Her dad stood and looked at her, his expression stern. “I was a little brother once.”
Oh great, here we go again. She leaned against the door, mentally prepared for yet another lecture on being a good big sister.
“And you’re right.” His voice softened as his gaze fell to the floor. He scratched his forehead and dragged his hand down his face. “Little brothers don’t always enjoy hanging out with older sisters either. Go ahead and go. I’ll tell Anata—”
“Tell me what?” Anata asked as she set the casserole and the bag of candles for Illumination on top of a box by the front door. She looked stunning in her deep red dress, and for some reason, that upset Rena.
“Oh, Rena, where’d you get that beautiful dress?” she asked.
“I took some old junk to the Market.” Rena picked up her backpack and opened the door. The afternoon sun spilled in, catching in the folds of her costume.
“That shade of blue really complements your skin tone.” Anata walked over and rolled the material of the sleeve between her finger and thumb. “Hmm, what’s this made of?”
“I’d better get going. Blaze is waiting.” When Rena pivoted to leave, the hem of the skirt shifted, revealing light blue sections underneath the dark blue panels.
“Hold on,” Anata stretched the skirt out to examine the panels. “Other than a few watermarks, this is in great condition. It looks expensive.”
“Nothing’s too pricy with a great bargainer like Blaze on your side.” She slung the backpack over her shoulders. “Speaking of which, gotta go.”
Before Anata could ask any more questions, Rena dashed out the front door, holding up the skirt hem as she raced down the bumpy sidewalk, warmed from the Burning. The lingering heat caused a sheen of sweat to coat her skin. She enjoyed the breeze created by running and didn’t slow until she reached the rendezvous point. It usually took ten minutes to get to the halfway point. Running put her in front of Old Lady Eva’s house in five, which meant Rena was only five minutes late.
“Surely, she didn’t leave me,” Rena said to herself after checking both ways down the sidewalk. She’d wait a few minutes before jumping to conclusions about her best friend. Maybe Blaze was taking extra time to get ready for her date.
Rena put on her birch leaf necklace, then turned her attention to the yard behind her. Old Lady Eva lived in the smallest house she’d ever seen, but it had the best-looking yard in all of Hollowcrest, consisting of white gravel, waterless fountains, and carefully selected rocks stacked in complex patterns. Between the gray stones, thrived a variety of plants with tiny colorful leaves. Vibrant colors were rare, which made them all the more pleasing.
Rena searched for Blaze again. With no sign of her, she decided to check Blaze’s house. When she got there, she knocked on the front door. Two minutes later, Mr. Kolanir answered.
“Hello, Rena. Don’t you look beautiful for the Celebration.”
“Thanks. Blaze wasn’t at our meeting place. Is she still here?”
“No.” He checked his watch. “She left over an hour ago.”
She took a step back, but stopped when Mr. Kolanir kept talking. “She’s real excited about seeing some boy she invited to the Solstice. What’s his name? Talen? Torrin?”
“Torley,” she mumbled and started to turn.
“Are you meeting your date there, too?”
“Something like that.” Her shoulders rounded. Go ahead, rub salt in the wound. “I should get going.”
Mr. Kolanir closed the door.
“She left without me,” Rena mumbled as she meandered down the sidewalk. She kicked an empty can in her way, immediately regretting the decision when she spotted the brown stain it left on her newly purchased shoe.
“Halt.”
You’ve gotta be kidding me! Rena’s jaw clenched as she looked up into the emotionless stare of a Syn. This one had blond carbon fiber hair and brown eyes.
“Citizen 54325i, you are in violation of Conservation Law 9 and Conduct Code 16.”
She stepped toward the Syn with her hand raised and ready to scan. “You know what, fine. Let’s do this. I have places to be.”
“You are now in violation of Conduct Codes 5 and 14.”
Rena drew a deep breath and released it through her teeth as she bent to pick up the can, which she didn’t even throw on the ground in the first place. Now she had to find a recycle bin to put it in or there’d be more fines.
