The Demon's Grave (4 page)

Across from her, Read rummaged through his red lunch bag. The dark brown hair‌—‌almost black‌—‌masked his eyes. “Hey, Nora,” Read pulled a narrow, white can covered in Japanese writing from his bag. Read had a distaste for normalcy. He wouldn’t be caught dead with grilled-cheese or pizza for lunch unless it was imported or some obscure variety.

“Hi Read,” I replied and ignored his double-take. I knew the lack of sleep was starting to show and I was certain my hair was only partly still in its ponytail.

“You’re blonde,” he said.

Oh, that
. I stretched my lips in what I hoped resembled a smile.

Dismal is the Demon’s Grave. One soul of blackened sin
. It was like an incessant loop that I couldn’t scratch out of my head. I stopped myself before I could thud my fist against my temple.

I hadn’t noticed the silence, but the other two seemed to find it disconcerting. Read broke it first, looking at me. “Are you ready for
the
weekend?”

Phoebe’s teeth cracked into the stiff hide of the apple and she said, while chewing. “Don’t be stupid, of course she is.”

Brushing his hair away from grey eyes he glared at her. “Last I checked, Nora could speak for herself.”

“Absolutely,” I said with over-exaggerated enthusiasm. The last thing my scrambled nerves needed was another argument between the two. Read and Phoebe used to get along better than anyone in our group. I hadn’t heard a kind word between them for months. Whenever asked, neither would say why.

Opening my paper-bag, I tried not to glance between them. “There’s that new campground by Whitefish Lake.”

“I like that lake,” Read waved a fork in my direction. “I think Aidan has…‌”

“You hated that lake,” Phoebe interrupted.

Read wiped at his face with the back of his fork-holding hand. “You don’t have to spit at me.”

Phoebe made a childish face.

I wracked my mind for something to interrupt them when a lanky girl with pouty lips and a cherry tattoo nudged Read’s shoulder with her hip. Phoebe and I might as well have been invisible the way she smiled at him. Of course, at the rate I was going today, I didn’t mind.

Find me an invisibility cloak!
I thought and smirked.

Read flashed a casual smile to the new girl. With his chiseled cheeks, full lips and a mysterious demeanor, women were attracted to Read like wasps to sugar.

To him the girl purred, “You should come to baseball practice tonight.” She included an exaggerated hair flip halfway through her sentence.

Phoebe stifled a giggle with a snort. Read was one of the worst athletes we knew. Even worse than me, which is saying something.

The girl seemed to take notice of Phoebe for the first time and blinked in surprise. Whether she recognized Phoebe or not, I’d never know, but her lips twisted as if ready for a fight when Read said. “I’d love to, but I have a test to study for. You going to be busy around nine?”

Without flashing teeth the girl smirked, mostly at Phoebe who remained seated with her eyebrows raised.

I glanced between the three of them unsure how to repair the thin ice that coated the conversation. “Um,” was all I managed before the pretty brunette agreed to Read’s terms.

“Don’t keep me waiting.” The throaty purr in his ear wasn’t just for him. It was like watching a dog with a hydrant.

Without turning my face, I shifted my gaze to Phoebe. She was watching her knuckles as she cracked them one at a time. It was a classic nervous twitch she developed as a kid.
Ruh roh.

The girl left, adding extra sway to her hips, knowing Read would be watching, and he was. The goofy smile remained when he turned back to us.

“You want me to teach you what baseball
is
?” Phoebe asked between cracks.

“Interesting,” I blurted without thinking.

“That’s Heather,” Read said as if Heather had been the topic of conversation before.

Phoebe shrugged her narrow shoulders and bit into her sandwich.

As if cued, I looked up and saw two familiar people walking our way.

Gripping lunch trays, the odd couple bee-lined through the tables. Robin Thurston was leading, but I could easily see Cody’s narrow features and bleached hair behind her. The top of Robin’s head reached his chest and she wore some four-inch heels just to accomplish that height.

The petite former-cheerleader grinned at me. When she wasn’t smiling, which was rare, her full lips almost touched her pert nose.

Returning the smile, I strained to lift the heavy backpack to the floor so Robin could sit.

