College Weekend (6 page)

“Now where?” Tina asked.

“Let's try the cafeteria,” Chris suggested. “Holly eats—doesn't she?”

Tina laughed. “Sometimes.”

They hurried to the other side of the campus. The smell of strong coffee drifted out the cafeteria windows.

Tina ran inside. “Have some drama students been here?” she asked a group of girls at a long table.

They shook their heads. “Not this morning,” a girl with long dark hair replied. “But I think there was an all-night party over on Fifth Street.”

Tina turned to Chris. “Do you think they went there?”

“Could be,” he answered. “But on the weekends there's a party every few feet!”

If only my parents had let me come alone, Tina thought. I'd have been so much better off.

They left the cafeteria. Tina slumped onto the grass. “Now what?” she asked. “We can't drive around the whole town. I know I'm not Holly's baby-sitter. But I'd feel better if I found out where she is.”

“Why don't we try calling her friend?” Chris suggested.

“I tried already. It's not listed.”

“I can get it,” he said. “There's a student directory in the bookstore.”

Tina waited while Chris trudged up the hill to the bookstore. She pulled out a blade of grass and twirled it between her fingers. Here she sat on a gorgeous college campus, and she couldn't enjoy herself for a moment.

“Got it,” Chris said, interrupting her thoughts. “Here's a quarter.”

They found a pay phone. Tina dropped in the quarter and dialed the number. Her spirits lifted. Alyssa will answer. Holly will have a dumb excuse for not calling.

But at least I'll know Holly's okay, she thought. Then I'll go back to the dorm and wait for Josh. He'll be back in an hour.

After two rings the message machine turned on. “This is Alyssa,” a tiny, high-pitched voice began. “I'm onstage right now and can't take
your call. Leave your name and I'll—” The machine clicked off in midsentence.

Tina dropped the receiver. It dangled against her leg.

Something was wrong. Tina knew it now for sure.

The voice on the answering machine was not Alyssa Pryor's!

“
S
omething's wrong!” Tina cried. Too many things are wrong, she thought. Too many.

She didn't want to admit it, but Holly's sixth sense could be right this time.

“The machine cut me off. I couldn't even leave a message. And that wasn't Alyssa's voice.”

“You know actresses,” Chris replied. “They're always goofing around with fake voices and accents. Maybe she's rehearsing for a part.”

“Maybe,” Tina answered. “But I wanted Holly to know we're looking for her.”

“Do you want to call home?” Chris suggested. “You can use my calling card.” He pulled out his
wallet and began shuffling through his credit cards.

Wow! Tina thought. He has more credit cards than my mom!

“No.” Tina wandered back to the grassy area and plopped down. “No, if Holly's off with some guy, I'll just get her in trouble. And then I'll be in trouble, too.”

Chris sat beside her, his shoulder almost touching hers. “It's not your fault.”

“You don't know our folks,” Tina grumbled. “We're supposed to watch out for each other.”

A couple strolled by holding hands and laughing. Tina envied them. This is supposed to be the best weekend of my life, she thought. So far it's the worst.

A blue jay chirped in the tree overhead. Tina heard music off in the distance.

“That's the carnival starting up,” Chris explained. “It's over in the main quad. You want to check there?”

Tina parted the grass with her finger. “What time is it?” she asked.

Chris checked his watch. “Ten to twelve.”

“It's almost twelve?” Tina jumped up. “We should go back to the dorm. Didn't you say Josh would be back around noon?”

Chris didn't answer.

“Chris,” Tina prodded. “What's the matter?”

“Is that Carla?” he asked, squinting his eyes.

Carla came rushing up over the grass. Her white T-shirt had
PATTERSON MAVERICKS
printed across the chest. Sunglasses held her hair back from her face.

“Finally!” she cried. “Where have you two been?”

“Everywhere,” Tina answered.

“Josh and Steve called,” Carla announced.

“They did!” Tina's heartbeat quickened.

“He tried your room first,” Carla explained. “But you were out.”

“Well? Where are they?” Tina demanded.

