Page 39 of Devils' Day Party
The tears change to wracking sobs and my body begins to shake as I struggle to pull in enough air. My head swims, and I lean forward, putting my palms into the wet grass.
“This is … unusual,” Barron says, pulling the lollipop from his mouth with a sharp popping sound. He bends down next to me as Raz backs away, like the sight of true pain is too much for him to handle. “Should I call an ambulance? It wouldn't likely end well for you, considering you fucked Calix's car up. But I think it'd be even worse if you died.”
“Leave me alone!” I scream, shoving up to my feet and stumbling like a newborn fawn. I turn to look at Barron, still crouched down with Raz behind him. Calix has yet to move from his position near the cars, dark eyes boring into me. “You want to fuck with me today? Go for it. Do your worst. Kill me, if that's what you want.”
My gray eyes meet Barron's dual-colored ones in challenge, daring him to come for me. He stands up slowly, sliding his red lollipop back between his lips, staining his tongue the color of blood. His rainbow Mohawk is the only color in an otherwise gray day.
“Kill you?” Raz spits out, scoffing and spitting before tucking his hands into the pockets of his purple Crescent Prep slacks. “I always knew you were screwed up in the head, Karma, but this is a new level. Just remember that when today sucks for you, you started it.” He points at me and turns, sweeping back toward the Aston Martin and yanking the rear passenger door open. It slams into my yellow Bug with a screech of metal on metal, and I cringe.
“Why do you hate me so much?” The words come out in a whisper, drowned by a passing truck. I'm not sure that Barron hears them.
“I'm calling an ambulance,” is what he says instead, more to himself than to me. His voice is distant, almost distracted as he turns and starts to dial 911. Calix stops him, tearing the phone from Barron's grip. Calix turns an apathetic gaze in my direction, as distant and cold as the spring waters inside of Devils’ Den, buried deep in the dark mouth of that awful cave with its stalagmite teeth.
“She doesn't need an ambulance,” he says, turning his gaze back to his friend. “Get in the car; we're late to get Sonja.” Calix nods his chin in the direction of his car and Barron narrows his eyes. Like I said, the Knight Crew might be a convenient name for their group of merry assholes, but they have no leader. They're wanton, ribald, lascivious little mischief makers. They have no king.
Barron looks at me once more, snatches his phone back from Calix, and takes off.
After a moment, Calix steps toward me. He reaches up with one hand and uses his thumb to swipe away one of my tears, staring at it for a long moment, mouth turned down in a frown. I almost expect him to lick it off, just to taste the saltiness of my pain, to savor it. Instead, he wipes his palms on his slacks.
“Meet me after school at the spring,” he says, and for a moment there, I'm sure I haven't heard him correctly. But then I realize that this, much like everything else regarding Calix, is likely a trick. His voice is monotone, as smooth and perfect as a river rock.
“Why? So you can tell me you love me again?” I snap back, hating myself for even saying it. My words to Luke from last night come filtering back like a beautiful nightmare. “Did you watch the video? Did you see it? Nobody could watch that and not realize how much I wanted it.”
Calix scowls at me, reaching out to grab me by the tie, tugging me closer.
“Karma,” he starts, like he's about to scold me. Calix closes his dark eyes and then releases me abruptly enough that I stumble. “Either be there or fuck off. I don't care much either way.” His eyes snap open, blazing with hate, and he turns away, storming across the parking lot and pausing next to Little Bee. He gestures at it with an angry hand. “And get your piece of shit car out of my fucking way.”
Calix climbs in and slams the driver's side door, but I just sit down heavily on the grass again, smearing my skirt and socks with mud. After just a few moments, Calix takes off, dragging my car along for the ride and leaving it askew in the middle of the parking lot.
I don't get up until one of the employees comes out to check on me.
“I'm leaving,” I snap, before he can say anything.
I shove to my feet and head for Crescent Prep.