“Hey everyone,” Robin announced, and squeezed in on the other side of me. “I like the hair, Nora.” You wouldn’t expect someone her size to have such a volcanic voice. As she said
hey
, at least three tables turned to see if she was talking to them. She wore her favorite sunglasses on her head. They coupled as a hair accessory in keeping the chin-length, chestnut hair from brushing her face. This week it was riddled with golden brown highlights. Last week it had been deep red highlights, the week before green.

Cody plopped down on the other side of Robin and towered over everyone at the table, even while sitting.

We all managed an obscure greeting between bites.

“Cody,” Phoebe prompted. “Did you hear about Aidan’s idea for the weekend?”

Cody’s smile was brief, never showing teeth.

Robin piped up before he could answer. “I don’t think either of us have.”

I felt that familiar buzz. The disturbance in the air that often came just before…‌

Aidan Birket set his tray of cafeteria food on the table with a clatter.

His wild, roan-colored hair was spiked in all directions as if he’d just rolled out of bed. His square face was pale, leaving grey circles under his eyes most days and enhancing the shocking eyes. It was his eyes that caught most people’s attention. Pale blue, electric‌—‌like they were staring straight through you. No,
into
you. It was like he saw your soul and knew things about you that you didn’t. I hated that.

“Good afternoon,” he said, taking a seat beside Read. Despite the wild, unkept hair, he dressed well. New jeans and a tight t-shirt accented his lean chest and arms.

I muttered a reply that melted in with the others and stuffed my face.

He and Read had hit it off at the beginning of the year and Aidan had come to lunch with us ever since.

“We were just discussing your idea for the weekend.” Robin informed him with a bright smile.

Read started to speak but Robin interrupted‌—‌she often did‌—‌though it wasn’t out of spite, it was just Robin. “You know, I heard Claire Weatherbe was going to have a pool party on Saturday. Also, the Gregory twins were renting a cabin at the beach.” Her bright green eyes glistened with ideas. She nibbled on a cracker before making a face. “We’re not going camping down at Bow Valley Lake again, are we?” She followed Aidan’s gaze around the table, her disapproval evident.

Aidan smiled, closed-lipped and polite, He always seemed to smile to be sociable, not because he wanted to. “No, it’s not Bow Valley Lake.”

Robin eagerly leaned forward in her chair, eyes bright. “You’re coming this year, right? The more the merrier.” Cody nodded along with her, mute as ever.

“He’s already coming, guys.” Phoebe turned to Robin and rolled out her tongue to show off the half-masticated food. Robin, like many times before, threatened to never sit with us‌—‌again.

Aidan’s voice continued alongside Robin’s and I barely heard him say, with his polite smile, “It’ll be good to get away for a weekend before the last of finals.”

“More people means more beer.” Read patted Aidan’s shoulder with approval.

Phoebe rolled her eyes. “Heather can’t come.”

“Who is Heather?” Robin was as alert as a ground squirrel.

Before chugging her Coke, Phoebe said, “Read’s new girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Read protested with a hiss. “Stop being a bitch, Phoebe, or you’re on toilet paper detail.”

Robin’s head bobbed in slow-motion as if she were trying to follow the conversation. She trailed her eyes between them before looking at me with raised eyebrows. “Read’s girlfriend?”

I shrugged, I didn’t want to press it. If pushed, Phoebe could get nasty. So I said. “There isn’t a girl Read hasn’t hit on. Of course there’s a girlfriend.”

Looking thoughtful, Read said, not looking at me, “Just ones I don’t want to keep for a while. There’s girls I like. I just never flirt with them.”

“Like Heather?” Aidan volunteered with a smile.

“She’s just one I won’t keep for a while,” Read half smirked and looked to Aidan as if they shared some boyish secret.

I rolled my eyes when I realized Read had never hit on me‌—‌not once. He’d flirted with Phoebe, even Robin from time to time but never me.

Stiffening, I realized Read was watching me and I raised my eyebrows at him in question.

All he did was smile, before turning scarlet and looking away.

Well, that was new.

“Why can’t Read’s girlfriend come?” Robin asked. “I’d like to meet her.”

I leaned back in my chair hard enough to make it jump. For some reason, I thought Phoebe might be swinging a fist.

Instead she was tilting back the Coke to swish the liquid in her mouth, before spitting it back in the can and drinking it again.

Robin actually gagged. “Phoebe!”

“Why were you arguing with Cooper Mesick the other day?”

“What?” Robin paled a little.

