by C. L. Coffey
Leaving her there, I headed back outside to the gym at the back of the small campus, and into Gabriel’s office.
The archangel was already there, going over some papers. He barely gave me a second look as I took my usual space at his desk and pulled out my math homework. We’d come to an agreement that Saturday mornings would be spent doing homework with him there to help when I needed it.
I worked for a while in silence before I felt Gabriel watching me. Trying to be discreet, I shifted in my seat and glanced up to see if I was right. Either I’d timed it perfectly after he had looked away, or I was imagining things.
He used this time to do whatever paperwork was required for gym teachers, and he was currently leaning over a sheet of paper, making notes with a pen. After a moment, his pen stilled and he looked up, catching me staring.
My cheeks heated, and I quickly returned my attention to my equations.
“Do you need any help?”
Chewing at my lip, I shook my head. When I could sense that he was still watching me, I raised my eyes again. This time, I was right. I gave him an embarrassed smile, then returned to my work, determined not to look up again. It lasted all of five minutes, but this time, it was because he spoke.
“You look different today.”
I raised a shoulder. “I didn’t get much sleep.”
“No, I mean besides the bags under your eyes.”
My eyes blinked rapidly. He didn’t seem to realize that what he had said was borderline offensive.
“You look …” he cocked his head thoughtfully. “At peace.”
Chewing at my lip, I considered what he had said. “I guess I am.”
“Can I assume you no longer feel the need to hit Harrison?”
“I don’t know about that,” I muttered, thinking about what Leigh-Ann had told me. Even after a few hours’ sleep, I still wanted to throttle her brother, and I still thought he was an ass. “But I have finally cleared the air with my roommate.”
“Leigh-Ann?” Gabriel queried. Without waiting for my response, he nodded. “I’m glad.”
“Me too.” I reached for my pen again.
The next thing that disturbed me wasn’t Gabriel. It wasn’t even my own thoughts distracting me from equations. It was Leigh-Ann.
“Kennedy,” she called out, bursting through the door so loudly, it made me drop my notebook.
“Is everything okay, Ms. Sinclair?” Gabriel asked, as surprised as I was by Leigh-Ann’s unannounced entrance.
“I, uh…” Leigh-Ann came to a sudden stop, seeing her gym teacher watching her expectantly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you,” she said, flustered.
“Please.” He raised a hand and waved her in. “It seems important.”
“No, I just, I was worried about Kennedy.” Her face turned beet-red. “She wasn’t there when I woke up.” She looked around Gabriel’s office. “Why are you here? Are you reading? In a gym?”
Gabriel looked over at me, his lips curling up in the corners.
With the pen in my hand, I tapped at the textbook on my lap. “I have extra lessons on the weekends,” I told her. “I’m a little behind.”
“Really?” She looked around again and pouted. “All day?”
“Just until lunch time.” I gave her a reassuring smile.
Her expression brightened.
“Is everything okay?”
“Well, I thought you might have gone to the infirmary, especially after last night,” she explained. “Which is bad, because the Spring Dance is coming up, and I want you to come dress shopping with me. I need a girl’s advice.”
I had no intention of going to the dance. I’d never been to one in my life, having moved around so much. I also had nothing to wear. I’d arrived here with the clothes on my back and the school had provided me with everything else. It was the reason I wore a uniform on the weekend when everyone else was in regular clothes.
Besides, the last time I’d worn a dress, I had been a kid. As soon as I was old enough, I’d stuck with shorts or jeans. I wasn’t particularly girly. Life never really gave me the opportunity to be, even if I’d wanted to.
I wasn’t sure I was the best person to be giving any kind of fashion advice anyway, but the fact that Leigh-Ann had come to find me to ask me to go shopping with her put a massive grin on my face. Suddenly remembering we were having this conversation in Gabriel's office, the grin faded.
“I’d love to, but I don’t think I’m allowed.”
