Dancing With the Devil (7 page)

Frankie had her hand on Mac's arm. They stood straddling their bikes outside the Douglases' house. Stan kept pulling the curtains back every few seconds, and it gave Mackenzie the impression that the house was winking at her.

“Are you sure you're going to be all right, Mac?”

She nodded and wheeled her bicycle into the garage. Frankie wasn't convinced, though, and followed her. In slow motion, Mac locked the RC to the workbench in the back next to the extra fridge. “Do you think what Charlie was saying is true? Maybe it's not, you know? Maybe he was just being his usual jerk self.”

“Mackenzie, you knew Grady would go out with someone else at some point, right?”

“I guess,” Mac said. “But I wasn't thinking that far ahead.” But Mac knew that wasn't true. She hadn't wanted to face it, as usual.

“Maybe it's not true,” Frankie offered.

“Whatever. I don't care,” Mac lied. She turned off the garage light and pulled the door shut. They crossed the grass to the concrete steps just outside the kitchen. They could see Stan through the window, trying to peer out into the darkness.

The door opened, and a rectangle of light hit the side yard where they stood talking. Both girls squinted. “Hi, Mr. Douglas,” Frankie said before turning and giving Mac a quick hug. “We leave in two weeks. On our trusty steeds. To make our escape … just focus on that,” she whispered.

“I'd think you'd have more bounce in your step now that you have your precious bike,” Stan said, as Mac brushed past him and into the kitchen. “And by the way, thanks so much. After a hard day at work, I do like to have my dinner waiting, you know.”

“So tell your wife.”

“My wife is working late, so it's up to you.” Mac barely heard him as he blathered on about how they were a family, and a family is supposed to be a partnership, and partners need to do the dance together. When one leads, the other follows, and if …

“Are you talking about that stupid dance again?” Mac interrupted, miserable thoughts of Grady scattering.

“Aw, honey, you're not jealous, are you?” Stan asked. He reached out to stroke her cheek, but Mackenzie's head snapped back like a rubber band pulled too tight.

“Do. Not. Touch. Me.” she said through clenched teeth. “Ever.”

“I just don't know what your problem is, Mackenzie.”

“
You
are my problem.”

“And I can be a bigger one, unless you've changed your mind about going on this trip of yours?” He folded his arms and turned his back on her. “If you want me to sign those forms, you'd better stop talking trash about the dance. Especially to your sister.”

When Mackenzie didn't respond, her father stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

“Okay, people, quiet down!” Otis yelled, clapping his hands. He wasn't having much luck getting their attention. The excitement buzzed through the room. “You guys are like mosquitoes at a nudist colony, but we have to get down to business.”

Frankie looked up from the bike mag she and Dante were looking at. “That's a grim image, O.”

Dante tapped a spread on the latest road gear and said, “Check this out, Frankala. This is so you. You'd be zinging it in this kit.”

Frankie leaned over to get a better look and whistled. “I would. Can I have that page?”

Dante tore it out with a loud rip. Elsewhere at the Geeks meeting, kids were going over lists of stuff they were taking on the trip and sharing printouts from websites that showed cool places to stop on the way to Vermont. Maps were open, covering the empty desks in the back like tablecloths.

Everyone jumped when the door slammed, and all heads turned to see who'd walked in. Otis smiled. “Finally, a way to grab your attention. For you newer members who haven't met her, this is MaToya, co-founder of our beloved club.”

If Otis thought MaToya's entrance would quiet the room, he was dead wrong. Chairs scraped back as kids jumped up to greet her with shouts of “Ma!” and “How's college?” and “Don't let Otis take us the easy route, Ma…”

MaToya grinned, her dark eyes shining, lighting up her whole face. Her smile grew when Mac caught her eye. Ma said her hellos to everyone and waited until the cluster of kids scattered back to their seats. Mac sat on the big teacher's desk at the front of the room and jumped off when MaToya was close enough to hug.

As everyone settled for the meeting, Mackenzie remembered back to when Ma was a senior, worried about the Bike Geeks falling apart once she left for school. One day that spring, Mac had taken a long ride, and while on a break at The Stand, heard the counter guy say to a customer, “So how's school going, Ma?”

