Authors: Alyson Noël
Laguna Cove (16 page)
“Sorry it wasn’t sooner, but Ellie was really freaked out about the project. She gets so stressed sometimes.” He shook his head.
“Hmm.” Anne smiled politely. The last thing she wanted to do was talk about Ellie.
“And she just couldn’t seem to grasp the concept,” he continued. “Which is so
weird
, because normally she’s a whiz at science. But we had to go over it again and again, until finally I just asked her if we could put it away, ’cause I had to meet you. But then she got all stressed again, so I just decided to invite her.” He shrugged. “I thought she needed to blow off a little steam, you know?”
Anne just looked at Chris and nodded. She knew he was telling the truth. But she also knew he was completely clueless to the fact that he’d just been totally played.
Guys so don’t get girls,
she thought. But it’s not like it mattered. He was with her now, and it was obvious that Ellie’s sad little game had failed miserably. “Well, now that you’re here, there’s something I have to ask you,” she said, smiling and leaning toward him.
“Anything.” He grabbed both her hands.
“Do you wanna bail soon? This party isn’t really as great as I thought it would be.” She shrugged.
“Candelabras, an open bar, all the gourmet food you can eat, great music, table-dancing celebrities—and this party isn’t fun enough for you?” he said, in mock surprise. “Just what kind of high-maintenance parties are you used to?”
“Honestly, I’m not really a party person,” she admitted. “I’m really more the quiet type.”
“Wanna go someplace quiet?” He smiled.
Ben was outside, sitting on the hood of Jade’s car and looking pretty messed up. His blue eyes were bloodshot and etched with dark circles, his brown hair was all matted and tangled, and the sleeve of his striped shirt was ripped. “So what happened?” Jade asked, unlocking the door and motioning for him to get in the back.
“Some asshole kicked me out,” he said, shaking his head and lunging onto the backseat.
“Well, what did you do?” Ellie asked, turning to look at him.
“Nothing. I didn’t do anything, okay? That party’s just full of pretentious Hollywood assholes,” he said, looking at her.
“Well, you must have done something,” Ellie insisted, not believing his version for one second and not willing to let it go, either.
“Whatever.” He glared at her from the backseat. “Think what you want. But I was just minding my own business.”
“Okay, you guys. Everybody just relax, okay?” Jade pleaded, merging onto the freeway and turning up her stereo. “Let’s just chill out and listen to some tunes. We’ll be home before you know it.”
“Whatever,” Ben said from the backseat, rolling his eyes.
“Fine with me,” Ellie said, folding her arms across her chest and staring out the window. She couldn’t wait to get home and into her nice, warm bed. She leaned her head against the window and closed her eyes, wondering if this was her punishment for the whole Duncan mess. Because ending up spending an hour in the same car as Ben, who was not only snoring way louder than the music, but who totally reeked of alcohol and cigarettes, really did seem like bad karma.
Please, just get me home soon,
she thought, right before drifting off to sleep.
“Ellie! Hey, wake up.” Jade tapped her hard on the shoulder.
“What? Are we home?” Ellie asked, rubbing her eyes and squinting at Jade.
“Almost, we’re on Newport Coast, but this cop has been following us for like a mile now, and I’m starting to get a little freaked.”
Ellie turned in her seat and saw the police car following closely behind them. “Were you speeding?” she asked.
“No. Speed limit the whole way, I swear. I don’t know what his problem is,” she said, glancing nervously at the rearview mirror.
“You know, I read recently that when a cop wants to find a drunk driver, they look for the guy who’s driving
too perfect,”
Ellie told her.
“So what are you suggesting? That I start driving all erratic, so he’ll move on to someone else?” She rolled her eyes. “Besides, I’m not drunk. I haven’t had anything to drink all night.”
“Don’t worry about it, then. I’m sure it’s nothing,” Ellie said, just about to close her eyes again when the squad car pulled up next to them with siren wailing and lights flashing.
“Where are you taking me?” Anne asked, struggling to keep up with Chris as he pulled her through the crowd of people. “You act like you know your way around this place or something,” she said.
