Epic Escape (14 page)

The usher had one hand in the air, seeming to control the force that held him in place. His other focus was the mess on the floor. He bent, reaching for a white bottle of what looked like bleach. The effort split his attention. The usher splashed bleach on the floor making the air sharp with chlorine, and he made his way up the aisle pouring some on each row. The usher said, “No. No. No.” When he got close to their old chairs he seemed to fade in and out.

Veronica’s eyes swung between him and Nancy, and she screamed, “Throw it Megan. Into our row.”

Megan rolled to her back and kicked at Nancy with her feet. Nancy bucked off, but kept one hand on Megan’s left wrist, twisting, pulling.

Megan used her right hand to grab the gloss and fling the tube toward the rows of weaving seats. The gloss arched through the air, turning colors, emitting sparks.

Nancy rose to her knees, staring, her gaze locked on to the arc. “Get it Fillmore.” Her voice was filled with desperation.

The usher didn’t look up from the mess on the floor.

Nancy scrambled after the sparking arc, stumbling into the usher, her arms outstretched, and both of them fell back into the emptiness where the seats had been. Their bodies wavered in and out. Then they disappeared.

The seats grew solid again.

The pressure holding him down vanished. The threat, gone.

The only sound, panting, relieved breaths, and the whoosh of the theater’s air-conditioning system kicking on.

Megan rose, shaking, staring at the seats, the mess around them, horror in her eyes.

Chase said, “Come on.”

That kicked them into gear, and nothing distracted them from their focus--the lobby exit. They pushed through the doors and the warm Houston humidity wrapped around them like a welcoming blanket.
Home
.

Chase looked back at the theater, his voice strained. “This was my fault.”

Megan shook her head. “No.”

“I’m sorry,” Chase said, and left them.

V
eronica’s fingers bit into her arm. “Let him go. Let him go for now.”

The three of them walked across the concrete, feet carrying them more away from the theater than toward anything. They rounded the corner and stopped.

Veronica’s boyfriend, Kyle, stood in front of them. He wore perfect chinos, a perfect polo shirt, and a perfect grin.

“You didn’t come back to campus with everyone else. So I came to pick you up.” His grin faltered then slicked back into place. “Someone sent a crazy text from my phone. You didn’t get it, did you?”

Veronica froze. “Uh,” she mumbled.

Riley stepped closer to her.

From the way Kyle’s lips pressed together when Veronica just stood there, he realized she’d received the text.

“Because I wouldn’t break up over a phone and…” Kyle’s voice trailed off as he eyed Megan and Riley. His voice came out stronger. “I wouldn’t break up with you at all. We can talk on the way home.”

Veronica rubbed one hand over her other arm and shifted. She looked toward the empty parking lot, empty save Kevin’s truck.

Kyle’s brown eyes flicked dismissively over Riley. “Who else are you going to ride with?”

“Uh,” Veronica said again. Kyle held out his hand. Veronica’s hazel eyes showed confusion and exhaustion.

Riley widened his stance. “I can take you home. Choose now.”

Megan sucked in a breath.
God. Riley, now isn’t the time to be aggressive. Veronica’s been through enough.

Kyle raised his eyebrows and gave a dismissive shake of his head. He gripped Veronica’s arm. Riley clearly intended to do something, but Veronica’s hand on his chest stopped him. “I need to talk to Kyle, but right now we just all need to get home.” Veronica turned to Kyle. “Can you drop us off?”

“I can get my own ride.” Riley stomped off, and he left them standing there with Kyle.

K
nock, knock.
The knocking woke her. Megan blinked and peered at her doorway.

Mom leaned in. “Veronica called. She’s picking you up in an hour.”

Megan yawned and pushed herself into a sitting position, shoving her hair out of her face. The fuchsia monstrosity stared at her from a hook on the door. “Mom? It was so sweet of you to get me that dress.”

“I wanted to--” Mom touched the dress with a fond finger.

Megan took a deep breath in and breathed the air out slowly. “But, um, my heart’s set on the blue dress. So I’d love to wear the fuchsia one to Jennifer’s wedding and wear the blue to Homecoming, if you won’t mind too much.”

Mom’s lips pouted. “But pink looks stunning on you.”

Megan twisted her fingers together. “Please?”

“They’re here,” Mom said from the bottom of the stairs.

Megan stepped slowly, uncertain where to balance her weight in the high heels. She used her right hand to raise the midnight blue silk high enough so she wouldn’t trip over it, and climbed down the stairs.

Light flashed as Mom snapped a photo. “You look beautiful.”

“Thanks.” Megan met Mom’s warm eyes then glanced down at her dress so Mom would know she meant thanks for more than just the compliment.

Mom smiled at her, winked, and swung the door open.

Please, let Veronica be with Riley, please let her have chosen Riley. Because then the emotions that came out of everything were real, they meant something. She and Chase meant something.

In the driveway, Veronica stood with her date.

T
he phone pressed hard against his ear as Chase debated how to respond to Dad’s words. Dad had explained how he and Nancy were splitting up, and he expected to hear from her lawyers about their assets. He’d taken the trip with Nancy so Chase wouldn’t be surrounded by any of the hostility when everything hit the fan.

“She left the hotel, so let me know if she shows up and gives you any trouble.”

Chase hesitated, feeling relief and a thousand other emotions, but just said, “Okay.”

“Call me if you need me.”

“Okay.” Chase hung up.

The repaired cupid statue slumped in the driveway. He gave cupid a nod on his way over to the garage. Two cars, a sensible sports utility vehicle and the Lamborghini were parked inside. Chase looked between the two and made a decision.

