Chapter 7

Sitting behind the wheel, I turned the key again. But all I heard was that same click, followed by absolutely nothing.

I wanted to scream in frustration.

Already, I'd been sitting in my car for at least five minutes. Technically, it wasn't a long time, but for some reason, it felt like forever. From the corner of my eye, I could still see him, the painter guy, standing in the same spot, watching me.

Yeah – watching me make a fool of myself.

Again.

At least darkness had finally crept over the campground, leaving me sitting in the shadows, rather than on clear display. Happily, the shadows had crept over him too, which saved me the added humiliation of seeing his face.

I knew exactly what the shadows hid. Scorn. Impatience. And maybe some good old-fashioned boredom, too.

I could practically hear his thoughts. Why won't this chick leave?

I'm trying, jerkface.

Desperately, I tried the key again, only to hear that same dreaded click.

With a muttered curse, I yanked my purse off the passenger's seat and rummaged around for my cell phone. I pulled it out and turned away from the driver's side window. Away from him. The check-ripper-upper.

Holding my phone in a death grip, I pulled up Cassie's number and hit the call button. She answered with a raucous, "Hey! Birthday Girl! Where the heck are you?"

I paused. I heard noise in the background, lots of noise – music, voices, and glasses clinking. "Where are you?" I asked.

She laughed. "I'm at T.J.'s. Where else?"

T.J.'s was one of only two local bars that had dancing on the weekends. I'd never been inside, because until today, I'd been too young to get in. Tonight was supposed to be my first time, except the plan had been for me and Cassie to go together.

Trying not to sound as hurt as I felt, I summoned up a weak laugh. "So, uh, you decided to start the party without me, huh?"

She was practically yelling. "What?"

I tried again, talking louder now. "I asked, did you decide to start without me?"

"Heck no," she said. "We can't start anything without you. But I came in early to snag a booth." She paused. "Didn't you get my message?"

I winced. "Sorry, I haven't checked."

"Oh shoot. Hang on a sec, alright?"

I heard fumbling on the other end, followed by more clinking and a rowdy burst of laughter. A moment later, Cassie was back. "Sorry about that." And then, in a louder voice, she said, "Alright everyone, hush. I'm talking to the birthday girl."

I felt my brow wrinkle. Everyone? Who was everyone?

Other than Cassie, I had only a handful of friends, and most of them were hours away at college. Even when it came to relatives, the only good one I had was Aunt Gina, who now lived hours away – and wasn't visiting until tomorrow.

More curious than ever, I asked, "Who's all there?"

"Everyone," Cassie repeated. "It's your big twenty-one, remember?"

In spite of everything, I had to smile. I still didn't know who this mythical "everyone" was, but it sounded like one heck of a party.

My smile faded with a guilty realization. Already, I'd postponed our plans by a full hour. Now, she was entertaining unknown party guests while I was stuck where? At some ingrate's campsite. That's where.

"So," Cassie was saying, "are you on your way?"

"Um, well, here's the thing…"

A knock on the driver's side window made me jump in my seat. I whirled to see the check ripper-upper, looking down at me through the glass.

On the phone, Cassie said, "What was that? Are you okay?"

I turned away from the window and said, "What was what?"

"You sort of screamed."

"I did not." I hesitated. "Did I?"

"Well, it wasn't a big scream or anything." Her tone brightened. "It was more of a yelp."

Oh great, so now I was yelping? Like a dog? Reluctantly, I looked toward my car window. The painter was still there.

I gave him an annoyed look. Yeah. That's me. The yelper. Deal with it.

Deliberately, I clutched the phone tighter and turned away. On Cassie's end, the music and clinking had faded to nearly nothing. "Why is it so quiet?" I asked. "You didn't leave, did you?"

"Heck no," she said. "The party hasn't even started." She laughed. "Since you're not here and all."

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I'd been planning to ask Cassie to come out here and get me. Now, I wasn't so sure. She didn't sound drunk, but she didn't sound fully sober either.

On the phone, she was saying, "I just ducked into the bathroom." Right on cue, I heard a distinct flushing noise. Cassie said, "That wasn't me, by the way. I'm only in here, so I can hear what you're saying."

I gave an awkward laugh. "Well, that's a relief."

Still, I hated the idea of her hunkering near some toilet on my account. I was just about to tell her that when I heard another tap on the car window.

This time, I didn't jump. And I didn't bother looking.

I already knew who the tapper was, and I knew exactly what he wanted – for me to just leave already.

Terrific. We had something in common. I wanted to leave, too.

If only I could.

"So," Cassie said, "are you on your way?"

I hesitated. "Hey, a question…By any chance, is anyone there still sober?"

"Yeah." Cassie laughed. "The bartenders."

I tried to laugh, too. "Oh c'mon, they aren't the only ones, are they?"

"Do the bouncers count?"

My shoulders sagged. "Not really."

"But don't worry," Cassie said. "I'm not getting sloppy 'til you show up." She paused. "Although I can't speak for the others." She lowered her voice. "Dorothy? She's on like her third fuzzy navel." 

Dorothy? As in the local librarian?

Wow. The way it sounded, Cassie had invited everyone.

And they were all waiting. Why? Because I'd tried to do something nice for some jerk who didn't even appreciate it.

Soon, Derek would be saying, "I told you so."

As usual.

Dreading it already, I asked, "By any chance, is Derek there?"

"Um. No. Actually, he isn't." She hesitated. "I invited him to stop by, but, uh…"

"That's okay," I assured her. "We're kind of on the outs, anyway."

"Oh. I guess that explains it."

Explains what? I was dying to ask, but the birthday clock was ticking. So all I said was, "I'll see you in a little bit, okay?"

I only prayed I was telling the truth.

When the call ended, I turned my reluctant gaze to the car window. The painter was still there, looking mildly irritated. I rolled down my window and forced an awkward smile. "By any chance, do you know anything about cars?"