No, he said, shaking his head. Not a date. You dont like to share your story with people you dont know, and I dont like to date girls I dont know.
Great. I hadnt meant to, hadnt realized Id done it, but Id asked the date-thing aloud. Were on the same page, then, I said in an effort to recover. But just to be clear, well be spending time together, chatting about something other than the tracks and weirdness? With our peers as witnesses, I realized with a groan.
Yes. You got a problem with that?
A big one. But I said, Fine. Ill do it if you insist, but only because I think we need to continue this conversation. Like, say, on a day when youre feeling more cooperative. So will you let me down now? Im about to be sick.
You are not. But if youll answer one more question, Ill give you what you want.
Stupid rope, forcing my hand. Ask.
Does anything unusual happen to you each morning, when you first look at me? Something that doesnt happen at any other time, just morning, the first time you see me.
He couldnt know. He just couldntunless he, too, experienced something. Hed hinted before, but Id assumed he meant something else. Oh, please, please, please, be the visions.
Wh-what makes you ask that?
Does it? he insisted.
Yes. Id give him that much. Wh-what about you? Seriously, I had to stop with the stuttering. It was beyond humiliating!
Yes.
An agreement. So much more than Id expected. What do you see? I whispered as eagerness consumed me. I had to know.
Ill tell you, but not here and not now. Write down what you see, and Ill do the same. After school, well exchange notes. That way, neither of us can claim the other is lying. And if you hand me a blank note, Ill make you regret it.
Scary, I said with mock-mock fear. He was scary. But the same goes for you.
Good.
Now that that was settled Were going back to school? Youll let me down?
I told you I would, didnt I? He bent down and pulled a small Oh, dear heaven, I was about to be murdered. He was now holding a crossbow.
His arm extended, and he aimed the weapon at the top of the rope. His finger tapped the trigger. I screamed with blood-curdling force, only to tumble toward the ground when the arrow severed the rope rather than my foot.
I flailed for an anchor, but I never hit. Cole caught me just before I landed. He righted me as if I weighed no more than a bag of feathers, and I swayed. A long moment passed before I felt steady enough to stand on my own. Did I step away from him, though? No. He wouldnt let me; he held tight.
Why do you have a weapon like that? I asked. A weapon hed obviously taken to schooland gotten through security.
You tell me.
Enough! Never mind. I hated those three words on his lips, I decided. Absolutely hated. For now, it doesnt matter.
His fingers applied pressure to my waist. Do I need to tell you that this conversation goes no further, not even to Kat, or do you already know that?
Yeah, Id decided to talk to Kat about the visions. But this entire experience had been a wake-up call. No talking. Not now, not ever. Not even about the small stuff. And how odd, calling the visions small. But compared to this, everything was small. Already know, I said.
Good. Thatll do for now.
8The Beginning of the Dead End
By the time I got home from school, my nerves were battered and deep-fried. Cole had returned me to the building, as promised, but Id immediately run into Ms. Meyers, and shed asked me why Id missed her class.
Iwellproblems, was all Id gotten out.
Excuses are merely the cherry topping of an E. coliinfested sundae, Miss Bell.
Id gagged as shed walked away.
Following that delightful encounter, Cole had ignored me at lunch.
What? You expected him to fawn?
Well, yeah. A little. Hed abducted me, trussed me up like a Thanksgiving turkey, hinted at secret things, promised to share what happened to him in the mornings, asked me out on a non-date, only to give me a big fat pile of nothing? Hello, mixed signals. But okay, whatever. I had no need of him. Id made plans before him, and I could make plans after him.
Except, hed been waiting for me after final bell.
Hed handed me a note, and Id done the same to him. Not a single word was spoken. Hed been rock steady during the exchange. Me? Id been shaking like I had advanced Parkinsons.
Now I sprinted up to my room, locked the door and threw myself on the bed, digging the small folded piece of paper out of my pocket. Id desperately wanted to read it on the bus, but Id managed to stop myself. I hadnt wanted prying eyes to catch a glimpse.
