“I’m sorry,” I said, and I wasn’t sure whether I was apologizing for what was about to happen or for what had already happened.
He pried my fingers from him, then wrapped his arm around me and tugged me back into the line of his body. “Forget it. I deserved it. For the record, I don’t think the visions are things we need to avoid.”
I considered the journal. “I stand by my guess that they’re glimpses of the future.”
“Maybe. Probably.”
Somehow, I caught the words he didn’t say: that would mean we had no future today. I dug my nails into his chest, and I peered up at him with wide eyes.
“Don’t worry. We’ll be fine. You’re still recovering, and I’m sure that’s the only problem.”
“All right.” I would believe him.
He kissed my temple, an offer of comfort, before flattening his hands on my shoulders and forcing me to spin. “Let’s go in before your grandparents come out and drag me in, then decide to lock you in your room for your own protection.”
I sent up a silent prayer that no slang would be used, no accusations of drinking and having sex would be hurled, and everyone would walk away smiling.
Nana and Pops were waiting in the living room. They had their recliners pushed in front of the couch, the only place available for Cole and me to sit. The moment we were in position, the interrogation began.
Pops: Plans for the future?
Groaning, I dropped my head in my hands. He’d kicked things off with Justin the exact same way. Guaranteed, he’d end the same way.
Cole: College, law enforcement.
Nana: Oh, I like him better than that other boy already.
Pops: Good, that’s good. Now finish this sentence for me. When a girl says no, she means…
Yep. Exactly the same.
Cole: No. And that’s that. I don’t push for more.
Nana: Another excellent answer. But here’s an even tougher sentence for you to finish. Premarital sex is…
I should have let the zombies have me.
Cole: Up to the couple. What happens between them is no one else’s business. Sorry, but not even yours.
Both Pops and Nana blustered over that for a minute, but they soon calmed down. I, of course, blushed the most horrifying shade of lobster. (That was just a guess.) However, I found Cole’s answer exceptional.
Pops: That’s fair enough, I guess. So how do you feel about drinking and driving?
Cole: I think it’s stupid, and that’s one thing you’ll never have to worry about with me and Ali. I never drink, and if she does, I won’t take advantage of her. I’ll bring her home. I’ll always look out for her safety, you have my word.
“I won’t be drinking, either,” I said. “Ever.”
Nana: Aren’t you just a breath of fresh air?
Pops: He is. He is indeed.
I think I was as impressed with him as my grandparents were. Underneath the muscles, scars and tattoos (which my grandparents couldn’t see, since he wore a long-sleeved shirt) he was a really good guy. And because they were so impressed, they let us go with no more fuss!
We stopped for a coffee to help wake me up, and still made it to school with time to spare. After he parked in the same slot he’d occupied before—I guess no one wanted to fight him for it—he tossed his hat in the backseat, whipped off his long-sleeved shirt, revealing a short-sleeved shirt underneath, then helped me out of his Jeep.
My stitches felt too tight today, every movement causing the skin around them to itch. “I can’t believe we survived that.”
“Your grandparents love you unconditionally. I would have been worried if they hadn’t been so tough.”
His words slammed through me, and I tripped over the curb between the school building and the concrete outside. Love was something I had associated with them, of course, something they’d told me, but I hadn’t viewed theirs as unconditional. Deep down I’d still assumed they considered me too much like my dad. Maybe Cole was right, though. They’d done so much for me, and they had grilled him pretty hard.
“What?” he said. “You hadn’t realized?”
“No. I’m just so…different from them. I’m not soft like my sister was, or happy and able to see the silver lining like my mom. I’m like my dad, who they hated.”
“Take my word for it. They don’t hate you. And just so you know, you’re great just the way you are.”
There wasn’t time to react to his words—not that I’d known how to react. Conversations stopped with every group of kids we passed, all gazes locking on us.
