Cipher

Chapter Four

Summer dumped her notebook and chemistry book on the desk Monday morning and flopped into the chair. Her day had barely started, and she was already irritated at life in general. The ups and downs with Cody were still eating at her. She wasn’t sure she was ready to go back to happy, cuddly couple, like he wanted. But then she’d think of life without him, and she couldn’t decide if that meant she cared or she was just weak.

Troy took his usual spot to her left and draped his long arms across his desk, leaning in her direction. “I’ve got some scoop for you.”

She pushed away her stormy thoughts and spun to face him. “Sweet! I’ve always wanted my very own gossip girl.”

Troy scowled and sat back in his seat, arms crossed. “Now I’m not going to tell you. You don’t deserve to know.” He tried to pull off angry, but a twitch in the corner of his mouth gave him away.

Summer nudged his shoe with the toe of hers and shot him a smile. “Oh, come on. I’m really intrigued now.”

Troy raised an eyebrow, letting the suspense build. Just when she was about to ask if she had to beg, he ran a hand through his messy dark hair and said, “Unicorn Stench is playing at Equinox on Friday night.”

Her heart skipped a couple beats as she thought of seeing one of her favorite bands live. “But I thought they broke up. I heard Johnny and Francie couldn’t play together after their relationship went sour.”

“They got back together. Now they’re playing together again, too.”

Hmm. I guess it’s completely normal to break up and get back together. Everyone does it.

“Apparently, the breakup inspired them to write some awesome new songs.” Troy propped his elbows on his desk and leaned in close. “So, you down? I’m sure you have to check with Studmuffin and all, but you shouldn’t miss it.”

Summer lowered her eyebrows. “I don’t need permission from him. He’s my boyfriend, not my dad.”

Troy threw his hands up. “I just know that things got messy last time. You’re welcome to come with the group I’m getting together if your boyfriend doesn’t want to go.”

Summer and Troy used to go to Equinox together all the time. Kristen, his tattooed, leather-jacket-wearing girlfriend at the time, wasn’t exactly pleased with their friendship. Then Summer started dating Cody, and he wasn’t a big fan either. The last time she and Troy went to a show together, it had caused a major fight with Cody. Right now, though, Summer was annoyed enough with him not to care.

Mr. Jennings stood and cleared his throat, his way of telling everyone class was starting. “Get out your notebooks. This information is going to be on your next test.” He stood at the white board and started writing notes with his green marker.

“I’ll let you know about the show,” Summer whispered to Troy. She turned back to her desk and opened her notebook.

Ashlyn Moore’s name glared back at her in giant print. Summer quickly flipped to another page. And another. Every page had Ashlyn’s name written across it. Her heart rate picked up speed, each beat bringing pang of panic. She slammed her notebook closed. Engraved on the top of the desk, in giant, square letters, was Ashlyn’s name.

“What the hell?” Realizing where the message had to be coming from, she said, “I mean, heaven. Maybe.” Over the weekend, she’d decided the conversation with Gabriella had never happened. It had just been a weird dream. And that odd desire to meet Ashlyn at the beach party, that was just a coincidence. Her mind playing tricks on her. She even convinced herself that the brochure had come in the mail or slipped into her backpack somehow.

So much for my never happened theory. And denial seemed like such a good idea.

“You have a question, Summer?” Mr. Jennings asked.

Summer looked up from the engraving. Most of her classmates were staring at her, eyes wide. “No. I…I grabbed my wrong notebook. I’ll, um, just use the one I’ve got.”

Mr. Jennings took up his lecture again, and Summer’s gaze returned to her desk. The name wasn’t there anymore. She ran her hand over the surface of the desk, feeling the smooth, unblemished top underneath her fingertips. When she re-opened her notebook, she found the pages blank.

She exhaled a shaky breath, her heart still pumping way too fast. Okay, I get it. I don’t need any more freaky messages.

Obviously, she couldn’t put off her supposed assignment any longer. Meeting Ashlyn Moore just got bumped to the top of her to-do list.

The bell rang, and Summer gathered her books. She checked the desk one more time, expecting to see the name again, but found nothing. She put her hand on Troy’s arm. “Hey, do you know Ashlyn Moore?” she asked, wanting to see how well he knew her, and get any possible insight she could.

“Yeah. Cool girl. Good skater, too. I know she’s a fan of Unicorn Stench, so I was going to ask her if she wants to go with us to the show.”

“Can you introduce me to her? Like at lunch or something? I need to get to know her.” That last sentence was supposed to stay in her head. Maybe he wouldn’t notice.

Troy’s dark eyebrows drew together. So he noticed. “Suuure,” he said, drawing it out. “But why?”

“Um, long story. I…” No possible way to explain popped into her head. “Can you introduce me or not?”

His eyes bored into her, and she felt heat climb into her neck. She forced herself not to squirm under his scrutiny—if she’d known it was going to be this awkward, she would’ve skipped it and gone it alone. “Meet me by the front of the cafeteria and I’ll take you over,” he said.

“Thanks.” The heavy feeling she’d been carrying around since Friday afternoon lifted, and her muscles relaxed. Even if it turned out she was suffering from hallucinations and nothing more, the safe bet would be to at least introduce herself to the girl. If she was lucky, she’d simply meet someone new, there would be no follow up, and no one would be worse for wear.

Of course, she’d never been especially lucky.

