Revenge of the Homecoming Queen Read online

  I’m overcome with fear because I feel like no air is getting into my lungs. I panic and start throwing things out of my locker searching for my precious inhaler but it’s not here. Fatigue overcomes me and I slide down my locker onto the floor. A horrible noise fills my ears. It sounds like a wild animal. The wild animal is me. I realize that I really might die. I curse myself for not having any purses to match this outfit therefore deciding not to bring one, resulting in not having an inhaler. Death by lack of accessories, the horror! I’m close to passing out when a picture passes through my mind of Lucas pulling a nudie pic from the top shelf in my locker earlier today. I remember when he did that my inhaler was lying where it always is. I didn’t forget it. Someone took it. Angel.

  Suddenly Rand is bending over me with his cell phone in one hand brushing my hair from my face with the other. As he hangs up I hear him tell me to try to relax. He kneels down on the floor and takes me in his arms. I have to tell him Angel did this to me, but I can’t get anything out except large gasps. I hardly even know Rand, but I can tell by the expression on his face that he’s scared out of his mind. I wonder if he’ll come to my funeral? I really want him to see me in my awesome black dress. Rand and I are flying down the hallway. He’s telling me to hang on so I wrap my arms tighter around his neck. He smells so good. It’s getting really dark now.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  I must be in hell. There is no other explanation for this hideous gown I’m wearing. Mom and Dad are asleep on a leather couch in the corner, and Rand is coming into focus beside me. I guess I’m not in hell, just the hospital, wearing a garment from their fabulous fall line.

  My hand is throbbing. I look down to see an IV protruding from the top of my left hand. I despise needles, and I can tell that this one is going to leave a huge black-and-blue mark. That’s going to be a real cute accessory to go with my homecoming dress. I guess it’s better than being dead though.

  “You tell anybody you saw me wearing this, and you’re dead meat,” I tell Rand, but the harsh scratchy voice that comes out I don’t recognize.

  “Don’t try and talk. They had to do some serious Grey’s Anatomy shit on you. Just relax and get some more rest. You’re okay now.”

  For some reason I believe him, and I’m already feeling tired again, so I close my eyes. Before I drift back to sleep I feel Rand stroking my hair. It feels really good. There’s nothing like a good hair rub. Even after a near-death experience I’ve never felt so safe before. Then I remember I’ve got to tell Rand that Angel’s the one who took my inhaler. My eyes pop open, and I jerk my head up at the same time that Rand is leaning in to kiss my forehead. His lips land square on mine. Instead of pulling away from him I wrap my IV-free arm around his neck and pull him closer. A few delicious seconds later, I realize that I’m in the hospital, wearing a butt-flashing gown, kissing the biggest geek in school. Either I’m in the psych ward or they gave me some serious freaking drugs. The weirdest part of all is that I don’t want to stop kissing Rand. But I am Lucas’s girlfriend and cheating is so white trash. Once our tongues take a rest I sort of roll onto my side without opening my eyes. Maybe Rand will think I was asleep the whole time and didn’t know what I was doing. If he tells anybody we kissed I could be like, “they had me so doped up I didn’t know which end was up.” Rand would look like a big perv who took advantage of a sickly girl. Oh, yeah, my alibi is so covered.

  Rand lets out a loud breath and begins to stroke my hair again. I hope my eyes aren’t fluttering and giving it away that I’m not really sleeping. Who could sleep after a kiss like that? It was perfect combination of lips and tongue. No slobbery mess to wipe off my chin like with Lucas. It was like one of those perfect kisses at the end of a chick flick. Who would have guessed Rand could kiss like that? I guess I should probably feel guilty cheating on Lucas and all, but Rand did save my life so the kiss was just a total obligatory one. Now that I think about it, the kiss doesn’t really even count. It’s like that whole “it’s okay to kiss somebody else when you’re in a different zip code than your boyfriend thing.” I guess when I was kissing Rand subconsciously I knew that. I feel so much better now that I know I didn’t really cheat on Lucas.

