Find You in the Dark (Find You in the Dark #1)(19)
Author: A. Meredith Walters

Clayton seemed to be weighing his words before he answered me. “I’m just not really a party person anymore.” “Anymore? Were you a party person before?” I asked him. Clayton sat back on the chair behind him and started digging through the box on the floor at his feet. He was still so choosy in the information he revealed about himself. I had learned in the last few weeks that he felt his parents could no longer “deal” with him and that’s why he was now living with his aunt. He admitted to having a lot of “problems” and it had become too much for his mom and dad to “handle.” His aunt was apparently much more patient and supportive of him, and he felt more relaxed in her home than he ever did with his parents.

“Yeah, partying was part of my issue in Florida.” He said, getting up and carrying the box to the back room. Tilly gave him a smile as he passed by her. Her smile to me was much tighter and I knew it bothered the older girl that I hung out with Clayton in the store, which she must have viewed as her territory.

Okay, so maybe my smile was a little smug as I followed Clayton with another box. But I couldn’t help it. “Do you need any help, Clay?” Tilly called out. She was tenacious, I’d give her that. “We’re good, Tilly. Thanks though.” Clay replied over his shoulder without looking in her direction -(earning Tilly another smug smile from yours truly-).

I dropped it on the floor inside the dark storage room. “Be careful, Mags. Ruby will have my head if you break the crystal balls in there.” He said sharply, quickly looking through the box to make sure everything was still in one piece. Despite his terse tone, I thrilled at his use of my nickname. I loved it when he called me Mags instead of Maggie, thinking it hinted at an intimacy that I desperately longed for.

“Sorry, Clay.” I said, sitting down in a metal chair. I stretched my back after carrying the heavy box. “So you had a problem with partying in Florida? What kind of problem?” I asked as he sorted through the greeting cards inside his box. Clay looked up at me with that unreadable expression he was prone to displaying.

“Well, I got in heavy with drugs and stuff. Hanging with the wrong crowd and all. Things got a little out of control for awhile. But that was only a symptom of everything else, I guess.” His voice was cagey, always aware of how much he was reveling about himself.

“Wow Clay, you just don’t seem like that kind of guy. I’m a bit surprised.” I said, watching him closely. Clayton sighed. “I’m definitely that kind of guy. You have no idea.” He muttered. I wanted to ask him more. To find out how “out of control” he had been. I wanted to know everything about my mysterious friend, but he remained hesitant and wary. Despite how close we were becoming, there was a very significant line that I just couldn’t cross. Yet.

“So, no party then?” I asked him. Clay’s shoulders dropped as he stood up. He seemed unsure of himself and it made me want to hug him. “Would we go there together?” He asked me. Would we ever! I wouldn’t let him out of my sight if I could help it. But I responded with an airy, “Of course, if you want to.”

Clay seemed to be ruminating over his response. How a high school party could be such a matter of life and death was beyond me. “And Rachel and Daniel are going?” He clarified. Clearly he needed strength in numbers or something. I nodded. “Okay then. I guess I’ll go. If you want me to.” He looked at me, waiting for my affirmation.

“I’d love for you to go.” I said, relieved that he would be with me in a social setting. I had this primal need to mark him as mine. To make it clear to all the idiots at school that he belonged to me. Wow, had I gone all alpha? “Will there be, you know, drinking and stuff? Because that’s kind of hard for me.” He admitted softly. He seemed sad all of a sudden, the sudden change in him catching me by surprise. His moods were so up and down; he was hard to keep up with.

“Melissa’s parties aren’t like that. Her parents are usually there somewhere. It’s typically a bonfire in her back field with music and people just hanging out. It’s a good time.” Clay still seemed a bit unsure but took me at my word. “Okay then, sounds good.” He said and gave his first real smile since I had brought the whole party thing up.

“Great!” I said a little too loudly and I winced at my overt display of enthusiasm. Clay reached over and squeezed my hand. I startled at the physical contact. He wasn’t a touchy feely kind of guy, so I was taken aback by it. “You’re so cute when you get excited.” He said, looking at me with something that could only be described as tenderness.

I know I stopped breathing. He thought I was cute? Our eyes held each others’, not moving away. A moment began to build and Clay took in a sharp breath. His eyes dropped to my lips and I could have sworn he wanted to kiss me. My tongued darted out and wet my suddenly dry lips and I watched his eyes follow the movement.

The air crackled with the tension. Clayton’s eyes burned with intensity. I felt like we were trapped in slow motion. His hand came up and lightly touched my face. I angled my cheek toward his palm and I closed my eyes. “Maggie.” He whispered, his breath on my face as he moved closer.

And my phone started buzzing in my pocket. Why did this always happen?! Clay immediately jumped back, putting space between us. He was suddenly focused on finishing his task of unloading the boxes on the floor. Crap! Someone had better be dying! I glanced at the screen on my phone and saw Rachel’s name.

“What?” I barked after I answered. “Jeez. Who pissed in your cornflakes?” Rachel’s testy voice asked on the other end. I took a steadying breath and tried to calm the frantic beat of my heart. I looked back over at Clay but he had turned away from me.

“Sorry, Rach. What do you need?” I mollified, trying to not sound as agitated as I felt. “I was just calling to see what time you wanted me to pick you up tonight.” She said, still sounding miffed by my earlier attitude. “You’re not going with Daniel? I thought you guys were riding over together.” I asked, already fearing the answer. Daniel must have bailed on her, thus her prickliness. Confirming my thoughts, Rachel told me that he had called an hour ago and said he’d be taking Kylie to the party. Rachel sounded so dejected that I wanted to call Daniel and ream him out. I was sick of him doing this to her. Even if he was my other best friend, it didn’t mean I had to sit by and watch him be so thoughtless all the time.

I didn’t comment on Daniel’s ass-itude, knowing that it wouldn’t help Rachel feel better. “Hold on.” I told her, covering the mouth piece with my hand. “Hey, Clay.” I whispered. Clay turned around, not really meeting my eyes. His expression was cold. Great, he was totally regretting our little moment earlier. Whatever, I could play the I- don’t- care game with the best of them.