Almost Demon (The Sigil Cycle)
Page 24
Ring Ring. This is Charlotte. Come in, Gem.
Hey, Charlotte. I’m glad I brought my dad to buffer me from the Senator.
Oh, don’t be so scared of him. He can smell fear.
So do I say break a leg?
Thanks Gem. I’m so psyched. Wow. Gotta go.
That was when the lights dimmed, the curtains pulled back and I watched in fascination as Charlotte transformed into a performer. She was beautiful. I couldn’t get over how, in all our time as friends, I had never known she could sing. It was a pleasant way to spend an hour and we all lingered after the show to hand Charlotte flowers and stroke her ego.
On our way out, Allison and Ian were standing by the large red exit sign of the school auditorium. It was weird case of deja vu. Only this time the two of them were laughing together and I felt like the butt of some secret joke.
“See you tomorrow, freak,” Allison said.
My dad didn’t seem to notice but Brian did. I watched as his anger boiled over and left him illuminated like a poltergeist.
“Leave her alone, Ally. She’s my sister.”
“Brian?” The color left her face and she dropped Ian’s hand like a hot potato.
“Yeah, it’s me. And I came here to tell you to leave her alone. It wasn’t her fault. She wasn’t the one driving.”
“But I waited. I bought the perfect blue dress for our date. And I waited on the couch and you never showed up.” She was crying now.
“I know you were. I tried to get back for you but it wasn’t meant to be. I was driving and I was checking your texts and I didn’t see the truck coming. It’s my fault. I’m sorry I left you alone but you’ll find someone new at college and you’ll have the life you’ve always dreamed of. Just not with me.”
With those last words, the light faded and she couldn’t see him any longer.
“Brian, please. Please come back.” Her voice was hoarse and ragged.
I pulled her to me and hugged her. She hugged me back. Maybe everything wasn’t so forgone. Things could still change. The future was there and I just had to take it.