Shadows at Sunset: Sunset Trilogy ~ Book 1 (12 page)

“I noticed. I wouldn’t worry about those girls. You’re better than them.” He said it like he knew me, and yet we had just met.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ethan at the end of the hallway waving for me to hurry up. I nervously glanced at my watch, noting that it was time to pick up my mother. “Excuse me, I have to go.” I brushed past Xander, eager to get away from him.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Laken,” he said loud enough for me to hear even as I rushed away from him.

A few seconds later when I stopped to look behind me, he had turned. All I saw was his back as he headed down the hall in the opposite direction, his black hair matching his black T-shirt and jeans.

Chapter 7

Ethan was right. By the end of the week, our teachers had dumped so much homework on us that I almost forgot about the body that had been found. I had Calculus problems to solve, an English essay to write, History chapters to read, and Physics formulas to decipher. Between my classes and homework, there was little time left for anything else.

I didn’t see Xander much at school the rest of the week. A few times in homeroom or History class, our eyes met, but I looked away immediately as if his gaze burned me. I don’t know why I felt compelled to stay away. Perhaps it was the unknown. He was a complete stranger and, after a stranger had taken Ryder, I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of more strangers in town. He kept to himself, often appearing bored. He seemed out of place here. Other students speculated on his story, but I didn’t pay much attention to the rumors.

After the final bell rang Friday afternoon, Brooke and Ethan caught up with me at my locker. As I sorted through my books, Brooke chatted excitedly. “So if you two can come over to my place around eight, we’ll drive up to Matthews Pond together. I’m not sure how late we’ll be at the party so, Ethan, you’re spending the night on the couch. I already talked to my parents and they’re cool with it.” I wasn’t surprised. Brooke’s parents had been hippies in the seventies and they were usually cool with anything as long as it was legal.

“I suppose I’m driving to the party, too,” I said.

Brooke smiled hopefully. “Yeah. My sister needs the car tonight. You’re okay with that, aren’t you?”

“Sure, why not? If I’m going to lie to my parents, I might as well go all out.”

“Laken, stop acting like such a martyr. You’re not going to lie. You’re just going to leave out a few details, that’s all.”

I raised my eyebrows at her and Ethan as I shut my locker. “I said I’ll do it.”

The three of us started to head down the hallway, weaving in between the other students. We had only taken a few steps when I saw Marlena saunter up beside Xander as he shuffled through his books at his locker. Her long blonde hair swayed against her white sweater, both a sharp contrast to Xander’s black shirt. I tried to look away, but Brooke also noticed her and stopped beside me. She grabbed my arm, a curious look in her eyes.

Ethan towered behind us. “What are we looking at?” he asked, unaware of the scene unfolding across the hall.

Brooke shushed him by pressing a finger to his lips and tossed a swift nod toward Marlena and Xander.

Marlena leaned against the lockers, smiling coyly at Xander. “Hi, Xander. I hope you had a good first week here.”

He gave her a quick bored glance with a raised eyebrow, before looking back at his locker.

“Anyway,” she continued, oblivious to his lack of interest. “I’m having a party at my house tonight and I’d love for you to come.”

Xander grabbed his motorcycle helmet in one hand and slammed his locker shut with his other. “Save your energy. I’m not interested.”

Marlena’s jaw dropped, her eyes flashing nervously around her to see who was watching. Students milled about between them and the three of us, so she didn’t notice that she had an audience across the hall. “But it’ll be fun. Really, I promise.”

“Let me get something straight, Marlena,” he said, glaring at her. “I’m not interested in you or your friends, so don’t waste your energy on me. I see how you treat people around here. You’re so caught up in yourself that you’ll walk all over anyone who gets in the way of whatever you want. And that isn’t something I value. So let me repeat myself. I’m not interested.”

I wasn’t sure who’s jaw dropped lower, mine or Marlena’s. Speechless, Marlena watched him walk away. Hurt and disappointment glazed over her eyes for a moment.

Brooke squeezed my arm. “OMG. I knew there was something I liked about him,” she whispered.

I couldn’t help smiling at her. Then I returned my gaze to Xander as he hoisted a black backpack over his shoulders. Carrying his helmet in one hand, he headed into the crowd. As he walked by us, I caught his blue eyes watching me. For just a moment, his expression softened into a faint smile. Then, without a word, he continued down the hallway, disappearing out the door with the other students.

Ethan finally brought Brooke and me back to reality. “Okay, if we’re done staring here, Laken, you and I need to get going to pick up your mom. Brooke, we’ll see you around eight.”

With that, he grabbed my hand and pulled me away from Brooke, ushering me down the hall. Marlena still stood beside Xander’s locker, a scowl on her face as she glanced at me. Looking away immediately, I felt her angry eyes watching me until Ethan and I escaped around the next corner.

***

When I returned home, I dropped my book bag on the kitchen table and walked out onto the patio. As soon as I called for Dakota, he charged out of the woods and up the steps, nearly knocking me over when he jumped up to greet me. After he settled down, I knelt beside him and scratched the smoky black fur between his ears. He responded by licking my neck, and I grimaced, gently pushing him away. Then I smiled at him, studying his honey colored eyes.

“I know,” I said. “I miss you, too. I’ll talk to Dad about letting you back in the house this weekend. I know you love your freedom, but I’m getting a little lonely.” Recognizing the look of understanding in his eyes, I continued. “Well, I have a party to get ready for.”

He tilted his head to the side as if he hadn’t heard me correctly.