“They're still stuck. The garage fixed the car, but then it broke down again.” Carla tucked a stray hair behind her ears. She kept twisting around, staring behind her.

“So anyway, I'm going to drive up there and get them.” Carla turned to leave.

“Wait!” Tina grabbed her arm. “I'm going with you.”

Carla bit on her lip. Her eyes darted to Chris.

“No,” she told Tina. “You can't!”

“
W
hy not?” Tina held on to Carla's arm. She wasn't about to let her leave.

Why is she acting so weird? Tina wondered. She won't even look at me. Josh is my boyfriend. I want to go with her to pick him up.

“You have to take me,” Tina insisted.

“There's no room,” Carla explained. “I only have a two-seater.” She pulled Tina's hand away. “One of the guys is going to have to scrunch down in the window well.”

“Oh.” Tina sighed. “But Chris has room in his Jeep. How about it?” she asked hopefully.

“Sure,” he answered, handing her the keys.
“Carla, you can drive it. I'll hang around in case Holly turns up.”

Holly! Tina thought. I shouldn't leave until I know she's okay.

“I'd better stay, too,” she told Carla reluctantly. “But get back here quick. And tell Josh I can't wait to see him.”

Carla nodded and hurried away. Tina placed her hand on Chris's shoulder. “She sure acted strange, didn't she? I had the feeling she really didn't want me to go with her.”

“Maybe she's stopping to visit some guy on the way,” Chris said. “With Carla you never know.”

Stop and visit another guy? Tina's mouth went dry. Maybe she wants to spend time with Josh. She did say that she and Steve dated other people.

All weekend she's been trying to fix me up with Chris. Suddenly Tina saw things in a whole new light. Maybe Carla was pushing her toward Chris because she's interested in Josh.

“Chris—do you think Carla wants to get together with Josh? Maybe that's why she didn't want me to go?”

“With Steve right there?” he asked.

“No. I guess not. But there's something strange about the way she's been acting to me.”

“You worry too much.” Chris put his arm
around Tina's shoulders. “Look, you need to have a little fun. I don't want this weekend to be a complete disaster. So here's my idea. A friend of mine owns a motorcycle shop. Let's rent a motorscooter for the day. I'll show you around. And I'll get some outdoor shots for your portfolio.”

“What about Holly?” Tina asked.

“We'll keep calling the dorm room while we're out. Maybe we'll even spot her strolling around town.”

A half hour later Tina sat on the back of the motorscooter, her arms wrapped around Chris's waist.

As they rode down the old streets, the wind whipped through her hair. Chris stopped the scooter on the top of a hill.

Tina gazed out over the town. The streets wove around in circles. Large maple trees lined the sidewalks. The town ended at the base of a mountain. Snow capped the highest peak.

I wish I could go to school here, she thought. It's so beautiful.

“This is Lookout Point,” Chris explained. “I want to get some shots of you here.”

He pulled out a pair of wire-rimmed glasses and slipped them on. “I need these to focus,” he said shyly.

He looks handsome in glasses, Tina thought.

Chris adjusted his camera settings while Tina stood at the top of the hill.

“Okay,” he said finally. “Look out over the town. Let your hair blow free.”

He clicked the shutter. “Act natural, Tina.”

This is hard, she thought. How can I act natural when Rob Roberts may see these pictures? She didn't know how to position her hands. Or what to do with her feet.

“Relax,” Chris coaxed. “Think about tonight. About the dance.”

Tina thought about dancing with Josh.

“Great!” Chris exclaimed. “That's exactly what I want.” He clicked one shot after another.

He's watching me so carefully, Tina thought. Are all photographers this intense? Or is there something else happening between us?

“Okay,” he said, lowering the camera. “That's enough here.”

They rode to the library, a large, old stone building with stained-glass windows.

Chris shot several pictures of Tina sitting on the steps. And some of her strolling in front of the entrance columns.

Modeling for someone who knows what he's doing is really fun, she thought.

“These are going to be terrific.” Chris took her hand and led her back to the scooter. “You're a natural.”

Tina's heart fluttered. “I hope so,” she said. “I've wanted to be a model all my life.”

