Find You in the Dark (27 page)

 
It was a huge jacuzzi, easily fitting eight people.  “Ah.  Now this is the life.”  Clare sighed in contentment, putting her head back.  The water came up to our shoulders and fizzed against my skin deliciously. 

  “
This is just what I needed.”  Rachel said after a long sigh.  She had closed her eyes and sank down until the water lapped at her chin.  Clare and I murmured our agreement.  None of us said a word for a long time. 

  “
So, Ray told me on the ride up here that Kylie was trying to get back with Daniel.”  Clare said, breaking the relaxing silence.  I quickly looked over at Rachel to gauge her response.  Rachel hadn't opened her eyes but I could see her jaw clench.

  “
Really?  Danny hasn't said anything.” I ventured, not sure I wanted to discuss Daniel and Kylie while Rachel was seeming pretty subdued.  Clare nodded.  “Yeah.  Apparently she's been hanging around a lot.  I know I've seen her at their basketball practices after school.  I guess she and that other guy she was screwing around with didn't work out so she's trying to get her hooks back into Danny.” 

 
Rachel suddenly got out of the jacuzzi and wrapped herself in a towel.  I watched her closely.  I knew the topic of Kylie Good upset her. 

 
I tried shooting Clare a look that said to drop the subject, but she apparently wasn't picking up on my cues.  “Well, Ray said that Daniel turned her down flat.  Seems he's finally seen the light and realized Kylie is skank.”  My eyes widened in surprise.

 
If Daniel had a weakness, it had always been Kylie.  He seemed to never be able to tell her 'no'.  So the fact that he wasn't running back to her as fast as he could was surprising.  Rachel was vigorously drying her hair, trying to act unaffected by the news.

  “
Wow.  That's awesome!”  I enthused, truly happy that Daniel was taking a stand for once.  Clare darted her eyes toward Rachel. “Yeah, maybe he's ready to move onto someone else.”  Clare's eyebrows rose pointedly. 

 
I rolled my eyes at Clare's less than subtle tactics.  “Well, I doubt that honestly.  Daniel's head is too far up his own ass to notice anything.  Let alone see someone standing right in front of him.”  Rachel fumed, her voice catching.

 
Clare and I glanced at each other.  “Rach,” I began just as the door to the gazebo swung open bringing with it a gust of frigid air and three barely clothed teenage boys.  “God damn, it's freezing.”  Raymond latched the gazebo door behind them, as he, Daniel, and Clay scurried inside. 

  “
Ahhh.”  Daniel sighed as he lowered himself into the jacuzzi.  “Move over, Clare.”  Daniel elbowed the petite girl out of the way as he situated himself over one of the jets.  The water sloshed as Raymond and Clay followed Danny into the water. 

  “
I'm heading inside.  I'll see you guys in a bit.”  Rachel said cooly, letting herself out.  Daniel frowned.  “Was it something I said?” He asked, looking confused.  I gave him a look, then shrugged.  “She's just tired.  Leave her be.”  I told him.  Daniel looked bothered by Rachel's sudden exit, but didn't say anything more about it.

  “
Hey you.”  I said, as Clay slid his hand up my naked thigh.  Clay leaned over and gave me a lingering kiss on the mouth.  “Hey, miss me?”  His eyes hazed over as he looked down at me in my bathing suit.  His eyes roamed over my barely covered chest. 

  “
Always.”  I answered him.  He kissed my shoulder and stretched his legs out in front of him.  “Can we move in, Clay?  I don't think I ever want to leave.”  Clare moaned as she sank deeper into the warm water.  “Yeah man, this is unbelievable.  Thanks so much for letting us come.”  Daniel added sincerely.

 
Obviously the guy time had done wonders to change Daniel's attitude toward Clay.  They seemed almost civil.  It was a relief to see.  “I'm glad you guys are here.”  Clay said genuinely.  I felt a warmth spread through my body that had nothing to do with the water.  I could almost see those separated parts of my life slowly coming together.  Finally!

 
Ray suddenly shoved his girlfriend under the water.  Clare came back up to the surface sputtering and wiping her eyes.  “You are such an asshole, Ray!”  She yelled, splashing him in the face.  The two of them, followed by Daniel, started slopping water all over the place as they splashed each other. 