“Yes, a party,” I repeated. “It won’t hurt me to get out a little again this year.” I wasn’t sure if I said it to convince Dakota or to convince myself.

With one last scratch between his ears, I stood and headed back into the house. At the door, I turned to catch one more glimpse of Dakota, but he had already disappeared into the woods without a single sound.

I retreated into the house, grabbed my book bag from the kitchen table, and hurried upstairs to my room to get ready for the party. After a hot shower, my wet hair dripped against my purple terrycloth robe as I sifted through my closet. Deciding what to wear for a party I wasn’t sure I wanted to attend was harder than I had expected.

My concentration on my wardrobe was broken when my phone buzzed from where I had left it on my desk. Grateful for the interruption, I rushed over to it. When I read the caller ID, a bright smile crossed over my lips. I picked it up and swiped the screen. “Hi, Noah.”

I sat down on my bed, far more interested in talking to Noah than picking out clothes for a party that I knew he wouldn’t be at.

“Happy Friday afternoon,” he said. I imagined a warm smile on his handsome face. “How was your first week at school?”

“As good as can be expected. After all, it is school, and with that comes homework.”

“Yeah. I don’t miss that.”

“You sure? I’d be happy to give you some of mine.”

“Not a chance.”

“I guess I’ll have to suffer through it alone. How was your week? Is there any new information on the guy who took Ryder? I haven’t seen my dad much these last few days, or I’m sure he would have told me.”

“Nope. Nothing new. I wish there was, though.”

“Me, too. I still wish we knew his motive. Might help give all of us a little closure.”

“You know, there’s a chance we’ll never know what his motive was.”

I had considered that. “If that happens, I’m sure we’ll all move on in time.”

“Of course. Now, about moving on. Are you working this weekend?”

“Yes. I’m scheduled for the lunch shift all three days since Monday is a holiday. It should be pretty busy.”

“Great. I’ll stop by.”

That brought a smile to my face and I felt like exploding off the bed into cartwheels. But I calmly responded, “I’ll look forward to it.” After all, he was probably only being nice to me because I was the sheriff’s daughter. Whether or not anything romantic would happen with him remained to be seen.

As I thought about this, I glanced at my dresser where the wilted carnation flopped on its side.
He loves me, he loves me not,
I thought to myself.
There’s still hope. Don’t give up yet. You’ll be eighteen in one more week and then you’ll be free to date anyone you want.

“So will I,” he said softly. “Okay, well, it’s Friday night and I’m sure you have plans, so I’ll let you go now.”

I was thankful that he didn’t ask what my plans were. The last thing I needed was to tell the town deputy about the bonfire tonight. I didn’t want to be the one to get the party busted. I simply wanted to make an appearance, thereby making Brooke happy. The party was now just an event I had to get through until I would see Noah again. “I guess I’ll see you soon?”

“Yes, soon. Good night, Laken.”

“Good night.”

A huge smile lingered on my face as I hung up the phone. I fell back onto my bed and stared up at the ceiling. The sudden urge to stay home tonight and dream about him shot through me, but I knew Brooke would never forgive me. With a deep sigh, I reluctantly lifted myself off my bed and returned to my closet.

An hour later, my overnight bag filled with pajamas, a hairbrush, toothbrush, and other necessary toiletries bumped against my jean-clad legs as my boots thudded on the hardwood steps. In spite of my better judgment, I was ready for the party in my black sweater and black jacket. I had even curled my hair and applied some make-up, figuring if I had to go out, I might as well look decent.

Ethan was waiting for me in the kitchen with my mother when I came down the stairs. My father was still at the station expecting a busy Friday night now that school had started.

“Where are you kids off to tonight?” she asked as Ethan smiled at me.

I groaned to myself. I had dreaded this moment all week, knowing that I couldn’t be completely honest. Fortunately, Ethan jumped right in. “We’re headed over to Brooke’s, and from there, we’re not sure,” he said. “We might head out for pizza or a movie, but we haven’t decided yet.”

“Sounds like fun. Have a good time. Laken, when will you be home?”

“Not ’til tomorrow,” I told her. “We’re staying over at Brooke’s tonight.”

“Okay.” She briefly met my gaze with her tired brown eyes. “Send me a text when you get back to Brooke’s for the night, just so I know you’re safe.”

“Sure thing, Mom.” I turned to Ethan. “Ready?”

He nodded and, after saying good-bye to my mother, we hauled our overnight bags out to the Explorer in the garage.

***

We arrived at the party around nine o’clock, well after the sun had given way to darkness. A full moon hovered above the mountains as I parked behind a row of cars on the dark dead-end road that led to the abandoned campground. I shut off the engine, watching the back of the car in front of us disappear as I turned the headlights off. After hopping out of the SUV, I walked around the front to meet Brooke and Ethan on the other side. I hugged my leather jacket around my chest against the brisk air. It already felt like fall. I smiled, thinking about the things I loved about this time of year--the colors in the leaves, pumpkins, Halloween, and my mother’s hot apple cider.

“Ready?” Brooke asked, breaking me out of my thoughts and bringing my attention back to the party. Her black top hid under her black jacket which blended into the darkness behind her. Moonlight glinted off her double-stranded silver necklace and silver hoop earrings with every movement she made. Ethan stood beside her, half hidden in the shadows. He looked no different than always in his black T-shirt and blue denim jacket.

“I guess so. Lead the way.”

Brooke nudged me playfully as we walked down the dark road. “Geez, don’t make it sound like a funeral,” she groaned.