Lanterns In The Sky Read online

  When it finally hit me, my stomach felt like lead.

  No way… it couldn't be…

  "Do you need me to walk you home?” he offered. My heart thudded in my chest. I knew exactly who this was, and it seemed so surreal—yet it was real. I had seen him earlier today, in the photograph that Valarie grabbed from me when I accidentally stumbled upon it in her drawer.

  "I can't,” I said quickly, stepping back firmly. "I should be getting home—my mum is going to be livid if I miss dinner."

  I was standing in the middle of this clearing, with all those houses backing onto us. Anyone could look out and see us, and if they did, the rumours would spread like wildfire in the community. That was one of the disadvantages of a small town—not that I was doing anything wrong. But context was everything, and the last thing I needed was for Valarie to catch wind of this, especially when she was finally opening up to me again. I suspected that in itself was because of this very guy, who shrugged at me and stuck his hands in his pockets.

  I had to say, that photo in Valarie's drawer didn't quite do his looks justice. Something about the moonlight, and the way it caught his cheekbones, made him seem sharper and more mature in person.

  "Suit yourself,” he said idly. He looked at me for a moment before adding, "You're welcome, by the way. Most people who receive an act of kindness thank the person who helped them."

  I couldn't stop my eyebrow from springing up in disbelief. Was this guy so insecure that he had to beg for praise when doing the right thing?

  "Uh, thanks,” I replied stiffly.

  "—Jason,” he said quickly. "I'm Jason."

  I raised the other eyebrow, now staring at him judgmentally.

  "Nice to meet you, Jason,” I said. "I should get going now."

  I turned to leave, but he reached over and placed a hand on my upper arm. It only lasted a second, though, because the moment my head whipped back around, it flung off again, as if it had never been there. But his eyes locked with mine once more, and he said, "You never told me your name."

  Come on, seriously? Take a hint!

  "It's Lucy,” I said blankly.

  "Do you like parties, Lucy?"

  I was so thrown off by his question that my mouth fell open in silent response. I blinked a few times before I managed to force out, "N-not really.”

  "My friend Adam is throwing one tomorrow night. It's open-door, so if you feel like going…"

  I shook my head, on the verge of laughing. What kind of guy finds a girl knocked out in a clearing and then proceeds to invite her to a party?

  "Are you for real?"

  Not only was this the strangest situation I'd been in with a guy, but this was the guy who Valarie was keeping a picture of. I could only assume he meant something to her, and right now I was treading some very dangerous waters. I had to get out of here, pronto. So, for good measure, I responded, "I'm sure you have someone better to invite than some stranger you found unconscious in a field."

  He simply shrugged, tilting his head a little to the side.

  "Your loss. I guess I'll just see you around then… Lucy."

  The way he'd said my name sounded strange; it seemed to falter on his tongue, almost as if he had been unsure of it. I smiled tightly again, bidding him goodbye, and went on my way. This time, he didn't stop me, and I didn't look back even once. I didn't notice him watching my retreating back until I'd made it well into the trees. And I definitely didn’t notice the silver orb lying shrouded in the grass, only a few feet away from where we'd been.

  * * *

  When I got home, I burst through the front door and raced upstairs to shower before dinner. I stank like a garden bed—covered in dirt and sweat. I showered faster than I cared to, knowing my family was downstairs and already halfway through their meals.

  After I'd traded the smell of mud for roses and changed into my sleepwear, I scurried down to join my family at our large glass dining table. A lukewarm serving of silverside waited for me. Silverside had always been my favourite beef dish.

  "Finally!” Kyra drawled when I sat down. "Where were you?"

  "Sorry I'm late,” I told them, not wanting to get into why. I avoided their stares and dug into my silverside. It tasted cold and bland in my mouth, but I was hungry enough not to care.

  "How did it go with your music exam?” Mum asked Kyra. She was always asking us about stuff like that. What did you get for this test? How did that exam go? Do you need any tutoring in this subject? More often than not, dinner felt like an interrogation.

