by Alicia Rades
“Yes, I’m serious.” Robin held out his hand to her. “Come up to the microphone.”
Emma glanced at Derek as if asking if she should.
Derek pushed at her. “Go on. It’s only, like, your dream to sing in a rock band.”
Emma smiled excitedly and hopped up from the couch. “What do I do?”
“Sing background vocals, of course,” Robin instructed as he positioned her in front of a second microphone. He fiddled with it for a moment before it turned on. “You obviously know this song, right?”
Emma nodded. She tried to stay casual, but she was bouncing up and down slightly. A smile played at the corner of her lips.
“Think you can improvise a harmony?” Robin asked.
“I play harmony in band a lot, so I’m sure it can’t be that hard.”
Tyler interjected. “Those two look like they know what they’re doing, too.” He pointed a drum stick at Sage and me.
Sage and I exchanged a glance.
Robin smiled at us in a way that made my heart swoon. “You girls want to try it out, too? Just for fun?”
Sage and I looked at each other again. Her eyes lit up slightly.
“What the heck?” I shrugged, hopping up from the couch.
Sage planted a look of uncertainty on her face, but a part of her expression told me she was having fun. She finally rose from the couch, and we stood around Emma’s microphone together.
“Okay,” Robin said. “From the top.”
Tyler beat on his drums, and suddenly the rest of the basement came to life. I stood there stupidly for the first verse like I was unsure of myself. Honestly, though. Me? Singing? I wasn’t much of a singer, but as Emma’s voice grew louder, I couldn’t help but let go of my insecurities and simply enjoy the beat.
Something about the moment gave me déjà vu. A memory played back through my mind, and I was pretty sure I had dreamt of this moment before. Was it possible that I was connected to Sage even before Melissa’s warning?
I caught Sage’s eyes opposite me, and she broke out into a full-on grin. I’d never seen Sage look so happy. The moment I realized this, nerves twisted in my stomach. Sage didn’t have long. How many more happy moments would she have like this? Was I wasting her time with this whole band practice thing, or was it best that I let her be happy while she could?
“That was fun!” Emma exclaimed when the song ended. “Now go sit back down so I can try by myself,” she teased, poking at me.
“Actually, I could really use something to drink,” I said. It was true, but I was hoping for a moment alone with Sage again. “What about you, Sage?”
She smiled and tugged on her sleeves, balling them in her fists. “Yeah, sure. I'm pretty thirsty, too.”
We escaped upstairs while the band began playing again. I pulled a cup from the dish rack and filled it with water, all the while wondering what I could say to her. I wanted to somehow ask if she was in danger—maybe from her uncle—but I didn’t know how to bring the subject up lightly. The question of how she was going to die still nagged at me. I felt like if I knew that, I’d know how to save her, but then again, I knew she obviously didn’t have that answer.
“Sage,” I started, hoping this would work. “I’ve been wondering about something.”
She took a seat at the kitchen table and popped open her soda can. “Yeah?”
I gently pulled out a chair next to her and sat down. “That thing you said earlier about not having social media profiles . . . Is there a reason for that? I mean . . .” I paused, looking down at my glass for a moment. “Are you in any danger or something?”
“What?” Sage laughed, but it sounded forced. “What would give you that idea?”
I shrugged. What was I supposed to tell her? That it was her dead sister who gave me that idea? I didn’t have that sort of trust from her yet. As much support as I’d received from my family and friends, I knew telling a near stranger about my abilities probably wouldn’t go over well.
“Nothing, I guess. I just wanted to make sure. I wouldn’t want to miss a chance to help you if you were in trouble. Not that I think you are,” I lied. My eyebrow twitched slightly. At least she wasn’t aware that this was a clear indication of my dishonesty. “I just want to make sure because sometimes you do seem okay, but other times, it’s like . . .” Now I was just babbling.
“Crystal,” Sage said, stopping me. “I’m fine. Really. If I gave the impression that I was in any trouble, I’m sorry. I’ve just been really stressed lately.”
I couldn’t help but remember how it felt when I shook her hand that first day. She was scared of something. Was she still scared of it?
“Okay,” I answered. I casually placed my fingertips on her exposed hand. “If you ever need anything, though, I am willing to listen.”
I pulled my hand away, partially because I knew it was weird to touch her in the first place and partially because in the few seconds I was in contact with her, I didn’t see a single thing. If there was something there, I should have seen it. At least that’s what I told myself.
Sage sipped her Mountain Dew and then smiled at me. “Thank you, but I’m fine.”
Even after Sage left, I still didn’t believe her.
13
“I feel like I’m getting nowhere,” I complained to Robin after Sage went home. Faith and Andrew were gone, too, and everyone else was up in the kitchen snacking on Asher’s mom’s homemade cookies. Robin and I sat together on one of the couches in the basement, his arm slung around me casually.
“Maybe you need to be more direct with her,” he suggested.
“You mean, tell her that her dead sister warned me of her impending death? Tell her that her uncle might be coming for her? She’ll call me crazy!”
“Has anyone called you crazy because of your abilities before, Crystal?” Robin brushed my blonde hair out of my face and looked me in the eyes as he asked this.