  * * * *

  The next morning, Mom is fussing over me like I’m a baby or something. She helped me get dressed, and now she is insisting on humiliating me by wheeling me downstairs to the car in a wheelchair. I tried to get up, but a nurse who looks like she might be on the women’s weight- lifting circuit shoved me back down, muttering something about “hospital policy.” I don’t know what everybody’s drug is, I feel totally fine. I stand up and open Mom’s car door and get a bit woozy. Nurse Schwarzenegger grabs my arm and helps me into the car. Okay, maybe I’m not so fine. Mom thanks her and runs to get into the driver’s side.

  Flowers, balloons, and stuffed animals fill the backseat. I was only in the hospital for twelve hours, but I had like ten deliveries. The candy stripers, boy, were those a surly bunch, just kept bringing them in one after another. Most of the stuff is from Rand and Tobi. Lucas sent absolutely nothing and didn’t even bother to call. If he isn’t at least maimed, we are so broken up.

  Rand kept popping by every couple of hours. He was always cracking jokes to pass the time until they released me. I can’t believe I never knew how funny he is. There wasn’t even any weirdness about the kiss. If I hadn’t been obsessing half the night about how good it was, I might have thought I just dreamed it. Plus the nurses all treated me like a queen (or should I say princess, since my peers obviously don’t think I’m queen material. Yes, I still have issues about losing the tiara. I overheard them talking about Rand’s family donating a wing of the hospital. I guess that’s what you have to do to get an extra blanket and a cup of ice chips around this place.

  I think my almost-dying episode really scared Mom. I’m bracing myself for a lecture.

  “Aspen, for the life of me, I cannot understand why you are so careless with your inhaler. You know you should have it with you all the time.”

  “I know, Mom. I’m sorry I worried you.”

  “It’s okay, sweetie. I’m just glad you’re okay.” She softens while reaching over to gently touch the bruise my IV left on the top of my hand.

  It takes every ounce of energy I have left not to defend myself, but if I tell Mom about all the crazy stuff Angel’s been doing, she’ll stomp right down to Miss Hott’s office causing a big ruckus. And I’ve decided that I would rather handle Angel myself.

  * * * *

  Against my will, I spend the rest of the day in bed. Luckily, today was a teachers institute day, whatever that is, they are such slackers, so I only missed a half day of school. I hate getting too far behind with my homework, plus I’m itching to get a piece of Angel Ives. My parents seem to think I’ll be spending a few more days in bed, but I plan to convince them at dinner that I’m well enough to go back tomorrow. There is no way I’m missing homecoming week. I’m sure that is just what Angel had hoped for. Think again, skank!

  Tobi’s kept me updated on school gossip through e-mails and texts today. She said that I made the front page of the school newspaper with my near-death experience. They used this awesome picture of me in jean shorts and a bikini top from a charity car wash last year. I look so hot in that picture. If somebody took a popularity poll right now, I would knock Angel right out of her crown. I told Tobi about my suspicion that Angel stole my inhaler. She’s going to put out a few feelers and see if she can get the 411. I have visions of holding Angel down and shaving her head before the dance to get even with her. I’m pretty strong, I could definitely take her. But until I have solid proof, I’m not going to indulge in any more fantasies.

  Rand sent me another dozen light pink roses, in addition to the yellow ones he had delivered to the hospital, and the biggest box of chocolates I’ve ever seen in my life. The card just said, “Get some rest” and it was signed from “The King.” He’s really getting into all this homecoming stuff. He’s definitely gro
wing on me. Maybe I should try to hook him and Tobi up. She needs a boyfriend and Rand seems like he’d be a really great one. She doesn’t even need to know about our kiss since it didn’t really count.

  Lucas is still AWOL. No flowers, candy, not even a free e-mail. I don’t know what he is smoking lately, but if he thinks he can treat me this way, he’s got another thing coming. I still haven’t found out what happened between him and Angel, but I’m going to get to the bottom of it eventually.