“Your total fines amount to 6,500 units. How would you like to pay?”
“Credit,” she said before the machine finished.
The panel on its chest slid open. Rena strongly considered zapping it but didn’t want to risk getting arrested. Plus, she wasn’t sure how to zap on purpose. She pressed her hand to the flashing icon. Her total debt appeared in big, bold numbers for the world to see. She glanced around the empty sidewalk, relieved there were no witnesses.
She lowered her hand to her side.
“Do better,” the Syn said, as it turned and continued its patrol.
Rena found a recycle bin, flung the can into it, and headed toward South Lake. She wrapped her arms around her waist, squeezing tight. Blaze didn’t understand the burdens of a big family, especially for the oldest girl. Always expected to help the little ones, no matter how old they got. Well, this would be the last time she’d let the twins interfere with her social life. Next time she saw her dad, she planned to sit him down and make some changes.
Blaze was probably trying to make a good impression on Torley. Rena understood that, but it didn’t make it any easier. For now, she had to put her brave face on and head to the Celebration, alone.
Chapter Twelve
When Rena reached the Celebration, it was in full swing. The aroma of grilled onions and imitation meat wafted through the air. Her mouth watered. Families crowded around the picnic tables, unconcerned about loitering or gathering in public. The Syns only monitored people as they entered and left, not the actual event. Rena approached one of them and held up her hand. The tiny camera hidden on the badge of its jacket emitted a red light as it targeted and scanned her ID band.
“Enjoy the Summer Solstice Celebration, sponsored by Overlord Andrick,” it said.
Out of habit, she stuck to the sidewalk, then remembered this was the one time of year walking on grass in the park was permitted. She wanted to pull off her shoes and feel the blades of grass between her toes. Direct contact with the earth soothed her in ways she didn’t understand.
The trees were planted in the same pattern as the ones at Transit Plaza, but here they were spread farther apart. The crowd was full of people wearing bright, bold colors and sparkling jewelry. Many of the women wore their hair in sophisticated styles, much like Rena.
Most of the Hollowcrest residents gathered at The Dugout, which was on the far end of South Lake right by the stage where the performers played their hand drums. The beat of their instruments resounded up through the earth like a map to a treasure. People crowded around the slight incline leading down to the stage. Rena saw the slanted roof above it and the top of the Overlord’s logo on the back wall but needed to get closer to see the musicians.
She hiked her skirt up to avoid tripping on the hem as she raced past people arranging food at the Dugout. On the detour to watch Nevan, she hoped to spot Blaze and Torley.
As she approached the stage, the drums’ pulse crawled up through the bottom of her feet, though it didn’t make her nauseous like earthquakes did. It tickled her soles and delighted her heart. She pushed her way through the crowd, eager for a spot close enough to catch sight of Nevan. The band members took turns playing solo, but the current one didn’t play like Nevan. Even with the steady beat, some onlookers couldn’t catch the rhythm and their sporadic movements raked her nerves. She stood on her toes, attempting to see more of the stage, but was still too far away.
The music changed, the tempo intensified. She recognized Nevan’s style and felt torn between continuing to search for Blaze and watch
ing him. If she didn’t take this opportunity to see his solo, she’d have to wait a whole year. He looked good, now and every other time she saw him. Watching him perform on stage was different. It made her feel like a musical thread tethered them.
She wanted less space between her and that thread. Remembering the boulders ringing the stage, she made her way to the first one she spotted. She slipped off her shoes and stashed them in her backpack, before she climbed up.
Rena connected with the sound waves flowing through the rock seconds before she spotted Nevan. He wore a pair of blue jean shorts and a saffron gold V-neck shirt. The short sleeves of the fitted material hugged his biceps. Her lips parted as sudden warmth surged through her body.
