Chapter Twenty-Six
May 2004—Prom
A few more weeks until graduation. At the beginning of school, Levi thought his senior year would be epic. Instead, one of his best friends died, he broke up with the most popular girl in school, and he loved someone not only out of his league but out of his hemisphere.
“We each pour one out then take a drink for Mike,” Greg explained. The four of them stood on the edge of the rock quarry with their bottles in hand.
“For Mike!” they repeated before tipping out their alcohol over the cliff. Everyone guzzled the rest of the whisky out of their bottles. Levi blocked the stream with his tongue as awkward silence engulfed the group.
The gang met the first day of kindergarten. Friends from that day on. Junior high changed a lot of cliques in school, but not them. In sync for over twelve years, they suddenly seemed off. Growing pains were a hell of a bitch, and he had feeling they wouldn’t ever be right again.
“Where to now? I heard they’re having a thing at 12 Pins,” Shawn suggested before Levi checked his cell.
“We can go tip some cows at Holloway Farms.”
“Is that even a thing?” Greg responded.
“Let me know,” Levi lied. “I’ve got to help my parents move crap out of the barn.”
“What?”
“You never said you had plans.” A chorus of grumbles rang out.
It never crossed his mind to confide in them.
“Why would they need you this late?” Bud complained.
He twisted the cap back onto his whisky bottle and tossed it to Greg. “I’ll try to catch up later. Text me.” Fighting the urge to run, he walked casually to his truck.
“How the hell am I getting home? You’re my ride,” Shawn whined.
He pretended not to hear him and snatched open the door. If he didn’t hurry, he would be out of time. Levi shoved the key in the ignition and threw the truck in reverse before he peeled out of the quarry.
Less than five minutes away from Chesterfield, he zipped down the deserted road. He made it to the gates in less than three minutes. Hoping the girl from the concert recognized him, he waved.
“Hey.” Levi rolled down his window with a smile.
“No Foo Fighters today, blondie.” She leaned over the ledge of her window. Cayden told him scholarship kids ran the gates on weekends. Generally, he would have pulled out his Prince Charming bit but had a feeling she wouldn’t fall for it.
“I’m here to steal one of the chicks from the prom court.”
“Who?” When she screeched her question he figured he had a good chance of getting through the gate.
“Cayden Young.”
A devious smile changed the girl’s face. “Doesn’t she already have a date?”
“Not if I can help it.” He made sure to stay far away from the resort when Dale picked her up. Blinding hate for her date in front of his parents could be misunderstood. They took pictures of Cayden before she left, while Dale made promises to bring her home close to 1:00 AM.
After Levi got done at the pier, his parents had filled him in. He refused to look at the pictures. Cleaning up that night, he used the guys as his alibi to cut out of the house.
“Come on. I won’t tell anyone you let me in.”
The girl pushed her glasses onto her nose and then gave him a little shrug. “Dale’s a dill weed.” She opened the gate for his truck. “And I never saw you. Three buildings down on your left. Easiest way in is east entrance near the trail.”
“Thanks.” He sped off in the direction she gave. A lifetime ago at the age of eight, he helped cater an event there with his Aunt Sadie, who at the time ran the resort’s kitchen. If he remembered correctly, the school held all their dances in the same building.
He gunned it around the bend toward the building that resembled an auditorium. Instead of parking in the lot full of fancy cars and limos, he drove on to the grass closest to the trail. If he needed a fast getaway, the path back to his house would be wide enough to accommodate the truck.
Unlike the Hollywood-style lights that brightened the front of the building, a stark darkness covered the east end. Without the foggiest idea how he would find Cayden, he took to the stairs and winged it. Halfway up the stadium-style slope, the door banged open and the emergency alarm rang out.
As he considered whether to run or not, Levi’s heart slammed hard into his chest wall. This time if he got caught, his parents would kill him. Not willing to give up his mission, he stood still in hopes no one called the cops. As he started back up again, Cayden nearly bowled him over.
“Levi!”
He grabbed her around the waist, sweeping her off her fancy heels.
“What are doing?” he asked, holding her close to his chest.
“Leaving,” she huffed, out of breath. “Now your turn.”
“I guess helping.” He grasped her hand and ran down the stairs before a thought occurred to him. “Did something happen?”
“No, let’s go,” she said in a rush while she grabbed her door.
He raced around the truck and let himself in. “Holy shit, you won!” The light from the moon lit the fake jewels on her tiara.
As they got into the pickup, Cayden touched the top of her head and laughed. “Crazy, right? I’ve barely even been here a year.”
He started the engine and drove off the grass. Levi got back on the road and steered them toward Chesterfield’s entrance.
“Hey, blondie, you found her. Oh, my gosh, you won! I hoped you would,” the little girl at the front gate gushed.
Cayden reached up and pulled off the crown. “You want it?”
“No way?”
“Come on, take it.” She passed it over him to give it to her.
“I can’t believe this!” the girl screamed.
Scared they’d get caught, he smiled nervously and pointed at the gate. “Oh crap, sorry.” She pulled the lever that lifted the arm, and Levi sailed right through.
“That was really cool.”
“You think?” Cayden leaned back with a sigh.
He tried to keep his eyes on the road and not stare, but she looked beautiful. The hot-pink dress complemented her cocoa skin, while her long princess braid made her appear enchantingly sweet.
“Where are we going?”
“There’s something I want to show you,” he told her, expecting a barrage of questions. However, when he glanced over, she flashed him a simple smile.
“Okay.”