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Did I want to go in there? To an abandoned fairground where kids were doing God only knows what?
“You’re not in Santa Barbara anymore, Dorothy.” Scarlett climbed out of the car, giving me no choice but to follow.
CHAPTER6
We foundLilly and the others hanging out in the decommissioned bumper cars. They had been arranged to make a seating area while the guys goofed around to the side. I recognized Malachi and Jay, but not the other guy.
“Took you long enough.” Lilly waved us over and patted the ‘seat’ beside her. I climbed into the car and leaned against the back, mirroring Lilly’s position.
“Love your hat, Becca.” Her smile seemed genuine enough, so I returned it with one of my own. “Thanks.” The charcoal knitted beanie had been another thrift shop purchase, much to Mom’s disapproval. She’d insisted on washing it twice—just for good measure.
Scarlett threw her bag into the empty car but sat on the front instead of climbing inside. “I had to get gas before I picked up Becca.”
“Who’s around?”
The guys came over, and Jay said, “Might want to avoid the arcade.”
“Ugh. She came? She hasn’t been out here all summer.” Scarlett’s lips pressed into a flat line. “Let them have it. There’s plenty of room for all of us. Anyone got a smoke?”
Part of me wanted to ask who they were talking about, but something told me I wouldn’t like the answer. Malachi slid his hand into his pocket and held a joint—at least, I assumed it was a joint. I’d never actually gotten high before, but a couple of my friends back in Montecito had tried it. “You owe me.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Scarlett took it and pressed it between her lips. Lilly gave her a light, and she inhaled deeply, holding her breath until rings of smoke floated out of her mouth. “Niiiice. Lil?”
Lilly held up her hand. “Not tonight.”
Scarlett shrugged. “Suit yourself. M?”
Malachi took the joint and repeated the process. So did Jay and the other guy I hadn’t yet been introduced to. I was so busy watching them that I almost missed Scarlett holding it out toward me. “New girl?”
“Uh, no, no thanks.” I dipped my head, feeling heat wash over my cheeks.
Scarlett chuckled to herself before taking another hit, and everyone chatted amongst themselves. I was happy to listen, to just be there taking it all in. From our position at the bumper cars, I could see the Ferris Wheel looming over the park. Off to the left were a couple of smaller rides. They looked like something straight out of a horror film with their faded paint and one-eyed animal cars. A shiver zipped up my spine. Except for us, the place was like a ghost town, and I could only imagine how eerie it was when darkness finally fell. The thought had me yanking my zipper higher.
“So what do you think, Becca?” Jay leaned one foot up against the kiosk to the side of the cars. “Nice little thing we got going here, right?”
“Yeah. I guess.”
“Dude, she’s from Santa Barbara. They don’t even have trailer parks.”
“For real?” Lilly gasped.
“I, uh—” I threw Scarlett a pleading glance.
“Why’d you move anyway?” She winked, obviously thinking she was doing me a favor, but she couldn’t have asked a worse question.
“Dad lost his job.” It just rolled off my tongue. No thought. No consideration for the questions that might follow.
“Man, that’s rough. But why Credence? It’s not exactly the land of the rich and free,” Jay said.
Relief washed over me. This, I could answer. “He has an old friend here who got him work. So here we are.”
“But you left your school? Your friends? Surely, there was work in—”
“Fuck’s sake, Lil, give the girl a break. Look at her. She looks ready to pee her pants.”
If I wasn’t red before, my cheeks were the color of beets now.
“I need another smoke. Malachi, you in?”
