He blinked once before recognition broke across his features. "Fay?"
Fayth's eyes narrowed into a glare. "Reid," she said curtly before pushing past him. Damn it, why? Just because she'd been sort of looking for him didn't mean she wanted to find him!
"I thought I recognized someone in the crowd," Reid said, catching up to her. "It's been a while," he added.
Her hand clenched in a fist. Yes, it had been a while since they'd seen each other. Just over five years to be exact. She nodded stiffly and replied with a brief, "Yep."
"How've you been?"
"Fine," Fayth answered, her voice icier than she'd meant it.
"What's with you?" Reid asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"Nothing. I'm just peachy," Fayth shot back. "What do you care, anyway?" From the corner of her eye she saw him pause and then a frown creased his forehead.
"I'm just trying to catch up," Reid said defensively.
"Whatever."
A hand closed around her upper arm and yanked her around. "When did you become such a bitch?" Reid asked, frowning down at her.
"Around the same time you became an ass," Fayth snarled, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach that his touch caused. His blue eyes narrowed as his lips curved down in a frown. Those amazing blue eyes that had sparkled with mischief when they were kids. Silently scolding herself, she yanked her arm away and stormed toward the stage where her friends were collecting the last of the equipment. She grabbed an amp and lugged it out to the truck, pushing past three boys who were standing nearby.
Once outside, she hauled the amp into the truck and climbed into the driver's seat to wait for the others. This was ridiculous. It had been five years, she should be over him. She was over him… she was. A silly crush from years ago didn't mean anything. She had been young and somewhat stupid. They were no longer kids. Reid definitely wasn't a kid anymore. He stood a good few inches taller than her, and his slightly angular face had made him even cuter than when he was young. And his blonde hair contrasted nicely with his eyes, while his slightly wide shoulders hinted at his muscular build.
"Stop thinking about him," Fayth hissed to herself. "He's an ass and not worth your time. A hot ass, but an ass nonetheless." Shaking her head, she tried to rid her mind of Reid's face, but it was useless. She couldn't make his image fade. "Ugh!"
"What's with you?" Christina asked as she climbed into the passenger's seat. Ryan and Kyle hopped into the bed of the truck and knocked on the window, signaling that they were ready to go.
She started the truck and put it in drive before answering her friend. "Nothing."
"That's a lie," Christina laughed. "You're pissed because you ran into Reid."
Fayth let her gaze slide to her friend briefly before returning to the road. Her lips pushed together in a pout. "Maybe." Chris had known about her and Reid since they were nine. She'd always teased Fayth about having a crush on him, and Fayth had always insisted that it wasn't a crush. But when Reid broke their friendship, Fayth had admitted to her girl friend that she'd liked him. And Chris had helped her get over him… or so she'd thought.
"He's grown," Christina commented.
"Yeah, grown into an even bigger ass," Fayth mumbled.
"I didn't think so. He seemed nice to me," her friend said, shrugging.
"Whatever. He's still an ass. I mean, did he really think that after five years, we'd be best buddies again? Seriously! He ditched me for no reason, ignored me, and then all of a sudden tries to strike up a conversation? What the hell!"
"True."
"He's the one who ended our friendship, not me. It's his fault," Fayth added, taking a corner sharper than she meant to.
"Hey, watch it!" Ryan called from the back.
"Yeah, we want to stay in the truck!" Kyle yelled.
"Sorry!" Fayth hollered, even though they probably couldn't hear her. "But I mean, what the hell was he thinking? Did he really think that if he tried to come back into my life that I'd welcome him with open arms? 'Cause if that's what went through his mind when he saw me then he's just gotten stupider over the years."
Christina nodded. "Mmhmm."
"Ugh, he's such an ass!"
"He's a big ass," Chris agreed.
"A giant ass!" Fayth said. She parked the truck outside Ryan's house and climbed out, slamming the door. "Men are such fucking pricks!"
"Well gee, thanks," Kyle said. "Glad to know how you really feel about us."
"Oh shut up," Fayth snapped.
"Someone's moody," Ryan chuckled.
"And someone's going to get my foot up their ass if they don't shut up."
"Chill the hell out, Fayth," Christina sighed.
Fayth opened her mouth to make a smartass remark, but stopped when her friend glared at her. Instead, she folded her arms and pouted. One good thing about Chris was she knew how to be a best friend. She listened to the rants, but ended the overreacting when need be. And yes, Fayth knew she was probably overreacting. But she was pissed.
"Guys, we'll catch up with you later, alright?" Christina said, opening the passenger's side door and looking at the redhead. "When the bitch is back in the box."