“Never been here before in my life.” He looked back at her and smiled. “But I have been in a few restaurants, and I happen to know that the one thing they all have in common, besides food, is a back door. See, I told you!” he said, opening the door and leading her through it.
They entered into a beautiful lush courtyard lit by glowing white candles and filled with tall flowering trees, colorful hanging plants, and a beautiful mosaic fountain built right in the middle of it all.
“Wow, this is beautiful. I wonder why nobody’s out here?” Anne said, looking at the empty linen-covered tables and rod iron chairs.
“Maybe ’cause there’s no bar,” Chris said, putting his arms around her and pulling her toward him.
His face was so close to hers she could feel his soft breath on her cheek, and just as he was about to kiss her, she whispered, “Shh! Did you hear that?” Her eyes went wide as she looked around cautiously.
“I didn’t hear anything,” Chris mumbled, eyes still closed while he nuzzled her neck. “You’re imagining things.”
“I’m serious,” she insisted. “Someone’s out here. Listen!”
Chris reluctantly pulled away and quickly looked around. “Relax; it’s just us,” he said, leaning toward her again, determined to kiss her this time.
“I know I heard something,” she said, sounding completely paranoid.
“So what?” Chris shrugged, kissing the side of her neck since she wouldn’t stop talking. “It’s probably just Brad and Jen, avoiding the paparazzi and getting a little fresh air.”
Anne looked at him and laughed. “Brad and Jen? They are so over.” She shook her head. “You are so out of touch!” she said, finally leaning in to kiss him.
His hands were wrapped tightly around her waist, while hers were tangled in his soft, shaggy hair when someone walked up behind them and said, “Anne? Is that you?”
Oh God, oh no, don’t let it be
… , she thought, pulling away from Chris and wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Then, slowly looking up, she saw her dad and Brooke standing there, his lips holding traces of Brooke’s frosty peach lipstick.
Oh sick, they both came out here for the same reason!
Which meant she’d been making out just steps away from her dad! It didn’t get any grosser than that.
“Um, Chris and I were just talking,” she said, immediately realizing how totally lame it sounded. “I mean, we were just getting some air … because … you know … it’s so
stuffy
in there.” She pointed toward the restaurant.
Oh yeah, that was convincing,
she thought, glancing briefly at Chris, who looked as embarrassed as she felt.
“Well, now that you’ve gotten some air, what do you say we all go back inside?” her dad said, giving them a stern parental look.
Oh please, like you’re any better,
Anne thought
. You’re the parent! You’re the one who should be setting the example!
But she didn’t say that. Instead she just gave him a sheepish look and said, “Um, okay.”
“Oh, great,” Jade said, shaking her head as she pulled over to the side of the road and came to a complete stop.
“What do you think he wants?” Ellie asked nervously.
“Well, I think we’re about to find out.” Jade rolled down her window and smiled politely. “Hi, officer. Is something wrong?” she asked.
“Did you know that your left taillight is out?” he said, pointing his flashlight into the car, going from Jade to Ellie, then focusing on Ben, who was sprawled out in the back, sound asleep, and not wearing a seat belt.
“Oh, really? Um, no, I had no idea,” Jade said, cautiously.
“Can I see your license and registration, please?”
Jade reached for her wallet with hands that were shaking so bad she could barely open it. “Here,” she said, handing over her license while Ellie searched through the mess of papers in the glove compartment, looking for the registration.
Tomorrow I will clean out this car. Tomorrow I will fix my taillight. Tomorrow I will organize my life. I really hope I make it to tomorrow,
Jade thought.
“Who’s been drinking?” the cop asked, watching Jade closely as he handed the papers to his partner.
“Um, they have,” Jade said, pointing at Ellie and Ben. “I was just making sure everyone got home safely.”
The cop stood there, eyes narrowed, looking at all three of them. “I’d like you to step out of the car, please.”
“What? But why?” Jade asked, totally panicked now. No good could come of this.
“Just step out of the car,” he said. “All of you.”
