Amanda Vs The Universe Page 11

  “Oh, I guess that’s okay, then.”

  He scoffed. “Thanks for your permission.”

  I shook my head. “I didn’t mean it that way. Just that I couldn’t see you keeping a gift from a girl who treated you like crap. But since you have a reason for it … ”

  “At least my cousin graduated in May, so he won’t be an issue anymore,” he said, staring at the ground.

  I sighed and touched his forearm, the long-sleeved tee soft under my fingers. “Not that I always want to make things about me, but I guess I lose and you win. Your dumping was definitely worse.”

  A weird noise sounded from his throat, and he pulled me into a hug. “I’m sorry. I get so caught up in my own garbage that I forget other people have been hurt too.”

  “It’s okay,” I said, my voice muffled against his chest. “I guess it’s just another thing we have in common.”

  “Right.” He pulled back like he was going to release me, then froze for a second. Then he dropped his face into the crook of my neck and sniffed. “Hey, why do you smell like bacon?”

  I almost jumped straight up in the air. His soft hair tickled my ear and cheek. A sudden urge to relax into him swept over me. I wanted to slide my hands into his hair and see what might happen next. But I couldn’t. Not after the conversation we just had. Or my so-called belief that I didn’t need a guy. “It’s your hoodie.” I slipped out of his grasp and faced him.

  He shook his head. “Nope. I think the smell is coming from you.”

  “Why would it be coming from me? I never cook. You, on the other hand, have already demonstrated your bacon-making skills.”

  “You don’t have to cook bacon to smell like it.”

  Humor laced his words; I wished I could see his face better. I sighed exaggeratedly. “Okay. But no one has cooked bacon at my house in like a week.”

  “Doesn’t matter. You could still smell like it.”

  “Agh. You’re making no sense.” I took the jacket off and handed it to him. “Smell that.”

  He bunched it up in front of his face. “Yup. Bacon.”

  I lifted a hand. “See.”

  “It obviously picked up that smell from your clothes.”

  “It did not.” Surely he didn’t really believe that. Was he only joking? Or was he flirting? It wouldn’t matter in the long run. We were not going to start any silly romance.

  “There’s only one way to find out. I need to smell you.”

  That sounded like a dangerous idea. I’d just have to keep him at a distance. I laughed and held out my arm. “Smell away. But put that hoodie down. It’s clouding your senses.”

  Kyle dropped the jacket without looking where it landed. Then he took my hand and leaned over it like some old-fashioned suitor. His nose brushed my wrist. Tingles ran from that spot all the way up my arm. “Definitely bacon,” he murmured before straightening.

  I forced myself to pull my hand out of his warm one. “You’ve been teasing me this entire time, haven’t you?”

  He gathered up the jacket and shook it. The area around us brightened as if the moon was fighting to break through the mist. “Just thought you’d like to win the competition for person who smells most like ba—”

  “Stop.” I couldn’t keep from smiling. “You’re so goofy.”

  He grinned and held out a hand. “Come on. I’d offer you my jacket again, but you’ll get it all bacony.”

  I shouldn’t have. I knew I shouldn’t. But I did it anyway. I slipped my hand into his warm one. His fingers closed gently over mine. Without a word, we walked to the back door, only letting go of each other right before we entered the house.

  Fifteen

  With the help of a couple of flashlights, we tried to arrange our sleeping bags on the tarp that Dylan and Geoff set out in a grassy part of Cady’s yard. A small grove of trees stood between us and the studio, which gave us something to hide behind. That is, if we needed it.

  More and more, I figured the taggers wouldn’t bother on a night like this. The clouds had rolled back in, and even though it wasn’t raining, I still wished I could be curled up on the floor of the den. Gabby and I had tried to convince Geoff that we could hear the taggers even if we were inside, but he wasn’t having it.

  “Look, we’ve come this far,” Geoff said. “We might as well sleep outside. We have a lot better chance of surprising and catching people if we’re already out there.”

  The tarp was big, but didn’t quite fit all of us. That is, until Kenzie got involved. She put all the three couples’ sleeping bags in a row, and then arranged Kyle’s and mine perpendicular to them at their heads.

