Dead Spell by Belinda Frisch

wrote the words: help me.
    Sweat soaked through the armpits and back of Brea’s shirt and her heart pounded.
    “Stop,” she finally managed to shout and in an instant, everything stopped.
    She kicked the board over and tried to stand, but she felt dazed, as if she was just off the tea cup ride. She pressed her palms to her eyelids and tears seeped around them. Her muscles ached with a flu-like soreness, and she felt feverish and more tired than she’d ever been in her life. Her sweating turned to a bone-deep chill and she wrapped up tight in her down comforter, terrified to move.

 
     
    25 .
     
    Brea made it through the entire school day without running into Rachael, which figured. Now that Brea had the best possible comeback—now that she was something to Jaxon that Rachael could never be—she was nowhere to be found.
    Brea wondered if it was intentional.
    The last period bell rang and she navigated the crowd, nervous for “the surprise.” Jaxon told her at lunch that he had something to do, but that he’d be back in time to drive her home.
    A text message said he’d be there in a minute.
    She traded her books for the ones she needed for homework and went down the hall toward the front door.
    The bulk of the cheer squad gathered at the vending machines in the cafeteria and Brea kept her head down when she passed them. They’d be going out to the football field for practice in no time and she’d have to deal with Rachael.
    “So much for peace and quiet.”
    Brea texted Jaxon back, “Hurry up.”
    She blended in to the group waiting for pick-ups and doodled on a blank journal page. When the front doors opened behind her, she didn’t look back. She didn’t have to. She heard who was coming.
    Maybe they wouldn’t see it was her. Maybe, just maybe, Rachael knew about Miller’s Pond.
    She doodled the words “help me” in bubble letters, the first thing that came to her mind. Remembering last night gave her goose bumps.
    Rachael and her friends were chatting and laughing and suddenly Rachael’s voice got louder. “Hey, isn’t that freakshow’s boyfriend over there? You know, that weirdo, what’s his name?”
    Brea couldn’t help but look. She hadn’t noticed Adam’s truck in the visitor’s lot because she wasn’t looking for it. Now, it was plain as day.
    He was leaning against the side of the building, smoking a cigarette next to the “smoke-free campus” sign.
    “Brea?” He dropped the butt in the grass and walked over to her. “I was looking for you. I need a favor.”
    Just then, Jaxon pulled up in a brand new, black Audi A4.
    “Holy shit,” she said.
    Adam smiled. “That’s a little condemning, isn’t it?”
    Jaxon got out of the car, puffed out his chest and clenched his fists. “What’re you doing here, loser?” He immediately went for Adam. “Ready, Brea?” He went to touch her shoulder and she moved. “What’s the matter?”
    “You really don’t know?”
    Adam reached for Brea’s hand. “Come on, let’s go.”
     “I…”
    “Brea, get in the car,” Jaxon said.
    “Don’t do it, Brea.”
     “Leave her alone, dirt bag.” Jaxon pushed Adam, hard, but barely moved him.
    “That all you got, Abercrombie?” Adam bumped against Jaxon.
    He was wiry strong, not built like Jaxon—but he was a better fighter. One hit knocked Jaxon on the ground.
    Rachael ran over to help him.
    Brea panicked and prayed for Adam not to get caught. “Adam, you have to get out of here.” If the school called the cops, her uncle would find out she was there, with Adam, and the fallout with her mother would be unimaginable. She pushed him toward the parking lot. “Go on, before it’s too late.”
    “I’m not leaving without you.” He held out a hand and the look in his eyes was the most sincere she’d ever seen him. “Please come with me. It’s for Harmony.”
    It was all she needed to hear.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Brea stood next to Adam in the showroom of Riley Monument, fidgeting