He was right. I’d told a good dozen people or more, and none of them had called me crazy. “In all fairness, I actually know everyone I told,” I pointed out. “I don’t really know Sage yet.” Even as I said this, a small part of me believed Robin was right, so why was I so afraid to tell Sage when it could save her life?
“It may be worth a shot,” Robin insisted. “I mean, I believed you, and we ended up saving Hope because of it.”
I took a deep breath. “That’s because I was able to prove it to you. What am I supposed to say to Sage? You can’t just tell people they’re going to die, Robin. Then it’d be like it was my fault.”
“And if you didn’t tell her and it happened anyway, would you regret it?”
I sighed in defeat. “You’re right. I have to tell her. Beating around the bush isn’t doing me any good.”
“You know I’m here for you, right?” He kissed the top of the head. “No matter what happens. I care about Sage, too, so you don’t have to feel like you’re in this alone.”
I nodded and pressed my head into his shoulder for comfort.
Robin gripped the bottom of my chin lightly and guided my face up to his. “I mean it,” he said seriously before he pressed his lips to mine. I let myself fall deeper into the kiss until both our lips parted slightly.
Emma’s footsteps on the stairs moments later made me pull away from Robin. I pressed my lips together in embarrassment, hoping that might stifle the blush rising to my cheeks.
“Crystal,” Emma asked, bending from a higher step to get a good look at me, “are you almost ready to go?”
I nodded again and rose from my seat, still gripping onto Robin’s hand. “So, I’ll see you on Saturday at the park for Troy’s birthday, then.”
Robin stood up with me and stayed close. I could feel his breath on the top of my forehead as he looked down at me. It made the butterflies in my stomach spring to life.
“Will you invite Sage?” I asked. “Maybe I could talk to her more then. You know, about what we just talked about.”
“Yeah,” Robin
said, closing the small gap between us. “I’ll convince her to come. Have a safe ride home, okay?” He bent to my level again, pulling me into a passionate kiss.
“My eyes!” Emma exclaimed jokingly. When I turned to look at her to let her know I wasn’t amused, one hand was covering her eyes. “My virgin eyes!”
“As far as I heard, there’s nothing virgin about them,” Robin joked back.
Emma froze for a second and looked at me with wide eyes as if to ask, What did you say to him? Not that Emma ever told me a secret on that topic.
Robin laughed. “I’m kidding, Emma. Chill.”
She stood and pulled at the bottom of her shirt casually. “Well, yeah. I knew that.”
I followed Emma upstairs and grabbed a cookie. “Oh, before I forget.” I turned back to Robin, who had trailed behind me. “Do you guys want to do a double date sometime soon?” I remembered what my mom had said and figured I should follow her advice.
“Sure,” Robin said with a cookie in his mouth. “Does Saturday night work for you?” He looked toward Derek and Emma, who both agreed.
“I’ll be ready in a minute,” Derek told us as he grabbed a few more cookies.
“Okay.” Emma pulled at me. A look of let’s talk in private crossed her eyes. On our way out the door, Emma spoke again. “So, still no ‘I love you?’”
Thanks for reminding me, Emma, I thought. “It’s not like you and Derek have said it, either.”
“Actually,” Emma announced proudly, “we have said it.”
“What?” I practically choked on my surprise. “When?” I climbed into the back seat of Emma’s car as she pulled open the driver’s side door.
“Earlier this week.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
She shrugged. “I didn’t really think about it until I realized you and Robin still haven’t said it. It’s not like you tell me everything.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked, momentarily stung by the accusation. “I do tell you everything!”
“‘About that thing we just talked about.’ It’s like you didn’t want me to hear whatever it was you and Robin were saying in private.”
“No, it’s not that,” I insisted, feeling hurt that she’d think I would hide something from her. “He was just saying I should tell Sage about my abilities. Then there might actually be a chance at saving her.”
Emma pressed her lips together in thought. “I don’t know, Crystal. You don’t really know her . . .”
“That’s what I said, but I think he’s right.”
Derek’s passenger side door opened with a click, and he climbed in. Emma and I both looked at him and went silent.
“Telling secrets, are we?” Derek joked.
I sighed because this whole decision about whether to tell Sage or not was stressing me out. “I was just getting Emma’s opinion. What do you think, Derek? Should I tell Sage about my abilities or not?”
Derek shrugged. “I guess it’s up to you, but it could just push her away.”
“I know, but Robin thinks I should, and I trust him.”
Emma started the car and pulled out of the driveway. “We’re not going to tell you what to do, Crystal, but I am going to tell you I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
I gazed out the window in thought. “But I’m not getting anything out of her otherwise. I have no idea what to ask or how to ask it. Everything I’ve found out is what Derek and Teddy told me. Fat lot of good my abilities are doing me.”
Emma made a noise from the front seat. “Crystal, your abilities are really awesome. Don’t say that.”
I spent most of the rest of the car ride staring out the window wondering how Sage was going to die. Melissa had said that she didn’t want Sage to “suffer the same fate.” Did that just mean her death, or did it mean Sage was going to be in a car accident? And what was this whole thing with her uncle?
