The Gathering Darkness

  As the party babble continued, I risked a quick glance across the cafeteria to where Marcus sat, and as always he caught me looking at him, or was it me who had caught him looking at me? My cheeks warmed and I lowered my eyes, but in the wrong direction. They landed on Megan. Jealousy flashed in her glacial blue eyes.

  She flicked her gaze to Marcus then back to me. I was overwhelmed by the feeling of her hatred; it radiated at me. She got up and tossed her blonde waves over her shoulder, then took herself and her too-tight jeans over to Marcus’ table. She pulled up a chair beside him and managed to get a smile on his face in no time. I watched, oblivious to the others at my table, whose constant chatter became a dull hum in the back of my head along with the rest of the cafeteria commotion.

  She leaned into his chair seductively, resting her elbow on its back. Whatever she said, she had the attention of the whole table, but after a short time, Marcus seemed to grow bored. As if we were the only two people in the cafeteria, his eyes found mine again. The breath caught in my throat. He’d caught me looking at him again, and for a brief moment, I was unable to turn away.

  A sudden pressure to the back of my neck brought me back to reality. The lunch-room chatter grew louder as if someone had pulled plugs from my ears. Marcus got up and walked away from Megan and out of the cafeteria, leaving the laughter at his table behind.

  With his exit, came the realization that Evan’s arm lay across my shoulders. Had Marcus noticed? Is that why he’d left? Don’t be ridiculous, Brooke, I told myself. Why would Marcus care about you? Very much aware of everyone’s eyes on me now, I wanted to crawl under the table. How could I get out of this situation with Evan before it got too serious?

  “City Girl?” His hand gripped my far shoulder. He shook me.

  “Huh? What?”

  “Where was your head just now?”

  “Oh, somewhere a million miles away, I guess.”

  There were some chuckles. I forced myself to look at him and smile. From this too-close position, I saw how his blue eyes lit up under the cafeteria lighting, like they had in the sunlight. One sparkly, blue eye was half-hidden behind the tendrils of blond hair that hung over his face. Normally, I wouldn’t have been able to resist the cuteness, but it was his handsome and mysterious brother who enchanted me, not cute, irresistible-to-every-other-girl-but-me Evan.

  Evan continued with whatever he’d been saying while my head had been a million miles away. “I said, I have to leave school early today. I guess you’ll have to take the bus home, and I know how much you’re going to hate that.” More giggles from the girls. Evan’s grin widened.

  “Oh, really?” I pouted. I truly was disappointed. No way did I want to take the bus home. I sighed.

  “Well, I guess I’ll survive. If everyone else can take the bus, then I suppose I can, too.”

  I glanced over at Megan, who was now sitting beside Marcus’ empty chair. Her arms were folded in front of her, and her gaze was narrowed on me.

  Throughout the rest of our conversation, Evan left his arm casually draped across my shoulders. It felt awkward.

  When the bell rang, signaling lunch was over, Evan stood and said, “I’ll see you tonight.”

  I was relieved when the pressure left my shoulders. “Okay, see you then.” I tried to smile as non-flirtatiously as I could.

  I watched Evan swagger out of the cafeteria, then blinked and turned back to the now silent girls at my table. Everyone stared at me. Hot blood rushed to the surface of my cheeks again.

  “What?”

  “Well, well, well,” Robyn said, grinning widely. “I hope you have better luck with him then the rest of us had.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth she seemed to regret it. An awkward moment passed as she scrambled for new words. “What I meant was … well … um … I really hope it lasts.” Her pretty brown eyes were sincere.

  Out of all of Sammy’s friends, Robyn was the nicest and the prettiest. I was jealous of her long, dark hair, which hung down her back in an abundance of loose ringlets, and her olive complexion, which made her look exotic—forever tanned.

  The afternoon flew by; no doubt because I knew I had to take the school bus home.

  “You’re a country girl now,” Sammy said with a huge grin as we walked from our last class to the parking lot, where a fleet of bright yellow buses awaited us.

  “Yeah, whatever.” I rolled my eyes and followed.

  I watched my step as I got on and kept my head down, following Sammy up the aisle. The inside smelled like cheap vinyl and diesel, with a hint of bubble gum. Without warning, Sammy pulled off to the side, one row from the back. I planned to follow, but she sat her butt down in an aisle seat. When I lifted my head, I saw why. Robyn occupied the other half of that seat. The only other empty seat was behind her. My eyes went to that one empty seat. My breath caught and I hesitated. I shot a glare at Sammy, who looked up at me so innocently; I could almost see the halo around her head. I had no choice but to sit in the last seat—next to Marcus.

  He stiffened as I sat next to him. I crossed my legs and sat at a bit of an angle, facing the aisle, trying not to let any part of me touch any part of him.

  “Hi,” I said shyly.

  “Hi,” he answered just as shyly.

  Giggles floated back to me from the seat in front of us. I wanted to reach out and smack both their heads. It was almost as if they’d planned it like this, but that was impossible.

  Sammy looked back with a huge grin on her face that spoke louder than words. I glared back at her. She knew she was in trouble. She gave me a look of mock-fear, then turned to face the front, giggling with Robyn.

  I slouched slightly in the seat, folding my arms across my stomach. The bus pulled away from its parking spot sluggishly.

  A few minutes into the ride I became aware of something, a feeling in the small space between Marcus and me. I tuned out the mundane chatter drifting throughout the bus and concentrated to make sure it was really there and not my imagination. The more I focused my attention on the space, the stronger I felt it. It was like a magnetic force, trying to pull our bodies closer together. The energy from the field shimmered all the way down the right side of my body. My arm felt heavy folded in front of me and wanted to drop to my leg, as my desire worked to overtake my will. I wondered if Marcus felt it too.

  Then Marcus did something that made my heart flutter. He turned his head in my direction. I swallowed and was forced out of courtesy to return his gaze. His dark eyes held a spark I’d never seen there before, and a rare hint of a smile touched his mouth. Just that hint was enough to make any girl melt, and if I continued to look at him, I would surely be reduced to a pathetic puddle on the bus floor.

  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.

  Chapter Six

  We 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. “Wha
t 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?”