The Gathering (Darkness Rising 1)

I caught a faint whiff of smoke on the breeze. Campers? I'd have to mention that to Dad so he could find and warn them.

The distraction helped and I stretched out again, reclining on the rock as the sun reappeared.

"I got my birthday presents this morning," I continued. "Mom did a blueprint for a tree house for Fitz." I smiled, imagining her laugh. "Seriously. It's got this set of ramps, so he can climb up, then walk down. Only problem will be building it. We'll need to wait for Walter to come back next spring." Walter was Dad's seasonal helper and the town carpenter.

"Dad's taking me into town this week to get my learner's permit. He says he's due for a new Jeep next year, so when I get my novice, he's going to buy the old one from the St. Clouds, which means I'll be able to drive Daniel to school. He'll love that, won't he?"

I laughed, but it trailed off into silence. After a moment, I said, "He's doing well. Daniel. He got back on track--" Faster than I did, I was going to say, then realized that didn't sound good. Serena wouldn't want him moping around, but she wouldn't want to think he'd forgotten her already, so I said, "He's still not dating. I think he should try but ..." I shrugged. "He will when he's ready."

I flipped onto my stomach and looked down at the still water. "Speaking of Daniel and my birthday, he's up to something. I texted him this morning, asking if he wanted me to come over and help get the place ready, and he said no, it was under control." I imagined her answer and laughed. "Yeah, definitely up to something if he's turning down cleaning help. Better not be pranking me, because he knows I'll give as good as I get and--"

"Maya?"

I scrambled up as a figure appeared at the edge of the woods. Nicole. I waved and she stepped through into the clearing, gym bag slung over her arm.

"Please don't tell me you're going swimming today," I said.

She blushed. "I know, I practice too much."

"Um, no. I mean swimming ... in a lake ... in October."

"It's not that cold. And the pool we're going to next month is always freezing, so I thought it'd be good for me. But now that you mention it ..." She gazed out over the lake and shivered.

"Uh-huh," I said, and we both laughed.

"I heard you talking," she said as she came closer. "Who's up there--?"

She stopped as she realized I was alone. Then she looked at the lake and her cheeks colored. "Oh. I-I'm sorry. I'll just, um ... I'll see you tonight."

"Hold up," I said as I scrambled off the rock. "I was just leaving. My mom will have lunch ready soon. Join us. There's always lots."

I caught up and we walked in awkward silence for a minute before she said, "Daniel asked me to the party this morning."

When I glanced over, she blushed again. "I mean, obviously, I was invited. But he called to make sure I was coming, and I thought maybe he wanted help, but he said he was with the guys today, so I thought, you know, he was just making sure or something." Another bright flush. "It probably doesn't mean anything, but it was nice."

I nodded. "He said he might ask you."

Her face glowed, and I felt a little guilty. Mom says I shouldn't play matchmaker. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. But if I can help make things happen--whether it's getting a couple together or organizing a fund-raiser or being captain of the track team--then I don't see the point in sitting back and doing nothing.

I thought Nicole would be a good fit for Daniel. Not a love-of-his-life match, but someone who could help him get back into dating, someone who really liked him and would be happy just to hang out with him, take things at his pace, understand if it didn't work out.

"I hear you invited someone, too," she said.

"Huh?"

She g

rinned and elbowed me. "Forgotten already? I met Rafe in the store last night and asked if he was going tonight, and he said that you invited him."

I opened my mouth to say it wasn't like that, then shut it. If Rafe said I invited him, then he wasn't lying. No more than I'd been when I said Daniel had considered asking Nicole. It just wasn't the way it sounded.

"I told Daniel about it when he called," Nicole said. "I was just going to razz him about it, but he seemed surprised."

That was putting it mildly, I was sure. I should have mentioned it--I just hadn't figured Rafe would take me up on the offer. He probably still wouldn't, but I should have told Daniel anyway.

"Daniel's fine with it," she continued. "You know how he is. If you're cool with it, he is, too." She kicked a tree branch off the path. "Anyway, Rafe's not so bad. Hayley doesn't think so anyway. She--Oh."

When she hesitated, I said, "What is it?"