do that to me before this is all over. You’re acting like we’re all signed up for some sort of happy camp. I didn’t want any of this. I was forced to come here.”

Vere’s heart twisted.

She shook her head, almost running into him as he cut in front of her to start down the trail behind Charlie. “Dustin, wait. I’m sorry. You’re right. I was using you. I guess I still am.” Her voice wavered as her throat got all tight. “I suck.”

“Shit! That’s not what I meant, and you don’t suck.”

He stopped and turned around, his huge frame blocking the whole path. “Please don’t make that face—like you’re about to cry.”

She pulled in a breath. “What face? Jeez. I want to understand you, that's all.”

“Well I was trying to be honest. To tell you how I
feel.
Only, it came out bad. I’m terrible at talking about feelings. My therapist said I should try to do it more. Obviously I failed.”

She stared at his feet, trying to focus on what he’d just said. “You have a therapist?”

He tucked a finger under her chin and brought her face up. She could see her horrified expression reflected back in his dark glasses. “Everyone in Los Angeles has a therapist.”

“Please. I’m not stupid. They do not.”

He shrugged and shuttered his expression. “Vere—let me start over. I know you aren’t using me. You aren’t the type to be like that. And now, I've volunteered to help so I can only blame myself if things get strange.”

“You volunteered because we
made you
. And I have been using you! All along while I practiced talking to you without blushing. I
did
do that without your knowledge.”

“Well I used you to help me come up with a disguise.”

“I wanted to help you.” She frowned.

“Yeah, but I didn’t want you. Not at all. Not at first. And it’s not like you’re getting paid for all these hours of baby-sitting me.” He pulled his hand away from her face and his eyes darkened. “Wait.
Shit?
Are you getting paid?”

She blinked. “No. What is wrong with you?”

“Vere. Don’t you get it? Everything’s wrong. I’ve left my home, my band, my career—and there’s the matter of my ‘stand in’ to worry about. Plus, I can’t get through to my agent. The guy is supposed to tell me when all this madness will be over.”

She flinched. “I’m sorry. I got too fired up. I didn’t think.”

“You didn’t know.” He finished his water and put on his pack.

“What about your mom? Won’t
she
tell you when you get to go home?”

They started walking together slowly. “Mom and I are not on speaking or texting terms. Not even close.”

“Oh. Now that you lay it all out there, I guess it could seem I was dancing on your grave there a little, huh?” she said, trying unsuccessfully to mask the pity in her voice. “I don’t know how to act around you yet.”

“Vere, there’s not much to know beyond I’m the closest thing to the dark side you’ll ever meet. Which is why I don’t know how to act around you either.”

“Please. I’m not buying it. If you’re representative of the dark side, then it’s probably an awesome place!”

He laughed. “This is what I mean. Only
you
would find something good to say about the world melting into magma. You’re like a random ray of light. Brightening up everything in every direction. I can hardly keep track of you among the other crap I’m dealing with in my head. I guess you, that brightness, just freaked me out.”

She nodded. “I get you. I’m overwhelming. Charlie vows daily that I exhaust him. My parents say it too. I’ll try to chill until you’re used to me.”

“Don’t. I like how you are. But if I get short tempered or act weird—it’s about me—not you. Know I’m dealing with my own personal garbage and don’t get your feelings hurt. Okay?”

“Okay. And thanks for telling me all this. Being completely honest.” Before he stepped ahead where the pathway narrowed to single file, she grabbed his arm.“Wait.” She was suddenly fully aware that her touch had caused his muscles to tense.

He has a lot of muscles. And a very large forearm.

From guitar playing probably...

Sadly, that thought fired her cheeks to red. “Uh, so...yeah. If you want to back out. If it all gets too awkward, I’m sure I can get Curtis to notice me on my own. I don’t really
need
your help,” she lied, holding her breath.

