72. Meets and Meetings

“We’ve got a big meet coming up on the twenty-first. So I don’t want any of you doing anything stupid the weekend before, like getting arrested or going to the hospital for drinking too much. Got that?”

He seems to be talking to Ray and me. I think he could care less about two-thirds of the guys on the team.

Obviously Coach Brinks doesn’t know me.

“The meet this Thursday will be a warm-up for Hendersonville because they’re tough, and frankly, we aren’t. But we still got a little game in us, right, Chicago?”

“Yes, sir,” I say.

“Now let’s go out and have a good practice.”

As we’re walking off the center of the field to the track, Ray pulls me aside. “Hey—you make a decision about prom yet?”

For a second I think prom is some kind of dish I’m supposed to try.

“No.”

“Alexis really wants to go with you.”

“She told you?”

I vaguely remember Ray talking to me about this some time ago, but I was winded and my shins were killing me and I couldn’t for the life of me picture Alexis.

“No, not really. But, come on. She’s a senior. She’s hot. And she’s pretty much willing.”

“I don’t know.”

I haven’t even seen Alexis, not to mention the fact that I really couldn’t care less about going to this school’s prom.

“I’ll introduce you to her. Stef is good friends with her, and they want to double. And I’m telling you, buddy …”

Ray laughs as Coach Brinks barks out to us.

As I start practicing hurdles, I reflect that this is certainly good training for what I need to do around this place.

Run and jump.

Run far away and jump over everything in my path.

Ray is going to take me home when another voice interrupts and offers me a ride instead. Turns out it’s time to touch base with Jared.

Part of me still questions whether I should tell him about Poe.

“You still keeping a low profile?” His voice has an accusatory tone in it.

“Do I still have to?” I ask.

“Look—just—some weird things have been happening, and I needed to let you know about them.”

“Like what?”

And what’s your definition of weird, since everything around here is weird?

“The group that meets at the falls. You said you saw them once. Do you have any idea where they might be meeting now?”

I shake my head. “I haven’t been invited.”

“The sheriff—has he talked with you at all?”

“Sheriff Wells? Not since calling me a liar and telling me to stay out of his hair.”

“He’s been doing some funny things recently. So how’s that new job of yours going?”

“It’s good. It pays well. And the lady there is pretty cool.”

“And you haven’t discovered any dead bodies in the basement?” Jared jokes.

“Those rumors are just because Iris never goes to town. You ever been up there?”

“A long time ago, I think. You’ll have to take me up there sometime.”

“Yeah, sure,” I say. “If you want to help me do some work.”

“One other thing I’m worried about.”

“What?”

He pauses for a moment. “Your mother.”

“Why?”

“Because of some of the people she’s been hanging out with. Some of the things she’s been doing when she’s gone.”

“She’s always working.”

“Not always.”

I ask him what that means.

“Don’t get defensive. I’m telling you what I’m seeing. I have the luxury of being able to find out things. You don’t. That’s okay.”

“What’s she doing, then?”

“There are many ways of getting involved with the wrong people around here.”

I still don’t get it. And maybe I don’t want to.

“I have a feeling things will only get worse.”

“Like how?”

For a while we drive, and Jared doesn’t say anything.

“I think they know. I think that they know that things are unraveling.”

“How?”

“Because of you, Chris. Because you’re different in some way.”

I recall Mr. Meiners getting angry at me after the fight with Gus and saying the same thing.

Different how? Different why?

“I’m not doing anything.” Besides sneaking into the pastor’s house and finding some little weird cabin.

“You gotta tell me everything.”

“I am.”

Of course I’m not.

He gets to my house and leaves the car running as if he’s waiting.

“What is it?” I ask.

“You have to start telling me everything, because I’m the only person around here who can help you, you got that? Nobody else can do that. Nobody. Not even those who used to know Jocelyn.”

He knows about Poe.

Of course he knows about Poe.

“She’s harmless, but also stupid. Chris, you just gotta start using your head. And start trusting me.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“I’ll be around again. Soon. Maybe I can give you a lift to your job sometime.”

“Okay.”

“Stay safe.”

He drives off while I head inside, not sure if Mom is working or not, not sure if and when she’s ever working now.

Doubt really sucks.