“Well, you’ve got at least one vote locked in,” Abel informed her. “Mine.”
“I suppose I’ll have to vote for you then. You know, to even things out.”
“I certainly wouldn’t mind being your King.”
That really got her to laugh. “You might win a high school popularity contest, Abel, but royalty you are not.”
“No, that’s a full blood’s job,” he joked.
“Can we not?” Carly pleaded. “Not tonight. Can we please just dance and drink punch and be in high school for one night? Wouldn’t that be a nice change of pace?”
Abel eased into a grin. “I honestly had no idea how tonight would turn out—especially juggling two dates—but I’m having a really great time.”
“I’m also having a really great time. Just don’t forget about Crys. She might need to be rescued from that poor guy who spiked her drink.”
“That poor guy is Todd Summers, and he’s liked her since the second grade. Trust me, Crys knows how to handle herself when it comes to men. She doesn’t let us get away with anything.”
“I don’t imagine she does.”
“You seem like you know how to handle yourself, too. That’s kind of important when you look like, well, you.”
Carly rolled her eyes. “You’re just saying that so I’ll keep dancing with you.”
“Well, we’re already on our second song, so I’m not worried.”
Carly took a moment to listen to the punchy pop song, and realized he was right. “I’ve got to admit, Abel—you’ve surprised me.”
“Surprised you how?” he replied.
“When I first met you, you came off as this cocky, egotistical—”
“Excuse me?”
“—Jerk, but you’re pretty much just a nice guy who uses a lot of product in his hair.”
“So, my only flaw is great hair?” Abel asked.
“Pretty much,” Carly determined. “At least, I have yet to find anything else wrong with you.”
“Does that mean you’ve found it in your heart to overlook my absolutely flawless hair?”
“You don’t think much of yourself, do you?”
“That’s not fair,” Abel said. “Have you looked in the mirror lately? While the makeup is definitely not necessary, it’s definitely working for you. You put time into yourself to look like this, and I appreciate that. My hair is proof that I’m merely doing the same.”
“Well, how am I supposed to argue with that?” Carly conceded. “But my makeup, my hair, this dress—they’re all Crys. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’ve got the wrong girl.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Carly. Because the right girl’s been dancing with me since we got here, and I’m tired of hiding how much I like her.”
What are you saying? Carly thought, her breath catching as she stared back at him.
I think it’s pretty obvious what I’m saying, Abel telepathed in reply.
“Is it too much to ask for a dance?” Kyle spoke, his fingers falling in on Carly’s shoulder.
“Oh,” Carly gasped, jumping as she twisted around to face him.
“She’d love to,” Abel answered for her. “I should probably rescue Crys anyway. We’ll talk later, Carly.”
“S-sure,” Carly stammered as he walked away.
“Are we dancing or what?” Kyle asked, slipping his hands in around Carly’s waist. “I don’t know if I’ve said it or not, but you look freaking hot tonight, Carly.”
“Thanks, and you did say it—like a hundred times at dinner. And not just to me, but to the other girls, too. You can come on a little strong, Kyle.”
He let out a laugh. “To you guys, yeah, because you’re safe.”
“Safe?” Carly echoed.
“None of you are ever going to date me, and frankly, I’d almost rather date a human anyway. You know, someone outside this BS. Someone normal. Someone like you, before you moved here.”
“My life was a lot less complicated back then, but that doesn’t mean I’d change anything.”
“And you shouldn’t. You belong here, Carly, even I can see that. But our world… Our world gets to be a lot sometimes, and it’s nice to leave it every once in a while.”
“That’s the only reason I’m here tonight—to get out of our world for a while.”
“I’m sure that’s the only reason,” Kyle said. “Are you ready for your big win tonight?”
“What big win?”
“The whole Winter Wondercrap Queen and King thing. There’s a rumor going around that you’re going to take home the crown. I just wish I could be your King.”
“Assuming you’re right, why couldn’t you be King?” she asked.