They’d seen Cole and me dance at the party, so why—ah. I got it. This was confirmation that I was sleeping with him. With everything that had happened last night and this morning, I’d forgotten about the rumor mill and my all-slut status. Anger washed over me, a shimmer of stars.
“You still think Mackenzie’s innocent?” I demanded.
“Yes. I confronted her about the rumors. She denies saying anything to anyone about you.”
Could he be any more clueless? “Oh, well, then. That must be true.”
He snapped his teeth at me, reminding me of the first day of school, after the first vision. So now I knew beyond a doubt that it was a gesture of irritation. “I’ll find out who started this. Trust me. I just need time.” He threw his arm around me in a show of support. “Meanwhile, if anyone says anything to you, tell me. I’ll make them sorry they were ever born.”
That wouldn’t save me from ridicule. Because really, words weren’t always needed to get a point across. Expressions worked just as well.
As we rounded a corner, Frosty, Bronx and all of Cole’s other friends caught sight of us and bounded over. They had smiles and good-natured punching for Cole, but only frowns for me. Whatever.
I pulled from Cole’s hold and closed in on Mackenzie. “Let’s chat after school, okay?”
“That’s not necessary,” Cole called.
Still she replied, “That will be my pleasure,” and flashed me a grin that was nothing more than a baring of her pearly whites.
I opened my mouth to reply but noticed the silence behind me. The boys were listening to our conversation, I realized. This would have to wait. I walked away without another word. Cole didn’t try to stop me. There was no sign of Kat or the other girls anywhere, so I went to class. Justin wouldn’t look at me, but I sat by him anyway. He had two black eyes, a swollen nose and a scabbed-over bottom lip.
“Tell me about your after-school job,” was all I could think to say.
A pause before he reluctantly offered, “I’m sure Cole’s told you plenty.”
“I’d like to hear it from you.”
He tossed me a glare. “Once upon a time, I would have gladly told you. Now, you’ve made your bed with Cole and you can lie in it. I just wonder if you know that bed is covered with fleas.”
He’d used that phrasing on purpose, just to be cruel. “If by fleas you mean zombie carcasses,” I whispered so that only he could hear, “then yes. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I love zombie carcasses.”
The pencil he held snapped in two. “Oh, I know it now. I suspected that was why he was paying attention to you.”
Because clearly, I could never get a guy on my own. Nice. How had I ever thought this boy was sweet? “What’s your endgame? What’s your purpose? Convince me you’re on the right side.”
He snorted. “I don’t have to convince you of anything. But you tell your boyfriend we don’t appreciate the way he sliced our suits. Yeah, my boss paid him a visit the morning after and relayed the message on his own, but I’m not sure Cole’s learned his lesson.”
That would be the morning Cole was to drive me home, the morning Frosty had hated all over me. Cole had mentioned reinforcing the Blood Line around my house, and I was certain he’d told the truth, but that was probably only part of the truth, which told me that he was as good at omission as I was. We’d have to chat about that. From now on, only full disclosure would do.
<
br /> “What did your boss do to him?” I demanded.
“Why don’t you ask my twin sister, Jaclyn?” He grinned with relish. “Have you met her yet? She’s the one who took me home after the party. You know, where you abandoned me.”
“Now, hold on.” My retort died on my lips as realization struck. The brunette who’d shot me that I-wish-you-were-dead look while she’d tried to revive him, the one who liked to glare at me during every bus ride, had the same features as Justin. She had to be the twin.
“She’s never been a fan of Cole and she had the same gut feeling about you, that you were trouble. I ignored her.”
Not because he’d liked me, but because he’d wanted to know what I could do for—or against—the zombies. “Hate to break it to you, but all girls are fans of Cole. Anyone who says otherwise is lying.” Even when I was mad at him, I was attracted to him.
“After what he did to me, Jaclyn wants him pulverized.”
“So she knows what you do?”
“Who do you think recruited me?”