And there was no question Justin would have pried. Wed sat next to each other again, and wed chatted, and, well, hed repeatedly warned me about Cole.
Hes bad news.
Hell break your heartand maybe your face!
Everyones scared of him for a reason. Hes put over a hundred people in the E.R.!
Could no one at Asher High under-exaggerate a story?
When Justin realized I wasnt willing to discuss Cole, hed surprised me by asking me to go to Reeves party with him. Id almost said no. I mean, I planned to talk to Cole while I was there, but Cole had made it more than clear that we werent a couple. But then again, I might not have a ride. Kat might be too sick to take me.
Justin must have sensed my reluctance because hed added, Just as friends. Itll be fun.
In the end, Id said yes.
Now I unfolded the page Cole had given me, halfway expecting it to be blank, despite my threat. But, no. There were words. Before I actually read them, I closed my eyes, drew in a deep breathheld it Whatever his answer, I wouldnt freaklet it out. I would remain calm. My eyelids cracked open slowly....
The note read, Doing stuff. Kissing. Fighting.
Oh, thank goodness. My entire body sagged against the mattress as I clutched the note to my chest. Relief poured through me. Hed had the visions, too, which meant, in this one area of my life, I was completely sane.
But, the relief was followed quickly by confusion. Why had we imagined kissing each other? Why had we imagined fighting those monsters?
How was any of it possible?
Was there a strange mental connection between us? Or were we having glimpses of the future? Was that even possible? Id never experienced anything
Wait. The Rabbit Cloud of Impending Death.
I hopped out of bed and logged on to my computer. A little research on cloudscough two hours coughand I learned about coloration, effects on climate, global brightening, and rainmaking bacteria, but not much else. Crap.
A knock sounded at my door. Ali? Nana said.
Yes? I closed the laptop, not wanting to have to explain my search if Nana peeked inside my room.
Youve got a visitor.
Brow furrowed, I strode over and opened up, and a grinning Kat soared into my bedroom.
Guess whose lucky day it is? Yours! Despite her grin and cocky words, she looked tired, with pallid skin and dark circles underneath her eyes.
She was dressed in a long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans that lacked her usual flare. Why did so many Asher girls wear winter clothes during the summer? Kat had to be either sweltering or feverish.
Are you okay? I asked as I gave her a hug. At least she was cool to the touch. I heard you were sick.
Sick? Me? Never! I just needed a little Kat time. She turned to my grandmother. It was very nice to meet you, Mrs. Bradley. You have a lovely home. So polite she was.
So bizarre.
Nana beamed. You, too, sweetheart. And thank you very much for the compliment. You girls have fun, okay.
We will, I said.
Nana gave me a thumbs-up, so proud that Id finally made a friend, before leaving me alone with Kat.
Your parents let you take time off just to take time off? I asked, envious.
Yep. My dadand uh, my momsay kids deserve breaks, too.
My mom would have told her mom to wash that crazy talk out of her mouth. You should never take time off from learning.
Are you sure youre okay? Because I
We are so not breaking out the violins and pity partying.
I couldnt help but snort. If Id needed convincing that we were meant to be friends, that would have clinched it. You just turned pity partying into a verb.
Well, Im cool like that. So arent you curious about how I knew where you lived when youve never given me your address? She pinched her fingers together. Even a tiny bit?
Well, yeah. So how did you?
With a clap and a twirl, she said, Frosty texted me all day long, checking on me. I told him to make himself useful and find out about you. I would have texted you and asked you, but word on the street is that you spent the morning with Cole and I didnt want to interrupt anything illicit. And by the way, Ill want the entire story when Im finished with mine. Anyway, Cole knew your addy, the naughty boy, so Frosty knew your addy, and boom, here I am. She splayed her arms. In all my exquisite glory.
Wait. Back up a bit. Are you and Frosty getting back together? All that texting had to mean
No! Yes. Oh, I dont know. She threw herself on top of my bed, bouncing up and down. I mean, I firmly believe that if a guy walks away from you, he should have to crawl back. Frosty hasnt done enough crawling.