For a second he gazed longingly at her. She felt her stomach twist. She was having such a great time, she had completely forgotten about Holly.

“We have to go back to the dorm. What if Holly is there looking for me?”

“No, listen. Let's go to the carnival. It's a natural place for Holly to turn up. She knows that's where you're supposed to be.”

“Okay,” Tina agreed.

They climbed back on the scooter and started across town.

At a red light Chris jumped off.

Now what's he doing? she thought.

He grabbed his camera and snapped a picture of Tina's startled face.

When the light turned green, he hopped back on. Tina wrapped her arms back around his waist.

I hope these photos come out good, she thought, or I don't want anyone to see them. Especially Rob Roberts.

As they approached the main quad, Tina heard the Spring Fling Carnival in full swing. Excited screams drifted into the air from the tilt-a-whirl and the roller coaster.

The salty-sweet aroma of popcorn and cotton candy greeted her. Chris parked the scooter
under a tree. He reached for Tina's hand to help her off.

Boys wearing T-shirts with fraternity names emblazoned on the front called out to them. “Three throws for a dollar! Right here. Win your girlfriend a stuffed bear!”

Tina watched a cute little boy throw a dart into a balloon. He won a huge stuffed bear.

I should be here with Josh, she thought. Chris is being great. Spending all this time with me. But he's not Josh.

“Come on,” Chris said, taking her hand. “I want to try the Softball toss. I'll win you a prize. How about one of those big purple Barneys?”

“Ugh! No, thanks,” Tina protested.

Chris handed his camera to Tina. The attendant gave him three softballs to toss through the rings.

Chris rolled the first ball around in his hands and then aimed for the ring. He made it. Before throwing the second one, he turned and smiled at Tina. The second one also fell through the ring. He winked at her.

Tina held her breath as he tossed the third softball. It hit the side of a ring and fell to the floor.

“Oh, well.” He reached in his pocket for more change.

Good, Tina thought. She really didn't want a stuffed Barney.

“Tina?” a deep voice called out.

“Jack!” she exclaimed. “Hi!” Jack Hampton had graduated from Shadyside High a year before Josh.

“What are you doing here?” Jack asked. He stared curiously at Chris. “Aren't you still going with Josh?”

“Of course,” Tina answered. “I came here to see him this weekend. But you know Josh. He went off on some geology search and had car trouble.”

Jack shook his head. “Sounds like Josh.”

“This is Chris.” Tina pulled Chris over. “Josh's roommate. He's showing me around.”

Jack reached out to shake hands with Chris. Chris clasped Jack's hand briefly.

“We better get going,” Chris suggested. “I want to grab some shots at the merry-go-round.” He played with the straps of his camera.

He's jealous, Tina thought.

“Just a minute,” she said. “I haven't seen Jack in a long time.”

“Your folks let you come here alone?” Jack asked. “That's a surprise.”

“Hardly,” Tina admitted. “I came with my cousin Holly. You haven't seen her around, have
you? I think she's hanging out with Alyssa Pryor.”

“Alyssa Pryor?” Jack frowned. “From Shadyside?”

Tina nodded. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Chris fidgeting with his camera.

“That's weird,” Jack commented. “Alyssa doesn't go here anymore. She transferred to an art school in Seattle.”

“T
hat's impossible!” Tina cried. She dug her fingers into Chris's arm. “Are you sure? Alyssa Pryor? With short blond hair? The one whose father owns a clothing store at the mall?”

“I'm positive,” Jack replied. “I talked to her on the phone last week. We even talked about you and Josh. About everyone from Shadyside.”

Tina's head began to spin.

Someone is lying. And it has to be Carla.

“Then where is Holly?” Tina asked.

She pictured Holly lying in a ditch somewhere. Or tied to a chair, being tortured by drunken bikers.

“Maybe she's with a different Alyssa,” Jack suggested.

I don't think so, Tina thought. If only I knew what Carla was up to.

A pretty girl with red hair walked up and looped her arm through Jack's. “Everyone is waiting for you,” she cooed.