Oblivion by Karolyn Cairns [paranormal/YA]

had once called home. She was wistful as she recalled the block parties and barbeques. It seemed like an eternity ago, not just a year, since she went zipping up and down these well-tended roads in her bright pink Volkswagen bug.
    The pool was closed up, a winter cover still on. The music was louder back here, coming from the wreck room they built onto the back of their house. Cam was the only kid at home now that his brother was away at school. The baby of the family; he was spoiled rotten. Until six months ago, he had a brand new truck. A drunk night out totaled it and he was back driving his Dad’s new Mustang.
    Lindsay went to the sliding glass doors past the Jacuzzi and knocked. She frowned. Cam wasn’t going to hear her over that racket. She tried the doors and found them open. She hesitated before she walked inside and shut them behind her.
    The house was immaculate thanks to the maid they hired. The modern furnishings and art on the walls weren’t to Lindsay’s taste. Marianne liked to show off her wealth. Her husband did some kind of financial planning and investments for a living. He wasn’t home much and Marianne had her hands full with Cam.
    “Cam, I’m here,” she called and realized he wouldn’t hear her so she ventured to follow the music.
    She stepped into the wreck room and coughed from the smell of marijuana and waved at the smoke in front of her face. Cam and his three pals were huffing on a water bong and didn’t see her. Her eyes narrowed. He certainly wasn’t taking his finals seriously.
    He noticed her and grinned, his cute face wreathed in pleasure. He got up and turned down the music. The guys looked at her and she stiffened from the looks passing between them. They obviously thought this was more than it was.
    “Hey Lindsay, you’re early,” he said as he came forward. “My mom said you would be here at four.”
    “It’s ten too, Cam. Can we get to it? I have things to do later?” she asked in annoyance, seeing his eyes were like moons from the dope he’d smoked.
    “Ok, sorry. I’ll just walk the guys out.”
    Lindsay could just imagine what they were thinking as they passed, sending her speculative looks. Tomorrow the rumors she was tutoring Cam would be twisted into some perverted rumor. She was glad she wasn’t in school anymore. Knowing Cam, he would encourage people to think this was more than it was.
    Minimum wage by the hour was hardly worth this. Then as an added incentive, Mr. Chase offered five hundred dollars if his son passed his SAT exam. Five hundred dollars was a lot of money to her right now.
    She couldn’t draw off her trust until she was actually enrolled in school. She had to fly down for orientation in August to register. As soon as she signed on the dotted line she had access to the funds.
    “I’m sorry about that, Lindsay,” Cam said as he came back, his stoned expression ticking her off.
    “Cam, I’m here to help you pass your exams and that isn’t going to happen if you don’t take it serious.”
    Cam grinned and his handsome face lit up. “I promise this won’t happen again.”
    “Ok, let’s go someplace quiet and get started.”
    Cam looked intrigued. “Ok, let’s go to my room. That way when my mom gets home she won’t interrupt us.”
    Lindsay nodded and hitched up her purse, following Cam as he led her through the house to the stairs. The upper level was an open loft and Cam had it to himself now that his brother was away at school. Two huge bedrooms and a combined bathroom were up there. The wall facing the street was a huge glass window.
    Cam’s room was a disaster she saw. She stepped over clothes and dirty towels on her way in. He mumbled apologetically as he went to his computer desk and cleared it off. He had every modern technological advance known to man and couldn’t find any of it under his laundry. He cleared off his desk and offered her a chair.
    She busied herself going through the checklist given to her by the guidance