Mac had only been in seventh grade, but she knew who MaToya was. When the older girl came out and settled herself on a stump seat to eat, they started talking bikes. Ma had been so impressed with Mac's knowledge she'd convinced Otis to unofficially hire her at the shop. For that, Ma would always have a special place in Mackenzie's heart.

“You look great,” MaToya said, squeezing her arm. “Can you talk later?” When Mac nodded, Ma said, “Good. We can catch up and nail down some details about the trip.”

Mackenzie sat in the front row with the rest of the Geeks, and Ma took her place at the big desk. The room went silent.

“I'm glad to see you all here, and so pumped about the trip. I've got some updates for you.” She pulled a red folder out of the messenger bag next to her. “First day of the trip, which is June 29th, you are off the hook. We'll meet here in the parking lot and load up all our stuff under the bus, making sure you guys don't bring more than you're supposed to. We will be very strict about this. Then we'll rack the bikes on the trailer and head up to Providence. We're there one night, and the next day we rock.” There were general, low-key whoops and clapping.

“We have reservations at hostels between here and Vermont and a few days' stay at a surprise location over the Fourth of July holiday,” she continued. “However, despite the fact that I started making arrangements months ago, many hostels were filled, so we do, in fact, have to bring camping gear.” Her look stopped the groans. “I don't know what you're complaining about. It's not as though you have to
carry
anything!” Looking toward the back of the room, MaToya asked, “Otis, should we tell these babies how we had to carry packs and saddlebags on our first trip?”

“Saddlebags?” Charlie scoffed. “No van support?”

“No van support,” MaToya said, and turned to the blackboard behind the desk. The sound of the chalk clicking against the slate filled the room as everyone waited.

Charlie whispered to Dante, “Must be how she got that white streak in her hair.”

“No, I've had that since I met
you
, Charles,” Ma said without turning around. A couple of kids smirked as Charlie sank deeper into his seat.

“Okay,” MaToya said, brushing the chalk dust off her hands. “You guys
must
follow these guidelines, or you will be miserable, and I know this because I will make it so.”

From the back of the room, Otis added, “Worse, I'll toss your stuff in the closest can and then wave goodbye when your parents come to pick you up.”

MaToya pointed to the board and continued. “When in doubt, leave it out. All you need are two or three pairs of shammies, your dopp kit, two jerseys, socks—oh, and when was the last time you cleaned out your hydration pack? We'll have gels and bars, or whatever energy boosts you prefer, but your reservoir needs to hold at least 70 ounces of water. I know you won't forget your tools and flat repair kit. No mooching. You'll be checking your spare every day.”

After going over the rest of the updates, talking about some of their stopping points and routes, MaToya handed out thick envelopes with the itinerary. “Since you won't be allowed to bring any electronics with you, our contact info is on the first page for your folks, right under the hostel numbers and addresses.”

Frankie raised her hand, and Ma nodded in her direction. “What if we need to make a call?”

“Like I said, if it's an emergency, you can use one of our cells,” MaToya said, pointing to herself and Otis. “We're leaving the modern world behind. Get this straight: no cells, game units, iAnythings, or whatever else needs an outlet to charge up.”

Otis said, “Did we mention we were traveling light?”

“And anyway, last time I did this trip, the only time I got a signal was the day I left,” MaToya added.

“What are the hostels like? Do we eat there or go out? Is it like a bed and breakfast?” Dante asked.

“Uh, no, Dante,” Ma said, trying not to smile. “They're not B&Bs, but they're serviceable. Usually there's a communal kitchen where we can store and prepare our meals. Since we're going as a group, linens and towels are provided. You'll sleep in bunk beds for the most part, and in separate dorm-style rooms. If you want to know anything else after going through your packets, email me or save it till our next meeting.”

Otis added, “And everyone, the next meeting is the last before the trip, so make sure you write down any questions that you or your parents have so we can address everything prior to departure. Remember to let your folks know they have to be at that meeting, which is why we're having it at seven p.m. rather than after school.