Nevan played with abandoned fervor, eyes closed and lower lip between his teeth, his hands thumped away at the drumheads. Somehow, he managed to keep hold of the bongos while he danced on his seat. Even his dreadlocks rollicked as his head bopped to the rhythm. Joy flowed from him and spread through the crowd. Soon, almost everyone danced along. Like back-up singers, a number of people infused the music with their fingers snapping, hands clapping, and scat singing.
Rena swelled with pride she had no right to claim as his song morphed into something so emotionally raw, it gripped the very essence of her. Right there on that boulder, she danced. And didn’t care who saw. Her body dipped and swayed in perfect time as if she knew his improvised song by heart, as if he’d written it for her alone. She wrapped herself in the thought, that she was Nevan’s muse, and everyone else, everything else disappeared.
The powerful beat pulled her deeper into his song. Exquisite vibrations rolled from the stage as if their only purpose was to delight her soles. She closed her eyes, gave into the pleasure, and settled her feet against the rough grain of the boulder. The sound climbed up her calves, liquefied her knees, and continued to her stomach. It grew warm, tingly. She wanted to laugh with joy.
Nevan picked up the tempo, making her want to sink to the ground and more thoroughly tighten the tether between them. She opened her eyes, willing herself to remain upright, and barely succeeded. The crowd erupted with applause as his solo slowed. The next drummer would take over soon. By the look on the guy’s face, he was upset about following that performance. Eyes still closed, and a triumphant smile on his face, Nevan’s thumps softened. His eyes finally opened to half-slits, dazed and fierce at the same time.
They focused on her.
And that was the sad thing about one-way crushes. She could fantasize all she wanted, but in the end, him looking at her was probably only a coincidence. On the boulder, she stood elevated above most people. Humiliating herself in front of him once, was enough. With the rhythm of his song etched into her soles, she took a step back and fell.
A nearby woman gasped. Her floral scented hair brushed Rena’s hand when she bent to help her to her feet. “Are you hurt?”
“Nothing but my dignity,” Rena grumbled as she dusted off the back of her dress and straightened her necklace.
The woman tilted her head. “Excuse me?”
“No, I’m okay.” She tugged her shoes on.
“Good. You should be careful. These boulders aren’t for climbing.”
Rena lowered her gaze. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you.” She started to leave, but turned back. “Have you seen a redhead wearing a dress like this?”
“No. Sorry.”
“Thanks anyway.”
The woman strolled behind the crowd still watching the musicians. Rena trailed her, stopping at the intersection of two paths. Where was Blaze? There was no way she hadn’t heard the drums; no way she didn’t know exactly where Rena would be. Perhaps, Torley and her decided to ditch the Celebration.
That couldn’t be it. Blaze was too excited about her first Maiden Walk. It started in less than fifteen minutes. Her best friend was never late for anything. Ever.
Rena smoothed a hand down her stomach, and resumed her search. She wished she had the ability to envision where people were, which made her think of Trace. He’d told her once that he often drew pictures of people new to him, and he’d recently met Blaze on the CityRail. Maybe he’d seen something that could help.
She found him with a group of friends who scattered like birds when she approached. His crisp white shirt lent him a tanned, wealthy appearance, but the frayed shorts and toe-line crease on his shoes made him blend in with the rest of the attendees.
As much as he tried to hide behind his hair, his reddened cheeks were hard to miss, and she just knew he’d been watching her. She glanced across the lawn toward the stage and discovered a direct line to the boulder where she’d danced. Could that be the reason his friends had left so quickly? Had they all been watching? It’d be her luck, every boy but the one she wanted noticing her.
“Hey, Trace. Didn’t mean to scare off your friends,” Rena said.
He studied his hands. “They had things to do.”
“They all went separate ways.”
His blush deepened as he met her gaze. “They’re not used to being near beautiful girls.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re flirting with me.”
He shifted his hair behind his ear. “Only an observation.”
“Well, since you’re so observant, have you seen my friend, Blaze?”
“Redhead, right? Is something wrong?”
“She and her date were supposed to meet me earlier, but when I got to our meeting place, she wasn’t there.”
