“Nothing. Next question?”
“Where are they?” I ask.
“I don’t know. I’m not all-knowing you know,” Jude answers smugly.
“Where were they the last time you saw them?”
“In Johnny’s car. At this rate, you guys aren’t going to know a thing by the end of the game. I was hoping for something a little more challenging.”
“Did you try—or succeed in hurting someone last night?” Seth asks.
“Yes,” Jude smiles. “Okay, it’s the dumb blonde guy’s turn. What you got for me big guy?”
“Is someone in the hospital, because of something you did?”
“Bingo. Yes. You’re finally warming up. Fifteen more questions and then I have to go. Time is short and I’ve got a lot to do.”
“Are Johnny and Vania hurt?”
“No.”
“Is someone they know hurt?”
“Yes.”
Seth pipes up, “How do we get you to leave us alone?”
“You, can’t, I guess you can ask…” Jude points up to the sky.
I take a guess, “Is Vania’s mom in the hospital?”
“Yes,” Jude pauses to take a sip of his Coke. “She really shouldn’t be on the road late at night, especially when she’s so tired from working all those hours. It really slows down the reflexes, especially when someone cuts you off and rams you into a tree. You guys are getting kind of boring. I quit.” Jude gets up, walks to the patio door and disappears.
We grab our clothes and head to the hospital, calling information to get the number, trying to reach Vania.
Carrie tells her parents Vania’s mom had a car accident last night and we are on our way to check on her and Vania. They put lunch in the fridge and then follow us in their car. We arrive en masse.
***
On the ICU floor Vania is pacing in the hallway. Tears are streaming down her face. We each go up and give her a hug.
“Is your Mom okay?”
“She’s going to be fine. When she left work at two in the morning she was kind of tired. She almost hit another car, then swerved off the road and hit a tree. She has a broken wrist, two cracked ribs, and her knees are cut up. They’re going to release her tomorrow. They want to keep her overnight because of her head concussion. Mom was wearing her seatbelt and the air bags went off, otherwise it would’ve been worse.”
Carrie’s mom and dad walk up carrying some flowers. “We called Pastor Bill. He and Gina are on their way. I’m going to go in and speak to your mom and see if you can spend tonight with us, honey.” Mrs. Castorelli gives Vania a hug, then goes in the room.
Vania talks to us, “Johnny and I were following Jude and we got held up by a red light. We came up to mom’s accident right after it happened. We called 911 and had an ambulance there within minutes. Johnny went after Jude. I haven’t seen him since. I hope Johnny’s okay.”
Robby speaks up, “Jude was just at Carrie’s. He said the last time he saw Johnny, he was in his car. Johnny is stronger than Jude, isn’t he?” We look at each other, not sure. “He’s all right, I’m sure.” Vania goes into to say goodbye to her mom. We all pile in Seth’s car and he drives us back to eat our delayed lunch at Carrie’s. The rest of our time goes quickly. Robby and Seth have to leave to get back tonight. Seth gives me a last hug and kiss goodbye. “Bye Megs. I don’t want to leave you to face Jude without me. Robby and I will be praying for you. Leaving right now is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’m only a phone call away, okay? I love you.”
“I love you too. Please be careful. I’m sure Judas is going to be targeting you and Robby.”
“I know. We’ll just have to trust God to keep us safe. Maybe he’ll send us an angel. You never know.”
I let Seth go. Maybe Thanksgiving, but definitely Christmas, I’ll get to see him again.
After Seth and Robby leave, the Castorellis, Vania, and I head up to church for the evening service. That’s where I find out where Johnny has been.
When I join my family in the pew, Max gives me a big hug. Max had been at a birthday party for his friend Trevor. Johnny is a friend of Trevor’s big brother, Troy. “Your friend, Johnny, is really nice. He was on my team for laser tag. We came in second place.” Max looks like there is something else he wants to say.
“Max what is it?”
He sees his friends from Bible study class waving him over, “Nothing.” Max jumps up to go join his friends.
I have no way of getting in touch with Johnny. I guess I’ll just have to wait until I see him in school.