  "It was good. I just need to work on my piano theory more,” Kyra replied, and Mum nodded, mentally taking note of that.

  My grandparents had moved here from England in the early 1900s. My mum, Rachel, was still struggling with the culture shock—she was hardworking at the best of times, but she just couldn't seem to get over the concept of work-life balance that the Europeans were so familiar with. Mum had even gone back to England for a few years, studied at Cambridge University, and was now a lawyer at a successful firm in town. My dad, Tony, was a therapist. In comparison, he was a little more relaxed—he even made a point to put aside time and go to the cinema with us regularly. But between the two of them, the expectations for my sister and I were through the roof.

  Mum turned to me, and I was expecting her to quiz me about my upcoming history test. But she surprised me.

  "How was Valarie?"

  I blinked, and my prepared answer about my test flew out the window.

  "She's… getting better, I think,” I said, and Mum nodded.

  "It must be so hard on her,” she said, her eyes sad, and I nodded in agreement. A heavy silence filled the air the moment we brought it up, and I flashed back to that night: receiving the phone call from Valarie's mother, Karen, Valarie in hysterics in her hospital room… but Mum quickly went on to talk about a big client she was dealing with at work, which effectively waved away the tension.

  I was used to how my family did dinner, but sometimes I wondered what it would be like to sit at a dinner table and just… talk openly about anything, as long as it wasn't studying or work. That's how it was at Valarie's house. Her mother was always asking how her day had gone or making plans to spend time together on the weekend. No expectations, no pressure to come up with an achievement. Just genuine concern for her well-being. Their dinners were always fun. One time, when I stayed over, her dad served dessert before dinner because Valarie had come home upset from school. It had been apple strudel, a mouth-watering pastry dish. She'd left the table smiling broadly that day.

  Everyone else had well and truly finished eating by the time I'd cleaned every scrap of silverside from my plate. To make up for making them wait, I offered to do all the dishes and spent a good amount of time rinsing off the plates and stacking the dishwasher. Then I headed back upstairs to finish my studying before climbing into bed.

  I drifted off to sleep, and before I knew it, I was caught up in a weird dream.

  The girl ran through the dark tunnel, her heart pounding. She didn't stop until she reached a battered, wooden door. It didn't budge when she tried to shove it open, and quickly realised it was held in place by a cluster of towering shrubs. The branches were firm, holding the door back, and the girl had to squeeze through to make it outside. The branches scraped against her smooth skin, and she pushed her way out until she stumbled into a courtyard.

  Her bare feet stung from the cold of the cobblestone path. The sound of clashing weapons and the scent of smoke drifted from the front of the palace, and nausea filled the girl's stomach. She followed the path, weaving through many hedges and white rose bushes, until she was close enough to see the fire burning and hear the shouts of the soldiers defending the palace.

  Paralysed by fear, all she could do was stand and watch. Her parents… they were still in there. Were they okay? Thoughts consumed her, swimming through her head until she finally mustered the strength to turn away. She couldn't stay here if she wanted to live—she had to run.


  She spun on her heels, then stopped, gasping sharply. A man stood there, gazing at her as if she were prey. His clothes were deep brown—the kind that reeked of the rebellion, the kind that helped him blend in and sneak around. He eased closer, and smugly said,

  "Found you."

  I jolted upright, drawing in raspy breaths. Sweat beaded on my forehead, and I felt sticky all over. The dream had been so vivid in my mind, every detail so intricate and intense that I could have sworn I'd really been there. The scent of roses still floated in my nose… but then I remembered it was just my soap from the bath earlier in the night.

  I shuddered, especially as the man’s face flashed through my mind once more. I'd never forget those disturbing eyes. I was certain that the dream had scarred me for life.

  I took a few deep breaths and focused on where I was now, looking at my books, my wardrobe, my window… sunlight streaming into my room, birds chirping outside. I am safe, I repeated over and over in my head. I am safe.

