Moondancers

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Conner had gone to his summer drama workshop that afternoon, but instead of leaving with the other drama students, he ducked out and hid in the boys locker room until the school was empty. Then he set about taking care of his part of the plan.

  He escorted us into the corridor that led to the double doors of the gymnasium. This was the entrance used when the school held a sporting event. The corridor was dark with the exception of a few exit sign lights, and the dull glow coming from the trophy case.

  “I brought you a leftover meatloaf sandwich,” I said. “I know you must be hungry.”

  “I’m freakin’ starving. I’ve been here since eleven o’clock this morning.”

  I handed Conner the sandwich that had gotten squished up in my pocket, and he began devouring it on the spot. He had no problem with the squishiness.

  “Your Mom makes good meatloaf,” he said between bites.

  “Yeah,” I replied, thinking my family had no idea what their youngest son was doing tonight. If things went my way, they’d never find out.

  “Did you rig it?” Alan asked, seeming impatient.

  “Done,” Conner said. He threw the last bite into his mouth, and licked his fingertips. “I even had time to rig some music and a disco ball,” he added, smiling.

  “Great. We owe you one,” I said. “Guess you can go now.”

  “Think I’ll… stick around,” Conner said, his smile widening.

  “Thanks,” I said, grateful to have my other best friend joining the team.

  “If things get a little hairy, just stay out of the way. I got this,” Alan said. He seemed annoyed that Conner was joining us.

  “No, problem,” Conner replied, taken aback.

  “Let’s do this!” Alan said. He began walking confidently toward the double doors.

  I glanced over at Conner, and we shared a private smile. Alan’s surly behavior was a dipstick move, something we’d tease him about later when this was all behind us.

  We started down the hall behind him. As we moved, a figure emerged from the shadows, appearing almost as if by magic between us and the gymnasium doors.

  “Cr…cr…creature!” Alan cried out. He stopped cold, and crooked a finger at the thing in the shadows. Aside from the pointing finger, he didn’t move. He was frozen to the spot.

  I jumped in front of him. I don’t know why, Alan was the one with the enchanted water concealed in his coat, the one with the throwing stars. Perhaps it was because I knew that despite the bravado he exhibited a few minutes earlier, he was frightened.

  The thing stepped toward us, out of the shadows and into the light. My heart lurched in my chest. It wasn’t the creature who was moving toward us, it was Lara.

  She came dressed for the spring dance as well, wearing an elegant, strapless sweetheart dress. The beaded bodice was black with a white a-line skirt that stopped just above her knees. She wore silver, strappy sandals on her feet. In her hair, she wore a crown of daisies.

  My breath caught when she stepped from the shadows, both out of surprise, and because in that moment, she was even more beautiful than I’d ever imagined.

  She smiled when she saw the way I was gaping at her.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice even scratchier than earlier.

  “I’m the bait,” she replied.

  “No! No way,” I said, sobering up quickly. “It’s too dangerous.”

  “Why not?” Alan called from behind me. “If Alexia can be the bait, why can’t Lara?”

  I wheeled on him. “Alexia should be the bait. The creature wants her and Roxanne. Lara’s got nothing to do with this.”

  “You’re so willing for my girl to be that bait, but not yours. Is that it?”

  “She’s not your girl, bro. Can’t you see that?”

  “Stop!” Lara cried out. “We don’t have time for this.”

  I wheeled back around. I was seething with rage. I couldn’t tell which of them had angered me more: Lara for being there, or Alan for wanting her there.

  “You’re even cuter when you’re mad,” she said, her smile widening, her green eyes crinkling.

  I moved to her, and with each step I could feel my anger draining away. I tried holding onto it, but it was no use, her confounding smile had seen to that.

  “What are you doing here?” I repeated when I arrived at her side. She was even more intoxicating up close.

  “I told you, I’m the bait. If the creature came all the way up here and discovered it came for just a pillow, it might decide to teach you and Alan a lesson.”

  “So what?” The words detonated from my lips. “Why do you care what happens to me? You don’t want to be with me, so let me live my life.”

  “I love you.”

  “Stop saying that. Never say that again. All it does is make things worse.”

  “You’re not going to run me off this time, Joshua. I’m here because I love you. You’re right, I don’t want to be with you, and you know why. But I love you just the same, so deal with it.”

  “You! You’re so… you’re so darned…” I was so angry the words would not form.

  I grabbed her, my fingers digging into her shoulders. Her eyes shot open in fearful surprise. I pulled her to me, and kissed her. My lips crushed against hers, our teeth gnashing together.

  That kiss was the possessor of all the joy I felt holding her in my arms, and all my rage at her for being there. My fear and sadness seasoned the rage filled concoction.

  We stood in the darkened corridor, surrounded by my friends, engulfed in a bundle of sweet bitter, each kissing the other hungrily, angrily. When our lips finally parted, mine ached from the pressure of the kiss. We were both out of breath and panting.

  “The pillow never would have worked,” Lara whispered in my ear, her words coming in breathy gasps. “Now that I’m here, the Lycorian will be on his way.”

  “Thank you,” I said, realizing all the fight had been kissed out of me.

  I took her by the hand, and continued down the hall. Together, we pushed through the double doors and entered the gym. The lights were low, music was playing, and the disco ball twirled, casting huge rotating snowflakes onto the gymnasium floor. Conner had done an excellent job of setting the stage for the creature’s capture.

  “Can I have this dance?” I said.

  Lara smiled a radiant smile that squeezed my heart. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  I escorted her out to the center of the gym floor (it had to be the center). I took her gently into my arms, and we danced. I wasn’t much of a dance. I’m not much of a dancer, but I tried my best being I was with such a beautiful girl. We swayed back and forth to the music, my nose nesting in her hair. Her fragrance wafted up to me.

  I knew I had business to take care of, and yet I also knew I could stay out on the dance floor with Lara nestled safely in my arms forever, drinking in the glorious fragrance of her hair.

  After a few moments, an even more romantic song began to play. Always And Forever. The song was an oldie, a spring dance staple that I’d heard at two spring dances as well as on oldies stations, but until that moment, I hadn’t truly appreciated the song.

  My newfound love of poetry allowed me to hear just how beautifully poetic the lyrics were. The singer was saying that each moment with his girl was like a dream that had somehow come true.

  It was silly of me not to realize before then that there was poetry in song lyrics. Poetry was everywhere. I was surrounded by poetics, and now that I was free of my dream state, I was able to appreciate it.

  In the distance, I heard the gym door open and then close. I glanced over in the direction of the door. No one was there. Worms began squirming in my belly.

  “He’s inside,” Lara whispered.

  “I know,” I whispered back.

  “No matter what happens, I love you,” she said.

  “I love you, too.”

  I stepped out of her arms and away from her. I took
another step back, and then another.

  Lara screamed.