***
Later, before I go to bed my mom comes up to my room, “Oh honey, I’m sorry, I forgot to tell you that Mandy called. She tried to reach you on your phone, but you didn’t answer. I told her you were at a pool party at Carrie’s with Seth.”
Sure enough, I check my phone. I still had it set on vibrate and now it’s dead. I plug it in and it shows six missed calls. Three from Mandy, one Seth, and two unknowns. The unknowns have me worried. Maybe Johnny called or maybe Jude called. Maybe both. I pray for a good night’s sleep.
***
The next day at school I wait for Carrie and Vania to show up. When Vania gets out of the car she looks like she wants to kill someone. I catch her by the arm and try to reason with her, “Look you can’t confront Judas. He’ll just make it sound like you’re crazy and the teachers will believe him. They’re deluded by his charisma. They can’t see Judas for what he is.”
Vania won’t listen. Suddenly, Johnny appears out of nowhere directly in front of Vania. He says, “Be still.”
Vania stops. She can’t help herself.
“He’s already defeated. Jude has lost the war. Don’t let him win this battle,” Johnny reminds her.
Vania says, “I just want to hurt him! I want to make him pay for hurting my mom. She’s the best thing in my life.” Vania starts to cry. She puts her head on Johnny’s shoulder.
“It’s okay. Pastor Bill led your mom to the Lord last night. Her soul is safe.”
Vania cries and Johnny just holds her. Carrie and I rub her shoulders and say positive things. The bell rings. We walk to the front office to get excuses for running late. Carrie’s mom called and let them know Vania’s mom was in an accident. The school counselor has her come in to talk, before going to any classes. Carrie says, “We’ll see you at lunch, okay?” We continue to walk to our classes.
Johnny pulls me aside by my elbow, “Megan, I need to talk to you.”
“Yes, what is it?” I think Johnny’s going to give me some ideas on how to handle Vania so what he says next floors me.
“Judas as Damon, is targeting Max.”
“What?” Fear for my brother gives my heart a jolt.
“Max is at the age of consideration. He is coming into the knowledge of right and wrong. He is becoming aware that he has a choice to make. Damon is going to try and get him to reject God or take Max’s life before he’s saved. I’m trying to shield him from Damon’s influence. I need you to persuade Max about how evil Damon is. I just wanted to give you a heads up. I know how much you love your little brother.”
I’m stunned. How do I protect my little brother? I can’t believe I have to walk into class and pretend nothing is happening. Last year I lived to go to school and get good grades. This year school seems like a huge obstacle to what’s important in my life. I need to talk to Johnny on how to protect Max. He’s so little. I walk into microbiology class and ignore Jude. If I show any fear or knowledge of his plan, he might harm Max sooner. I need time to think.
***
At lunch I hurry to talk to my group. I tell them what Johnny told me earlier, about Max. Mandy comes up to me in the lunchroom while we are discussing how to handle Jude’s influence on Max.
“Hi, Megan.” Mandy says, looking lovely.
“Hi Mandy. How is everything going?”
“Everything’s great. I was hoping maybe we could talk.”
“Sure, why don’t you give me
a call tonight and we’ll catch up?”
“Oh. I was hoping maybe you could come to my house or I could come to yours?”
I don’t want to leave Max alone for a minute after Johnny warned me that Damon/Judas is after him. “Why don’t you come to my house? I know my family would love to see you too. I’ll tell them you’re coming for dinner, okay?”
“Thanks,” Mandy sounds relieved. Maybe she’s having problems with Farrah or Alex. Maybe she just misses me. She goes to sit with the other cheerleaders.
Vania says, “My mom is coming home today from the hospital. Some people from the church are going to give her a ride home and they’re bringing dinners for the next three nights. Isn’t that sweet?” Vania continues, “Johnny’s going to move into our spare room and let Mom use his car to get to and from work in the evenings until we can get the insurance money to get the car replaced. Mom was worried about him having transportation,” Vania giggles.
Johnny doesn’t need a car to get around since he‘s an angel. “He just won’t be able to take us with him without the car.” I take a bite of my salad and push an extra pudding cup I brought toward Vania.
