No One's Watching (19 page)

Jupiter flipped the useless cell phone on the desk and pushed away. “I guess I'll go tell her.”

I raised my hand until I'd swallowed and could speak. “Don't tell her until she asks.”

Jupiter rubbed his chin. “Good point. If she thinks I failed, she'll hate me as much as she hates you.”

“Why don't you think it worked?” Blake turned the phone over in his hands.

Who cared?

“I probably didn't get it into the rice soon enough. My dad had his in the rice in like less than a minute.” He shrugged and tossed the bag in the trash can.

I blew air through my lips. “Thanks for trying anyway.”
And failing. Woo hoo
.

“No problem.” He stood and dug in his pocket sorting out change. “I'm going to the vending machine to get a can of liquid energy. Either of you want one?”

“No, thanks.” Blake put the phone down and fumbled with a handheld game he picked up from his bureau.

I shook my head.

“Later. Don't do anything I wouldn't do.” Jupiter leered at us and left.

Ugh. Any possible romance blew out the grubby window.

Despite shuddering at Jupiter's assumptions, my body had settled into the pre-nap stage. Relaxed and limp. Would Blake mind if I dropped my head on his desk and took a snooze? With my luck, I'd drool a puddle on his desk. Instead, I yawned.

“Don't do that.” Blake laughed and yawned too.

“Thanks. The snack was yummy.” I swept the crumbs from the desk into my palm and brushed them into the trash can by the door.

Blake bumped into me as he maneuvered around the room.

“Oops.” I pointed to the chair. “I was going to sit back down.”

“Sure. Sorry.” He collided with me again.

He grabbed me with both arms so I wouldn't fall, and we laughed.

I cleared my throat and studied the brown carpet while still attached to Blake's hands and spoke to a single sandal lying on its side. “I should get back to my floor.”
Because I don't know what else to say.
Dira and Nicki expected me so I could make my second illegal excursion outside for the day.
Because I've lost all my senses.
And tell Candace I'd been in Blake's room. Were we allowed to visit the boys' rooms?

He let go of me and stood aside. “I'll walk you to the elevator.”

As we strode down the hall, I wished it extended forever.

Blake's hand bumped mine. “What are you going to do this weekend? Besides go to Chester Park tomorrow and practice on Sunday?”

I was dying to tell him I went outside today. He might think that was cool. Or stupid. It was kind of both.

“Kit?”

“Huh?”

“You going to chill on Sunday? Maybe practice a little Irish dance?”

I nodded. “Definitely. And you?”

His eyes crinkled at the edges. “Sure. Maybe without our rehearsal assistants?”

My cheeks grew hot again. “Speaking of chill, have you noticed how it's always the same temperature in here? And if you didn't know what time it is, it could be nine in the morning or nine at night?”

He slowed. “Kind of.”

“Does it bother you?” I tilted my head as we stopped at the elevator.

He shrugged. “Maybe.”

“All the food tastes the same. I mean the cafeteria's.” I mashed the up button.

“You're not bored here?” Blake narrowed his eyes on me.

“No way.” How could I be bored with Shelly on my case all the time, losing all the ballet solos and potentially the hopes of Mom and Grandma, learning a new dance style and having the cutest boy in this sensory deprived box paying attention to me? Just overwhelmed and numb.

“What do you mean then?”

“Do you ever wonder what else going on out there?” Other than dance, dance, dance. Was it enough for me? What else did they teach at this college other than dance or psychology?

Blake propped his arm on the wall between the elevators. “Yeah. It's a big world. Lots of stuff happening out there.”

The light above the doors dinged as they parted. I smiled, and he returned the favor. “See you tomorrow at the park.” I stepped inside the car.

“Maybe save me a seat on the bus?” He pushed back the door so it stayed open.

“I could do that.”
Ya think so?

“I'm glad you came back to camp this summer. I was hoping to see you again.”

I didn't need the elevator. I could've floated up to the fifteenth floor on my own.

Jupiter called to Blake from down the hall. “See what this little dudette has found for herself.” He laughed as Shelly shushed him. “A cell phone. That is seriously off the hook.”