Leigh-Ann grabbed my arm. “Of course you’re allowed. It’s the weekend. We’re allowed off campus, you know?”
I’d been off campus more than she realized thanks to morning runs with Gabriel. Most of our routes were around campus, occasionally running down to the edge of Greenwood, the closest town. We’d not been into the town, but it seemed like the kind of place that had a few clothes stores.
The problem, of course, was Gabriel. And Pinnosa. I was the nephilim reprobate with failing grades and a promise to raise them or flunk out of college. I’d tried that once before, and that hadn’t gotten me far.
“There was a lot of snowfall last night,” I muttered, unable to look her in the eye.
Leigh-Ann’s optimism didn’t falter. “They’ve cleared the drive of snow and are working down to Greenwood. The ploughs should get to town by the time you’ve finished here.”
“It’s not safe for you to walk down to town,” Gabriel spoke up. “The roads will be narrow, and you will be hidden to cars. I shall drive you down after lunch.”
My eyes grew wide, but I didn’t say anything, scared that he was going to change his mind if I did.
Leigh-Ann let out an excited squeal and leaped at me, hugging me tightly. I suspected that hugging was going to become a regular occurrence with her, and I hoped that eventually they wouldn’t feel as awkward for me as I’m sure they looked. She finally released me and stepped back, grinning like an idiot.
“Come find me when you’re done. I’ll be in our room.”
I watched her leave and then turned back, finding Gabriel studying me. I quickly focused my attention back on my work. At some point that afternoon, I was going to have to explain why I wasn’t attending the Spring Dance.
The rest of the morning seemed to drag on, and I could feel myself getting restless, though somehow, I got my work done, and I hurried back to the dorm to find Leigh-Ann.
From the way she was tapping her fingers on her bed as she bobbed from side to side, she had been waiting impatiently for me ever since she’d gotten back to the room. She was already wearing her coat and snow boots. “Come on.”
After scooping up her purse, she bounced to the door, ushering me downstairs to the side of the main building. There weren’t as many cars in the parking lot as I thought there would be. Considering how out in the sticks we were, I thought most students would have a car here, even if they were from out of state.
Gabriel was waiting for us, and he led us to a stretch of six silver Range Rovers. Despite the weather, they had all been cleared of snow and sat waiting for someone to take them. I couldn’t help but wonder just how much the tuition fees were for this place.
I slid into the back of the SUV, fidgeting with nervous excitement. It wasn’t the dress shopping because I wasn’t buying anything. I was just happy to be able to leave the campus for a while. My life had changed and become more restricted at college than I ever expected it to.
My dreams of college had included living off campus, studying in modern classrooms, and spending my free time flirting with boys in coffee shops as I completed my assignments. Even my more realistic expectation of community college, with a part time job to pay for it, still gave me the ability to move freely with my life. I was just happy to see people again.
Looking up, I caught Gabriel watching me. He held my gaze for a moment then returned his attention back to the road. I turned to Leigh-Ann who grinned at me.
“Do you know what type of dress you want?” I asked.
She shook her head. “The fun is in trying them on.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“You’ve never been shopping for a dress before?” she asked.
“Never been to a dance.” I shrugged. “I’d never really ...” The expression on Leigh-Ann’s face had me laughing. “You look like I’ve just told you unicorns don’t exist.”
“But how have you never been to a dance? What about prom? Homecoming?”
“No, I …” I frowned. “I changed schools a lot.”
“Oh.” She grew quiet, turning her attention to the passing scenery.
Shrugging, I settled back into the seat. I looked up and caught Gabriel watching me again. When I arched an eyebrow, he turned his attention back to the road. Exhaling deeply, I turned to my own window, watching as the country gave way to suburbia, and finally, a small shopping center.
It was even smaller inside than it looked from the outside, and it only held one dress store that sold evening wear. I followed Leigh-Ann to the back where the gowns were kept. Despite the fact that it wasn’t a large store, it had a surprisingly large collection of gowns in a wide assortment of colors and styles.
