Amplified (4 page)

The sound
of grinding chains and heartfelt screams warned me against taking another step. Seventy-five feet in the air and nothing but rickety beams of wood to keep me alive? Veta failed to tell me that the C-Side initiation was a death mission.

“I think she’s scared,” Bryn said. “We might have to carry her on.”

“What’s with the wide eyes, Goldilocks? It’s only one of the shortest roller coasters on the planet,” Veta said, tugging my arm.

I tore my arm from her grasp and bumped right into Sean. His hands gripped my shoulders as the heels of my boots probably mangled his toes.

“Sorry.”

He pushed a lock of hair out of his eyes, and the setting sun ignited the yellow in his irises. “I’m getting used to it.”

I backed away from him, nearly colliding with a woman pushing a baby stroller this time. The Boardwalk was a smorgasbord of boldly colored shirts and cheesy visors; crowds always made me dizzy.

“I’ll sit this one out. That pizza didn’t agree with me.” I clutched my stomach and tried to look queasy, which wasn’t difficult with the scent of cotton candy and waffle fries dominating the air.

Veta peered at me under a fan of mascara-caked eyelashes. “I smell bullshit.”

I looked up at the red train of contorted faces zipping around the track. The wooden beams shivered with every twist and turn. “Isn’t this thing, like, a hundred years old?”

“Pretty much,” Sean said. “And sometimes you can hear the wood crack just as you’re about to take that first plunge.”

Before I could respond, Bryn scooped me up in his arms and threw me over his shoulder like a rag doll. I sucked in my breath and tried to squirm out of his grip, but he just held on tighter. We headed down a long, narrow hall toward the boarding area. The spicy tomato sauce from our dinner crept up my throat.

“I think I’m going to puke,” I said.

He lowered me to the ground as soon as we reached a line of people. “Don’t do it on me.”

I sighed. Jason had tried to get me on a roller coaster numerous times, but I’d always bolt as soon as we came close to that cold, metal turnstile. I hated the way it counted people. Spin.
Click
. Spin.
Click
. That
click
seemed so final.

As we reached the front of the line, Veta waved to a blond ride operator. “Bianca! Save the front car for me.”

Bianca grinned and motioned for her to come over. Veta grabbed my hand, but I hung back, shaking my head. I didn’t want to be the first to take that plunge.

“I’ll go,” Bryn said, taking Veta’s hand.

I glanced back at Sean, regretting my decision to stay behind. Sure, the front would be freaky, but being alone with him was downright awkward.

“You’re holding the line up.” Sean’s breath tickled my ear.

I picked the first empty row I came to, figuring he’d ride in a separate car. But the heat of his skin stayed behind me. He smelled really good, like cedarwood and motor oil. Then again, I also loved the stench of gasoline. My olfactory system couldn’t be trusted.

The next train pulled up, all squealing brakes and cranking metal. I balled my hands into fists and took a deep breath. “So, you’re going to ride with me?”

A flushed-face couple exited the coaster car in front of us.

“Sure,” he said, nudging me forward. “I figured you’d want to know what’s up with your car, since you hung up on me.”

My car. Money. Shit.

“Right.” I climbed into the hard seat but didn’t touch the thick metal bar that would pin me inside.

“Has your car overheated before?” He slid in next to me.

“Um…” I sucked in my breath when he yanked the bar over our laps. It clanked into place just before skimming my thighs. “I don’t know.” I was trapped. Stuck. Nothing else mattered.

His green eyes combed my face, a smile playing at his lips. “First time?”

My heart fluttered an extra beat. “None of your business.” Open mouth, insert foot.

He ran a finger over his lips, as if it would somehow disguise his smirk. “Anyway, your head gasket blew and coolant got into the cylinder. Which really sucks, because…” His words suddenly blended together like background music—we were moving. And a really dark tunnel loomed ahead.

But so what? This wasn’t a big deal. It couldn’t be much different from a car ride. Over a cliff.

Screams and hoots pierced my ears as soon as the train entered the darkness. My head grew light with the jerking and bobbing, and I found myself grabbing at anything that proved I was still conscious.

