The Secret of Ella and Micha

can spot it.
    An old Chevy pickup comes flying down the road, kicking up a cloud of dust. As it nears, my nose twitches because I know who it is and he’s one of the last people I want to see. The truck stops just outside the perimeter of the field behind the restrooms. A lanky guy, wearing a tight t-shirt, a snug pair of jeans, and cowboy boots comes strutting out.
    Grantford Davis, town pothead, infamous brawl starter, and the guy who dropped me off at the bridge that God awful night eight months ago.
    I bang on the bathroom door. “Come on Lila, hurry up.”
    Grantford looks my way, but there’s no recognition in his eyes, which isn’t surprising. I’ve changed since the last time anyone saw me, shedding my gothic clothes, heavy eyeliner, and tough-girl attitude for a more lighter and pleasant look, so I blend in with the crowd.
    “You can’t rush nature, Ella,” Lila hisses through the door. “Now let me pee in peace.”
    I watch Grantford like a hawk as he rolls a tire across the field toward his pickup.
    The bathroom door opens and Lila walks out cringing. “Gross, it was so disgusting in there. I think I might have caught herpes just looking at the toilet.” She shivers, wiping her hands on the side of her dress. “And there were no paper towels.”
    Grantford has disappeared, although his truck is still there.
    I grab Lila’s arm and tug her toward the car. “We need to go.”
    Lila elevates her eyebrows questioningly as she tries to keep up with me. “What’s wrong with you?”
    “Nothing,” I say. “There was just this guy over in the field that I really don’t want to talk to.”
    “Is he an old boyfriend?”
    “No, not even close….” I trail off as Grantford rounds the bathroom.
    There’s sweat on his forehead and grass stains on his jeans. “I need to talk to you for a minute.”
    “Why?” I question, swinging the car door open. Please don’t bring up that night. Please.
    Lila freezes as she’s opening the door and her gaze darts to me. “Ella, what’s going on?”
    Grantford tucks his hands into his pockets, staring at the hood of the car. “This ain’t your car, is it?”
    “No, we just stole it and took it for a joy ride.” Shit. Ten minutes back and my old attitude is slipping out. “I mean, yes it is—her car anyway.” I nod my head at Lila.
    “Well, I was just wondering how fast it goes?” He gives me a fox smile that makes me want to gag.
    I was never a fan of Grantford. He always had a sleazebag attitude, which was part of the reason why I had him drive me to the bridge that night—he was the only one I knew who would leave me there alone.
    I can’t help myself. “Probably a lot faster than your pick up over there.”
    He has a shit-eating grin on his face. “Is that a challenge?”
    I shake my head and motion for Lila to get in the car “Nope, that wasn’t a challenge. Just a mere observation.”
    Recollection fills his eyes. “Wait a minute. Do I know you?” Ignoring him, I start to shut the door, but he catches it. “Holy crap! I do know you. You’re Ella Daniels.” His eyes mosey up my legs, cutoff jeans, lacy white tank top, and land on my eyes lined with frosty pink eyeliner. “You look… different.”
    “College will do that to you.” I scale up his scuffed cowboy boots, his torn jeans, and stained shirt. “You haven’t changed a bit.”
    “I see your mouth hasn’t changed at all,” he snaps. “And besides, you didn’t change for the better. In fact, you look like you could be friends with Stacy Harris.”
    “Don’t exaggerate the situation,” I say. Stacy Harris was a popular girl in our grade; head cheerleader, homecoming queen, wore a lot of pink.
    His face scrunches. “You didn’t just change on the outside either. If anybody would have compared you to Stacy Harris, you’d have punched them in the face.”
    “Violence solves nothing.” I begin to shut the door again. “I have to go.”
    He complements my move and seizes the door, prying it back open. “You ain’t going anywhere until I get something out of you.”
    “Like a kick to the balls,” I threaten, but my insides churn. I can talk tough, but when it all comes down to it he’s a really big guy who could easily hurt me.
    His grey eyes turn black as the sun sets behind the shallow hills. “I heard you bailed. Packed up your stuff one night and took off. Pissed off a lot of people, too. The ones that were always protecting you when that mouth of yours