  She nodded at her work. “This is good. Our heads are all basically near in case we need to whisper to each other.”

  “But Noah’s bag is practically on the wet ground,” Gabby said.

  “It’s not like we’re gonna sleep flat on our backs,” Kenzie responded. “I’m sure he’ll turn and snuggle with you. Right, Noah?”

  He grinned. “Of course.”

  “Snuggling with a sleeping bag,” Gabby said. “How fun.”

  Noah wrapped her in a hug until she started giggling.

  “Hey, babe, we should’ve gotten the kind that can zip together,” Geoff said.

  Molly was already slipping into her bag. “But then we’d be too comfortable and sleep through the tagging.”

  “Oh, right,” he said.

  We got in our sleeping bags, the rustling making crinkling noises against the tarp, and the flashlights finally turned off. I lay on my stomach—the grass softer than I expected—and rested my face on my hands. Kyle did too. We were only inches away from each other, but much to my surprise, I didn’t feel that same pull I had when we’d talked beside the studio wall. Instead of wondering if he wanted to get closer to me, I was enjoying the weird expressions he made while the others talked.

  “Did anyone bring the snacks?” Noah asked.

  “Dammit, I forgot,” Geoff said.

  “I brought pizza,” Dylan said.

  Kenzie raised her head. “You what?”

  He lifted what looked like a plastic bag in the air.

  “Sweet,” Noah said. “Hand it over.”

  “Just one piece,” Dylan said.

  Noah sat up. “Okay, cool.”

  They passed around pizza to whoever wanted a slice. Kenzie made a grumbling noise. “Do not, I repeat, do not get that in my hair.”

  “Yes, dear,” Dylan said.

  Geoff laughed. “You are so whipped.”

  Dylan scoffed. “As if you aren’t.”

  “Was that a raindrop?” Gabby asked, holding a hand up. “Did anyone feel that?”

  “No,” Molly said. “Go to sleep, everybody. We may be awake again soon.”

  “What time is it anyway?” Noah asked.

  “One-thirty,” I said.

  “And mute your phones,” Molly said, snuggling down in her sleeping bag.

  “Yes, Mom,” Geoff said. A thump sounded. “Ow. Why’d you do that?”

  “Shh,” Molly said.

  A laugh escaped me.

  “I hear you, Amanda,” Geoff said. “Remember, I can get to you even with all these bodies in the way.”

  I sniffed. “Right.”

  “Not likely,” Dylan said.

  “Guys,” Kenzie said, “hurry up with the pizza eating. We’ve probably scared off hordes of taggers with all this yapping.”

  Gabby let out a squeaky yawn.

  I raised my eyebrows at Kyle and he grinned back. I had no idea why he was enjoying this so much, other than my family/friends were ridiculous. “Good night, everybody,” I said quietly.

  “No,” Kenzie said with a gasp. “Please don’t start with the good-nights. We’ll be awake till sun up.”

  Chuckling sounded along with settling down noises. I met Kyle’s gaze. I couldn’t read the emotion there. Was it happiness? Contentment? Or was he just sleepy? So, I smiled and settled my cheek onto my small camping pillow. The breeze moved th
rough the pines with a noise like rushing water. In moments, I drifted into sleep.

  ***

  I came awake with a start, a large hand covering my cheek and part of my mouth. “They’re here,” Kyle whispered in my ear.

  I gave a tiny nod, and he let go. But he didn’t move. He stayed absolutely still, up on one knee like he was ready to spring. Around us, the others moved in slow motion, trying to get out of their sleeping bags without making a sound.

  On the other side of the grove, someone shook a can loud enough that we could clearly hear the thingy rattling around inside it. Then came a long hissing noise. They must be spraying.

  “Ready?” Geoff whispered. He held a paintball gun across his body, and a tremor ran through me. I hoped he wouldn’t hurt anyone.

  “No,” Kenzie whispered.

  Dylan helped her up. They both stayed in a crouch, though.

