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Disappointed and yet somehow relieved, I went back for my bike and rode to the Inzas’ in the dark. Once there, I stowed my bike and headed for the front door. Might as well get it over with.

  “She’s back,” Nina, apparently on the phone. “How long? Okay.”

  I walked her way.

  “That was Dan,” Nina said. “He’s five minutes out. Have a seat. We’re going to wait for him.”

  I did as she asked, sinking deep into the black leather couch in the living room. This was going to get ugly. And I couldn’t even explain to them where I’d been. Right now I was wishing my ability was time travel instead of healing. I’d fast forward a few days. Nina moved over and sat down in the matching chair across from me. We waited in silence. I couldn’t look her in the face, so I stared at a picture of the three of us sitting on the end table. It was taken not long after I’d moved in and I had a terribly fake smile on. The Inzas looked tired but excited. Look where that had gotten them.

  It was a long five minutes before I heard the car in the drive. The engine shut down and a door slammed. Dan came stalking around the hallway and stopped a few feet from me, looking totally un-Dan like, completely disheveled. “Where have you been?”

  “Out,” I mumbled lamely, not able to come up with anything better even with all the time I'd had staring at Wade’s apartment.

  “I got that part,” Dan said. “What were you doing?”

  “Trisha,” Nina said, her voice teary. “Why do you keep doing this to us? We were so worried.”

  Okay, that was unfair. But it wasn’t like I was going to tell her I was stalking the guy that killed me before I popped back to life. They were very understanding for fosters, but I didn’t think even they would be cool with that.

  “There was something I had to do,” I said.

  “I think we deserve a better explanation than that,” Dan said. “We were giving you time before we asked about this week, letting you rest a little before we got into it, but this is getting ridiculous.”

  “Does this have anything to do with that?” Nina asked. “You being gone last week?”

  How could I answer that without lying? I couldn’t, so I didn’t try. I stared at the floor, making sure not to let Nina make eye contact. If she kept tearing up, this wasn’t going to go well for me.

  Dan raked a hand through his hair, completing his disheveled bum look. “Trisha Penchent, don’t treat my wife like this.” His voice sounded almost angry. This was the closest I’d heard him to upset with me, and I’d deserved it a time or two. Or more. I turned toward him, ready to let him have it with both barrels, just to hide the fact that I didn’t like it that he was upset. Nina’s expression stopped me. I just kept quiet. What could I say?

  “Go to your room,” Dan finally said. “We’ll talk about this later, after we’ve all had time to calm down. And you had better be there when I come up to get you.”

  I couldn’t meet their eyes as I slunk past them and headed upstairs. They waited until they heard my door close, then went at it. Lots of firsts this week. This was the first time I’d heard them argue with any heat. I sat down on my bed with the purple comforter that I hated and leaned up against the purple wall I hated at least as much. Why couldn’t I have one normal relationship? It was this stupid curse of being fae. I dropped my forehead to my knees and cried.

  Chapter Three

  Buzz. Buzz. I cracked open an eye. What was that? Whatever it was, I was going to kill it, no questions asked. I rolled over and looked at the clock. Seven a.m. On… today was Monday, right? Shoot, school! I popped up in bed and made a wild grab for my phone to shut off the alarm. It wasn’t on the bed stand. It took a moment to register, but I hadn’t had it with me on Thursday because I hadn’t wanted Nina or Dan calling me while I was out with Wade. I’d left it here. Somewhere.

  I followed the charger under the bed and pulled out my phone. It was just a cheap slide phone, but none of the other families I’d stayed with had let me have a phone at all, so I was happy. I crawled out from under the bed and turned off the alarm. The screen lit up. The only notification was one new text message. Not surprising considering the only person I ever talked to was Wade. waiting on you. when will you be here. His normal no caps texting. Right before I met him to go to that stupid party.

  That little… wait until I found him. I crushed down the pain trying to bubble up. I still hadn’t decided what to do after that. One problem at a time.