  "Lucy! Breakfast is ready!” Mum called from downstairs. I swallowed hard and shoved the dream to the back of my mind.

  "Coming!” I yelled back. I swung off the bed and headed downstairs.

  Mum drove us to school that morning because she had an appointment in town. She pulled up outside the gates of St. Clarise's Private School and shooed us both out of the car.

  "Have a good day! I'll see you tonight,” she blabbed hurriedly before driving off. Kyra rolled her eyes before stepping through the cast iron school gates. I followed, double-checking that I had my math book in my bag.

  The school was a beautiful building of white brick. The windows were narrow, with arched detailing, and the orange roofing had spires shooting out of the top.

  A hand appeared on my shoulder, making me jump.

  "Hey,” a familiar voice said, and Valarie fell into step beside me, wearing a small smile. Her brown hair was gleaming and falling in gentle waves around her heart-shaped face. Even her makeup had been toned down a bit. I tried to mask my surprise, but couldn't help the smile that grew on my lips. What had brought this about?

  "You're in a good mood,” I noted, nudging her playfully. I hoped to get a laugh out of her, but I was probably pushing my luck. Still, her expression didn't waver as she replied, "You'll never guess what happened last night, after you left. Do you remember Adam Bauer?”

  I raised an eyebrow at her.

  "Yeah?"

  Adam was this jock that had been in the grade above ours. He was really good at football—or soccer, if you're not European—and he was probably the best player the school had ever had. He'd even gotten a scholarship for it.

  "Well, he's back in town for a few weeks, and he's throwing this massive party tonight. I kind of got invited… and I was thinking about going."

  She paused and fidgeted slightly. I realized she was unsure about it—but I was sure she should go. She hadn't been out in months, and it would be good for her. Better than wallowing in her room, for sure.

  "Do it!” I encouraged, but she still hesitated.

  "It's just…” she trailed off. "I'm a little nervous to go alone. I just know there's going to be tons of people there—including Chrissy DeLane, and I haven't been to a big thing like this since… well, you know."

  I grimaced. While the old Valarie had pretty much been queen of the party scene, they really weren't my thing, so if she was suggesting what I thought she was suggesting…

  "I asked if I could bring someone, and they said yes."

  I frowned. Her words triggered my memory, and my conversation with Jason from last night came to mind. I couldn't help myself from saying, "I thought it was an open-door kind of party."

  Valarie stopped, her brow furrowing.

  "Wait, you heard about this party?"

  I blushed and quickly tried to cover my tracks. "I don't live under a rock, Valarie."

  I saw the hint of a smile on her lips, and my heart skipped a beat. Go on, I begged silently, my heart beating hopefully. Crack a joke…

  "Lucy?"

  We both looked around—Valarie before me. She frowned, her eyes fixated on where the voice had come from, and every nerve in my body went rigid when I spotted him. Jason strode through a parting crowd, every eye glued to him. His gaze flickered between the two of us. My eyes grew wide with shock.

  What was he doing here?

  He stood out like a sore thumb in his black leather jacket among a sea of private school uniforms. People murmured and whispered all around us.

  "Who is he?"

  "Does he go here?"

  He reached us, totally ignoring the crowd's confusion.

  "How's that head?” he asked me dryly, and I stood in stunned silence between the two of them. Valarie's confused, horrified expression was locked onto me, and I didn't even know how to begin explaining this.

  "It's… fine,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief. "What—why are you here?” Under the pressure of Valarie's suspicious glare, I felt like I was crumbling. This was her secret mystery guy, and now he'd come up to me at school as if we'd known each other all along.

  I had no words.

  Jason's gaze floated to Valarie, and something in his eyes softened.

  "I was just coming by to see if you were coming to the party,” Jason said. "Both of you,” he added, his gaze flickering to me.

  It hit me—Jason had been the person who extended the invitation. But why did he want me there so badly?

  "—wait a minute,” Valarie cut in finally, narrowing her eyes at the two of us. "Do you two… do you know each other?"