“You have to be at least a junior to win, but my day will come,” Kyle told her. “In two years, I’ll have this high school all to myself. Well, almost. Sharla will still be here, I guess.”
“You’re not into Sharla?” Carly pried.
Kyle smirked. “Everyone assumes Sharla and I will hook up just because we’re in the same grade, but I’ve never even thought about her that way. And if you couldn’t tell by her behavior so far tonight, the feeling’s mutual. Besides, she’s still hung up on Gabe as far as I can tell. Speaking of wolf boy, how are you doing after the breakup? I’m sure that’s got to suck.”
Here, Carly had almost forgotten all about Gabe. “It does suck. Or maybe I’m not allowed to say that, since I dumped him.”
“You’re totally allowed to say that,” Kyle assured her. “He lied to you, and Abel isn’t the only one who’s pissed about it. If I decide to date a human, I want the freedom to tell them about who and what I really am. But with Gabe making all the rules, that’ll never happen. Don’t get me wrong—Hutchinson is one of my best friends. But sometimes I don’t think he realizes how his decisions affect all of us.”
“Wow, that’s, um, that’s quite the observation.”
“If nothing else, I’m here to observe. Can I get you something to drink? Don’t tell anyone, but I’ve got a flask in my pocket. I didn’t say anything to Crys because that woman is a lush and she would have wiped me out. But I don’t mind sharing with you.”
“Oh, no, thank you. Is it okay if I take a minute? My feet could use a break.”
“No problem,” Kyle agreed. “Find me when you get back and we’ll have another dance. Unless Crawford finds you first.”
Carly made her way through the crowd toward the exit, finally spilling into a quiet hallway. She wasn’t sure to what extent, but Abel liked her. And Carly had to admit, with as good of a time as she was having so far tonight, it was possible she was starting to like him, too.
She just needed a minute off these heels to catch her breath and she’d head back in there. But not to find Kyle. No, there was only one boy she wanted to dance with tonight.
Carly rounded the corner toward the restroom, but stopped in her tracks when she spotted the couple down the hallway. She took one step back, then another, until she was hidden in the adjacent hall. She dared to peek around the corner again and confirmed that, as far as she could tell, she hadn’t gotten their attention.
Carly leaned against the row of lockers, her ears perking up as she listened in on the couple’s conversation. If Crystal had been with anyone else, Carly wouldn’t have cared. But Crys was with Gabe, and he was dressed to the nines in his best black suit.
nine
“Look, Gabe, I did my part,” Crystal spat in a voice barely above a whisper—a voice only shapeshifter ears could discriminate from this distance. “Do you have any idea what I gave up in order to get her here tonight? I did it because we’re friends, but I’m not making any more sacrifices on your behalf. If Carly knew I was helping you—”
“Jeez, Crys, I get it,” Gabe grunted. “And she doesn’t know you’re helping me. She’s so wrapped up in Abel that he’s all she can seem to think about.”
Alarm snapped Carly’s spine up straight. Gabe had been listening in on her thoughts even thou
gh she’d been trying to keep him out.
“What exactly is your plan, Gabe?” Crystal demanded. “You’re crazy if you think she’s going to talk to you. Abel’s been falling all over himself all night trying to impress her. It’s enough to make me vomit when I’m sober, but I’m way past that now. Speaking of, did you bring any alcohol? Abel’s dry tonight. Just because Carly doesn’t drink, he’s magically changed his ways. What a bunch of crap.”
“He’s not her boyfriend or something, is he?” Gabe growled.
“God, I hope not, but who the hell knows?”
“When are they making the announcement?”
“I don’t know,” Crystal answered. “Soon? Gabe, are you seriously depending on this to work? Because the odds are totally against you. There’s no way you’re going to win King. Not when Abel’s name’s on the ballot, too.”
“Well, I don’t know what else to do,” Gabe admitted. “I don’t know how else to get her attention.”