That thought reminded me to tell Derek about it. When he suggested we do a Google search on her uncle, I realized Teddy had never given me a name.
***
I took my time between Thursday and Saturday to think about what my friends had said, but even Friday afternoon at Hope’s, I still felt completely lost. At least I’d gotten a name from Teddy, but I was unable to find anything on the right Alan Anderson. Why did Sage have to come from a family with such a common surname?
“Crystal.” Hope snapped her fingers in front of my face.
“Huh?” My eyes refocused, pulling me from my thoughts. I gazed down at the Life board only to find that Hope already had another set of twins. I hadn’t even gotten married yet.
“You seem out of it,” she said.
I sighed. “That’s because I am.” I spun the Life wheel before looking back up to meet Hope’s eyes. “It’s just one of my friends,” I started to explain, but I trailed off, wondering whether I should open up to Hope about this or not. I wasn’t sure if she’d understand.
“Is she okay?” Hope asked, pulling a miniature husband out of the Life box for me.
“Not really,” I admitted.
“Is it because you can see the future?”
I tensed. “What do you mean?”
“You found me because you can see the future, right?”
I relaxed and nodded. “I’m supposed to help this girl, but I don’t know if I should tell her about my gift or not.”
“If she’s like me, she’ll believe you.”
“What do you mean?”
Hope straightened up and put a mature expression on her face. “The whole time I was missing, I dreamt about you. I knew who you were before you ever came to save me. Maybe your friend knows you’re going to save her, too.”
I thought about this for a moment, but it didn’t make any sense that Sage knew. After all, when I helped my friend Kelli, she didn’t know. “I don’t think she’s like you,” I finally said.
“Well, I think you should tell her,” Hope said, spinning for her turn.
Great. Now there was just one more opinion to add to the confusion, especially since I was leaning toward not telling her.
On my walk home, I swung by Divination to get my mom’s opinion since I knew she was working late and I might not get a chance to talk to her later. She always kept the shop open a little later on Friday nights, but there weren’t any customers around when I entered.
As soon as I brought the subject up, my mom’s entire demeanor changed. Her body tensed, and she wouldn’t meet my gaze. She crouched down to a bottom shelf and reached into a box nearby to restock a few items.
“Mom,” I prodded.
She sighed, stalling. “I’ve told you before what I think about you telling people.” Her gaze finally reached mine.
I crossed my arms over my chest. Not the answer I was looking for.
She stood and pushed past me with her empty box. I followed her to the back of the shop.
“I’m not saying you can’t tell her. It’s not my job to tell you that, but you asked for my advice.” She pushed open the door to the storage room. I followed, and the door clicked shut behind me.
“It’s one thing to tell your best friends,” she continued. “Even telling Robin made sense.” She finally turned to me. “But if you start telling so many people, you’re going to get too comfortable with it. Someday, you’re going to tell the wrong person.”
I wanted to roll my eyes at her, but with her next sentence, a sense of empathy washed over me.
“Believe me. I know.”
I sighed and spoke softly. “So your vote is that I shouldn’t tell her, then?”
“I can’t tell you what to do, sweetie.”
I gritted my teeth in exasperation. Aren’t mothers supposed to have all the answers? She was really starting to sound like the mysterious gypsy she pretended to be every year for Halloween. “Well, if you were in the same situation, you wouldn’t tell her, right?”
“I guess I’d have to be in that situation to tell. I don’t know Sage well enough. Th
e best thing I can tell you to do is to follow your instinct.”
“Mom, I have no instinct. That’s why I’m asking you. You’re supposed to be my instinct.”
She threw her head back and laughed. I couldn’t help but let out a giggle with her.
She finally composed herself. “Once you’re in the situation, you’ll know what to do.”
Why was she making this harder for me? “What would Sophie and Diane say?”
“Probably the same thing as me.”
“Well, you guys are no help,” I complained. My mom pulled me into a hug to calm my nerves.
“I can teach you about your abilities, Crystal. I can advise you against sharing your secret. But I can’t tell you how you should feel. I won’t tell you what to do. You know Sage better than I do. Do you think she’ll believe you?”
Just then, the bells on the front door jingled, indicating a customer had just entered the shop. I let my mom tend to them, said goodbye, and headed home.
14
It was here: the moment of truth. I still didn’t know what I was going to say to Sage, which only made me nervous on the car ride to the city.
“Crystal.” Derek’s voice brought me back to the present inside the car.
“What?” I asked, pulling my eyes from the scenery to meet his.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I said as casually as I could. My eyebrow didn’t even twitch this time. “What would make you think that?”
“Because you’re chewing your nails like you’re nervous.”
I gazed down at my hands and realized he was right. The nail on my right ring finger was chewed raw. “It’s just . . .” I paused for a second. “Life,” I finally said confidently. “It sucks being a teenage girl.”
Emma and Derek both laughed from the front seat.
“I hear ya,” Emma said, raising her hand in agreement.
I couldn’t lie to them. “I’m still worried about Sage,” I admitted. “I have a feeling the whole thing about her uncle being on the run is important, but given that the police don’t know where he is, Teddy doesn’t know anything else.”
