Pretty Dark Nothing (26 page)

“You’re not having a good time, are you?” Jenna shouted over the blaring music.

“Is it that obvious?” Aaron squeezed his eyes shut, banishing the rage and hurt that overwhelmed him.

“The way you keep staring at the two of them kind of gives it away.”

“I’m sorry.” Aaron raised his right hand and placed his left over his heart. “You’re my date, and from this moment on, I promise to stop moping and start having fun.” Holding out his hand to her, he asked, “How about another dance?”

“From the way you keep looking at her with those please-kick-me-one-more-time puppy dog eyes, I think it’s going to take a lot more than another dance to turn this night fun.” Jenna slid a hand through her silky dark hair. “What is it about her, Aaron? I mean, she’s pretty, in a doe-eyed kind of way, but why her?”

“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? Answer that for me, and you’ll win a prize.” Aaron sighed and pulled at the stiff, white cuffs of his shirt.

“She broke your heart. It’s obvious you’re not over her, but the best way to get back at her is to at least pretend to have a good time. Don’t let her see you pining for her.”

“I’m not pining.”

“And I’m not a smartass. Stop lying to yourself. You need to forget about her, at least for a few minutes. I mean, it looks like she’s forgotten about you.” Jenna pointed at Quinn.

“Ouch.” Aaron rubbed his hand over his chest. “V-harsh.”

“Sorry, but it’s kind of obvious they’re together, like really together. The truth is painful, but you have to face it.”

“I know. You’re right.”

“Just forget her for one minute.”

“How can I with her in my face every time I turn around?”

“Look, I know I made you promise not to kiss me, but I never promised not to kiss you. If you think it will make her jealous, I’ll take one for the team.”

“I thought you didn’t have any interest in me.”

“Not you, just your lips.” Jenna grinned, held up one hand and put the other over her heart. “I promise I won’t fall desperately in love with you or call you my boyfriend.” She made the sign of a cross over her chest. “And hope to die.”

“I don’t know.” Aaron shook his head, and Jenna put her finger over his lips.

“Don’t think. Thinking is your problem. Just go with it. Here, let me show you.” Jenna grazed her soft lips over his and pulled away as he was about to kiss her back. She waved a finger in front of his face. “Not like last time. This time, take it slow,” she whispered and teased him again with a nibble. Warm and silky, her lips tasted of honey. She pulled away again and grinned.

Aaron grinned back and moved in with a teasing nibble of his own. Jenna’s kisses were like homemade chocolate-chip cookies. Warm. Sweet. Comforting.

“Having fun now?” she whispered.

“Shhh. I don’t want to think about it.” Aaron circled her waist, drew her gently to him, and spent the next five minutes letting her wash all traces of Quinn from his mind.

“Want to get out of here?” Aaron asked between smooches. “Grab a bite to eat?’’

“I thought you’d never ask.”

The ends of Aaron’s mouth turned up in a smile. “Why should I stick around here to get my heart pulverized, right?”

“I don’t know. Pulverization’s pretty painful.”

“You said it.” Aaron pulled her into a hug. “Thanks for everything.”

“Like I said, just taking one for the team.” She winked. “I’ll need the little girl’s room before we go.”

“There’s one by the front doors. I’ll find Marcus and Teresa to tell them we’re leaving. Meet me by the doors to the parking lot?”

Aaron looked at Jenna. Her black strapless dress showed off her curves. Where Quinn’s complexion was strawberries and cream, Jenna’s was olives and sunset. Auburn hair flowed down her back, and her serene gray eyes sparkled in the lights. Jenna was different than Quinn in every way, and different was what he needed.

“Okay, be right back.” Jenna ducked under a pair of dancing arms and disappeared in the crowd.

Aaron made his way through several members of the Mustang defensive line, ties around their heads, arms linked, jumping up and down like elephants on speed as the music’s pounding rhythm accelerated faster and faster.

Hearing a deep, bellowing laugh, followed by a scream of delight, he knew he was getting close. On the right side of the stage, past the huge black speaker, he found Marcus with his tie around his head. Teresa, slung over his back like a rag doll, beat on his back.

“Playing Tarzan and Jane again?” Aaron yelled over the music.

“Aaron, thank God you’re here. Tell him to put me down!” Teresa screamed.

“Aaron, my man!” Marcus turned around to face Aaron, knocking Teresa’s head into a nearby speaker.

“Hey, watch it!” she screamed and rubbed her head.

