Lost Along the Way(24)

“I still don’t know why we’re here!” Cara said. “I’m not much in the mood for a midnight stroll.”

“Why?” Jane asked sarcastically. “Because you just discovered that your boyfriend is cheating on you with a sophomore on the cheerleading team?”

“Yes,” Cara said through gritted teeth. “There are too many things wrong with that sentence to even count.”

“I can’t believe him,” Meg said. “If I ever see him again I’m going to smack him.”

“Thanks, Meg,” Cara said. “I seriously can’t believe that I am only a few hours away from graduating high school at the ripe age of eighteen, and I’ve already been ditched for a younger girl with a set of pom-poms. Thinking about it makes me so mad I could hurt someone. Like I might lose my mind.”

Jane watched as Cara squeezed her hands into fists so tightly her thumbnail actually broke the skin and drew blood. “Good! Channel your anger. That’s exactly what I want you to do,” Jane cheered, despite the fact that there was nothing happy about this entire situation.

“Why are we here, Jane? Seriously, tell me,” Cara ordered.

“We’re here because I am a genius and I refuse to let your last memories of high school be of that * and the fact that he ruined the best thing that ever happened to him.” With one click, Jane used the bolt cutters to break the lock on the gate of the school tennis courts. “Come on! This will make you feel better, Cara, I promise.”

Jane hurried over to the electrical box located at the far end of the court and flicked a switch. The lights above the court blazed, forcing the three girls to shield their eyes for a minute while they adjusted from the darkness. She dropped the duffel bag on the court and removed a tennis racket. She promptly tossed it to Cara, yelling, “Catch!”

Cara always used her athleticism as a way to relieve stress and tension in her life. Whenever she needed to clear her head she went running, or golfing, or skiing, or swimming, depending on the weather and the circumstance. Jane knew that in this case, nothing in the world would make Cara feel better than to blast tennis balls flying at her into oblivion. She’d be picturing Mark’s face with every swing. He should be very happy that Jane had the brilliant idea to break into the tennis courts so his scorned girlfriend could work off her rage. Otherwise he’d probably be sporting a broken nose or a black eye tomorrow with his cap and gown.

“We’re going to hit tennis balls? Seriously?” Cara asked as she crossed to the far side of the court.

“No. We aren’t hitting anything. I want you to hit tennis balls. Meg and I are just going to man this ball machine thing.” Jane ran to the corner and pulled out the ball machine. She plugged it into the small electrical socket and turned it on. She fished two dozen tennis balls out of the duffel bag and loaded them into the ball machine.

“How do you work this thing? I’ve never used one of these before in my life,” Meg said, biting her cuticles as usual.

“That’s because you’ve been too busy making muffins,” Cara replied, never missing the opportunity to jab her best friend for her love of home economics and her general apathy toward any and all athletic endeavors.

“You never mind eating the muffins!” Meg reminded her, still biting her cuticles.

“That’s true,” Jane said. “You make a mean chocolate chip muffin. Don’t ever let anyone tell you differently. Now, let’s focus and stop biting your nails. Cara, I think you need to work out some of your aggression toward Mark.”

“Don’t even say his name to me. I hate him so much it hurts. I mean, do you believe this guy? He’s going to cheat on me with a sophomore? Seriously?”

“Gross,” Meg said. “He’s a pig.”

”I want to slash his tires or something.”

“I believe you. That’s why you’re going to take your anger out on the tennis balls. It’ll feel great!”

“You think it’s that simple, huh?” Cara asked.

“I think it’s a pretty good place to start. Pretend the ball is Mark. Tell him what you really think of him and then nail these tennis balls! Really hit them, Cara!”

Cara laughed as she twirled the racket in her hand. “I’ve played on this court thousands of times, but for some reason it’s a lot more fun when we’re not allowed to be here!”

“Everything is more fun when you’re not allowed to do it. Have I taught you nothing?”

“Seriously, Jane, I will never understand how your brain works. You couldn’t come up with a better way to let her burn off some steam?” Meg asked, constantly looking over her shoulder to make sure no one was coming to arrest them.

“I had a lot of ideas, but I decided that breaking onto the tennis courts was the best one!” Jane answered with a shrug.

“Oh jeez,” Meg moaned.

“Okay, ready? I’m going to let this one fly,” Jane said as she took her position behind the ball machine.

“Bring it!” Cara said, her knees bent, her back straight, and her racket poised squarely in front of her.

“Okay, Cara, here it comes! Crack it!” Jane yelled as she hit the button and started the balls flying.

“You stupid *!” Cara yelled as she slammed the ball with such force that Meg had to duck to avoid getting pelted by it.