Unconventional Scars Read online

  “Um, okay. Sure.”

  “Good night.”

  “’Night.”

  ****

  Alex slammed the front door and raked his fingers through his hair, sighing. He passed through the living room and past his brother, who was seated on the floor with an Xbox controller in his hand. Creed pulled his eyes away from the screen long enough to ask, “What’s with you?”

  “Nothing.” He stood idly watching Creed play. “What are you doing home on a Saturday night?”

  “Jennifer’s being a bitch. I didn’t feel like dealing with her tonight. Must be her time of the month or something.”

  “Where’s Mom?”

  “Went to bed early. Said she had a headache. Wanna play me?”

  “Yeah, in a minute.” Alex headed for the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he pulled out a can of ginger ale, then leaned against the dishwasher, tapping his fingers on the top of the can and thinking.

  Maybe I shouldn’t be flirting with her. It’s hard not to, though. She’s so much fun to mess with. It’s cute the way she gets all nervous and jumpy when I do. She was sending out some weird vibes tonight. Staring at me one minute, then acting like she’s afraid of me the next. Christ, I almost kissed her! Good thing she backed off. I should be more careful. Flirting is one thing, but I don’t need the hassle of getting involved. It’s a bad idea. And she asked about that damn scar, too. Real attractive. Yeah, sure, a window did that. And did I mention I own a beachfront resort in Siberia?

  I need to back off. I can be friends with her without getting too personal, right? More than likely she isn’t interested anyway. Why would she be? Face it, she’s a hottie. Oh man, she smells incredible too. That perfume she wears drives me insane. And the way she looks at me with those big brown eyes . . . okay, this isn’t helping. Think about something else or you’ll never be able to sleep tonight. Remember how it would all hit the fan if she knew about you. Think about that. Think about it and don’t forget.

  7

  During the following week at school, Anna noticed an almost impalpable difference in Alex. It wasn’t exactly something she could nail down and identify. He still talked and horsed around with the group during lunch, and walked with her afterward to fourth period. Nothing had changed, really. Their conversations were basically the same as before. But she now sensed a cautious restraint in his tone, as if he wanted to evaluate every comment carefully before vocalizing it, fearful of saying something inappropriate somehow.

  Maybe, just maybe, it was all in her own head. Saturday night had thrown her for a loop. She’d returned his jacket to him on Monday, omitting the fact that she’d worn it most of the day on Sunday just so she could continue to breathe in his essence, that yummy scent that reminded her of cedar shavings and did funny things to her stomach.

  If Uncle Phil noticed that she was wearing a boy’s jacket, he didn’t say anything. He did ask her once if she was cold, however, and suggested an iron supplement to ward off anemia. She assured him she was in perfect health. Just before she went to bed on Sunday night, he’d given her a credit card of her own, telling her it was for emergencies or in case she wanted to order pizza or something while he was gone. She couldn’t help comparing his thoughtfulness to her mother’s lack thereof. Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum! How was it possible they shared the same genes? Maybe one of them really was adopted and didn’t know it. It was certainly a plausible theory.

  He’d dropped her off at school on Monday before heading to the airport with a promise to call every day to check on things. It still felt strange to have someone worry about her. Strange, but nice.

  On Tuesday and Wednesday, she caught a ride to school with Creed and Alex, but that didn’t turn out to be a big deal. It was a short ride to school so there wasn’t all that much time to talk. Besides, they were usually scarfing their breakfast in the car since Creed could never manage to wake up on time. From what Anna could deduce, he frequently stayed up late talking to his girlfriend. What could they possibly have to talk about for hours on end, every day?

  ****

  On Wednesday morning, Anna was focusing on a particularly tricky algebra equation when Sebastian suddenly appeared beside her, sitting sideways in the desk next to hers and leaning forward with his arms folded across his legs with an expectant look. The teacher had retreated to the office on some unknown errand, so naturally most of the students were talking loudly to each other and walking around the room. It was impossible to concentrate.