 
After getting a face full of water, I decided it was time for me to go.  “Okay, I'm out.”  I said, getting out of the jacuzzi.  Clay was right behind me.  “We're heading back to the house.  Just turn off the pump when you guys are done.”  Clay told the others before we left.  I shoved my arms through my robe as Clay threw on his jacket.  He took my hand.  “Ready?  On the count of three, lets make a run for it.”  He put his hand on the door knob.  “One.  Two.  Three!”  He pushed open the gazebo door and we ran as fast as we could to the cabin. 

 
It had started to snow and it fell in pretty little tufts, landing in my hair and eyelashes as we tried to get back into the warmth.  “Hurry, Mags!”  Clay laughed, holding the kitchen door open.  I sprinted through and Clay slammed the door closed behind us.  I was out of breath and I had a stitch in my side but I couldn't get the silly smile off of my face.

 
My hair felt like it had frozen solid.  “Ugh.  I need a shower to warm up.  I'm an icicle.”  I tightened the sash of my robe, still shivering even in the warmth of the cabin.  “I'm heading upstairs to change.  I'll be back in a minute.” I said to Clay as he sat down on the coach, flipping on ESPN.  “Okay, baby.” He called to me as I left the room.

 
Upstairs, I located the shower tucked behind a Japanese screen in the corner of the room.  I was a little hesitant to strip naked when I realized that again, I was surrounded by windows.  But I supposed no one could see me from this high up, so I finally jumped into the warm spray. 

 
After dressing in a pair of dark jeans and my new gray cashmere sweater that belted across the front, I dried my long brown hair and clipped it back away from face.  Taking the time to put on a little makeup, I was actually pleased with the way I looked.  Dare I say, I looked pretty?  I wanted tonight to be perfect.  I just hoped it would be.

                                               
Chapter Fifteen

 
Clay had come in just as I was finishing up.  “Aww.  You're already dressed.”  He pouted, pulling me up against him.  “Get away!”  I squealed as his damp swimming trunks left wet marks on my jeans.  He gave me a loud smack with his lips and rooted through his bag to find a dry pair of clothes.  “I'm gonna get a shower too.  Daniel, Ray, and Clare just came in.”  “Have you seen Rachel?”  I asked as he moved toward the shower. 

 
Clay shook his head.  “No, I'm guessing she's back in her room.  She all right?”  He asked.  “I'm not sure.” I answered truthfully.  Clay came back over and wrapped me in a warm hug, kissing the top of my head.  “I'll be down in a sec.”  He said, leaving me for the shower.

 
I joined the others downstairs.  Clare was still wrapped up in her towel, sitting at the island while Daniel made her some sort of drink.  “Whatcha doin'?”  I asked as Daniel poured cranberry juice into the glass and garnished it with a lemon slice.  “Clay said we could get into the liquor.  So I'm making Clare here a cranberry splash.  Cranberry juice, vodka, and a splash of club soda.  You want one?” 

 
My stomach clenched up.  I did not think it was a good idea for Clay to be around people drinking, given his history.  I shook my head.  “Just take it easy guys.  We're here to have a good time, not get loaded and throw up all night.”  I warned. Daniel rolled his eyes at me.  “When did you become the party Nazi?”  He joked, handing the drink to Clare.  She took a drink and made a face. “Jeesh Danny.  How much vodka did you put in here?”  She sniffed the glass.

 
Daniel shrugged.  “Enough.  Now, just drink up.”  He turned to make himself his own drink.  I had a bad feeling about this.  I wanted to find Rachel.  I was worried about her.  I headed down the hallway toward the bedroom she would be sharing with Daniel.

 
I tentatively knocked on the door.  I heard a muffled, “come in.”  I opened the door to find Rachel sitting on the bed, painting her toenails.  I'll admit, I had expected Rachel to be curled into a ball, moping.  So, seeing her doing something as mundane as giving herself a pedicure was a nice surprise.

  “
Hey.” I said, plopping down beside her.  “Hey.” She said back, not looking up.  “Cool color.” I commented, watching her coat her nails a fire engine red.  Rachel wiggled her toes.  “Yeah, they'll look awesome with my strappy, red dress.” 