  A quick shower and I headed downstairs. The smell of pancakes met me halfway to the kitchen. My stomach rumbled, announcing it wanted at least five pancakes. After not eating most of yesterday, it deserved seven.

  “Good morning,” Nina said from her usual spot in front of the stove.

  That was it? No freak out? “Morning,” I answered, moving in from the hallway.

  “Good morning, Trisha.” I pinched my lips together in a superhuman effort to smother a groan. That voice. Lester. No reason to ask why he was here. That didn’t help the slight feeling of betrayal.

  I ignored him.

  Dan glanced up from his plate, leaning back in his chair. “Have an explanation for last night? Or for the days before that?”

  There it was. Straight into it because Lester was here. And I still hadn’t come up with an answer. “No.” I caught myself picking at my t-shirt and forced my hand to stop. Lester would be watching for signs like that.

  “Trisha, why don’t you have a seat?” Lester said in his silky, keep the situation calm, voice. I hated that voice.

  “I’m good, thanks.” I concentrated on not looking at him and kept my eyes on Dan. Dan wasn’t happy with me right now, obviously, but at least I knew he cared.

  “If you leave again without permission, there will be consequences. As it is, you’re grounded,” Dan said. “I get that there is something going on that you feel like you need to handle, but we need to know where you are. Understand?”

  I dropped my gaze. “Yes.” Being grounded would not help finding Wade. But I couldn’t really protest.

  “Good.” He nodded toward Lester. “Your social worker is pretty unhappy with us.” Dan was never one to hold anything back. Something I admired, most of the time. Wasn’t really a fan at the moment.

  “Now, now, I never said I was unhappy with you. I just mentioned that if Trisha is miserable enough here that she continues to leave, maybe it’s time we find another home for her.”

  I sucked in a breath. “What? That’s not true! I like it here.” They couldn’t take me away from here. This was home now. After a year with the Inzas there was no way I could adjust to another family. I’d never made it this long anywhere else. Never long enough to get attached, for sure. Not that I was attached. I totally wasn’t attached. In no way was I attached. Crap.

  “What are we supposed to think, Trish?” Nina asked, flipping a pancake in the skillet on the stove.

  There really wasn’t an answer for that. I still needed to find out what had happened to Wade, I would just have to be a little more careful about how I did it. “I’ll do better.” I had to be careful how I worded it so I didn’t get stuck not being able to do any sneaking. That no lying thing was a pain.

  Dan didn’t look very convinced. He lifted an eyebrow. “Good.” He turned to Lester. “Good enough for you?”

  “Yes, unless it happens again. We can’t have wards of the State running around wild. Maybe it’s time to think about sending her to a therapist.”

  “A therapist?” Nina asked, turning from her pancakes. “What good would that do?”

  “It would allow her to get some of her feelings out, maybe make her feel like she didn’t have to run. It could be very beneficial.”

  I turned pleading eyes on Dan. A therapist could not be good. I might say something that would give me away, even if I was being careful. And if I just went in there and didn’t say anything, they might think something was even more wrong than it was.

  “I think we should skip on that
for now,” Dan said, seeing my face. He was looking out for me. Even after I’d been a jerk. Again. He lifted an eyebrow. “But we will keep it open as an option. She says she isn’t going anywhere and I believe her.” He cocked his head a little, staring straight into my eyes. I took that as I’d better not break his trust. I nodded and he gave me a small smile. “All ready for school? I’ll drop you off today, if you want.”

  I looked from him to Nina and back. I’d been hoping they would let me take the day off, giving me the chance to watch Wade’s place. Nina lifted an eyebrow and I deflated. Not a good idea to argue in front of Lester.

  “Thanks for the offer, but I’ll ride my bike to school. Gives me time to think.” Plus time to swing by Wade’s. And, ha, how was he going to argue with me wanting to think?

  “Okay. I want you straight home today.”

  I nodded, not making eye contact.

  “I called the school and handled things. You shouldn’t be getting any questions about missing last week,” Dan said.

  “I talked with your principal as well,” Lester interjected.

