Dusk (Young Adult Paranormal Romance) (22 page)

A moment later, the bell rang, and I handed my paper to Mrs. Harvey. She patted me on the back and told me she was very proud of the speech I’d made at the election assembly. Smiling, I thanked her. I already felt brand new on the inside, and I hoped the student government ceremony would be the start of a new chapter for me here at school.

Grabbing my things, I headed toward the auditorium.

H
alfway down the hall, Adrian fell into step beside me. His arm draped across my shoulders, his warmth surrounding me.

“Hey there,” he said, pulling me closer. “Nervous?”

I looked up at him. “How’d you guess?”

“I’m good like that.” He winked.

Amazing how just a few words from him could easy my anxiety.

“Got your acceptance speech ready?”

“Yep. It’s short and sweet.” I reached into the side pocket of my backpack to retrieve my note cards, only to find it empty.

Thinking back on my drive to school – in my own car, which I now had the keys to – I remembered dropping them onto the passenger seat.

“I left my speech in the car,” I said. “Can you go on to the auditorium and tell Mr. Austin I’ll be right there.”

“No problem,” he answered, sliding the backpack off my shoulder. “I’ll take this and save you a seat.”

I hurried to the front door and around to the side parking lot. As I made my way to the second row of spaces, I noticed police cars in the back corner of the lot across the street. A handful of what I assumed to be students were huddled together near one of the cruisers, hands cuffed behind their backs.

I figured I probably wasn’t supposed to see the results of the drug dogs’ trip through our school, so I moved quicker on the way to my car, intending to get back to the auditorium as soon as I could.

Reaching into the passenger seat for my note cards, a shrill voice rang out from across the street.

“As soon as I call my father, he’ll make all this go away!”

Nikki.

I straightened, and looked toward the commotion. I knew I shouldn’t stare, but I couldn’t stop myself. Several of the handcuffed kids were known drug users. Some had even been caught before.

Seeing Nikki and Courtney among them was a surprise. Not because they were so much more virtuous, but because they were more conniving. And I’d thought Nikki at least was smart enough to not bring her drugs to school.

Her defiance was obvious in her stance, even from this distance. Unlike Courtney, Nikki was already eighteen, so depending on what sort of drugs they found in her possession these charges could be very serious for her.

“Young lady, your father is welcome to come down to the station and we’ll explain the charges to him.” I heard the officer’s loud, booming voice clearly, as he led her to a squad car and ushered her into the backseat.

Flashing back to the night of the accident, I was sobered once more to realize that I could’ve been in that exact predicament. If not for Adrian, I would’ve been in the back of the police car that night. And heaven knows what else I might’ve gotten myself into if I’d continued down that dangerous path.

I said a silent prayer of thanksgiving that, with help, I’d managed to pull myself out of that mire. I would never take my good fortune for granted again. And I would never again gamble with my life.

I
sank down into the seat between Adrian and Vivian just as Mr. Austin stepped up to the stage to begin the ceremony.

“You’ll never guess what I saw in the parking lot,” I whispered.

Adrian leaned toward me as Viv did the same.

“Nikki and Courtney were handcuffed. I saw them being put into police cars in the lot across the street.”

“Everyone’s talking about it,” Viv said, her voice hushed as Mr. Austin began to speak. “They’re saying the dogs found marijuana and pills in their lockers, and more in their pockets once they escorted them out of the building.”

Adrian’s hand gripped mine, as if he knew I was thinking back on my disastrous summer and how close I’d come to being in the thick of it with Nikki and Courtney.

Brett, who sat on Viv’s other side, leaned over. “They’ve had it coming for a long time. Nikki’s been supplying pills to people for over a year. Glad she finally got caught.”

With the kind of money her parents gave her, I’m sure Nikki had found any number of unscrupulous people who sold her drugs, which she then turned around and sold for profit to kids at school. I’d been cavorting with a drug dealer all summer. The potential for lasting repercussions and outright tragedy had been immense, and I was overwhelmed yet again to know that somehow I’d escaped all that insanity intact.

We settled in to listen as Mr. Austin began his announcements.

“In the position of Administrative Liason, I’m proud to announce a newcomer to student government, Nick Henry.”

Applause rang out as Nick moved to take his place in the fifth seat on the stage. Secretary was the next office to be announced. I took a deep breath and squeezed Adrian’s hand.

He leaned over, lips to my ear, and whispered, “I love you.”

Before I could even respond, Mr. Austin continued.

“Zoe Gray, running unopposed for Secretary, returns to student government after serving as your president for the last three years.”

I took note of the clapping as I made my way to my seat next to Nick. No tomatoes were thrown, and no boos were shouted, so perhaps I was in the clear.