“How about giving her some space and letting her cool off for a while? I told you to tell her the truth a long time ago. It was a stupid secret to keep and I still don’t know why you did it. We’d both be a lot better off right now if you’d just been honest with her.”
“I know that, okay!”
“Then why’d you do it, Gabe? Why’d you ask me to lie for you? Because when you initially talked to me about it, when you decided you didn’t want Carly to find out, you knew before you even opened your mouth that I’d agree to it. And you knew that because I always trust your judgment. But I shouldn’t have on this, and now we’re both paying for it.”
“I’m sorry,” Gabe apologized. “Really, Crys.”
“Carly would’ve gotten over what happened with you and Esther eventually,” Crystal said. “She would’ve gotten over it a hell of a lot faster than she’s going to get over this. I know you’re hurting right now, but maybe the best thing to do is let this thing with Abel run its course. We both know she’s not serious about him. She just wants to have a good time and forget about you for a while. You could just let her do that, let her have her fun, while you focus on figuring out how to earn her trust again.”
“You think I should just sit back and watch the woman I love make out with some other guy?”
“And forcing her back into your arms seems like a better option? Gabriel, if you really want her to forgive you, it’s going to take time.”
“Time’s a luxury I can’t afford.”
“I just hope you’re not too disappointed if this whole scheme of yours doesn’t work out.”
Carly looked down and saw that her palms were red from where her fingernails had been digging into her skin. She didn’t know what the hell Gabe was planning, but she couldn’t hear any more. She stormed back toward the gym, but didn’t make it inside.
What was the point of staying at the dance, only to be a pawn in Gabe’s game?
“Carly?” Abel called out from behind her. “There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“Oh, hey,” she replied, glancing at the exit only a few yards away.
“Would you like to dance? Or we could just sit and talk instead. Whatever you’d like.”
“I was actually thinking about taking off.”
“You were?” he replied, the corner of his lips twitching. “Oh, well, then never mi—”
“Do you maybe want to come with me?” Carly proposed, her eyes locking on his. “We could go somewhere and talk. Unless you want to stay and hang out. I’ll understand if you do, I just can’t… I just can’t stay, I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, I’d love to come with you. Yes, definitely, let’s go.”
“Are you sure?”
“Totally sure,” Abel replied, pulling his keys from his pants pocket. “We could grab a burger at the café downtown. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
“I’m kind of starving myself,” Carly agreed, stepping toward the big double doors that led outside. “A burger sounds gr—”
“Guys, hey!” Crystal yelled from down the hall, waving as she shuffled toward them in stiletto heels. “Are we heading back in or what?”
“Hey,” Abel said. “Carly and I are going to take off.”
“Are you?” Crystal asked, her gaze flitting between them. “Just the two of you?”
Carly backed into Abel as she looked Crys up and down. Whatever Gabe was planning, Crystal was in on it. And that left Carly nothing short of unsettled. “It was going to be just the two of us, yeah.”
“I’m assuming you won’t want a ride home yet, Crys,” Abel said. “Maybe you could catch a ride with Jeremy?”
Crystal crossed her arms over her chest. “Yeah, I’m sure my brother can give me a ride home. But you shouldn’t leave just yet. They’re announcing the King and Queen soon. I know it’s cheesy, but both your names are on the ballot, so I figured you might want to hear who wins.”
“When exactly will they make the announcement?” Abel asked.
“Soon,” Crys answered, daring to reach for his hand. “How about one last dance before you go? Please?”
“I suppose one dance wouldn’t hurt,” Abel decided. “Do you mind waiting just a few minutes, Carly?”
Carly did mind, but instead replied, “Go ahead.”
I’ll make it quick, Abel promised.
I hope you do, Carly thought back, and followed them into the gym. She watched as Abel led Crys onto the dance floor, but didn’t move from her space by the door. Not even when some random guy asked her to dance, then another. Carly wasn’t in the dancing mood, and was determined to get the hell out of here as soon as possible.