  He shrugged.

  "It's a small town. We've run into each other once or twice,” he said, an air of elusiveness in his voice. It sent chills down my spine seeing how smoothly he could dodge the question.

  Valarie frowned. "You never mentioned it."

  He shrugged at her. "It never came up.” He took a step back and eyed the two of us. "So, you're both coming?"

  Valarie slowly glanced at me, her gaze questioning. I let out a long, frustrated sigh. The thing was, I'd do anything for Valarie. She was my best friend, and if she wanted to go to a party with me, then I'd go. Just for her sake.

  "Okay,” I relented, feeling my own evening plans slip away.

  Valarie offered me a thankful smile, and I returned a genuine one despite my bitter feelings.

  "Good,” Jason said with a smile of his own. Something twisted inside of me, and I couldn't help but scowl at him. But he wasn't looking at me anymore—he'd turned to Valarie. "See you there."

  I noticed a light tinge of pink on Valarie's cheeks, even after Jason had strode out again. It was nice to see her happier, but I didn’t know what to make of that guy. Something about him didn't sit right with me.

  We both turned to head into the school, and I did my best to ignore all the curious stares coming our way.

  "So how long have you been seeing him?” I asked her quietly, and her eyes widened in horror.

  "It's not like that,” she replied quickly.

  I snorted. "It certainly seems like that."

  She scowled at me, pausing when she reached her locker. "He's just a friend. We met at a party, and we got along. That's all we are—friends."

  I raised my eyebrows pointedly at her, and she glared as if she were about to snap at me. But her shoulders slumped and she seemed to lose her fire as quickly as it had come.

  "Whatever,” she muttered, turning away from me to grab her books.

  As I waited, my gaze drifted down the hallway. I spotted two girls a little way down from us. One was sobbing quietly into the other girl's chest. Frowning, I tuned into their conversation.

  "But I swear, I didn't do it. They're never going to believe me!” the sobbing girl said, sniffling. She dried her eyes on the sleeve of her sweater.

  "Why can't you just report her?” the other girl asked, pushing up her glasses. The first one shook her head quickly.

  "They'll never listen—she covered herself up too
well,” she insisted. "I should never have gone to that party! She's so sneaky and manipulative. I didn't even know what she was doing, and now my life is ruined!"

  The second girl shook her head and folded her arms.

  "God, Chrissy's such a bitch."

  My stomach twisted uncomfortably, and discomfort raced through me. Chrissy DeLane was in our grade, and she was incredibly popular. But I'd heard rumours about her—that she blackmailed students to get her way, that she could threaten anybody… even adults. Of course, none of the rumours had ever been proven to be true, but it still made me wonder…

  I remembered Valarie telling me that Chrissy would be at Adam's party, and my gut twisted even more. Given Valarie's current circumstances, she would be a target for the kind of gossip and nasty blackmail that, as Chrissy's reputation suggested, she was so prone to spreading. I didn't want either of us to run into her.

  "Thanks for agreeing to come with me tonight,” Valarie said as we headed to class. "But… do me a favour?”

  I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

  "Wear something sexy."

  My eyes widened, and I opened my mouth to protest. She cut me off with the swift wave of a hand.

  "No buts,” she said promptly, wrinkling her nose. "Jeez, I'm never going to forget the time you turned up to Ella Leitner's party in knee-high socks and a freaking blazer. No preppy clothes! Trust me on this."

  I gawked at her.

  "Does it have to be sexy? Can't it just be casual?"

  The corners of her mouth twitched like she was amused. "Your definition of sexy is the definition of casual."

  I sighed. Could this day get any worse?

  "Fine,” I said, slumping my shoulders in defeat, and with a tone drenched in sarcasm, I added, "Sexy it is."

  Three

  I stood in my bedroom and critiqued my “sexy” outfit… except the word sexy and the contents of my wardrobe were worlds apart. The most risqué thing I owned was a semi-transparent salmon blouse and a white skirt that ended just above my knees.