The Challenge Page 2

  "Thought you were supposed to be my guide," Henry said, once the three of them reached us.

  "Well, I figured David could take you to the class after lunch since I have a spare period," I said.

  "You going to do introductions, Kris?" Lena butted in.

  I hesitated, not sure that I really felt like it, but Henry decided to jump in.

  "I'm Henry," he said. "This is Lauren."

  "I'm Lena," Lena replied. "This is James."

  Others in our group showed up just in time and Lena introduced them as well. I sat quietly on the low wall we were standing next to while everyone played nice. I didn't even notice until his arm went around me that David had sat down next to me. Bastard .

  "What do you want?" I asked.

  "Who else, but you?" David smiled and tried to move closer.

  "I was stupid when I was with you," I admitted, getting up. "Luke, can I borrow your car for this period?"

  "No way! Remember last time? It's a good thing I was with you, or you would have had a big problem!" Lukas said. He was referring to the time my phone began vibrating in my back pocket and scared the shit out of me, nearly causing me to crash.

  "Where are you going?" Henry asked.

  "I need to go home for a while, and get stuff for last period." I said before I realized I had no reason to explain things to him.

  "I'll drive you," Henry offered, which caused me to raise an eyebrow. Was this guy for real?

  "Bell's going to ring soon," David said. "We should get you to class." He was looking directly at Lauren. I couldn't help but wonder if somehow, already, there was something going on between them.

  "I suppose so," Lauren conceded. Everyone gradually left until it was just me and Henry.

  "So where do you live?" Henry asked.

  "1616 Revello Drive," I responded.

  "Right then...I don't have GPS. But let's get going," Henry said, as he started walking.

  When we reached the parking lot, I stopped and looked at his car, and almost laughed...the thing was a beater. "This...is your car?"

  "Yeah," Henry shot back, "at least I drive something."

  We got in the car and drove off. I gave him directions and after ten minutes of awkward silence, he was pulling into my driveway. I thought for sure that he'd stay in the car, but once I got out, he did too and followed me up the walkway to my front door.

  "So? I gave you a lift. You could at least offer me a drink," Henry said with disappointment in his voice.

  God, he was so arrogant...cute, but arrogant. "Fine," I caved, "even though you nearly killed us pulling onto the wrong side of the road."

  I led him to the kitchen and gave him a soda. After I was sure he was happy I went to my room while Henry stayed in the kitchen to finish his drink. Unlike Megan's room, my room was clean. There were a few clothes on the floor, and papers scattered here and there, but at least the floor wasn't covered in clothes and makeup. Point being, I got my stuff together quickly then went downstairs to see Henry standing in front of the fireplace in the living room. He must have heard me coming, because he turned around with a picture in his hand.

  "Is this your mum?" Henry asked, holding up the gold-framed picture.

  "Yes," I snapped, grabbing the picture from his hands, and putting it back on the mantle. Henry gave me a look. "She died seven years ago," I told him.

  "I'm sorry," Henry said. "Who's that?" He pointed at the photo of Megan.

  "My sister, Megan," I said. "She was six when that was taken...before we developed our 'we don't want to be seen in a picture together' attitude. I was nine. Mom never got another picture of us together after this one," I shared with Henry, becoming overwhelmed with sad feelings and happy memories.

  "When is next period?" Henry changed the subject, rescuing me from my cocktail of emotions.

  "Uh," I said, looking at the clock. "Twenty minutes. We should get going."

  The ride back to school was also in silence, but it wasn't as awkward as before. I led him to Drama, the one class that everyone is in: Lena, Lukas, Curtis, Sam, Erin, Nick, Amanda, Mark, Darla, David - and, now, Lauren and Henry. I sat with my assigned group, which consisted of Lena, Mark, Erin, Curtis, and three other people from class. We were in groups for a big production at the end of the year. It was a collection of skits with teenagers in our time, and how they dealt with certain issues: dating, drugs, sex, rape and suicide.

  "I can't believe Ryan dropped out!" Erin said. She was referring to another guy who used to be in our little clique. He was a good friend, but a horrible student. "Who the hell is...oh wait..." She suddenly smirked.

