Chapter 110
I don’t think I’ve ever felt as free in my life as I did that week at cheerleading camp. Being away from my family, from my phone, from the news, from everything, was refreshing. At night, I would close my eyes and imagine that was what 1998 must’ve felt like—nothing buzzing or ringing in the middle of the night. No texts, messages, posts, instas, nothing to worry about that couldn’t wait until I was darn good and ready to address it.
Of course, it was also hard not to know what was happening. Elliott had me worried. While he’d left me on a “see you later” note, I’d replayed our conversation at least three dozen times, wondering if there was something going on he wasn’t telling me, like some sort of another sixth sense he had that told him there was danger in his future, but he wasn’t coming right out and saying it. I remembered him telling me on more than one occasion that there wasn’t much that could kill him, or even hurt him, but then there were these new bullets, too, the one that had hurt my sister. The whole thing had me worried, but at the same time, I was able to push it aside and live in the now.
Our squad won a trophy on the last day for fourth best dance routine, which was awesome. SHS had never won anything at camp before, and we loaded up the bus to go home all smiles, glad to be seeing our families again soon and tired from a week of staying up talking too late and getting up early to cheer for long days.
Lucy’s parents had come and gotten her car while we were gone, but they brought it back that morning so when we pulled into the parking lot at school, it was waiting for us. I hoped that she hadn’t forgotten how to drive while we were gone. We loaded our stuff into the back and waved at everyone before I climbed into the passenger side and prayed we’d make it the few blocks to my house.
“I’m so tired,” Lucy said as she pulled out of the parking spot. “I think I’m going to go home and take a nap.”
Yawning, I said, “I think that’s a great idea.” I wasn’t used to spending essentially the whole day doing cheers and dancing, either. My muscles were a little sore and I felt like I could go to sleep for a few hours and still be tired when I woke up.
When we got close to my house, I spotted the Aventador parked outside, and my blood ran cold. I’m not sure what it was, but I thought that didn’t seem right.
“Oh, my gosh!” Lucy chirped, suddenly awake. “Do you think Elliott’s here?”
“Maybe,” said. “But… he mentioned he didn’t like to drive that thing. Too cramped.”
Lucy pulled to a stop a good four feet behind the car and grabbed my arm. “What if it’s your sister?” Then, in an even more shrill voice she added, “What if Aaron is with her? OMG! Cass, I’m walking you in. I might finally get to meet Mr. Gorgeous.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her. Her excitement translated up my arm, and I found myself beaming back at her. Thoughts of seeing Cadence had my heart pounding in my chest, and I grabbed my stuff out of the back and flew up the walkway almost as fast as I’d seen her do once before.
Hitting the door full force, I pushed it open, and when I saw my sister standing there, I was suddenly overwhelmed as all of the emotion I’d been keeping bottled up over the last few months flew to the surface. I ran into her open arms, and taking a line from Lucy’s script, I exclaimed, “OMG! Cadence!”
Cadence squeezed me tightly. “Hey!” she said, and it was just good to hear her voice in person. "How'd you know it was me?"
I didn’t really have an answer for that, so I said, "Because Aaron's the only one who drives the Lamborghini, and he wouldn't be here without you--at least, I didn't think he would be. I can't believe you're home! I’ve missed you so much!" I hugged her again. The past week, while I was away, I was afraid something might’ve happened to her again. Now, at least she was standing here in front of me. Alive and well.
"I missed you, too, sis," Cadence said. She leaned down and kissed me on the head. As if she’d just noticed Lucy standing there, she let go of me and smiled at my friend, saying, "Lucy, it's nice to see you, too.”
Lucy Burk is rarely speechless. In fact, off the top of my head, I’ve never seen her not able to speak. Yet, here she was, standing in my living room, the front door open behind her like she’d forgotten how to shut it, and when my sister spoke to her, all she could say was, “Uh, huh."
I guided her out of the way and closed the door, realizing what was the matter with her as I looked back in my sister’s direction and saw that not only was Aaron also at our house, he had followed Cadence to the door. I waved my hand in front of Lucy’s face. "Luce, you okay?"
Lucy finally blinked and closed her gaping mouth. "Oh, yeah, sorry.” She was turning a shade of pink that would’ve matched her homecoming dress.
Cadence said, “Lucy, this is my boyfriend, Aaron.”
Lucy continued to stare at him, even as he stepped forward and offered her his hand. A long moment later, she said, "It's nice to meet you," and shook his hand.
I could tell he was trying not to laugh as he said, "You, too.” Eventually, Lucy let go of his hand and stared at her own, and I thought she was having one of those, “I’m never washing my hand again,” moments I’d once shared with Liam White in this very house.
Aaron turned to me, looking at me like he wasn’t sure how to greet me, whether I was friend or foe, and cautiously said, "It's always nice to see you, too, Cassidy.”
He was right to be suspect, but I remembered what Elliott had told me, and the fact that Cadence had introduced him as her boyfriend had not escaped me, despite my lack of focus due to Lucy’s weirdness and their unexpected visit. Deciding it was best to play nice, I stepped forward and gave him a quick hug, trying not to inhale so I wouldn’t have any reason other than his pristine blue eyes to be sucked into his trap. I wanted to make that signal people do to let them know you’re watching them, where they use their first two fingers and point at their eyes and then at the other person and then back again, but I abstained.
Once there was a reasonable distance between us again, I came to my senses. My heart caught in my chest as I asked the question that had been nipping at the back of my skull like a rabid pit bull since we’d seen the Lamborghini out front. "Why isn't Elliott here?" I asked, looking around.
My dad, who is about as suave as a bottle of ketchup, chose this time to speak up. Stepping around my sister, he put his arm around me and started to guide me to the living room. "Cassidy, sweetheart, how was camp?"
