"Crystal?" Erin said, ripping me from my daze.
"Yeah?"
"Are you sure you're okay?"
I nodded then followed her inside the gray ranch-style house to her bedroom. I stepped over heaps of clothes on the floor and plopped down on her unmade bed. Why had I let myself get so carried away with Nate? I let out a breath, thankful that Erin had driven up when she did.
What if she hadn't? The possibility petrified me.
Erin tossed some clothes out of the way and moved a stack of fashion magazines from the dark green chair next to her desk. She sat. "My mom is gone for a while, so we can order pizza when we get back from the mall. We can stuff ourselves tonight and then skip breakfast and lunch tomorrow so we can squeeze into our dresses." She laughed.
I gave her a slight smile, still unnerved by what had happened with Nate. I'd have to keep those burning emotions under control. Really under control. Especially on prom night.
People crowded through the mall. There were lots of people everywhere, including kids from school. Everyone seemed to be doing last-minute shopping.
We walked into Icing, my favorite accessory store. I checked out some simple headbands while Erin thumbed through the earrings on display. She picked out a pair with red stones and plenty of sparkle. "What do you think of these?"
"Perfect." As I turned, I noticed Alec talking to an old, bald guy at a cell phone kiosk who was pointing at something inside the display case. I stepped behind a tall rack of earrings so he wouldn't see me watching him. Why did he intrigue me so much? What was it about him that drew me to him? Called out to me? Especially since I already had a boyfriend—a boyfriend who had just told me he loved me.
"I found the nail polish I want," Erin said, tugging at my arm. Thankfully, she hadn't noticed me watching Alec. "Do you like this color?"
"It'll look really good with your dress." When I glanced back to where Alec had been, he was gone. I chided myself for being disappointed and reminded myself that in twenty-four hours, I was going to have a magical night with Nate. I needed to push thoughts of Alec out of my head.
Erin handed me some deep red nail polish. "I found this for you."
I studied the bottle. "I don't really wear nail polish."
"Or make-up. I know. I'm glamming you up for tomorrow night."
I crinkled my nose. "I don't know . . ."
"It's prom." Erin pushed my shoulder. "Live a little." She purchased the nail polish and earrings.
As we walked through the mall, I kept glancing around to see if Alec was still there, though I had no idea what I'd say to him if I did see him again.
"Who are you looking for?" Erin asked.
"Oh, um, no one."
Erin gave me a funny look. "Okay, then. Let's go back to my house and gorge ourselves on pizza."
"Can you drop me off at school so I can pick up my car?" I was lucky my parents let me drive the car. No way was I going to leave it in the high-school parking lot overnight. It would end up with a broken windshield or missing parts.
"Sure. I'll drop you off and then pick up the pizza on my way home and meet you there."
A few minutes later, Erin dropped me off at the school. She drove away in her Prius. My parents' silver Geo Prizm was parked under a big tree with a folded paper on the windshield. I grabbed it and opened it up.
"I really need to talk to you soon. It's important. Call me. 555-2158. Alec."
I scanned the parking lot, trying to spot him, but no one was in sight. I read the note again. Why did Alec need to talk to me so urgently? Was my interview going to be on the front page or something? I pulled out my phone and punched in his number, then ended the call before it could go through. I wanted to focus on getting ready for prom. The interview could wait. I shoved the note and my phone into my pocket.
I sat inside my car for a few minutes, trying to sort through my feelings. I gazed out the windshield and watched the day slipping into night, sprinkling twilight on a few cars left in the parking lot.
Though I wanted to deny my attraction to Alec, I couldn't. But I knew nothing about him. I wasn't sure why I suddenly felt so fascinated by him. Or why he seemed so intent on talking to me. If he only wanted a story for the school paper then I was over-thinking the whole situation. Yet something tugged at me, making me think there was more to him, something I couldn't put into words.