This brought Cody forward in his seat to speak for the first time. “The guy who’s been harassing you?”

Robin waved it off, looking frightfully pallid under her tan. “It’s nothing,” she said.

“Didn’t look like nothing,” Phoebe said with a self-satisfied smirk.

Cody was glaring at Robin and Robin was glaring at Phoebe. If Robin’s eyes could shoot daggers, Phoebe would be in ribbons.

Oblivious to the exchange Aidan pointed at Robin with his fork and interrupted. “Would you rather do any of the other suggestions though? I don’t want to impose.”

Tearing her eyes from Phoebe, Robin glanced at Read and said. “Um, no, I’m fine with whatever. With
who
ever.” She gave me another pointed look as if I could communicate telepathically.

I pretended not to notice. I was too tired to play this game.

When Aiden went to ask Cody, he was already nodding toward Robin as if to say, ‘whatever she says.’ Though his mouth had turned down in a scowl. Aidan paused before asking. “Nora?”

I bristled, feeling the hair on the back of my neck rise. I met his electric eyes and tried to keep from flinching. “I’m not sure I can go this year.”

At the same time we looked away from each other.

Sometimes I wondered if he could hear my thoughts. It might explain why he avoided me the way I did him. I remembered one day at Read’s before going out to a club and Aidan cancelled the second I walked in the door. Read thought I had done something to piss him off. It took half the night and several highballs to convince Read otherwise.

Phoebe’s eyebrows pinched when she looked at me.

Aidan blew a strand of his wild, roan hair away from his face with a sigh.

“I say we go to your place,” Read said, slurping from the white mystery can.

Without looking up, Aidan said. “Well, I was thinking of going to a place my family owns outside of town. If you guys want to come, you can. It’s kind of like camping out there.”

Robin wrinkled her nose at
camping
.

“Well, there’s shelter and we won’t need tents,” Aidan said, the hope in his voice was almost tangible. “I mean there’s no running water or sewer.”

“Like a cabin? I’m listening,” Phoebe set her bony elbows on the table and rested her head on her fists.

Robin groaned a protest and lowered her head, staring at her food instead. I think I was the only one who heard her mutter. “Maybe I can’t go this year either.” I tried to keep my face neutral.

Aidan continued, between bites of his chicken sandwich. “I can guarantee that it’s one of the best places
I’ve
ever been to.”

“Where’s that?” Phoebe asked.

“Can’t tell you.” Aidan shook his head, quite serious.

“What do you mean?” I snapped before I could stop myself. “How will we know what to pack or how long we’ll be gone if we don’t know where it is?”

At first, Aidan looked ready to start an argument. Instead he took a deep breath and forced the polite, closed-lipped smile. “The reason I say that I can’t tell you is because it’s a bit of a family secret.”

“You want us to see your secret place?” I asked, my tone far more condescending than I intended. Surprising myself, I felt the harsh pinch of guilt and tried to cover it up with a playful smile as if I were joking. I doubt it was convincing.

Dismal is the Demon’s Grave. One soul of blackened sin.
My hand curled into a fist.

Aidan’s smile was starting to irritate me. “It’s just for kicks, Nora. Where’s your sense of adventure?”

Phoebe wiggled in her seat. “This will be fun.” She nudged me with her elbow. “Be spontaneous for once.”

Robin straightened in her seat. “Sure, Cody and I will come.” She looked at Cody for approval. Cody stopped chewing for a moment to smile at her without showing teeth, squinting his light brown eyes through blonde lashes.

Phoebe nodded. “I could use a little excitement and get out of this boring old town.”

She was right, not much happened in Leland.

I glanced at Phoebe and Robin for support, finding none. I didn’t want to be the only one to chicken out, but my stomach was twisting into knots.

Phoebe was nodding at me, her eyes wide with encouraging peer-pressure.

Read looked over the cafeteria, perhaps searching for Heather before he said. “I’m in. But, uh‌—‌yeah, what Nora said. What should we pack? I don’t want to bring swimming trunks if the place rains all the time. Do we need passports or money? I mean Aidan’s family has been everywhere.”

Aidan was shaking his head. “No, no, just pack a few pairs of clothes and sleeping bags. It’s not far from here and there will be shelter.” Aidan said, a muscle twitching alongside his high-cheekbone. “Bring what you’d usually bring camping, except for a tent.”