As Summer walked with Kendall toward the cafeteria, apprehension churned in her gut. Meeting people had been hard enough when she’d first moved here. As soon as Summer proved she could dance, Kendall had pulled her into her circle of friends. She’d gotten comfortable there and remained isolated in her little group. Once she started dating Cody, she’d been so all about him that she made him most of her world.

And now she had to figure out what to say to a complete stranger. A complete stranger whom she was supposed to help somehow.

“I’m still so annoyed we don’t get to go anywhere for lunch. Closed campus sucks.” Kendall ran her icy-blue eyes down the girl in front of them and leaned closer to Summer. “What was that girl thinking, putting that skirt with those leggings? The stripes are so not flattering.”

Summer didn’t say anything. Already, she was going over greetings and good starter topics in her head.

“Are you even listening to me?” Kendall asked.

“Oh, um, I guess her outfit looks okay to me.”

“That’s right. You used to be fashion-challenged, too. Thank goodness you met me.”

Looking down at her own clothes, Summer realized Kendall heavily influenced what she wore. While she didn’t think she’d ever been fashion-challenged, it was true she’d gotten more into clothing and accessories once she moved here. Dressier, perfectly coordinated outfits had replaced the T-shirts and jeans she used to wear. Her feet were now conditioned for long days in heels. She even noticed when people didn’t match or wore two different styles that didn’t go together, something she never used to think about.

“Hey guys,” Kendall said as Jack and Cody headed toward them. Jack put his arm around Kendall; Cody reached out and grabbed Summer’s hand. Together, they finished the walk to the cafeteria.

Kendall twisted a lock of her hair around her finger. “So once we get to our table, I’ve got a few music suggestions for our dance routine.”

Summer had a feeling this wasn’t going to go over too well, but she didn’t have a choice anymore. “Actually, I’ve got to go talk to some people. I’m going to have lunch with them.”

“You’re not going to sit with me?” Cody asked.

“Not today.”

Cody’s posture stiffened. “Are you punishing me?”

Kendall didn’t let Summer answer him before adding her complaint. “Whatever it is can’t be more important than choosing the music for our routine. We don’t have a lot of time.”

“I’m sure whatever you and the girls decide is fine for music. You can show it to me at practice.” Summer turned to Cody, flinching at his hurt expression. “You’re not being punished. I’ll see you after school, okay?”

She spotted Troy in the corner, waiting for her. “Later,” she called over her shoulder, quickening her step before either of them could protest further. When she reached Troy, she swung an arm in front of her. “After you, Mister Bond.”

She followed him to the back of the lunchroom, where he stopped at the last, tucked-into-a-corner table. “Hey guys,” he said. “What’s going on?”

“Aaron and Darren are locked in a heated death match again,” a girl with mousy-colored hair said.

“A death match?” Summer glanced at the two boys who were the epitome of nerd. They both had giant foreheads, round glasses, and long limbs exploding out of their tiny torsos. “That sounds serious.”

“It’s just chess,” the girl said.

One of the guys froze, his hand hovering over one of the pieces. “Pfht! ‘Just chess!’”

Troy seemed unfazed, like this happened all the time. “So, I want you guys to meet Summer.”

All eyes moved to her.

“This is Aaron and Darren.” Troy pointed at the two boys playing chess. “Twins, in case it wasn’t obvious.”

They flashed her identical toothy grins. “Nice to meet you,” one of them said.

“Howdy,” the other added.

“They’re also amazing with computers and math. That’s Marcie.” Troy pointed at the girl who’d informed them about the death match. Everything about the girl was plain. No makeup. Faded, shapeless clothes. Hair pulled into a low ponytail.

“Nelson.” Troy motioned toward a pale kid with startling black hair. The charcoal hue had to be the result of hair dye.

“And this is Ashlyn.” Troy pointed to the last person in the group. The one Summer needed to get close to.

Ashlyn’s shiny brown hair hung down past her shoulders. She had on a cute red top that brought out the color in her cheeks. She looked healthy. A little too healthy. She’d be really pretty if she did a little exercise and lost twenty or thirty pounds.

A wave of guilt hit Summer. She felt bad her mind automatically went all judgmental. “Hi everyone,” she said when she realized she should say something.

Ashlyn narrowed her eyes and gave Summer the once over. “So, what are you doing over here at the island of misfits? We’re not your usual group.”

Summer shrugged. “I thought I should get to know more people. Broaden my horizons.”

“Yay for us,” Ashlyn mumbled.

This is going to be harder than I thought. Summer had pictured herself swooping in, fixing whatever problems this girl had going on, then moving on with her normal life.

“Mind if I join you guys for lunch?” Summer asked, determined not to give up.

Marcie scooted over, making room for Summer and Troy.

Summer sat down and ate a few bites of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich before trying again. “So, Ashlyn, Troy tells me you’re a fan of Unicorn Stench.”

“I like all awesome bands,” Ashlyn said.

“See, I usually go for the un-awesome.”

Ashlyn glared. Like Kendall, she didn’t seem to be a fan of sarcasm.

Summer looked to Troy for support. He was talking to the Nelson kid, no longer part of the conversation with Ashlyn. Giving up on his help, she turned her attention back to the girl. “Anyway, I can’t wait to hear their new stuff.”

“Me neither,” Ashlyn said. Not with any enthusiasm, but the hate seemed to be at bay for now.

Summer’s gaze drifted to her usual table, where all her friends sat, laughing and talking. She wanted to be over there with them, where things wouldn’t be all weird, and forget this whole thing. With a sigh, she turned back to her sandwich and the girl she was ordered to get to know by the Angel of Death.

Just power through, and it’ll be done before you know it.