The bell rang and class began, stopping me from prying further. Kids shoved their backpacks underneath their desks, their clothes rustling as they faced forward.
An announcement was made about the football game—we’d won—and cheers abounded. A pep rally was scheduled for the coming Friday, eliciting even more cheers.
It took Mr. Butthole a good ten minutes to calm everyone down before he could begin his lecture. (What was his real name again?) I was too lost in my head to pay attention. I wanted to know more about the people Justin and his sister worked for, what their goal was. Couldn’t be the destruction of the zombies, as Cole said they liked to claim. Otherwise they’d work with Cole.
Just before the bell erupted to signal class was over, I was summoned to Dr. Wright’s office. I knew why she wanted to see me, and I wasn’t happy. I dragged my feet. In the office, the receptionist waved me right in.
Dr. Wright sat behind her desk, as prim and proper as ever, dressed in a dark business suit with her hair pulled back in a bun.
“How are you feeling?” she asked, hands linked over a file.
“Much better, thank you.”
“Excellent. And you’ve come to grips with what you’ve learned?”
“For the most part.”
“And you won’t discuss it with other children?”
I’m not a child. “No.”
The wheels on her chair whined as she leaned back. “I’m interested in your ability.”
Bingo. Exactly what I’d feared.
“Have you better considered how you see those glowing smudges?”
“Well, yeah.” Who wouldn’t have?
“And?”
“And some people have abilities like that, while some don’t,” I said.
There was a slight flare of impatience in her eyes. “I know that much already. Do you think you were born with it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Could your father see them?”
“I don’t know.”
She drummed her fingernails against the arms of the chair. “My guess is yes, yes, you were born with the ability. But then I have to wonder why nothing like that has ever happened to you before.”
Two could play the supposition game. “Why do some people develop tumors later in life, but not in childhood? Why are all kids born with blue eyes, but most change colors after a few months?” My own impatience shone through my tone. Either I was a part of the group or I wasn’t. Continued suspicions from the adults would cause the kids to doubt me, too.
She adjusted her glasses, debating what to do with me, I’m sure. “You can trust me, Ali. I developed the ability to see the zombies at the age of twelve, after a car accident, like you. I was shocked, as you can guess, but I did my best to continue on with my life. It wasn’t until I took over this school and noticed the odd behavior of Cole’s group that I realized others could see them, too. Then Cole’s father came around, hoping to find someone to aid the cause, and I was all over it. And it should soothe you to know that even though they needed me, they kept me at a distance for the longest time. But look at me now.”
“I get what you’re saying.” I didn’t like it, but yeah, I got it.
“In the meantime, come to me with any problems. I’m here to help you.”
“I will,” I said, and I meant it. She was tough as nails, but she meant well. And like me, she was curious. She wanted answers.
“All right, then. Back to class with you.”
Relieved, I left the office. The hallways were filled, ready to burst. Frosty was waiting at my locker. I tried to pass him, but just like before he dove into action and kept pace beside me.
“Cole was suspended for the day,” he announced.
The unexpected news had me tripping over my own feet to face him. “Why?” And why hadn’t Dr. Wright mentioned it?
A casual shrug of those big shoulders. “Nothing unusual. He tossed a few kids around because they couldn’t keep their mouths closed.”
About my sluttiness, no doubt. “Dr. Wright should have let him off the hook.” But I now knew why she hadn’t mentioned it. I would have protested—loudly.
“When the crime is committed in front of a roomful of people, she can’t. Anyway, he wanted you to know he still plans to pick you up after school.”
Good. We had some training to do. “Okay. Thanks.”
“As for lunch—”
“If you tell me I can’t hang out with my friends anymore, I’ll hurt you!”
“No reason to tell you anything like that. They’ll kick you out of their inner circle sooner or later. They did to Kat, and she only got back with them when we split.”
“Poppy, Wren and Reeve wouldn’t drop her.” I’d figured she’d once had other friends, and they’d been the ones to let her go.
