by J.J. Bonds
Chapter Fifteen
New Year’s Eve dawns with a light snow that coats the campus and refreshes everything it touches, including my attitude. I’m looking forward to spending the day with Lissette, even though it means letting her drag me to a salon where we’ll be getting our nails and hair done. It also means I won’t be seeing Aldo until tonight. I know that he’ll be meeting with some of the other Council members to talk business before this evening’s gala.
Lissette has coerced Pratt into suspending my punishment for the day, even though I still have another week of work detail left. I didn’t want to tell her about my punishment, but I had no choice when she insisted on treating me to a day at the spa. At least she promised not to tell Aldo.
She picks me up in the limo just before eleven, and we make the short trip to Rutland. I decide that riding in a limo is overrated. It’s my first time, but I’d much rather be the one doing the driving. The car service is more apt to follow the speed limit than I would ever be. I share this sentiment with Lissette which makes her laugh. Her laughter is music to my ears. Her mood is always light and worry-free. Perhaps this is because Aldo provides her a life of luxury, preventing real problems from ever truly touching her.
“Always in a rush, Katia. Sometimes it’s good to just slow down and enjoy the view. You have no need to hurry. You have all the time in the world.”
She may be right, but I just don’t have it in me. I’ve been in a hurry for as long as I can remember. Patience will never be one of my better qualities; I always want to get right to the end result.
The limo drops us off in front of the salon, and we’re whisked inside by an attentive staff. Money talks and Lissette plans to drop a small fortune on our treatments today. She’s lined us both up for the works. I try not to cringe as the eager salon workers begin to poke and prod. I have never liked being touched by strangers, but I’ll grin and bear it today to make Lissette happy. I’m here to spend time with her, and I don’t want her to think that I’m uncomfortable. It would only ruin her enjoyment.
“So, tell me about your friends,” she prods, as we sit with our feet soaking in the foot tub. This is my first ever pedicure, and I’m a little distrustful of the gelatinous purple goo that is forming over my feet. Lissette assures me that it’s good for the skin. Human skin maybe, but vampire? I seriously doubt it. I suspect she requested this gunk just to see how I’d react.
“Please?” she begs. Lissette is a social butterfly. She’s not going to understand the fact that I only have one friend, but I’d rather not lie to her, so I tell her about Shaye.
“I’ve been really busy with school, so I haven’t made a lot of close friends. But, there is one girl I’d like you to meet tonight, though. Shaye Walker. Her family lives here in the U.S. They’re from Colorado,” I elaborate, as if she cares where Shaye’s family lives. “Shaye’s been a really good friend to me. We have the same sense of humor, and she puts up with my moodiness, so it’s a match made in heaven.”
“She’s the one that gave you the Christmas tree, right?”
“Yeah. She really has a big heart, which is why it’s so damn unfair that she’s sick. It’s not exactly public knowledge, but Shaye has the otrava de sange.”
“That’s terrible!” Lissette gasps. “I hate to see one so young fall ill.”
“She’s a fighter. Some days she’s as healthy as you and I, but other days, not so much,” I tell her matter-of-factly, trying not to dwell on the bad days. “Shaye hasn’t given up though. Her spirits are good, and she has a lot of confidence in the researchers at Dwyer, so I wouldn’t count her out yet.”
“Good for her.” Lissette nods her head in approval. “Perhaps that is why you two are so close. Kindred spirits.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” To imply that Shaye and I are too much alike does her a disservice. “Shaye has strength of character I could only dream of,” I say defensively.
“Well, I look forward to meeting her then.” Lissette browses through the rolling rack of nail polishes that rests between us. She idly picks up bottles and returns them to the cart. Eventually she finds one she likes and holds it up for my approval. It’s a deep shade of crimson. “What do you think?”
“For you? Perfect.” I know her dress is black because she told me about it on the way over. The red will compliment it nicely. She continues fiddling with the tray.
“Any boys I should know about?”
She tries to keep her tone casual, but I can tell she’s excited by the prospect. She’s hoping that I’ve been holding out and that there is someone in my life. I smile, knowing she’ll be disappointed by my reply. It hasn’t changed since the first time she asked. “No one special.”
She plucks a bottle of dark green polish from the tray and hands it to me. She doesn’t bother to ask if I like it. She knows I don’t really care and will wear whatever she picks for me. Her fashion sense is a million times better than my own. “Thanks.”
“Come on, Katia. There has to be someone? You’re a beautiful girl.”
I laugh and pat her hand. “Sorry to disappoint you, Lissette. But who knows?” I tease. “Tonight could change everything.”