Warm hands pinned mine against the bar. The pizza had become a blizzard in my stomach. Just when I thought I couldn’t take any more, the dimming sky appeared above me.

But I couldn’t breathe just yet—we were starting the climb up the track, and it looked like a hell of a lot more than seventy-five feet.

“You almost took my eye out back there,” Sean said, his hands still on mine.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Right.” He released his hold.

I gripped the bar hard enough to make my fingers ache.
Clang clang clang
. Going up this track sounded like the slow, painful winding of a clock.

“I’ll order your gasket Monday, and we’ll get it in a day or two,” he continued. “Your car should be ready soon after.”

We were halfway up the ramp now—maybe twenty more seconds until impact. “Uh-huh.”

“Usually that costs at least a grand.” He sighed. “But my sister likes you. So, I’ll knock it down to eight hundred plus tax. Cool?”

Ten more seconds. “Doesn’t sound like much of a deal to me.” I shivered as a blast of freezing air hit my cheeks. It was so quiet that high; even the squeals seemed muffled.

“Do you have any idea what replacing a gasket entails? Look it up online if you don’t believe me.”

“Is there some kind of payment plan?” I squeaked out just as the first car reached the top.

Sean squinted at me. “You don’t have the money.”

“I—I—” I couldn’t finish my sentence because my stomach was in my throat, and we were careering toward the ground.

When the ride ended, I wished they had posted an additional warning with the height minimum:
A sports bra is suggested for those larger than a B cup
.

Sean grabbed my arm when we reached the exit hallway, but I pulled away and kept walking. He blocked my path instead.

“I’ve broken a nose before, pal,” I said.

His serious expression turned into a laugh. “Really?”

“Yes.” This technically wasn’t a lie. It happened during a softball game in fourth grade. The catcher’s face caught the back end of my practice swing. “Now, please move.”

“Oh, good. You said ‘please.’ I’d hate to be assaulted by someone without manners.”

“What would you know about manners?”

He held his hands up. “We can talk about this in front of Bryn and Veta if you want.”

I exhaled and leaned against the wall behind me. “Generally, payments are made after the car is fixed. You haven’t even ordered the parts yet.”

“I need you to approve the estimate first.”

“Fine, it’s approved.”

His eyes narrowed. “Do you have a job down here?”

“I’m looking.” Or I would be, first thing in the morning.

“You moved to Santa Cruz without a job lined up?” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Do yourself a favor, princess. Work it out with Mom and Dad.”

“You know
nothing
about me or my situation.”

He leaned closer. “I’ll take a guess. Your parents wanted you to be someone you aren’t, so you’ve come here to express yourself and get that butterfly tattoo you’ve always wanted.”

“Wrong.”

His eyes didn’t move from mine. “Am I?”

“Completely.” I shoved past him. “I hate butterflies.”

“We’ll need full payment when you pick your car up,” he called after me. “And it’ll be ready by the end of the week at the latest!”

I slowed down when I saw Veta and Bryn waiting outside the exit. This would never work, not with Detective Dracula back there, sniffing around my business. Ducking and running was an option. But that would probably piss Veta off and make Sean happy. And why would I want that?

Veta cocked her head and studied my face as I approached. “Was your picture really that bad?”

“What picture?”

Sean appeared next to me, avoiding my glare.

“Didn’t you show her the photos?” Veta nodded behind us.

I glanced back at the ride exit, where people were giggling at images on several TV monitors. Now
that
was just cruel.

“She nearly took my eye out on the ride,” he said. “I can’t imagine what she’d do if she saw that picture.”

“Can it, Sean.” Veta grabbed my arm and led me away before I could respond. “I’m sure she looked adorable.”

My cheeks burned when I heard him snickering behind me. Assault charges were not out of the question for me tonight.

I spun around and faced him. “Just spit it out. What was so funny about it?”

“You mean besides this?” He bugged out his eyes and opened his mouth as wide as it would go. Veta and Bryn stifled their laughs.

“At least I was in it.”

He crinkled his brow. “Meaning?”

“I don’t know. Do vampires photograph better these days?”

He tilted his head back, his grin widening. “Oh, here we go. What’s next? You going to tell me it’s not Halloween?”

