A Better Life

 

 

I spent the rest of the week sitting with Drake and the popular kids at lunch. At first, I felt awkward hanging out with Drake, knowing he used to date Allison. I didn't want to do anything that might make any of them upset with me. But when I asked Lark about it one day after lunch, she said that Allison didn't care at all. She said Drake and Allison were really just friends.

 

In the mornings, Allison, Brooke, and Lark had started waiting for me by the statue. It was like I had just slipped into their crowd and was now an accepted part of the group. And Lark was right, there was never any weird tension between Allison and me about Drake. I started to relax into my new friendships.

 

Agnes didn't seem to be too happy about my new friends. I told her she was welcome to hang out with us, but she said she wouldn't feel comfortable. When I mentioned it to Brooke, she scrunched up her nose.

 

“No offense,” she said. “But Agnes is kind of a pain in the you-know-what.”

 

“No she isn't. She's really nice. She was the first friend I made here in Peachville.” “I think she's nice too,” Lark said. “But the problem is that she never stops talking. It's like blah-blah-blah all the dang time.”

 

“It gets kind of old,” Allison said.

 

I couldn't really argue with that, but I liked Agnes. She'd always been so nice to me. Well, except the past few days, I guess.

 

“Besides, you can hang out with Agnes anytime,” Brooke said. “But I just don't think she'd really fit in with us.”

 

I wondered if this had anything to do with Shadowford, but I guess if they really did have something against the place, they wouldn't have changed their minds about me. I still had no idea what made them want to be my friend, but it was nice to be part of a group for once. I'd changed schools so often that I'd pretty much always been on the outside. Being part of the popular crowd was a whole new experience for me.

 

In class, it even seemed like the teachers were nicer to me. A few of my teachers even gave me extra time on projects and tests. Mrs. King was especially generous, letting me skip a paper on Hemingway.

 

“I've seen your transcripts,” she said. “You're way ahead of most of the rest of the students in your reading.”

 

“Thanks,” I said. “I could really use the extra time. I was a little behind after being out so long.” That wasn't totally true. School out here in the sticks was way easier than some of the schools up in Atlanta. But at the same time, I did have a lot of homework to catch up on.

 

“Have you ever thought about trying out for the team?” she asked.

 

At first, I had no idea what she'd been talking about. “The team?”

 

“The cheerleading squad. Unfortunately, we've got an empty spot now that Tori's gone, and I'd really like to fill it with another sophomore. We're having tryouts next week if you're interested.”

 

A strange shiver ran down my spine. I had never really considered trying out for a team sport or anything before. To be honest, I never stayed at one school long enough to really get involved. Then I thought of the picture I'd found of my mother. She had been a cheerleader here at this school twenty years ago. Maybe it was fate. Besides, I'd been feeling off ever since I got sick. I needed something to pull me back into the moment. “That might be fun,” I said.

 

When I told the other girls about it at lunch, they freaked out.

 

“Oh my God! That's the best idea ever!” Lark said. She got up out of her chair and crossed over to give me a big hug. “I know you'd make the team, too. You've just got the look.”

 

“I've never done anything like it before, though. I'm totally clumsy and uncoordinated sometimes. What if I can't learn the cheers fast enough?” “We'll help you,” Brooke said. “If she's looking for a sophomore to fill the spot, then you won't have too much competition anyway.”

 

Competition. I suddenly thought of Agnes and how badly she wanted to be on the team. A knot of guilt formed in my stomach. I couldn't really back out now, though. I'd already told Mrs. King I would try out.

 

“After the game on Friday night, we should totally have a sleepover,” Lark said.

 

“Ooh, we can teach you the cheers,” Allison said, clapping. “Then you'll be way ahead of the other girls before practice even starts on Monday.”

 

“We can have it at my house,” Brooke said. “My parents won't mind at all.”

 

“Is this a girls only party or are guys invited too?” Drake asked. He poked Foster in the ribs and they laughed.

 

Brooke rolled her eyes. “Duh. Girls only. But nice try.”

 

“I was planning on throwing a party out at the lake house after the game,” Foster said. “But it won't be any fun if you ladies can't be there.”

 

“Do it next weekend,” Lark said. “We can celebrate Harper making the squad.”

 

Foster considered it. “Alright, that works. It's another home game,” he said. “So party at the lake next Friday after the game. I expect all of you to be there.”

 

I studied him. Foster had been dating Tori for over a year, yet here he was just a few weeks after she'd been brutally murdered, throwing a party for his friends like nothing happened. It was as though she were a part of their lives one day, and the next she was gone, and it was no big deal. They were all just moving on with their lives.

 

Drake caught my eye and winked. I bit my lip and looked away, my face flushed with warmth. I couldn't believe that the most popular guy in school, the quarterback of the football and son of one of the richest families in town, was flirting with me. It was like I had been reborn while I was sick and a new life had been given to me. A better life.

 

Tori's life.

 

I shook the thought away. No, this wasn't about Tori.

 

Friday afternoon came fast. As I was contemplating putting a temporary demon tattoo on my cheek for the game, something caught my eye out by the barn. Jackson Hunt was down there watching me through the window.

 

It wasn't the first time I'd seen him staring at me, either. After that first day in the courtyard when he interrupted me and Drake, I'd seen him watching me a lot. Both at school and here at Shadowford. Looking down at him now, I suddenly had a flash of memory. I'd seen him down there that first day I moved to Shadowford. Agnes had told me he was trouble and that we weren't supposed to be talking to him.

 

He waved up at me, but I didn't wave back. There was something so sad about him. It clouded my new happiness and brought back that same fuzziness that I'd felt when I first came out of the fever. I didn't like feeling like that. I wanted to be happy. I liked my new friendships even if I didn't totally understand why I had them.

 

I turned away from the window and walked into the bathroom to put the demon on my face.