"Haha, funny," Fayth mumbled. "See you guys later. Great gig." She climbed into the truck and slammed the door before starting the engine. Once the brunette girl was in, she threw the truck into drive and headed to the next house. The ride to Chris' was silent except for the music blaring from the radio. That was another good thing about Christina, she didn't try to make conversation when Fayth was mad. She'd either let her silently vent or listen to her rant. She was great.
After dropping her friend off, Fayth headed home. She parked in her small driveway and walked into the small two story house. The only light on was the one above the stairs. Her parents and sister were already asleep. She quietly made her way upstairs and into her room where she changed into a large grey T-shirt and a pair of black boy shorts. It had been a long day and she was definitely ready for some sleep.
Sunlight warmed her face as she slowly came out of the dream world. Inhaling deeply and stretching, she rolled onto her back and looked up at the ceiling before climbing out of bed and making her way to the bathroom down the hall. After a shower, she returned to her bedroom and changed into a pair of jeans and a dark blue spaghetti strap shirt. She combed out her hair, letting it fall over her shoulders, and applied a little mascara and eyeliner. Adding her silver pentagram necklace and silver hoops, she headed downstairs.
"Morning, hunny," her mother said from the kitchen table, a cup of coffee in front of her.
"Morning," Fayth replied as she grabbed an apple.
"How was it last night?" her father asked from his seat at the table, his eyes never leaving the newspaper he was holding.
"It was good. The crowd loved them."
"That's good."
"What are your plans for today?" her mother asked.
"Chris and I are hanging out. We might go see a movie or something."
"Oh that's nice."
"I want to see a movie," Haley said, walking into the kitchen.
Fayth looked at her eight-year-old sister and sighed. "Maybe I'll take you another time."
Her sister rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right."
"Yeah. Well see you guys later," Fayth said, heading for the door.
Ten minutes later, Fayth opened the door to her friend's house. "Knock, knock. I'm home!"
"Oh great, the day just got better," Christina's father said from the living room.
"Nice to see you, too, Mr. Lawmen," Fayth smiled, returning his light sarcasm.
"Christina's upstairs in her room," he said, chuckling.
"Thanks." Fayth climbed the stairs and walked into the bedroom. "Morning!"
"Hi Fayth," Chris said as she pulled on a green T-shirt. "What's the plan for the day?"
Fayth shrugged. "Usual Saturday breakfast at the diner?"
"Sure."
Light chatter mixed with soft music filled the diner as the two girls sat eating their breakfast. Clouds outside covered the sky, blocking the sun, and a little mist swirled across the ground, making the April day feel like October, and made the day seem gloomier than it should.
"So what should we do next?" Fayth asked, pushing her empty place to the end of the table for the waiter.
"Dunno," Christina said, taking her last bite.
"Movie?" Fayth suggested.
"We've seen most of them," Chris sighed. "Damn, it's boring in this town."
Fayth nodded, but stopped when she saw the mischievous smirk pulling at the corners of her friend's mouth. "What are you thinking?"
"We should go swimming."
"The river is probably freezing," Fayth said.
"I mean in an indoor pool."
"And where are we going to find an indoor pool?" Her friend shrugged as her eyes traveled to the road and back. Fayth's eyes widened. "No."
"Come on. Don't you want to swim?"
"Not that badly."
"Oh come on. It'll be fun!"
"Until we get caught."
"If we get caught."
"Chris," Fayth sighed.
"Fayth, have faith. We won't get caught."
"You're right, 'cause we're not going."
"It's the only nearby place with an indoor pool," Chris whined. "I really want to swim!"
"Then fill up a bathtub."
"Fayth."
"Chris."
"You just don't want to run into Reid."
"I don't feel like explaining to my parents why they need to pick me up at the police station for trespassing," Fayth corrected. "But since you brought it up, you're right. I don't want to see Reid again."
"Well we'll go late at night when everyone at Spencer is asleep. Get in, swim, get out. Simple," Christina said.
"Well we'd probably have to break in since Spencer Academy is so strict and they most likely lock everything at night. Then we have to worry about getting around security guards, because once again Spencer is strict and probably has people walking around looking for trouble makers."
"Fayth, we've grown up sneaking around. A few security guards should be no problem. Please?" Chris' bottom lip stuck out and her eyes grew bigger and sadder. Her damn puppy dog face.
With a loud sigh, Fayth stood. "If we get caught, you will owe me big time."
Chris jumped to her feet and clapped. "I know!" Linking arms with her, she dragged Fayth from the diner after tossing some money on the table. "So, we'll plan to head there around… midnight?"
"Seeing as it's Saturday, we'll probably have to wait til like two. Most people will be out until one or two," Fayth said as the two girls climbed into the truck. "You sure you want to do this?"
"Hell yeah!" Christina smiled.
Fayth sighed. "Alright. We'll go find trouble tonight."
Chris clapped happily. "Yay!"