And then there was Nate, who'd professed his love for me only hours earlier. I'd let my emotions carry me away on a wave of hungry passion and now, sitting in my car, I regretted it. I felt strange, almost like I was disconnected from myself, like I didn't belong in my own body somehow. Weird. I couldn't let that happen again. I definitely didn't like the emptiness I felt, as if something was missing, and I wasn't ready for where that kind of passion would lead. Not now. Not for a long time.
Starting up the car, I headed for Erin's house.
Soon I knocked on the door, and Erin let me in. "Grab some pizza and we'll start getting our glam on."
After piling pizza on a plate, I followed Erin back to her bedroom. I took a few bites, enjoying the sweet pineapple, tangy tomato sauce, and smoky ham. Pineapple and Canadian bacon pizza is the best.
Erin handed me a facial scrub and a tube of thick green mud for our masks. "We need to clean our faces really well, and then we can wash our hair and get beautiful for tomorrow. I think you should wear your hair up."
"I want to leave it down and curl it." I smoothed the cool, thick mud on my face.
Erin jumped up and stepped over to me. "No, no. You'll look way more glamorous with it in a French twist. We can curl a few wisps around your face." She pulled at my hair to show me. "I love your hair color. Girls pay major bucks to get what you have naturally."
"Really? I've always thought it was too light. When I was a little girl I had such pale skin and light blonde hair that kids used to tell me I was invisible." I gazed at myself in the mirror, feeling like an alien with the green goop on my face and my hair piled on top of my head.
"You invisible? I don't think so."
My cheeks warmed under the mask.
"You're the ideal American teenager—blonde hair, light blue eyes. Thin. Wish I had your body."
"Erin, you are beautiful." I handed her the mask tube.
"I wish. I'd give anything to model and live in New York." She handed me a copy of Seventeen magazine and pointed to the model on the cover."You know, walk the runways, wear gorgeous clothes, be on magazine covers." She plopped onto her bed and spread the green goo on her face. "It's just a dream, I guess."
"You should go for it." A glimpse of acting in a Broadway play flashed through my mind.
"My mom says it's totally unrealistic. That I'm not model material, and I need to go to school, get a real job and stop daydreaming."
"I think you'd be a perfect model."
"My mom's probably right. It'll never happen." She grabbed the magazine and tossed it back on the pile.
Tinka-tinka. "A text from Nate." I yanked my phone out of my pocket and opened it. A smile grew on my lips.
"What did he say?" Erin asked.
"He's counting down the hours until prom. Isn't he sweet?" I hugged my phone to my chest, thoughts of prom flittering through my mind.
Erin grabbed the note that had fallen out of my pocket when I pulled my phone out. "What's this?"
"Nothing." I tried to take it, but she held onto it.
"He said it's 'important'? What does that mean?"
"The interview, I guess." I spoke as casually as I could then shoved some pizza into my mouth.
Erin squinted and studied me. "Are you into this Alec guy or something?"
I swallowed the bite of pizza while I considered my answer. If I said out loud what had been floating around in my mind, it'd be like betraying Nate. "No way. I'm dating Nate, remember?"
Erin's mouth gaped open. "You do like this reporter dude."
I covered my eyes with my hands. It was crazy to admit my strange attraction to a guy
I'd barely met. Totally crazy. It didn't make any sense. I moved my hands from my eyes. "I can't explain it."
"Crystal, how can you possibly be interested in anyone else but Nate? He's gorgeous. He's funny. He's smart. And the two of you make a great couple." She smiled. "It's so obvious you belong together."
"Really?" I wanted to hear more.
"I've known Nate forever, and the way he looks at you, the way he acts around you—totally different than with any other girls. Believe me, you have something special."
My mind raced back to earlier in the afternoon. "He said he loved me."
Erin's eyes grew big. "Are you serious? Did you say it back?" She grabbed another piece of pizza.
"Not really."
"Why not?" She licked her fingers.
I gazed at the white ceiling. "I'm so confused."