  "What?" I asked.

  "Well...we lost a boy in our group....but look...new guy." Erin pointed, smiling ear to ear.

  "No!" I shouted. The group voted that I get the lead role because I could memorize better than the rest of them. Ryan originally had the male lead, but he dropped out and our act was the one to do with sex. Which meant that if Henry was put in our group, he would be the lead opposite me and...

  "Mr. Wilson, since you're already acquainted with most of the cast for Group C, why don't you work with them?" Mrs. Coolidge, the drama teacher said.

  I groaned and dropped my head into my hands. It was bad enough that I have only two classes without him, but to be acting opposite him... Maybe Mark or Curtis would take that role now.

  "Our part of the performance is a skit to do with the dangers of sex and rape," Lena explained, as Henry sat down on Curtis' other side. I was between him and Lena. "Kris is the lead, while Erin, Marisa and I play her friends. Mark, Curtis, Dustin and Brett, I guess, are going to play your friends."

  "Unless one of them wants to be lead," I hinted, shooting pleading looks at Mark and Curtis.

  "If we didn't want it when we first started, what makes you think we'll want it now?" Mark asked.

  "Yeah...my boo would straight murder me," Curtis agreed.

  "What about one of you two?" I asked, looking at Dustin and Brett. What was I thinking? I'd have a better chance of not being molested by Henry then I would by one of those creeps. "Never mind," I sighed. I handed Henry the script that originally belonged to Ryan. "Your parts are already highlighted."

  "I see that," Henry said, flipping through the script quickly. "Wait. So we're the only ones who are....together??"

  "Yeah," I admitted, lamely. "The friends are just that-friends. They don't like the fact that Michael and Nina-your character and mine-are together."

  "Well," Henry started, but got lost in his own thoughts.

  "Dustin's character and my character both want to date Nina," Curtis said. "Dustin's character, Brad, actually goes as far as raping her."

  "It's not my favorite scene," Dustin said, as if he had to remind everyone he wasn't a rapist.

  The rest of the class was explaining to Henry how the characters interacted and their motives as well. We had ten minutes of practice until the bell rang, then everyone jumped up and bolted out the door. The gang hung out around Lukas and Nick's cars, which were always parked next to each other. Amanda, Darla, Mark, Nick and James all lived within a three to fifteen minute walk to the school. The rest of us lived a ten minute drive from school in either direction. When we all first met, it was hard to see one another unless our parents drove us or we took the bus. Now that the guys could all drive, it was a lot easier. Lukas and Lena lived down a street from me, so I was closer to them than anyone else.

  "See that old black car?" I asked, pointing. "That's Henry's car."

  "How old is it?" Amanda asked. I shrugged. "I won't even get into a car unless it was made within the last decade," she asserted. "Those clunkers will get you killed," she added. "Okay, so are we going to the club tonight??"

  "Maybe," I wavered. David, along with Lauren and Henry, were walking over to me again. "What now?"

  "Are you auditioning for an ice queen role?" David asked. He wrapped his arms around me, and I involuntarily shivered. Okay, I did still feel something for him. It was only a we
ek ago! I was dating the guy for a damn year and you just can't get rid of feelings that quickly.

  "You guys want to join us for a party night?" Darla asked, looking at Henry and Lauren.

  "Where?" Henry asked.

  "There's a really great club about twenty minutes from where Kris, Lukas and I live." Lena shot out.

  "I can't!" Lauren said quickly. Everyone looked at her. "I...have a lot of homework already." She looked at Henry. "But don't let that stop you from having fun."

  "Seems like a good idea," David said.

  "You aren't going!" I said.

  "Hey, I have a lot of homework, too." David said.

  He actually does homework? I thought to myself. Amanda began giving Henry and Lauren directions to the club, in case Lauren decided against doing homework.

  "So if you guys ever want to go there, now you know how!" Amanda wrapped up her directions cheerfully.

  I managed to get myself out of David's hold. "Can we go home now?" I asked Lukas.

  "Yeah," Lukas said, hitting the unlock button on his remote key.