“Not Reeve, but Poppy and Wren. She was hanging with me, and I was getting her into trouble. They thought she would drag them down.”
How dare they treat her that way!
Uh, you might have to drop her, too.
Oh, yeah. Guilt ate at me, a cancer without a cure.
“Ali,” Frosty began. “Listen. I—”
“Not now,” I interrupted. I had no idea what he planned to say, I just knew I couldn’t withstand another upset.
“All right. But later.”
“Later.” We parted ways, branching in different directions down the hall.
After surviving second and third blocks and making Ms. Meyers happy with my full attention, I found Kat in the cafeteria at her usual table. The others weren’t with her. She was spinning a green apple on the tabletop. Today she wore a tank top and a pair of skinny jeans. I must not have ever seen her in a tank before. For the first time I noticed the pucker of scars on the inside of her elbows.
Scars that reminded me of track marks.
No way Kat did drugs. Just no way. I’d never believe it.
Her skin was paler now than it had been over the weekend. Shadows formed half circles under her eyes, and her lips were chapped. I eased beside her. “Hey, you. How are you feeling?”
She gave a jolt of surprise, her hand fluttering over her heart. Then she smiled at me, that perfect, wily smile of hers that drew me in, welcomed me and always put me at ease. “A little tired. Frosty must have sucked the life out of me when he sucked on my tongue. That, or he infected me with a flesh-eating bacteria.”
“Gross!”
“No. Fun.” She traced a heart around the apple. “He’s passed me three notes today already, asking me to go out with him this weekend, and he’s even vowed to tattoo my name on his butt if I say yes.”
“Are you guys officially back together?”
“Hardly. He hasn’t suffered enough.”
I had a feeling she wasn’t as interested in his suffering as she was in protecting her heart. “So where are the girls?” I’d be nice, I decided. They’d wised up and gotten back into Kat’s good graces. That’s all that mattered
.
“Reeve is with Bronx, is my guess.” She motioned to Cole’s table with a wave of her hand. “Notice he’s missing from their crew.”
“He could have gone home with Cole.” Because I seriously doubted Reeve’s dad had lifted the no-dating-slayers ban. “But…” I leaned in and whispered, “I saw them kissing at the party.”
“What?” she squealed, clapping excitedly. “And you’re just now telling me? I should hate you forever!”
“Sorry. I meant to.” I couldn’t tell her much, but I could tell her that. “Cole distracted me.”
“We’ll have to tease her mercilessly, of course.”
“Of course. I already warned her.”
“Did she look like she was enjoying it? Did he look like he knew what he was doing?”
“I only caught a glimpse.”
Kat locked on something, or someone, just beyond my shoulder and nibbled on her lower lip, excitement falling over her features like a curtain. “Here comes Reeve. No Bronx. The other girls are with her.”
The moment they sat down, their bags dropping to the floor, their food being spread out over the table, Kat was squirming in her seat, the secret clearly too much for her to contain.
“Where have you guys been?” I asked.
Reeve wouldn’t quite meet my eyes. “Nowhere.”
“Chasing after Bronx,” Poppy said with a toss of her red hair, at the same time Wren said, “Having her heart torn to shreds. Now will someone please tell me what’s so special about the losers at this school? Or why all my friends chase after them, knowing their futures will be compromised?”
“Will you please tell me why you’re so annoying sometimes?” Kat settled down, her excitement draining. “What’d he do, Reeve?”
Wren humphed.
“He found out I was going out with John, threw a fit, led me on and then told me to get lost, that’s what.” She tossed a bag on the tabletop and dug through the contents until she found a candy bar. “I don’t understand him.”
At least he’d spoken to her.
“Boys,” Poppy grumbled.
Having troubles of her own? “Have you picked a candidate for your attention yet?” I asked, recalling how she liked to wait a few weeks to check out the entire sea. See? I could be nice.
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