  I slowly unzipped my sleeping bag and fumbled around for my sneakers. I didn’t even know why I was putting them on. What exactly was I going to do? Tackle somebody? At least I’d be able to see what was going on. I got one shoe on but couldn’t find the other. A touch on my shoulder made me look over at Kyle. He held out my sneaker. I mouthed, Thanks, and quickly slipped it on.

  Everyone slinked forward, keeping low, trying to see what was happening at the studio. I peered around a tree, my heart jumping so hard it felt like it wanted to escape my body. Three guys were there—two spraying like mad and the other in a squat by the sun in the corner. His movements were steady and deliberate as though he was considering every bit of what he was doing. One of them chuckled, and then an angry whisper broke out.

  Someone touched me. I turned my head. Our group had gotten into position to go—four on one side of the grove and four on the other. Only Dylan and Geoff had paintball guns, thank God. The rest of us were in charge of surround and capture. A freaky need to giggle rose to my throat, so I swallowed hard. This was not going to work.

  We sneaked past the trees, Gabby and Noah with me and Kyle. All of a sudden, Geoff’s voice rang out. “Stay where you are!” His group was already several yards ahead of us.

  For half a second, the taggers froze. Then one swung around and sprayed his can of paint in Geoff’s direction, while the other two took off for the forest.

  So, yeah. Mayhem reigned.

  Shouts and paintball gun fire rang out. We ran after the taggers. A heavy thump and quiet cry sounded. I glanced back. Gabby was on the ground with Noah beside her. I rushed on. Kyle had pulled ahead and now sprinted next to Kenzie, who was right behind Dylan and Geoff. Way off to the right, a flashlight glowed, its beam wavering as Molly jogged along.

  A voice I didn’t recognize swore and threw something back toward the guys. I couldn’t tell exactly what was happening. I tripped, stumbled, but righted myself and moved on. My breath huffed out as I ran. I seriously needed to get in shape. It looked like the taggers had made it into the forest and had gone three separate ways. What the heck? Did they actually have an escape plan?

  No, wait. Maybe the taggers were all the going the same way. It was so hard to tell in the dark. I stopped for a second, breathing hard, my hands on my hips. What now? The others had followed the taggers into the trees, their flashlight beams searching high and low.

  I should probably go back and check on Gabby; give Noah a chance to help the others if he hadn’t already.

  A rustling sounded from among the trees. I twisted toward it. What was that? If the graffiti artists all went the other way, then what was moving through the underbrush? My heartbeat pounded in my ears. Should I get closer? I didn’t have a flashlight; I’d left my phone in my sleeping bag. The noise came again, closer this time. Okay, that settled it. If it was a person, there was no way I could wrestle some guy to the ground. Time to see how Gabby was doing.

  I swung around, and a dark shape loomed from a different part of the forest. A half shriek, half yelp burst from my mouth.

  “Amanda?” Kyle asked. “What’re you doing?”

  Relief rushed all the way to my toes, and I headed in his direction. But a loud hissing came from near my knees, and I freaked. I raced to Kyle and launched myself at him, wrapping my legs around his waist.

  He grunted as he caught me, looking around and over my shoulder. “What’s wrong?” A crashing sounded in the underbrush, and then low laughter rumbled through his chest.

  “What was that thing?” I asked, practically shouting in his ear.

  “A raccoon,” he said. “And you scared the hell out of him.”

  “He scared me too. Is he gone?”

  “Yes,” he said, still laughing.

  Through panting breaths, I realized I was clinging to Kyle like a piece of gum. Heat raced into my face. Nothing like throwing yourself at a guy. At least I’d never done it quite like this before. I unlocked my legs and slid back to the ground. “You can stop laughing now,” I said shakily against his collar bone.

  “What if I don’t want to?” He bent his head. “You are pretty funny.”

  Warmth, and that familiar bacon-smell, filled my senses. I wanted to rest against him, feel his heart beating in his chest and his strong arms around my back. Instead, I forced my fists to release the soft fabric of his hoodie. “Um, thanks?”

  He leaned back a bit, trying to see my face. “Why were you tracking a raccoon?”

