Chapter 7

A Dead Cheerleader Awakens

Eve tapped her watch as Cate rushed into class. Cate gave her a reassuring smile and sent Zach a fierce glare as she slid into her seat. She froze. No way! Her palms went clammy, and the short hairs on the nape of her neck stood on end. Jonah was headed her way. Holy crap! Her legs tangled in the chair, and she tumbled onto the floor. Her heels skidded and scraped on the linoleum floor as she scooted away from him.

Jonah loomed over her, blocking out the fluorescent lights. “Are you all right?” He held out his hand. “Let me help.”

She remembered his fingers around her neck at the bus stop. A series of terrified squeaks escaped her lips.

“What a klutz. She’s fine.” Eve put herself between Cate and Jonah. “Hello, insanely hot bad boy!” Eve breathed as she righted Cate’s chair. “Do we know him?”

“No,” Cate lied. Her fingernails dug into her palms as she attempted to still her shaking hands.

“Ms. Zetrom, what are you doing on the floor?”

Her calculus teacher had arrived.

“Sorry, Sir.” Cate scrambled to her feet. She shuffled her chair away as an attack of the shivers set in. Zach and Jonah exchanged some form of greeting, known only to males, which involved fists and exploding noises. What the hell? How did they know each other?

Zach tapped her shoulder. “This is my cousin, Jonah. He’s transferred from Calf Creek in Texas.”

One hand moved to her throat, while the other tapped her pencil at a furious pace. Keep it together, she chanted silently.

Jonah met her gaze. “Morning,” he drawled with no indication he recognised her. The fluorescent lights made his alabaster skin glow and highlighted his model cheekbones and chiselled chin. He had the same grey eyes as Austin.

“Calf Creek,” Eve said. “Is that a real town?”

“Meet Eve.” Zach jerked his head toward Eve. “Cate and Eve are a two for one deal.”

“Pleasure.” Jonah sizzled a smile at Eve.

He was way too attractive to be trusted. The ultimate tortured bad boy. “We met at the bus stop on Sunday.” Cate blurted way louder than she intended. Her cheeks burned.

“I don’t think so. I’d remember meeting you.” Jonah reached over and rested his hand on the pencil she was rapidly tapping on the desk. “You’re very...memorable.”

“Hands off!” She snatched her hand away. “You drive a black Maserati, right?”

“Not today,” Jonah said.

The pencil slipped through her trembling fingers and rattled onto the desk. Austin and Jonah were both first-class liars.

“Seriously, is Calf Creek a real town?” Eve repeated.

Jonah stretched his long legs under the desk. “Yes indeed. A tornado went through last week. It flattened everything. So I’m spending the next few weeks with my cousin Zach to get the last few calculus credits I need for college while my folks sort through the rubble.”

While Eve quizzed Jonah, Cate shuffled her chair away. The increased distance failed to dull her fear he might casually lean over and snap her neck.

The teacher clapped his hands. “Pop quiz time! Books away and let’s delve into the world of derivatives. I know a love of calculus and the desire to learn is the reason you all got out of bed this morning.”

She tensed as Jonah leaned in. His warm breath sent goose bumps marching up her arm. “Let’s get together after school.”

“No chance.”

“I’m persistent,” Jonah replied.

“I know it was you at the bus stop on Sunday. Don’t insult my intelligence by denying it. I have a strict policy of not hanging out with anyone who’s attempted to kill me.”

“You seem to have forgotten that I said we’d laugh about what happened at the bus stop in a few years. I was only pretending to kill you.”

“Oh well, that makes it all fine.”

“So we can hang out?” Jonah smiled.

“No, I was being sarcastic.”

Jonah chuckled. “I’ll spring for sticky date pudding with toffee ice cream?”

She stared straight ahead. That was her second favourite desert. Disturbing.

“I would have suggested trifle, but your birthday is so close.”

Her mouth threatened to drop open, but she clenched her jaw hard. Trifle was her favourite dessert, and her birthday, which was next Saturday, was the only time her mum made it. “Since you were just pretending to be a murderous stranger, I’d love to hang out with you. Shall we say around four?”

“Ah, I got the sarcasm that time. We aren’t strangers though,” Jonah said.

“Back off, you lying tool!”