I thought for a moment. What if Cole was being truthful, and Frosty never actually cheated on you? As rough as the guys were, I couldnt imagine them lying about, well, anything. They wouldnt care about consequences. What I could imagine was both of them getting in everyones face and saying, I did it. Thats right. Me. What are you gonna do about it?
Heres a free life lesson for you. Boys always cover for other boys. They will lie to your face and behind your back. After fluffing the pillows and finding a comfortable position, she said, Now its your turn. Spill what happened today!
As I paced in front of the bed, I told her that Cole and I had gone for a drive. That hed asked me slashed commanded me to meet him at Reeves party for a non-date, and that Id said yes. She listened, enraptured, as if I were proclaiming that the end of the world was near and there was only one way to save herself. I didnt mention the forest, though, or the tree trap, or the visions. As Cole had said, those were private.
He never goes to parties, especially for non-dates, she said, gaping at me. I think he really really likes you.
Really? Okay. How pathetic was I? Well, it doesnt matter because Im going with Justin Silverstone. As friends.
A slow smile lifted the corner of her lips. Justin. The same Justin who spoke to you at lunch?
Yes.
When did you two have time to hook up?
It wasnt a hookup. We ride the same bus and started talking.
Oh, sweetieI cant waitthis is gonna be so epic, and even though you dont know why and I wont tell because that would spoil everything, you just made me the happiest girl in the worldand now, Im gonna make you the second happiest. Im taking you to spy on Cole. Gleeful, she rubbed her hands together. Life lesson number two. Spying is the bestand onlyway to learn the truth.
Id been all set to interrogate her about Justin when my attention snagged on two words. Cole and spying. No way. Just no way. Hed catch us.
I bet well get to see him shirtless, she said.
Im in, I found myself saying.
Awesome! Because were going tonight!
In the dark? I almost yelped. O-okay.
So enthused, she said drily.
Too many things could go wrong. What if I saw the monsters out in public? How would I react? And then there was the tiny crossbow Cole had stashed in an ankle holster. Surprising him was so not a good idea.
Maybe we should rethink this. Im not sure
She popped to her feet and grabbed my hand. Nope. No reneging. Youll thank me for this. I promise.
But
La la la la, cant hear you.
Emma sooo would have done that, and I kind of grunt laughed.
Good girl, she said, tugging me out of the room. Now watch me work my magic.
After dinner, I found myself strapped inside her girled-out pink Mustang and whizzing down the highway. Somehow, shed convinced Nana and Pops to let me stay the night with her. This would be my first ever sleepover.
My chin quivered for a moment, and I had to swallow a few times, but I somehow stopped myself from crying. Emma had always wanted to attend a sleepover.
Are you nervous? Kat asked.
Just a little. If little was the new word for lot, of course. At least the rabbit was still a no-show.
Why?
Because I hadnt been on an evening drive since the accident, and couldnt help but clutch the seat, my stomach a writhing vomit bubble ready to burst. Cars, was all I said.
Oh, yeah. Well, dont worry because Im the best driver youll ever meet. I swear to you now, hand to heart, that Ive only had, like, three accidents and only two were my fault.
Comforting.
Coles had about a bazillion, she added, and you rode with him, right?
Right. But Id still felt safeprotected. Now? Not so much.
The sun was still out but going down fast, barely providing any light. But there was light, and this would be okay. At least, that was the mantra drumming through my head. Gradually, I relaxed.
Where are we going? I asked. The game?
Nope. Cole never goes.
Then where?
A few things I noticed about our boys when I was dating Frosty. About once every two weeks, you cant reach any of them. Whatever theyre doing, its violent and top secret. There at the end her voice had taken on a sneering edge. That was two days ago, which means they spent last night patching up their wounds. Theyll spend this one celebrating whatever secret thing they celebrate two days after disappearing and a day after healing. Theyll be at Hearts, the most exclusive club ever.
I sat up a little straighter. Once every two weeks. The same time frame Id discovered for the monsters. It could be a coincidence, butCole had tried to tell me something about the tracks and traps today. Hed had injuries the night after Id seen Bridezilla. Wed envisioned fighting the monsters together.