Trace leaned forward and spoke in a low voice. “I haven’t seen her.”
Rena immediately understood his meaning. “Is there any chance you might?”
He shook his head. “Not how it works. Did you figure out that thing I gave you?”
The only thing he’d given her was the picture of her crying. “If I can’t find Blaze, I’m afraid it’s going to happen sooner rather than later.”
He edged closer. “Any way I can help?”
“If you happen to draw a picture of her, come find me. I’m not leaving here without her.”
He stood silent for a moment as if weighing the decision to help, and she suddenly felt guilty about asking in the first place. If someone had asked her to use her ability in a public setting, she’d be hesitant, too.
“You know what, it’s not fair of me to ask this much of you,” she said. “I’ll find her.”
“I want to help. I do, but it’s hard to concentrate with all this noise. Plus, since I never attempted anything like this, I can’t promise results.”
“You don’t have to do anything special. She’s probably somewhere making out with Torley.”
“If you believed that, you wouldn’t look worried. I do my best work at home. I’ll come find you if I think of anything that might help,” he said as he walked away.
Rena stood still, determined to focus her powers on locating Blaze’s footfall signature, but much like Trace, she’d never attempted anything like it. The ground vibrations created by the crowd disoriented her. She had no idea how to filter that many footsteps at once. No idea how to find the skip-like steps she sought. She closed her eyes, struggling to dissect the onslaught of sensations.
“Whatcha doing?”
“Nothing,” she answered automatically, before she opened her eyes to see who’d asked the question.
Chai stood in front of her wearing a pink blouse and a red, fluffy skirt. Her hair was twisted along her forehead, down, and around toward her neck. Bright, fake flowers accentuated the twist.
“Great job with your hair,” Rena said. “It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you. Mom did it.” She twisted giving her a view of the hair bun in the back with a puffy yellow flower in the center. It looked real. “You look like a princess,” Chai said. Her eyes gleamed with approval. “Who was that person you were talking to?”
How long have you been watching? Rena wanted to ask. “A new friend.”
“Like us?” Chai asked.
“I don’t understand. Lik
e us how?”
Chai touched her head. “He has too many strands.”
“Are you talking about his hair?”
“No, he’s—”
“Hey Chai.” A deep voice from behind Rena cut off Chai’s words. “Who’s your friend?”
Nevan’s deep voice. His lyrical walk.
Rena faced him and froze. He wore his hair pulled back. Jogging down the path, a thin coat of sweat made his smooth skin shimmer in the fading sunlight. His golden shirt did extraordinary things to the colors of his mismatched eyes. His hypnotizing gaze made her sway to the rhythm of his stride.
Chai giggled and broke her trance. Rena blinked, and suddenly noticed the stunned look on Nevan’s face. He tilted his head to the side as he bit his lip then put a hand over his heart. There it was again, that dimple on his left cheek she loved so much. It was nearly her undoing as his gaze drifted from her navy blue sandals, up the fitted dress to her sculpted braids, then dipped back down to her birch leaf necklace. His smile broadened, rewarding her with a glimpse of his dimple. His open appraisal made her blush hard and look away to catch her breath.
This was the first impression she’d wanted him to have.
“Nevan thinks you’re grand-quality,” Chai teased. “But where are your freckles?”
Grand-quality? Rena swallowed hard. A slow flame licked its way up the back of her neck and across her cheeks.
Nevan narrowed his eyes at Chai before looking at Rena with a grin on his face. “I saw you right before you fell off the...” he paused and scanned the area behind her, “...off whatever you were standing on. You okay?”
“Yeah…I, uh…um.” Thoughts of how sensational he looked on stage at the apex of his performance flooded her mind, his fluid movements etched in her memory. And now here he stood, only a couple of feet away, obviously not repelled by her. Grand-quality. She fought to keep her face relaxed and not stand there grinning like a bodink.
Edge of Truth (9781310978142) Page 9