“Your new Vice President for Class Activities, Carla Mabry.”

“Congratulations,” I said as Carla sat down beside me.

“Thanks,” she said, smiling.

So far, so good I thought to myself.

Andrea Bishop took her seat next to Carla after being announced as Vice President for Publicity, followed by Daniel Williams as our new Class President.

Once the officers were seated, Mr. Austin invited Nick to the podium to make his acceptance speech.

I tried to listen, truly. But my pulse pounded so hard in my ears I could barely hear. The last time I’d stood at that podium I’d laid myself bare, and here I was about to step up to it again. My eyes sought Adrian, only to find him smiling. Around me air started to stir, and I felt the soothing calm begin to seep in. He’d seen my panic and given me his comfort.

Talk about thankfulness.

“And now, your class secretary, Zoe Gray,” Mr. Austin announced, turning to smile at me as I stood.

Stepping up to the microphone, I gripped my note cards in my sweaty hands. I’d spent some time thinking about what to say, and without any big revelation to share, I planned on sticking to my script this time.

“I’ve learned a lot about grace and forgiveness over the past few weeks,” I began, looking around the room to the people who mattered most to me. Mr. Austin. Vivian. Adrian. “And I’ve learned a lot about second chances. I thought I didn’t deserve any of those things, but thanks to my friends and loved ones, I’ve learned that everyone deserves a second chance. I’ve been given a second chance, not only as a member of student government, but as a part of this school and community. I want all of you to know that I’m grateful. And that I will not waste it. Thank you.”

I stepped back from the podium, ready to return to my seat, when I saw it begin. People were standing. Whole groups of students rising to their feet at once, until everyone in the auditorium stood.

And then they started clapping.

It took a few seconds to realize what was happening.

A standing ovation. They were giving me a standing ovation.

A movement near the door to the auditorium caught my eye. Glancing over, I saw my mom, clapping and crying, looking up at me with such pride in her eyes.

It had been so long since I’d felt like she was proud of me, and I promised myself I would never again give her reason to doubt me.

She waved at me and I smiled back, as a tear spilled down my cheek. This time the tear wasn’t full of sadness, but rather joy and accomplishment.

Scanning for Vivian, I found her not only clapping but jumping up and down. How had I ever thought I could do without her exuberant friendship?

And then my eyes landed on Adrian. The one who brought me out of the darkness. The one who brought me back to life and filled that life with happiness.

“Love you,” he mouthed, his clear blue eyes staring up at me with a love so deep and profound I knew I’d done nothing to earn it.

He was God’s gift to me. And I would cherish him always.

A
drian and I sat at the picnic table in my back yard after dinner one evening in April, seven months after that day in the auditorium. After a typical Kentucky winter of seemingly endless cold, gray days, spring was beginning to make its appearance. We took advantage of the warm evening to resume our habit of homework at the picnic table.

We’d each already been accepted to the University of Kentucky. I had plans to study history and government, while Adrian planned to major in mathematics. Since our acceptance letters came in December, we’d gone about making plans for college under the assumption that Adrian would be able to go.

Even though Adrian was sure his Boss wouldn’t separate us, I still worried. A new assignment could come down at any time, and the thought of Adrian leaving made me feel sick to my stomach.

Homework finished, I slid my notebook into my backpack. When I turned back to Adrian, he was holding an envelope. His name and address were printed neatly on the front, with no return address in the corner. He stared at it without looking at me, and my stomach sank to the soles of my feet.

This was it. A new assignment. He was going to have to go away.

Could I follow? Maybe there was a college close enough to where he’d be that I could attend.

“This was waiting for me when I got home,” he said, his voice almost a whisper. “I recognized it right away.”

I swallowed hard. “What does it say?”

“I don’t know yet.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I wanted to wait and open it with you.”

I reached for his hand, wrapping my fingers around his. “Whatever it is, we will be okay.” Even though the thought of being apart killed me, I knew in my heart that nothing would change the way we felt for each other.

Adrian nodded and tore open the envelope.

He pulled me closer so we could read together. Taking a deep breath, I looked at the words that could change everything.

Adrian Shaw:

A new assignment has been given to you. It begins in August of this year. In your dormitory, on the floor you’ve been assigned, you will find a young man named Chase. This young man is recovering from an addiction to prescription pain pills, and will need support and guidance as he is away from home and his family for the first time. There is no end date to this assignment, as it is our plan for the two of you to remain friends and for you to help him stay grounded and steadfast throughout your time at the University of Kentucky. Remember to ask if you and your partner need assistance or resources.

I burst out laughing as joy bloomed inside me. Although Adrian had been so sure, in the moments before he’d opened that envelope, I’d seen the concern in his eyes.