The Cheater (7 page)

It's an animal's heart, Carter thought, her stomach
tightening with disgust. It must have come from a cow, or some other large animal.

Glancing down reluctantly, she spied a sticky piece of paper stuck to the heart with a pin.

She bent down quickly and pulled the paper off with a sharp tug.

On the paper, scrawled in blood, was a message: “Careful—or you'll break Daddy's heart.”

With a jolt, she let the paper drop to the floor.

Adam! How could he do such a horrible thing!

Carter's entire body shuddered in disgust.

Jill came running out of the shower, her hair full of suds, wrapping a towel around her. “What's wrong? I thought I heard a scream!”

She took one look at Carter's bloody hand and gasped. She ran to Carter to help her. Carter quickly kicked the heart under a bench to hide it from Jill.

“Carter, what happened?”

Carter was still shaking and she couldn't hide it. “It—it's nothing, really,” she said, trying to steady her voice. “I mean, it looks much worse than it is. I—I cut my hand. On my razor. I was reaching into my bag to get it, and the cover must have fallen off. I slit one of my fingers—”

“Oh, my gosh,” said Jill. “Let me see it.”

Carter stepped away from her quickly. “No, no—it'll be okay.”

She went to a sink and started washing her hands. “I'll just run some water over it, and put a Band-Aid on it and it'll be fine.”

“But there's so much blood!”

“Really, it's not as bad as it looks. You'd better get back in the shower and rinse the soap out of your hair.”

Jill stood in a soapy puddle, staring at her friend with her mouth open.

“Go on, Jill. It's just a tiny cut.”

“Well, if you're sure you're all right—”

“I'm fine, I swear.”

Jill hurried back to the shower. Carter dried her hands and finished changing.

How could Adam be so cruel? she thought angrily. And how did he get that thing in my bag?

Another thought pushed its way to the surface, but Carter tried to hold it down.

It wouldn't stay down, though. The thought returned, taunting her.

How can you see him tonight, after all that's happened?

After all he's done to you—the gun, and following you in his car, and now this gross joke—how can you go out on a date with him, and fix up your best friend with that horrible Ray, and pretend that you like them?

She knew why she was doing it. But she didn't want to think about it.

On her way out of the club, she threw her tennis bag—with the heart in it—into the trash bin.

*   *   *

Jill drove over to Carter's house that evening. They took Carter's car to meet the guys. They wanted to go together.

They drove into the Old Village to a club called Benny's. Adam had told Carter how to get there.

Carter saw Adam's black Mustang parked on the street in front of Benny's so she knew he and Ray were already inside. She spotted a red neon sign over a basement window—BENNY'S.

There was a flyer in the window, advertising the band playing that night. It was called the Grimes. Carter and Jill could hear a crash of drums floating up out of the dive.

The girls glanced at each other nervously. Then they started down the stairs to the basement club.

Benny's was run-down with a cement floor, peeling plaster walls, and dim lighting. In the front stood a cluster of chairs and wooden tables covered with scratches and graffiti. In the middle of the long room stood a pool table and against the wall, a bar. In the back was an open space where the band played. The bar was decorated with green streamers and leprechauns for Saint Patrick's Day.

Carter scanned the room for Adam. The place seemed to be full of long-haired guys in jeans and T-shirts. Carter saw only three other girls.

“I see them,” said Jill. She pointed to a round table. Adam and Ray were sitting there, staring at Carter and Jill. They seemed to be waiting to see how long it would take the girls to find them.

Carter plastered a stiff smile on her face and sat down at the table.

“Hi, Adam,” she said. “You know my friend Jill. Jill, do you know Ray Owens?”

“Hi, Ray,” Jill said politely.

“Jill. Hey. Looking good,” said Ray. He was wearing a black T-shirt with a hole under one arm and a dirty pair of black jeans. There were three silver studs in his left ear—one in the shape of a skull—and Carter could see two of his five tattoos on a forearm. A blue mermaid and a red heart with “Harley” written inside it. By the greasiness of his hair, Carter guessed he hadn't washed it in a week.

Jill gave Carter a wide, nervous smile. Carter knew what she was trying to say. The smile meant, “What have you gotten me into?”

The throbbing noise suddenly stopped as the band went on a break. Adam put his arm over Carter's chair and grinned at her. She didn't smile back at him, but she let his arm stay where it was.

Now Ray pulled Jill's chair—with Jill in it—toward him. “Come on, don't be a stranger,” he said.

Jill leaned away from Ray, but he just moved in closer.

Two guys in motorcycle jackets leaned over their table. “Hey, Adam, Ray,” they said.

Ray reached across the table and slapped the hand of the taller guy. “Yo, Curt, how's it going?”

“Where'd these babes come from?” asked the
other guy, whose name was Manny. He looked the girls over and murmured, “Not bad.”

“They're North Hills girls,” said Adam. He squeezed Carter's shoulder and added, “They're out slumming tonight.”

Manny and Curt exchanged knowing looks. Carter felt like sliding under the table.

“Why don't you guys sit down?” said Ray. “Pull up some chairs.”

“We're out of here,” said Curt. “You going to Eddie's tonight?”

“We might stop by, after we leave here,” said Adam.

“See you there, then,” said Curt. “And bring the babes.”

Curt and Manny left. The band started up again. While they played, it was too noisy to talk. Ray tugged on Jill's arm and screamed, “Let's dance.”

He pulled her toward the back of the room. Jill glanced back at Carter.

Carter watched them on the dance floor. Ray shut his eyes and danced with abandon, slamming into Jill once in a while. Jill was swaying from side to side, halfheartedly. She seemed very uncomfortable.

