19

ALORA

APRIL 12, 2013

My stomach churns as I wait for Sela in the parking lot. Trevor hasn’t tried to talk to me once, not even in history, but he could still try to trap me out here.

I shield my eyes from the bright sun and search through the students. When I finally spot Sela racing toward me, doing an awkward speed walk, I allow myself to relax.

When she sees me, she gets a very large, manic-looking grin. “You’ll never guess what just happened.”

“You won the lottery.”

“No, although that would be nice.” Once we’re in the car, Sela’s grin manages to grow even bigger. I can’t help but smile back. “Levi invited us to a party at his house tomorrow night.”

And just like that, my smile vanishes as if someone flipped a light switch. Levi Banks is the only child of parents who have more money than sense, as Aunt Grace says, and rarely stay home. As a result, Levi likes to throw parties whenever they’re out of town, but you can only go if you’re invited.

He’s also one of Trevor’s best friends.

Sela pulls out of the parking lot. “I was talking to Jess at my locker when he stopped. He was so nice. He said he couldn’t believe he’d never thought to invite me before. He even said I could ask anyone I wanted. So of course Jess and Miranda are going. But you have to go, too.”

It’s strange Levi decided to invite all of us just when Trevor has decided to make me his latest conquest. Really strange. I glance back to Sela. I hate to spoil her excitement, but she’s forgotten my situation. “Well, I would go, but I’m still grounded. Remember?”

Sela’s smile falters. “Seriously? I thought your aunt would’ve let you off the hook by now.”

I shake my head. “No. She said I’m free after the weekend.”

“That’s so not fair.” Sela drums her fingers on the steering wheel. “You know, maybe I can talk her into letting you go anyway.”

“It won’t work. When Aunt Grace makes up her mind about something, she sticks with it.”

“Maybe,” Sela drawls, “but she loves me to death. I bet you ten bucks that I can sweet-talk her into letting you go.”

“You’re wasting your time. Besides, she’d never let me go to one of Levi’s parties. She’s heard about them.”

“Girl, do you think I’d tell her the truth? I’m not even telling my parents. We’re officially going out to eat and to see a movie.” Sela uses air quotes when she says officially.

There’s no point in arguing with Sela. She’s high from the invite and nothing will put her in a bad mood. Well, I’m sure she’ll be in a less happy mood once Aunt Grace shoots her down, but it won’t last long. Sela will go to the party anyway, along with the Brainless Twins. That thought sends a twinge of jealousy shooting through me. I don’t want to go. Really. But Sela already spends a lot of time with Jess and Miranda when I’m not around. The three of them going to the party together will just further set me apart.

By the time Sela parks on the inn’s circle driveway, she’s decided how we’ll fix our hair and planned a shopping trip to get new clothes.

While I climb out of the car like an old lady, Sela bounces out with the energy of a small kid. “Hurry up, slowpoke,” she calls over her shoulder.

She’s nowhere to be seen by the time I lug my books inside, but voices chime from the kitchen. The smell of something freshly baked saturates the air. I drop my books on the table by the stairs and hurry to the kitchen, where I find Aunt Grace spreading the last bits of strawberry frosting on a pink cake. From the bewildered expression on her face, I can tell Sela has filled her in on our fake plans.

“I’m sorry, hon, but Alora can’t go out this weekend. Maybe y’all can wait until next week. Provided that she stays out of trouble.”

I flash an I-told-you-so look at Sela. She ignores me. “But Mrs. Evans, I’ve already bought the tickets for the movie and everything. I’ve been planning this for ages.” Sela proceeds to spin an elaborate story about how she wanted to take her three best friends out to show us how much she appreciates us and for making her feel so welcome since she moved to Willow Creek. From anyone else, it would sound like complete bull, but I have to admit Sela makes it sound real.

By the time Sela finishes, Aunt Grace is chewing on her bottom lip. “Sugar, I didn’t know you had such a hard time. I guess I can let Alora off the hook early.” She puts the spatula in the frosting bowl and folds Sela into a hug.

Sela grins over Aunt Grace’s shoulder and flashes two thumbs up at me. I have to choke back a snort. I didn’t believe she’d be able to pull it off. Then a sinking feeling settles in my chest.

Now I’ll have to go to that stupid party with Sela. Wonderful.

As Sela extracts herself form Aunt Grace’s hug, we hear a muffled shriek. We scramble over to the sink and peer out the window. An older-looking couple is in the backyard, halfway to the garden, carrying on about something. It looks like they’re talking or arguing with someone else, but I can’t make out who it is.

“Who are they?” I ask Aunt Grace.

“That’s Mr. and Mrs. Jamison. They dropped in today and are staying for the weekend. Nice couple, but a little odd.”

Sela lets out a low whistle. “Who’s the hottie with them?”

I glance back out the window. Mr. Jamison has moved out of the way, revealing the third person. “No way,” I whisper, feeling a tingle in my stomach.