“Enough already!” Veta said, pulling me with her again. “You’re like a couple of six-year-olds. Who’s up for the Double Shot?” She motioned to a tower where a mass of screaming people plunged to the ground.

“I’m down.” Bryn’s dimpled smile reminded me of a kid on Christmas morning.

The chilly night air brought me back to reality. “You guys go ahead. I need to make a call.”

Veta opened her mouth to respond, but Bryn was already dragging her away. I’d have to thank him for that later.

Sean hung back, watching them until they reached the long line.

“Aren’t you going with them?” I asked.

He shrugged and eyed the ground.

“Scared?”

That got him to look up. “Didn’t you say you had a call to make?”

I rolled my eyes and walked away, searching for a quieter place. Somewhere away from
him
.

An orange bench next to an empty kiddie ride called my name. I sat down and closed my eyes, listening to the breath of the waves behind me. Everything would be okay. It had to be.

I dialed 411 and scanned the area where Sean had been standing. A black hoodie covered in band patches wasn’t hard to miss. Maybe he’d joined the others.

An annoyed operator began to rattle off the number to every hotel or motel within walking distance. Only, I’d left my stuff at Veta’s shop across the street. Always thinking ahead, I was. I ended up writing on my jeans with the lucky green marker Jason had given me. He’d gotten the digits of many boys with that thing. At least it wasn’t permanent.

I dialed the first number, and a tired-sounding voice greeted me. “East Cliff Inn.”

“Yeah, hi. I need a room for tonight.”

The girl sighed. “We’re completely booked for the weekend. You really need reservations this time of year.”

That lump returned to my throat. “Do you know of any other places that might have a vacancy?”

“For tonight?” She let out a sharp laugh. “No.”

“Great. Thanks for
all
your help.” I stabbed the
END CALL
button.

The next few places also had reactions of the not-another-idiot-tourist variety. But the last number led me to the magic word: yes.

“You got lucky. We just had a cancellation tonight,” the man said. “It’s a king bed. Nonsmoking.”

“Book me. I mean—I’d like to reserve it, please.”

“Okay, I’ll need your name, address, and a credit card to hold the room.”

I swallowed. “Can I come down there and pay cash? How much is it?”

“It’ll be $565 plus tax. And we require a major credit card to reserve the room.”

My blood ran cold. Of course. What did I expect from a hotel with a fancy French name? It sounded like a place my dad would stay. “Um, never mind. Thanks.”

The sound of screaming patrons, creaking metal, and tinny music swirled around me, making it hard to think or breathe. What if I had to sleep out here tonight? I didn’t even have a jacket. Or a blanket. Where would I pee?

“Are you okay?” a guy asked.

I looked up to see Sean carrying two slushy red drinks. “What—are you stalking
me
now?”

His mouth fell open, and something between a laugh and a grunt came out. “No, I—”

Veta tackled him from behind. “Hey!” Her eyes widened at the drinks. “Is that for me? Aw, dear brother, you shouldn’t have.” She snatched one from him and took a sip.

Sean sent me a look I couldn’t quite read. A mix of curiosity and annoyance, maybe. “You got through the line fast,” he said to Veta.

She grinned. “Crystal is one of the operators tonight.”

“I thought she hated him.” Sean nodded toward Bryn. He stood about twenty feet away, chatting it up with two girls in bikini tops. Weren’t they cold?

“Not anymore, apparently.”

“I’m gonna take off,” Sean said. “Got work early tomorrow.”

“Okay, see ya later.” She raised her cup, a playful grin on her face. “And thanks.”

“No problem.” He rolled his eyes and walked toward the arcade.

“I need to get going too,” I said, standing up.

“Let’s cut through the beach. It’s prettier.” Veta shook her head at Bryn. One of the girls was playing with his dreads. “I think he’ll be busy for the rest of the night.”

A group of guys passed us. They eyed Veta up and down, but I didn’t even get a glance. Not that I would next to her. Hot, long-legged girl in a mini skirt or a short one in an old Taylor guitar tee and jeans? Tough call.

“Does that piss you off?” I asked.

“Getting eyed like a juicy steak? I’m used to it.”

I followed her down the steps to the beach. “I meant Bryn. Flirting with those girls.”