  Looking up from her textbook, Anna grinned at Sebastian’s expression. “You look like the cat that ate the canary. What did you do?”

  “Who, me? I haven’t done anything,” he replied innocently. “I was just wondering what you were up to. I’m still waiting for you to come to your senses so we can embark on a passionate love affair. You haven’t gone and relinquished your heart to someone else, I trust.”

  “Not that I’m aware of.” From across the room, Bailey shot her a nasty look.

  “Good. Then we can elope this weekend. Saturday’s good for me. Now where should we spend our honeymoon? I’m leaning toward a private tropical island where we can sip margaritas while lying naked on the beach.”

  “I’m thinking a private room in a mental hospital might be more appropriate.” Anna actually enjoyed bantering with Sebastian most of the time. He was impossible to take seriously.

  “Ouch. Why must you torment me the way you do?”

  “Something to do, I guess.”

  “If you’re looking for something to do, you should go out with me sometime. I’ll introduce you to the concept of multiple orgasms.”

  Shocked, Anna laughed so hard several students paused to look quizzically at her. “Yours or mine?”

  “Ours. What say you?”

  “I say you’re crazy. And I mean that. You’re certifiable. Without a doubt.”

  “Ah, come on, Anna. You could use some male companionship. I haven’t seen you with any guys other than Pretty Boy and I get the impression that’s a dead end street.”

  He immediately had her undivided attention. “What exactly do you mean by that?”

  “Nothing really. Just that I don’t see you as his type.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Rumor has it, he has a preference for a more masculine gender.”

  Anna clenched her pencil tightly. Suddenly she wasn’t amused anymore. “Sebastian, what the hell are you talking about?”

  “No need to get defensive. I’m just stating the facts. He’s been at this school for two years and nobody has ever known him to date anyone.”

  “So what? That doesn’t mean anything.”

  “Possibly. However, Bailey once decided to put our little theory to the test. She practically threw herself at him and he shot her down.”

  “Maybe she’s the one who’s not his type.”

  “Please. Bailey is everyone’s type.”

  “Really? If she’s so great, how come you aren’t dating her?”

  “I already swam in that pool,” Sebastian confessed, shrugging nonchalantly.

  “Oh my gosh, you are such a pig!” The bell rang then, so she slammed the book shut and grabbed her backpack, slinging it over her shoulder as she stood. “Alex is not gay, if that’s what you’re insinuating. I don’t even know why anyone would start a rumor like that. It’s total crap.”

  As she walked out of the classroom, she heard him call playfully after her, “Let me know if you ever have the urge to go swimming!”

  ****

  As a senior, Creed only had four classes and always left early to go to his job at some sporting goods place in the mall. It seemed pointless to take the bus when home was only a mile or so away, so Anna walked home in the afternoons. Alex stayed behind at school all week, presumably to do some artwork for the yearbook. She wondered, not for the first time, if he was avoiding her, then brushed the thought away. It was useless to speculate. He was, if nothing else, her friend. That would have to be enough
. Time to concentrate on less confounding issues. Boys only clouded the mind.

  Using her key to enter the quiet house, Anna tossed her backpack on the floor by the coffee table and headed to the kitchen for a snack. After selecting a peanut butter granola bar from the pantry, she wandered into the living room, flopping down on the couch to channel surf. The house, though empty, didn’t seem that way. Not like the apartment she used to share with her mother. This house was truly a home, and exuded warmth and security even when Uncle Phil was away. She could feel his presence in a way she never had with her mom. Bianca never stayed in one place long enough for it to absorb any of her personality. True, they’d lived in the apartment complex for two years, but with her mother gone so much, never once had it seemed like a home. The difference was colossal.

  An hour later, just as Anna was pulling out her history book, she got a text from Karen. The only thing it said was graveyard dance! Confused, she responded with WTF?? Karen loved being dramatic and Anna was used to it by now, but this had her baffled. What did she mean by graveyard dance? It didn’t make any sense. The next text read call u later! But in Karen’s typical flighty fashion, she never did call, and Anna was left to wonder. She tried to reach Karen twice that night but only got her voice mail, and later when she went to bed she was still trying to mentally decipher the cryptic message.

