Dark Places by Reavis Z Wortham Page A

free hand, I straightened my legs and jumped over the low wall to land inches from Cale. He was so startled, he stepped back into Principal Stevens, nearly knocking him down.
    Not realizing it was an adult behind him, Cale jerked his elbow back, catching the principal hard in the ribs. He swung around and delivered a roundhouse blow that Principal Stevens caught with one hand.
    Cale’s action was so shocking the rest of us froze like statues.
    The principal held Cale’s fist. “Lunch is over, boys, and no roughhousing in the gym. Y’all are supposed to be outside anyway.” Still keeping a tight hold on Cale’s fist, the principal checked the Montique on his wrist. He was awful proud of that watch, and spent a considerable part of the day shooting his cuff to check the time. “Better yet. Class is about to take up. Everyone out.”
    Making like a patty, I hit the road and heard Principal Stevens. “Mr. Westlake, it’ll be me and you and my paddle after school today.”
    When I peeked over my shoulder, Cale was getting a good butt-whipping while his friends tucked their tails and ran once again.
    A minute later, Pepper walked into class at the same time as me. “Why are you so out of breath?”
    â€œYour boyfriend.”
    She shot me a glare. “I don’t have one.”
    â€œCale Westlake. He thinks you’re his girl.”
    â€œWell, I ain’t. You still haven’t said why you’re breathing hard.”
    â€œI forgot my atomizer.” That’s what we called my “rescue” inhaler for asthmatics. I didn’t go anywhere without the constant reminder of my frail lungs. Instead of a book satchel, I carried an army surplus backpack to hide the puffer. “Can you find some other boyfriend?”
    She absently fingered her part, a habit that started about the time she started wearing hippie clothes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    I saw an opening I couldn’t identify, but gave it a push because I was mad about her hanging out with him and ignoring me. “What y’all saw.”
    She gaped. “How do you know about that?”
    â€œCale told me.”
    â€œHe promised he wouldn’t ever say anything.”
    â€œWell, he lied. You better give me your version to prove he’s lying about that, too.”
    â€œI don’t know what he told you, but we were walking down the road and a car passed us with John T. in the backseat. Marty Smallwood’s truck was following them into the lake. They were up to something, but we don’t know what. Cale wanted to run off, but I wanted to wait, so we hid behind some vines and an hour later Marty drove out with John T. They drove real slow, looking for something, and we think it was us. What did Cale tell you?”
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œHe said John T.’s name and thought I knew something.” I grinned. “Now I do.” I glanced at the door, both to make sure Cale wasn’t coming in, and to be sure Miss Rosalie wasn’t ready to start class. “You oughta tell Grandpa or Uncle Cody what you saw.”
    Pepper rolled her eyes.
    The fight was catching up with me as the adrenaline wore off and I felt like crying. I couldn’t lean on anyone but my cousin for support and it worried me that I was losing my best friend. She was more fun than any boy I knew, always up for anything, no matter how dangerous or dull, with a mouth on her that got her jaws slapped. Grandpa Ned called her a pistol.
    â€œI don’t know what happened, but I don’t want it to catch up with you .”
    Her face softened. “I know. I’m sorry you got a whippin’.”
    The class was filling up, and I wanted to get off that subject. “Anyway, stay away from him.”
    â€œI will.”
    But I knew she wouldn’t.

Chapter Eleven
    A low pressure system stalled over San Angelo made it seem as if