Why don’t you go then? Gabe’s estranged voice echoed in her head.
Carly looked around the gym, but didn’t catch sight of him. She hadn’t heard his thoughts for most of the week, and figured it was a sign that the two of them were over. But here he was, all cozy in her mind like he’d never left.
I know you’re planning something, Gabe, but it’s not going to work.
I’m not planning anything.
Nothing you do tonight is going to win me back, Carly promised, glancing around the gym once more. She didn’t find Gabe, but someone else all dressed up in a suit—her father as he took the stage. Howard had mentioned he’d show, but she didn’t know what he was doing with a microphone in his hand.
“Good evening, everyone,” Howard spoke into the mic. “You all look great tonight. If I didn’t know better, I’d think this was a beauty pageant instead of a high school dance.”
Carly snickered. That was her dad all right.
“Well, we’ve come to the big moment of the evening,” he continued. “The moment many of you have been waiting for. So, without further ado, how about we find out who will be your new Winter Wonderland King and Queen?” Howard paused to pull a white envelope from his pocket, juggling the microphone as he ripped it open. “This year’s Winter Wonderland King is… none other than Gabriel Hutchinson. Congratulations, Gabriel. Why don’t you come up here before I announce your Queen?”
That was when Carly guessed at least part of Gabe’s plan. A string of curses sailed across her thoughts, and she hoped he heard every single one of them. If Gabriel’s night hinged on Carly winning this thing, she’d show him—she wouldn’t be here to take the crown.
“And now for our Queen,” Howard said. Carly turned to step through the door, the exit in sight as her father went on, “My lovely daughter, Carly Morneau. Carly, where are you, sweetheart?”
Carly’s inclination was to run, but someone had moved a spotlight on her, and the entire high school was watching. What do I do?
Whatever you want, Abel’s voice rang through her thoughts.
Carly craned her neck as she searched for him through the crowd, holding her breath as she caught his gaze.
Seriously, do whatever you want, Abel advised. If you want to leave, then leave. Or maybe you’d rather stay and give Hutchinson a piece of your mind. But just so you kno
w, I’m going to follow either way.
“Carly?” Howard repeated into the microphone.
“Carly,” Sharla whispered, slipping out of nowhere to push on Carly’s shoulder. “What are you waiting for? You won Queen. Do you have any freaking idea how lucky you are? Get up there.” Sharla gave her another good push, and Carly stumbled forward on her heels. Go.
Carly was fully aware of the crowd’s eyes glued to her as she continued on through her sea of peers to the stage at the front of the gym. This could have been such a great night in another life, in another world. She’d always thought popularity contests stupid, but then again, she’d never won one before.
Carly was Queen, and Gabe her King. But that was one fairy tale that just couldn’t be a reality right now.
“Boy, do you look beautiful this evening,” Howard gushed as Carly stepped onto the platform next to him. Someone handed him a silver tiara covered in white jewels, and he added, “This is probably the only thing that could make you any prettier. Congratulations, sweetheart.”
“Thanks,” Carly mumbled as he tucked the tiara into her hair. The crowd broke out in whistles and applause, some of the kids even chanting her name. Why had all these people voted for her? She wasn’t friends with any of them. Hell, she barely even talked to most of them.
“I think it’s time for the King and Queen to share their official dance,” Howard added. “What do you say, kids?”
Carly felt fire in her fingertips, and looked down to see that Gabe had taken her hand.
It’s just a dance, he telepathed, and pulled her along with him onto the dance floor.
Carly followed, but not without reluctance. “If you think this whole act is going to somehow inspire me to forgive you—”
“It’s just a dance, Carly,” Gabe repeated aloud this time.
“Just a dance?” she snickered, his hands falling in around her waist. “Did you rig the vote or something? Is that how we both managed to win?”
“We won because we’re the most popular kids at school, and because no one really knows we broke up. We won because they look up to us, Carly—”
Legends: Bloodline Book 2 Page 9