  "Got to get dinner started," Lena added. I could just imagine her in about five years or so, pregnant, maybe with a little kid running around while she makes dinner. She was going to be domesticated...I just knew it. She may have been almost as bad as I was, but she had a soft spot that was easier to find than mine.

  I got home just as Megan's bus dropped her off. One of the few things we do together is go through all the cupboards and fridge to find out what there is to eat for dinner. If we don't find anything, which isn't really all that often, because there's always something to eat, one of us will call Uncle Ethan and suggest pizza, Chinese or KFC. There is a jar that has money for delivery food and, for the most part, Megan and I are good about not taking from it.

  Today there was nothing that caught our interest, so Megan called up Uncle Ethan and I called the Chinese restaurant and ordered our usual. While we waited, we argued over who would do what chores. I wound up doing dishes while Megan vacuumed the living room, family room and upstairs. Somehow, I finished before her. Just then, the doorbell rang and I paid the delivery guy, but not before flirting a bit (he was cute). Then I brought the food into the kitchen, where everything was set out buffet-style.

  "Megs! Dinner's here!" I yelled over the vacuum. It stopped, and soon she was running down the stairs. That's pretty much the only thing she hears over her music, or when she's vacuuming-anything to do with food.

  We had just sat down with our food when Uncle Ethan came home. I told him that I'd be going out later with the gang. He just nodded, told me to keep my cellphone on and to be home by midnight. He's not really strict-half the time I come home at one o'clock and he doesn't notice much. Mostly because I've gotten accustomed to sneaking in quietly, and he's either already in his room, or he's fast asleep on the couch.

  We ate in silence, Megan watching TV, Uncle Ethan reading the paper and me thinking about what I was going to wear and how I would do my makeup for the evening. For some reason, my thoughts turned to Henry and I wondered if he would be there. I shook my head and forced myself to think about something other than him.

  Beep beep! There was Lukas.

  CHAPTER THREE

  A WEEK LATER...

  I SAT BACK in my seat, absently doodling and waiting for the bell. I glanced over at Henry who sat in front of and to one side of me. He looked just as bored as I was. We weren't friends, but we weren't total enemies now. We were...neutral.

  He looked back at me, then at Mrs. Coolidge who was just sitting at her desk, reading something. I smirked slightly, and looked at the clock before putting my things away. I could feel his eyes back on me. I looked back at him, then at the clock and mouthed a countdown starting at ten. As soon as I got to one, the bell rang. Henry raised an eyebrow as everyone stood up and left the room.

  "I'm psychic," I said, as I went past him.

  "There's my lovely Krissy," I heard Lena call. I turned around and, sure enough, there was the gang. I smiled and ran over to them. Then she dragged me away from everyone else. "So you're positive that your uncle is going to be out of town next week?"

  "Yes...and I'm making sure Megan is gonna stay at a friend's house on Friday, so we've got the house all to ourselves for the party," I assured her.

  Next Friday was James's birthday, so we were going to have a huge bash at my place, since it was the biggest. I never really understood why my uncle wanted such a big house when there were only three of us. There were six bedrooms, three of them being used by myself, Ethan and Megan, and one that was turned into a music room.

  "Okay, good," Lena replied.

  "You worry too much," I chided, linking arms with her.

  "So what are we doing tonight?" James asked.

  "Clubbing!" all of us girls said together.

  "Come on, James. We've had this planned for a while," Amanda said. "Ever since...Tuesday."

  "Wow...four days," I said. "We plan way ahead of time." Lena and Aaron laughed. Everyone kept talking. I noticed David and Lauren getting into David's car. I looked around and spotted Henry, who slightly surprised and angry. I frowned, wondering what was going on.

  "Come on, Kris," Lukas said. I hopped into the car and he drove us away from the school. "I'll pick you up at seven thirty?"

  "Make it seven forty-five," I suggested.

  "Okay," Lukas responded.

  "He'll probably arrive late," Lena said.

  Well yeah...that's why I said that time," I countered. "That way, I won't be too mad when he does show up late."

  "I'm right here," Lukas said. He pulled into my driveway.

