Up to No Goode

Chapter Seventeen

I make my way down to the entrance hall where a large group was waiting to walk into town. I walk over to Cammie, and we're both quiet. And the talklessness continues the entire two miles into town. I was waiting for her to say something, anything. I wanted to apologize for what I said, I wanted to explain myself, but I couldn't bring my self to break the silence we'd both fallen into.

As we approach the town, I hear music. The Roseville founders day parade is today.

The echo of the marching band surrounds the square we had done brush passes at weeks before. People were selling everything from raffle tickets to brownies, and kids ran around holding pinwheels and eating ice cream.

Finally, it's Cammie who breaks the silence. "Do you want to do something?" She asks and my heart starts to pound. I have no idea what to say.

"We could go watch a movie, or get something to eat" I say, but I realize that I didn't want to do any of that. I wanted to talk to Cammie.

"Or we could just... walk" I suggest

"Okay." She says again, and the awkward silence pulsed between us once more.

"Or we could could have that clown over there paint our faces and go rob the bank?" I say, wondering if she was really listening. She was scanning the town, and I wondered if she was looking for Josh.

"No way" She said "Last October they installed a Stockholm series 360- It'd take us at least 45 minutes to crack it."

I laughed, it was apparent to me that Cammie was something else. "Good to know"

Then I couldn't help myself, I grabbed her hand. Her eyes widened in surprise but she didn't let go. As I led her through the crowded streets, I felt the tension melt away between us. Even though her roommates were tailing us all throughout town, I felt her starting to trust me, to open up a bit and I did the same. Here in Roseville, we were defenseless. We were just two teens enjoying each others company, and I couldn't help but realize how nice it was to be without a cover for once.

But that comfort was short-lived when I see something that makes my blood freeze. A middle aged man in a red jacket who I'd seen before.

With Dr. Steve.

Quickly, I drag Cammie into a quiet side street. "So plant any good bugs lately?" I asked, trying to spot the man again. But Cammie didn't laugh. She didn't speak. In the window behind her I saw another one of Dr. Steves henchmen... and another boy she knew.

Josh.

A strange feeling passed over me, part jealousy and part protectiveness and I couldn't stop myself. "Just so you know, Gallagher Girl." I said, looking into her blue eyes. "I'm going to kiss you now."

I placed one hand on her neck, the other was laced through her hair. I breathed in the scent of Vanilla and cherry chapstick as I moved in. As my lips grazed hers, a girls voice rang out.

"Oh my gosh Cammie is that you?" Said DeeDee

We broke away from each other, and I swore in Farsi. The moment was over, and Dr. Steve's guy was gone.

"Hi, Cammie," She said, hugging Cammie and smiling at me "I'm so glad you two are here!"

That's when Cammie's eyes fell on Josh. He didn't say hi, and I could tell he was upset. Cammie stepped away from me, as if she could make him forget what he'd seen. But then her eyes fell on the glassy reflection behind us. She looked at me, hurt registering on her face.

The four of us started down the sidewalk, Josh and DeeDee a few steps ahead and then Cammie turned to me. "Hey you're going to think I'm crazy" She said

"A little late for that, Gallagher Girl" I said thinking that it was a horrible Idea to be gallivanting around Roseville with Cammie's ex-boyfriend. But Cammie didn't mention that.

"You haven't seen anyone following us, have you?" she asked, and I laughed. She was good, but I couldn't say so because less than ten feet away was another one of the guys who were there during the codeblack.

"You mean besides your roommates?" I say, trying to get her off the subject. She rolled her eyes at me.

"Yeah. besides them."

"No, I haven't seen anyone on our tail. Why?" I asked. The guy was further away now, and I scanned the crowd for anyone else that might be following.

"The Guy. The blue jacket." She said and DeeDee glanced back at us. "Don't you think he's toasty in that heavy coat?" I turned, surveying the entire crowd.

"what about him?" I asked

"The jacket's reversible. Ten minutes ago he was wearing it the other way. Do you think a lot of regular guys in Roseville take time to reverse their jackets?" she said as we stopped to look in a store windows wavy reflection. Another one of Dr. Steve's men was walking past us and I couldn't say anything. But then, I noticed something. Cammie was wearing the little black ring that Joe gave to us.

"Look at the guy, Gallagher Girl" I whispered as he bought a corndog "He's a mustard disaster waiting to happen. I bet you anything he has a big stain on the other side."

I felt her nodding beside me, and I laughed, trying to tell her with my eyes that we were in trouble. DeeDee looked back at us. "Now what are you two talking about?" she teased

"Oh, Cammie was trying to convince me that I should recognize that guy in the blue jacket" I looked at Cammie "But I'd never seen him before in my life."

I saw her look down at the ring, and I knew that she knew I was lying.

"I have to go to the bathroom!" She announced. Great, we were getting away. We had to go back up to the school.

"I'll walk with you" I started to say, but she already had a grip on DeeDee's arm. The two girls smiled at each other and giggled setting off by themselves down the crowded sidewalks.