  I hear our doorbell ring. A few seconds later Tobi busts into my room. She looks uncharacteristically adorable today. Not that she isn’t always cute, but today I can tell she tried to look cute. She’s wearing a tartan plaid jumper with a navy turtleneck peeking out the top. Thick cream-colored tights cover her legs and penny loafers adorn her feet. Her magnificent auburn hair is loose in fat ringlets around her face instead of her trademark ponytail. Her midnight blue eyes are sparkling. I can tell she’s got serious dish. I decide that grilling her about her appearance is going to have to wait, but I take a moment to feel proud as my great sense of fashion is obviously wearing off on her.

  “Wow! These are the most beautiful roses I’ve ever seen.” She says, tracing her finger along one of the outer blooms. She grabs the card and scrunches her face up. “Elvis is sending you flowers now? So he really is still alive? My mom’s gonna be so excited.” She laughs as she places the card on my vanity.

  “So, what’s going on?” I ask, distracting her so she doesn’t question me again about the flowers. She doesn’t need to know her soon-to-be boyfriend is sending me roses.

  As if suddenly remembering her hot gossip, she gasps, “It’s Angel. She’s missing.”

  * * * *

  Tobi explains in great detail how right before the last bell rang, Miss Hott made an announcement that anyone who had seen Angel Ives since the bonfire should report immediately to the office. It didn’t take long for the school grapevine to figure out that Angel’s parents reported her missing. Lucas was the last person to see her, and he’s not talking.

  “You know what this is about, don’t you?” I ask Tobi, still unfazed by her supposedly shocking news.

  “That there is some psycho serial killer in Comfort kidnapping teenage girls?” She looks visibly shaken by her own assessment.

  “Tobi, come on. Comfort is the safest place in the world. Nothing ever happens here. Angel just knows that she’s in it deep because of everything she’s done to me. But she can’t run forever.” I smirk.

  Tobi gets an angry look on her face. “You know, Aspen. Not everything is about you.” She spins on her penny loafers and rushes out the door, slamming it behind her.

  Jeez! What’s up her butt? I can’t help it if Angel is jealous of me, and created this situation, and isn’t a big enough person to deal with it. Now Angel’s got everyone in Comfort panicked for no reason, and Tobi thinks I’m the bad guy. Whatever.

  A few minutes later a knock on my door tells me that Tobi has come back to beg for my forgiveness. I’m going to overlook her harsh tone because she’s obviously PMSing this week.

  “Come in.” I prop myself up in bed against my pillows and brace myself for her apology. The door opens, but it’s not Tobi. Rand saunters in wearing a huge grin. I sink back into the pillows as I realize that my hair is greasy and I haven’t even brushed my teeth today. The Nick & Nora pj’s I’m wearing are adorable, but I’m not exactly making a fashion statement. Why am I even stressing? It’s only Rand and he’s already seen me today at the hospital.

  “Hey there, pretty lady,” he says, immediately putting my lack-of-hygiene fears to rest. He shuts my door and takes a seat at the foot of the bed. He playfully grabs my foot through the comforter until I squeal. It’s weird how comfortable we are together after only one day.

  “I don’t think pretty would describe my unhygienic condition today, but thanks. And thanks for the flowers, oh, and the chocolate. I’ve never seen a box of chocolate that big before.”

  “My mom insisted on the chocolate. She says its good for the soul.” He says shrugging out of his jacket.

  Hmm. So his mom knows about me. Very interesting.

  I watch him shrug out of his jacket as his eyes take in the photos taped to my vanity. They stop on a photo of Lucas and me at a carnival taken just a few weeks ago. He doesn’t say anything, but I get the feeling he’s a little jealous. I don’t know why, but I kind of like it. But the most Rand and I are ever going to be is friends. Not that I’d ever want more or anything.

  “So, I hear Angel Ives is missing. What a shame,” I say sarcastically.

  “Oh, you already know about that, huh?”

  “Yeah, Tobi told me. It’s obviously all a bunch of garbage though. She’s just knows she is going to be in serious trouble when everybody finds out it was her who took my inhaler.”

  Rand’s eyes bulge out behind his thick glasses in disbelief. “Angel stole your inhaler out of your locker? How do you know?”

