Betwixt

"And do what? Read your bibles?"

His eyebrows bunch together as he tries to hide his grin. "Sometimes. Not always. We usually just get together to have some fun."

"What kind of fun?"

"Games, paint ball, movies... last Friday we handed out glowsticks, turned out all the lights and danced our asses off."

I laugh. "To hymns?"

"Okay, your misconceptions are frightening."

He closes his locker and zips up his bag.

"Well excuse me, but I've never been to church before."

"Maybe you should come check it out."

"No thank you." I frown.

He looks a little insulted, but that half smile works its way through and pops his scar to the side.

"You think the only way to have fun is to get drunk, buy clothes, date losers and say bitchy things about people?"

I take a step away from him. Although they were said with light humor, I knew he meant every word.

"Wow." I swallow. "You really don't like me, do you?"

His eyes wash with quick regret as he hitches his bag onto his shoulder.

"I let you keep the dog tags, didn't I?"

I watch him walk away from me, not sure whether to be insulted or touched. Hanging out with him is the most confusing thing I've ever done. I stand there like an idiot, not sure what to feel.

My ghostly body takes charge and runs after him before I can stop myself.

I catch up and we walk side-by-side. He clears his throat and sniffs then glances over his right shoulder.

"I'm on your left."

His smile appears as he glances down at me. How can someone look so sure of themselves and so awkward at the same time?

"I can't imagine you dancing." The words tumble out before I can stop them.

Dale chuckles and whispers, "Believe me, if glow sticks hadn't been the only form of lighting, you couldn't have dragged me from a chair."

I grin.

"Did you go all Footloose on their butts?"

"You better believe it, baby."

Laughter rings out of me. It's such a surprising sound I actually stop walking. It is almost foreign to my ears... I haven't laughed like that since...

I swallow and frown.

No one can make me laugh anymore, at least not the genuine kind that's bubbling in my belly right now. How did Dale manage to do it?

Images of him Gleeking-it-up on the dance floor bring on a fresh wave of giggles. I swallow them back and chase after him.

Dale is standing at the school exit chatting to Adam Hutton. The guy is like Thor next to Dale. His broad frame takes up most of the doorway. I shuffle up beside them as they walk out the door. I can sense Dale listening out for me, so I give him a heads up.

"Behind your left shoulder."

He nods then tunes back into Adam's conversation.

"... wants me to apply to all the big east coast colleges. Where do you think you'll go next year?"

Dale shrugs.

"Not sure yet. I still need to check out some course guides and figure out what I want to do. It's only September, I don't want to get caught up with the whole college thing until I absolutely have to."

"Yeah." Adam forces out an awkward chuckle.

What's he got to worry about? He's going to be valedictorian for sure. The guy works harder than any other student at this school, not to mention the fact he's a star athlete and on the student council. The guy's so golden he's practically a statue.

I wonder how he came to be friends with Dale?

"Are you okay, man? You look kinda tired." Dale slaps him on the shoulder.

Who am I kidding? Dale is so nice to everybody, who wouldn't want to be friends with him.

Adam runs his hand through his shaggy blond hair. "I didn't sleep well last night. I worked late on an assignment then couldn't switch off." He shrugs and shoots Dale a nervous smile. "I'm my own worst enemy."

Dale grins and fishes in his pocket for his keys.

"Catch you later, man." Adam gives him a wave and saunters towards the bus stop.

"Hey, you want a ride?"

Adam's square face brightens with a smile. "You sure? That'd be awesome, thanks."

"What? Why?" I frown. I don't want to share the car with anyone else. I want to talk to Dale uninterrupted. "Do we really have time for this? Don't we have some pre-dark searching to do?"

Dale shoots a stern look in my direction. "He's on the way," he whispers.

Adam lopes over to the car and opens the passenger door.

Dale opens his door and pretends to fluff around with his bag, giving me time to jump in the back.

"Thanks," I whisper, still a little sulky.

He throws his bag in the back with a wink. I can't help smiling.

I shuffle back in the seat as Adam starts talking again.

"My mom stole my car."

Dale laughs. "What?!"

"Yeah, hers is in the shop getting fixed and she took off with mine for the day. She didn't even offer to swing by and collect me after school. Man, I hate catching the bus. You saved me, bro."

"Not a problem."

The car revs to life and Dale swings out of the parking lot.

I really don't like Dale's car. It's an old Toyota Corolla. A mustard yellow hunk of junk. Adam rolls down the window and we all wince at the high pitched screech.

"Sorry, man." Dale grins. "Had to save for this baby on my own, so it's... an inbetweener."

"Nah, it's cool."

Adam is being very polite. He owns a gorgeous midnight blue mustang that guys drool over and girls want rides in. He got it for his 16th birthday. It was a gift from his rich uncle and apparently his Dad (Sheriff Hutton) totally flipped out. After an epic battle he was allowed to keep the car, but I think the rules are pretty strict. If he ever gets in trouble - which he never does - but if he ever did, the car would be the first thing to go.

Adam is a really nice guy, but man, he struts like a peacock when he's walking into school each morning.

I roll my eyes as we bump our way to the Hutton home.

My phone chirps again and Dale reaches for it.

He frowns.

"You know it's really dangerous to read and drive."

He glances in the rearview mirror and shoots me a dry look. I grin.

Clearing his throat, Dale drops the phone in his lap and looks at Adam.

"You voted in the Nicole Poll today?"

"Nah, man. I'm not into that stuff." Adam looks out the window and clears his throat.

"Do you know her very well?"

"What are you doing?" I lean forward.

Adam shrugs.

"Yeah, sort of. We used to hang out a little when we were kids."

"So, what's up with her?

"What'd you mean?"

"Come on." Dale smiles. "Was she always like this?"

"Always like what?"

"You know, outspoken, irritating..."

I punch Dale as hard as I can. My fist goes straight through his shoulder, but at least I see him shiver.

Adam's still looking out the window, but gives a hearty laugh. I throw him the evils.

"No way." Adam shakes his head and turns back to face his friend. "She used to be awesome. We hung out all the time in middle school. There was this massive group of us and we used to do everything together. Nicole was always really organized and she'd come up with this whacky stuff for us to do."

I notice Dale's head tip to the side and his eyes narrow slightly. "What happened?"

"It's none of your business," I whisper sharply.

"Jody."