Chance Of Rain (15 page)

I searched the cabinet until I found a skillet that was just the right size. Then I placed it on the stove to heat. I looked at Trent. “What are you doing?” I asked with a laugh.

He had his sketchpad and pencil out. “Just ignore me. Keep doing what you were doing, and act naturally.”

I added the ground beef to the skillet and poured the sauce into a small pot. I walked over to the table and took out my sketchpad so I could pick up where I’d left off in class earlier. I stared at Trent for a second.

“What are
you
lookin’ at?” he teased.

“I’m studying your face.”

I barely could draw stick figures. This was going to be a challenge. I took a few minutes, and when I finally decided I was ready to try, I rummaged through my purse to find my pencil.

It still had a nice pointed tip. And no doubt it was mine; my name was written on the end in black Sharpie. I suddenly realized something. “Hey, my phone isn’t in here.” I dug a little deeper into my bag. “I must have left it in your car. I’ll be right back.” I took his keys and went outside.

It felt strange to be in Trent’s car by myself. I inhaled a lungful of his cologne and the new-car smell. I found my phone right away; it was in a cup holder. On impulse I opened his glove box to take a quick peek. I was startled when I saw a silver pistol inside. I quickly closed it and regretted that I’d ever looked.

“Found it,” I said, as I waved my phone in the air. He looked up and smiled.

I stepped over to the stove and checked on everything.
Why does he have a gun?
The water was boiling, so I added a little more oil and then the pasta.
What is he going to do with it?
The sauce was bubbling, so I turned it off, and then I drained the meat and added it to the sauce.

I got out some plates and silverware and placed them on the counter. By the time I made a pitcher of tea, the noodles were ready to be drained. I made Trent a plate and carried everything to the table for him.

“This looks good,” he said, as he put his pad away. Then he looked up at me. “I think I could get used to this.”

“Thanks. I hope it tastes good.” I made myself a plate and sat across from him.

He wiped his mouth. “It’s delicious!”

When we were done, I stood up and grabbed our plates, but Trent reached for my hand and stopped me. “You cooked. I’ll clean.”

“I think I could get used to
this
,” I said, sitting back down and propping my feet on an empty chair. He smiled.

I watched him for a moment and tried to relax, but my mind was in overdrive. Then I noticed his sketchpad and picked it up. His drawing was amazing! He wasn’t anywhere near finished, but what he had done looked just like me. My hair was nothing more than soft, wispy lines that he had smudged with his fingers, but my eyes were crisp. And, my smile was the one I made when I’m hiding something.
Is this what I look like when I’m falling in love?

“You know…”

“What’s that?” he asked as he rinsed our plates.

“You could be an artist.”

He smiled. “You think so, huh?”

“Definitely.”

“I don’t think there’s much money in being an artist.”

“Well…you could work for the police,” I suggested.

“Oh,” he said, without looking up. “What do you mean?”

“You could be a sketch artist.”

He laughed.

“Well, at least it’s a steady income…
I guess
.” I smiled.

“All done,” he said, as he folded the towel he had used. “I hate to say it, but…”

“I know, I know. You gotta go,” I said sadly. While he was gathering his things, I texted Bri.

Leaving very soon!
Get ready!

Trent slung his backpack over his shoulder and looked at me for a moment. “Thanks for lunch.”

“Sure. Thanks for doing the dishes.”

He hesitated for a moment then left.

XVII

95 %

I
peered out the window and watched him leave. He was gone less than a minute when Bri pulled into the drive. I quickly locked up and ran to her mom’s Camry.

“Tinted windows—definitely a plus,” I commented.

“Hold on,” said Bri.

She drove a little over the limit until we saw him. Then she slowed down.

“Anything new?” she asked, keeping her eyes glued to his vehicle.

“I asked him what he thought about Chase…you know, if he thought Chase was a nice guy.”

“What did he say?”

I shrugged. “Just that he thought he seemed like a good person.”

“That’s it? No mention of their lunch at the Gnarled Oak?”

“That’s it. Then I went out to his car because I left my phone in there. When I was in there, I sneaked a look in his glove box. You’ll never guess what I found.”

“A box of condoms?”

“Eww—and no! A gun!”

“A gun! That’s crazy! What the heck is he doing with a gun?”

“Beats me.”

“The plot thickens,” said Bri. She made a few turns, keeping her distance. My stomach was tied in knots. “Where in the world is he going? Did he say?”

