“Hi, Bethany,” I said nervously. Eva’s big sister was intimidating, almost as bad as Sam when she was in a bossy mood. Usually, I didn’t take it from Bethany, but we needed a ride. The Black Opal’s new location was on the outskirts of town, almost to the freeway. There was no way my parents would let me walk there, especially not after dark, so I bit my tongue and smiled politely.
She kept me standing on the stoop as she inspected my outfit. “You’re not wearing any makeup,” she said.
I always felt like I was about to flunk some Bethany pop quiz, and her comment only confirmed it. I held up my bag. “I thought I could put it on here.”
“Good,” she said. “Because you’re not going to be seen with me, looking like that.”
As Bethany finally let me in, she said, “We’re still waiting for Tiffany. So hurry up and do your face. She’ll be here any minute.”
Eva appeared and rescued me. “Any minute” turned out to be forty-five minutes, so I had plenty of time to finish getting ready. As soon as I was made up, Eva made us go wait in the hallway because she was worried that her sister would leave without us if we didn’t.
“Maybe we should just skip it and stay home and watch a movie,” I said.
“There is a Vincent Price marathon on cable,” Eva said. “But I want to see the band. Come on, it’s our last weekend before school starts.”
“You’re going to miss Vincent Price?” I said. My best friend was a huge horror buff.
“I’m recording it,” she said complacently. “What are you so nervous about? You were the most popular girl in eighth grade.”
“Eighth grade isn’t high school,” I said.
Bethany overheard us. “Jessica’s right,” she said with a sniff. “There are lots of girls who were popular in middle school who don’t get noticed at all now.” She left no doubt in my mind that she expected me to be one of those girls.
Bethany’s best friend, Tiffany, finally showed up and we took off for the club. The Black Opal was one of the few all-ages clubs in the area, so the parking lot was nearly full when we got there.
Nicholas Bone, a handsome guy with reddish-brown hair, was working the door. Tiffany and Bethany talked loudly and giggled whenever he looked anywhere near where we were standing.
“Hi, Jessica,” he said when we finally reached the front of the line. Nicholas knew me because his girlfriend, Rose, was Daisy’s sister—my next-door neighbors.
“Hi, Nicholas,” I said. “I haven’t seen you around lately.”
“I’ve been helping to get the club reopened,” he replied. His smile disappeared for a moment. Our eyes met and I knew we were both remembering why the club had had to close. The explosion, the Scourge, all of it was reflected in his eyes.
Bethany’s “Aren’t you going to introduce us, Jessica?” brought me back to the present.
“Oh, sorry,” I said. I made the introductions.
After they giggled at Nicholas a little more, we paid the cover and went inside.
“How do you know Nicholas Bone?” Tiffany said. “He’s ages older than you. He wouldn’t be interested in a freshman.”
“He has a girlfriend,” I pointed out. “My neighbor, as a matter of fact. That’s how I know him.” I was sure they already knew who Nicholas was dating, since they seemed to keep track of every single cute guy in Nightshade and the surrounding area, but maybe the reminder would get them off Nicholas’s case.
“Lucky you.” Bethany sighed. “I wish he had a younger brother.”
I rolled my eyes at Eva. The older girls were even more boy crazy than usual. Bethany and Tiffany started texting. Probably each other.
“I heard Side Effects May Vary has a new lead singer,” Eva said.
Bethany looked up from her phone. “What else did you hear?”
“That he’s gorgeous,” Eva replied.
Bethany and Tiffany giggled. “Understatement.”
I tuned out their gossip and looked around the club. The new interior was a mind-boggling combination of vivid colors.
“It’s certainly cheerful in here,” I commented. The ceiling was painted sky blue, and fluffy white clouds floated above our heads.
Several murals in various stages of completion adorned the walls. Behind the stage, a bright orange painting dominated. When I looked closer, I realized it was a portrait of a woman, done in the style that Andy Warhol made famous with his portrait of Marilyn Monroe. I wondered who the woman was.
“Now scram, midgets,” Bethany said. “I see a table for two right up front.”
“Can’t we sit with you?” Eva asked.
“No, you most certainly cannot,” Tiffany said as they trotted away.
“I don’t see any of our friends,” I told Eva anxiously. I recognized a few kids, but they were mostly upperclassmen. There were a lot of kids from the neighboring town, San Carlos, there, too.
