Prowl. Part 2

"No. I didn't hear your party. Just some weird chanting noise and then--" I stopped myself, realizing that I couldn't tell her about my hallucination. She'd think I was crazy.

Rhiannon looked stunned, almost frightened. "You heard us chanting? That's odd. We were inside with the door closed."

A chill ran up my spine. "You were chanting?"

"Only some of the time." Her face softened into a smile. "Then the real party began. Like I said, maybe I'll invite you some time. I think you'd like it."

My stomach tightened. I stared out at the street, quiet with no breeze like the desert. Sweat slid down my spine. "It's hot." I fanned myself with my hand and moved into the shade of the porch, sat on the bottom step.

"Yeah, it takes awhile to get used to." Rhiannon followed, plopped down beside me.

"How long have you lived here?"

"A couple months. We moved from Was.h.i.+ngton."

"Was.h.i.+ngton? Really? That's where I'm from."

"Huh. That's weird."

Everything about her was weird. I still wasn't sure if I liked her or not.

"What made you move here?" I asked.

"My dad's job. It hasn't been so bad though. I've already made a lot of friends and the weather's really nice."

I nodded. Her proximity made me nervous for some reason. I needed to get away from her. "Well, I better head inside. Grandma's taking me over to the Giovanni's today."

"Be careful."

"Why? What's wrong with them?"

"Nothing really. Let's just say we don't share the same beliefs."

"Oh. Yeah, Grandma said they were religious."

"That's one way to put it."

I shrugged. "Doesn't bother me much. Grandma's always been that way. Mom and I have always just ignored it."

Rhiannon smiled. "Cool. So you, like, don't have the same religious beliefs as her?"

"Not at all."

"Like I said, I think we're gonna be friends."

Isaac Giovanni was even cuter up close. When Grandma introduced me to him I thought I would faint. Instead I mumbled something unintelligible and my face turned bright red. I'm not sure which was more embarra.s.sing. He took it well though, smiling a huge dimpled grin that sealed my fate despite my vow to stay away from boys and the warning from Rhiannon. I loved Isaac's family too. His mom Sophie was so warm and inviting and made the best lasagna I ever tasted. Tony, his dad, was super funny and cracked jokes all afternoon.

After we ate, Isaac asked if I wanted to go outside to shoot hoops. I was pretty shocked, since that was the first time a guy had ever asked me that. But I said okay and followed him outside where a giant basketball hoop loomed in the driveway. Isaac immediately palmed the ball and dribbled toward the hoop. After making a shot he threw it to me, and I, of course, missed it. I grimaced as it rolled out into the street.

"Sorry. I'm not really good at sports."

Isaac just laughed and jogged out into the court to retrieve the ball. "That's okay. What are you good at?"

I bit my lip. "I don't know."

"Come on, everyone's good at something."

For a minute I thought I would cry. What was I a good at? I couldn't think of one thing.

Isaac interrupted my thoughts. "I've only known you for a couple of hours and I can already think of something you're good at."

"Really? What?"

"Laughing."

"Laughing? Are you serious? That's not a talent."

"Hey. Don't underestimate it. You made my dad's day, laughing at all his jokes."

I shrugged. "He's funny."

"See, not everyone has a good sense of humor like you. I love that quality in a girl."

My cheeks burned and I stared hard at my feet.

"Anyway, we don't have to play ball. I mostly just wanted to get you alone."

Man, I thought he was different than other guys. I should have known better.

"Wanna sit down?"

I glanced over at him. He sat in the gra.s.s, patting the spot next to him. Anger burned through me.

"No thanks. I'm good," I said, icily.

"Are you okay?"

"Look," I said, crossing my arms over my chest. "I don't know what kind of girl you think I am, but let me tell you I'm not a s.l.u.t. I came out here because I thought you wanted to play ball, not make out or whatever."

"Whoa. Whoa." Isaac threw his hands up in surrender. "I didn't mean that the way you took it. Wow." He ran a hand over his hair, a deep crimson blush spilling across his cheeks. "I don't know what to say. I'm sorry. I-I-just wanted to talk, to get to know you a little better, that's all."

He looked so sincere that the anger left me, deflating like a popped balloon. "No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm just over-sensitive, I guess."