Blake dropped his arm, and the doors snapped shut, squeezing the breath out of my lungs.

When the doors opened on the fifteenth floor, my feet refused to move. I stared into the laundry room across the hall while the scene one floor below replayed in my mind. Would Mrs. Ricardo walk out of this one and confirm Shelly had found a cell phone? Maybe Jupiter and Shelly were kidding. Too bad I couldn't call her to find out.

The doors closed, and the elevator continued to climb.

The elevator shushed to a stop on the top floor, picking up computer science campers. I pushed the button for fifteen again.

As I stepped out on my floor, my computer friend kept the door from closing. “Is this your floor? Are you staying here? What's your room number?”

My stare could've seared a hole in his forehead. I left him with his buddies and dragged myself down the hall to my empty room.

As I stooped in the shower, Candace's muffled voice let me know she'd left the TV room and was with Nicki and Dira in their room. After I slipped on my bathrobe, I pulled out a pair of jeans.

I was still stunned from Jupiter's announcement about Shelly's cell phone, the ordeal outside and Mrs. Ricardo's mercy in letting me stay even though I'd broken the rules. I sank to my bed, clutching my jeans to my chest.
Snap out of it.
I squeezed my eyes so hard, sparks danced in front of me.

Candace came in the room to check on me. She wore a white and teal dress with an elasticized waist. “We heard the shower and figured you were back. Almost ready?”

I blinked.

“Don't tell me you forgot about the ice cream parlor?”

I laid my jeans next to me on the bed. “You mean outside?”

“Yes, outside. Don't worry. It'll be fine.”

“Are you sure we won't be caught?”

Candace dabbed on lip gloss. “Nicki saw a reminder on the announcement board by the studios for a faculty meeting tonight. All the teachers and staff are going to discuss the trip to College Park. It should take hours.”

“Hours?”

She nodded and capped the lip gloss. “You know how grown-ups love to talk.”

I studied my raw toe.

“It'll be fun. And exciting. You deserve a little fun.”

Yes, I do.
After what I'd been through his week. “You sure all the grown-ups will be in the meeting?”

Candace drew an X on her self. “Cross my heart.”

Creamy, cold, delicious ice cream. Dairy products were good for you. “Okay.”

Seeing as it was hot outside, I threw the jeans on my bed and picked out my cutest scoop neck dress. The black cotton one with the floral print and a racer back. Cool. Fun. Plus it would hide any ice cream splotches.

I blew dry my hair, clipped it back at the sides with two shiny barrettes and brushed on makeup. Candace and I went through the bathroom and knocked on our suite mates' door.

“Oooh. Cute outfit.” Nicki stepped back and sat on her desk. “Are you going somewhere with Blake?”

“I thought we were going out.” I pointed to the window. “As in out there.”

They laughed. Was I wrong?

Dira patted my arm. “JK. What's your favorite ice cream flavor?”

“Mint chocolate chip.” Chocolate moose munchies. Vanilla with pralines. Cookies and cream. Did we have to pick one? I lost myself in a dream of ice cream, and the awful day fell away like veils. Drifting down fifteen floors and disappearing.

Nicki, who wore a cami and a broken-stripe print skirt tied at the waist, hopped off her desk. “We're going to the ice cream place first. Who knows where we'll end up?”

“Oh, snap.” Dira raised her arms above her head and spun.

Candace giggled. “This is fun.” She fluffed the lace on her cap sleeves.

“Let's go.” Dira adjusted the buckle on her blue, strappy sandals. They matched the ruffle on her halter dress.

Nicki poked her head out the door. She faced us, pressing her finger to her lips. “Shh. We're to take the elevator to the first floor then the stairs to the lobby level. We'll sneak into the kitchen and go out the delivery door.”

Or we could walk out the front door. I did it earlier today. Should I tell them?

After we got to the dark kitchen, we pushed though the swinging doors and groped along the cold, metal prep tables until we reached the back. Somewhere in this room, Jupiter found the rice for his unsuccessful experiment.

Nicki snorted, and Candace choked back a giggle. We burst through the door into the bay where the kitchen got its food deliveries.