It’s the guy who was here a few days ago.

“I wonder what he wants,” Aunt Grace mutters as she heads for the back door. Sela and I follow.

“Hello? You never told me who the guy is,” Sela says as we descend the back porch steps.

“I’ll tell you later.”

Ahead of us, Mrs. Jamison is waving her arms wildly, gesturing toward Bridger, while Mr. Jamison snaps a picture of him. In return, Bridger holds his hands up like he doesn’t want to have his picture taken. I’m surprised he’s still wearing the same uniform he had on the other day. And he looks like he recently took a dirt bath.

“Will you stop that?” He asks in an exasperated voice.

“What’s going on?” Aunt Grace asks when we join them.

Mrs. Jamison turns to me, her face a kaleidoscope of excitement. “Can you see him?”

“See who?” I ask.

“The ghost!” she yells, pointing to Bridger.

“I’m not a ghost!” he shouts, looking at me. “Tell her.”

“Charles, she can see him! Oh, this is marvelous!” Mrs. Jamison fans herself. “Lordy, I’m light-headed.”

“Calm down, dear,” her husband says, patting her on the shoulder. “Remember your blood pressure.”

Sela giggles. I scowl at her before repeating Aunt Grace’s question.

Bridger points to Mrs. Jamison. “This woman thinks I’m a ghost. Obviously, I’m not.”

“Yes, he is. He appeared out of thin air. Charles and I saw him. Didn’t we?”

“We sure did,” Mr. Jamison replies, snapping another picture.

I close my eyes. Great, we have ghost hunters staying with us. We get those from time to time, since the inn is a former plantation house. They’re always convinced that spirits of Civil War–era people haunt places like this. “He’s not a ghost. I know him.”

Instantly, the Jamisons’ excited expressions disappear like someone erased them. “You know him?” Mrs. Jamison asks in a disbelieving voice.

“Yeah. I met him a few days ago. His name is Bridger . . .” I raise my eyebrows at him.

He looks stunned for a moment before answering. “Creed. Bridger Creed. And I am not a ghost. I promise.”

“But we saw you appear out of nowhere.”

Aunt Grace sighs. “Mrs. Jamison, it is hot outside. Maybe your eyes are playing tricks on you.”

“But—”

“My niece and I met him two days ago. He’s new in town and he’s most definitely alive.”

The Jamisons cast a wistful glance at Bridger. I can practically see their dreams of finding a real spirit slip away.

“Dear, I guess we need to go get ready for supper,” Mr. Jamison says, taking his wife by the arm. “Sorry to bother you, young man. It was an honest mistake.” He escorts his wife back to the inn.

“Wow, talk about crazy.” Sela breaks the silence, twirling a finger next to her temple. She smiles at Bridger and offers her hand. “Since Alora has forgotten her manners, I’ll intro myself. I’m Sela Perkins.”

“Nice to meet you,” he says. From the tone of his voice, he doesn’t mean it. He toys with the bag strap hanging over his shoulder and flicks his eyes back toward the forest.

“So, what brings you back?” I ask. “We didn’t expect to see you again after your disappearing act.”

“I wasn’t expecting to be here again so soon, either.”

Aunt Grace props her hands on her hips. “That was rude of you to up and leave without saying goodbye.”

Bridger’s mouth opens and shuts several times before he says, “I’m sorry about that. It’s just that I got an urgent call from . . . my mother. She needed me back home and I had to leave right then. I didn’t want to bother you anymore.”

“But everything’s okay now?” Aunt Grace asks. “How about your knee?”

“Everything’s fine, so I came back to look for my father again.”

Aunt Grace’s face softens. She glances to me, then back to Bridger. “Well, my offer still stands. You’re welcome to stay here.”

Bridger doesn’t say anything for a few seconds. It’s like he’s trying to figure out the pieces to an invisible puzzle. Finally he says, “Okay, I’ll do it.”

“Well, come on inside and I’ll show you to your room.”

A slow smile spreads across Sela’s face as we watch Bridger and Aunt Grace walk to the house. “So he’s new in town, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Sah-weet.” Before I know it, Sela calls out, “Hey, Bridger, wait up.”

I stare openmouthed as Bridger faces us. Aunt Grace tilts her head to the side. I don’t have any choice but to follow Sela and see what she’s scheming.

“Are you gonna be in town long?” she asks.

He nods. “I think so.”

“Oh, good. Then you’ll need someone to show you around.”

Bridger now has a deer-caught-in-the-headlights look. I probably look the same because I know what Sela is about to ask.

“I was thinking,” Sela continues, twirling a strand of hair around her finger, “you could go out with me and Alora and some of our friends tomorrow night. We could show you around.”

I know I’m looking at Sela like she’s sprouted a second head. I want to ask her what she thinks she’s doing, asking a guy we don’t even know to go to a party with us. It’s insane, even if he is cute.

Apparently Bridger doesn’t think so. He hesitates for a moment, then says, “Sure, why not?”