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Chapter Forty-nine
Jessi followed a large group into the school, aware of security playing an obvious role in scanning each pass. Holding out the one from Rae’s room, she silently prayed it would work and it did.
With a terse “have a nice evening” in a male voice from the uniformed guard, she nonchalantly began to move forward only to see the one person in the world who had begun to really matter to her.
The agent was holding hands with Walker – Jessi didn’t know his first name. But she could see that they were a couple. With her hood covering most of her face, she stopped by the wall so she could watch them without being noticed. Feeling a large lump build in her chest, her eyes began to water.
This was the woman who’d been so kind to her, so gentle and sweet. Her face had shown love that had seared straight into Jessi’s heart, leaving her marked by the compassionate concern.
Suddenly she knew… it was more than that. Somehow, Jessi had felt a powerful magnetism rather than just the usual attentiveness she imagined a girl might get from a mother who loved her.
Because they were virtually strangers, their connection had been special, spiritual… almost surreal, as if they’d found one another again from a different time and were meant to bond.
Once Lori had disappeared into the gym, shaking off her weird venture into fantasyland, Jessi made herself pay attention to what was going on around her. She stared at every person as they passed her in the hall heading in one direction.
Seeing no one of interest, she moved to the auditorium herself. There the stands were filling up and the folks were in line to get to the seats. None of the players had appeared yet as it was too early.
Scanning each of the rows, she finally found Lori and Walker close to the court with another couple, talking and laughing together. Suddenly, she saw the girl that Rae had the hots for approach and kneel down in front of the four adults, giving hugs and chatting away excitedly. Fear made her shudder.
As if her eyes were drawn by the heat from another’s gaze, she looked around and saw the person she’d come to find... Raven. Only tonight, Ray appeared instead. Swinging her focus to what had caught Ray’s attention, she watched as the pretty girl rose and went toward the locker rooms where the players would be getting ready for the game.
Knowing that Rae had watched her fixation’s every move sent the creepies winding throughout Jessi’s tightened muscles. Now she knew why Rae had come tonight and why she’d dressed in her male role.
At this moment, fully understanding the other’s girl’s penchant to gaslight those who’d fallen under her spell… those like Jessi herself who were needy and pathetic, she winced at how big a fool her only friend had made of her. Without a doubt, she knew popular Mellie Kozak wouldn’t be treated the same.
Remembering the icky pictures she’d found in Rae’s closet, she shuddered. Rae was here tonight, dressed like a boy, carrying her gym bag over her shoulders so she could stare at Mellie… like a cat stalking a pigeon. Or was that all she intended? If so, why bring that bag that looked too heavy for only clothes.
Moving quickly, Jessi shifted to intercept, to warn, only to find that Ray had beaten her to the girl. Slowing. Hiding behind a pillar, she watched as Ray, his bad-boy stance perfected, stood near the girl yet seemed to hesitate.
Mellie didn’t approach him. Instead, she waved hello toward the tall male dressed as Raven’s counterpart.Rayhesitated, then waved back, grinned with sex appeal, and nodded approvingly.
Caught off guard by their interaction, Jessi stayed put, melting into the background. Was Ray going to make a play? Why had he shown up here if not to make mischief? Jessi didn’t want to alarm anyone if it was just to be a peaceful evening of basketball. She slipped into the boys’ room and hid in one of the stalls. Enclosing herself just in time before the door opened, she saw through the crack between the door and the wall that the person who entered wore all black too. Shit. Could it be Ray?
Quickly balancing on the toilet in a crossed-legged pose, she paid attention to the whispers coming from a spine-chilling voice. It was Ray. He was talking … to himself. Unnerved and freaking out, Jess stayed hidden, listening.
“She likes me. She waved. I’ll take her with me. Now. I’ll go and get her… now… now… NOW.”
By balancing herself on the paper roll bar, she snuck a peek over the top of the door. She saw Ray, the male version, prancing back and forth. Suddenly, he dropped the bag, unzipped it, and caressed whatever he had hidden in there. “She’s mine.”
Oh my God, had he brought a rifle?What the hell was he thinking? Did he intend to kill everyone?He seemed completely unraveled. Then she watched as he rezipped the bag and held his possession close in his arms. Crouching, he began slapping at his head, punching himself.
Had he changed his intentions? Should she reveal herself to him and try and talk him down. This might be the only chance to stop any carnage from occurring, from Lori possibly getting hurt.
Jessi had made herself as small as possible, keeping her breaths slow and easy, stifling any whimpers that craved to be released. Before she could force herself to stop him, the door to the bathroom shut behind the person leaving.
Lord above, she never moved so swiftly. With her head toward the toilet, she emptied her stomach. Sweat poured down her neck and back. Face clammy with the aftereffects of being sick, she shakily made her way to the sink.
When another boy entered to use the urinal, she wet a bunch of hand towels and left. Staying in the recess of the hall, she wiped her face and hands, taking long breaths to calm herself. Suddenly a roar came from the auditorium, and she knew the game had started.
Taking the last chair on the side where she had full view of Lori and Walker’s seats, she scanned the room and soon found Ray, his gym bag at his feet, leaning against the wall closest to the players’ locker room.
The game was exciting, especially when Mellie scored multiple times, her long legs eating up the floor and her cool shots hitting the basket. The crowd cooed in excitement that the school was beating their opponents, actually trashing the hell outta them.
After the first quarter, each team member congregated near their tough-looking, female coaches and were given instructions that the players listened to. Once the next quarter began, the audience settled in to watch attentively. Again, Mellie and her four teammates put on a spectacular performance and were in the lead.
At one point, when a star performer from the other team charged Mellie, pushing her over, a loud shout rose from the crowd now on its feet, and Jessi lost sight of Ray for a few seconds. Fear erupted; worry about how Ray might react at seeing Mellie possibly injured. But within seconds, Mellie jumped up and the game resumed.
Calmed, the fans sat back down, and Jessi breathed a sigh of relief to see Ray once again. He was rezipping the bag, his hands shaking. Suddenly she knew without a doubt what he had in there.
