Part 21 (1/2)
Becka hung up the pay phone outside the school's office.
”n.o.body home?” Ryan asked.
Rebecca frowned and shook her head. ”She should be there.
She said she'd be there.”
As they turned and joined the swarm of students heading down the hall and out the door, Becka sighed. It had been a rough day.
Fortunately, Philip had only a few bruises and a sprained hand to show for her stupidity, but that didn't stop the rumors from spreading. And it didn't stop Becka's own self-doubts from growing.
Why had the ladder fallen? Was it really an accident? Or was Krissi right? Maybe she had done something unconsciously, something stemming from her jealousy. But was she really jealous?
The thoughts tortured and chewed at Becka throughout the day. And they were only made worse by her worries over Julie.
Becka followed Ryan out of the school and down the steps toward the parking lot. ”Something's up, Ryan. Something's wrong with Julie. I know it.”
Ryan took a deep breath but said nothing. He didn't have to.
”You don't believe me, do you?”
”I just think ... well, that you're overreacting a little, that's all.”
”Hey, Ry,” a jock in a letterman's coat called out, ”I'm rooting for you, man.”
”Thanks.” Ryan flashed a grin. ”Just make sure you vote ...
and your friends too.”
”Count on it.”
Before he could turn, two freshman girls approached. It was obvious they were trying to flirt with Ryan. It was equally obvious they were way out of their league.
”Hi, Ryan.”
”Ladies.”
Unable to think of anything else to say, they quickly scurried off in whispers.
”Don't forget to vote,” he called after them.
They giggled and disappeared.
Becka watched Ryan smile. All day he had played the crowd, going for the votes. It didn't really bother Becka, but she did notice a certain insincerity in him that she had never seen before. He was using his smile to win votes and his killer charm to impress everyone. Was there anything wrong with that? She wasn't sure. At the moment there were too many other things to think about.
”How can you say I'm overreacting?” she asked. As her intensity increased so did her volume. ”You've seen what demons can do. You've read about them in the Bible.” Ryan cringed and glanced at the pa.s.sing kids. ”Easy, Beck, the whole world doesn't have to hear.”
She stared at him. ”You're more concerned about what people think than about Julie?”
He kept his voice quiet and low. ”I think Julie will be just fine.”
”How can you say that?”
Ryan was getting angry. She could tell by the way he fought to keep his voice even. ”I can say that because I can see the situation clearly. Because my thinking's not clouded with some com-pet.i.tion thing.”
”Compet.i.tion!”
”Yeah, you know ... jealousy.”
It was Becka's turn to get angry. The two had never had an official fight before, but there was a first time for everything.
”Ryan, she's in danger! She could get hurt.”
”Not any worse than Philip.”
”What's that supposed to mean?”
They arrived at the Mustang, and he crossed over to unlock and open her door. ”Nothing, I ... I'm just glad he's okay, that's all.”
Becka stared at him, her mouth slightly open. ”You think I did that on purpose?”
”No, of course you didn't - ” He ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
”Ryan?”
”I don't - ” He started toward his side, then stopped and turned. ”All I know is that there's a heaven and that Julie was there, but you wouldn't believe her. You thought she should go to h.e.l.l.”
Becka started to protest, but he continued. ”What's more, she had an angel guiding her. And now there's another angel guiding her, but he's demonic ... and it's all because you say so.” He shook his head and continued toward his door.
Hot tears sprang to Becka's eyes. She hated crying and gave her eyes a swipe. ”Ryan - ” her voice grew thicker by the second - ”you were in the mansion. You saw the demons.”
”Julie's not seeing demons!” He unlocked his side and opened the door. ”It's an angel, Becka. She's seeing a real, honest-to-goodness angel. Why can't you admit it?”
”Because it's not true.”
He turned and leveled a look at her. ”We only have your word on that.”
”It's evil.”
He held her gaze, refusing to back down. ”So you say.” Becka bit her lip. She was trembling, and she hated that more than the tears. She gave her eyes another swipe.
”Come on,” he said. Was it to lighten things up, or because people were staring? Becka couldn't tell. ”Let's go.” She stood there, looking at him. How could he think that?
After being together all this time, how could he think she was just being paranoid? Or worse yet, that she was hurting people out of jealousy?
Another guy called from a pa.s.sing car, ”Hey, Ryan, good luck Friday.”
Ryan cranked up that instant grin of his. ”Thanks, man.