 
Rachel put the cap back on the nail polish and put it on the bedside table before stretching out her legs, waiting for the her toes to dry.  I lay down on the bed and pulled a pillow to put under my head.  “Why are you hiding in here?” I asked her point blankly.

 
Rachel leaned over to blow on her nails.  “I'm not hiding.”  I looked at her archly.  Who was she kidding?  “Okay, so maybe I'm hiding.  I just can't deal with
his
bullshit. Everything he says and does right now, just pisses me off.  He doesn't even mean to hurt me, which makes it all that much worse.  I know I'm being a moody bitch.  Just let me have my PMS moment in peace, please.  I promise to put on the shiny, happy later.   But now, I feel like brooding.”  Rachel got up and hobbled over to the bathroom, making sure she didn't mess up her toenails.

  “
Fine.  But I'm holding you to the whole shiny, happy thing.  Because the gloomy, emo show your putting on seriously sucks.”  I stuck my tongue out at her as she closed the door.  But I was happy to see her small smile before she shut me out.

 
I left the room and went back out into the living room.  “So is her majesty going to deign us with her presence?”  Daniel asked as I sat down beside Clay on the sofa.  “Shut up, Daniel!  If you weren't such a self- centered prick, you'd figure out your 99% of her problem.” I barked.  That shut Danny up.  Ray snickered from across the room and Clare's eyes widened at my outburst.

  “
Cool your heels, baby.”  Clay said, rubbing my arm.  I sank into his touch, wanting to ignore the inevitable drama between my two best friends.  When did things get so complicated?  I hated this weirdness that existed between Rachel and Daniel.  Even worse, I was focusing on their shit and not what was happening between my boyfriend and me.

 
Rachel came out of the bedroom a short time later.   “Check out the snow.”  She said, pointing at the window.  The snow had picked up considerably since we had come inside and a half an inch of white now lay on the ground.  “Oh, I hope we get stuck here!”  Clare clapped her hands in excitement. 

  “
Yeah.”  I said halfheartedly.  That little scenario wouldn't be so great for me, considering my parents had no idea where I really was.  I watched the flakes fall from the sky.  Clay's arm rested warmly over my shoulders and I rested my head on his shoulder.  For that one moment in time, everything was how I wanted it to be.

 
I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew Clay was nudging me awake.  “Hey, sleepy head.  Time to get up.  We need to start getting dinner together.”  He whispered in my ear, kissing it gently, sending shivers down my spine. 

 
I stretched and tried to burrow back down into the couch cushions.  “No, I want to sleep.”  I complained, closing my eyes again.  “Get up, Mags!”  Daniel shouted, before jumping on top of me.  He tickled my sides until I was gasping for breath.  “I'm up, I'm up!” I screeched, smacking his hands away.  I shoved Daniel off of me and stood up. 

 
I met Clay's eyes as he watched me.  His face was dark and I shivered involuntarily.  I didn't like what I saw.  There's no way he could be jealous of Daniel.  That was just ridiculous.  But looking at him and how pissed off he seemed, I knew that's exactly how he was feeling.

 
I crossed the room to where Clay was standing at the island.  I slid my arms around his waist.  “Hey, you.”  I said softly, kissing his back through his t-shirt.  I tried to let him know through body language alone that there was no one else I wanted. 

  “
I've gotta get dinner ready.  So just back off, alright.”  Clay lifted my arms from around his middle and moved away from me.  Wow, that hurt.  “Clay...”I began but realized he wasn't listening to me.  He had moved over to where Rachel was chopping vegetables.  I watched as he began to laugh at something she said.  He helped her get the salad together, completely ignoring me.

 
Rachel met my eyes in confusion over Clay's sudden chattiness.  I gave her a small smile and turned away.  If he wanted to pretend I wasn't there, then fine.  I'd go in the other fucking room.  Screw this!

 
I grabbed a beer from the fridge and popped the top angrily.  Throwing the bottle back, I drank half its contents in one gulp.  I went back into the living room to sit with Clare, who was watching Desperate Housewives.

 
Dinner was awkward.  The food was fantastic but I couldn't eat any of it due to the huge lump that had taken up residence in my stomach.  Daniel sat beside me as Clay brought in the platter of steaks.  Seeing this, Clay dropped the plate on the table and walked around so that he was sat on the opposite end of the table from me.