Midnight Games(21)

That was three nights ago.

Now, I sat in Nights Bar at one-thirty on a Wednesday morning, staring at the yellow neon Budweiser sign behind the bar.

I shared a table with Jamie and Lewis. They had both been so sweet to me ever since Saturday night. I don’t think I could have survived without them.

You can imagine the cold stares I got when I returned to school Monday morning. And at Ada’s funeral, I could tell that everyone there was accusing me of her murder.

Yes, I went to Ada’s funeral. I know it would have been easier to stay home. But I wanted to show everyone I am innocent. I had just as much right as anyone else to go to that funeral.

As we made our way from the church, Aaron, Whitney, and Galen deliberately pushed past me. And I heard Aaron murmur the word “murderer.”

Now, the three of them sat in a booth in the back of the bar, staring at me coldly, leaning across the table, talking softly, probably about me.

I tried to ignore them. But I felt uncomfortable and totally tense being near people who thought I could do something that horrible.

I wanted to run to their booth and scream, “Yes, I’m a Fear. But that doesn’t mean I’m a killer.”

Of course I didn’t do that. Instead, I tried to make small talk with Jamie and Lewis.

And then Nate walked into the bar.

He kissed the bronze plaque of the Fears and then stared right at me.

Had I talked to Nate since the night of the skating party? No.

Did he call me to ask how I was feeling? Did he call to say he believed in me, he knew I wasn’t the murderer? No.

Did he say a single word to me in school?

Three guesses.

My breath caught in my throat as he slowly began walking toward our table. I’d been feeling so hurt all week. Hurt that Nate was like all the rest.

I tried to understand it from his side. Yes, he’d been going with Ada. Yes, he’d cared about her too.

But I thought he had real feeling for me. Isn’t that why he invited me to the skating party?

He nodded his head to Jamie and Lewis. Then he took my arm. His dark eyes locked on mine. “Dana, can I talk to you?”

He pulled me to the bar. “Nate, where’ve you been?” I asked. I couldn’t hide my anger.

He shook his head. “In a daze, I guess.” He didn’t let go of my arm. “I’m sorry, Dana. I wanted to call you, but—”

“But what?” I demanded.

“I stayed home,” he said, avoiding my gaze. “I couldn’t think about anything. I know I should have called or something. But I didn’t call anyone. I was . . . scared.”

I pushed his hand away. “Scared of me?”

“No,” he said quickly. “No way. Just scared. I mean, look. It’s frightening, right? Two girls in our class are dead.”

“And . . . you think that I—?”

“No,” he said again. “I don’t know what to think, Dana. I—just—”

“I didn’t even know Candy,” I said. “She died before I came to Shadyside.”

“I know,” he said.

“How can anyone suspect me?” I cried. “I’m a good person. I’d never kill anyone.”

Nate finally raised his eyes to mine. “I know,” he said again. And then he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.

For a moment, pressed against him, I felt safe. I held my face against his and hugged him tightly.

Suddenly, I realized we weren’t alone. I turned to find Whitney, Aaron, and Galen standing in front of us, cold glares on their faces.

“Oh.” I let out a startled cry and let go of Nate.

“We heard what you were saying,” Whitney said. “Well, why don’t you tell us this? If you’d never kill anyone, Dana, what about your boyfriend back home? Tell us you didn’t kill him, too!”





19

My breath caught in my throat. I felt my heart skip a beat.

“Dustin?” I choked out. “You found out about Dustin?”

Whitney stared at me coldly, challenging me, her hands pressed tightly at her waist. She nodded. “I have a friend at your old school. She told me the whole story.”

I sank back against the wall. I struggled to catch my breath. “But . . . no one knows the whole story.”

“I do,” Whitney sneered. “You killed him, too.”

“That’s a LIE!” I screamed. “It was a horrible accident. That’s what the police said—and that’s the truth.”

Whitney, Aaron, and Galen stared at me, waiting for me to tell them more. Nate put his arm around my shoulder. “Jamie told us you’ve had a hard year,” he said softly. “I didn’t know your boyfriend died.”

I fought back the tears, but I could feel them running down my cheeks. “It was an accident,” I said. “Dustin and I . . . we were hanging out in my pool. In my backyard. It was a beautiful afternoon. I went in the house to make us some sandwiches.”