Into the Darkness by V.C. Andrews

Author:V.C. Andrews
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2012-02-28T00:00:00+00:00

9

An Unpleasant Evening

“You’re looking better and better every time I see you,” Shayne said after he got out of his car to open the passenger door for me.

“Thanks,” I said.

“Think I have anything to do with it?”

I paused, pretending to give it great consideration. Then I shook my head. “No.”

He laughed and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, but I was still distracted by Brayden’s appearance and disappearance. I hesitated before getting into Shayne’s car and looked toward Brayden’s house.

“Anything wrong?” Shayne asked. He looked at Brayden’s house, too.

“No.”

I got in, but Shayne continued to look at the house and then headed around the front of the car to get in.

“Anyone live in that house?” he asked, nodding at it.

“A family recently moved in, yes.”

“Doesn’t look like it. It’s actually an eyesore on the street. Is that where this new boy lives?”

“Brayden Matthews, yes,” I said.

“Well, I heard he doesn’t like going to parties. Ellie and Charlotte told me about him. Why is he so antisocial? Shy? Does he have an ugly scar? Maybe his family is hiding out. You know, like in the witness protection program or something.”

“Don’t be stupid.”

“So? What’s the answer?”

“He has a very ill mother to care for. His father is away a lot.”

“Well, I’ll feel sorry for him as long as he stays away from you,” Shayne said, and then laughed. “Oh. My sister has been confined to her room, and her friend was sent home. She can’t have any friends over for a month,” he said as he backed out of my driveway.

“What did you do?”

“I told them how unpleasant she was to you and then sort of directed my father to what she had hidden in her room.”

“I’m sure she’ll blame me.”

“If she does anything else to bother you . . . hey, I like that necklace. Your father made it?”

“Of course,” I said. “Do you want me to describe what it is?”

“Sure.”

I did, thinking of what Brayden had told me, but I wasn’t sure that Shayne was paying very much attention. Almost as soon as I finished, he said, “Mel Quinn’s parents went to visit his uncle. They’re not back until late tomorrow. He’s having a sort of house party tonight.”

“I thought we were going to dinner.”

“Sure. I mean, maybe we can stop by afterward.”

“Is it going to turn out to be another Charlotte Watts party?”

“Only three couples invited, and that includes us. There’ll be no fireworks except for the fireworks we make together. You know Mel? He plays third base.”

I laughed.

“What?”

“You had better become a professional ballplayer of some sort, otherwise you won’t be able to identify your friends.”

“Very funny,” he said. “Well, anyway, Mel’s a good guy. You know him.”

“Not very well,” I said. Actually, I did know something about him, having heard him discussed by other girls. They said he had a sign on his bedroom door: “Check your virginity before entering.” Why would his parents permit it? I thought. But I had also heard rumors about his father having extramarital affairs.

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