He had to see them in real life, too. He just had to.
When the boys are missing, I said, trying not to give in to excitement, do you know where they go?
Nope, but like I said, theyre always beat-up the next day. Some of them even miss days or weeks of school afterward. Strange, if you ask me, but Dr. Wright never gives them any lip about it, so why should I?
Another bead of evidence. The length of recovery time. Serious injuries from serious creatures. Were he and his friends actually seeking out and warring with those monsters?
If sothat would mean the monsters were real. That would mean my dad had been the sanest person at home. That would mean everything hed ever said was true, and I had wrongly blamed him for his paranoia.
I hope youre excited because this club rocks! Kat said. Technically kids our age arent allowed in, but Cole and company always are. Probably has to do with their scariness factor. Anyway, Frosty had me put on the list, and because he secretly hopes Ill do exactly this and spy on him, Im just positive he hasnt removed my name.
Forget spying. I wanted to talk with Cole. Wanted to ask him questions about the monsters and the visions, gauge his reactions. He wouldnt tell me outright, and I wouldnt ask outright, but maybe I could trick him into spilling. Or, I dont know, flirt until he couldnt help himself. I looked down at my T-shirt and jeans. As Id already learned, this outfit would not convince him to drop any secrets.
UhKat?
Dont worry, she said with a laugh, clearly knowing exactly what was bothering me. Were making a pit stop first. Well be smoking by the time we arrive at the club, you have my word.
* * *
Smoking wasnt the right term. Kat drove us to Reeves house and by the time Reeve finished with us, we were five-alarm blazing and should probably have been hosed down.
Apparently, Reeve had attended a school of beauty over the summerwhich brought me to my next apparently. Apparently, Reeve was loaded.
She lived in a tall and sprawling mansion, with white columns, domed ceilings, chandeliers dripping with thousands of crystal teardrops, winding staircases and plush rugs with the most elaborate weave work. Out back was a pool as big as a football field. Oh, and there was an entirely separate section of the house where the servants lived.
Yeah. Servants.
Reeve dressed us in slutty, too-tight outfits and hooker heels. My outfit, or as I liked to call it, my Band-Aid, consisted of an ice-blue corset top, a micro-mini skirt with dark blue ruffles and ripped-up leggings. Black boots laced up to just under my knees.
With my pale skin, Id never been one to wear makeup, but Reeve knew exactly what colors to apply to make my eyes pop, my cheeks appear rosy and my lips look like plump candy apples all the boys will want to bite. Her words, not mine.
Kat wore a long-sleeved top that veed all the way down to her navel, forcing her to ditch her bra. At least her legs were covered by a pair of skinny jeans, the lucky girl. Rather than jewelry, Reeve had given her a boys necktie that would play hide-and-seek with her chest.
Reeve dressed in a black-and-white polka-dot dress that flared at the hips and ended at the knees. She reminded me of a sexy seventies housewife.
Sometime during my transformation, Wren and Poppy arrived.
I cant believe were ditching the game for this, Poppy said, gorgeous in a tank top, jean shorts and cowgirl boots.
Better to support our friends than our team, Wren said, as long as you swear were not going to the club so that Ali can hook up with Cole and his gang of societal sores.
Kat held up her hand, palm out. Swear.
As Poppy studied herself in the full-length mirror, she said, Societal sores? Yes, they are losers, but is the witchiness really necessary, Wren?
Im not a witch! Wren said with a stomp of her foot.
Are, too. The guy at Starbucks hit on me, not you, and youre lashing out.
He totally hit on me.
Did not.
Did too!
They continued to argue as we walked to Reeves SUV. Night was in full swing, casting shadows over the house and driveway. Porch lights offered the occasional safe haven, and kept me going. Fear would not control me tonight, though. I wouldnt let it. Tonight was too important, my mission too critical.
On the drive, I spied what could have been a rabbit-shaped cloud. I told Reeve to slow down, convinced for a moment that we were going to wreck. But wonder of wonders, I must have been mistaken. We reached the club safely, no wreck, no deaths.
