The Gathering Darkness (6 page)

I smiled back, just a hint. He had to know how exquisitely handsome he was—or maybe he didn’t.

I straitened in my seat and broadened my smile; it was a rare gift I bestowed upon him. I cleared my throat and spoke.

“Are you going to the Island tonight?” It was the first time I’d spoken to him since he took me into the attic of the Ravenwyck, almost a week ago, and I was nervous all over again.

“Yeah. You?” He tilted his head, as if waiting for my answer.

I nodded. “I’d never hear the end of it if I didn’t.” I flicked my eyes toward Sammy.

He chuckled low. “But you don’t want to go.” He said it like he knew I really didn’t.

“No, not really.” I fidgeted with the books on my lap.

“Looks like we have something in common.” His smile faded, his forehead creased, and his look darkened.

That surprised me. I looked at him more closely. “You don’t want to go either?”

He shook his head.

“Then why go?”

He bestowed upon me another rare smile. “Because,
I
would never hear the end of it.”

I nodded in understanding. We were both stuck in the same situation and neither of us wanted to be. As I stared off into space, contemplating our conversation, Robyn turned around to face us.

“So, Marcus, are you bringing your boat tonight?”

“Yeah.”

She bounced up and down on the seat excitedly. “Oh, can we have the bed?” Her rich chestnut eyes looked like the eyes on one of those adorable cartoon characters. How could anyone resist her?

He nodded. “Sure, you always do.”

He gifted her with a smile also. She had to be melting now, or was I the only pathetic one?

“Awesome, thanks,” she squealed.

“No problem.”

She looked at me and winked before turning back around. Robyn and Sammy giggled like little girls with their first crush. I found it embarrassing. Then I began to wonder how big a boat he had and how many beds there were. So I asked.

“How many people does your boat sleep?”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“How cozy you like to be in bed.” He grinned and raised an eyebrow.

I blushed.

“There’s only one bed. You’ll be comfortable with Sammy and Robyn.”

I wondered where everyone else would sleep.

As if he read my thoughts, he answered. “The guys usually sleep outside in tents.”

“Oh, that’ll work.”

Just as I was beginning to relax, the bus drove over a bump in the road and bounced us off our seats slightly, making me land closer to Marcus. Our conversation ended abruptly. Again, I became self-conscious. His leg rubbed against my leg, his arm against my arm. Our bodies tensed, the muscle in his leg tightened against mine, but he didn’t pull away—neither did I.

Finally, the bus reached its destination - the middle school - which was in the village and only a five minute walk from Aunt Rachel’s. I got up, kicked a few wads of paper out of the way on my walk down the aisle, and got off the bus.

I didn’t notice Evan in the parking lot until he called out, “Hey, Brooke, Sammy.”

Sammy and I turned to the sound of his voice.

“Get in I’ll drop you off.”

With a big smile, Sammy dashed to the car. Robyn and I followed.

Evan grinned at Robyn and asked, “Would you like a drive home, too?”

She considered his question then said, “I think I can make it across the street.” Her eyes rolled playfully at him, “But thanks for the offer.”

“Okay, see you tonight,” Evan said.

My mind went into high gear. I jumped into the back seat with Sammy before Marcus had a chance to offer the front to me. A couple of minutes later we were at Aunt Rachel’s house.

“Do you want us to pick you up here?” Evan hung his head out of the window as we headed up the walkway.

“Um, you’d better not. My parents might get suspicious,” Sammy said low. “They think we’re staying at Robyn’s. We’ll just meet you on the wharf around six.”

“Alright, see you then,” Evan said in his happy-go-lucky manner. Marcus didn’t say anything. He just gave us a nod as the car drove off.

W
e had two hours to get ready for the party. Sammy utilized the entire time. She flat-ironed her hair for the second time that day until it was pin-straight. I let my natural waves hang loose. Sammy skinned on a new pair of dark jeans, low-waisted enough to show off the dragonfly tattoo on her hip. She wore a short purple tank with a neckline that would have been revealing on some, but on Sammy, it was just a neckline.

As she fussed with her hair for the tenth time in front of her mirror, I lay on my stomach across her bed trying to pick up a vibe of excitement from her. But all I felt was anxiety.

“What’s the matter with you, Brooke? You’re going to your first party. Get ready!”

“It’s hardly my first party, Sammy. And all I have to do is change my clothes.” I just couldn’t catch the party fever.

“Do you even know what you’re wearing?” Instead of turning, she talked to my reflection, while smearing pink gloss on her lips.

I shoved visions of dark forested islands with skeletons and dead witches lying all over the place out of my head and got up. “Are you happy now? I’m up.”

“Hurry, we’ll be late,” Sammy said to my back as I headed to my own room.

I stood in front of my closet regarding the mess inside. There was still one box in a corner I hadn’t unpacked yet. I pulled it out and dug up a pair of jeans—new designer skinny jeans. As I held them against my legs, I thought how good they would look with heels, but I wasn’t wearing heels. I threw them on the bed and resumed digging through the box where I discovered my last year’s school logo T-shirt. I considered it for a moment, and for sentimental reasons, decided to wear it. That way, I figured it would almost be like having my friends with me.

“Cool jeans, but is that what you’re wearing for a top?”

I spun around to find Sammy leaning against the doorframe to my room, her lips and eyelids shimmering in pink.

I shrugged. “It’s just a T-shirt, no big deal.”

“Exactly, it’s
just
a T-shirt.”