"How can you not love him? He's been totally sweet to you." She chomped on the pizza.
"I know, but . . ."
"Alec?"
I hesitated before I gave a slight nod.
"Seriously?" she yelled out. "You've known him for like, two seconds, and you're going to let him ruin what you and Nate have?"
"No, of course not. But there's something about him. I can't explain it." The memory of the connection dangled in my mind.
"Ditch Alec and focus on Nate. Remember, he has special plans for tomorrow night."
Erin had a point. I hardly knew Alec, and I'd probably read too much into my reaction. I'd never had much attention from guys before—make that no attention. "It'll be a good night."
"Yes, it will be." She pointed at me. "Stop worrying about Alec. He's nobody and he can interview you some other time. Nate just told you that he loves you! Think about him."
I nodded. "You're right. Nate's awesome."
A thick haze of cigarette smoke hung over the dimly lit bar. Vincent sat at a booth toward the back of the room sipping his drink and waiting. Anxiety rippled through his veins. He'd planned and prepared for the summit as best he could even with this disturbance lingering in Silver City. As long as his associates carried out their orders and extinguished her Light, he'd have no more worries in that town.
He took another sip and let it slide down his throat.
"Hi."
A red-haired woman stood before him amply filling out her tank top and black mini skirt. She wore heavy, black eye make-up and too much cheap jewelry. But he wasn't picky tonight.
"Hello." He moved out from the booth and stood.
"I'm Bambi." She smiled as she scooted past him and sat.
"Like the fawn?" He sat next to her.
"Huh?" She gave him a confused expression and he reminded himself that he was only interested in pleasure, not in intellectual conversation. She didn't need any brains for tonight's activities.
Bambi snuggled close to him, her perfume tickling his nose and reminding him of a past life and a distant time. A time when the soft, floral scent meant she was near. A time when his heart beat in perfect rhythm with hers. A time when she'd loved him and cared for him—promised him they'd always be together. He shook his head, driving the painful memories from his mind and telling himself that physical gratification was all that interested him now. He'd loved once, but would never make that mistake again. He'd been paying for it for far too long.
"Would you care for a drink?" a waitress with heavy eyeliner and a rather large nose asked.
"Me?" Bambi said, pointing to herself.
"Ah, yeah." The waitress rolled her eyes and Vincent stifled a laugh.
"She'll have the same as me." Vincent nodded to the waitress, who turned and left.
"What's your name?" Bambi asked in a squeaky voice.
It was never wise to use one's own name, so Vincent said, "Kirk."
"Kurt?" she repeated.
"Uh, no. Kirk with two Ks." He smiled at his brainless companion, convincing himself it would be worth it.
She giggled and said, "Oh, K-Kurt."
"Yeah. That's it." Vincent took a swig of his drink—he'd need at least another glass or two before they left for his condo. He deserved a few moments of relaxation after all he'd done in preparation for the summit. It wouldn't be long before he'd have the power he craved when he assumed the head of the western division.
The waitress returned with Bambi's drink and then left without saying a word. Bambi sipped it. "Oh, that's strong." She coughed and then giggled.
Vincent gave a half-nod.
"You from Vegas?" she asked, wiping at her mouth with her long painted fingernails.
"Not originally, but my work is here for the moment." He downed the rest of his drink in one swallow.
"I'm from Idaho. A farm girl."
"You don't say." He couldn't quite picture this dolled-up woman mixing with farm animals and doing chores, but he'd had enough small talk. "Shall we move our party to my condo?" He tried to make it sound romantic, but figured she knew as well as he did that this had nothing to do with romance.
"Sure."
Before he could stand, his cell phone vibrated. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the phone.
Jack.
"Excuse me for a moment." He stood and took several steps away from the table. "This had better be good news."
"We have operatives in place, sir."
"And they've been briefed on what to do? How to remain in control?"
"Yes, sir."