“Eyes down and no talking,” her teacher called.

She cast her eyes down and quickly completed the pop quiz. A sick feeling squirmed down her throat, and a migraine pain stabbed behind her right eye. She pressed the heel of her hand into her eye socket. That always helped dull the pain.

“Those migraines will be a thing of the past soon,” Jonah whispered.

She hadn’t told anyone about her ferocious migraines the last few weeks. Jonah knew an unnerving amount about her.

“I could come to your house after school and help you with your calculus.” Jonah’s voice was like velvet. Smooth, warm and it made you want to touch him. He tapped the 100 percent scrawled in the right-hand corner of his paper and then the 25 percent on her paper.

“I’m sure you’re a real Mr. Helpful.”

Eve jumped up and down behind Jonah, mouthing, “Say yes! Say yes!”

“It’s a firm no,” Cate said.

“That’s code for she’d love you to come over and help.” Eve patted Jonah’s arm. “It’s a girl thing.”

“That’s settled then. I’ll be at your house at five tonight.” Jonah unwound himself from the chair. He looked even taller close up.

“Don’t come,” Cate said.

“Don’t listen to her; definitely go,” Eve said.

Cate gave Eve a furious glare. “Seriously, today’s not good. I have training.”

“Zach tells me you’re a black belt.” Jonah ran a hand through his perfectly mussed chocolate hair.

“Jonah’s a black belt too. He’s a fifth Dan.” Zach stumbled as Jonah shoved him toward the door.

That was a total lie. He would have to be at least seventy to have earned five Dans. She jumped back as Jonah lifted his hand.

“Easy, Catherine,” he muttered.

Cate groaned. She knew that he knew she was scared of him. He called her Catherine. No one ever called her that. She was Hannah Catherine Zetrom, but she’d gone by Cate since she moved to Tempus Falls.

“I’ll see you at five tonight. You can show me your best moves and learn some calculus.” The bell to start the next class rang, and he headed off with Zach trailing behind.

“Wait.”

Neither Zach nor Jonah responded.

“I don’t want you to come to my house,” she yelled to no one in particular. “Ever.”

“Sure you do!” Eve said. “He’s bad in all the right ways. You just know there’s a whole lot of angst rolled up in that one. He’ll get better and better as you munch through the outer coating to get to the delicious burst of flavour in the centre.”

“He doesn’t do it for me,” Cate said.

“Oh please! You’re blinded by boy band wannabe Austin.” Eve paused. “He does have a smile that could melt an iceberg in seconds, and I’m sure he knows how to show a girl a good time. But he’s not in the same league as Jonah. Both are significant upgrades on loser Zach. You’ve know Austin for as long as you’ve know Zach and I. Have you always had a secret thing for him?”

“No. I just woke up and it was like I was meeting him for the first time.” She smiled to herself. Clearly she had missed her calling to be a comedienne. “How do you think Austin got his scars?” Maybe Eve had that bit of information filed away in her brain as a result of Rafe’s mind control games.

Eve shrugged. “I don’t even see them when I look at him. I can’t remember him without them.”

Cate headed to anatomy. Eve could have the oh-so-fabulous Jonah. It was creepy that he knew stuff about her, though. On the bright side, four other black belts would be there when she next saw him, if he showed at her house tonight. And her mum was the fiercest of them all. That should keep her safe.

***

Cate breathed a sigh of relief when her last class wrapped up. She had said hello to more people today than in the entire last five years. Her cheeks ached from smiling. This new popular thing in this upside down world was weird and exhausting.

Rose, Rafe, and Eve waited on the lawn under the century old maple tree at the front of school. Rafe and Eve threw armfuls of the autumn tinged leaves strewn around at each other. Rose was too cool for that. Their cheerleading tryouts with Brittany were this afternoon. The fact Eve was head girl and trying out for cheerleading—incomprehensible.

Cate showed her support from the bleachers. She wouldn’t be cheerleading in any universe. Ever.

“You didn’t strike me as the go-team-go type,” a soft voice breathed into the hollow of her neck.

She spun, in protection mode in an instant. “Austin!”

“Look at you and your fancy black belt stance. Keep your punches up this time. I love a girl who fights first and asks questions later.”

