The Center

Chapter 25 - a heart that devises wicked plans

I couldn't believe it.

The police.

That wasn't my intention.

The ambulance.

I couldn't go to school.

The entire incident terrified me. The world continued to revolve despite my disbelief. Classes continued without me. Planes flew passengers over the Potomac. Bailey left noisy messages about Harvest Ball plans. I had no idea what Daniel was doing. Nicole lay in the hospital. For three days I tried to visit, but she was in ICU and only family members could go inside. She wasn't the enemy. Daniel was the jerk who led me on all summer. He convinced me to sleep with him and then made me a joke at school. I wasn't sure how I'd get him back, but I couldn't face anyone until I had a plan.

On day four, Uncle John agreed to let me stay with him in Manhattan until I "felt better." I signed up for online homework and caught a flight out of Reagan. My absentee parents didn't ask or care. Only Nanny Bella hugged me good-bye saying, "Come home soon."

If I thought being away from Virginia would help, I was nuts. For over a week Daniel haunted my every thought. I was becoming freaking OCD.

Revenge.

Retribution.

Payback.

He stalked through my mind. Tonight, he got in the way of me fully enjoying Halloween. My uncle and I planned a night of British comedies and junk food. Daniel lurked on the edge of every breath. A bowl of popcorn and cold pizza and an online queue of ridiculous characters couldn't keep the creep at bay. The doorbell rang, followed by a loud, "Trick or treat!"

I carried a stack of full-size candy bars to the door. A pint-sized zombie and teenaged mummy opened their bags. The bandages around the kid's head were stained with blood. He took a Snickers. I thought of Nicole. There had to be a way I could help her and hurt Daniel at the same time.

As I closed the door, my cell phone vibrated next to the pizza box. I planned to ignore it, but Uncle John got to it first. He checked the caller ID.

"What are you doing?" I wasn't in the mood for teasing. But that didn't stop him. He spoke into the phone with a high-pitch Asian accent.

"Herro! Superior Chinese takeout."

Normally I'd laugh at his silliness, but tonight I just groaned. "You're a US Senator, for God's sake." Uncle John got away with murder most of the time. Any other adult who touched my phone would be dead. But what did it matter? Fat chance Daniel was calling to ask my forgiveness.

"Sweet and sour chicken. Yes."

He nodded.

"Fried rice. Okay."

"That's enough. Now give me the phone." I reached for him but he climbed over the couch.

"What are you four?" I shook my head and laughed in spite of myself.

"Yes, yes. Courtney here." He poked out his two front teeth like a rabbit and squinted his nose. "You want talk to her?"

I stuck out my hand with insistence.

He relaxed his face and said, "Yes Bailey, how's my other favorite niece?"

Bailey, great. I should have known, Uncle John wouldn't have answered the phone unless he knew who it was. I pulled my hand back. She was the last person in the world I wanted to talk to. I hurried into the kitchen. He shouldn't have answered the stupid phone. I didn't want updates on the costumes and clowns going to the dance. She and her boyfriend could fall off the earth as far as I was concerned. I turned on the faucet and rinsed a random cup.