Carrie says, “Johnny usually doesn’t take us in the late evening anyway; I’m sure it’ll be great.”
Johnny speaks up, “Why is everyone talking like I’m not even here? Am I invisible or something?”
We laugh. He’s the only guy in our little lunch group and he’s not even human.
I say, “Don’t worry it’s a girl thing.”
***
At my afternoon math class Jude keeps throwing gloating looks my way. I know he’s targeting someone close to me, probably besides Max. I ignore him. Any response I have will make him target more people. I just have to trust I will be in the right place at the right time to stop his evil plans from happening.
After school, I briefly meet with Johnny and Vania. She’s excited about her Mom coming home and Johnny moving in. “I’m going to feel so much safer knowing he’s at my house or will eventually pop up there. Judas just hates me so much! I feel like I’ve I had a target on my back since Jordan’s death.”
Things are starting to look up for Vania. Her Mom has even been given the all clear to go back to work.
***
Mandy is giving me a ride home today since she’s coming to my house for dinner. She pulls up in her car and I jump in and give her a hug. For once, I’ve put my books in a backpack. “Hey, I can’t wait to hear all about your weekend on the homecoming court and your date with Alex. Tell me all about everything I’ve missed!” She probably had sex with Alex. It makes me sad she didn’t wait. I know she was getting the message that it’s okay. I hope so.
She looks happy, “Megan, I had a great weekend. Being on the court was so nice. They took our picture for the yearbook. Alex treated me like a queen. Look.” Mandy shows me a gold heart necklace she’s wearing with a tiny sapphire in the center. “Alex gave me his heart! Isn’t that romantic?”
“Mandy, I’m happy, if you’re happy,” I say.
She drives us the ten minutes it takes to get to my house chattering away about all the things she did and all the people she talked to at the dance. She doesn’t mention what happened later after the dance when they went to the hotel. Maybe she’ll want to talk about it this evening in my bedroom after dinner.
Mom is so happy to see Mandy and Max is too. Last year we were as close as sisters. For dinner Mom and Max made a serve yourself taco bar with all the fixings. Dad’s running late from work, so Mom leads us in a prayer. I load up with three stuffed tacos, plenty of shredded cheese, and sour cream. Mandy is still watching her weight so she builds a taco salad with a small amount of meat, one crunched up shell and plenty of lettuce and tomatoes. At dinner I see her taking two pills.
I ask, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I thought maybe I was coming down with a cold on Thursday and I didn’t want to be sick, and maybe even miss homecoming, so I got a Z-Pack of antibiotics. Today is my last day on it. You know what the other one is,” Mandy winks at me.
It’s her birth control pill. I guess she followed through with her plan with Alex. We eat some blueberries for dessert. I put whip cream on mine. Mandy eats hers plain, sticking to her healthy diet. After dinner, we head up to my room.
I close the door, then we sit on my bed.
“Do you want to know how the rest of my evening went?” Mandy asks with a twinkle in her eye.
I just have to ask, “Did you do it?” “Did you and Alex, you know…”
Mandy plays with her necklace, “We went to the hotel; I felt so grown up, you know? Alex went to the front desk and got our room key. It was a really nice room looking out over the gulf. There was a full moon shining on the water. We turned off the lights; it was so beautiful. We opened the sliding glass doors to the balcony and we could hear the waves breaking on the shore. He gave me this necklace out on the balcony and asked me not to break his heart. It was just like in a movie. We had a very romantic time. It hurt a little at first. I’m glad we did it. I love him and I trust him. I’m sure we’ll get married someday. We’re just too young right now for marriage. We’re so perfect together.”
I feel bad for Mandy but I don’t show it. Not too young for sex, but too young for marriage? She gave away for free a gift that her husband would have treasured. It’s so backwards. I don’t want to fight with her. It’s not worth it and besides, it’s too late now. She’s made her choice.
“Alex says next time it shouldn’t hurt. He’s going to start coming to my house on weekends. You know my mom’s always gone on her dates so she’s not there anyway. Alex’s parents are okay with it as long as he gets his homework done and keeps his grades up.”