“Sign my yearbook?”

Mackenzie looked up to see Dante and Frankie waving three blue hardcover books in front of her face. “Ooh! You picked up mine too! Thanks, guys. Here, sign mine.”

Frankie hunched over Dante's book as she penned her inscription. “I can't believe it's the last day already.”

“I know. Which means we're almost outta here.”

Before they knew it, it was time for the last Bike Geeks meeting, and Mac was on the floor of Frankie
's room, surrounded by piles of potential trip gear. Every free surface was covered. The room looked like someone was about to have a huge yard sale.

“I really wanted to be packed before tonight,” Frankie said, tossing a PJ top on her reject pile. “We're only supposed to take two or three shammies? If we don't get a chance to wash our stuff more than once a week, I'm going to have such a pong.” Frankie raised her left arm above her head and took a dramatic whiff of her armpit. “But I smell like roses now.”

“Uh-huh,” Mac mumbled, her mind elsewhere. She counted out fives pairs of socks and underwear. “I can't believe I haven't seen Grady once since we broke up. I mean, I saw his car in the pharmacy parking lot, but when I went in—”

“You went in?” Frankie interrupted. “Were you
looking
for trouble? Mac, the last few weeks you've been doing so great. You're in shape for the trip, and I haven't heard you moan about Grady at all.”

“Just because I haven't
moaned
about him doesn't mean I'm 100% Grady-free.” Mackenzie made a neat pile of her stuff and began slipping it into her pack.

Frustrated, Frankie blew out her cheeks. “You're about to leave on the trip you've been waiting for since you were eleven or twelve. On the bike you've saved for since forever. You said you were over him.” After pausing a second, Frankie asked, “What happened when you went into the pharmacy, anyway?”

Mackenzie was pulling her pack on, testing the weight. “Even if we have to hike into the campsites, this won't be bad to carry.” She walked around, stepping over the various piles of Frankie's clothes and gear.

“So what happened?”

“He wasn't there. But Sophie was. I guess Grady lends his precious Mustang now, as long as it's just to family.”

“Sophie? Ex-Sophie, you mean?”

Mac stopped parading around the room and turned to Frankie. “Oh, I never told you, did I? Grady said it was this big secret, and then you and I weren't talking, and I forgot to tell you.”

Frankie was sitting on the floor holding three different pairs of bike shorts. She threw one at Mac's head and said, “C'mon, what?”

“Oh,” said Mac, edging the pack off her back. “His dad is marrying Sophie's mom. So Sophie, his ex-girlfriend, mind you, will be his
sister.
How gross is that?” Mackenzie blushed and turned away.

“Yeah. It's pretty weird, I guess. Hey, I never got any lunch and I'm starved. I want to grab something before we have to leave.” Then, looking at the clock next to her bed, Frankie gasped. “Mac! The meeting!”

Both girls ran down the stairs two at a time, leapt out the door and hopped on their bikes. They strapped their helmets on as they pedaled, hands-free. Mac yelled over the traffic, “Your folks are meeting us there straight from work?”

Frankie turned her head halfway, letting the wind catch her words and carry them back to Mac. “Yep! Yours?”

“Unfortunately!” Mac yelled back.

They whooshed into the Geek room just as Frankie was downing the last bite of the energy bar she'd found in her pack as they rushed out the door. Otis motioned them to sit, and they perched on the wide windowsills in the back. Mac scanned the crowded room for her father and was relieved to see the completed forms on the desk in front of him. She didn't know why it'd been so hard for her to hold her tongue about the dance. Who cared? But every time Lily had brought it up, she'd kept her promise and didn't say another word against it.

Why shouldn't Lily have fun?
Mac thought, staring at her father.
Thanks to Barb, she has a totally different relationship with Dad, so maybe she'll actually
like
going.

Mackenzie tried to pay attention to what Otis and MaToya were saying about the trip, but it was all lists and other info they'd already gotten in previous Geek meetings. She only had to wait a little longer before she could go off to Vermont and forget all about everything and lose all track of time. No calendars, no watches, and no way for anyone to call and get to her. Sounded like heaven.