Kat gave her name to two ginormous bouncers I would have run screaming from in any other situation, and they allowed us to bypass the hundreds waiting to get in. We sailed inside, loud, raucous music instantly assailing my ears.
Isnt this wonderful? Kat had to shout to be heard.
Wonderful wasnt the right word. Id seen things like this on TV, of course. Read about them in books. Listened to lectures from my mom. But this was exciting mixed with scary and sprinkled with a whole lot of this really cant be happening right in front of me.
On the dance floor, men and women were writhing with Cirque du Soleil flexibility. At the bar, guys were doing body shots off girls. In the corners, a whole lot of making out was going on. I smelled sweat and perfume and a few things I couldnt identify.
Building-wise, there were two floors. The bottom was where the dancing and socializing were done, and the top was for VIPs, maybe. An iron railing circled the second tier, allowing a clear view for those at the edge of a separate sectioned-off area. There I could make out black leather couches and chairs, iron tables and
Cole.
Oh, glory, there he was. He sat on one of the couches, facing me, with Frosty beside him. He was talking to someone across from him and laughing. That amusement softened his face, making him look less scary and more Hollywood. He wasnt wearing a hat tonight. Dressed in a black T-shirt that looked as if it had been painted on he was total smex appeal, and I wished I could see his lower half.
I nudged Kat in the stomach and pointed. She followed the line of my finger and clapped.
Goody! Rising on her tiptoes so that she was poised at my ear, she said, Time to enact Operation Boys Will Cry. Stage onemake them notice us.
What? Wren yelped. I thought we were here to dance.
And so we will, Kat said.
What about spying? I demanded. My ticket to Cole.
We cant really spy on them if theyre not spying on us, now can we?
Warped logic, but okay. I wanted to talk to Cole, would talk to him, and yet suddenly all I could think was, oh crap, this wont end well.
9A Fiendishly Mad Tea Party
Okay. So. OBWC. Stage one, part A: Kat pilfered a beer from the tray of a passing waitress, took a swig, then handed it to Reeve, who took a swig and handed it to me.
This will relax you, she mouthed.
Without taking a swig of my own, I handed the beer to Poppy, who grimaced and handed it to Wren, who grimaced and set it on a table. The thing smelled like battery acid and moldy bread, and besides that, I too easily recalled all the problems alcohol had caused my dad. No way was I going there.
Stage one, part B: doing a bump and grind on the dance floor. We formed a train as we maneuvered our way to the center. There, Kat somehow forced everyone else to take a few steps back, leaving us in our own private circle. Anyone watching from the top floor would be unable to miss us.
Unlike Emma, I had no idea how to dance gracefully. Or attractively. But I watched the way the other girls moved their arms and hips and mimicked them. I must have succeeded, because all four offered me smiles of encouragement.
After what seemed an eternity of this I motioned Kat over, and when she reached me, I said, I dont actually want Cole to spy on me. I want him to talk to me.
Oh, he will. But listen, whatever you do, she said, moving behind me and placing her hands on my hips, dont look up. Im about to enact stage two. Stage three will commence soon after that, with no more action required on our part, so be ready.
With a force of will I hadnt known I possessed, I glanced at her over my shoulder rather than at the boys. I want this to happen, but I have a bad feeling about how were going about it.
Good. I know Im on the right track. So, here we go! Like the sex kitten I was beginning to think she was, Kat spun around me and crooked her finger at a group of ultracute random guys.
Stage two: fanning the flames of jealousy.
The guys eagerly joined our little circle. Within minutes, masculine hands were roaming, and soft bodies were bumping into hard bodies. I was uncomfortable and embarrassed, and actually had to slap a boys fingers away from my butt, but I kept dancing, determined to see Kats plan through to the end. Not once did I look in Coles direction.
When I noticed that Reeves expression was as pinched as mine probably was, I twirled my way to her sideyes, Im lameallowing us to concentrate on each other.
Even though one of the boys maintained a station behind her, she offered me a relieved smile.