“Do you think you’ll get engaged?” I ask.
“His parents want us to wait till he’s in college next year.”
I can’t believe Farrah and Alex’s parents are so cool about all this, I think to myself.
Mandy nods happily, “They know we’re mature enough.”
My parents would totally freak and forbid me to see any guy who wouldn’t want to wait until marriage. They would see it as a huge sign of disrespect for me and for his own body. Mandy thinks my ideas are old-fashioned and out-of-step, and she knows I think her and Alex’s behavior is risky.
I must look worried because Mandy says, “Don’t worry, I’m taking precautions; I’m on the pill.”
“What about Alex? Is he using condoms?” I ask.
Mandy blushes, “No. He says they cut down on the sensations.”
“Oh.”
We drop the discussion and start to talk about cheerleading, other parties she’s been to, teachers and homework instead. In two weeks on Halloween weekend she and Alex are going to a private party being thrown by one of the cheerleaders. By the time she leaves to go home; I realize Mandy didn’t ask one question about Seth and me, how I spent my weekend, or the weeks before it. I guess she thinks my life can’t possibly be interesting.
***
Over the next two weeks I keep an eye on Max. I watch Jude, work hard to keep up my grades, and text Seth as much as possible. Vania’s mom is healing and Johnny seems to have kept any mischief Jude is involved in, to a minimum. Carrie has been keeping in touch with Robby and he even sent her a hermit crab for her birthday. Carrie got a big kick out of it. She even named him Robby Jr. Carrie, Vania, Johnny, and I work the trunk-or-treat on Halloween evening at our church. We have game booths set up and even turn one of the school buses into one of the scarier Bible stories. Everyone hands out candy from the trunks of their cars along with a postcard that has the message about the gift of salvation. It’s a lot of fun. Carrie and Johnny dress up like clowns. Vania and I dress up like angels. We keep cracking up every time we look at Johnny. I guess he doesn’t understand why we think that’s so funny.
Monday, after Halloween weekend, Mandy searches me out. She’s obviously upset.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“
Janie kept flirting all night long with Alex at the Halloween party!”
“Janie’s the girl who threw the party right?” I ask.
“Yeah. He kept talking to her. Every time I would point out he was encouraging Janie by talking to her, he would tell me I was being insecure and clingy, that it was harmless. Later, when we went back to my place, I checked his phone. Her phone number was in there so I deleted it. Now he’s mad at me.”
“Oh Mandy, I’m sure he’ll get over it. He loves you. I point at her necklace. Just leave him alone for a day or two, give him time to miss you. I’m sure he’ll call before the weekend.” I hope. I’m worried now that Mandy is no longer a challenge; maybe he is looking for his next conquest. I remember his reputation from last year.
Thursday morning Mandy comes up to me. Her eyes are shining. “You were right, Alex called and apologized. We’re getting together after the game. Thanks.”
***
The next morning I get a call from Mandy, she’s upset.
“Alex just went home. I don’t know what to do. Last night, when we went out after the game, Janie followed us! She’s chasing Alex and he likes it. I don’t know what to do. I’m afraid I’m going to lose him. She’s making it pretty clear she would sleep with him too. I think he wants to. She keeps touching him, and the way he looks at her breaks my heart. He used to look at me that way,” Mandy starts crying, “I don’t know how to stop him or her. What should I do? If I stop sleeping with him, he’ll just do it with her. He might anyway.” Mandy keeps crying.
I don’t know what to tell her. If he’s going to sleep around I don’t think there is any way to stop him. I just continue to listen.
“There’s something else,” Mandy says through her tears. “I should have gotten my period the weekend before Halloween, but it hasn’t come. Megan, I think I might be pregnant.”
I do some quick math. Mandy is two and a half weeks late. It’s possible.
“Have you told Alex?”
“I told him this morning. He accused me of trying to trap him. He stormed out of here mad. He told me not to say anything to anyone, even if I find out I am.”
“Have you told your mom, Farrah?”
“No. She’s not answering her phone, which means her hot date is going well,” Mandy sniffles and blows her nose.