“Is there a theme or dress code?” I asked, eyeing a luminous lime green dress thoughtfully.
Leigh-Ann stepped beside me spotting the dress. “Well that wouldn’t be acceptable.” She pinched at the fabric, holding it up. “Not for the color, though I would hope that really isn’t what you’re suggesting. It’s too low cut.”
“It’s hideous,” I agreed, laughing.
“You can’t have a dress too short, and to play it safe, everyone goes for floor length. You can’t have one that’s too low cut either. Otherwise, it’s up to you.”
I nodded, unsurprised at the restrictive rules. Instead, I wandered up and down the racks, trailing after Leigh-Ann. She looked at everything, plucking several off as she went.
After a while, she glanced back at Gabriel. He was hovering nearby, acting uninterested in what we were doing, but keeping a close eye on us anyway.
“Ty asked me to the dance,” Leigh-Ann announced in a theatrical whisper before darting her attention back over my shoulder at Gabriel.
“Ty?” I repeated, so loudly that several people stared in our direction.
“You don’t have to look so shocked that someone would ask me out, you know.” Leigh-Ann huffed.
I held my hands up in defense. “No, it’s not that, it’s just that Ty is …”
When I paused trying to find the polite way of putting what I wanted to say, Leigh-Ann tilted her head. “The last person you’d ever expect to find at a college dance?”
The best I’d been able to come up with was “a dick,” so I just nodded.
“I know,” Leigh-Ann told me, and then she blushed.
“When have you been around Ty long enough to develop a crush on him?”
I wasn’t trying to sound as accusatory as my tone made me sound, but I felt like I spent so much time stuck to him, I would have noticed if Leigh-Ann was around to catch his attention.
“I’ve spent a lot of time with him,” she blurted out before blushing. Again.
“You like him.”
“He’s the only one Lottie hasn’t managed to convince that I like girls.”
“Leigh-Ann.” I sighed. “Is that a good enough reason to go to the dance with him?”
“No, but he’s cute, and he’s funny, and I love his accent,” she said, still blushing furiously. “He’s really thoughtful, too.”
“Are we talking about the same annoying Cajun?” I asked, sure there had to be another Ty I wasn’t aware of.
“Yes, silly.” She laughed. “Tyrone Hamilton.”
Ty? Okay, so he hadn’t exactly been spared in the good looks department, but he certainly wasn’t funny, and his accent was just plain annoying. As for thoughtful?
“To each their own,” I finally managed to say.
“Well who are you going with?” She plucked another dress off the rack and held it up to herself. She shook her head and set it back.
I sucked in a deep breath. “I’m not going.”
Leigh-Ann dropped the dresses.
Ducking down, I helped to pick them up, only so I didn’t have to face her disappointment.
“What do you mean, you’re not going?”
I stood and handed her the dresses. “Am I not speaking English? I mean, I’m not going to the dance.”
“You have to go,” she said. “It’s like, a rite of passage.”
“To what? It’s not like it’s going to help me graduate.” I laughed, entertained at how upset she was that I wasn’t going to a stupid dance. “It’s just a college dance.”
Leigh-Ann’s mouth fell open. “Yes, in a very conservative college which limits the amount of co-ed extracurricular activities available to its student body. This is a night where we get to dress up and let our hair down. Without alcohol, of course.”
“Of course not.” I rolled my eyes.
“What do you expect for a college which used to be a nunnery?” She laughed.
I held my hands up. “Whoa. What do you mean, a nunnery?”
“Have you not noticed the chapel on the grounds?”
“A chapel on college grounds doesn’t mean it used to be a nunnery.” I scoffed. “Most college campuses have a chapel or two.”
“It used to be a nunnery until about 1850 or something. Whatever.” She laughed with a dismissive wave. “The more important question is, who did you ask to the dance?”
