“I’ll just meet you there.”
“It’s far, way out on Long Island. We’recarpooling out there.”
“It’s fine. I’ll meet you there.”
“Why don’t you want me to come to yourhouse? Don’t you want your parents to meet me?”
“It’s not that,” I said a bit tooquickly.
“What is it, then?”
I was silent.
“Forget it,” he said, waving his hand in theair and walking away.
I rolled my eyes and reached out, taking hisarm. I hated that I couldn’t let him walk away. “Look, I just don’twant you to see where I live. Okay?” I bit my lip and brought anembarrassed flush to my cheeks as I leaned on a wall of lockers. Ifhe was friends with Jericho, maybe he could spread the word that Iwas poor.
He blew air out of his nose and said,“Hmmm.” He eyed me like a cat looking over its prey. “I don’t carewhere you live.” I could tell by his tone that he did.
“Why don’t we meet at some subway hole orsomething?”
“All right. Wear something warm—sometimes weplay night games when we go to his house.”
“Okay,” I said. “Wait. Whose house?”
“Jericho’s.”
This was too good to be true. I would haveto let Ace know ASAP that I needed a bunch of bugs. Not only wouldI be in close proximity to Jericho, I’d have access to hishouse.
“I’m gonna be late. See you tonight.” Hisdress shoes clacked on the shiny tile floor as he walked away. Hehad a strut that I’m sure brought girls to their knees. Somethingabout the way he walked was familiar, but I couldn’t place it—itgave me an eerie feeling, like there was something I shouldremember about it, but I couldn’t think what. Maybe it was just thegenerally creeped out feeling I got around Viktor—my insides feltlike they were full of worms. I so didn’t want to be “close” toViktor at all. I wished it’d been Carson that had invited me. Ishook my body, trying to rid it of the awful feelings that guy gaveme. He had an aura of danger around him. Good thing I was who Iwas. I could handle him.
I heard a lot of kids talking about theparty at Jericho’s house and felt a bit of comfort in knowing itwouldn’t be an intimate group. I texted a coded message to Ace atthe brownstone to work on getting me some techie gadgets for mydate and let everyone know of the lucky turn of events.
Jeremy texted back. It’s a school night.You could refuse. We could refuse.
I laughed. It’s at Jericho’s. Thatshould make him excited to get some real traction on this case.
He texted back. Even more reason for younot to go.
I gritted my teeth. We’d been over this.Jeremy was my handler, so I was glad he was looking out for mysafety, but he also needed to trust me. I tucked the phone away.There was no point arguing about it anymore—we both knew I had togo.
I slid into P.E. and took a seat just as theteacher, Mrs. Moore, walked into the studio from her office.
“Lucky,” Carson whispered and sat down nextto me. I guessed we were both lucky not to be late.
I hadn’t noticed that he was in my P.E.class until that moment.
He leaned over to me, whispering. “Dideverything work out…you know, with your friend last night? I wasworried about it all night.”
“Yes, thanks to you! I got her to thehospital. She’s going to be fine.”
He smiled slightly. “So, I uh, I didn’trealize you and Viktor—”
“Don’t worry, darling,” I said, in a tarttone, reminiscent of the dance. “He was in a pinch and needed adate. I didn’t have one, so I obliged. Too bad you didn’t think toask me before he did.” I raised an eyebrow at him, smirking. Icouldn’t help but think about his whispered words at the dance. Ihad to turn things around and help him see me as a friend only.
The teacher, Mrs. Moore, cleared her throat.“I must say that I am extremely pleased with your efforts at thedance yesterday. Many of you tried some of the dances out. Yes, itwas me who forced the deejay to play them. You were very brave.Most of you, however, didn’t try. Just so that we are clear, I mustsee steady improvement over the next three weeks before thepractical exam. Jensen, I need you, Michelle, and Danica to workwith me. We’ve got a long way to go. Now, Shelly and Aman, pleasedemonstrate the correct way to samba.”
Shelly and Aman stood without a second’spause and moved to the open floor of the studio while Mrs. Moorestarted the music. I hoped I wouldn’t still be at the school inthree weeks and had a hard time paying attention. All I could thinkabout was going to Jericho’s house and what luck I’d had insecuring an invitation. After the demonstration, Mrs. Moore startedthe class in on clapping. After a good thirty seconds of applause,Mrs. Moore, said. “Now, it is your turn. You all need to work onlooking like Shelly and Aman.” She clapped her hands and said, “Up,up. Everyone up.”
“I, too,” Carson said, offering me his hand,“wish you had been here two weeks ago when I asked Laura to be mydate.”
Had he been thinking about my comment thatwhole time? I had to do something to make him see where we had tostand.
“I would have taken you in a heartbeat.” Hepulled me into standing position and then up tight to him. I had tolean my head back to prevent it from smacking into his. I clearedmy throat.
“Listen, Carson. I need—”
The music started, and he grinned beforeputting us into samba starting position. “Can we talk afterthis?”
I knew this class was important to him. I’msure he didn’t want to get in trouble because of me. I’d have thetalk with him after we danced. I nodded.
“Let’s knock ‘em dead.” I thought I mightdie trying to keep up with him. In fact, Mrs. Moore stopped us andgave me a quick private lesson on swinging my hips and arms in themost unnatural ways to make us look like we were dancing the samedance. I couldn’t imagine ever being at an event where I wouldactually dance
