by K. C. RILEY
I wanted to throttle her by the neck, and Josie was counting on me. “Do you mind if I shower first?”
“By all means. You’ve got ten minutes. Head Master Wheeler, doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
I was toast.
“Oh, and he said to come in your uniform.”
“But it’s the weekend,” I said. “It’s not a uniform day.”
“It is for you.” Meghan turned to leave with that stupid smile on her face. “Good luck.”
The blood in my veins pretty much exploded. I marched past her and headed straight for the showers.
The warm water trickled and beat against my forehead. I turned the hot water knob to increase the temperature. What a bitch. I couldn’t believe Meghan would stoop so low as to rat me out to Headmaster Wheeler. Then again, it was Meghan.
Steam filled the stall around me as the girls cackled about the Homecoming Ball. I was about to turn the hot water down when a sharp pain burst from my forehead. The whispers returned with a vengeance. They had completely disappeared with Jake the night before. I held my mouth shut to not draw any attention to myself as I dropped to the floor of the shower.
My vision changed. Everything turned gray like being in an old black and white movie, my feet, my hands, and the shower curtain. The next thing I knew, I was somewhere in the woods. Then somewhere at a lake. A whirlwind of blue fire blazed up to the sky. It pulled and tugged at me like it was showing me the way to it. Once again, everything inside of me said Sir Isaac’s map was the way to the amulet.
A voice called from the whirlwind of flames. It sounded like Ezra’s voice from the Blood Book. “It’s time, granddaughter.” In the steam of the shower, goose bumps tracked all over my body at the word granddaughter. It was Ezra. I could feel it.
All I could think about was my night with Jake. How much I wanted to be with him. How much I wanted to go to that Ball.
“No,” I whispered. “I’m not doing this. You can’t make me.” Bold words. But I meant them. I wanted nothing to do with Ezra’s magic or the amulet. It was all too dark. I then remembered Jake’s words. If a powerful witch killed Riley for it, what would she do to me?
In another deep breath, I pulled myself up from the floor. I dried off, went back to my room, and got dressed. My vision was still gray. And I almost freaked out. What if it stayed that way forever? I had to calm myself down. Luckily, on the way to Headmaster Wheeler’s office, the color in my vision returned.
“Please have a seat, Miss Maverick.” Headmaster Wheeler waved a fly that buzzed around his head. “We take these matters very seriously. Under no circumstances are members of the opposite sex allowed in one another’s dorms.”
“It wasn’t on purpose. I...got lost.” It wasn’t entirely the truth, but it wasn’t entirely a lie, either.
“Yes, I read your file. Look, I get it. You’re new. Unfortunately, I cannot make an exception. These rules are put into place for a reason, your safety. There must be consequences for your actions, or the other students will think they can do whatever they want. I understand you’ve been working a part-time job? Is that correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Normally, I would revoke your curfew privileges, but your grades are outstanding, and the teachers have nothing but positive things to say about you. However, you cannot go unpunished. I’m sorry, but there will be no Homecoming Ball for you this evening.”
“But you can’t. I’m on the committee. Cassie and Josie are expecting me within the hour to help with everything. I promised them. And I’ve been working on this every day for the past two weeks. And what about Jake? I can’t leave him without a partner.”
“Speaking of Mr. Patrilo. You would do well to stay away from him and his room. Trust me. He’s a bad cloud. I am sorry, but I think this is appropriate.” Headmaster Wheeler’s door creaked open like someone had been listening in. He got up and peeped outside of his office. No one was there. “That’s weird.”
There was no doubt in my mind it was Meghan. I could feel her evil energy at the door.
“Where was I?” Wheeler sat back down behind his desk. “Oh, yes, no Ball, no committee. That’ll be all. Oh, and you’ll need these.” Wheeler opened a closet and handed over some kind of folded fabric.
“What’s this?”
“Your apron for kitchen duty. You’ll be heading straight there.” Someone knocked on the door. “Come in.”