  “Oh, please. This has got Angel’s name all over it. I bet that’s why she was going into the school last night. Lucas was probably just following her to use the bathroom.” Rand’s eyebrows shoot up.

  “What?” I ask.

  “Nothing, you’re probably right. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to tell people she’s done this stuff without having some proof though, especially now that she’s missing.” He pulls his coat back on and I’m disturbed at how disappointed I feel knowing he’s leaving soon. What is my problem?

  “Where are you going?” I ask, hating that I sound like a jealous girlfriend.

  “Some Detective Malone down at the police station wants to question me.” He drops his eyes to my bedspread.

  “What could you know? You were with me the whole time.”

  Rand starts fidgeting with the zipper on his jacket and scoots toward my door. “It’s just routine, I guess,” he answers without looking up. He begins twisting my door handle until I’m afraid it might break off in his hand. This is not the Rand I know. He’s definitely hiding something.

  Why on earth would Comfort’s doughnut-eating civil servants want to question Rand? What could he possibly know about Angel’s supposed disappearance, and why is he suddenly acting so strange? I may not be some fancy girl detective, but I’ve been known to get things out of people, especially people of the male persuasion. I think it’s time to bust out some of my girly charms.

  “Can’t you stay for just a few more minutes?” I plead while patting my side of the bed for him to come sit by me. His eyes dart to mine, soften, and then dart away again. He moves slowly toward me and gently lowers himself down beside me.

  I reach up and take his glasses off, which is a serious improvement. He definitely needs to invest in contacts. I start to run my fingers through his unruly curls working my way down to his neck. I start to massage his neck and feel him relax again under my fingers. I hear him start to breathe quicker, then he closes his eyes.

  I lean in so close that I can feel his breath on my top lip. I started out seducing him to get the 411 on Lucas and Angel, but now I just want to feel his lips on mine and I don’t really care what he knows. I close my eyes and softly place my lips on top of Rand’s, praying I don’t have funky breath.

  He immediately stiffens and pulls back.

  “You don’t really want to kiss me. This is just a means to an end,” he says, jumping off the bed.

  Why did he have to go and get all philosophical on me? I want to tell him that I really did want to kiss him but I just can’t admit that. Admitting to wanting to kiss a geek? That would be like admitting that a knock-off bag is just as good as a designer bag and someone would have to stick a hot poker in my eye for me to say something that horrible. So I sit stunned and don’t say anything.

  After staring each other down for a few seconds he moves to the door.

  “Take care of yourself, Aspen,” he says, not bothering to look back.

  * * * *

  Did he actually just t
urn down kissing me? No guy has ever turned down kissing me! I even know some girls who want to kiss me! Who does he think he is? It is absolutely infuriating when I don’t get my way and I really wanted to kiss Rand. Well, he’s never going to get the chance again and when he realizes that he could have had seven minutes in heaven with yours truly he’ll be begging for some lip action. And I will so tell him it’s not happening. Maybe. Depending on what mood I’m in and if he smells as good as he did today.

  He must be kind of mental. It’s the only explanation. He got so weirded out when I asked what he knew about Angel. Surely he couldn’t have had something to do with her disappearance?

  All these high-maintenance visitors have worn me out. Mom brings me a tray of chicken & stars soup, Goldfish crackers, and a frosty cold mug of milk, all my favorites when I’m sick. After eating, I bury down into my covers and drift to sleep with a smile on my face, dreaming about Angel making her grand entrance at homecoming with her tiara taped atop her shiny bald head.

  What feels like several hours later, but a quick glance at my bedside clock is really only forty-five minutes, Mom comes into my room waking me up and telling me to get dressed and come downstairs. She has a worried look on her face when she closes my door behind her. I pull back my shade to see a police cruiser in our driveway. Jeez! What now? Can’t a person be allowed to recuperate from a near-death experience in peace? I slip into my most comfortable jeans, a pale yellow fisherman sweater that brings out my highlights and slide a headband thru my shoulder-length hair. A few swipes of lip gloss later and if it wasn’t for the ugly bruise on the top of my left hand, you wouldn’t have a clue anything was ever wrong with me.