Where the Darkness Goes

Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

GARRETT — AGE 18

The science club at school is spending the first two days of fall break at a ski lodge in Indiana. I don’t want to decide what the most depressing part of that sentence is, but there we go.

I’m still not sure what the science club is, and I don’t think anyone else knows either. For the most part, science club, as we know it, consists of about thirty students hanging out in the chemistry lab while our teacher reads a book or chats with the teacher across the hall.

It’s not a bad deal, and it counts toward extracurriculars, which I need for college next fall. Still, I’ve never been so glad to have joined the science club than I am when I step onto the bus and see Tessa there waiting for me.

Okay, so technically she’s not waiting for me. She’s on the bus that I just happen to be getting on myself, but either way, it’ll make this trip more interesting.

Will is actually waiting for me at the back of the bus, but the space on the seat next to Tessa is empty, so I hold up a finger at him and drop down beside her.

“Hey there.”

“Hello, Garrett,” she deadpans. She’s still irritated over what happened at the lake house I see. More specifically what almost happened.

“Since when are you in the science club?”

She turns her head to look out the window, nonplussed. “I’ve always been in it, I just don’t go to the meetings.”

“Interesting. And what if I told you meetings are a big part of it? Kinda the whole thing, actually.”

“If you must know, the science club meets on Tuesdays after school, which is the day Mom has me volunteering at the church. The same day my brother ”—she says the word extra loud and with force, clearly meant for him to hear—“is supposed to be volunteering, but he never shows up.”

“That doesn’t sound like him at all.”

“What do you want, Garrett?” she asks, turning her head finally to look me squarely in the face.

I can’t help it. My eyes flick straight to her mouth, her lips, before returning her gaze. “I wanted to see if you’re still mad at me. You haven’t been texting me back.”

“I texted you back,” she argues, mouth wide with indignation.

“Once, maybe.”

“Well, I was busy.”

“With what?”

“Homework. House stuff.”

“I saw you Friday. You don’t do chores on the weekend. And we’re on fall break. Try again.”

She sighs, but I’m right, and she knows it. I know her better than she realizes. “Fine. I’m still mad at you.”

I grin. “I knew it.”

Narrowing her gaze at me, her lips press together with confusion. “Why do you look happy about that?”

“Because I now have two whole days in the mountains to make you not mad.”

“That sounds like a horror movie waiting to happen.”

“Don’t be silly. With looks like these, I’m way more cut out for rom-coms.”

She pats my cheek. “Garrett. Sweet, sweet, Garrett. You wouldn’t know romance if you met it, had its babies, built it a house with your bare hands, and spent the next seventy years disappointing it in bed.”

The phrase leaves her mouth so casually, I open mine to respond but have to stop myself to process it. I chuckle. “I guess I get to prove you wrong.”

“Do you want to prove me wrong?” she asks, the question eerily reminiscent of the one she asked me Friday night.

“I always want to prove you wrong. It’s one of my three favorite hobbies.”

She drops her head back, then pretends to stand up. “Is it too late to get off this bus?”

I grab her arm, pulling her down. “Sit, woman. You aren’t going anywhere.”

She drops down beside me, and the smile washes from her face in an instant. She swallows, eyes traveling to where my hand is still on her arm.

I should let go, but I can’t. Not yet. Instead, my fingers run down the length of her skin, goose bumps lining every surface.

“Are you still dating Brendan?” It’s the question I’m desperate to have answered but am terrified to know the answer to.

She’s quiet, like she’s trying to gather her thoughts—or maybe prepare me for the blow of her response—and finally, she says, “We got engaged actually.”

Time stops.

“And I’m having his baby.”

Then a smile.

“You’re an ass.”

Her smile cracks open wider as I shake my head, clutching a hand to my chest.

“Are you trying to kill me?”

She opens her mouth to answer, but Mrs. LeClere calls our attention to the front of the bus where she begins to remind us about the rules for the trip. They range from “don’t wander away from the lodge” to “don’t hit your classmates with ski equipment.” She looks at Will specifically when she says that last one.

As she’s taking attendance, a wad of paper hits me in the back of the head, and I whip around just as Mrs. LeClere shouts, “Becker, do I need to kick you off the bus before we even leave the parking lot?”

I snicker as Will ducks behind the seat in front of him and calls back, “No, ma’am. Sorry. I, uh, sneezed. My bad.”

The bus rattles with laughter, and Will lifts up finally, meeting my eyes and pointing to a blonde head sitting next to him in his seat. Cassidy Cole.

I nod, understanding that my original seat is now taken, and I’m staying right here. I steal a glance at Tessa, knowing I hadn’t truly planned to go anywhere. A corner of her mouth draws inward as she tries not to look at me, not to smile.

Oh, this is going to be fun.