Please God, let everyone be okay and this just be another one of those ‘I’m over-exaggerating’ moments.
The call goes to voicemail and I curse, instead calling Piper back to see if she answers. Does anyone not text anymore? Not one person left me a text. If something major has happened, I’d expect a text. I take a few deep, steadying breaths as I wait for Piper to answer. When she finally does, I feel like I’m about to pass out from relief, while feeling a new wave of panic in my gut because I don’t want to know if it’s bad.
“Hey, Stone-man!” Piper yells loudly. “What’s up?”
“What—what do you mean ‘what’s up’? I have a million missed calls from you and Austin. You tellme‘what’s up’!” My heart is beating out of my chest and I feel lightheaded with worry. “Is everyone okay? Please just tell me everyone is okay. Please,” I beg her.
Piper chuckles loudly over the phone, making my ears ring. She must be in the car.
“Of course everyone is okay. Your mind goes real dark after a few missed calls,” she laughs. “We were just calling to tell you to meet us at the high school gym. Dad has the next task ready to go, and he told us to make sure everyone knows to meet him there. So I’ll see you there!” She says cheerfully, then promptly hangs up on me.
I look at the time and jump out of bed. The high school is about fifteen minutes further than our families houses, and I’m going to be late if I don’t hurry the hell up.
Less than 45 minutes later, I’m throwing open the door to the gymnasium. I’mbarelylate, just barely. Only six-ish minutes or so. But the smug smirk Phil has plastered on his face tells me that Mr. Andrews has been keeping time. Phoebe has her back turned away from me, and I see that she’s talking animatedly to Piper, who has a giant smile on her face.
I’m guessing that Piper hasn’t talked to her yet, because if she had I couldn't imagine them being so content and chummy together. Sisters or not, I’m actually very worried about the fallout that’s bound to happen once Piper tells Phoebe the truth about everything.
Because it’s either going to blow over like no big deal, or it’s going to end up blowing their relationship to smithereens.
My chest feels tight at the thought of that happening, and as I walk closer to the group huddled in the center of the court, I realize that maybe it’s best if Piper doesn’t tell her.
Fuck. Maybe she shouldn’t tell her. Maybe it’s time I let these feelings go, even if just thinking about that makes my heart feel like it’s being put through a paper shredder.
“You’re late, Larson,” Mr. Andrews says gruffly.
“He’s like barely late, Dad,” Phoebe chimes in, surprising me when she throws a wink my way. “It’s the last task, and you changed the location on us at the last minute. Spencer lives the furthest away, give him a break. Please?”
Phoebe wraps her arm through Mr. Andrews’ and smiles sweetly up at him. I have to hold back a smile when I see him roll his eyes in defeat.
He sends an unamused look my way.
“Alright, but because you were late, you and Phoebe get one hour of time taken away. It’s the only way I can make it fair for the rest of the competitors, who bothered to show up on time,” he tells me. “You both have to have your task finished and ready to go by 5:00 PM tonight, the rest of you have until 6:00 PM.”
Phoebe thanks her dad and then comes to stand next to me on the outer circle of the center court.
“Thanks for that,” I whisper to her.
“Don’t mention it, just be ready because we are going to kick their asses.” She smiles smugly at me, then we both turn our attention back to Mr. Andrews.
He shoves his hands into his pockets, and sways back and forth on his feet, making eye contact with each and every one of us, before finally opening his mouth to speak again.
“Alright kids, this is the final task of this year's Mistletoe Feud, and the biggest challenge that we’ve coordinated to date. Today is the town’s Christmas parade, and your task will be to put together a float to drive through this year's parade. Spencer and Phoebe, you will use Spencer’s truck. Phil and Kevin, I’m allowing you to borrow my truck for this one. And Austin and Piper have been granted use of Mr. Larson’s truck,” he instructs us.
“You may go and rent a flatbed trailer, or you can use the truck as your float base. Just please do not damage any of the vehicles. Especially my truck,” he says with a glare pointed towards Phil and Kevin.
Piper raises her hand.
“What do we use to decorate these floats? I don’t think any of us have a float’s worth of craft supplies hiding in our closets. Am I right?” She laughs nervously as she looks at all of us.
Mrs. Andrews answers her. “The community center is putting on this year's parade and they have graciously provided all the supplies for each participant. You just have to head there and check out what you need.”
Perfect. Now we just need to plan a float, decorate it, and have it ready to roll by 5:00 PM. Nothing stressful about this whatsoever.
Suddenly, Phoebe’s hand is grabbing mine, and she’s pulling me out of the gym as quickly as her slender body can take us. “We don’t have much time, and I want to beat them to the community center so that Piper and Phillip don’t take all the good stuff!”
Her laughter is contagious, and her hand fits perfectly in mine as we both rush to my truck.
It’s going to be so damn hard to let her go.