"The plan?" Usually he didn't know all the details, but he wanted to make sure this girl would be successfully neutralized so he could focus solely on the summit meeting.
"A school dance tomorrow night. She won't stand a chance."
"Remind them it must be her choice. She can't be forced."
"Yes, sir. They know. She'll no longer pose a threat."
"She'd better not." He didn't have time for this nonsense, and he didn't want any of the other area lords thinking he was weak or unable to push forward the plan of total domination. To prove he was the one to head the entire organization in the United States, he'd make an example of this situation. No one would stand in his way. No one.
"I'll let you know when it's over," Jack said.
"Very good." Vincent ended the call, a smile spreading across his lips. Soon all he wanted would be his.
Except one thing.
He pushed that thought to the back of his mind, ready to pounce on it once the summit was over.
Bambi touched his back, reminding him that she was still there.
He turned and faced her.
"I'm ready," Bambi said, fluttering her glittery eyelids.
He extended his elbow, and she interlocked her arm with his. They walked out of the bar and headed toward his silver Lamborghini.
The next morning, sunlight beat on my eyelids. I woke and focused my eyes on the clock—10:25. I'd never slept in that late. Ever. My parents have always believed in getting up early and making the most of the day. My dad always liked to chant, "Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise," whenever I complained about getting up early, which was more annoying than getting up.
I wiped the sleep from my eyes, regretting the extra piece of pizza I ate before falling asleep. My senses were a little fuzzy, and my mouth felt like it had cotton growing in it. Apparently, Dad was right—staying up late and sleeping in didn't seem to agree with me.
I was surprised, and grateful, that my parents had let me stay the night with Erin. My mom hadn't been thrilled with the idea, but since it was prom weekend, she gave in. I hadn't had many friends over the years, and certainly not any that I could spend the night with—moving around a lot does that. I was just glad I'd found Erin and could double with her. It would be a perfect night.
I tapped Erin's shoulder. Her eyelids flew open, and, for a second, her eyes looked different. Strange. I shook off the weird feeling and smiled extra big. "Wake up."
Erin swiped at her mouth, her head jerking to the side slightly. "What time is it?"
"Almost 10:30." Hot
prickles raced down both of my arms.
"That early?" She groaned and rolled to her side.
"We need to get up and start getting ready," I said, shaking my hands to get the odd feeling out of them.
"What are you doing?" She stared at me.
"Guess I slept on my arms funny or something. My hands feel all tingly, like they're asleep." I clapped my hands a few times, hoping to bring circulation back to them.
"I ate way too much pizza last night," Erin said. "I feel like puking."
"Eating all that wasn't the best idea." I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to pull some of the tangles out.
Erin lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. "I bet my mom already left for work. Let's sleep for another few hours."
"Come on, we need to start getting ready." I stood and looked at myself in the mirror on her dresser, trying to envision the best hairstyle for the night.
"I say we sleep for a while." Erin yawned. She stood, but almost fell over. Mumbling to herself, she straightened and walked over to the bathroom while I played with my hair. Though being glamorous was totally out of my comfort zone, I wanted to look amazing for Nate.
"We're going to have way too much fun tonight," Erin said as she trudged back into the bedroom.
My heart somersaulted thinking about dinner, the dance, and even the after party Nate had planned.
Erin examined herself in the mirror. She pushed her hair away from her face and then wiped the leftover mascara from under her eyes. Turning slightly, she moved her hair away from her neck. She gazed at herself for a minute or so. "I think I'll get a tattoo."
"What? Where?"
"Not sure yet." She lifted her hair and examined her neck. "Yes, I definitely want one."
I stared at her, wondering where this idea had even come from. "When?"
"Today."
"Before prom? Are you serious?"
"Yeah. Why not? I want it on my neck." She pointed to the area below her left ear and next to her hairline.
"Are you sure?" I wasn't a big fan of tattoos. The thought of a needle poking ink into my skin wasn't the least bit appealing.
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