Gabe was good at teasing me—the best of all the brothers—but I’d recently developed a serious crush on him somehow and I took everything he said way too personally. “Ha-ha. Could you help me up, please?”
He put a hand around my waist and his other out for me to grab. Heat spread over my face and down my neck at his touch. I couldn’t look at him. If I did, I’d get a close-up view of his beautiful face and his dark brown hair that curled slightly, perfectly, in a way that made me want to touch it, wrap my fingers in it. This whole crushing on my best friend really wasn’t working for me. I pulled my hand from his once I was standing.
“Thanks, Gabe. But you better get back to your groupies, they’re getting impatient.” I moved away, trying to focus on the sting in my hands and not the strange tingle in my heart.
He pulled me back toward him by tugging on the waist of my baggy jeans before forcing me to face him. He was an inch taller than me, so we were practically eye-to-eye. His green eyes were serious, searching. I looked away toward the girls still hanging out at his car. “I need to find Cindy.”
“Snowflake, wait. Are you bleeding? Let me see your hands.” He grabbed them, flipping them over. A couple of rocks were still embedded in the palms and he tenderly brushed them away, but thankfully there wasn’t any blood. Each place he touched caused a jittery flutter in my stomach, like I’d had one too many espresso shots.
I tried to pull my hands away, but he held them firm. “I’m fine, Gabe,” I said, flustered, and made the mistake of glancing up. My breath hitched.
“You’re constantly falling because of these clothes. If you’d wear something that fits instead of,” he paused and wrapped his fist in my blue American Eagle tee shirt, pulling me close, so close I could smell his cologne. It was my favorite, like clean sheets that’d been dried on a hot summer day. “This shirt used to be mine.” A wondrous smile ignited his lips and spread all the way to his eyes. “Actually, that’s kind of hot.”
“Gabe, quit it.” I tried to pull away, knowing my face burned red hot.
He wrapped his arms around my waist. His breath tickled my cheek, warm and delicious. It smelled like minty toothpaste. “You aren’t always going to think of me as a brother. Someday, Snow. You’ll see me the way I see you,” he said in my ear, his lips bushing against my hairline before releasing me. He gave me a wave and started walking. “See ya, Snowflake.”
Stunned, I watched him go. Did he have feelings for me? I really needed to talk to Cindy.
Right on cue she tapped me on the shoulder and jumped in front of me. “So, are the guys coming over for the movie?”
Cindy overflowed with bubbly happiness. “I don’t think so,” I said, sneaking a peek at Gabe. He’d returned to his car and the flock of girls. They were giggling again. That was one of the reasons I was glad Cindy hadn’t dumped me for cooler friends. Sometimes I needed girl time and she was my only girlfriend.
Her face fell. “Did you invite them?”
I gripped her elbow and we walked into the video store together. “I did invite them, told them to meet at my house at ten thirty. They might show.” I decided to change the subject. “Are you going to crash at my place tonight?”
“No, my parents are taking me to the Cape this weekend.”
It was my turn to frown as we perused the old video cases. “How come you didn’t tell me?” I really needed to talk to her.
“I just found out, silly.” She smiled. “Besides I’m sure the guys will keep you company.”
I hid a sigh. There was no way I could talk to the guys about my feelings for their brother. That’d be… gross.
“Let’s find us a scary movie, something that’ll let me snuggle up with Gabe. I hope they show.” She swiveled around and I knew she was searching for Gabe because that was what I did. I paused mid-stride.
Abruptly my mind registered what she’d said. “Wait. What? Gabe, why Gabe?” There were six other brothers, all of them good looking. Besides, I thought she liked the new guy, Chace. “What about Chace?” Her glossed lips pouted and her perfectly lined eyes got all dreamy. She looked like one of my stepmother’s fairytale figurines.
“Nah, I’m over him.” Cindy headed toward the horror section and started browsing. I followed, studying her too perfect features as she picked up a movie. I plucked it from her hands and put it back on the shelf. After several movie denials, she crossed her arms. “All the girls like Chace. Besides, I talked to him and…” She shrugged. “He isn’t for me.”