  The next morning, as soon as she was in the passenger seat of Creed’s extended cab truck, she turned to Alex in the back and asked, “Do the words graveyard dance mean anything to you?”

  The brothers exchanged looks and laughed. “It means there’s going to be a party at the Graveyard this weekend,” Creed offered.

  Anna stared. “People have parties in cemeteries here?”

  Backing out of the driveway, Creed shoved the remainder of an English muffin into his mouth and licked his fingers. “The Graveyard’s a place people go to party, have bonfires, stuff like that. It’s called that because it’s in a clearing in the woods and there’s a trail out there that leads to a really old grave that’s been around since the 1800’s. There isn’t actually a cemetery there.”

  “Josh mentioned it last night,” Alex added. “A bunch of seniors are having a bonfire there Friday night. Dalton invited all of us.”

  Intrigued, Anna said, “Sounds like fun! Are you going?”

  Alex shrugged. “I doubt it. Not really my thing.”

  “Well, I’ll definitely be going,” Creed announced. “The parties there are epic! It’s far enough in the woods so you don’t have to worry about the music being too loud or the cops showing up. You just have to make sure you have someone sober to drive you home because half the people will be falling-down drunk by midnight.”

  “You included?” She was pretty sure she already knew the answer to that one.

  “Hell yeah, baby girl!”

  Anna turned around again to look at Alex, who raised his eyebrows and shook his head as if to say yes, I am fully aware that my brother’s an idiot.

  ****

  The bonfire was the primary topic of conversation at the lunch table that day. Karen was so excited, she was practically giddy. “I’ve only been to one dance there, but you would not believe how much fun it was! And it’s the sweetest place for a party ever. Wait ‘til you see it. Oh, and make sure you wear comfortable shoes ‘cause you have to park and then walk there, like a quarter-mile.”

  To be honest, Anna was excited, herself. The only thing that dampened her enthusiasm was the knowledge that Alex wasn’t coming. Karen and Erica tried to coax him into changing his mind, but he only grinned at them and said that a case of alcohol poisoning wasn’t his idea of fun. Erica tried to argue by pointing out that a lot of people wouldn’t be drinking, herself included, but he remained firm.

  “What should I wear?” Anna asked, taking a bite of her fettuccine and broccoli. Marie was a great cook. She had doled out some of the pasta in small containers in the freezer for future lunches.

  “Something sexy!” Karen suggested.

  Erica was more helpful. “I’m wearing a black skirt and that dark green pullover, the one you said looked good with my hair, remember?” Josh took the opportunity to remind her that she looked good in anything, earning himself a kiss.

  “My outfit’s top secret,” Karen announced, pulling a compact from her purse. She began applying lip gloss. “I saw a totally hot dress at the mall the other day that’s perfect. I’m going to pick it up after school today. I plan on looking fabulous. Especially since Dalton’s skeevy ex-girlfriend will probably show up.”

  “Are we even going to know anyone there?” Anna wondered.

  “Oh, yeah,” Josh told her. “By now half the school has been invited. It won’t be just seniors.”

  “There are going to be an awful lot of high school students with hangovers come Saturday morning,” Alex commented dryly. He crumpled his empty potato chip wrapper into a ball and scrutinized Anna for a moment before asking, “You planning on getting wasted?”

  “I hadn’t planned on it,” Anna retorted. Why do you care?

  The bell rang then, ending any further conversation. He walked with her to fourth period in silence. Later that day in French, she asked Josh why Alex didn’t want to attend the bonfire. He didn’t know.

  ****

  When Phil returned home Thursday evening, he found Anna helping Marie fold laundry that was piled on the couch. He dropped his briefcase by the door and was nearly bowled over by the girl, who dashed over to throw her arms around his neck and proclaimed to have missed him. She definitely didn’t look any worse for wear after her three days home alone. Which was a monumental relief, since he had to return to Philadelphia next Tuesday.

