CHAPTER 11
It was just before eight. I stood at the bus stop, full of anticipation, wearing a brown suede miniskirt that I felt slightly ridiculous in. I’d bought the skirt in Inverness to impress Payton, because all I’d packed for my trip were jeans, shorts, and casual tops—and one nice dress, just in case I had to go to church. But I desperately wanted to look good, so I splurged on the skirt. I paired it with a low-cut black sweater and hid the not-enough-cleavage problem with a cute scarf.
I had missed Payton. I’d been glowing all day since he’d called me darling. My thoughts were whirling: Was I really in love? Could he actually be in love with me? Maybe in a few hours, I’d get my first kiss. I was dizzy just thinking about the possibility.
His white SUV turned the corner and stopped next to me.
Payton looked even better than in my memory. His light-brown hair was casually ruffled, and his eyes had a sparkle like the sunlight I’d seen on the lochs. I’d barely buckled my seat belt when he hit the gas and the car took off.
“What story did you have to make up so you could see me?”
“None. I just told Roy that a really great guy had invited me to go to a pub, and he was totally cool about it. He just said that I should resist the urge to find out what Scots wear under their kilt on a first date.”
Payton laughed. “Oh, if I had realized that you’d been wondering about that, I would’ve worn my kilt.”
It felt like my heart might actually beat out of my chest. Thank God I was sitting down.
We had been driving for only about five minutes when Payton steered into a parking space and we crossed the street to a pub. From outside, I could already hear the sound of amplified guitar. Payton politely held the door for me. I was surprised how many people were packed into the place. I tried to push through the crowd but didn’t get very far, so I was glad when I suddenly felt Payton’s hand on my shoulder. He guided me to an empty table in the corner, where it was a bit quieter.
Most of the patrons were thronged around the bar while up on stage, two guys were playing guitar and singing rowdy folk songs. I yanked my miniskirt down a bit and slid into a chair. It was hot inside and a lot livelier than most parties Kim dragged me to back home. I was kind of excited to be in a pub to begin with. I was surprised that no one checked my ID.
A stocky waitress made her way skillfully through the crowd to take our order: two ales and two fish suppers. Payton had told me I needed to get to know the local food, and it was either that or the haggis. And when he revealed that haggis is sheep’s stomach filled with offal, I chose the fish dish, no further questions asked.
The music was fabulous, but you had to shout to have a conversation. I leaned over to Payton, quite close to him.
“How was your meeting with your brother?”
Payton drew away from me a little bit and shrugged.
“Eh, it went OK. He’s kind of a pain in the neck. He wants to meet you.”
“Me? Why? You told him about me?”
“Yes, and now he’s curious.”
It suddenly got quieter. The musicians climbed off-stage for a break and headed for the bar. A few people made toasts to them, merrily clinking glasses together. One of the musicians shouted something, and everyone laughed.
“What did he say?” I asked.
“He said that there are two empty guitars, and that anyone is welcome to go up and play while they enjoy a few beers. Would you like to?”
Actually, I could play guitar fairly well, but I didn’t want to make a fool of myself in front of Payton, much less a pub full of strangers.
“No way. But what about you?”
He thought about it briefly, and then, to my surprise, he nodded.
“You know what? I haven’t played for ages, but why not?”
He took my hand and pulled me toward the stage. He nodded at the smiling musicians, bowed to the other guests, and sat down on the stool. The crowd quieted, expectantly. Then Payton began to sing in Gaelic. Although I couldn’t understand the words, the tune was beautiful.
Payton plucked at the strings of the guitar at the exact same speed as the beating of my heart. His eyes were locked on me. My vision narrowed, and it was as if we were alone. The world around us had stopped turning. Only he and I and this old song existed.
After the last chords died away, there was a burst of applause and a free whiskey from the crowd.
“And now you,” he demanded, shoving the instrument into my hands. Everyone clapped encouragingly, so even though I was sweating, I gave in. Just as seriously and thoughtfully as Payton, I sat down on the stool. I bowed slightly. Then I launched into “I Gotta Feeling”—strumming and singing way more energetically than the crowd was expecting.
I immediately won the audience over. They laughed, and in a flash they were all singing along with the Black Eyed Peas song. That was excellent because my voice is only so-so.
I searched for Payton’s eyes. He wasn’t singing, but he was smiling. Better than nothing. The last verse of the song was completely drowned out by the clapping and chanting of the crowd. When I climbed off the stage, I was handed a glass of whiskey of my own. Payton and I squeezed our way back to our table through the jubilant crowd.
“That was excellent. You were great! My mushy love song was no match.”
I was still quite breathless and really hot. Without thinking, I pulled off my scarf and wiped the thin layer of sweat from my face.
Suddenly, Payton froze. He stared at my neckline and looked totally crushed. He grabbed me roughly by the arm, pulled me toward him, and took my pendant into his hand.
“What. Is. That?” His voice was dangerously quiet. He held my arm in a viselike grip and fixed me with an icy-cold stare.
“Nothing… What do you mean? Ow, let go of me!”
I tried to free myself, but he yanked me even closer.
“Sam”—the way he said my name sounded almost like a threat—“tell me where you got this pendant, immediately!”
I had no idea what was going on. His fingers dug painfully into my skin, and his face had clouded. His cheekbones were standing out as he clenched his jaw, and his lips were bloodless and tightly shut.
“Let go of me! What are you doing?”
I jerked away, horrified, and rubbed my arm.
Payton practically knocked the table over as he abruptly left the pub. Not sure what to do, I stood there a moment. Our order hadn’t even arrived yet. I pulled a ten-pound note from my purse and put it on the table, and then I followed my strange companion outside.
He wasn’t in front of the pub, so I crossed the road and looked around. His car was still there, and Payton was behind it, just standing there.
