Chapter 22: Levi and Shawn

I slipped some pyjamas into my duffel bag, along with a toothbrush and some night cream. After the date I would be sleeping at Chrissie's, since I had already told my mother we were having a sleepover. I decided to wear my blue crop top for the date, and put that on top of my pyjamas. I chose gold strappy shoes to complement my outfit. I had braided my hair and left it for the entire day, and now my hair settled in what appeared to be beach waves.

I hauled my bag over my shoulder, and made my way downstairs. I waved goodbye to my parents and waited in the front yard for Chrissie to pick me up. It was a good thing Ms. Embly hadn't yet phoned my parents about the project I hadn't handed in. Otherwise they wouldn't have let me have this sleepover.

A couple of minutes later Chrissie's blue Beetle whizzed straight past me. I held my hands in the air, trying to catch her attention.

She started reversing and finally pulled the car into my driveway.

"How?" I asked, wondering how she could possibly have driven past the house she had visited so many times.

"I forgot where the brakes were," she said. She had somehow managed to cheat her way into getting her driving licence. Maybe she had flirted with the scorer. When it came to Chrissie you never knew what she was going to do to get her way.

I climbed into the passenger seat and buckled my seatbelt. The car jerked forward.

"You aren't wearing that to the date, are you?" Chrissie's eyes swept over my green sweater and stonewashed jeans.

"I'm changing at your house." I touched my duffel bag.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why are you doing this when you have a boyfriend?" Chrissie enquired, her eyes moving between me and the road. I can't believe I thought Caspian drove fast; Chrissie put him to shame.

"I don't have a boyfriend." I rested my head on the headrest. I had repeated that statement to myself the whole day, and surprisingly it didn't hurt to say it anymore.

"If you say so." Chrissie was only too happy to drop the subject and talk about the night ahead of us. "You're going to love them," Chrissie prattled on joyfully. "Shawn is so cute, but he's mine. Though Levi is also pretty hot."

"Good for them," I muttered under my breath, before chiding myself. I was the one who had wanted to go on this date.

Chrissie stopped the car outside her house.

Together we walked to her room. Her parents were out, so it was just her and James.

"Hi, Madelyn." James greeted me on our way up the stairs. His hair was ruffled and he was wearing shorts with a T-shirt; he looked like he had just got out of bed.

I greeted him back, and to my surprise he pulled me into a hug and kissed me on the top of my head.

Chrissie locked her bedroom door. "What was that?"

"What?" It was safer to act like I didn't know what she was talking about. I hadn't known that James had a thing for me until Caspian had so kindly pointed it out.

"James," she whispered, although there was nobody else around. "You can't go out with my brother."

"I wasn't going to," I told her. "Wait, why?" Did she think I wasn't good enough for her brother?

"It would interfere with our BFF relationship," she clarified, her mouth in a perfect straight line.

"You don't actually think he likes me?" I enquired, to see if she shared Caspian's opinion.

Chrissie raised her perfectly tweezed eyebrows.

"Well, I won't date him. I promise." I held up my pinkie finger and she wrapped her pinkie around mine.

Chrissie did my makeup and I offered to do hers, but she wouldn't let me. Apparently I wasn't experienced enough. Chrissie's dress was turquoise blue, and the bodice was dotted with diamonds. It ended just below her ankles and flowed outwards, giving her a mermaid look. I looked plain compared to her.

After about an hour, we were ready to leave.

"Let's go." I stepped towards her beetle.

She grabbed my wrist. "The boys are picking us up."

"Oh." I wasn't sure what to think. "Where are we going anyway?" I asked her.

She shrugged. "It was supposed to be a surprise."

Did she know anything about this date? "When will they be here?" I pressed.

She shrugged. I sighed in defeat and leaned against her beetle, before thinking better of it and righting myself. I wasn't sure when was the last time Chrissie had washed her car or if she had actually ever washed it.

I peered at my backside to check if dust had imprinted itself on me, but I couldn't get a good enough look. I was about to ask Chrissie to check for me, when two motorcycles stopped in front of us. Was I expected to get on one of those things?

A pale-skinned guy, who looked about eighteen, was the first to climb off his motorcycle. He had short stubble and ruffled, brownish-orange hair. His eyes were dark brown, almost black, and his broad chest was covered with a black leather jacket. From the way he smiled at Chrissie, I assumed this was Shawn.

The second motor-cycle rider was leaner than the first and younger, but still quite muscular. His black hair was combed to the side in a Clark Kent sort of way, only it looked more stylish on Levi. Like Shawn, he also wore a leather jacket. His tanned skin had not a blemish, and his eyes were green and mischievous.

Shawn hugged Chrissie tightly and I awkwardly waited, not sure what to do.

"This is Madelyn, by the way." Chrissie gestured towards me.

"Hi." Levi walked towards me and pecked me on the cheek.

"Hi," I greeted Shawn and Levi at the same time.

"Ready?" Levi handed me his helmet.

No. "Sure." I nervously placed the helmet on my head, before realising both the boys were willing to ride without helmets. I was about to suggest we all pile into Chrissie's small car, but decided against it. I didn't want to be a fun killer.

I climbed onto the red and black motorcycle and concentrated on breathing in and out. I gripped the side of the seat tightly and waited for Levi to kick it into gear. The motorcycle was launched forward, and I gripped Levi around the waist. Pressing my front to his back. I whimpered softly, but not softly enough. "I'll protect you," Levi chuckled, reminding me of the same promise Caspian had made. I hadn't given Caspian a chance to keep his promise. Would Levi get a chance to keep his? Or was I just incapable of keeping a boyfriend?

After a while we arrived at Sunset Coast's only major mall. There were a few shopping centres and smaller malls, but this mall was where most people spent their time. Levi parked the motorcycle and helped me climb off. He held my hand firmly in his and we followed Shawn, who had his arm draped casually around Chrissie's shoulder.

We stepped into the elevator and climbed out on the third floor. Where were we going? My question was answered soon enough.

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