The New Year's Party

  “P.J.’s not well,” Liz went on.

  “What’s wrong with him?”

  “He’s frail. He can’t do physical things.”

  “Maybe he should work out or something—build up his strength,” Reenie suggested.

  “You don’t understand. He’s got a heart murmur. He can’t work out or anything like that. He’s excused from PE.”

  “How … how serious is it?”

  “He’s okay as long as he doesn’t do physical stuff.”

  Reenie felt guilty for all the mean things she had been thinking about P.J. She decided to try to make him feel more welcome at Shadyside High.

  “Greta and P.J. seem to have a lot to talk about,” Reenie observed.

  “I wish he would ask her out. But I’m afraid he’s too shy. He’s never worked up the courage to ask any girl out.”

  “He’s never gone out with a girl—ever?” Reenie asked, surprised.

  “Never. But don’t tell anyone, okay? P.J. would be really bummed if it got around.”

  “I won’t,” Reenie promised. “I think it would be great for P.J. to go out with someone,” Reenie continued slowly. “But Greta’s still going with Artie, so …”

  Reenie heard footsteps behind her and turned around. She found Ty hurrying to catch up to them.

  “Hey. Where you guys headed?” he called breathlessly.

  “Nowhere special,” Liz replied.

  Ty has a car, Reenie remembered. At last. A ride.

  “Liz …” Ty hesitated.

  “Uh-huh?”

  “Could I ask you something?”

  Oh, no, Reenie thought. Ty’s finally decided to ask Liz out, and I’m standing here like her chaperon.

  She checked her watch. “Listen, you guys, I’ve got to run. I’ll catch you later, okay?”

  “Okay,” Liz replied. “See you tomorrow.”

  “Later,” Ty said.

  Reenie moved deeper into the parking lot. It’s emptying out fast, she thought. Isn’t there anyone here I can catch a ride with?

  A red car squealed to a stop in front of her. Marc Bentley’s red car.

  I’d rather freeze to death, Reenie told herself.

  Artie rolled down the window. “Reenie—yo! Look what I’m driving. Need a ride?”

  “No, thanks,” Reenie called. Even without Marc behind the wheel, she didn’t want another ride in the red car. “I think I’m going to walk. I need the exercise.”

  “It’s going to storm,” Artie warned.

  A gust of wind sent freezing air down the back of her coat collar. She shivered, the chill reminding her of last night. The frigid water of Fear Lake.

  Knowing she was going to drown.

  “Hop in,” Artie urged.

  Reenie glanced around the parking lot. Artie’s my only chance for a ride. “Okay,” Reenie answered reluctantly. She climbed in.

  “Where’s Greta this afternoon?” Reenie asked. Artie scowled. Dumb question, she thought. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

  “She brought her own car today,” Artie replied through clenched teeth. He peeled out of the exit and roared away from the school.

  I wish I’d known that, Reenie thought. I could have ridden home with her. Reenie realized she’d barely spoken to Greta the entire day—just those few minutes in the cafeteria.

  Artie pushed down on the gas. Reenie made sure her seat belt was fastened properly. Artie’s driving made her nervous.

  Artie pulled to a stop in front of a red light. “Hey, Reenie…”

  “What?”

  “Last night… you know. I didn’t mean for you to fall.”

  Reenie sighed. “I know.”

  “I wanted to go out on the ice with Sean. Help pull you up. But we thought the ice might break some more.”

  “I know that, Artie.”

  “Good. Watch this.” The light turned green. Artie floored the gas pedal. The tires squealed as the powerful car shot forward.

  “Artie, don’t!”

  “It’s okay, Reenie!” Artie yelled. “I drive a lot better than Marc!”

  Artie sped down the road into another intersection. Horns blared. Tires squealed.

  “Look out!” Reenie shrieked.

  Chapter 13

  NOT P.J.!

  Reenie’s scream stuck in her throat.

  She heard metal slam against metal. Shattering glass.

  The car spun, slamming her into the door.

  She heard someone screaming. Far away.

  Felt the seat belt biting into her stomach, as she was thrown forward. Then she lurched back against the seat.

  Reenie tasted blood in her mouth. Metallic and salty.

