The Gathering (Darkness Rising 1)

Silence. I walked into the living room. When no one jumped out and yelled "surprise!" I started to get concerned. I wandered through the empty, silent house, finally ending up in the dining room where brightly wrapped gifts were piled on the table.

"Okay, guys, so where are you?"

I noticed something on top of the pile. A papaya. I groaned. That was my classmates' old nickname for me. Maya Papaya. Original, I know.

There was an arrow carved in the papaya, pointing to the screen door.

"Follow the papayas," I muttered, shaking my head. "Guys, guys, guys ..."

I headed for the door.

ELEVEN

I FOUND ANOTHER PAPAYA in the middle of the yard, pointing to the path leading into the forest. As I walked, I alternated between looking for papayas on the ground and for classmates overhead. Given how many times I'd jumped out of trees or off rocks and scared the crap out of my friends, I figured payback might be coming.

But there was no sign of anyone--just papayas, a half dozen of them leading me along the path. Then I stepped out into the clearing at the base of a rock face that rose fifty feet in the air. I'd seen this particular cliff many times, but today it was different. Today it had toeholds and cuts carved out and stone protrusions drilled on. A belay and pulley hung from the top.

"Oh my God," I whispered.

"Happy birthday, Maya," a voice said behind me.

I turned as Daniel stepped from the trees.

"You like?" he said.

I ran over and threw my arms around his neck.

"I think that's a yes," Corey said, off to my left.

"Hey, we helped, too."

That was Brendan Hajek, the veterinarian's son, who'd become captain of the track team after I'd bowed out last year. He was Daniel's height and slender with light brown hair worn to his shoulders, usually tied back, like it was today. There'd been a time when he'd ask me to school dances, and whenever he did, I was really tempted to say yes despite my rule against dating town boys. Brendan was quiet and sweet, and between track and a love of animals we had a lot in common. But I had my "summer boy" rule for a reason--I wouldn't risk my friendships by dating my friends. Eventually, he'd stopped asking. Now he was dating a girl a few towns over.

I gave both Corey and Brendan a hug, which I think shocked the hell out of them, but neither complained. The others streamed out of the forest. Even Hayley had come with her younger sister, Brooke, and Brooke's boyfriend. Like I said, Hayley and I don't get along. I like Brooke, though. It's not her fault her sister is a bitch.

I said a quick hello to everyone, then hurried to the climbing wall and stared up, barely resisting the urge to start jumping up and down, screaming like a game show winner.

"You always said this rock face would be perfect for climbing," Daniel said as he walked up behind me.

"If only it had more cracks and crevices," I said.

"And now it does."

I grinned up at him until Nicole grabbed my arm and said, "Come and try it out."

As she pulled me away, I glanced back at Daniel. "How long did it take to build?"

"Too long," Brendan said. "And we weren't even around for most of it."

"We've been at it since six this morning, finishing up," Corey said. "So we'd really appreciate it if you girls could grab us some cold beers ..."

"Are you going to show us how it's done, Maya?" Brooke said. "I'll never make it all the way up, but I'd love to try. I'm sure Hayley would, too."

"Um, no," Hayley said. She turned to me. "I can't believe you still do stuff like this. Are you ever going to grow up?"

>

"I still do it," Corey said.