Finally, I begin to lose myself in the music. My arms lifted over my head, and my eyes closed. I swayed, spunand smacked into a hard chest. Boys! I swear. I peered up, ready to tell whichever guy had decided to come after me to back off. I
I never should have doubted Kat.
Violet eyes glared down at me, barely leashed aggression in their depths. Hard hands settled on my waist, jerking me closercloseruntil only a whisper separated us.
The words back off never formed. And, shockingly enough, neither did a vision.
Lets dance, he said.
You dance? I squeaked. Gotta get that under control, Bell. Adrenaline fizzed in my veins. This boy exhilarated me in a way Id never before known.
From the corner of my eye, I saw that Frosty had taken over Kats personal space. They were arguing and kissing, arguing and kissing. A boy I hadnt met was positioned in front of Reeve, and when he wasnt scowling at her, he was scowling at Bronx, who was backing the random cuties away from us. He looked ready to murder anyone who protested.
No one protested.
Other boys from Coles group were attempting to dance with Poppy and Wren, but the girls ignored them, turning away.
Cole cupped my cheeks and brought my gaze back to him. Why wouldnt I dance?
Uh, maybe because at first glance he looked like he ate puppies for breakfast and kittens for lunch? As for what he enjoyed having for dinnerthat couldnt be discussed in polite company.
Because you think its dumb? The words emerged as a question rather than the statement Id meant them to be.
Something that allows a guy to put his hands all over a girl isnt dumb. Its genius.
As he tugged me ever closer, I muttered, I dont know about this.
Then Ill convince you. Now put your arms around me.
Orders again. But you know what? I obeyed him. I even walked my fingers up his spine and sifted them into his soft, silky hair. I just couldnt help myself. Touching him was a compulsion.
His pupils expanded, black overshadowing all that beautiful purple. Most people are so afraid of me they jump to obey the moment I speak.
Just a guess, but most people hadnt imagined his tongue inside their mouth. Im not most people.
I know. What I dont know is why youre here.
His stinging tone told me far more than his words. I wasnt welcome. I wanted to try something new, I said, lifting my chin. I wouldnt mention my plans to chat with him. Yet. Just then, I had to convince myself there were three things I would not allow him to do. 1) Embarrass me. 2) Intimidate me. Or 3) Send me running.
His frown was less dark and more confused. Whats new for you? Dancing?
And so much more, but all I said was, Yes.
And you let some strange college boy grind all over you for your first time? Thats stupid, Ali.
Not going to be embarrassed, not going to be embarrassed. First, he wasnt grinding on me, and second, youre no better than him.
A solid minute of silence, then You are terrible for my ego, you know that?
I could say the same to him.
But I cant seem to stay away, he added.
I could have melted into a puddle on the floor. I know the feeling, I admitted.
His gaze lowered to my mouth, lingered for a moment before snapping back up. But that didnt stop him from bending down, putting his lips to my ear and saying, So youve imagined kissing me, huh. A husky note had entered his voice. Something intimate, just for me, and a blush heated my cheeks.
That was part of what Id wanted to talk about tonight, yet hed been the one to bring it up. Score one for Ali. I pointed out, The same as youve imagined kissing me.
I know. So how are you making me do that?
Me? Youve got to be kidding.
Yes, you. I never kid. He tightened his grip on me, as if he assumed Id bolt. It has to be you. Nothing like that has ever happened to me before.
Well, nothing like that has ever happened to me before, either, so Im blaming you!
He lifted his head, studied me, and I wasnt sure whether to love or hate the reason behind all that intensity. Lets tackle this from a less volatile angle. Have you wondered what it will be like for real?
Ihad no idea how to answer that. We continued to move together, rocking, swaying. His fingers flexed on me, lowered, and stopped at the curve of my butt, yet slapping his hands away was the last thing I wanted to do.
Well? he insisted.
Only the truth would do, I decided. Yes, I have.
Me, too, he rasped.
My knees almost buckled. Are you saying
That I want to discover if reality compares with imagination? Yes.