  I bit my tongue, she realized. That’s all. I just bit my tongue.

  The car shuddered to a stop.

  “You okay?” Artie groaned.

  “Yeah—I think so.” Reenie peered out the window. She couldn’t see much. Cracks covered the glass like a huge spiderweb.

  She shoved open the door and leaned out. A sharp, sour taste hit the back of her throat. She swallowed hard.

  A green van had smashed into the rear door. On my side, Reenie thought. Two feet from where I’m sitting.

  Reenie slowly climbed out of the car. Her legs felt as though she had run up and down the gym bleachers a hundred times. They wouldn’t stop trembling.

  Artie hurried over to Reenie. “Oh, wow!” Artie groaned, staring at the caved-in door. “Marc is going to kill me.”

  Where’s the van driver? Reenie wondered.

  Then she saw him. Still in the van. A dark shape slumped over the wheel.

  “Hey, are you okay?” she called.

  The driver didn’t reply. Didn’t move.

  “Are you okay?” Reenie called again. Oh, no. I hope he’s not hurt, Reenie thought. She hurried to the van and yanked open the door. Gently she pulled the driver back against the seat.

  She sucked in her breath.

  “Huh?” A startled cry escaped her lips as she saw his face.

  P.J.! The van driver was P.J.

  Reenie remembered what Liz told her—about P.J.’s having a heart murmur. She felt for his pulse. “Please be all right. Please!” she begged.

  P.J.’s eyes fluttered open and he turned his head toward Reenie. “Are you hurt?” she cried.

  But he didn’t answer. He seemed totally bewildered. Barely conscious.

  “Oh, no, I don’t believe it!” Artie cried, striding up beside Reenie.

  “Artie—he’s hurt,” Reenie said.

  “You creep!” he snarled at P.J. “Look what you did! You plowed right into me. Marc’s going to kill me!”

  P.J. didn’t react.

  He’s still dazed, Reenie saw.

  Artie slammed the side of the van with his fist. “You ran a stop sign!” he screamed. “Don’t you know how to drive? What’s wrong with you!”

  Reenie slipped between Artie and P.J. “Calm down,” she urged. “Please.”

  Artie grabbed her by the shoulders. He stared at her, his eyes cold. “Why is everyone always defending him?” he demanded. “What’s so special about P.J.?” Artie’s fingers dug into her skin. She could feel his hot breath on her face. “Huh, Reenie? Why does everyone love little P.J.?”

  Reenie didn’t answer. She concentrated on meeting Artie’s gaze. She knew if Artie decided to go for P.J., she wouldn’t be able to stop him.

  Artie, leave P.J. alone, she thought. Leave him alone. It’s not his fault you and Greta are always fighting.

  A horn honked behind them—loud and long.

  Artie let go of Reenie and backed away, shaking his head.

  Whew! That was close, Reenie thought. Relief raced through her as she watched Artie climb back into the car.

  Artie stuck his head out the window. “I’m not going to forget this, P.J.!” he yelled. Then he peeled away, his tires squealing.

  Reenie turned to P.J. “Are you okay?” she asked softly. He nodded. His eyes seemed clearer. “Okay as I’ll ever be,” he told
her glumly.

  “Marc went totally ballistic over what Artie did to his car,” Greta told the others the next day at lunch.

  “I don’t blame him,” Sean muttered.

  “It wasn’t Artie’s fault,” Reenie reminded them. “P.J. ran the stop sign.”

  Reenie noticed Liz staring down at her plate. Poor Liz, she thought. It must be tough having a brother like P.J. She must feel she has to protect him all the time.

  Reenie glanced over at Liz. Ty was leaning close to her, whispering something that made Liz smile a little. Reenie smiled, too. At least Liz and Ty are getting together, she thought. Now maybe Liz won’t worry about P.J. all the time.

  “Ever since Artie started running around with Marc, he acts crazy,” Greta complained. “It’s like Marc has turned him into another person.”

  “Are they still friends?” Ty asked. “I mean, after Artie wrecked his car and all?”

  “I’m not sure,” Greta answered.

  “Maybe they won’t run around together anymore,” Liz suggested.

