This scene takes place at Dogwood Spring High School on Friday, the first day of the festival, after Zoe and her mom have stopped by the fairgrounds and talked with Libby. It’s not a part of the book, but I thought you’d enjoy it.
Zeke Finally Sees Zoe and Knows She’s Safe
“Hey, Zeke, have you seen Zoe yet?” Tyler, my best friend since we were nine, stopped before he went into the chemistry lab.
“No. She’s supposed to meet me here before her fifth-period physics class.” Waiting around to see her would make me late for English, which was one floor down and in a different wing of Dogwood Springs High, but I didn’t care. “She should just be getting to school. Her mom’s dropping her off.”
Tyler nodded and went into chemistry. And I stood there, leaning against somebody’s locker, watching for a glimpse of red hair coming down the hall.
So far, though, no Zoe.
Kids banged their gray metal lockers closed, then rushed to class. Conversations ebbed and flowed as people passed me. And, because I was one floor above the cafeteria, the scent of lunch—mostly the smell of Tater Tots—lingered in the air.
For a second my eyes fell to the grayish-blue tile floor, and I yawned so deeply that my jaw stretched. I’d barely slept last night, worrying about Zoe.
Yeah, this morning I’d texted with her and talked to her on the phone. But after spending all night frantic that she might have become the latest murder victim, I needed to see her with my own—
There she was.
Her wavy red hair, which she often wore in a bun, was down, flowing past her shoulders, and she wore jeans and a color guard sweatshirt. When she spotted me, her brown eyes lit up like she’d just crushed me in her favorite online strategy game.
My heart skipped a beat. Despite all my worries, all the horrible things I’d imagined, she was fine.
“Zoe.” I rushed to her and hugged her. “Man, I’m glad to see you.” Glad and relieved and feeling like I never wanted to let go of her. But eventually, I stepped back.
“Hi,” she said.
“I’m gonna have to have a talk with that cat at the vet’s office, Dr. Whiskers,” I said. “His little stunt, knocking your note off the counter so it got lost, and no one knew where you were, nearly scared me to death.”
She looked guilty for a sec. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea that the outlet where I plugged in my phone in Shelly’s kitchen was controlled by the light switch. I didn’t mean to make you worry about me.”
I bit back a groan. Idiot. I shouldn’t make her feel guilty. I grabbed her hands and held them gently. “You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just…” I pressed my lips together and gazed down at her. “You matter to me.” I swallowed. “A lot.”
Her cheeks grew pink, her long eyelashes fluttered down, and she squeezed my hands.
“I’m awfully glad you’re okay,” I said quietly. “Do you want to do something tonight, maybe a—”
“I’ve got Deena’s birthday party. Remember, I told you earlier in the week? Six of us are going to her house right after school and having a sleepover.”
Oh, yeah, right. She had told me. But what with trying to help my friend Libby figure out who the murderer was and being worried half out of my mind because the girl I was crazy about was missing, I’d forgotten.
“Then will you go with me to the festival tomorrow night?” I said quickly.
“I’d love to.”
My chest swelled.
Around us, the hall was suddenly empty, and the bell rang, signaling the start of fifth period. Across the hall, Mr. Denfield began explaining torque and angular momentum in a loud voice. On our side of the hall, about ten feet past where Zoe and I stood, the chemistry teacher closed the door to her room.
But Zoe made no move to leave.
And neither did I. Instead, I pulled her closer, threading my fingers through her silky hair.
She looked up at me. “Thanks for worrying about me,” she whispered. “I—” She stopped and placed a hand over her heart, her eyes shining with the words she didn’t say.
Heat rolled through my chest, and I leaned down and kissed her. She tasted like strawberry ChapStick, mint toothpaste, and heaven. For a long moment, I forgot all about fifth period.
Then, somewhere on the edge of my consciousness, I heard footsteps around the corner and the principal’s trademark, off-key whistling. I stepped back.
Zoe gave me one more quick kiss and slipped into the physics classroom.
And I hurried away from the approaching footsteps. I’d cut back downstairs in the hallway by the cafeteria to get to English.
After school, I’d take a nap.
And tomorrow night I’d see Zoe again.
My heart raced just thinking about it.