If only he knew how much trouble being that girl had gotten her into. “Make some noise next time will you? And don’t kid yourself into thinking you have any idea what type of girl I am.”

“You’re on edge. That’s completely understandable. We can be a scary bunch.”

“I’m not scared of you.” Her automatic response was truthful. She was more confused when it came to Austin. Jonah scared her. Big time.

“Sure you aren’t.” Austin gave a knowing nod.

“It’s true. My mum heads up the juvenile detention centre here, so I’m way harder to scare than your average person. We’ve had some really choice individuals come knocking at our door. She’s a third Dan martial artist.”

“Is that who’s been teaching you your fancy black belt moves?” Austin rubbed at the V-shaped point in his hairline. Rose had that same widow’s peak. It was more prominent on Austin with his buzz cut.

“Yep. I had to swap my ballet classes for tae kwon do training when we moved to Tempus Falls. Mum insisted. And she can be unrelenting.”

Austin laughed. “I hear you. My mum will not let up until everything is done exactly to her specifications. It drives me insane!”

Even with all the peripheral weirdness, Austin stirred up some intense, unfamiliar feelings. One minute she wanted to pound on him and the next...well...

“Heads up!” rang out across the school oval.

Austin snapped his fingers, and the brown leather football hung in midair, framed by dense white clouds. Everything and everyone froze like at the bus stop.

“Whoa,” Cate gasped. That was one serious party trick. The football had stopped a nanosecond before it thumped her fair on the nose. That would have been karma getting her back for smacking Zach. “More magic?”

“You asked about my powers. I can stop time.” Austin grabbed the ball, snapped his fingers again, and speared it back as everyone resumed their activities unaware of what had just happened. “You’re a trouble magnet.” He ignored her raised eyebrows. “Which again, I kind of like.”

“I don’t care what you like,” Cate said. But she did. Austin had saved her from a bomb, and now from getting her face squashed by a football. Kind of like her own personal knight in shining armour. He was the coolest knight in history. “Thanks for that,” she said as an afterthought.

“My pleasure.” Austin dipped his head, and the sunlight sent golden sparks dancing across his brown hair. “How’s the cheerleading going?”

She shrugged. “I’m the most unqualified person in the world to answer that question.” The winter sun’s rays created a delicious warmth across her back. Austin’s hand rested maddeningly close to her thigh as they watched the cheerleaders in silence. She shifted along the smooth, worn timber seat, just enough for his little finger to graze her thigh. His finger brushed her thigh a second time. His touch was so light she could have imagined it. When he looked her way, his storm-grey eyes promised Cate her own personal fairy tale. Every particle in her body fizzed and tingled with excitement. A nervous laugh escaped her lips as he leaned closer. The possibility of kissing him threw her stomach into chaos.

She blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “Jonah was at my school today. He’s visiting Zach.” There was no surprise on Austin’s face. He waited for her to continue. “He’s coming to my house tonight to help me with my calculus and to train.”

“You invited someone who tried to kill you to your house. Are you sure you got into Socrates because of your academic prowess?”

“Yes and no. I mean...” Her mouth and brain struggled to connect. “Yes, I’m bloody clever. No, I didn’t invite Jonah. When he asked I actually told him not to come. Loudly and quite a few times, because I was worried about the risk of death. I think he’s still coming though.”

“I reckon that’s a safe bet.”

It was impossible to stop Jonah, or anyone, from actually turning up at your house. “Do you think he’ll try and hurt me again? I could refuse to let him in. Or pretend not to be home.”

“They’re both pretty mediocre plans.” Austin chuckled. “The combined skills of you and your black belt mother should keep you safe.”

She bristled at his superior smile. “There’ll be plenty of juvenile delinquents from Mum’s detention centre there to protect me. I’ll be fine. How well do you know Jonah?”

“He’s more Rose’s friend than mine.”

“Oh. Oohh.” Austin’s words sunk in. “You mean they...you know?”

“Can we not go there?” Austin shuffled in his seat.

The sun disappeared behind a lone grey cloud, and a cool breeze sent a chill through Cate. If Rose and Austin were a couple, it would explain the weird keep-your-distance-from-Austin vibe she got from her. “It sounds complicated.”