Marcus put her down, kissing the top of her head, then her ear, her neck, and finally her lips. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

Teresa slugged his arm, then smiled and kissed him back. “You’re forgiven.”

“Hello?” Aaron raised his hand to get their attention. “I’m still here.”

“So, Jenna? Is she as good a kisser as she is a singer?” Marcus winked.

“As if I would tell you. Anyway, I just came over to say bye.”

“Bye? The party’s just getting started, and you’re leaving?”

Teresa whispered in his ear.

“Of course Quinn and Jeff were kissing, he’s her boyfriend!” Marcus yelled over the dance noise, then stuck his finger in his ear and wiggled it back and forth.

“You know nothing about subtlety, do you?” Teresa turned to Aaron. “Sorry about that. I was trying to keep you from being reminded.”

“Thanks, but I already ran into them.”

“So that’s why you’re leaving.” Marcus nodded.

“I just think it’s better this way. Jenna’s not having any fun, and neither am I. I think we’re going to grab a slice at Tony’s.”

“Hey, pizza, that sounds great! And Tony makes my favorite: pepperoni and pineapple with extra anchovies. Save me a piece, will you? Make that four, I’m starving!”

“Does that mean you guys will meet us there?”

“And leave my fans wanting more? The party would die if I left. Just get mine to go and bring them back when you’re done. Hide them in your suit jacket. Old Mr. Minks won’t smell a thing. Thanks, buddy.” Marcus clapped him on the back.

“Reese!”

Aaron had never seen a deer in headlights, but that’s how he would describe the look on Quinn’s face as her eyes met his.

“Oh, um, I didn’t mean to interrupt. Jeff went to the bathroom.” Quinn pointed behind her. “So I thought I would make the rounds and say hi to, you know, everyone.”

The silence that followed was more uncomfortable than winter in Maine.

“Hey, girl.” Teresa gave her a big hug. “We’re glad you came over to say hi. Right, Marcus?” She poked him in the ribs with her elbow.

“Uh, yeah, it’s always nice to get a visit from a real hottie. Right, Aaron?” Marcus’s remark earned him another poke in the ribs from Teresa.

Aaron stared at Quinn staring at him. “Well, it’s been real, but I think I’ll go. Later, Marcus.” Aaron held out a fist, and Marcus tapped it with his own.

“Reese.” He hugged her.

Pushing his hands in his pockets, Aaron forced himself to look up. “Quinn.”

“You don’t have to leave because of me.”

“I’m not,” Aaron said, matter-of-factly. “My date’s waiting by the door.”

“Right. Of course. Your date,” Quinn said. “I should go find Jeff. He’s probably looking for me.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea. You wouldn’t want his lips to get cold. We all know what happens when Jeff’s lips get cold. Where is Kerstin anyway?” The comments spewed from Aaron’s mouth like poison, each one hitting their mark with perfect precision, and it felt good, better than good. It was freeing. Until he noticed the shocked look on Quinn’s beautiful face. He watched her chew on her bottom lip, the way she did when she was nervous or unsure. Then her mouth opened as if to speak.

Aaron thought she would let him have it. Instead, Quinn tapped her bare foot on the hardwood floor, folded her arms over her chest, and stared at him, her eyes glistening as if tears might pour out at any moment. Then she was gone.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Tears ran down Quinn’s cheeks.

“
Don’t cry.”
The voices, once malicious and unwelcome, now soothed her, comforted her, their breathy smoothness overlapping her own thoughts, making it harder and harder to tell which were Quinn’s and which were the demons.

“Aaron doesn’t know you.”

How could he? He never tried. He gave up.

“He doesn’t know Jeff.”

Why did I ever like him?

“Aaron’s trouble.”

Jerk.

“He’s selfish.”

Creep.

“He’s obsessed.”

He’s always there, like some kind of stalker.

“You have Jeff.”

I don’t need him.

“Jeff loves you.”

Jeff loves me.

“He knows you.”

Better than Aaron ever could.

“Yes.”

He won’t leave me again. Will he?

“Never again.”

No, not again.

“Not after tonight.”

Are you sure?

“Trust us.”

Quinn dabbed her eyes with the back of her hand and stood up straighter.

“Q.T.! Hey, over here!” Ami waved both arms in the air.

Quinn waved back.

“Congratulations!” Ami squealed as she embraced Quinn in a sisterly hug. “You and Jeff, king and queen! If you had asked me two weeks ago, I would have said no way. I mean, it sure looked like Kerstin would win, but when everyone found out you and Jeff were back together, there was no denying who was Queen.