  Marie had prepared a pot of homemade soup for dinner, and there was a fresh loaf of Italian bread to go with it. Anna had already eaten, but she stayed in the kitchen with him anyway while he hungrily devoured his food, chattering happily about the A+ she got on her history assignment, the deer she’d spotted in the back yard the morning before, and some party she’d been invited to. Her enthusiastic exuberance warmed him even more than the soup.

  When Anna tried to give him back the credit card, saying she hadn’t needed it, he told her it was hers to keep. He had never discussed an allowance with her, figuring he could just provide cash when needed. Set schedules were Lisa’s thing, not his. Taking things as they came was his preference. He supposed it was ironic for someone with such a complacent personality to have a career where he had to be extensively organized. Why analyze it, though? As far as he was concerned, when life was good, you didn’t rock the boat.

  ****

  Anna was waiting in the front porch swing when Karen and Dalton pulled into the driveway Friday night. She had selected for the evening a lacy white tank top, long black gypsy skirt complete with fringe and rhinestones, and black sneakers, and was satisfied with the effect. Even if the weather got cool, she figured the dancing and the bonfire would keep her warm. Hopping excitedly into the back seat of Dalton’s car, she and Karen each surveyed the other’s choice of outfit. Karen looked amazing in a daring red minidress. She also wore sneakers, but hers were red to match her dress.

  The Graveyard, as it turned out, was at the top of a small mountain. Dalton followed a paved road that dead-ended at a wide trail which snaked further up the mountain and into the dark woods. Lines of vehicles were already parked on either side of the road, and Dalton pulled in behind a huge Hummer. Turning to face Anna, he asked, “Will you hand me that lantern and those flashlights please?”

  Anna handed him the items from the floorboard of the car. She hadn’t stopped to consider that it would be pitch dark in the woods. The idea of traipsing up the spooky trail in the black of night was thrilling.

  Karen was already out of the car, bouncing with eagerness and ready to go. Already they could faintly hear the bass of music coming from somewhere in the darkness. Dalton handed each of the girls a flashlight and switched on his own lantern. “Chill out, spazoid,” he t
eased Karen. “The night is young.” From the trunk of his car, he pulled out a small cooler and then said, “All right ladies, let’s go. Watch your step, though. Some chick sprained her ankle on this trail last time. I don’t feel like having to carry either one of you back down to the car.”

  Other people were arriving at the same time, so they weren’t the only ones on the trail. Nevertheless, it was deliciously creepy. The hazy light from the flashlights illuminated the trees surrounding them, providing an eerie atmosphere. The path went uphill, but it wasn’t terribly steep so Anna had no problem keeping up with Dalton and Karen, who made it perfectly clear that if she walked into a spider’s web she was going to scream. Nobody doubted she would.

  The trail ended in a huge level clearing in the middle of the woods. Anna was entranced by the sight. Paper lanterns were strung from trees surrounding the circle of the clearing and they gave off a pale glow, creating a romantic effect. Scattered about the very edges were at least two dozen coolers that obviously belonged to various partygoers. At one side, out of the way, a table had been set up and bottles of liquor, juice, punch, soda and other items covered it. A couple of seniors she recognized stood there mixing drinks with battery powered mixers. In the dead center of the clearing was the area for the bonfire, piled high with wood that hadn’t yet been lit.

  There were probably a hundred people there already, mingling and laughing and some even dancing already. There were quite a few people she knew from school. Karen leaned close so Anna could hear her over the loud blare of Korn’s Another Brick in the Wall and said loudly, “I don’t think Josh and Erica are coming until later. They were going out to dinner first.”

  Dalton left to put his cooler with the others. Something suddenly occurred to Anna, and she put her head near Karen’s again. “Hey, what do we do if we have to go to the bathroom?”

  Karen giggled. “You take a flashlight and go way out in the woods. I stuck some tissue in Dalton’s pocket if you need any.”

  Anna laughed. “Are you serious? All this drinking going on and no bathroom? Gross.”