The supernatural triangle

Chapter 2

I was surrounded the instant I stepped into the high school parking lot. Everyone was there, the whole crowd I hadn't seen since late June, plus four or five hangers-on who hoped to gain popularity by association. One by one she accepted the welcoming hugs of her social group.

Caroline had grown at least an inch and was slinkier and more like a vogue model than ever. She greeted me coolly and stepped back again with her green eyes narrowed like a cat's. "Just a minute; that reminds me," Bonnie interjected, snatching one of my hands. "Guess what I learned from my cousin this summer?" Before anyone could speak, she informed them triumphantly: "Palm reading!" There were groans and some laughter. "Laugh while you can," said Bonnie, not at all disturbed. "My cousin told me I'm psychic. Now, let me see..." She peered into my palm. "Hurry up or we're going to be late," said Elena a bit impatiently.

"All right, all right. Now, this is your lifeline-or is it your heart line?" In the crowd, someone snickered. "Quiet; I'm reaching into the void. I see... I see..." All at once, Bonnie's face went blank, as if she were startled. Her brown eyes widened, but she no longer seemed to be staring at Elena's hand. It was as if she were looking through it-at something frightening. "You will meet a tall, dark stranger," Meredith murmured from behind her. There was a flurry of giggles.

"Dark, yes, and a stranger... but not tall." Bonnie's voice was hushed and faraway.

"Although," she continued after a moment, looking puzzled, "he was tall, once." Her wide brown eyes lifted to my bewilderment. "But that's impossible... isn't it?" She dropped my hands, almost flinging it away. "I don't want to see any more."

"Okay, the show's over. Let's go, "I told the others, vaguely irritated. She'd always felt psychic tricks were just that-tricks. So why was she annoyed? Just because that morning she'd almost freaked out herself...

The girls started toward the school building, but the roar of a finely tuned motor stopped them all in their tracks. "Well, now," Caroline said, staring. "Quite a car."

"Quite a Porsche," I corrected dryly.

The sleek black 911 Turbo purred through the parking lot, searching for a space, moving as lazily as a panther stalking prey.

When the car came to a stop, the door opened, and they glimpsed the driver. "Oh, my God," Caroline whispered.

"You can say that again," breathed Bonnie.

From where she stood, I could see he had a lean, flat-muscled body. Faded jeans he probably had to peel off at night, tight T-shirt, and a leather jacket of unusual cut. His hair was wavy-and dark.

He wasn't tall, though. Just average height. I let out my breath.