I dont want to get wet.
But I invited you over here to swim!
This is how girls like me swim. Its also known as tanning.
He laughed. Actually, its probably a good idea youre getting some sun. I guess the sun doesnt shine in New York, huh?
Are you saying Im pale? She frowned.
No, he said, shaking his head. Thats not the word Id use. I think pasty is a bit more accurate.
Wow, what a charmer. It makes me wonder what I used to see in you.
Used to?
Yes, and I must say that if you keep using words like pasty when it comes to describing me, Im not seeing much of a future for us, either.
He seemed to evaluate her. How about if I do two flips? Will you forgive me?
Only if you end the flips with a perfect dive. But if two flips and a big clumsy entry is all you can do, Ill pretend to be amazed, as long as you dont get me wet.
He raised an eyebrow before retreating a few steps and then taking one big step to launch himself in the air. He pulled himself into a tight tuck, spun twice, and went into the water arms first and body straight, almost without a ripple.
Now that, she thought, was impressive, if not completely surprising, given the graceful way he moved on the volleyball court. When he surfaced at the edge of the diving board, treading water, she knew he was pleased with himself.
That was okay, she said.
Just okay?
Id give it a four point six.
Out of five?
Out of ten, she said.
That was at least an eight!
Of course you think that. Thats why Im the judge.
How do I appeal? he said, reaching up to latch on to the edge of the board.
You cant. Its official.
What if Im not happy?
Then maybe youll think twice about using the word pasty.
He laughed and began to pull himself up. Ronnie gripped the diving board.
Hey stop dont do that, she warned.
You mean this? he said, pulling down even harder.
I told you I dont want to get wet! she shrieked.
And I want you to come swimming with me! Without warning, he seized her arm and gave a tug. Squealing, she plunged into the water. As soon as she came up for air, he tried to kiss her, but she backed away.
No! she cried out, laughing, relishing the briskness of the water and the silky sensation of his skin against hers. I dont forgive you!
As she struggled playfully with him, she noticed Susan watching from the veranda. From the expression on her face, she was definitely not happy.
Later that afternoon, as they were heading back to the beach to check on the turtle nest, they stopped for ice cream. Ronnie walked beside Will, licking her fast-melting ice-cream cone, thinking how amazing it was that theyd kissed for the first time only yesterday. If last night had been almost perfect, then today had been even better. She loved how easily they shifted from serious to lighthearted and that he was as good at teasing her as he was at being teased.
Of course, he had pulled her into the pool, which was why she needed to time her reaction perfectly. It wasnt that hard since he didnt know it was coming, but as soon as he raised his own ice-cream cone to his lips, she gave the cone a sharp nudge, smearing ice cream on his face.
Giggling, she skipped off around the corner directly into the arms of Marcus.
Blaze was with him, as were Teddy and Lance.
Well, isnt this a nice surprise, Marcus drawled, tightening his grip.
Let me go! she cried, hating the sudden panic in her voice.
Let her go, Will added from behind her. His voice was unwavering. Serious. Now.
Marcus seemed almost amused. You should watch where youre going, Ronnie.
Now! Will demanded, sounding angry, moving into view.
Take it easy, Richie Rich. She slammed into meI was just keeping her from falling. And by the way, hows Scott doing? Has he been playing with any bottle rockets lately?
To Ronnies surprise, Will froze. Smirking, Marcus turned his gaze back to her. He squeezed her arms harder before finally releasing her. As Ronnie took a quick step back, Blaze lit a fireball, her expression nonchalant.
Im glad I was able to keep you from stumbling, Marcus said. It wouldnt look good to be all bruised when you go to court on Tuesday, would it? You dont want the judge to think youre violent, in addition to being a thief.
Ronnie could only stare at him, speechless, until Marcus turned away. As they walked off, she saw Blaze toss him the fireball, which he caught with ease and threw back to her.
Seated on the dune outside her house, Will remained quiet as she recounted everything that had happened since she arrived, including the events at the music store. When she finished, she twisted her hands together in her lap.
And thats all of it. As for the shoplifting I did back in New York, I dont even know why I took that stuff. It wasnt like I needed it. It was just something to do because my friends were doing it. When I went to court, I admitted everything because I knew I was wrong and that I wasnt ever going to do it again. And I didntnot there, and not here. But unless the charges are dropped or Blaze admits what she did, Im not only going to get in big trouble here, but Im going to be in trouble back home, too. I know it sounds crazy and Im sure you dont believe me, but I swear Im not lying.
He covered her clasped hands with his own. I believe you, he said. And trust menothing surprises me about Marcus. Hes been crazy since he was a kid. My sister had him in a class and she told me that the teacher once found a dead rat in her drawer. Everyone knew who did it, even the principal, but they couldnt prove anything, you know? And hes still up to his usual tricks, but now he has Teddy and Lance to do his bidding. Ive heard some scary things about him. But Galadriel she used to be the nicest girl. Ive known her since I was a little kid, and I dont know whats been going on with her lately. I know her mom and dad got divorced, and I heard she took it really hard. I dont know what she sees in Marcus, though, or why shes so intent on ruining her life. I used to feel bad for her, but what shes doing to you is wrong.
Ronnie suddenly felt tired. I have to go to court next week.
Do you want me to come?
No. I dont want you to see me standing in front of the judge.
It doesnt matter
It will if your mom finds out. Im pretty sure she doesnt like me.
Why do you say that?
Because I saw the way she was looking at me earlier, she could have said. Its just a feeling.
Everyone feels like that when they first meet her, he assured her. Like I said, once you get to know her, shell loosen up.