“We’ll you’re wearing
just
a tank top.”

She looked appalled. “Just a tank top!” As if I’d hurt its feelings, Sammy smoothed her hands over the silky material. “This thing cost a fortune. I was saving it for tonight.” She adjusted some of the hanging fabric around the neckline.

“Well, it
is
nice, but so is this T-shirt.”

“If you say so.”

My eyes swept over my reflection in the dresser mirror. The T-shirt was white and fitted, and came to just above the low waist of my jeans, allowing a thin band of skin to peek through. I added some make-up and walked across the hall to Sammy’s room.

She was on all fours, her butt in the air, mumbling something to the dust bunnies under her bed. Two odd socks, one coated in dust, and a dangly silver earring lay on the floor around her.

“What are you doing?”

She didn’t get up. “Looking for my good earring.”

A few seconds later, an exclamation of delight squealed out of her. “I found it!” She held up the earring that matched the one on the floor.

“Great, now can we go?” I asked impatiently.

“You sound real excited—not.”

“I’m excited enough, now come on.”

I grabbed a hoodie from my closet and my bag off the closet door handle, shoved my bare feet into my sneakers and headed downstairs.

“Are you two sure you’re not hungry?” Aunt Rachel called out from the kitchen as we were leaving.

“I told you, Mom, we’re making pizza at Robyn’s.” Sammy lied expertly.

Aunt Rachel came into the hallway. “Oh, right. Well, have fun then. And take care of Brooke.”

I appreciated Aunt Rachel’s order to Sammy, because as ridiculous as it sounded, this city girl felt as if she needed taking care of tonight.

Sammy and I headed the short distance to the parade square where Robyn and Megan were meeting us. Now that I knew Megan disliked me, I was uncomfortable around her. Halfway down the street, she and Robyn came into view.

Robyn was dressed similarly to me in jeans and T-shirt, a jacket hanging from her hand. Megan leaned against a street pole, wearing a too-short mini-skirt, a top even skimpier than Sammy’s, and high heels. Now, granted, there was nothing wrong with the outfit for a party, and I was no island-party expert, but at least I had enough sense to wear comfortable clothing. However, I brought my toothbrush and make-up bag along with me.

Sammy slowed her pace. “You and Megan have some serious tension between you—”

“Ya think?”

“She’s got a big-time hate on for you.”

“What’s her problem anyway?” I asked.

“Well, I told you she went out with Evan last year before I did, and you know she went on a date with Marcus once, but besides that, she’s been crushing on Marcus all throughout high school. But he never pays her any attention. Not like he does to you.”

I looked at her sideways. “What do you mean like he does to me?” I was sure I looked as confused as I felt.

“Oh, come on, don’t tell me you haven’t noticed?” Sammy grinned, and the evening sun glinted off her super glossy lips.

Maybe Sammy was right. I
had
caught him looking at me more than once, but I never thought it was because he was interested in me. I mean, he hardly ever spoke to me. If he liked me, wouldn’t he have tried to strike up a conversation with me at some point? Not like the forced one we had on the bus earlier. He didn’t even say goodbye when I got out of the car. No. Sammy must be wrong. At least, I wasn’t going to allow myself any false hope.

“I think you’re delusional,” I shot back. “He never pays any attention to me.”

“Oh my God, Brooke, you’re so naive.”

“Am not!”

She rolled her eyes. “Brooke, the whole school sees the way he looks at you. He can hardly keep his eyes off you.” She grinned. “And what about today in the cafeteria?”

“What about it?” The interrogation started to annoy me.

“Oh, come on. The way you and Marcus were looking at each other, lost in your own little world together.”

“What!” I stopped in the middle of the street and turned to face Sammy. “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Sammy rolled her eyes, looking frustrated. “Alright listen. In the cafeteria today, whenever you weren’t looking at him, he was looking at you. Believe me. I was watching, and so was everyone else. And it wasn’t only today. It was all week,”

“Hell-o, we’re waiting, here,” Megan called out with a hand on her hip.

“Yeah, yeah, we’re coming,” Sammy yelled back.

I shook my head. Was I too busy being charmed by Evan to notice the apparent attention Marcus was giving me? A car came up behind us honking the horn. Sammy and I scooted to the side of the road.

Sammy continued, “Either one of them would walk ten miles through a snow storm to get you a stick of gum if you asked them to.” She laughed. “You’ve got Megan so jealous; she doesn’t even act like herself anymore.”

The revelation stunned me. I thought of what she’d said earlier. “
Everyone
thinks it?”

“Everyone
sees
it,” she corrected me.

“I really hadn’t noticed,” I said, bewildered. I turned and started walking again, but slower. I would have to pay more attention. Now, I was even more nervous about the night ahead.

“It’s a no-brainer to see you like him too,” she said, pointing a playful finger at me.

I stopped again, just before crossing the street to get to the gazebo. Now Robyn sat on the railing, gabbing on her cell phone, her legs swinging over the side, while Megan sat on the steps, one leg crossed over the other, looking at her nails as if to keep from getting bored.

“Sammy,” I whispered loudly, “we hardly even talk to each other.”

“But you were alone with him in the attic!”

My voice rose out of frustration. “Yes, because his arms were filled with paint cans and stuff. I offered to help him. That’s it!”

“So, you don’t like Marcus?” She looked at me with her eyebrows raised and a smirk on her face.

I calmed myself. “I didn’t say that, but—”

Her face lit up. “See. I’m right. You do like him.”