“No. He never does, though. I assumed he was going home, wherever that is.” It felt very strange to know that Trent was in the car in front of us, and I
felt guilty for spying on him. The worst thing, though, was being afraid of what I might find out.

“Buford J. Collins Hospital,” Bri said, as she read the large lighted sign. We watched Trent pull into the parking lot. “Does he work here?”

“No. He works for his uncle’s AC company. Maybe they’re working on the hospital’s air conditioning.”

Bri parked far away from him but at an angle where we could keep an eye on his car. Fortunately the lot was very crowded. I didn’t think there was any way he’d notice us sitting there.

This place freaked me out when I was a kid. And it still did. It was more than a hundred years old—one of the oldest buildings in the area. New buildings had been added, but the main entrance was original. Even with lights on, the windows seemed dark. It had a ominous energy, if you believed that kind of stuff, and it was scary.

“This place gives me the heebie-jeebies,” I told Bri, and pretended to shiver.

“You’re telling me. I had to stay here when I had my appendix removed. I heard my share of bumps in the night. I think it’s haunted.”

“You really think so?”

“You know how many people have died in this place?”

“How many?” I asked.

Bri looked at me like she was getting really annoyed. “I don’t know the
exact
number, Ash, but I’m sure it’s a lot. We probably should call
Ghost Adventures
to come investigate.”

“There are only three reasons you want them to come: Zak, Nick, and Aaron.”

“Uh…duh,” responded Bri.

I laughed. “While we’re at it, we may as well see if Sam and Dean, from
Supernatural
, want to join the party.”

“Now you’re talkin’.”

It was getting darker, and I was starting to nod off.

“What the heck is he doing in there?” asked Bri.

I perked up. “I don’t know, but this could go on all night. It’s getting late. Maybe we should go.”

“Let’s get out and stretch our legs. It’ll wake us up. I have to pee anyway.”

“You want to go inside?” I freaked.

“Well, I’m not going to squat in the lot.”

The old building traveled hundreds of feet into the air, and the roof had a sharp pitch to it. I half expected to see gargoyles flying around way up there. We quickly trekked toward the building.

When we reached the entrance, we looked through the lobby windows and searched for any sign of Trent. When we saw the coast was clear, we walked with our heads down and went straight to the restroom.

I was relieved when we finally reached the bathroom. Thank goodness the sinks and toilets had been updated. We quickly used the facilities, and then I asked Bri, “What’s our story if he catches us? We already should have had one!”

“We’re here seeing a friend of mine.”

“Oh,” I said. “That was easy.”

As soon as we walked out of the restroom, I froze, and my spaghetti tried to come back up my throat. I saw Trent sitting closely with a petite blonde who was a little older than me on a sofa in the lobby. I couldn’t move. Bri saw them at the same time I did. Luckily she quickly regained her composure. She forcefully placed her hand on the small of my back and pushed me along until we were safely outside. I felt like I was drowning, and she was swimming with my deadweight to shore.

When I finally remembered how to breathe again, I asked, “What was that, Bri?” Tears welled up in my eyes, and my throat was tightening and beginning to burn.

“Just keep walking. Let’s get to the car. That could have been any number of things.” She tried to encourage me, but I didn’t believe her. I didn’t think she really believed what she was saying either. Trent and that girl looked
very comfortable with each other, and they were engaged in an intense conversation.

We locked the doors of the Camry and sat waiting for what felt like an eternity.

“Maybe he was comforting her. It is a hospital, ya know,” said Bri.

“She wasn’t crying. And she didn’t seem upset to me. Ugh! I wish we could have heard what they were saying.”

Bri’s eyes got big, and I turned to look. Trent and the young woman were walking outside together. He opened the passenger door of his car for her, and she got in. On
my
side! A moment later he was in, and they were pulling out of the lot.

Bri started the car. “What are you doing?” I almost screamed.

“Do you want to
wonder
what’s going on or find out?” She pressed the accelerator as I buckled up.

“Crap! We lost them!” Bri shouted.

“There they are!” I pointed.

We drove a good distance behind them for several miles. We watched as they turned into the driveway of a little house on Shady Acres. Bri switched off her lights, and we sat on the opposite side of the street.

They got out of the car immediately.

“That’s a good sign—no making out,” Bri said. My stomach twisted.

“I hope he’s not walking her to the door so he can kiss her good night,” I said, holding my breath.

We watched as she unlocked the front door. Then, to my horror, they
both
stepped inside. Our jaws dropped as we turned to look at each other.