  “I doubt it would make any difference,” Greta replied. “Artie seems to have become permanently weird.” She took a bite of her carrot, then tossed it down. “Okay, who has chocolate?” she demanded.

  Reenie handed her half a chocolate chip cookie.

  Sean cleared his throat. “I have a major announcement.”

  We could use a new topic of conversation, Reenie thought. Anything that doesn’t involve P.J., Artie, or Marc.

  “Reenie’s parents are going to be away for a few days,” Sean announced. “I’m trying to talk her into throwing a Christmas party.”

  “Hey, awesome!” Ty exclaimed.

  “Yeah, good idea!” Greta agreed.

  “I’ll come,” Liz added.

  “It’s unanimous,” Sean declared. “Everybody thinks you should do it.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Reenie told them. “But—I’m not sure—”

  “Come on, Reenie,” Greta urged. “You can’t let a chance like this slip away.”

  “No one else’s parents are going to be out of town right before Christmas,” Sean added. “This is too good a chance to pass up.”

  They all gazed at Reenie, waiting.

  Reenie had suggested the idea to Sean as a “maybe” kind of thing. But she wanted to have the party as much as everyone else did. She was up for anything that would help get things back to normal.

  “Okay,” she replied, grinning. “Let’s go for it.”

  “Who are you going to invite?” Greta asked.

  Before Reenie could answer, Sandi Burke pushed her way up to their table. “Get to the weight room,” she choked out. “Quick!”

  Reenie felt a chill down her back. Something else has happened, she knew. Something bad.

  “What’s wrong?” Sean asked Sandi.

  “What happened?” Liz demanded.

  “Just get to the weight room,” Sandi replied, her eyes wide with fear.

  Chapter 14

  KISS OF DEATH

  Reenie bolted down the corridor to the gym. Sean yanked open one of the big double doors, and they all raced to the weight room.

  “Stay back!” Coach Wilkins ordered sharply as they crammed inside. Reenie caught his expression of alarm.

  She stood on tiptoes, straining to peer around Coach Wilkins and the group of kids crowding the small room.

  She cried out when she saw Artie lying beside the weight-lifting bench. He was sprawled on his back, arms and legs splayed. He didn’t move.

  Is this another joke? Reenie wondered. No. Coach Wilkins wouldn’t get involved in one of our stupid pranks.

  “Artie!” Greta screamed. She shoved her way through the crowd, trying to reach him.

  The coach grabbed her by the arm. “I told you to stay back!” he snapped. “He needs air.”

  Reenie turned to Sandi. “What happened?”

  Sandi’s words came in a rush. “We were talking in the hall, Artie and me. He started bragging about how much weight he could lift—you know, in a bench press or whatever you call it—and I didn’t believe him. He said he’d show me. And Artie asked P.J. to help with the weights if anything goes wrong. You know. To be his spotter. I think he wanted to make P.J. feel bad. P.J. would never be able to lift as much weight as—”

  “But what happened to Artie?” Greta demanded impatiently.

  “Artie lifted the barbell off the stand okay,” Sandi explained. “But then he couldn’t get it back on. His arms were giving out. He yelled for help, but P.J. didn’t know what to do, or he wasn’t strong enough—or something. P.J. dropped the barbell on Artie. Artie fell off the bench, and the weight fell on top of him!”

  Artie groaned.

  He’s alive! Reenie told herself. She wrapped an arm around Greta’s shoulders.

  “Where do you hurt?” Reenie heard Coach Wilkins ask.

  “Everywhere,” Artie groaned. He struggled to sit up. “I’m going to get that little creep, P.J.” he threatened.

  “You are going to stay put. I have a doctor on the way,” the coach told him. “You both should have known better than to fool around in here without supervision.”

  Reenie glanced around the weight room. She spotted P.J. sitting against the back wall, staring down at the floor. Liz knelt beside him, an angry expression on her face.

  “I feel sorry for P.J.,” Greta declared. “He was only trying to help. Artie never should have asked him. He should know P.J. can’t do things like that.” She hurried over to P.J. and Liz.

  Whoa, Reenie thought. That’s no way to calm Artie down. He’s going to explode if he catches Greta over there with P.J. He’s already so jealous.