“Sorry for the interruption, Headmaster. The key to the drama room. Miss Roland said she won’t be needing it anymore.”
Wheeler huffed. “Not this again. Miss Maverick, you can go.”
“The key, sir?” The custodian held it up in his hand.
“Just leave it there.” Wheeler nodded toward the end of his desk while his fingers anxiously plucked the numbers on his phone.
I got up to leave but could still hear him and Miss Roland squabbling about not quitting the drama department.
Meanwhile, my phone went off against my thigh like a pinball machine. Outside, I pulled it out and was about to answer both Cassie and Josie’s hysteria when some force opened the grip of my hand and made me drop it. Meghan. I picked up the broken phone, fearful of losing my mom’s pics.
“Ooooops,” Meghan said. She, Camilla, and Abby circled me like vultures. “Accidents happen. Heard about the news. Sorry. What ever will the girls think? You abandoning them in their hour of need? And poor Jake. What ever will he do without a partner? Hmmm. I’m sure I can come up with something. Abs maybe you can lend her your phone to call him. NOT.”
“What the hell is your problem with me?” I was so tired of turning the other cheek. The whispers ignited in my head, and all I could see was Serene losing it in the Blood Book. A voice inside of my head said, let me out, do it. I was that close. And the thought of it scared the hell out of me.
Meghan leaned into my ear and whispered. “Everything, newbie. Everything. You’ll look fabulous in that apron. The back of a kitchen is where you belong.”
Hate devoured me. My eyes watered, and my hands trembled as I tried to hide it.
“Oh, don’t tell me you’re going to cry.” Meghan wouldn’t let up.
I was about to go Serene on her ass when I noticed blood trickling from her nose. There was no way I could have done that, at least not yet.
“Your nose,” I said.
“She’s right.” Camilla handed her a tissue. “Hold your nose back.”
Abby opened her purse for more tissues. “You’ve got to stop using.”
Using what? I thought.
“I’m fine.” Meghan snatched the tissue from Camilla’s hand.
Meghan’s eyes blazed in vengeance like I had taken something precious from her. And maybe I had.
“I’m watching you bitch. Both of you,” was the last thing Meghan said before leaving.
There was no doubt she was referring to Jake. Regardless, I was screwed. Not only was my phone broken, but no one’s number was memorized. I abandoned the only two friends I had and my dance partner. My date.
Wheeler stepped outside and grunted, “The Dining Hall is that way, Miss Maverick. Let’s pick up the pace.”
And then there was that, Wheeler breathing down my neck.
“Yes, sir.”
Minutes later, I was in the back of the Dining Hall kitchen. The pots, pans, and plates were stacked as high as the ceiling and I sighed.
“Don’t you have dishwashers for this?” I asked.
“Sorry, all broken. Expecting a brand new one in a day now, though.” Shirley, one of the cooks, gave me a dishrag and a scrubbing pad for the pots. “You’ll want to put that apron on. And here are some gloves to protect those pretty little hands.”
I half smiled to hide the misery. All I could think about was how betrayed the girls must have felt and how betrayed Jake would feel once he realized I wouldn’t be at the Ball. And then there was Vye. I had no way of getting in touch with her to let her know I couldn’t make it.
One...two...t
hree. Washing dishes was taking forever. As I plunged dish twenty-one into the sink of sudsy water, a gentle voice spoke from behind me. Sister Clara.
“Well, you’ve gotten yourself into a bit of a pickle.”
“Yeah.” I plunged dish twenty-two into the soapy abyss.
“Well? What are you still doing here?”
“Kitchen duty. Headmaster Wheeler’s orders.”
“I see. And how do you feel about that?”
I thought it was a rather inopportune time for a therapy session. But I had nothing to lose. “Terrible. Josie will probably never talk to me again.” And things were going so good with Jake.
“Probably.”
“Gee, thanks. Was that to cheer me up?”
“No, just the facts.”
That didn’t help either.
“Here’s how I see it, Miss Maverick. What’s more important? The rules or your friends and Mr. Patrilo?”
