…
Back in the gym, I stood in a daze. Whatsisface and Tish leaned against the wall close by me, holding hands, Tish looking lost, Whatsisface looking protective. Egon had gone outside to bring his car around to take me home. The teachers had shut the dance down early. They were out in the hall, probably planning for the massive police investigation that would be coming. The students who drove had been allowed to leave. The couple dozen who didn’t had called home, and waited in the gym for their rides. All around me, I heard them whispering, shocked at what had happened.
“Did you hear about Hollisburg?”
“I can’t believe it.”
“I never expected this from Kathryn.”
“She seemed so decent.”
Whatsisface said, loud enough for everyone to hear, “It’s a lie. Kathryn would never do this. She is the most decent person I know.”
Art Rubric staggered out of nowhere, pushing his way through the crowd. “Decent, shmee-sent,” he slurred. “I told you she’s a user! Not the goodie-two-shoes she pretends to be, is she? I should know. I sold it to her.”
Helpless tears burned my eyes. The filthy liar.
“Shut up!” I screamed. “Just shut up!”
Art tottered toward me, stopping just inches away. His body weaved, his crossed eyes worked to focus as he grinned down at me. Rancid breath rolled out of his foul mouth across my face as he spoke. “Truth hurts, huh, Peroxide? She never even offered you any, did she? Kept it all to herself. Some friend.”
“Let me show you what hurts.” My purse slid from my shoulder. My hand curled into a fist. My arm drew back. As Rubric’s bloodshot eyes grew wide, I fired off the most devastating haymaker I had ever unleashed, right at his ugly, slimy nose. Just before impact, something incredibly strong stopped my fist dead. A huge hand had caught me by the crook of the elbow.
Mason’s hand.
The gym went silent.
Mason’s face was drawn like a lost little boy. He tried to smile at me, but couldn’t. He released my arm and turned to the crowd.
“What’s wrong with you people?” Mason asked quietly, placing himself between Rubric and me. “Why do you believe Art’s lies so easily? Can’t you think for yourself? Aren’t you upset that this would happen to someone like Kathryn?” He paused to look around the room, and let out a loud sigh. He held his hands wide as though he were praying, and stared up at the ceiling for an instant. Then he dropped them to his sides and shook his head. “Doesn’t anyone stand up for friends anymore?”
The group moved to the other side of the gym without a word. A few of them looked back, anger in their eyes. I heard Whatsisface say, “He’s right. It’s time.”
Mason turned to Art. “You disappoint me. But you always have. Next time, I won’t stop her from punching your face in. I might even do it for her. Go home.”
Art’s eyes bugged wide, his mouth opened just a bit, and his lower lip quivered. Without a word, he spun clumsily and staggered across the gym.
Mason turned to me. The pain on his face was heartbreaking. He reached for my cheek, jerked his hand back like he had made a mistake, then wiped my tears away. He leaned down until our foreheads were nearly touching, and whispered, “Rinnie, I’m sorry about Kathryn. I’ll find out who did this.”
How could I tell him I already knew who did it? How could I tell anybody? Mason’s breath was warm and soft. The touch of his fingers on my cheek comforted me, and for the smallest instant, I felt like everything would be all right.
“I have to call Bobby,” Mason whispered. Then he left. Just like that. As quickly as he had come, he was gone.
I leaned against a stack of folded wrestling mats. I needed to sit down, but the floor was too low, and the mats were too high. I heard footsteps. A hand gripped my shoulder.
“Hey, mystery girl.” Egon turned me to face him. “Your chariot awaits. Ready to go?”
“Hey,” I said.
“You dropped this.” He held out my purse. “I’m a little worried. Are you and Kathryn involved in something? Something dangerous? If you need to talk about it, I’m a pretty good listener.”
“Oh, Egon.” Yeah, I was involved. Deeper than I had ever imagined. This was what it meant to be a Psi Fighter. It wasn’t just people I hardly knew getting hurt anymore. It was people I loved. But I couldn’t talk about it, not to Egon. Not to anybody, now. Kathryn was the only one outside the Academy I could ever talk to. “She’s my best friend.”
“Kathryn is in good hands.” Egon put his arms around me. “Bobby will take care of her. Let’s get you home.”
I buried my face in Egon’s shoulder and sobbed uncontrollably.
…