Chapter 13
The last thing Isabella wanted to do was act like a baby in front of Chase Hawkins, but she didn’t have much choice. She didn’t want to yank her hand away. In fact, it felt good to hold Chase’s hand. Too good. Tingles shot up her arm and electricity hummed across her skin. He didn’t let go until they’d left the sports center and began walking across the gravel parking lot.
She tried to hold it in, but by the time they’d made it to his car, she could feel the ugly cry coming on. He turned to her. “Ignore them. They’re stupid.”
She nodded. “I know,” she said, trying hard not to make her crying vocal. Wailing right now would be the icing on the humiliation cake.
Chase pulled her to him in an awkward cry-hug. She buried her face in his chest, her tears making wet spots on his T-shirt. She sniffed, trying not to add snot to the list of bodily fluids she was depositing on him.
He pulled back and opened his glove compartment, pulling out a tissue. “Here.”
She blew her nose, glad it didn’t make one of those loud honking sounds. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, gaining more control. “Thanks.”
Suddenly, she panicked. Her mother’s photo! She pulled it out of her pocket, relieved to see it was dry and unharmed. She stuffed it back in before Chase could ask her about it.
He opened his passenger door. “Let’s go.”
“You’ll miss the game. I know how excited you were to see it.”
“Doesn’t matter,” he said. “I’d rather not go back and sit with those people. Anyone who would do that . . . well, they aren’t people I want to hang out with.”
“I’ll get your seat wet.”
He grinned at her. “It’s just water.”
She shrugged and climbed into his car. “It’s your car.”
He shut her door and went around to the driver’s seat. He cranked the ignition and buckled his seat belt. “With the top down, you’ll dry fast.”
“Maybe.” She could feel her wet underwear sticking to her skin. She doubted her underwear would air out, but maybe her jeans would dry enough to not look like she’d had an accident.
He turned to her. “Where should we go?”
“I don’t know. Leaving was your idea.”
He chuckled. “Okay, I know someplace.” He put the car into drive, then pulled out and merged into traffic.
She took off her glasses and wiped them with her blouse. When she held them up to the light, she saw that there were streaks all over them, but it was the best she could do. The air blew through her hair as he drove, but it felt good. She inhaled the smells of the city streets. Car exhaust mixed with a seafood smell from a nearby restaurant. She really did like living in the city.
After a few minutes of driving, Chase glanced at her. “You okay?”
She was feeling better. The tears were no longer coming. And if she didn’t think about how hateful her stepsisters were, she could push back the hurt. “Yes.”
“Good. Because you deserve a fun night out. From what I can tell, you go to school, work at the gallery, and that’s about it.”
Heat rose to her cheeks. “Pretty much.”
“You sneak out to work on our science project, don’t you?”
Her head jerked in his direction, and she stared at him. How did he know that?
“I saw you,” he said, answering her unspoken question. “You climbed up the side of the house to a balcony. Does that lead to your room?”
Well, if that wasn’t embarrassing enough. “Yes.”
“Don’t your parents believe in school projects?”
What was she supposed to say to that? She couldn’t explain everything. And if she told him about her stepmother, he might put the pieces together and figure out she was actually Five. She decided to keep it simple and cryptic. “My family is weird.”
He exhaled. “I’m beginning to think everyone’s family is weird.”
Time for a change of subject. “How’s your sister?” The second the words were out, she realized her mistake. He hadn’t told Isabella about his sister. Only Five knew about that.
He gave her a funny look. “How did you know—”
“I heard about it,” she blurted out. “At school. I forget who told me.”
“Oh.” He nodded. “Must have been Jason. He’s the only one I told.”
“Yeah, Jason.” She said it like it was perfectly normal for her to be hanging out with the football players. She hoped he wouldn’t probe further. “How is she?”
“She’s all right. They’re still trying to figure out exactly what’s up. The tests for flu came back negative. She’s at home now, though, so that’s good.”
She looked upward, her shoulders feeling relief. “I’m glad she’s doing well enough to be at home.”
“Me, too. She scared me last night. I’ve never seen anyone have a seizure.”
“I heard seizures can be common with kids who have high fevers.” She’d actually Googled it, but surely heard worked too, right?
“Yes. She’ll probably be fine.” He turned onto Observatory Road.
“You’re taking me to the planetarium?”
“I thought it would be cool to look at the stars.”
She grinned. She hadn’t been there in years. Her dad took her when she was ten. “I’d love that.”
They pulled into the parking lot, and he cut the engine. Chase had been right. Her pants were nearly dry now. He came around the car and opened her door for her, helping her out. More tingles coursed over her skin. After she climbed out she wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans, hoping he didn’t notice.
“Let’s go get tickets for the next show. Then we can walk around and look at the exhibits.”
“I didn’t bring any money.”
“My treat.” He placed his hand on the small of her back and led her to the entrance.
They walked through the building, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. A few others wandered around the exhibits. Chase approached the lady behind the counter. “When is the next planetarium show?”
The woman looked at her watch. “In thirty minutes.”
“Perfect. Two, please.” He slid her a twenty and she gave him change. He stuffed the tickets in his pocket. “Thanks.”
They walked toward the Hall of the Sky exhibits. “Have you been here before?”
“My father brought me here years ago.” The building smelled of wood polish and floor wax, and it carried with it memories so strong she had to blink them back.
“My parents would bring me here when I was a kid. I always loved looking through the telescopes.”
“Let’s go upstairs, then.” She led him to the curving stone steps that led up to the roof. Once outside, the night air, along with the height, made her stomach flutter. Or maybe it was the company.
Chase grinned at her. “This is fun. I’m glad we ditched the game.”
She looked down to her shoes, sure her face was flaming. At least they were in the dark, and he probably couldn’t tell. “Thanks for bringing me here.”
They took turns looking through the telescopes. “The details on Saturn are amazing,” Isabella said.
“Check this out.” Chase took out his phone, opened an app, and handed it to her. It showed the stars, and when she moved the phone around, the stars on the app moved as well. When she left one star in the middle of the screen, it showed the name of it.
“That’s cool.”
He stood behind her and took her hand to show her how to find where the space station was located. Her back pressed up against his chest, and her heart began beating out a staccato rhythm. He smelled of citrus and the outdoors, and a clean smell she couldn’t put her finger on.
He moved her hand again. “It also shows the constellations.” Ursa Major came into view.
She grinned at him. “Nice.”
He hesitated for a moment, then brushed her hair over her shoulder. He leaned down so his mouth was next to her ear. “You going to the fall formal?”
She stiffened, suddenly aware of what she was doing. She couldn’t be flirting with Chase Hawkins. If Delilah would go to such lengths to embarrass her in front of him at the game, what would she do if she found out Chase had asked her to the fall formal? She pulled away from him, her hands sweaty again.
“No. I hate dances.”
“Oh.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked up at the sky.
She felt bad for shooting him down, but what else could she do? There’d be no way she’d get away with going as herself. If she wore the wig, and contacts, she could probably make it work as Five. But he could never know who she really was. And her sisters couldn’t know, either.
The silence grew between them until it was deafening. She cleared her throat. “I think our show’s about to start.”
Chase pulled out his phone and checked the time. “You’re right. Let’s go down.”