I blushed at the last part. And how the hell did she know about Jake?
Tiny bubbles floated up from the water. Sister Clara was right. “Screw it.” I was keeping my word. Either way, I would probably be scrubbing pots and pans till I was old and gray. Might as well do it with friends and a boyfriend intact.
I turned to thank Sister Clara for the advice, and she was gone.
There was no time to go change into regular clothes, not with Wheeler on the prowl. With the coast clear, I abandoned my station in the kitchen and hopped in my car.
Lucy stalled the first couple of tries. “Come on girl, not today. You can do this.” I started her up again. The tailpipe backfired in a cloud of smoke. But by the fifth try we were off.
By the time I got to Vye’s, it was already 2:00 p.m. I told her about Wheeler and my phone breaking. Fortunately, Vye was still on board. She gave me a list of ingredients to grab from the farmer’s market down the street, and we steamrolled ahead.
Three hours later, we were still working on the special diet list Josie emailed me. It was taking longer than expected. Dairy restrictions, nut restrictions, shellfish restrictions, meat restrictions, wheat restrictions, and the list went on.
I don’t know how Vye made it happen, but she did. We loaded up the van. And there was still time for me to make it.
“Vye. Thanks for all the help. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“That’s what family is for...What I mean to say is at Vye’s we take care of each other. We look out for one another. If someone is in a pinch or a bind, we help them out.”
“Yeah. I get it.”
Other than stopping for a bunch of cows crossing the street, Vye and I were soon pulling up and around the back of Mrs. Ellington’s estate. The other caterer’s trucks were all over the place. Parking was a mess. Where was Cassie?
I jumped out of the van and ran inside. People scrambled back and forth through the halls like chickens with their heads cut off.
A stranger with a large duffle bag stopped me. “Could you tell me which way to the main ballroom?”
“Uh, sure. Head down this hall make a right, then left, then right.” Thank God for maps and not the one that was in my head. “The two main doors. You can’t miss them.”
Another stranger interrupted, “Which room are we using for wardrobe?”
Hmmm. That should have been set up already. “That would be around the stairs. Trust me, you can’t miss them.” I was bum-rushed by several other people looking for directions. Where were Cassie and Josie?
The closer I got to the kitchen, the more I could hear arguing.
“There’s nothing I can do.” It looked like the caterer. “There’s not enough food.”
“Vye’s got it covered,” I interrupted. “We just need help bringing it in.”
Josie looked me up and down like I was the plague, a welcomed plague, but the plague nonetheless. She pressed a button on her walkie-talkie and told whoever was on the other end to bring in the food from Vye’s truck.
“Where the hell have you been? It’s been a total shit show. And how the hell did you forget to get in touch with the caterer? Everything’s a mess. One big mess.” Josie wasted no time diving in.
I couldn’t blame her. “I’m sorry. But I’m here now. Just tell me what needs to be done, and I’ll do it. You guys go and get ready.”
“Awesome. You handle this mess.” Josie handed me a walkie-talkie and took off.
Cassie walked past me frazzled as she argued with someone on the phone about a tow, doves, and fireworks. She looked just as burnt out as Josie and put her hand over the phone. “Where on Earth have you been?”
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later. Right now, what can I do?”
“Josie hired doves and fireworks, but they’re stuck on Hoover’s Hill Rd.”
“Doves and fireworks? When did that happen?”
“It’s Josie.”
“Right.”
“Do you know how to change a flat tire or not?” Cassie snapped. “Sorry.” She then yelled across the hall, “Hey, that doesn’t go there,” and turned back to me. “I’ve been on hold with the tow service for the last thirty minutes.”
I had an idea. “I can help. But I’ll need your phone.” I was running on pure adrenaline. “Just go and get ready. I’ll take care of it. I swear.”
“Done.” Cassie handed me her phone, and like Josie, was gone within seconds.
Josie’s whistle lay abandoned on the table. Josie without her whistle? That was never a good sign. I picked it up and blew on it. Everyone stopped in their tracks like ants stocking up for a cold winter.