One smooth ride later, he eased into the school parking lot. The darkness was lit by the security lamps and light from the windows of his school. A number of his friends hadn’t gone in yet and were loitering by Joseph’s car.

When Joseph spotted him, he left his date behind and jogged over, staring at his ride. “Wow, dude, you probably aren’t going to let me eat in that, are you?”

“Nope.”

His other friend joined them. “That’s not the Maserati. Is it?”

Chase shook his head.

The two abandoned dates gave in and joined them. One girl said, “Let’s go in, I got a text that said the band rocks.”

“Yeah,” Chase said. His shoes crunched against the parking lot and he let them get ahead of him, before punching a number on his cell, a number he knew by heart, but never used. His heart pounded, and he had to swallow before he spoke. “Hi. Mom. I was thinking… maybe we could go to lunch next week?’

Sobs came through the speaker accompanying her, “Yes.”

After a pause, he said, “Yeah, I’d like that, too.”

M
egan and Veronica stood outside the entry. Veronica’s wrist was wrapped in a bandage underneath her corsage, but she swore her arm felt better. “Well, one good thing came out of this. When I write my paper on the movie, it’s going to be stellar.”

“Easily.” Megan watched couples pass. “I didn’t think things could go back to the way they were, but here we are,” Megan said, “You with Kyle. Me without a date.” Megan toyed with her silk skirt. “I thought Chase would call.” Her heart felt heavy.

“Meg, it was weird, really weird,” Veronica said, “Give him some time.”

Megan wrapped her arms around her waist. “What did Riley say when you talked to him?”

Veronica looked down. “I didn’t.”

“Oh.” Megan drew in a breath and tried to snap out of her mood. She patted Veronica’s shoulder. “Let’s join Kyle at the table. Do you think Zoe really wore that red thing?”

“Yep.”

T
winkle lights gave the gym a magical air, but normal magic, not the kind that transported you into another world. Tonight felt like homecoming was supposed to feel. Zoe wore her red dress, and Kyle was perfectly put together as always. Everything was normal. A balloon arch marked the corner where couples could have their pictures snapped for posterity. On the other side of the room, the band played.

Zoe shimmied over. “I didn’t see y’all after the movie. What happened? Did that usher totally kick you out?”

“Something like that.”

Veronica said, “Too much 3-D, left with a headache.”

Zoe bopped. “What-ev’s, the movie was lame anyway.”

Blue-streaked black hair swung into the lead singer’s eyes. Megan elbowed Veronica and pointed at Riley on stage with the band. Riley smiled at Veronica and bent to the microphone. “This one’s for you.” His gaze locked on her. The band started the opening chords of a ballad.

Riley played guitar and he sang. Fantastic. Amazing. When the song ended, Riley hopped from the stage and bee-lined to Veronica. “Want to dance?”

Her mouth parted, but before she could answer him, Kyle came back. He held two cups of punch. “She’s with me.” Kyle gave Riley a dismissive gaze and offered the drink to Veronica. She took the cup in a limp grip, seeming torn between the two of them.

Riley reached out and removed the cup from her hand.

Megan stepped back, wondering what Riley would do—throw the liquid in Kyle’s eyes before throwing a punch? Or take a sip before throwing a punch?

Veronica bit her lip and crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze flying between the two guys, but Riley remained calm. He sat the cup on a nearby table and offered her his hand. “I’m going to play another set later. Dance with me now?”

Veronica slowly stretched out her hand, seeming unable resist Riley.

“Veronica,” Kyle said sharply.

She ignored him and stepped closer to Riley.

Riley pulled her to his chest, and within a few steps, she was in his arms, moving in time to the strains of a pop ballad under the twinkle lights. With that decision, and with her glowing happy expression, she made her preference clear.

Kyle muttered something angry and stomped in the direction of the exits. With a hand behind Veronica’s head, Riley flipped him off.

Zoe’s elbow poked into Megan, drawing her attention.

Watching Veronica and Riley she said, “I know, how cute right?”

Zoe shook her head and turned her toward the door.

Chase. He stood with two friends and two dates. A boutonniere was pinned into his lapel, and a corsage dangled from his hand. Megan stared for a moment and the scene fully registered. Her stomach sank. “Oh god, he’s wearing a boutonniere. He brought a date.” She swallowed hard and felt a hot blush color her cheeks. “I have to get out of here. Get me out of here.”

“Aren’t you being kind of a wuss?” Zoe asked, leading the way to the exit.

Megan didn’t answer, her head spun with the possibilities. Halfway across the room, she knew they were going to make it; she could get out before he even saw her. That knowledge stopped her. “No. You’re right. I’m not a wuss. I’m going to stay.”

Zoe glanced over her shoulder and a grin crept over her face. “Good for you. Go get him.” She reached back and shoved a hand against Megan’s shoulder. Timing, music, and strobe lights being what they were, she intercepted Chase and his friends at the edge of the dance floor. Hot and cold chills raced over her skin.

Chase stepped straight in her path, his eyes bright. “Megan.” He took her hand. “Dance?”

With her heels on, the top of Megan’s head came to his chin. She raised her eyes to meet his teal ones.
Beautiful.

His warm fingers brushed her hand, and the rough scratch of ribbon followed as Chase slid the corsage onto her wrist. “I tried to get flowers that matched the ones in the woods.” He touched the corsage. “I don’t know if they’re right.”

Megan stared at her wrist. “I--”

His arm slid around her waist and pulled her closer, close enough to smell his clean cologne and soap. She breathed in.

Chase tilted her chin and turned her to face him. “I thought we were past that?”

The sound of his voice made her brave, and compelled the truth out of her. “I thought you’d call. I thought maybe you’d want to go to the dance with me, but you didn’t and…I felt kind of stupid.”