"Hey, I understand. I know how guys are and I'm sure a girl as pretty as you gets. .h.i.t on a lot."

My heart skipped a beat at his words.

"If you feel more comfortable we can go back in." Isaac started to get up.

"No. It's fine." I walked toward him and sat down in the gra.s.s. It tickled my legs. "It's nice out here tonight." It had cooled down considerably from the heat of the afternoon. There was even a slight breeze.

"Yeah. You're from Was.h.i.+ngton, right?"

I nodded. "The weather's a lot cooler there."

"I guess that's why you're wearing long sleeves. If I were you, I'd definitely get some new clothes."

"Yeah. Yeah, I'll do that." I fiddled with the bottom of my sleeve and changed the subject. "So, how long have you lived here?"

"My whole life."

"Seriously?" With as many times as Mom and I had moved I didn't know people stayed in one place their whole life. "That must be amazing."

"Yeah, it is. Some of my friends I've known since we were running around in diapers. It can be pretty embarra.s.sing when Mom pulls out the photo alb.u.ms."

I giggled, but inside felt a little jealous. My mom didn't even own a photo alb.u.m and I didn't have a lifelong friend.

"Hey, do you know Rhiannon? She lives on the other side of Grandma's house."

His face hardened. "Stay away from her."

I swallowed hard, surprised by his visceral reaction. "Funny she said the same thing about you."

He snorted. "That doesn't surprise me."

"She said you had different religious beliefs."

"You could say that."

I c.o.c.ked an eyebrow, appraising him. His whole demeanor had changed when I mentioned Rhiannon. He went from being fun and relaxed to tense and evasive. It made me wonder what was going on with the two of them.

I opened my mouth to ask him, when Grandma's voice sounded behind me. "Ready to go, Kenzie?"

Startled, I turned to Isaac who was already standing. I guess he was ready for me to leave. Feeling a little let down, I followed Grandma inside to say my good-byes. When I said good-bye to Isaac he still seemed agitated. I wasn't sure if I had made a friend or an enemy.

"See, I told you that you were gonna meet a hot California guy," Haley said when I spoke to her on the phone.

I fell backward on my bed, laying my head on the pillow while keeping the phone pressed against my ear. "I'm not even sure if he likes me."

"This guy must really be something. Send me a picture."

"Oh yeah. That'll go over well. Hey, can I just take a quick photo of you to send to my friend? Can you say stalker?"

Haley giggled.

"I miss you," the words slipped out before I could stop them.

"Yeah right. Not with Mr. Gorgeous right next door."

"Shut up, Haley." I groaned. "I just wish I knew why he acted so strange when I mentioned Rhiannon. You should've seen it. It was so weird."

"Whatever. Don't worry about it. So he doesn't like her. Better for you, anyway."

"Yeah, but it's more than that."

"Maybe she's a stalker. Like the girl in Fatal Attraction, or something."

I rolled my eyes. "I highly doubt that."

"Well, you did say she was strange."

"Yeah, but she seems nice."

"Hey, don't go getting a new best friend. You already have one."

I smiled. "You have nothing to worry about, Haley."

"Good."

Outside my open window came a crunching sound like footsteps on brittle leaves. I inhaled sharply.

"What happened?" Haley asked.

A shadow swept past. It resembled the figure of a man.

"I think someone's outside my window," I whispered crawling on the top of my bed and inching forward. I peered out but saw nothing.

"Kenzie?"

"Yeah, I'm here. Nothing's out there."

"Gosh, you scared me. It was probably a bird or cat or something. That happens to me all the time."

I laughed. It was true. Haley had always been skittish. I was the strong one, the one that didn't get frightened. What was happening to me?

Chapter Four.

Grandma set me up. In the morning she informed me that she had a home to show so she had to go to work. She was a real estate agent so she worked flexible hours. Since she was taking the car, she had arranged for Isaac to show me around town so I wouldn't be stuck at home.

She acted all innocent like she was just trying to be helpful but I saw that guilty gleam in her eye. I would be lying if I said I didn't want to spend time with Isaac. I was just a little embarra.s.sed by the circ.u.mstances. I mean, what if he felt totally roped into this and didn't want to see me at all? How awkward would that be?