“Then we won the game! Our first game! The whole school knows it’s because you guys are back together. I haven’t seen Jeff this happy in months or Kerstin this miserable, for that matter. Serves her right. You know she couldn’t get anyone to bring her tonight? I heard she even begged Horace Wheeler, but he already had a date. Can you believe it? Anyway, we’re so happy for you. Aren’t we, Jordo?”

Jordan, Ami’s date, looked stunned when she asked his opinion. “Yeah, of course, you and Jeff—”

“I know! Aren’t they great together? I mean, there’s no other perfect couple, and everyone thought it was over, but not me. I always had faith in the two of you. True love can never be denied.”

“Thanks for the support, Ami,” Quinn said. “Speaking of, have you seen Jeff anywhere?”

“No, not since your royal dance.”

“I saw him talking to Kerstin,” Jordan said.

“No you didn’t. Don’t even joke like that, Jordo.”

“I’m not joking.” Jordan raised his voice, bringing Ami to silence. “Last time I saw them they were walking toward the front doors. Kerstin looked pretty upset.”

“Thanks, Jordan. I guess I better go rescue my king from the evil harpy.” Inside, Quinn’s stomach turned. Did Kerstin seek Jeff out, or did Jeff look for Kerstin?

Quinn hurried through the crowd of well wishers, getting stopped every few feet to be told how glad they were to see her back together with Jeff, how beautiful she looked, blah, blah, blah. The same people who had called her a druggie and a loser less than a week ago. What a bunch of phonies. But she smiled like a true royal and thanked them, her eyes ever searching for Kerstin and Jeff.

We all know what happens when Jeff’s lips get cold. Where is Kerstin anyway?
Aaron’s words rang in her ears.

Frantic to find them, she rushed past the stage, the punch bowl, the tables, to the front doors—where she spied Jeff, in a shadowy corner—with Kerstin.

Kerstin gripped his biceps so hard his flesh bulged between her short, stubby fingers. His hands caressed her shoulders; his head bent to her ear while she sobbed like a baby. Quinn moved closer but couldn’t hear what they were saying. Kerstin, oblivious to Quinn’s scrutinizing glare, pounded on Jeff’s chest, a wild rage in her eye.

Anger prickled through Quinn, and she gritted her teeth. Why couldn’t she leave Jeff alone? Jeff shook his head and pulled away from Kerstin’s grip, but she wouldn’t let him go. Grabbing him by the wrist, Kerstin jerked him back, bawling. Jeff shook his head and tried pulling away again, but she clung to him like a desperate child.

“Look at her. Trying to manipulate Jeff.”

Again.

“Stop her.”

Rage and jealousy rose inside her, and she decided to take matters into her own hands. She stalked up behind Kerstin, grabbed her arm, and spun her around so they were face to face.

Kerstin gaped. Tears streamed from her bloodshot eyes, down her round cheeks.

“I’m warning you, Kerstin, leave Jeff alone. He’s made his choice, now deal.”

“Stay out of this, Q.T.,” Kerstin spat.

“It’s Quinn to you, and how can I stay out of it when I’m so obviously in the middle of it?”

“Not everything’s about you, Quinn Perfect.” The word
perfect
hissed out of Kerstin’s mouth, reminding her of the whispers of the demons.

“I need to talk to Kerstin for a minute.” Jeff turned his back on Quinn, pressing Kerstin further into the corner.

“He’s avoiding you, Quinn. Like your father did when he left with that woman? Why do all the men in your life betray you?”

Quinn’s nails bit into her palms, and she narrowed her eyes at Jeff. “Let me get this straight, Jeff. You want me, your girlfriend, to leave you, my boyfriend, alone with Kerstin, the slut, who you, my boyfriend, dumped me for? Do you really think I’m that stupid?”

“Have you ever wondered why they always leave, Quinn? Why the ones you love can’t love you back?”

“Actually, he does,” Kerstin shot back.

“Just let me deal with this, okay?” Jeff begged Kerstin.

Shadows twisted and coiled around Quinn in agitation as she advanced on Jeff.

“Deal with this?” Quinn slammed her hands into Jeff’s chest. “Deal with this!” She pushed with everything in her, shoving Jeff with all the hurt, anger, and disappointment she’d been carrying around, and he stumbled back. “What’s there to deal with? You are my date and my boyfriend, not Kerstin’s lap dog. You’re being such a jerk.”