“Stinky garbage.” Dira pinched her nose.

A fence blocked off access to the bay from the back of the building I visited earlier.

“It's muggy here.” Nicki held the door. “Hold this open while I find something to keep it from closing.”

Candace leaned against the door while Nicki searched the ground. She wedged a broken brick in the doorway and kicked it for good measure. We maneuvered around the bay and down the steps to the sidewalk on the free side of the building.

“What's that?” Candace pointed to the hole in the ground that once was a city block.

“They're building a new hotel.” I squinted into the darkness.

“How do you know?” Dira asked.

“I went for a walk outside this afternoon.” Mrs. Ricardo's kind reprieve and warning replayed in my head. Did I want to chance leaving our building again? Was I completely insane? Somehow I felt safe with my friends. Nothing bad could happen.

“Right.”

“Sure.” Everybody laughed again, and we continued up the street. The city on this side of our building was intact. No broken sidewalk. No bombed-out ground. We waited midway up the street for the light to change as cars swished by.

“Where's the ice cream parlor?” Candace searched the street as we crossed.

Nicki pointed. “Sweet Hearth is down another block.”

“Sweet Hearth? What a cute name.” Candace fanned her neck. “It sure is hot out here.”

“We have to share their famous, gigantic sundae called the Avalanche. It's made of a bunch of scoops and whatever you want for toppings. It's the best thing on the planet.” Nicki rubbed her hands together. “Then up one block from Sweet Hearth's is the club we went to last year.”

Club? As in bar? As in illegal for so many reasons including we were all underage?
I pushed my luck getting ice cream. I checked behind us for anyone from the dance camp.

By the time we'd walked around the block from the main campus building, my dress clung to me like the plastic wrap girls used to bind their thighs before class to lose water weight.

“It feels like a dance studio after a hundred dancers have been sweating and breathing in it.” Nicki pumped her cami, trying to fan her body.

At the end of the block, across the street, Sweet Hearth's neon pink and green lights winked and promised air-conditioning. We went inside the cool restaurant and stood by a candy counter crammed into a huge, red-brick fireplace.

“Welcome to Sweet Hearth's. Table for four?” the hostess asked.

We nodded, and she led us to a round parlor table in the middle of the dining area, leaving menus. All the tables had pink gingham tablecloths. Green gingham covered the seats. So cute.

I couldn't help gulping the ice water our server brought.

Nicki closed her menu. “Do we know what we want?”

“We're going to share this thing, right?” Candace stared at the picture in the menu.

“I want it all for myself.” Dira cackled evilly.

I scanned the other tables for any other illegals from the camp.

Nicki tucked her hair behind her ears. “We each get to pick a flavor and a topping, okay?”

The server returned to refill my water glass and scribbled our order for an Avalanche. He stooped close to Candace, which only made her speak softer and blush redder.

Nicki frowned at the waiter. She sectioned off a lock of hair and examined it for split ends.

“Pretzels? On ice cream? You have weird taste.” Dira laughed.

Candace ran a hand along her waistline. “I hope I can walk after this.”

Dira nodded at our waiter. “If you stay until his shift is over, I'm sure Andrew will take you home.”

“Stop.” Candace hid behind her napkin.

“I almost forgot.” I pulled a digital camera from my purse. “Picture time.” I slid from my chair and lowered myself in the aisle. “Move closer together.”

Three sets of hands flew to primp hair.

I clicked off a couple pictures.

“We should get our server to take one of all of us.” Candace's head followed Andrew in his green checked apron as he came by the table.

I gave him my camera and went around the table, kneeling next to Candace. He snapped two more pictures.

“Thanks.” I put the camera back in my purse and waited until he'd moved away. “He's cute.”

“I dated him last year.” Nicki glanced at Candace. “He's nothing special.”

Dira pinched Nicki's arm. “You wish.”

Nicki rubbed her arm, her mouth set in a straight line like Mrs. Sykes. I glanced around the room and through the window at the people on the sidewalk. If we were caught, I wouldn't have to explain why I didn't get a ballet solo. We'd all be sent home for rules violation. The perfect ending to a perfect beginning at ballet camp.