“Leigh-Ann, I have no intention of going, so why would I ask anyone?” I rolled my eyes before turning my attention to a dress that had caught my attention. It was black and lacy, and probably far too provocative for the Spring Dance.
“This college isn’t short of guys.” Leigh-Ann barreled on. “I bet you’ve had boys lining up to date you.”
“Nope.” I shrugged. I wasn’t as surprised as she seemed to be at that.
Between Dean Pinnosa and Gabriel, all my time was spent studying. The only place I saw the other students was in class or the cafeteria. Leigh-Ann was right, though. There were plenty of guys there, and sure, some were good looking, but none had really caught my attention.
I scanned the store, finding Gabriel a little ways from us, far enough for us to have a conversation in private, but close enough to keep an eye on us.
On me.
I was the nephilim out in public, not Leigh-Ann.
“What do you mean, nope? Someone must have asked you?”
I fought to keep the wince at bay. I knew she meant well, but suddenly I felt like there was something wrong with me. How did not going to a dance become something other than my decision? “Nobody wants to go with me?”
Leigh-Ann shook her head. “I want you to go with me.”
“You are going with Ty.”
“I’m going with both of you,” she informed me, grinning like a tag-along on her date was the best idea she’d ever had. I was certain that no matter how ‘thoughtful’ Ty was, he wasn’t going to like this.
I sighed. “I don’t even have a dress.”
“Isn’t it a coincidence that we’re in a dress store?” She gestured around us to the hundreds of different dresses.
“There’s something I need to tell you.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “I can’t afford a dress. I’m here on a scholarship.” I opened my eyes and found her staring at me in disappointment. I exhaled slowly and held the dresses out for her.
“I’m sorry.”
“Some people grow up with money, some don’t. I was set for community college when I got this opportunity,” I told her, crossing my arms. ‘Opportunity’ wasn’t quite the right word, but I wasn’t sure how to explain that I had been given a choice between coming here and certain death.
She quickly shook her head. “No, not about that. I’m sorry that I’ve been such a bitch that you thought you couldn’t tell me, and that you thought it would affect our friendship.
”
“You don’t have to apologize,” I told her firmly. “I know why you did what you did, and I probably would have done the same thing in your shoes.”
“Let me make it up to you.” Leigh-Ann begged, her eyes suddenly seemed to light up.
“You don’t have anything to make up to me,” I told her, not liking her expression. She was plotting something. Something we both knew I wouldn’t agree to. I swear if she tried to set me up with someone …
“Unless you let me buy you a dress, then I refuse to accept your apology.”
I cocked my head. “You’re actually serious, aren’t you?”
“Deadly.” Her attention fell on something to the side of me, and she let out an excited squeal. “And I’ve already found the dress.” She grabbed my hand and tugged me towards the dress. After plucking something white off a rack, she switched directions, and we headed for the changing room.
I barely registered the fact that I had been pushed into a cubicle, white fabric still floating around me, when the door was pulled closed. “You barely had time to see if it’s the right size,” I hollered over the door.
“Is it?” Leigh-Ann’s twang floated back.
I looked at the label. Annoyingly, she had guessed right.
“Now hush up and try it on.”
Grumbling under my breath, I pulled my clothes off and slipped the dress on. It was white, long, and had a lot of layers. I was sure it was going to look like a wedding dress.
But the ‘wedding dress’ look wasn’t the problem. It was that it had no sleeves.
I had slowly been getting used to the Lichtenberg fracture, but the idea of showing them off in public sent a wave of ice down my back. “Leigh-Ann, I can’t wear this one.”
“Kennedy.”
“If you’re going to buy me a dress, I need one with sleeves. That’s my criteria.”
“Fine.” While she disappeared back into the store, I took off the dress. I was half-way back into my uniform, certain she wouldn’t find one anyway, when a dress flipped over the door, making me jump back in fright. “This one.”