“Do you really have to call
all
of our parents?” Jade asked, glancing nervously at Ellie, whose face had gone completely white and who looked like she was about to pass out at any second. She was way more worried about Ellie than herself, especially if they called Ellie’s dad.
They were sitting in a small room at the Newport Beach police station, where they’d been for the last half hour—ever since Ben had failed the Breathalyzer test and they found the Baggie full of pot he’d thrown on the floor of the car. At first, Jade was being held responsible for the pot—her car, her possession, they’d reasoned. But since she’d breathed clean, while Ben was obviously drunk and stoned, and since the bag was found on the floor right next to his feet, they decided to let her off with just a minor curfew violation, while Ben was in another room being processed for possession and underage drinking.
The only crime poor Ellie committed was being in the wrong place at the wrong time,
Jade thought, looking at her friend and feeling really guilty for getting her into this mess.
“I mean, I was the driver, so if you have to call my parents, then fine. But Ellie just needed a ride. I swear, she didn’t do anything wrong. So can you maybe just like, let her go?” Jade pleaded.
“Sorry. Your parents have already been notified. They’ll be here any minute,” the cop said, leaving them alone in the room to wait out their fate.
Ellie looked at Jade, her eyes welling up with tears. “Well, it’s been nice knowing ya,” she said, looking nervously toward the door.
“Oh God, El, I am so sorry. I don’t know what else to say.” Jade hugged her. Even though technically it was totally Ben’s fault, Jade took full responsibility where Ellie was concerned. But what made it even worse was knowing how Ellie felt about Ben, and how she’d tried to warn her.
Jade also thought it was weird how Ben was always ragging on his dad, and yet he’d been the one to come bail him out. And even though Jade had only gotten a quick glimpse of him, he really didn’t look so awful. He just looked really worried.
“That’s it. I’m dead,” Ellie whispered, seeing her dad enter the room.
“Ellie, honey, are you okay?” he asked, swooping her into his arms and hugging her so tight she could barely catch her breath.
“Yeah. I’m fine, really. It wasn’t that big of a deal,” she said, raising her eyebrows at Jade as her dad continued to hug her, refusing to let her go. “It was just an overinflated fix-it ticket.” She laughed, obviously relieved that he wasn’t reacting in the way she’d expected.
“Let’s get you home.” He put his arm around her protectively and walked her to the door. Then, turning to look at Jade, he said, “I just spoke to your parents. They’re on their way.”
Jade watched Ellie and her dad leave, feeling totally relieved that he hadn’t been nearly as angry and upset as she had assumed he’d be. And if
he
was acting that cool and casual about it, then surely her own parents would be a total breeze.
“Hey!” Jade said, seeing them standing in the doorway. She smiled and jumped up from her chair, in anticipation of a big group hug.
“Grab your belongings,” her father said sternly, while her mother stood silently, with her arms folded across her chest. “We’ll talk when we get home.”
With Surf Fest now just three days away, it was taking all of Ellie’s concentration not to be distracted by everyone around her. First, there was Duncan’s insistence on ignoring her. Not that she expected anything different, and not that she even really cared, but still, she’d really hoped they could just move on and go right back to their old, platonic ways. But apparently Duncan had other ideas. Because not only had he stopped calling, but now he barely spoke to her at school, despite the fact that they shared two classes and sat at the same lunch table. She was surprised that she was so bothered by it—but it was probably only because she couldn’t stand to hurt anyone’s feelings.
And then there were Chris and Anne. The perfect, happy couple, who seemed to be everywhere Ellie was. Seriously, there was no safe place. They shared the same neighborhood, the same school, the same lunch table, the same friends, the same gym, and, worst of all, even the same waves. There was just no avoiding them, so Ellie had simply stopped trying. She was learning to ignore them just like Duncan ignored her.
And ever since the party, Lola and Diego were rarely apart. The only time Ellie got to see her now was at school, and Ellie was certain that was only because Diego was enrolled elsewhere. But even at school it was always Diego this and Diego that. It kind of bugged Ellie when girls did things like that—got all impressed over every little thing their boyfriend did. But still, it was pretty great to see Lola so happy and in love—even if Diego was kind of a strange choice.