“Where’s the driver for the catering truck outside?”
Some guy who was making googly eyes at his phone—a girlfriend no doubt—raised his hand.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Roger.”
“I’m going to need your keys, Roger. It’s an emergency.”
“That’s not happening.”
Like hell it wasn’t.
Twenty minutes later, Roger and I were at Hoover’s Hill Rd, loading up the fireworks, the doves, and the jittery old man that came along with them. It felt like the day was never going to end, and there was no way I would ever make the dance. And I still hadn’t spoken to Jake.
With Josie’s birds and fireworks accounted for, Roger drove back to Mrs. Ellington’s and pulled up into the lot. At least parking was back under control. I took out my map and told the old man where to go. I wasn’t sure about the old guy. He seemed...questionable.
“Are you sure you can handle fireworks?”
“Absolutely.” The old man smiled with one tooth and held up a nub where his pinky used to be. “I only lost one finger the last time.”
I immediately turned to Roger. “I need you to go and help him set up.” I then said under my breath, “And make sure he doesn’t set himself on fire. Or anyone else.”
“You’re pretty pushy, aren’t you?” Roger asked.
“When I need to be. Yes.”
Roger winked at me. “I like it.”
I was glad someone did. Based on how the afternoon was going, we were all in for one interesting evening. After checking in with Vye and the caterer, everything was A-Okay on the food end.
“What are you still doing here?” Vye asked. “Shouldn’t you be dressed? And are those bird feathers in your hair?” Vye added.
“Don’t ask.”
My walkie-talkie beeped. It was Cassie.
“Where are you? Time is running out.”
“Fireworks and birds are a go,” I answered. “I’m on my way.
In another minute the walkie-talkie beeped again.
“Everyone is clearing out and heading to the ballroom. Wardrobe is about to leave. You need to hurry.”
I hightailed it to the parlor room and thought of the look on Meghan’s face when she realized she hadn’t won. By the time I got there, everyone was gone. Wardrobe was on their way out when I stopped them.
“There’s no time,” they said.<
br />
“What? Please,” I pleaded. “Isn’t there anything you can do?”
We went back and forth until they gave in. I wasn’t taking no for an answer.
“All right, sit. But it’s a quickie. Don’t expect much.” The stylist de-feathered my head and then misted, gelled, and slicked my hair down with his fingers.
“There’s no time for anything elaborate,” the other said, dabbing my lips with gloss.
“I understand,” I mumbled.
The end result was fast and simple but chic.
“You’re on your own now,” they both said before leaving. “Your dress is over there.”
I couldn’t have thanked them enough and scrambled to unzip the bag. I pulled out the dress when my heart shattered to pieces. The silver-pink gown that glittered like the moon had been shredded and completely destroyed.
There was a note attached. Just in case you got any ideas, street rat. Love. –M
Meghan had won.
18
I sat on the couch with the ruined dress in my hands. There was nothing I could do. The Ball was about to start without me. And what about Jake? What would he do when he realized I wasn’t there? My worst nightmare was that he would end up dancing with Meghan. Maybe that was her plan all along.
“What are you still doing here?” A deep voice crept up from behind. Jake looked over at the shredded dress in my lap. “Oh crap. Let me guess. Meghan?”
“Yeah.” I sighed, defeated.
He then walked around the couch and offered me his hand. “Well?”
“What are you doing?”
“Dancing with my partner.”
“What?”
“Are you going to give me your hand or not?”
“But, there’s no music.”
“We’ve been here before. Where’s your phone?”
I pulled it out. “Technically it’s not my phone, its Cassie’s.”
Jake typed and swiped a couple of times, and before I knew it, he was playing the songs we had rehearsed to just like the night we danced in the back of the café. He set the phone on the table and pulled me up to my feet. Before I could catch my breath or continue to feel sorry for myself, we were waltzing around the couch in Mrs. Ellington’s parlor—Jake in his black and white tails and me in my school uniform doused in gluten free flour and dove feathers.