Invisible (17 page)

“
No. He’s too chicken shit. This is all Nino. If he did go through with it, that’s the only time we could call the police.”

I spot the park up ahead, the same one where Nino, Tyler and Julia called me names and I disappeared.

Grabbing a fistful of Jon’s sweatshirt, I pull him along with me. “Let’s sit and talk.”

We find a bench far from the playing, screaming children.

My mind reels. Is Nino really that cruel? He’s certainly capable of beating me up, but what evil did he have planned for Charlie? I picture my friend, slim and fine boned. Sure, she looks tough, but I know better. Beneath the rough exterior is a warm, loving and kind girl. What would it do to her if she were violated? Her life would be shattered. I can’t bear to think of it.

My thoughts return to Jon, my anger at him still boiling. “But why did you have to tell him my secret?”

“
Because I needed Nino to trust me. It was the only thing I could think of. I have to know what he’s planning in order to protect you and Charlie.”

“
That was
my
secret.” I bite my quivering lip.

“
I know and I’m so sorry, Lola. Please forgive me.” His eyes are big and pleading and despite my resolve, my anger falls away. There is truth and kindness reflected there.

“
Is he really going to
hurt
Charlie?” I can’t make myself say the word Jon and I are both trying to avoid.

“
I really think so but don’t worry, I won’t let that happen.” He slides an arm around me and pulls me close. I let him, and rest my head on his shoulder. “And I’d never let him lay a finger on you,” he says, caressing my cheek.

My fear is stronger for Charlie than for myself. If necessary, I can vanish and get away, but not poor Charlie. She’d have no choice but to endure whatever vile act Nino is contemplating.

Curiosity nudges me. “What did Nino say when you told him I could disappear?”

“
He laughed. He didn’t believe it and just thought you were nuts.”

“
Do Tyler and Julia know too?”

“
Yeah, but they don’t believe it either.”

I pull away to face Jon. “Then we’re going to have to prove it to Nino. The others don’t matter, but Nino needs to be convinced.”

Jon’s eyebrows shoot up. “Why?”

“
We have to, if our plan’s going to work.”

A slow smile forms on his lips. “You’re on board with the plan?”

“
I am now.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

It’s Monday and the final bell has rung.

“
Can we talk?” I ask Charlie.

“
What about?”

It was tough going, but I’d managed to keep to myself all day what Jon told me yesterday. There were so many times I wanted to tell her about Nino’s plans. But why spoil her school day? The rest of the day will be ruined soon enough.

“
There’s something important I need to tell you,” I reply.

“
We can talk on the bus,” she says, walking away to stand in the bus line.

I grab her shoulder and spin her toward me. “We can take the late bus. Or walk home. What I have to say is private and I don’t want anyone to hear.”

She studies my eyes, as if searching for a clue, then shrugs. “Okay.”

Charlie follows me to the courtyard behind the school, and my stomach twists because of the words I must say.

We settle at one of the many picnic tables strewn throughout the courtyard. We’re alone and I haven’t told Charlie that Jon will be meeting up with us shortly. She doesn’t know we’re friends again.

“
So, what’s so important?” There’s a hint of worry in her voice, and she’s clutching herself, as if bracing for bad news. It kills me to know soon she’ll have a worry; a burden to carry. Soon she’ll be scared, and then she’ll be furious.

“
I found out why Jon was with Nino at lunch.”

Her eyes flash with interest and she leans closer. “Why?”

Panic swells in my throat and for a moment I’m not sure I can spit out the words.

“
What? Tell me.” An unsure smile flickers.

Unable to meet her gaze, I sigh and look away. “Nino has plans to hurt us the night of the grad dance.” Without waiting for her questions, I continue, “He was going to beat me up and…
assault
you.”

She utters a humorless bark of laughter. “What? Whadda ya mean?”

“
I mean,” I whisper even though we’re alone, “word is Nino has plans to… to do something unspeakable to you.”

“
Who said?” Her face flushes and there’s a tremble in her bottom lip.

“
Julia told Jon. Tyler told her and I guess she’s got a bit of a conscience.”

“
Really? This is
really
true?” Now her face shrivels in a look of pain.

I rest a soothing hand on her arm. “Jon won’t let it happen though, so we don’t have to worry.”

She gets to her feet and sways unsteadily for a moment, then crumples to the pavement.

“
Charlie!” I squat beside her and rub comforting circles on her back while she cries. “Are you okay?”

When she finally looks at me, she’s pale-faced and trembling. “That’s the worst thing he could ever do to me.”

“
It’s not going to happen.” I move over and pull her into my arms.

She clings to me and hot tears fall onto my shoulder. “What did I ever do to him?”

“
Don’t worry, we’ll make him pay.” I lift her chin with a finger and find her gaze. “I want to go ahead with the plan. That’s why I wanted to meet here with you. Jon’s coming too.”

“
Okay,” she whispers, sounding like a frightened child. “But are you sure about Jon?”

“
Yes, he’s only hanging out with Nino and Tyler to see what he can find out, so he can protect us.”

She nods, seemingly satisfied with my answer. We sit in silence, each thinking our own thoughts until Jon jogs up.

“
I guess you told her,” he says, eyeing Charlie, who’s now sitting cross-legged on the pavement, fingers laced through fistfuls of hair.

“
Charlie, you’ve got nothing to worry about,” he says. “I won’t let anything happen to you, or to Lola.” He offers a hand and she takes it. He pulls her to her feet and she falls into him for a hug.

Surprise lights his face and he pats her back, throwing me a look of astonishment.

“
Thank you,” she says and pulls away.

