Page 32 of Wolf

We meet at ourusualspot, and I wince at the thought as I slide into her car. Sneaking out once, even twice is one thing but the more that number piles up, the higher the odds of getting caught.

I’m riding a thin line which disappears altogether when Darcy mutters and pulls the wheel, making a sharp turn back the way we came. When she does, her headlights illuminate the vehiclesitting in a vacant lot across the way, revealing the sheriff himself sitting behind the wheel.

Darcy doesn’t seem to notice but I sink in my seat and pray to god that he didn’t recognize me as she speeds down the street and makes a right.

This is so, not good but there’s nothing I can do now and I’m not exactly on a joyride. I have to warn my sister.

Despite agreeing to help me, Darcy remains cool, and I content myself with watching the scenery fly by while my thoughts race with all the scenarios of what might happen if the sheriff saw me.

The easy answer is a beating. But will I get the closet this time? No food or water for a few days…or something worse.

Shuddering at the thought, I welcome the intrusion when Darcy pulls into a spot amongst a sea of cars, and I glance around. There’s not much to see but an open field with several bonfires and people surrounding them.

Music pulses from across the field and I spy Janette Magan bouncing around to the beat.

Darcy leads me to another fire and wanders off for drinks while I scan the crowd.

Despite the hour that I spend searching face after face, I don’t see any Saints here and with a groan, I drop to the log and grab my head.

Why didn’t we go to the track? Why did she bring me here?

It’s not like I can ask because I had to beg her to do it in the first place. Gah.

The fire pops while I stare at it absently. When someone drops down beside Darcy, I hear the soft lull of her voice.

What am I going to do if Miriam doesn’t show? Shoot, I have to speak to her.

“Hey, don’t I know you?” Twisting around, I meet the gaze of Darcy’s companion.

Whoever he is, he doesn’t go to our school, and I can’t say I have any desire to know him either way. He scratches his head, and I eye the greasy locks hanging in his face while he flicks the ring in his tongue.

Mustering a wan smile, I shake my head, while he looks at me with a quizzical smile. When Darcy frowns at me before summoning a breathy laugh and smacking his arm, I stand.

“I have to use the bathroom,” I murmur, and she waves me away.

Clutching my beer, I wobble off stiffly, glancing back to find him still staring at me.

Shoot. She’s going to be so mad at me.

After weaving into the crowd, I relax marginally although I do catch myself stumbling twice in Darcy’s wretched heels.

Once I’m far enough out, I find an out-of-the-way spot at the edge of the crowd and continue my search. I still need to find Miriam, but I don’t know how with so many people here.

To my right, a girl in a stretchy red dress and canvas sneakers drops to the ground before vomiting into the grass. I curl my nose and turn away, although I am jealous of her choice of footwear as I step wrong and my ankle rolls.

“Shoot,” I mumble. This was a bust. Maybe I should go back to Darcy? But no, I can’t give up, not yet. There are so many people here, Miriam may be amongst them.

A half hour later, I’m still sipping on my tepid beer and shifting on my uncomfortable feet when a low rumble starts as a wave that rises to a crescendo. All at once people are running in different directions.

I stumble back when I’m pushed this way and that, searching out the source of the noise but it’s no use, and rather than be trampled I turn with the tide.

I’m no good in these shoes though and I pull them off, clutching them in my hand as I follow the crowd.

Someone shoves me from behind, screams erupt, and I trip, hitting my head on the side of a car. Wincing, I curl against the metal and try to avoid the feet all around me.

Another wail rings out and I cringe, waiting for whatever to come to me. Shouts sound overhead, someone kicks me in the knee, and with a sob, I cover my head.

“Go, go!” I’m pulled from my crouch by the arm and shoved forward. I have no choice but to go as the distinct crack of a gun reverberates behind me.

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