I had a feeling Chace hadn’t gushed over her, which was what most guys did, including my guys, my best friends.
“Besides, Gabe is gorgeous and so sweet.”
She’d noticed he was sweet. When? How? Had he done something to impress her recently? This was just not good. I had a crush on him.
“How about S—” She held up the movie case.
I grabbed the movie from her well-manicured hand, cutting her off. “Please, no. Not that one again. That movie is terrifying.” I shuddered. The first five minutes, with the girl hanging in the tree… ugh, it gave me the heebie-jeebies. “What about a love story, like Titanic or The Greatest Showman? That one has Zac Efron, and I know you like Zac Efron.”
She paused a moment, debating, then shook her head. “Not if the guys are coming. We need gory death, and kissing, and jump scares.”
I groaned inwardly. Should I tell her I had a crush on Gabe too? Even as I thought about telling her, I cringed. If Gabe knew Cindy was interested, there’d be no contest. I glanced sideways at her. She was wearing a baby blue mini skirt with a sleeveless white peasant shirt. On her feet were strappy silver sandals, which matched the thin silver bracelets dangling from each of her tiny wrists. Her hair was down and curled to perfection. Her honey skin had that just-lotioned look.
I glanced down at my black Converse and gripped my tee shirt the way Gabe had. He’d said it was sexy that I wore his old shirt. I seriously doubted that. Maybe if I told her how I felt...
“Cin,” I started.
“Aha, this is the one.” She held up the case. It felt like something inside me deflated.
“Okay,” I agreed without looking at it.
Chapter 3
Gatsby, my gray rescue cat, snuggled next to me. He purred softly, like he didn’t have a single worry. I absently stroked his ears while I tried to block out the frightening images on the TV screen. Cindy hadn’t chosen Scream, but Urban Legends, another horror movie from the nineties.
We weren’t sitting next to each other. I was sprawled out on the leather couch and Cin sat in the burgundy high back. She had a bowl of plain popcorn on her lap and a diet soda placed precariously on the brown-carpeted floor.
The family living room was medium sized and outfitted with furniture that would be considered eclectic. Nothing matched, but it didn’t matter. The couch, chairs, end tables, coffee table, TV, lamps, and curio cabinets all seemed irrelevant in comparison to my stepmother’s fairytale figurine collection. On every surface stood, or hung, a statuette or painting. I’d counted once. There’d been over six hundred figurines placed around the house, and the number kept increasing. I mean, talk about extreme.
Cindy thought it was funny. She especially loved the Cinderella figurines, probably because she looked identical to them. Young girls would stop her in the mall and ask if she was the real Cinderella. My stepmother agreed and even gave her a Cinderella figurine for a birthday.
What was weird though? Out of all the figurines, paintings, pillows, dishtowels, and clocks, there wasn’t a single Snow White. There were several castings of the Seven Dwarves, the Wicked Queen, Prince Charming, and even an apple, but no Snow White. I’d asked her about it once when I was eight and realized she was missing. “My darling,” my stepmother said. “I don’t need a Snow White figurine because I have you.” At the time I thought it was sweet and tried to hug her, but now… I don’t know, it just seemed strange.
“For goodness’ sake, Snow. Open your eyes. You’re going
to miss the best part,” Cindy hollered, throwing a piece of popcorn at me.
It smacked me in the forehead. I tried to glare. She giggled, which sent me into a laughing fit.
“There isn’t a best part in this movie. It’s icky and it makes me feel icky.” That was the truth, the reason I hated horror movies. I didn’t like how I felt while I watched them, and especially after. The movie was almost over. Cindy would leave, and then I’d be alone in my old, creaky house with only my cat for company.
“Are you kidding? Watch this. It’s classic.” She pointed at the screen as she talked with popcorn in her mouth. “Here it comes.”
I couldn’t and scrunched my eyes closed, wishing I had earplugs to block out the screaming, the spine-chilling music, and the terrible acting.
As I lay there, working to think about anything but the death and mayhem going on the screen, something bizarre happened. An image popped into my head and began playing like a movie. I tried to shake it, but it was as though my brain had been hijacked.