  I slid into my chair at the table feeling a little queasy. Dan was taking care of me even when he knew I wasn’t being honest with him. Was this what family was supposed to feel like? Then why did I feel both loved and crappy at the same time?

  Lester stood and picked up his briefcase. “I’d best be going.” He sent me a pointed stare. “I have quite a mess to try to untangle, what with last week happening.” His face went stern. “I hope you know all the trouble I’m going through to try and keep you with the Inzas. The higher-ups are beginning to think they are incompetent foster parents.”

  Incompetent? I glanced toward Nina. Her back was to me, shoulders stiff enough I knew she was mad. But she didn’t say anything.

  “Thank you,” I said, not knowing what else to say.

  He nodded and Dan got up to show him out. I breathed out a sigh of relief when I heard the door close after him. Dan came back and sat in his chair at the table.

  No one seemed to know what to say after all that, so breakfast was eaten in relative silence. I finished my pancakes, pushed my chair back from the table and stood. “Thanks for breakfast.”

  “You’re welcome,” Nina answered. “Supper at six-thirty.”

  “Okay, thanks.” I felt like there was more I should be saying, but I didn’t know what so I headed for the door, grabbing my backpack and jacket on the way.

  For once I was leaving early. Wade’s apartment was about ten biking minutes out of the way to school. I pedaled hard. The Inzas knew I’d left a little early, so if I got detention for being late to school they would know something was up. And they were going to be watching. It was kind of surprising that Dan wasn’t following me in the car right now. I checked behind me, just to make sure.

  No beat up white Chevy at Wade’s apartment building. Where was he? I didn’t have time to hang around right now, but I’d be back after school. Ugh, school. I started pedaling again, trying to ignore where I was going. And all the stories said fae were cruel, what about the public school system? Didn’t that count as torture? Why couldn’t I have been homeschooled. Probably because Nina knew me too well.

  Fifteen minutes and I was pulling up on the school grounds. I locked my bike to the closest bike stand and headed for the front door. I barely made it inside when I heard a voice.

  “There you are!” Rissa, a girl I saw in class sometimes but didn’t know at all, was power walking in my direction. I looked around to see who she was talking to, but there wasn’t anyone else close. She came at me with arms wide open like I was about to get a hug. I wiggled around to avoid it. She didn’t seem to notice, just kept talking. “We all heard about you going missing Thursday night and were terribly worried.”

  Oh great. If this girl knew, everyone knew. I looked behind her to the kids milling around. No one I really talked to. But then, I didn’t really know anyone here, I never let myself. I’d talked with Amy for like ten minutes at the party, but I didn’t see here her with half the rest of the school. They all looked terribly worried. Not. “No need to worry anymore, I’m fine.” I gave her a fake smile and pushed past her toward my first class room. I was not going to get detention. That would mean no checking up on Wade’s apartment on the way home.

  Passing my locker, I made it to Mrs. Hemp’s lit. class just in time to slide into my seat before the bell rang. It must not have been the first ring, because she closed the door before it was done echoing.

  She got started enthusiastically, like always, and I drifted off into my thoughts. It wasn’t long before the bell rang again and I was through the first class of my day.

  “Trisha, I’d like to talk with you,” Mrs. Hemp said as I tried to slip past her. I sighed and nodded. Had she noticed I wasn’t paying attention today? What other reason could she have to talk with me? Not about missing Friday, hopefully. Dan had said he’d handled that.

  After the other kids had drifted slowly out the door, their curiosity practically seeping from their skin, Mrs. Hemp shut the door behind them.

  “Are you okay?” Having just gotten myself prepared for some type of lecture, her kind tone knocked me off guard. “I heard about you being gone over the weekend and was worried. Your parents even let some of us from the school join in the search.”

  “Fosters,” I said, out of habit. They had failed to mention that little fact to me. “I’m fine, thanks. Is that it?”

  Her face full of concern, Mrs. Hemp nodded. “If you ever need anything, just ask.”