“What’s wrong with you?” I was furious. The evening wasn’t turning out at all like I’d hoped.
“With me? You’re asking me?”
Payton was shouting so loud I jumped.
“Yes, I’m asking you! What was that, back in the pub, with the necklace? I’m really getting fed up with your mood swings!”
“I need to know what that is.” He motioned at my necklace in disgust.
“It’s called jewelry! I inherited it, if you really want to know. But I don’t know how that’s any of your business.” I wrapped my scarf around my neck again and crossed my arms in front of my chest.
“You inherited it? A Cameron heirloom? That actually explains quite a lot!”
Well, good for you, I thought, because I didn’t understand a thing, except that every time I was about to kiss a boy, something went terribly wrong. I was close to tears. Just minutes before, everything had been perfect. Then suddenly we were facing each other like enemies. And I didn’t even know why. I didn’t want things between us to end like this. Carefully, I reached out my hand.
“Payton, please. Tell me what’s going on. I really don’t understand why you’re so upset.”
A single tear rolled down my cheek, but he seemed made of stone. He didn’t answer.
I yelled his name one more time. I wanted to hit or shake him, just to get him to react. But he shook his head and lowered his eyes.
“I have to go,” he said. “We shouldn’t meet again.”
Without looking at me, he got into his car and started the engine. I was trembling and tears were streaming down my face, but I didn’t care. I helplessly stood watching the taillights of his car get smaller and smaller.
A bunch of people came out of the pub laughing and disappeared down the road. I stood there dumbstruck. Then I wiped the tears off my face and started to walk home. Thankfully, we had stayed in Aviemore and I was home within ten minutes.
As I passed through the living room, Alison looked concerned, but she was polite enough not to question me. I was relieved when she didn’t follow me up the stairs.
I banged the door behind me and threw myself onto the bed, sobbing into my pillow until I could hardly breathe. I hated Payton. I hated Scotland. I hated Mr. Schneider for getting me into this mess. I hated my parents for agreeing to his plan. And most of all, I hated most this stupid, stupid pendant!
I tore the necklace from my neck and flung it away. It slid over the wooden floor and wrapped itself around a table leg. I didn’t care. I didn’t plan to ever touch that thing again.
I decided I had to talk to Kim and tell her everything. It was only five thirty in Delaware, so hopefully Kim would be around. She answered after only three rings. I was so happy to hear her voice that I couldn’t speak right away; I had too many tears in my throat.
“Sam? Is that you? What’s wrong?”
“Oh God, Kim, everything is terrible!” I sobbed and sniffed into my cell phone.
“Oh no, sweetie. Do you want me to fly over and kick some English butt?”
“Scots. They’re called Scots here. I’m in Scotland, Kim.” But her reaction made me feel better, and I could at least put together a complete sentence. I told her about Payton, how much I liked him and how mysterious he was. Then I told her about his scary behavior that evening.
“Wow, I don’t know what to say,” Kim said. “But this I do know. Your Prince Charming seems to be totally insane. You should just forget about him.”
That pissed me off. It was easy for her to say. After all, she was constantly falling in love, but when it didn’t work out, she found a replacement right away. But this was the first time I had ever been in love. Completely. The full package. And I knew I’d never find someone like Payton again. I didn’t want to forget about him.
“Oh, Kim. It’s not that easy! I love him!”
Silence.
“Uh, hello?” she said. “Your exchange program is going to be over in two weeks. You’re still coming home, no? It’s not exactly convenient to be in love with someone who lives on the other side of the world.”
That was Kim. Tell it like it is.
“I think I’ll die if I can’t see him again,” I wailed, trying to imagine a future without his sparkling eyes.
“Well, don’t die immediately. There’s still Ryan…”
“Hmph! That conceited idiot. I couldn’t care less about him.”
“Oh really? Maybe I should fill you in on what’s been going on here in Milford. I’m still seeing Justin, by the way—not that you asked—and things are going really well. Your hoochie cousin Ashley got here right after you left, and sure enough she started chasing Ryan, and I guess he was desperate for some consolation after you broke his heart, poor guy. Anyway, they were spotted together a few times, but all of a sudden, no longer. Justin thinks Ryan got tired of her because he’s actually totally fallen for you.”
“Ryan is in love with one person, and that’s himself. Surely Ashley isn’t going to give up that easily. And you know yourself what Ryan is like. He’s not exactly picky.”
“Yes, but he told Justin that he thinks about you all the time. And he keeps asking me if I’ve talked to you and how you’re doing.”
I didn’t want to talk about Ryan anymore. Kim obviously didn’t understand my situation. No matter what happened with Payton and me, I could never get over him so easily.
“Listen Kim, I have to get going, can you do me a small favor?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Be nice to Ashley? I don’t really like her either, but don’t forget she’s kind of messed up because her mom died when she was so young. It’s got to be hard. And she’s probably not doing too well if she had an argument with Ryan.”
“Oh, Sam! Ashley wouldn’t talk to me anyway. I’m sure she’s doing just fine.”
“Kim, please. Just go by the house and say hi. And while you’re there, you can do me another favor.”
“No way, José. I am not going to talk to Ashley, and you can forget the second thing, too!”
“Please… It’s for school,” I lied. “There’s a book in my bedroom, a red book. I just need you to look and see if there’s anything in it about a Scottish clan by the name of Cameron. I’ll call you again tomorrow night, OK?”
I put the phone down on the bedside table and slid under the covers, too tired to undress.
I longed to talk to Payton, to tell him how much I loved him, and to find out why the necklace had made him so upset. Tears ran down my cheeks and onto my pillow. The hands of the clock crawled on relentlessly, and I tossed and turned from side to side. With Payton’s Gaelic song running through my head, I eventually cried myself to sleep.