“Relax,” she said. “We’ll run into someone we know eventually.”
She spotted a group of sophomore boys and waved to them. “There’s Connor and Noel. See, I told you.”
“Jessica, come sit with us,” Connor hollered. Connor and I had the same guitar teacher. Although he was nice enough, I didn’t feel like sitting with them and listening to Noel rate burps all night. I gave a polite wave.
“There’s an empty table,” I said, and rushed over to it just as a petite dark-haired girl did.
She and I stopped short and stared at each other, unsure what to do next. “Do you want to sit with us?” I finally asked her.
She stared at me for a long moment. “Sure, thanks.”
We took our seats.
“I’m Jessica Walsh,” I said. “And this is my friend Eva.”
“I’m Raven,” she said.
“I’ll go get us something to drink,” Eva offered.
There was complete silence until Eva came back with a pitcher of soda and set it down, almost spilling it on Raven, but Raven grabbed it.
“You have very quick reflexes,” I said.
She shrugged.
“Are you going to be starting Nightshade High next week?” Eva asked.
“Yes,” Raven replied. “My aunt works there.”
I started to ask who her aunt was, but was distracted by the sight of Flo sitting at a table nearby.
“What’s she doing here?” I asked Eva, but Raven answered.
“Flo? She’s dating the drummer of Side Effects May Vary, didn’t you know?”
I most certainly did not know. I couldn’t avoid Flo, no matter what I did.
Bethany and Tiffany came up to us, all smiles. “We’ve been looking all over for you guys.”
“You have?”
“Of course,” Bethany said. “And we’re being so
rude
to your friend. I’m Bethany Harris, Eva’s older sister. And you’re Raven Gray, right?”
“Right,” Raven said.
Eva and I looked at each other. How did Bethany know who Raven was? She never paid attention to freshmen, except maybe to criticize them like she did to me.
“That means Dominic Gray is your brother?” Tiffany asked. She was trying to sound casual, and failing.
That
explained the sudden friendliness.
“Yes,” Raven said.
“Who is Dominic Gray?” Eva whispered.
“My brother,” Raven said wryly. “And also the new lead singer of Side Effects May Vary.”
I was surprised to hear the band had a new singer. My brother used to go to their shows all the time and he gave me one of their recordings for my birthday. “I liked the old singer,” I said. “Camille Clark has a gorgeous voice. I can’t believe she quit.” Then I realized how it sounded and added, “I mean, I’m sure your brother is a great singer, too.”
I was pretty sure Raven was trying not to laugh at me when she said, “It’s kind of a refreshing change.”
“What is?”
“To meet someone who isn’t nice to me just because of my brother,” she said quietly. “Speaking of whom . . . It looks like they’re on.”
She was right. The spotlight came on and we turned our attention to the stage. There was no announcement; the band just came out and took their places.
“Hi, I’m Dominic and we’re Side Effects May Vary.”
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from this singer. He had high cheekbones, a long thin nose, and gorgeous blue eyes that you’d notice clear across the room. Dominic’s hair looked like he’d just gotten out of bed and come to the gig, but I knew enough about boys to suspect that he’d spent an hour, and a liberal amount of hair products, to get that just-right careless look.
I hated that I was reacting the same way as all the rest of the girls in Nightshade. To be honest, I was probably reacting the same way as every girl in the state along with a good portion of the boys. I sat there mesmerized until the band announced a break.
Eva leaned in so that no one else could hear. “Still like the old singer better?” she teased softly.
I cleared my throat. “He’s all right,” I finally managed to say.
“Who’s all right?” a voice said behind me. I figured out who it was by the way Tiffany and Bethany acted like they’d been electrified.
“You, Dominic,” Raven said as her brother sauntered up to our table. “Jessica here likes the old lead singer better.”
“Is that so?” he asked. His skin was still glistening with sweat from being under the spotlights.
I mumbled something and then sank in my seat, utterly mortified. What was the matter with me? I was normally much more confident around guys.
Bethany and Tiffany glared at me when they didn’t think Dominic was looking. I don’t know what they were so upset about. I’d made an idiot of myself and insulted him. Hardly the best first impression.
“What exactly did you like about the old lead singer?” he asked.