  How about some help tracking down a murderer? Or attempted murderer, or whatever? No? Okay then, she couldn’t help me. I shook my head and waited a second. When she didn’t add anything, I slipped out the door.

  I went to my locker to switch out books. Something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye, but by the time I looked over, there was nothing but other students. Whatever. Just still jumpy after being followed around in the woods. Wade wouldn’t come here looking for me.

  I still hadn’t figured out why he’d done it in the first place. But even if that had been him in the woods and he’d found out my body was gone, he wouldn’t come to school. I tightened my hands around my notebook. Yeah, keep telling yourself that, Penchent.

  “Hey, Trisha!” A bright voice called, pulling me gladly from my not so happy thoughts. Gladly until I saw it was one of the popular girls.

  “Hey, Addison.” I kept it short and sweet. Hopefully she’d just keep walking.

  “You okay?” she asked after a second. “You look kind of freaked out. And no one knows what happened last week, so we’re all worried.”

  So people kept saying. I forced a smile. “All good here.” She probably just wanted to know where I’d been so she had the scoop.

  She didn’t look like she believed me. “Okay. Well, if you need to talk, find me.”

  I nodded and she smiled, then walked away. It was going to be a long day.

  Two classes later and it was finally time for lunch. Lunch and I had a love/hate relationship. Not for the obvious reason that I didn’t have anyone to sit with, but because I loved to eat. There’s the love, and the hate part. Eating was awesome, but even with this many kids people were bound to notice if I consumed as much as I’d like to. So I usually ended up leaving still a little hungry. Better than calling attention to myself.

  Standing in line was the strangest experience of my life. Other teens smiled and waved. The lunch lady grinned at me and gave me an extra helping of macaroni. Apparently I should have gone missing a year ago, assuming I was going to learn to like this attention.

  I went to go sit at my normal table, but it took me forever as people all tried to tell me hi. I nodded at the first few, then ignored the rest. I dropped my tray on the empty table and settled in, barely getting that first bite in before the feeling of being watched hit me again.

  A quick look around the cafeteria told me nothing looked out o
f place. I probably looked pretty stupid with a forkful of macaroni halfway to my mouth. I shoved it in and started to chew, but it turned my stomach. There really was a first time for everything. Me not wanting to eat was definitely a first.

  “Trish!” Okay, hearing my name was getting old. Real old.

  I looked over and forced a smile, until I saw that it was Amy. Then the smile became a little bit more real.

  She jogged over and literally slid across the bench to sit across from me. “Hey! It’s so good to see for myself that you’re okay! I was really worried after you didn’t show up Friday morning.”

  Well now, here was someone that might remember more about what happened than I did. “I’m all good. The party went pretty late, huh?”

  “Late enough that I had a hard time making it to first period.” Amy laughed. “But you left pretty early. How was Wade’s surprise?”

  Ha. Quite a surprise. “Interesting,” I said, deflecting.

  The bell rang first warning. I hadn’t hardly touched my food, but I didn’t really feel like eating anyway.

  “Oh, gotta go. Maybe you can tell me about it some other time?” Amy smiled, then took off without waiting for an answer.

  “Not likely,” I muttered.

  I took another couple bites just out of principle, but the rest of my lunch ended up in the trash.

  The rest of the day pretty much followed the precedent the morning had set. I watched the time slowly tick by until I held my breath while the last minute disappeared on the clock. The final bell rang and I was off like a shot.

  People I barely knew called greetings to me as I ran down the hallway and out the front door to my bike. Were they always this nice and I just hadn’t noticed? Surely if they hated me as much as I’d thought they would have been glad I went missing.

  The eerie feeling that someone was watching me hadn’t showed up since the lunch room. I hoped it stayed that way.

  I pedaled hard to get to Wade’s apartment as fast as possible. I needed enough time to check things out and get back before Nina started to worry. I really didn’t need Dan driving around looking for me again. If Wade’s truck still wasn’t there, I was breaking in. I screeched to a halt in the alley, propped my bike against a wall and snuck around to check the parking lot. His truck still wasn’t here. Had he ran after that night in the forest?