  “I wasn’t. I thought one of the taggers went this way.”

  “No,” he said, pointing behind him with a thumb. “They escaped that way. Had a pickup parked in a clearing.”

  I pulled away, and his arms fell to his sides. “Oh,” I said. “Did anyone come close to catching them?”

  “Not really. The guys did manage to connect with a few paintballs and to get at least part of the license plate number.”

  “Huh. That might help the police.”

  “On the bright side, your brother shot his own foot.”

  A laugh escaped me. “That’s the bright side?”

  He grinned and draped an arm across my shoulders. “Ready to go? I think Cady has brought out the surprise cake by now.”

  I frowned. “Cake? It’s the middle of the night.”

  “For Geoff’s birthday. It’s today, right?”

  Voices rang out closer to the studio. “I guess. Or maybe tomorrow. What day is it?”

  “Let’s go find out.”

  As if we’d planned it, we both pulled up our hoods, smiled at each other, and headed for the house.

  Sixteen

  Early the next afternoon, when I’d finished helping my mom decorate for what I was calling Geoff’s Birthday Part Two, Dad strolled into the kitchen. “Everything is coming together perfectly for tomorrow night,” he said with a grin. “Cady and Kyle will be here, and that will round out our numbers.”

  “Wonderful,” Mom said.

  “What do you mean by ‘round out our numbers’?” I asked, climbing down from the step stool where I’d taped the last streamer to the ceiling. I’d been hoping to catch them tomorrow to beg off being a part of it all, but I might as well ask now.

  Dad shrugged, but kept smiling. “The more people we have for this event, the better it will work.”

  “Can I talk to y’all seriously for a minute?” I asked.

  Mom set down the knife she was using to cut potatoes. “What’s wrong?”

  I’d gone over three or four different ways to approach them, but those words left me just when I needed them. I swallowed hard. “Okay, well, here’s the deal. I don’t want to do it.”

  “Do what?” Mom asked.

  “The big event.”

  “Amanda,” Dad said.

  “Hang on, please,” I said. “I really need to get this out.”

  My parents looked at each other, but then nodded at me.

  “Thanks. So, y’all like to do these events and things, but I don’t. I’m not as comfortable being in the limelight or performing like Geoff and some of the others. You keep saying it will be good for me, but it never h
as been. I get sick to my stomach, and I’m a horrible actress. Can you please, please, let me sit this one out?”

  My father shook his head before I even finished. “Amanda, there is little to no acting in the event this year. But, that aside, all the performances we do are a family vacation tradition. You know that. If you don’t participate, we can forget the family part of it.”

  Mom touched his arm. “Just a sec. Listen, honey, if you’re worried about looking silly in front of Kyle, please don’t. You know that Geoff and Kenzie will monopolize any performing we do.”

  “In front of Kyle?” Why would she think that? He was the least of my worries. “It’s not him. It’s everybody!”

  “You mean you don’t have a crush on him?” Mom asked with a frown.

  “Oh my gosh. What is wrong with y’all? Just because he’s a cute boy doesn’t mean I automatically have a crush on him. Give me a little credit.”

  “All right,” Dad said. “You don’t have a crush on him. But that’s beside the point.”

  “Right,” I said. “And the point is, I don’t want to be involved in any performing. I’ll be there. I’ll watch if you need an audience, but I just don’t want to do it.”

  Mom ran her teeth across her lips. Dad stared out the window. I stood frozen in place. Please, let this work. I closed my hands so they wouldn’t shake. My parents weren’t completely unreasonable, were they?

  My mother let out a heavy sigh. “Maybe we can do something different in the future, but it’s too late for this summer.”

  “We need you, sweetie,” Dad said.

  I was wrong. They were completely unreasonable. I had to get out of there before I exploded. “Can I use the car?”

  “What for?” Dad asked.

  “I’m going to Cady’s.”

  “But I thought you were going to help with the cake,” mom said.

  After the middle-of-the-night party, we so did not need more cake. But if no one else had told Mom that, I sure wasn’t going to. “Molly said she would.”