I floundered for a minute while I tried to remember exactly what it was that I had liked about Camille. “Her voice was old-fashioned,” I said. “Sort of bluesy.”
Bethany and Tiffany snickered. “Side Effects May Vary isn’t a blues band,” Bethany said sharply.
“I know that,” I said. “Her voice sounded a little sad, even when she sang happy songs. I liked it.”
“I did, too,” he said. He gave me a flirty little smile. “But I hope you’ll like the new lead singer as much.”
“We’ll see,” I said, suddenly confident. I sent a flirty smile right back.
This
I knew how to do. Flirting was practically my major.
“Are you going to stay until the end of the show?” he asked.
Before I could answer, a swarm of girls approached, and Dominic’s attention turned to his fans.
“Look at the way they’re crawling all over him,” Tiffany said. “Disgraceful.”
“What are we waiting for?” Bethany replied. “Let’s go.”
They jumped up and joined the girls gathering around Dominic.
“I didn’t mean to offend your brother,” I told Raven.
“Dominic? He’s hard to offend,” she replied. “Besides, it was worth it. You’re probably the only girl he’s met since we moved here who hasn’t fawned all over him.”
“Jessica’s used to boys fawning over her,” Eva piped in.
I frowned at her. “I am not.”
“Are too,” Eva said. She jerked her head in Connor’s direction.
The band had returned to the stage, except for Dominic, who was having a hard time extricating himself from his groupies.
Finally, Flo left her table and went over to the girls. She said something I couldn’t hear and they all scattered, and Dominic was able to reach the stage.
“You know, he’s a good singer and all,” I commented to Eva. “But I don’t see what the big deal is.”
I kind of did, but it was driving me nuts that Bethany and Tiffany were acting so boy crazy.
Raven overheard and gave me a knowing look. “Just wait,” she said. “You haven’t heard him sing a love song yet. You’ll fall for him just like all the rest after that. You won’t be able to help yourself.”
“Ick,” I said. “That doesn’t sound like real love to me.” I wanted someone who loves me, too. Not someone I have to put up on a pedestal and chase with a bunch of other girls.
I looked around the club and my gaze happened to settle on Daisy and Ryan, who were holding hands in a corner, oblivious to the rest of the world. “I want what they have.”
Raven followed my glance. “Hmm, he’s cute,” she said. “But obviously crazy in love.”
“That’s what I want. A boy who is crazy for me.”
As if reading my mind, Dominic broke into a cover of Madonna’s “Crazy for You.”
“That’s not on the set list,” Raven muttered, but I ignored her. I watched Dominic’s performance and thought about how cute he was. Luckily, Side Effects May Vary didn’t play any other love songs that night or I would have thrown my number onstage just like the other girls.
CHAPTER THREE
After the show, Eva and I
couldn’t find Bethany and Tiffany anywhere. The club emptied out, but there still was no sign of them.
“Do you think they’re outside waiting for us?” I asked Eva.
“You stay here,” she said. “I’ll go check.”
“We could give you a ride home,” Raven offered.
“They wouldn’t have left us,” I said. But I wasn’t so sure.
A male voice interrupted our conversation. “Yeah, I’m sure it was just a miscommunication,” Dominic said sarcastically. “Not like you planned it or anything.” What had happened to the flirty, friendly boy from before?
“Planned what?” I snapped. “Being stranded? Hardly.”
“Look, girls try this stuff all the time,” he said. “We’ll give you a ride home, but you’re sitting in the back.”
“Because there isn’t room in the front because your fat head is taking up all the space?” I replied. “I hate to break it to you, but I’m not trying to spend time with you. We’ll get a ride home from my neighbor.” If Daisy was still there, I knew that she would give Eva and me a lift. Or Nicholas, but who knew what time he’d get off work.
Dominic gave a disbelieving snort.
“Dominic!” Raven chastised him. “Don’t be so rude!” She gave me an apologetic look.
“I’d rather walk,” I muttered.
“Suit yourself,” he said as I stalked off.
I found Eva at the front door. “Did you find them?”
“Bethany’s car is gone,” she said. “I can’t believe they left us here.”
“Call her cell,” I suggested. “I’ll see if I can find Daisy.”
I didn’t see Daisy or Ryan in the club, so I ran out, hoping to catch them in the parking lot. I got there just in time to see Ryan’s car make a left turn and exit the lot.