Ronnie wasnt so sure. Behind her, the sun was dropping, turning the sky a bright shade of orange. Whats going on with Scott and Marcus? she asked.
Will stiffened. What do you mean?
Do you remember that night at the festival? After he did his show, Marcus seemed all hyped up about something, so I tried to keep my distance from him. It was like he was scanning the crowd, and when he spotted Scott, he got this weird look on his face, like he found what he needed. Next thing I know, he had balled up his cup of French fries and hurled it at him.
I was there, too, remember?
But remember what he said? It was odd. He asked if Scott was going to shoot a bottle rocket at him. And when he said almost the same thing to you just a little while ago, you sort of froze.
Will looked away. Its nothing, he insisted, squeezing her hands. And I wouldnt have let anything happen to you. He leaned back, propping himself on his elbows. May I ask you a question? Totally different subject?
Ronnie lifted an eyebrow, unsatisfied by his answer but deciding to let it go.
Why is there a piano behind a plywood wall at your house? When she seemed surprised, he shrugged. You can see it through the window, and the plywood wall doesnt exactly match the rest of the interior.
It was Ronnies turn to look away. She disengaged her hands and buried them in the sand.
I told my dad that I didnt want to see the piano anymore, so he put up the wall.
Will blinked. You hate the piano that much?
Yes, she answered.
Because your dad was your teacher? She looked up in surprise as Will went on. He used to teach at Juilliard, right? It only makes sense that hed teach you to play. And Id be willing to bet that you were great at it, if only because you have to love something before you can hate it.
For a grease monkey slash volleyball player, he was pretty perceptive. Ronnie dug her fingers deeper into the sand, where the layers felt cool and heavy.
He taught me to play from the time I was able to walk. I played for hours, seven days a week, for years. We even did some composing together. Its what we shared, you know? It was something for just the two of us, and when he moved out of the apartment I felt like he hadnt only betrayed the family. I felt like hed betrayed me personally, and I was just so angry about all of it that I swore Id never play or write another song again. So when I first got down here and saw the piano and heard him playing it every time I was around, I couldnt help feeling that he was trying to pretend that what hed done didnt matter. Like he thought we could just start over. But we couldnt. You cant undo the past.
You seemed friendly with him the other night, Will observed.
Ronnie slowly pulled her hands from the sand. Yeah, weve been getting along better in the last few days. But that doesnt mean I want to play again, she said.
Its not my business, but if you were that good, then youre only hurting yourself. Its a gift, right? And who knows? Maybe you could go to Juilliard.
I know I could. They still write me. Theyve promised me theyll make room if I change my mind. She felt a surge of irritation.
Then why dont you go?
Does it matter that much to you? She glared at him. That Im not just who you thought I was? That I have some special talent? Does that make me good enough for you?
Not at all, he said. Youre still the person I thought you were. From the first moment we met. And theres no way you could ever be a better fit for me.
As soon as hed said it, she felt ashamed of her outburst. She heard the sincerity in his tone and knew he meant what hed said.
She reminded herself that theyd known each other for only a few days, and yet he was kind and smart and she already knew he loved her. As if sensing her thoughts, he sat up and scooted closer. Leaning in, he kissed her softly on lips, and she was suddenly certain that she wanted nothing more than to spend hours and hours wrapped in his arms, just like this.
22Marcus
Marcus watched them from a distance. So thats the way its going to be, huh?
Screw it. Screw her. It was time to party.
Teddy and Lance had picked up the booze, and people were already arriving. Earlier, hed seen a family of vacationers packing up their piece-of-crap minivan with their ugly dog and even uglier kids at one of the houses not three or four down from Ronnies own piece-of-crap house.
Hed been around long enough to know that the next rental wouldnt start until tomorrow, after the cleaners came, which meant that all he had to do was get inside and the place would be theirs for the night.
Not so hard, considering he had the key and the security code. Vacationers never locked the door when they went to the beach. Why should they? Its not like they ever brought anything but food and maybe a few video games to the beach, since most of them stayed for only a week. And the out-of-town ownersprobably from someplace like Charlotte and tired of fielding calls from the security company when the idiots who rented the place set off the alarm in the middle of the nighthad been kind enough to post the code right above the security pad in the kitchen. Smart.
Real smart. With enough patience, hed always been able to find a house or two to host a party, but the secret was not to abuse their opportunities. Teddy and Lance always wanted to party in these kinds of places, but Marcus knew that if he did it too often, the management companies would get suspicious. Theyd send the managers by to check things out, theyd tell the police to make frequent rounds, and theyd warn the vacationers and owners. Then where would they be?
Stuck down at Bowers Point, like they usually were.
Once a year. Once a summer. That was his rule, and that was enough, unless he burned the house down afterward. He smiled. Do that and the problem was solved. No one would even suspect thered been a party at all. There was nothing like a big fire, because fires were alive.
Fires, especially big ones, moved and danced and destroyed and devoured. He remembered setting fire to a barn when he was twelve and watching it burn for hours, thinking hed never seen anything more incredible. So hed lit another one, this time at an abandoned warehouse.
Over the years, hed set a bunch of them. There was nothing better; nothing made him higher than the power he felt with a lighter in his hands.
But he wouldnt do that. Not tonight, because his past wasnt something he wanted either Teddy or Lance to know about. Besides, the party was going to be something. Booze and drugs and music. And girls. Drunk girls. Hed have Blaze first and then maybe a couple of others after that, if he got Blaze ripped enough to pass out. Or maybe hed hook up with some dumb little hottie, even if Blaze was sober enough to realize what was happening. That might be fun, too.