Adam put his mouth to Carter's ear and shouted, “Don't they make a nice couple?”

She checked his expression to see just how he meant this. He was sneering. She should have known.

The song ended, and Jill started to leave the
dance floor. But Ray grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back. He held her tightly against him. The music was loud and fast, but Ray ignored the beat and slow-danced.

Jill struggled to get out of his arms. Carter watched with growing concern as Ray gripped Jill even tighter. He wouldn't let her get away.

A few of the guys on the dance floor watched him, laughing. No one did anything to help Jill.

Adam was watching too. He started to laugh.

This made Carter furious. Ray was a beast—and Adam thought it was funny!

Jill was trying harder to get away now. She tried to hit Ray, but he pinned her arms to her sides.

“Adam!” Carter shouted. “Go over and stop him!”

Adam shrugged and said, “Hey, it's none of my business.”

That was it. Carter couldn't sit on the sidelines and watch anymore. If Adam wouldn't help Jill, Carter would. After all, Carter was responsible for getting Jill into this mess.

She jumped up, furious, and stormed onto the dance floor. “Let her go!” she screamed at Ray.

Jill was crying. But Ray's eyes were closed, and he was grinning. That made Carter even angrier.

Carter tried to pry Ray's arms from around Jill's waist. Everyone who'd been dancing stopped to watch.

Ray wouldn't let go. Jill was hysterical. Carter was trying to break them apart, and everybody else
was just laughing. The more Carter tried to help Jill, the harder the guys laughed.

Five guys formed a circle around Carter, Jill, and Ray. They moved in closer. Ray let go of Jill at last, but the other guys grabbed her and Carter.

“Get your hands
off
me!” Carter shouted.

She struggled to get away. More guys moved in.

The band stopped playing, put down their instruments, and joined the group. Carter didn't see any other girls anywhere now.

Her only hope was Adam—and Carter knew he was a faint hope.

She saw him sitting alone at their table. She glared at him.

He got up from the table and moved toward the crowd.

He's not so terrible, Carter thought. He's going to help us.

Adam stood outside the circle of guys and said, “Hey, be careful with those girls.”

Carter felt the grip on her arms loosen. These guys respected Adam. They're going to let us go, she thought with relief.

But then Adam smiled and added, “They're from North Hills, you know. If you wrinkle their clothes, their daddies will sue you!”

The room broke into laughter. Carter's jaw dropped. How could he? He was spurring these creeps on!

She glanced at Jill, who was crying so hard she
could barely struggle anymore. Two guys held her by the arms.

Carter began to panic.

We've got to get out of here, she thought. We've got to get away, before something terrible happens.

She was afraid to think beyond that, to think of what exactly she was afraid of.

Adam moved in front of Carter and took her face in his hands. “Carter's daddy is a judge,” he told the crowd. “She'll do
anything
to make him happy. Won't you, Carter?”

Her face burned with anger and shame, and hot tears sprang to her eyes. “I hate you, Adam,” she said. “I hate you!” But she knew that nothing she said to Adam could hurt him. And she knew he would say whatever he wanted to her.

Ray leaned his head down to kiss Jill, while one of his friends taunted her. “What does your daddy do, rich girl?”

The taunts and ugly remarks grew louder. The laughing stopped.

Carter saw that Adam, Ray, and all the guys around them had hard looks on their faces.

No one held Carter now, but she couldn't get away. She was surrounded by a tight circle of leering guys.

Someone shoved her up against Jill. She and Jill clung to each other for support, as the circle of guys closed in on them.

Jill's face was wet and red. Her lips were trembling,
and she was shaking uncontrollably. Carter hugged her protectively.

“Let us go!” Carter cried. She tried to act brave, as if she weren't afraid of them. “Let us go! I'm warning you!”

The guys ignored her plea. They moved in closer. Their expressions were hard and terrifying.

Ray leered at Carter, his earrings gleaming in the dim light. Carter felt his hot breath on her face.

“What's your hurry, girls?” he said. “It's early. The party's just getting started.”

C
arter screamed.

She kicked out with all her might.

Jill thrashed her arms wildly, trying to clear an escape route.

Someone came up behind Carter and grabbed her arms. She leaned against him and kicked Ray in the chest. He fell backward against two other guys, knocking them down. One guy's head hit the table with a crack.

The other guy climbed to his feet and angrily shoved Ray. Carter and Jill struggled to get away. But they were trapped in the middle of the angry shoving match.

Carter cried out as Adam punched somebody in the jaw. Someone else kicked a table over.

Soon everybody in the place was caught up in fighting. Carter grabbed Jill and pulled her out of the middle of the brawl.

“Come on—run!” Carter cried.

She pulled Jill by the hand, and they ran blindly out of Benny's, out onto the street.

Carter didn't stop until she reached her car. Panting loudly, they both threw themselves into the car, slammed the doors, and locked them.

Shaking, Carter fumbled the key into the ignition. Then she threw the car into Drive and roared off, the tires squealing.

Leaning over the wheel, Carter didn't stop until she came to a red light at the edge of the Old Village. She glanced frantically into her rearview mirror.

No one.

No one was following them. They were safe.

Jill was slumped back in the seat beside her, crying and shaking. Carter said nothing. First, she wanted to get safely home.

She sped up into North Hills. A few minutes later she pulled into her driveway and helped Jill into the house.

Her parents were in bed. Carter took Jill into the kitchen. She sat her in a chair and put her arms around her shoulders.

“Ssshhh,” said Carter, trying to soothe her friend. “Jill, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry….”

Jill cried for a few minutes longer. Then she stopped and wiped her eyes. Carter brought her some tissues and a glass of water.