“To say my relationship with Rose is complicated would be a gross under exaggeration.” The familiar sexy little smile, which now held a promise he couldn’t deliver on without being a dirty cheat, flitted across his face.

It was ridiculous how gutted she felt. “Is there anything you could share with me to help piece this all together? Please?” She heard the desperate edge in her voice.

“I would if I could, but I can’t.” His fingertips brushed lightly across her knuckles.

She snatched her hand away. “Can’t, won’t, it’s all the same.” She focused on the green, white, and silver cheerleader uniforms soaring through the air. “I’ll figure it out.”

Rafe tossed Brittany high in the air. Part of Cate wanted him to drop her as penance for stealing Zach and humiliating her. Even if it was only for one day and no one but Cate now seemed to remember it. Go on, Rafe. Drop her, she thought with a smile.

A commotion broke out on the cheer track. Bedlam replaced the perky, synchronised bopping. Rafe screamed at Rose through his mind-speak, demanding she fix something.

Austin leapt to his feet. “I’ll see what’s happened.”

Eve backed away from the group and threw up.

Cate bolted over without hesitation.

“Eve, what’s going on?” She panted and searched Eve’s white face.

“Brittany...” Eve stumbled, pointing toward the crowd.

Move, move, move! Cate thought. People stepped out of her way. Brittany lay on the ground, her body contorted at awkward angles. Did I do that to Brittany?

Rose, Austin, and Rafe knelt around the still body.

“I can’t heal her,” Rose hissed. “You know the rules.”

“I caused this,” Rafe pleaded. “It should never have happened. We can’t let her die.”

“There’s too many people around,” Austin whispered.

“No one needs to know. I’ll fix it—no one will remember anything,” Rafe said.

“Naitanui will know. Her neck’s broken clean through and her heart’s stopped. I can’t heal a dead body,” Rose replied quietly.

“Someone call 911,” Cate shrieked. There was a flurry of action as everyone pulled out phones.

“Rafe.” Austin snapped his fingers, and everyone became still.

“But...” Rafe dragged his hands down his face.

“I can only hold them for a minute or so.”

“Fine!” Rafe clenched his fists. Phones away everyone. You won’t remember what you were looking for or why.

“No! She needs help.” Cate knelt and placed a hand on Brittany’s chest, and also checked for a pulse in her neck.

“She’s gone,” Rose said.

Cate saw Rose was correct, literally. It was like looking at an X-ray. She could see the inner workings of Brittany’s body. Yikes! She snatched her hand away.

Curious, she again placed a hand on Brittany’s chest. She pressed a tentative palm against Brittany’s broken vertebrae. Instinct told her to concentrate, visualise the break mending and Brittany’s heart starting to beat. Brittany’s heart shuddered and started to pound. Then she groaned and moved her shoulders.

Cate squeaked and scuttled backward. What the...? Panic sucked all the air from her lungs. She could almost hear the clunk, clunk, clunk as her brain turned, fighting to comprehend the situation.

Austin knelt in front of Cate. “Are you going to throw up? Faint? Scream? Run away?”

She didn’t know.

Brittany sat up and shoved Rafe. “I hurt all over. You dufus! What’s the story with dropping me? You and your freak friends are never joining my cheer squad.” Her eyes flashed iridescent violet, sending a chill through Cate. Brittany’s eyes were always blue.

“Rafe, do your thing. This cheerleading practice never happened.” Austin took Cate by the arm and forced her to stand. “You’re coming with me.” There was no smile this time.

“Ease up on my arm.” He released her, and she wobbled after him, her legs heavy and her head pounding. “I think I am going to throw up.” She collapsed and pushed her head between her knees. Slowly her head cleared and control of her body returned. She thumped the ground. “What the hell is going on?”

Austin slouched against a tree, sizing her up. “After that demonstration it’s obvious who you are. I can’t leave you here and risk you disappearing.”

“Well conveniently, I can’t let you disappear until I get some answers.” She rubbed at the angry red marks where Austin had grabbed her arm. They were like a brand, and she belonged to no one. “If you can’t explain, then take me to someone who can.”

“That’s my plan.” Austin stalked over and hoisted her into his arms. “Take a deep breath, because this is going to give a whole new meaning to painful.”