Blood and Other Matter

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Derrick

Thursday, September 8th

After school, I waited for Tess outside the double metal doors closest to the parking lot, my mood dark. The whole school was buzzing with the news that Josh had asked Tess to the bonfire. God, I hated him.

Twenty-four hours ago, Tess would have admitted to hating him, too. She might have been more convincing if she could tear her gaze away when Josh passed her in the hallway, but at least out loud, she had higher standards.

"Don't start," Tess said the second she emerged from the double doors.

"We have bonfires?"

"I know, right?" Relief smoothed her features as she fell into step beside me. "So . . . about the eclipse . . . "

"You're not going to make it." I shoved my hands in my pockets.

"I didn't say that. The eclipse won't get interesting until like, midnight, right?"

My eyebrows shot up. "Yeah, actually."

She laughed at my surprise. "No, I didn't look it up. Lacey was talking about it in art class. So . . . if I do go to the bonfire, then I should still make it in time, right?"

Fresh from her date and brimming with details? "Nah, it's fine." I flashed her a smile, trying to recover my dignity. "Something came up anyway."

"Come on, Der. You expect me to believe you're going to miss a . . . how did you phrase it? 'Major celestial event?'" She bumped her shoulder to mine, a smirk parting her lips. "I'll swing by tonight if I can. If I miss it, let's hang out tomorrow night instead. We can marathon all those crappy horror movies you love. No school to worry about the next day, so I can stay over all night—"

My mind went to R-rated places, and I struggled to rein in my thoughts before they showed on my face.

"—just like when we were little, remember?"

"Yeah." I forced a smile to my face, reading her message loud and clear. "It'll be great."

We passed the football team practicing on the field. The way they looked at her, like hawks gazing at a field mouse, raised the hair on the back of my neck. It gave me the creeps, but Tess never seemed to notice.

"Pick you up at six?" Josh shouted.

"Still thinking!" Tess shouted back.

I rolled my eyes. "You're not going to sleep with him, are you?" Josh went through V-cards like Pringles. Once you pop, you— Jesus Christ, why had I gone there? I winced, glad I hadn't taken that analogy into the verbal realm.

Tess gave me a look so offended that I worried I'd spoken out loud. "That is so not your business." She lifted her chin, eyes flashing as she sped up.

I kept pace, my eyes drawn to a flush of red against her jawline. "What's that?"

Tess shrugged and rubbed at the spot. "My skin isn't a fan of our new dollar store laundry detergent." She scowled. "I'm out of makeup, so I couldn't—"

"You've been wearing a lot of makeup lately."

"Really?" Tess's voice went sharp. "Have I gained weight, too?"

"No, actually, you've los—" I broke off realizing what she was getting at. "Shutting up now."

"No, no, you're on such a roll with your super-tactful observations." She smiled as if to soften the blow, but I got the message loud and clear.