Jon nods and gives an awkward smile. “No prob. Umm, we have to make sure no one sees us together for the next little while. It has to look like I’m their friend.” Jon turns to me. “I figure the middle of next week will be the best time to prove to Nino that you really can disappear.”

“
Wait, whaddaya mean?” Charlie asks. “Why does Lola have to prove it?”

“
If the plan’s going to work, we have to show Nino that Lola really can disappear, or he won’t take our threats seriously,” Jon explains. “We have to scare the shit out of him to get him to do what we want.”

“
But I thought you already told him she could vanish.”

“
Yeah, I did, but he didn’t believe it. Really, think about it, who would? So we’ve got to show him.”

“
How are we gonna do it?” I ask.

“
I’ve been thinking, and maybe I can ask him to meet me right here in the courtyard after school, and you can be waiting for us,” he suggests. “I won’t let him go until you show him what you can do.”

“
I’ve got a better idea,” I say, shaking my head. “Let
me
ask him to meet me here, alone. If I feel the fear and anxiety for real, I’ll wink out right away and I won’t have to focus and concentrate, which takes time.”

Charlie reaches out a hand. “Too dangerous.”

“
Yeah,” Jon adds, “I think so too.”

“
Okay then, what if you guys wait there.” I point to our oak tree. It’s huge and ancient and two people can easily hide behind its massive trunk. “Besides, what can he do to me if he can’t see me?”

They exchange a look, then Jon shrugs and Charlie nods.

“
Okay,” Jon says finally. “We’ll be right there watching the whole time.”

“
What if Tyler and Julia show up too?” Charlie asks.

“
I’ll tell Julia to make sure Tyler doesn’t go with Nino,” Jon answers.

“
And you’re sure we can trust her?”

“
Yeah, I don’t know if Lola told you, but she’s the one who told me about Nino’s plan in the first place.”

Charlie sneers. “What if Tyler’s thinking of getting in on the action?”

“
Judging from everything I’ve heard, this is all Nino. Don’t get me wrong, Tyler’s an asshole, he knows what Nino wants to do and he’s doing nothing to talk him out of it, but I think he’s too scared to join in.”

“
How do you know you’re not being taken for a ride here? I mean they know you’re close to me and Lola, why would they suddenly trust you?”

Jon heaves a sigh. “They don’t know Julia told me about the plan, so as far as they’re concerned I have no idea what they’ve got planned. Plus I made it look like I was on the outs with Lola. Trust me, it hasn’t been easy. I want to fuckin’ punch their faces in, but I’ve got to be convincing so they let me hang out with them.” He pauses, tapping pursed lips. “Actually, why don’t we stage something? I can act like an asshole and call you guys some names to really make them believe I’m on their side.”

“
Good idea,” I hear myself say, but my gut clenches at the thought of it.

“
And how do you know Julia’s not going to ruin everything by telling her boyfriend what’s really going on?” Charlie asks.

“
I haven’t told Julia about
our
plan, and as much of a bitch as she is, she doesn’t want you to get… hurt.”

“
So she’s fine with me getting beaten up?” I huff.

Jon shrugs. “God, I hate to say it, but I guess so.”

* * * *

For the rest of the week I avoid Jon like the plague. I even sit on the other side of the class in homeroom. I throw him dirty looks at every opportunity, even if no one’s looking. He does the same. We’re playing our parts like pros.

Jon eats lunch with Nino, Tyler and Julia, and Charlie and I eat outside under the oak tree, even in the rain. We’re determined to do this thing right. Hatred, anger and a need for justice drive us.

The day of our staged fight comes quickly and I’m scared. Charlie’s eager and excited, and for the life of me, I can’t figure out why.

The final bell rings and we head outside to wait for our bus. I see Jon and the others from the corner of my eye and suck in deep soothing breaths. “You ready?” I whisper to Charlie. “They’re coming.”

A wicked smile forms on her lips. “Bring it.”

I pretend not to see them.

“
Since when are cows allowed on the bus?” says Jon and though I know he doesn’t mean what he says, his words still sting.

Nino laughs. “Good one, man.”

I turn to see him slap Jon on the back. There’s a scowl on Jon’s face and he really looks like he hates my guts. Tyler stands with an arm draped over Julia’s shoulder. She may have done us a favor, but the glare on her face looks pretty friggin’ real too.

“
Leave me alone, asshole,” I say in a venom-infused voice. Jon moves closer and stops to throw a look at his fake friends. “You know why I don’t hang out with her any more?”

“
Why, man?” Tyler asks.

“
Because they want to be alone. Two fuckin’ man-hating lesbos.”

Charlie wheels around, and spits in Jon’s face.

“
Bitch!” he snarls, and shoves her backwards.

She almost falls, but regains her feet at the last moment.

The whole scene is so real, it steals my breath. My heart beats hard against my ribs and I turn and run.

Charlie follows, jogging beside me. “Take it easy,” she soothes. “Our bus will be here soon. Please, Lola, don’t wink out. It wasn’t real.”

“
I know,” I say between lungfuls of air. “It’s not real. It’s not real.” My words are my mantra.

Before the late bus arrives, I’ve managed to get myself under control. There will be no disappearing.

“
Did you have to spit on him?” I say as Charlie and I take a seat.

“
It had to look real.”

“
It did.”

“
So you think they bought it?” Charlie says, gathering her expression into a smile.

“
It scared the shit out of me and I
knew
it was fake, so yeah, I think they bought it.”

Charlie leans back satisfied. “Step one done, now onto the next. It’s all you now, missy. Put on that author hat and write up a good speech. Do you need my help, or do you remember everything we talked about?”

“
I think I’ll be okay. I’ve been making notes.”