  "See you guys later," I called out, getting out of the car. I went into the house, just as Megan ran past me. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, cowgirl. Where you going?"

  "I'm staying at Vanessa's house tonight," Megan said. "Tell Uncle Ethan for me, will you?"

  "Yeah, sure. Bye," I said. I closed the door and went to the kitchen. I made something to eat and by six o'clock I was in the bathroom, had just finished my shower and was working on makeup, including blue eye shadow and dark red lipstick. Then I went into my room and looked around. The outfit I chose earlier wasn't going to work with my makeup, so I put it away and grabbed a black leather, mid-thigh length skirt and a light blue, backless halter top.

  By the time I was done, it was seven-forty and I could hear Lukas pulling into the driveway. I put on my boots and slid my wallet into one of them. I left Uncle Ethan a note, since he wasn't home yet, telling him where I was and where Megan was. I put my cellphone in my other boot just as Lukas honked, then I ran outside and jumped into the car.

  "And you say I'm the one who makes us late," Lukas teased. I pinched him then turned so that Lena, who was sitting in the back as well, could work on my hair. She pulled her fingers through it a bit, then tied it into a ponytail, before making me face her, so that she could pull a few strands down to frame my face.

  "There you go, babe," Lena said in admiration of her work. "Beautiful as always."

  I thanked her and looked out the window as we passed the mall. It was only a twenty minute walk from my place so I was there a lot.

  Another seven minutes of driving and we were at the club. We climbed out of the car and went inside. Lena found everyone first, as always, and led us to our usual table.

  "Hey!" everyone said.

  "Come on girls, time to shake our asses!" Darla shouted. Lena stood back up with the rest of the girls, and we all went to the dance floor just as some new trance song came on.

  As usual, Lena and I and the rest of the girls danced rather provocatively in the middle of the dance floor while others looked on from the bars and balconies.

  "How damn slutty do we look right now?" Erin asked.

  "Very! But who the fuck cares?!" I yelled over the music, laughing. The others laughed as well.

  I looked around, noticing the expressions we all received. There were always people watching us, whether with interest or envy, I did
n't know. I didn't really care, either.

  That's when I saw them. At first I wasn't sure if it was them, but I looked harder and sure enough there they were: David and Lauren...dancing...together...and making out! What the hell?! I thought to myself.

  A million emotions ran through me at once. Why did this hurt? It had been two weeks...so why did this hurt so much? Maybe it was because I never really saw him with another girl. I had only found out he was cheating on me through the high school grapevine; I had never really caught him in the act.

  "Kris?" Lena asked. I didn't look at her. "What are you...ooooh." She must have followed my gaze. She took my arm and pulled me back to the table. "You okay?"

  "I don't know," I whispered. I finally broke my stare and turned to Lena. "I should be fine...so why the hell do I feel like this?"

  "Maybe because you loved him?" Lena said. "And still do...a bit?"

  I shook my head. I suddenly didn't feel like staying there anymore. I also didn't want to go home. Lena seemed to know what I was thinking. She tapped Sam on the shoulder and asked her something.

  "You want to stay at my place tonight, Kris?" Sam asked.

  "Uh...yeah," I answered.

  I couldn't stay at Lena's place because her mom didn't like me much. She thinks that I turned her perfect little girl into a hooker, when, in fact, Lena was the one who told me to start dressing to show off my body. Sam and I, along with Darla and Amanda, all left. Erin and Lena were going to join us later. They were the ones who needed permission to do a lot of things, but Amanda's parents were fine with her just calling them. Everyone had a few articles of clothing at everyone else's houses, so none of us had to go to our houses to get things.

  "So...what happened?" Amanda asked.

  "I saw David...with a girl," I revealed.

  "Oh, my God!" Sam nearly squealed. "Sweetie, how are you?"

  "I'm fine; a bit sad," I replied.

  The rest of the night was spent watching movies and playing Truth or Dare, which ended when Darla and I actually agreed to run through the streets, naked, yelling for someone to do us. We got half way out of our clothes while standing in Sam's driveway before the others told us not to go and Amanda said she was just joking.