CHAPTER 17 – Arrival

All the weeks of training would go into this, everything Jo had learned. She could see the crowds of students milling about, dozens of familiar faces surrounding a squat, red-bricked building that she knew very well. Her heart was very nearly in her throat, and not because of Asher's driving.

People turned and stared as he pulled into the drop-off zone in front of the school. Joanna forced herself to unlock her muscles and get off the bike smoothly. Every sense was sharp and alert, all the while portraying perfect nonchalance. Like any other day. She could feel the slight weight of her backpack vividly.

She pulled off her helmet and shook out her hair as she handed it to Asher where he still sat on the silent motorcycle. He took it, tucking it swiftly in the compartment under the seat.

"Thanks for the ride, Asher," Jo said, grinning and trying to feel steady. Asher had pulled off his own helmet, running a hand through his hair as he grinned back momentarily.

"No problem," he said. She moved to turn away, but he caught her arm, his smile gone. "You're strong, Jo. You're ready," he continued, his grey eyes catching hers and holding on. "But don't forget that I've got your back." She gazed back at him, wide-eyed, words escaping her. He can see right through me. But she nodded firmly, strengthened by his faith in her and his support.

"See you later," she murmured. He nodded, letting her go and pulling on his helmet again. He started the bike, giving her one last look before snarling into motion with aggressive speed as he took off out of the school lot.

Joanna turned and faced the school without hesitation, head held high against the stares and whispers, and walked confidently and calmly into the mouth of the beast.

Kirsten had pretty much given up hope.

It had been over a month. The homework stacked on her desk was piling precariously high. There was not a single reply to any of her countless text and calls. Joanna's house was dark and locked up tight, without the car in the driveway.

She really was gone.

At least Alex had finally begun showing up for class again, and he wasn't going to be expelled for missing so much school. Principle McAllen had been lenient, which was a relief. If Alex disappeared too, Kirsten would definitely go crazy. She'd already had a mild heart attack when Alex didn't show up for school one day, completely chewing him out the next morning.

But what scared her the most, more than when he didn't show up, more than when she found him working out fanatically in the gym, were the mornings she could smell alcohol on him, however faintly.

She was trudging to English class as she pondered this, the only class she had without him. A month ago Kirsten was chronically late for class because she was constantly distracted by chatting with her friends in the halls. Now she was only ever early to class, sometimes the first one there. All her other friends had backed off after Joanna left, unsure how to handle Kirsten's wild downward spiral. Kirsten didn't blame them. She knew she was a mess.

And that's when Kirsten spotted her.

Kirsten had begun to hate walking to this class because Joanna's locker was right down the hall. And every day for a month that locker stood closed, a constant reminder. Except today. Today it was open, and there was a girl standing in front of it. The girl was slipping off her black leather jacket, revealing the silvery-grey tank top underneath. She was tall, height added by the heels on her velvet black ankle boots. She had long, shiny brown hair, and her body was lean and slim.

And so familiar.

Kirsten stopped in her tracks, feeling as though the breath had been knocked out of her. The girl had finished putting her jacket away and was sliding books out of the locker and into her bag before slamming the locker shut. Kirsten's eyes zeroed in on the charm dangling off the zipper of the backpack as the girl closed it and slung it over her shoulder. Kirsten had made that charm in grade nine and had given it to her best friend.

The girl turned.

It was her.

Joanna.

She was walking calmly down the hall with long, confident strides. Kirsten gaped. There was something different about her movement, a new smoothness or grace. Her shoulders were back, her head held high. Joanna had always been pretty, but right now she looked… beautiful. And somehow… dangerous.

Kirsten's heart pounded.

"Joanna…" It was a dry, choked whisper, but Jo's head turned right in her direction with searching eyes. Even something in her eyes had changed. Kirsten was frozen, and Jo stopped dead in her tracks. A million emotions flickered across her face, too fast for Kirsten to decipher before her expression settled into an easy smile.

"Kirsten," she said.

Kirsten couldn't stop herself. Jo was here. Jo was back! Kirsten dropped her bag and flung herself at Joanna, throwing her arms around the other girl in a fierce hug. Joanna caught her easily, hugging back tightly. She smelled the same, but her body was subtly different. Stronger, firmer. Not as soft as Kirsten remembered. Like she'd been working out.

And then all the pain and fury rose up in Kirsten. She pulled back with a hard jerk.

"How could you?" Joanna's face fell, her lips pressing tightly together and her entire face closing off. That only made Kirsten angrier.

"You left, without a word! You didn't answer any calls, any texts, you broke Alex's heart!" And mine too! Kirsten wanted to scream. She struck out blindly at Joanna, hot tears blurring her vision. People in the hall were probably staring, but Kirsten didn't care. She hurt too much to care.

Joanna's hands shot out and grabbed her wrists before Kirsten could hit her and pulled them down to Kirsten's sides with a strength Kirsten didn't think she had, and shoved Kirsten backwards into an empty classroom. And yet, every firm touch was gentle.

"Kirsten," Joanna said again, pain cracking through her voice. Kirsten sagged against her friend, sobbing now. She sucked in air and desperately tried to stop the tears while Joanna held her.

"What?" she said roughly.

"I'm so sorry," Joanna replied, pulling back from her so Kirsten could see her face. "My mom surprised me with a trip to Europe. I couldn't say no, and can you believe I managed to lose my phone in the airport the second we landed?" She laughed a bit, shaking her head ruefully as she let go of Kirsten. Kirsten took a second to process this, swallowing hard and scrubbing the tears off her face.

"But why… why did you break up with Alex?" Kirsten asked, hating how her voice sounded small and pitiful.

"I…" Jo's face became distant, looking away. "I just couldn't handle long distance like that. I wasn't sure how long the trip would last. My mom kept the next destinations a secret. I thought it would be better for both of us."

"Well, you thought wrong!" Kirsten exclaimed, standing up straight again. Her emotions were dipping and rising and falling all over the place, out of control as usual. "It's been horrible! You killed him, Jo! He loved you!" Joanna swallowed hard, but her eyes were still very far away.

"I know," she said quietly. "I'm sorry."

"Saying sorry to me doesn't make it better. He needs to see you," Kirsten said, starting to move.

"No," Joanna replied immediately, with so much force that Kirsten halted in her tracks. Joanna suddenly met her eyes, very there in the conversation. "I just… can't yet," she continued, her voice calmer. "But I will talk to him, okay Kir?"

"Okay," Kirsten mumbled, suddenly feeling bad for getting so upset at Joanna the moment she arrived back. It wasn't really fair of Kirsten. It wasn't Joanna's fault she'd disappeared. She pulled Jo in for another hug.

"I'm glad you're back, Jo," she whispered. It was true, she was extremely happy Joanna was back. But at the same time, there was a slight stirring of unease in Kirsten's stomach. Something had changed about Joanna. Something was different. And somehow, it scared Kirsten.

But Jo just replied, "Me too," and hugged her back.

Prepare yourself for some fun from Kirsten's point of view. I hope you like her!