A man stood in the trees behind my house. I got the feeling he waited for me to do something. Several of the guys—Sebastian, Bart, Salvatore, Heathcliff, and Daniel—plowed out of my back door and wrestled each other as they trampled down the stairs. They laughed heartily. I followed along with Dorian, but Gabe wasn’t there. They were tossing something back and forth and I was trying to intercept it, desperate for whatever they were keeping away from me.
Suddenly they all stopped, and their faces turned grave. Sebastian had the thing I was trying to get in his hands. He and the others circled me. There was a coppery stench in the air, and it made my mouth water. Sebastian opened his hand. The thing, whatever it was, beat rapidly, and blood dripped from his fingers.
The guys began speaking together, their voices monotone: “Lips red as rubies, hair dark as night. Drink your true love’s blood; become the Vampire, Snow White.”
“I want it.” Taking the bloody thing in Sebastian’s hand, I brought it to my lips. It beat faster and faster. In that moment I knew it was a heart, the heart of my true love, but that didn’t matter. Sinking my teeth into it I tasted the blood, felt it run down my throat. Like liquid pleasure. I shuddered.
A cackle rang through the night and a profound darkness entered my body. “Now you are mine.”
I screamed, grabbing one of the decorative pillows from the couch, and covered my mouth.
Startled, Cindy threw the popcorn bowl in the air. Fluffy kernels scattered everywhere. Gatsby gave me an evil eye, rose, and casually jumped off the couch. He sniffed a popcorn kernel before darting from the room.
“Merde,” Cindy swore in French. “It isn’t that scary.” She skulked off her chair and started picking up the mess.
I crossed my arms, embarrassed. “Sorry,” I whispered, unable to stop the trembling in my limbs or the chattering of my teeth.
Chapter 4
“Gatsby, c’mon kitty,” I called quietly into the darkness that was my backyard. From my porch, I searched the night, waiting to hear the soft patter of his running feet. After five minutes, he still hadn’t come. Obviously, he must still be upset with me over the screaming fiasco. I stepped back inside, shutting the screen door while keeping watch.
Cin had left already with a quick hug and a promise to call Sunday afternoon when she returned from the Cape. The guys hadn’t ever shown, and Gatsby didn’t seem to want my company either. Stifling a shiver, I wrapped my arms around myself. I wasn’t cold so much as unsettled. The disturbing dream thing along with that scary movie had me all messed up.
Instinctively I searched the trees beyond my yard, studying between the low hanging branches that smelled of peppermint, their leaves soft as butterfly kisses. Would he be out there? The man who watched me in the dream.
A noise like crunching leaves pulled my head in its direction. My pulse picked up speed like a thumping rabbit. Something moved out there. Something I couldn’t see. Opening the screen door, I called for Gatsby again. “Here kitty-kitty.” The sound of my own voice made me nervous.
The noise grew more intense. I’d let the screen door slam behind me, and now reached back, grabbing the handle. Opening it, I put a hand to my throat. If it was the man, what should I do? I wouldn’t be safe in the house. I so needed a cellphone. I was about to turn when two guys stumbled out of the trees and fell onto the grass, laughing uproariously. A scream escaped my lips before I could stop it. I clamped a hand over my mouth, realizing it was just Salvatore and Bart. That’s what my eyes told me; the rest of me was frozen in fear. I wanted to laugh with them. They’d only been teasing; it’s what they did. I’d done it to them on more than one occasion: snuck into their yard and scared them.
“You should see your face,” Salvatore said, rising and coming toward me. “I should’ve taken a picture.” Tears were streaming down his face from laughing so hard. Bart was in a similar state. I still couldn’t move.
In the dream Salvatore had been holding the bloody heart, the heart of my true love. The brothers had been tossing it around like they were playing catch before a game. I shook my head, remembering I’d tasted the heart. A rush of pleasure rushed through me and I swallowed back the disgust and guilt. “How-how could you?” I stammered, tears filling my eyes. “You know I’m all alone. You could’ve been a psychotic murderer.” I rushed into the house, letting the screen door slam behind me. I’d seen their stricken faces and knew they hadn’t meant to do any harm, but I couldn’t act rationally. Sobs wracked my body and snot dripped from my nose. I was losing it and I had no excuse.