When he didn’t answer, just stared at her hand, she let go and rushed on, “Okay. Fine. I do need you. It’s not going to be strange. I’ll try to tone it down. I promise. But...maybe we can do some more ‘practice talking’ sessions before we head down the hill Monday? Like talking about real, live—boy—girl topics? We've got two, whole days left to cure me before school re-opens on Tuesday for real. I want this year,
me
, to finally be different. ”

He raised his brows high. “You promise to take me to town tomorrow so I can try to find a network for my phone?”

“Yeah. Of course, but don't get your hopes up.” She stabilized her bun before it toppled to the side. “Please say yes to the other stuff.”

He smiled softly as though she’d somehow amused him all over again.

“You don’t need me, Vere. But how could I deny you when you ask me like this? I’m not backing out. For as long as I’m here,
Dustin McHugh
is your go-to-practice-guy. Or, whatever you need me to be until you wake up and dump me.”

She let out a long breath and grinned. “As if. Can you imagine me doing that?”

“Yes.” He smiled. “I can.”

She laughed and rolled her eyes.

Charlie’s voice came from far below. “Losers. What ARE you doing? Come on. I want to go swimming.”

Vere shot Dustin a hopeful look.

“Not on your life. I will not swim in that lake!”

20: the first test

Dustin

“This is the
TOWN
?” Dustin groaned. “It looks like a movie set. And not a good one.”

“Car windows are still open. Shh!” Vere commanded. Her face had gone slightly pale.

“
This
is my promised
metropolis
of Buena Park? The main street is still a dirt road! How? Why?” He reached into his utility pocket to pull out his phone. The lack of bars had him panicked, horrified and hugely disappointed. “Dammit! No signs of a network at all. How can places like this still exist off the grid?”

Vere shook her head as they both got out of her VW. “I warned you. Cheer up. I did deliver on the cute promises,” she added. “The historical society actually re-built the boardwalks so you can really get the old-west feel. Do you love it?”

“Only because you love it,” Dustin answered, making Vere smile. His new favorite activity.

“So far, no one seems to notice me,” he said, checking out the tourists. “They’re looking at you and your epic outfit way more than looking at me.”

“Yes! I know. I’m distracting them.”

“Is that what you’re doing?” Dustin laughed.

“Duh. Yes.” Vere pulled her shirt down. “This outfit wasn’t an accident. I wore it to dazzle people’s attention away from you.”

Dustin laughed, surveying her. Vere had worn what appeared to be Charlie’s old football jersey. Long before she’d met him, she must have thought it a good idea to tye-dye the monstrous thing grape-juice-purple. Like all of her other clothes, the thing swallowed her small frame.

She’d ‘un-matched’ the thing with some jean capris, which he could only see from below her knees to her calves. Because, yes, the purple jersey was THAT huge. Add in her cluster-clump-bun, some neon running shoes and the overall effect was that of a shapeless, crazed-looking circus clown.

She dashed in front of him and scanned the street. “Do you feel nervous? I feel really nervous? Stay behind me.”

An adorable, nervous, circus clown who thinks she needs to protect me.

He took in how the hiking and her time at the lake had brought out the ginger color in the freckles across her high cheekbones. They now matched the reddish tips of the curling hair wisps that always snuck out of her bun. He never tired of watching them weave around her expressive face.

Vere glanced quickly around again, the straight set of her lips looked beyond stressed. “Let’s stick close to the car for a bit, just in case. Remember, this is only a test. Dress rehearsal.”

Dustin tried to lighten the mood by mimicking the American Broadcasters voice: “This is a test. This is ONLY a test.”

Vere gasped, turned and slapped her hand over his mouth. “And, please don’t talk above a whisper until we get the voice thing figured out. Are you
insane
!”

Dustin smiled down at her. “Sorry,” he said from under her hand.

She glowered. “And delete that grin until my dad fits you with the retainer tomorrow. You promised. We walk around. You don’t talk. You don’t smile. We go home and we re-adjust the disguise where necessary. What is wrong with your memory?”

“Omfkay. Moveyourhand.”

“Not until I can feel your smile disappear.” She pushed her small hand farther against his mouth.

“I can’t. Your cracking me up major right now.” He laughed behind her palm.