with a hard emphasis on “yours” that abruptly shut Sadie up. Sadie pressed her lips tightly and stepped away from Mauve.
What was that about? I wondered, leaning closer so I wouldn’t miss a word. I was puzzled yet intrigued, like watching a movie with subtitles.
I was relieved to watch them leave and sit anonymously in the back seat, analyzing my feelings about this “college girls gone wild” drama. Part of me was appalled by the way my “friends” were acting, yet another part was impressed. Mauve handled the guys with enough attitude to stay in control. Even over-eager Sadie carried herself with a bold confidence.
And I felt like a high school girl—for good reason.
Sharayah wouldn’t be sitting nervously in the back seat like me. But without the GEM I didn’t know enough about her to know what to do. What did I know about spring break? Only what I’d watched on TV.
Of course Sharayah probably didn’t know much about spring break, either. According to Eli, she used to be so studious that she never had time for anything except homework and volunteering. A far cry from this new Sharayah, who partied hard, trashed her dorm room and randomly hooked up with guys. I didn’t think her behavior had anything to do with drugs—I would have suffered symptoms or cravings by now. Something traumatic happened to change her. But what? Was it the older boyfriend, Gabe? Hmmm … where was Gabe anyway? If he was “my” boyfriend, why did Mauve say Sharayah didn’t have a steady guy?
Suddenly there was a roar of shouts, honks and cheers. The traffic was moving! I leaned forward to peer out the window as the others rushed back.
“Taillights are flashing!” Sadie announced, jumping excitedly.
“So soon? Too bad, I was enjoying the view.” Alonzo leaned on the open door, his gaze lingering on Mauve.
“We can hook up later.” Mauve smiled. “We’re staying at Sadie’s cousin’s beach condo.” She rattled off an address on Tide Pool Street, which I memorized so I could let Eli know where I was next time I called him.
“A beach condo? Sweet deal,” Alonzo said as he nodded. “Count on seeing me again … really soon.”
Sadie turned from her conversation with Warren and lowered the volume on the stereo. “We can all hook up later.”
“Or sooner,” Mauve said with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
“You guys better hurry,” Sadie interrupted. “The traffic jam is over.”
“Hey, Party Girl, be seeing you, too.” Warren moved away from Sadie and peered into the back toward me.
“The car behind yours is honking,” I told him, pointing.
“We can talk more next time.”
Or not, I thought, disliking him strongly although I wasn’t sure why.
“Come on, War!” Alonzo called as he turned to leave.
But Warren hesitated, staring at me with that intense look again. “Do we know each other? There’s something familiar about you … Were you at Preston’s big bash last month?”
“No!” I said firmly—though I had no idea if it was true.
“Really? You remind me of this girl I saw there. I’ve got a great memory for faces … hmmm … guess I’m wrong. Bye, Party Girl.” He offered his gloved hand like he wanted to shake good-bye.
But I froze, staring at his glove with its bloody fire dragon design. A horrible suspicion chilled my heart; there was a reason why he’d wear gloves in unseasonably warm weather. What if the gloves were more than a tacky fashion choice? The gloves could be camouflage for glowing gray hands.
Was Warren a Dark Lifer?
Grammy Greta had warned me that Dark Lifers would try to suck my glowing energy by touching me. A brief touch would leave me with a sick, drained feeling like my soul had been violated. I never wanted to go through that. I had to stay away from Warren.
Cars behind us honked as the traffic moved but we remained parked.
“War,” Alonzo said. “We have to leave now.”
Finally, Warren turned to leave.
But Mauve had other ideas.
“Not so
What was that about? I wondered, leaning closer so I wouldn’t miss a word. I was puzzled yet intrigued, like watching a movie with subtitles.
I was relieved to watch them leave and sit anonymously in the back seat, analyzing my feelings about this “college girls gone wild” drama. Part of me was appalled by the way my “friends” were acting, yet another part was impressed. Mauve handled the guys with enough attitude to stay in control. Even over-eager Sadie carried herself with a bold confidence.
And I felt like a high school girl—for good reason.
Sharayah wouldn’t be sitting nervously in the back seat like me. But without the GEM I didn’t know enough about her to know what to do. What did I know about spring break? Only what I’d watched on TV.
Of course Sharayah probably didn’t know much about spring break, either. According to Eli, she used to be so studious that she never had time for anything except homework and volunteering. A far cry from this new Sharayah, who partied hard, trashed her dorm room and randomly hooked up with guys. I didn’t think her behavior had anything to do with drugs—I would have suffered symptoms or cravings by now. Something traumatic happened to change her. But what? Was it the older boyfriend, Gabe? Hmmm … where was Gabe anyway? If he was “my” boyfriend, why did Mauve say Sharayah didn’t have a steady guy?
Suddenly there was a roar of shouts, honks and cheers. The traffic was moving! I leaned forward to peer out the window as the others rushed back.
“Taillights are flashing!” Sadie announced, jumping excitedly.
“So soon? Too bad, I was enjoying the view.” Alonzo leaned on the open door, his gaze lingering on Mauve.
“We can hook up later.” Mauve smiled. “We’re staying at Sadie’s cousin’s beach condo.” She rattled off an address on Tide Pool Street, which I memorized so I could let Eli know where I was next time I called him.
“A beach condo? Sweet deal,” Alonzo said as he nodded. “Count on seeing me again … really soon.”
Sadie turned from her conversation with Warren and lowered the volume on the stereo. “We can all hook up later.”
“Or sooner,” Mauve said with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
“You guys better hurry,” Sadie interrupted. “The traffic jam is over.”
“Hey, Party Girl, be seeing you, too.” Warren moved away from Sadie and peered into the back toward me.
“The car behind yours is honking,” I told him, pointing.
“We can talk more next time.”
Or not, I thought, disliking him strongly although I wasn’t sure why.
“Come on, War!” Alonzo called as he turned to leave.
But Warren hesitated, staring at me with that intense look again. “Do we know each other? There’s something familiar about you … Were you at Preston’s big bash last month?”
“No!” I said firmly—though I had no idea if it was true.
“Really? You remind me of this girl I saw there. I’ve got a great memory for faces … hmmm … guess I’m wrong. Bye, Party Girl.” He offered his gloved hand like he wanted to shake good-bye.
But I froze, staring at his glove with its bloody fire dragon design. A horrible suspicion chilled my heart; there was a reason why he’d wear gloves in unseasonably warm weather. What if the gloves were more than a tacky fashion choice? The gloves could be camouflage for glowing gray hands.
Was Warren a Dark Lifer?
Grammy Greta had warned me that Dark Lifers would try to suck my glowing energy by touching me. A brief touch would leave me with a sick, drained feeling like my soul had been violated. I never wanted to go through that. I had to stay away from Warren.
Cars behind us honked as the traffic moved but we remained parked.
“War,” Alonzo said. “We have to leave now.”
Finally, Warren turned to leave.
But Mauve had other ideas.
“Not so
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