then head downtown and cruise Midtown Plaza for Tori Amos CDs. But those plans had been made at mid-morning break, just before Sal had received the third scroll and the world had turned its face inside out, displaying the other side of its mask. Since then, everyone’s eyes had been sliding over and around her as if she was made of Teflon, and no one had spoken to her. Which side of the mask did Kimmie belong on? What would her true face reveal?
The same as always, Sal told herself, shoving her books hard into her locker and trying to force back the panic. They’d been friends since grade two, no high-school boycott could interfere with that. Or could it? Kimmie wasn’t all that strong. She might act tough while putting the match to a pile of yearbook pictures, but one glance at the vampire queen in the flesh would have her in tears,running for cover. She’d never be able to resist all of Shadow Council.
How would it happen? What would the moment be like? Sal fought off the knowing that descended upon her, the images flashing through her mind. Would there be words, would they fumble through sentences, trying to get the explanations just right? Or would Kimmie just walk past ...
No, no, she wouldn’t. They’d been friends forever and they would stay friends. Closing her locker firmly, Sal turned toward the exit that would take her out to the bike racks, but found she couldn’t make herself take the necessary first step. Maybe she’d just hang around the front entrance at the other side of the school for a while. That would give Kimmie and Tina extra time to arrive at the bike racks so she wouldn’t have to stand around, fidgeting moronically while everyone stared. Then, when she did make her appearance — just a little late — Kimmie and Tina would already be there waiting. She’d be able to see them as soon as she came around the southeast corner of the school. Immediately, she’d know.
Emerging from the front exit, Sal descended the stairs in a rush of students, then stood hesitating at the bottom. Normally she would have made a beeline for one of the nearby groups, grabbed a swig from someone’s Pepsi and dived laughing into the next available joke. But today she found herself edging inexplicably to the right, in among a row of fir trees that ran along the south side of the building. Not too far in, just enough to take her out of casual observation — all things considered, a practical solution to an unbearable present tense.
To her left, students poured down the stairwell, a constant stream of words and laughter. No one noticed asshe stood among the fir trees, an impervious breeze lifting the tiny hairs on her arms. Five minutes passed, and she decided to give it five more. Sometimes Kimmie was late but she was dependable, she always showed. Then, as if some inner signal had been given, Sal looked up to see two girls coming down the stairs. Pressed to the outer rail, they were so close she could have reached out and touched the short chubby girl with the long dark ponytail and the slightly smudged makeup. Kimmie’s eyeliner was always smudged; she was forever rubbing her eyes with the heel of her hand and giving herself a distinctive sunset look. But she had 20/20 vision, and as she came down the stairs that 20/20 gaze kept flicking toward the right, toward the row of fir trees camouflaging the school wall, as if she’d seen ...
Had she seen? Had she? Kimmie paused, head down and gripping the handrail. Sal jammed herself back through the fir trees so fiercely that she collided with the school wall. Branches scraped her face and arms, snapping into place as she fought the wild harsh rhythm of her breathing. Cautiously she peeked out and withdrew with a hiss. Kimmie was still standing motionless, halfway down the stairs, trapped inside a decision she couldn’t force herself to make. Then someone bumped into her from behind and she stumbled forward, gaining momentum. By the time she reached the bottom
The same as always, Sal told herself, shoving her books hard into her locker and trying to force back the panic. They’d been friends since grade two, no high-school boycott could interfere with that. Or could it? Kimmie wasn’t all that strong. She might act tough while putting the match to a pile of yearbook pictures, but one glance at the vampire queen in the flesh would have her in tears,running for cover. She’d never be able to resist all of Shadow Council.
How would it happen? What would the moment be like? Sal fought off the knowing that descended upon her, the images flashing through her mind. Would there be words, would they fumble through sentences, trying to get the explanations just right? Or would Kimmie just walk past ...
No, no, she wouldn’t. They’d been friends forever and they would stay friends. Closing her locker firmly, Sal turned toward the exit that would take her out to the bike racks, but found she couldn’t make herself take the necessary first step. Maybe she’d just hang around the front entrance at the other side of the school for a while. That would give Kimmie and Tina extra time to arrive at the bike racks so she wouldn’t have to stand around, fidgeting moronically while everyone stared. Then, when she did make her appearance — just a little late — Kimmie and Tina would already be there waiting. She’d be able to see them as soon as she came around the southeast corner of the school. Immediately, she’d know.
Emerging from the front exit, Sal descended the stairs in a rush of students, then stood hesitating at the bottom. Normally she would have made a beeline for one of the nearby groups, grabbed a swig from someone’s Pepsi and dived laughing into the next available joke. But today she found herself edging inexplicably to the right, in among a row of fir trees that ran along the south side of the building. Not too far in, just enough to take her out of casual observation — all things considered, a practical solution to an unbearable present tense.
To her left, students poured down the stairwell, a constant stream of words and laughter. No one noticed asshe stood among the fir trees, an impervious breeze lifting the tiny hairs on her arms. Five minutes passed, and she decided to give it five more. Sometimes Kimmie was late but she was dependable, she always showed. Then, as if some inner signal had been given, Sal looked up to see two girls coming down the stairs. Pressed to the outer rail, they were so close she could have reached out and touched the short chubby girl with the long dark ponytail and the slightly smudged makeup. Kimmie’s eyeliner was always smudged; she was forever rubbing her eyes with the heel of her hand and giving herself a distinctive sunset look. But she had 20/20 vision, and as she came down the stairs that 20/20 gaze kept flicking toward the right, toward the row of fir trees camouflaging the school wall, as if she’d seen ...
Had she seen? Had she? Kimmie paused, head down and gripping the handrail. Sal jammed herself back through the fir trees so fiercely that she collided with the school wall. Branches scraped her face and arms, snapping into place as she fought the wild harsh rhythm of her breathing. Cautiously she peeked out and withdrew with a hiss. Kimmie was still standing motionless, halfway down the stairs, trapped inside a decision she couldn’t force herself to make. Then someone bumped into her from behind and she stumbled forward, gaining momentum. By the time she reached the bottom
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