I ran past my parents’ unused bedroom and the bathroom in the main hall until I reached my bedroom. Flinging open the door, I launched myself onto the bed and buried my head in my purple pillows. My dad being gone for so long, plus knowing Cindy liked Gabe, along with the weird daydream were fuel. The guys scaring me ignited it and now there would be no stopping the floodgates. All my sadness, my loneliness, my pent-up hurts and fears seemed to crash into me. Wave after horrible wave… Why had my mother died? Why had my father remarried such a cold, uncaring woman? Why did they have to leave me alone all the time? Why did my dad choose her over me? Why was I such a dork? The questions went unanswered, probably always would. My life was what it was, and most of the time I accepted it, even enjoyed it. Right now was not one of those times. I’d fallen into my enormous chasm of hurt and allowed myself to sink in.
“Hey, care for one more in your pity party?”
At the sound of his soft voice I stiffened. There was a thud, and then I felt the bed give as four soft paws jumped up.
“Gatsby invited me. I hope you don’t mind if I join you?”
Two feelings swirled through my heart at once: relief and embarrassment.
Relief, because I was happy to see him. I didn’t want to be alone. Embarrassment because I was a blubbering mess and he would see me, and I’d never be able to look him in the face again. “Gabe, what are you doing here?” I asked, casually wiping my eyes and nose on my pillowcase. Gross? Sure. But it was better than him seeing me covered in snot.
The bed dipped as he sat. His warm skin so close to mine sent tingles through my belly. “I told you Gatsby invited me, and I never miss a pity party, especially not one thrown by my beautiful best friend, Snowflake.” There was amusement in his voice. He was trying to make me feel better, but that wasn’t the point of a pity party. You weren’t supposed feel better. It was about misery, and that’s what I wanted. Him saying I was beautiful just added to the many waves of hurt. It wasn’t true and having him rub that in didn’t help.
“Go away,” I said.
He answered by scooting closer, and I felt my body respond hungrily to his nearness. “I’ll go away when I know you’re feeling better. Professor Pops knows I’m here. He also has Salvatore and Bart on bathroom duty tomorrow. He wanted me to be sure to tell you that.”
“Huh,” was all I could utter, though I had to smile. “Serves them right.” I sniffled.
He s
hifted his weight and pushed me over slightly, then I felt something fall over me. It was the quilt my mother made. Tears filled my eyes again and I squeezed them shut. “Now, I’m just going to lie down next to you until you fall asleep. I’ve already locked up the house, but I’ll lock the back door when I leave, okay?” I heard Gatsby growl, and the thud when Gabe dropped him to the floor. The bed shifted as he got comfortable.
Then there was only breathing.
He meant it. Gabe was just going to lie there with me. I took a deep breath and relaxed. It reminded me of our overnighters when we were younger, sleeping out on the trampoline in our sleeping bags. The seven of them and me all started out at normal distances from each other, but by morning we’d all slid into the middle—a pajama-clad mashup of arms and legs.
I’d always been the first to wake up and I’d lie there, listening to them breathing, and wish that was how we could be every night. Me and my brothers, sleeping under the stars. Only now I didn’t see them that way anymore. They weren’t brothers but gorgeous men and the one next to me had my pulse pounding in my ears. I took a deep breath, thinking about our overnighters. They’d ended once my stepmother came into the picture. She’d pointed out that they weren’t really my brothers. They were boys, and all boys only had one thing on the brain. As I listened to Gabe breathe, I wondered what was on his mind. After a while, I fell asleep.
In my dreams there were arms wrapped protectively around me, my back tucked against his chest, legs intertwined. I heard a whisper. “Snow, my Snow. You aren’t alone.” My heart soared with happiness in the dream. “Gabe, don’t leave me,” I whispered back.
“Never, Snowflake.”
Chapter 5
Blood and Snow: Snow White Reimagined with Vampires and Magic (Seven Magics Academy Book 1) Page 2
