and wiped her lips with the back of her hand. “I was there every step of the way. Short of saying I’m mentally unhinged and took hallucinogens recently, there’s really no way I can ask you to believe me.”
The complete trust in Ben’s eyes when he did look her in the eye almost drowned Arianne. Her best friend continued to believe her, no matter how crazy she sounded. Love, the kind that took years to grow, lifted the roadblocks of doubt.
“What are you going to do now?” he asked.
“Research.”
Knowing the Internet wouldn’t help much, Arianne surrounded herself with all the books she could find on the occult, the history of witchcraft, and a few magazines catering to the supernatural that Blackwood’s librarian ordered for herself on the school’s dime. Not that Arianne minded on this occasion since she had more material to work with when it came to the question of Nikolas Clark’s true identity. She’d commandeered her usual table at the back and spread out all the books she’d pulled off the shelves—some had a layer of dust and smelled cloyingly sweet.
She’d sifted through pages and pages of material, mostly about folklore and superstitions, but nothing that directly matched the clues Niko had given her. So deep in thought, separating possible facts and exaggerated fiction, she hadn’t noticed someone hovering closer and closer until a slender hand splayed over the page she’d been reading.
“I thought you had nothing to do with Niko?” a sickeningly syrupy voice asked.
Arianne flinched at the menace mixed in with all that sugar. “It’s the truth, Darla,” she said, looking up at her unexpected visitor.
The murder of countless dreams flashed in Darla’s eyes before a languid smile smoothed the surface. “Ari, Ari, Ari, why must you continue to lie to me?”
“Dar, you lost the right to call me Ari years ago. So, stop while you’re ahead.”
Darla eased a chair away from the table and sat beside Arianne. She crossed both her arms and legs. “I’ve missed you biting back. Really, Arianne.”
The softness in the way Darla spoke brought buried memories to the surface like a corpse clawing its way out of a grave. “You’re not here to rehash all that hurt, are you? I didn’t peg you to be the sadistic sort.”
“Okay, to the point then.” Darla shrugged a shoulder. “Mickey saw you run out of chemistry upset. Niko leaves the room in a hurry. Then a minute later, you both reenter the room. What am I supposed to make of that?”
“Nothing.”
“Why were you upset, Ari?”
“I told you to stop calling me that.”
Darla grabbed Arianne’s wrist and squeezed. “Why?”
Arianne studied Darla’s pointy knuckles. “Tammy’s mother just died.”
The hand retreated. “I’m sorry, Ari.”
“Are you? Really?”
“In all these years, you still doubt my sincerity?”
“Don’t make things harder than they already are, Dar. Just leave me alone.”
“Why did Niko leave the room right after you did?”
Flipping a page she’d finished reading, Arianne said, “I don’t know. I ran into the bathroom.” The lie rolled off her tongue like the Happy Birthday song.
“So, there’s really nothing going on with you and Niko?” She leaned closer.
The sharpness of Darla’s lavender perfume had Arianne wrinkling her nose. “Why are you so interested?”
“I’m surprised you have to ask.” Darla, so prim and proper, sneered. She clamped her fingers around the back of Arianne’s neck, preventing escape as she traversed the remaining inches between them in a meeting of lips.
Arianne gasped, which allowed Darla access. She deepened the kiss then pulled away. “I don’t appreciate what’s mine being taken from me.” She got up, dusting off her skirt as she did, and left.
Chapter 13
NIKO’S FADE AWAY THREE POINTER went in with a swoosh. Nothing but net. An NBA Finals quality shot. All the girls squealed his name as he jogged backward to the opposite side of the court. The cheerleaders in the crowd executed high kicks and clapped their pom-covered hands.
Desmond had the ball, scanning the court and its players. He pointed at his teammates while dribbling, signaling a full court press.
Niko bent his knees and spread his arms wide. He’d never understood the appeal of basketball until he found himself good at it. He spat a jeer at Desmond, who flipped him off. But, before Niko could do anything about the coming offense, a glide of red hair by the gym’s open doors rooted him to the hard court. Arianne had come into his line of sight briefly, but that second of seeing her electrified him.
Like a head-on collision, Desmond slammed into Niko. But instead of Niko falling over, Desmond bounced back and hit the court hard. The crowd gasped, sucking in all the air in the gym.
Coach Simmons—a beefy man with no neck—blew his whistle until he was red. “Clark! What the hell’s wrong with you? Head in the game, boy!”
Niko approached a winded Desmond and extended his hand. “I apologize.”
Desmond shook his head as if he had water in his ears and took Niko’s offered help. He used the momentum of Niko’s pull to jump to his feet. He shook out the last of the impact like a dog drying itself and slapped Niko’s shoulder. “You owe me a slice of pizza,” he said.
“I owe you the whole pie. Your choice of toppings.” Niko grabbed the top of Desmond’s head like a basketball.
The two laughed.
“Clark! Vic!” Coach hollered. “Bleachers, now! Miller! Anderson! Step in.”
Without arguing to stay in the game, Niko and Desmond sat side by side.
A busty brunette handed them towels. “Good game, boys,” she said in a breathy voice, displaying her God- given gifts.
“Thanks, Cindy.” Desmond winked at her before she swished her hips away. He dried his face and head then settled back with his elbows on the second row behind them.
Niko covered his head with his towel in an imitation of a cowl and leaned forward, arms on knees, hands clasped together. “Really, I apologize,” he said. “I should have been paying attention.”
The girls cheered again. The game had resumed.
“Why’d you freeze, anyway?” Desmond asked.
“I got distracted.”
“You? Distracted? Dude, when you’re on the court, you’re lethal. What could have…?” His voice trailed off. “Let me guess, Arianne Wilson?”
Niko glanced at his friend over his shoulder. “How’d you know?”
His smile had more teeth in it than it should have. “Ari has free period right now. She usually spends it in the library instead of study hall. The gym is en route to the library. Am I getting close?”
“All right Sherlock, you win.”
Desmond hooted. “Oh! Oh! Is that frustration I hear? Oh, boy, you got it bad.” He slapped Niko between his shoulder blades hard. “You poor SOB. Should I hand you the gun now or later?”
Niko faked a cough then asked, “You think so?”
“All I’m saying is: you’d better be careful. If Darla finds out—”
“Why should Darla care if I like Arianne or not?”
“And there’s the confirmation, ladies and gentlemen.”