  “Don’t try to stand up until I get back,” Coach Wilkins instructed. “Do you understand me, Artie?”

  Artie nodded. But the second the coach left the room, Artie struggled to his feet.

  Reenie knew the exact moment he spotted P.J. His face turned the same dull red it had after the car crash.

  Nothing is going to stop him from going after P.J. this time, she thought. Nothing.

  “You little jerk!” Artie bellowed. “What were you trying to do—kill me?”

  “Please, Artie,” Greta begged. “Leave him alone.”

  Liz jumped to her feet and stood in front of P.J. as if to protect him.

  “Leave poor little P.J. alone,” Artie mimicked sarcastically. “Poor little P.J. who tried to kill me.”

  “It was an accident!” Greta cried. “Just an accident. He isn’t strong enough to lift those weights and you know it.” Then Greta added in a sweeter, calmer voice, “Come on, Artie. Accidents happen.”

  “Yeah, that’s right,” Artie said coldly. He stared menacingly at P.J. “Accidents happen.”

  With a loud groan Artie dived for P.J.

  P.J. scrambled to his feet. He stared frantically around the room.

  Greta threw herself between P.J. and Artie. “Don’t touch him!”

  Bad move, Greta, Reenie thought. Now he’ll want to get P.J. even more.

  “Defending your new little boyfriend? How sweet!” Artie tried ducking around Greta to get to P.J. But she blocked his path.

  Coach Wilkins burst through the door. “Stop right there,” he ordered. He strode up to Artie and held him roughly by the arm.

  “P.J., get to your next class,” the coach ordered. “The rest of you, too. The show is over. The doctor wants to examine Artie. Without an audience.”

  Liz and Greta hovered beside P.J. as they all filed out of the room.

  Reenie glanced back at Artie. His eyes were focused on P.J., the muscles in his jaw clenched tight. This isn’t over, she thought. This definitely isn’t over.

  * * *

  “Sorry I’m late, guys,” Artie muttered. He plopped down on Reenie’s bed next to Greta and took a swig of her Diet Coke. Then he leaned forward and gave her a long kiss.

  Interesting, Reenie thought. I guess they made up—for the millionth time since they started going
together.

  “How come you’re late? You found something you would rather do than study trig?” Sean joked.

  “I wanted to get in my weight training. I skipped it yesterday,” Artie explained.

  “Weight training?” Greta asked. She didn’t sound too happy. “After what happened in school this afternoon? I didn’t think you were still doing that.”

  “Yeah,” he admitted. “But not at school. Merc’s got his own set of weights—better than the ones in the gym. I work out over there now.”

  “I thought Marc was steaming because of what happened to his new car!” Greta exclaimed.

  “He finally cooled off. He realized it was P.J.’s fault. Everything bad that’s been happening to me is because of that guy. What a bad-news guy. It’s not safe to be around him.”

  Reenie noticed that Greta didn’t jump in to defend P.J. She must not want to start another fight, Reenie decided. I don’t blame her.

  “Well, we’re all here except for Ty,” Reenie announced. “He called to tell me he’s going out with Liz tonight. He tried to sound casual about it. But I could tell he thought it was a big deal.”

  “Took him long enough,” Artie commented.

  “He finally did it. Cool,” Greta remarked. “I told you they’re perfect for each other.”

  Sean sighed. “Can we go on to the next problem? We can discuss Ty’s love life later.”

  “Nope. We have something more important to do first,” Reenie replied.

  Artie squinted at her. “Excuse me?”

  “We have to decide who to invite to my party!” Reenie explained. She picked up a pad and pencil. “Come on. Let’s hear some names.”

  Greta laughed. “That’s much more important than trig,” she agreed. “How about Deena Martinson?”

  “Corky Corcoran,” Sean recommended.

  “And Julie Prince,” Greta added.

  “Hey,” Reenie said, “aren’t you forgetting something? We’ve got to invite some guys, too. How about Gary Brandt?”

  “Bobby Newkick,” Sean called out.

  “Noooooo!” Reenie and Greta moaned in unison.

  “Guess not,” Sean concluded.