I must have looked like a complete doofus, caught in a spellbound daze. She chuckled and stepped away from me. “See you tomorrow, Zach.”
“See ya.” I raised my hand, but she’d already turned and was walking towards the road. Finally, finally, my brain kicked into action and I smiled, then I grinned and then I had to fully resist the urge to whoop and pump my fist in the air. Instead, I yanked open my car door and let out a loud chuckle.
I knew Dani had secrets and yes, I still wanted to know what they were, but right that second I couldn’t have cared less who she really was. Danielle Harrison had kissed me and even that brief connection had been enough to frazzle my usually alert brain. There was no denying it now, my intrigue was fading, being replaced with something that could open my life to a whole lot of angst, but also a whole lot of something I wanted plenty more of.
I started my car, still grinning like a chimpanzee and sang my way home on a euphoric high. If only I’d known I was about to come crashing down off my love struck cloud.
*****
Dinner went well. It always did. Mom’s sister, Louise, was a peach and the world’s best cook. Maybe not better than AJ, but her meals were the best home cooked thing I’d ever come across. So having been stuffed with crispy roast potatoes, juicy pork fillet with apple sauce and some vegetable concoction that tasted divine, I followed my eager cousin up to his room so he could show me his latest project.
“The year book’s coming together so great. See what I did here?” Luke pointed to the computer screen, his graphics for the Lowell High School’s Winter Formal looking magical. I leaned over his chair and soaked in the images, admiring his page layout and the color scheme he’d chosen.
For a sixteen year old, Luke kicked ass at graphics. Elliot and Jaeda would be impressed by his work. I’d have to show them. When he’d made it onto the yearbook committee earlier in the year, he’d phoned me all excited. Any chance to show off his graphics skills thrilled the kid.
I glanced at his bed and looked at all the old yearbooks sprawled across his duvet.
“Wow, you’re really researching this.” I picked up the book closest to me and gazed at the images.
“I want to do a good job. I want to wow the school, you know? Take it up a notch.” His desk chair rolled towards me and he spun around to see which yearbook I was looking at.
“That’s from last year. I don’t like how they laid out the pages.” He pointed over my arm. “See the way those colors clash.” He made a face. “Plus, that picture is totally aligned wrong and this one down here would have looked way better up there.”
I didn’t see what he was talking about, my eyes were too busy locked on a picture on the left hand page. I frowned, pulling it closer to my face. Was that Dani? I mean, she looked a little different, her hair was longer and darker, but that was definitely her face.
“What are you looking at?” Luke nudged me.
“That girl.” I tapped my thumb next to the photo. “She goes to my school now.”
“Let’s see.” Luke took the book from me. “Oh yeah, that’s Riley. She goes to Monte Vista? I was wondering what’d happened to her.”
I flinched. “Riley? Don’t you mean, Dani?”
“What?” Luke’s forehead creased. “No, that’s Riley Mitchell.”
I took the book from him and looked at the picture again. “You sure? It’s not Danielle Harrison?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. Half the freshman guys were totally in love with her. She was only at the school for like two months, maybe. It wasn’t long, but she certainly left an impression. She was a senior and way out of our league though.”
“A senior? But I thought you said this was from last year?”
He flicked the cover over. “Yeah, 2012-2013. Why are you looking so pale?”
“I’m not.” I shook my head. “I just…. She looks so much like Dani it’s freaky. What did you say her name was again?”
“Riley Mitchell. She was beautiful, a little quiet, but she was dating this really rich prat, Miles Filmore. Such a dick.” Luke made a face, sticking out his tongue in disgust.
My gut twisted. “Yet she dated him anyway?”
“Yeah.” Luke shrugged. “She didn’t always look as though she wanted to, but I guess he was good-looking and had a nice car. Some chicks do that kinda thing. You know, date rich guys for the perks. But in saying that, he was pretty whipped. I mean he almost seemed nice when they were dating. I think he really liked her.”
“How long were they together?” My insides were coiled so tight I was surprised I could keep my voice so even.
“Like I said, she was only at the school for a short time and then she just left. No one really knew what happened to her. Her family moved I guess.”
“So she just left without saying goodbye?”
“Well she didn’t say goodbye to me.” Luke grinned, but a frown fluttered over his face. “You know, I did hear some rumors though. I was never sure whether to believe them or not. But I couldn’t help wondering if there was more to her departure.”