Nana tried to draw me out of my “protective shell,” bless her heart, but I was too firmly entrenched. Besides, I hated the holiday. Emma visited for half an hour, but Mom, Dad and Pops didn’t, couldn’t, and celebrating without them sucked.
School started up just a few days after the “illness” hit. No one else had gotten sick, and doctors were still baffled. I wondered if the slain had turned into zombies. I wondered if the slayers had had to kill people they knew.
I wondered—but I never asked.
Reeve avoided me as if I’d contracted social leprosy, and though it was for the best—what I wanted, needed—it wounded me.
The slayers kept their distance, as well. Frosty especially. He couldn’t get over what I’d done to Cole, and now he and Kat were at war because she refused to end our friendship.
For her safety, I confessed my problems to her, explained Frosty was simply concerned for her well-being, and that she would be better off listening to him and staying away from me, and for the first time in our acquaintance, she got mad at me.
“You’re my friend,” she said. “That means something to me.”
“Yes, but why do you like me?” I asked. “I’m nothing special.”
“Nothing special? Everyone makes fun of love at first sight, but, Ali, that’s what I felt for you. Love, not like. You’re the sister I never had, but always wanted. The day we met, when I walked into your hospital room, I saw a scared, pale girl with the most haunted eyes. You’d lost everyone, and I understood. I had to bury my mom, my world, too. So, why don’t you do me a favor and think about why you love me—or if you do?”
“I don’t have to think. I love your loyalty, your sense of humor, your smile, your courage, your total acceptance of me, your support, your dedication, your positivity, your...everything.”
She laughed and hugged me, and then she said ten little words I couldn’t get out of my head. “Good. Now, what are you going to do about Cole?”
Cole...
Oh, that boy. What was I going to do with him? He’d come to my house a few times, and he’d come bearing gifts. A stuffed alligator. Dinner from my favorite hamburger joint located nearly an hour away. A protective cover for my great-great-great-grandfather’s journal.
What the heck did he think he was doing?
I doubted even he knew.
Each time, he’d thrust the gifts at me, almost angrily, before stomping away.
Gavin had come over twice, but I hadn’t opened the door. He’d want to talk about our vision, and I wasn’t sure what to say to him.
I’d poured a Blood Line around the new house. I’d also turned the garage into a gym, using the treadmill and wrestling matt Nana had bought at a thrift store. The stronger I kept my human side, the longer I’d live. At least, that was my hope.
I hadn’t heard any more whispers, thank God, but I also hadn’t had the courage to look at my reflection. I’d tried to call Dr. Bendari, using the new number on my caller ID. Unavailable yet again, I inwardly cursed.
“—paying any attention to me?” Kat asked.
I blinked into focus. She stood on the other side of the wrestling matt. Today was my day off from the coffee shop, so, after school, she’d driven me home and we’d decided to work on her self-defense. “Sorry,” I mumbled. “I’m easily distracted lately. Maybe it would be better if Frosty took over your lessons.”
Exasperated, she spread her arms to encompass the entire room. “Do you hear this?” she said to no one. “Ali, you know I’m not speaking to him ever again, right? Every day he commands me to stay away from you.”
“He’s just trying to protect you,” I reminded her.
“Well, there are better ways.” She unwound the tape from her knuckles. “Come on. Let’s wash up and head out. I feel like punishing you for your continued negativity.”
“And just how are you going to do that?”
“You’ll see.”
Well, all right, then. As if I could deny her anything—even the right to punish me. I used Nana’s shower, and Kat used mine. Nowadays, we worked out so much she always brought a change of clothes with her.
We found Nana in the kitchen.
“You’re getting Ali to go somewhere other than school and work?” she said to Kat. “It’s a miracle.”
I kissed her on the cheek. Her arms wrapped around me, and she held on for a long while, as if she couldn’t bear to let go of me... As if she knew I was slipping away. When finally she released me, there were tears in her eyes.
“Nana...” I said, a lump growing in my throat. I hated that I was hurting her.
“Go,” she said, waving me off. “Have fun. Be a teenager for once in your life.”
Kat and I climbed into her car and headed north. The sky was gray today, the sun shielded by heavy clouds. I didn’t allow myself to search for a rabbit. I didn’t want to know.
My phone rang. I checked the screen, but I didn’t recognize the number. I chewed on my bottom lip, hopeful.
“Hello,” I said, a tremor in my voice.
“Would you like to set up another meeting, Miss Bell?”
Dr. Bendari.
I nearly whooped with relief. “Where have you been?”
“Out of the country, if you must know. Do you have an answer for me?”
“Yes. And yes, I would.”
“Will you actually make this one?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Now that you’re away from the surgeon, I can pick you up at midnight.”
He always knew my every move. How? His source, whoever it was, couldn’t watch me 24/7...right? “Okay,” I said. “I’ll be ready.”
“See you then.” Click.
“Who was that?” Kat asked.
“Do you remember the SUV that followed us that day with Reeve?”
“The one you threw knives at? Nope. I’ve totally forgotten.”
Har-har. “The old guy... He gave me his card. I called him. He called me back. And so on and so forth. We’ve now set up a meeting.”
Paling, Kat tightened her hands on the steering wheel. “Ali, you don’t know this man.”
“Yeah, but I know I need answers and he might have them.”
“Answers about...the dark side?”
“Yes,” I replied softly.
She reached over and patted my knee. “You’re going to overcome this. I just know it. You’re strong. You’ve lost so much, and you’re going to fight with everything you’ve got to keep from losing more.”
I wanted to believe her, but I was fast losing hope.
She parked in front of—
Colluctor Park, I realized. It was a Tuesday, close to dinnertime and as cold as ice. No one walked the manicured lawn. The trees were barren, but there were benches, a swing set and monuments. There was also a creepy mausoleum.
“How is this punishment?” I asked as I unbuckled. “You planning to make me strip and streak?”
“You’ll see,” she said in a singsong tone.
We stepped into the harsh winter winds, and I shivered. Someone had staked Merry Christmas signs along the side of the cobbled path leading from the parking lot to the park.
Another holiday fast approaching. I’d do better with this one, I vowed, and make sure Nana had a fabulous time. Of course, I would need to buy her a present. And one for Kat. And maybe Cole.
No, not Cole.
Kat linked our arms at the elbows and tugged me forward. “Something wrong? Your face got all pinchy.”
“Is pinchy even a word?”
“If it’s not, it should be. And don’t think I don’t know you avoided my question. I know you’re nervous about what I have planned, and you totally should be. Behold.” Over the hill, she pointed to—
A moan slipped from me. Reeve sat on a bench, Ethan beside her. The two were talking and laughing, happy to be together.