“Please,” I begged her. “Come meet us at the Multiplex. Then they’ll get to know you and see how fabulous you are.”
Gabi looked skeptical. “Courtney and her friends don’t want me there.” She started yanking at her braid.
“I do. And they do, too. Besides, you promised me ages ago you’d give them a chance. You said if they invited you to join them, you’d do it. Remember? Come on. Please? Do it for me.”
“Fine,” Gabi said. She didn’t look happy, but I did—enough for the two of us.
I was sure that when Courtney got to know Gabi in a setting outside of school, she’d like her as much as I did. It was perfect. Pretty soon all of my friends would want to hang out together.
chapter 29
“You’re late,” Courtney said when I got to her house.
“Sorry.” I stood in her doorway rocking back and forth in my combat boots. Sure she had said no one arrived late to her parties, but I thought that was just a test. An article in Teen Style, her favorite magazine, said nobody went to parties on time, and that you were expected to arrive thirty minutes to an hour after the start time. I royally messed up. “It was my mom’s fault,” I lied. “She had to finish up some work before she could drive me over.”
Courtney stared me down for what felt like eight lifetimes, before finally moving out of the way to let me come in. I was super-relieved. There were seven of us there including Courtney and me. Pretty much all of the girls who sat with us at lunch were there.
Jaydin and Bronwyn slid over, and I stuffed myself into the couch between them.
“Now where was I, before I was interrupted?” Courtney asked, shooting me a nasty look. I prayed she wouldn’t hold a grudge all night. I needed her in a good mood, so I could talk up Gabi.
“You just finished your Leslie impersonation,” Lana offered. “Perfect as usual,” she added, kissing Courtney’s butt.
“Of course it was,” Courtney said, standing up on her big, cushy recliner (aka her throne for the night). “Okay, one more,” she exclaimed. Then she started talking superfast and bossing everyone around. “Bronwyn, stand over there and make sure to project your voice. They need to hear you in the back of the auditorium. And Jaydin, since I know you won’t listen to a word I say anyway, just keep sitting there looking pretty. Lana, ditto for you. Thank goodness Mrs. Torin let me pretend to be assistant director. I try to do seven hundred and ninety-eight activities a year. Funny, after all that, I still don’t have any friends.” Then Courtney took a curtsy and looked right at me. “So, Angel, who am I?”
I didn’t really want to play in to Courtney’s little game, but I also didn’t want to make a big deal about it, so I just answered her. “Gabi?”
Courtney smiled. “Very good. Even you admit she doesn’t have any friends.”
“I never said that. And I thought you said she could hang out with us any—”
“Puh-lease,” Courtney interrupted me. “Relax yourself. I was just giving you a hard time. Heard of a sense of humor? You need to get one. And don’t worry. I won’t say one bad word to Gabi tonight. Everyone will be on their best behavior. Right girls?”
Everyone nodded, and Lana let out a few giggles. “Sorry, of course I will. We should probably go. We don’t want to keep her waiting.”
We piled into Courtney’s mom’s SUV. I got in the way back with Lana and Jaydin. They were totally cool again and even said some nice things about Gabi. That made me feel better about the rest of the evening. That is, until we pulled in to the parking lot. I thought Courtney’s mother was just taking a different route than the one I was used to. Boy was I wrong. Courtney’s mom was dropping us off at the movie theater at the mall. Gabi was waiting for us at the Multiplex—on the other side of town.
chapter 30
“We’re supposed to be at the Multiplex,” I shrieked. I could not believe this was happening.
“Change of plans,” Courtney said and walked toward the theater.
I chased after her. “But Gabi’s waiting for us.”
Courtney shrugged her shoulders and smirked. Imagining Gabi standing alone and wondering what was going on was giving me one of those shooting headaches, like when you drink a Slurpee too fast. I had to call Gabi and explain everything, but when I went through my bag to look for my phone, I couldn’t find it.
Then I heard a giggle. It was Lana. “Missing something?” She was dangling my phone by two fingers.
I went to grab it, but she tossed it to Jaydin. When I ran up to her, she flung it back to Lana. I was stuck like a monkey in the middle game and in no mood to play. “Give it to me,” I said. They, of course, refused.
My phone started ringing. Lana looked at the caller ID and answered it. “Get a clue,” she said into the receiver. “We’re not coming. Angel wants nothing to do with you.” I tried to yell out so Gabi could hear me, but Lana snapped the phone shut.
I was panicked. I asked a couple of strangers if I could borrow their phones, but Jaydin managed to scare them away. She told one woman I was a kleptomaniac and that she shouldn’t trust me. Another time she just started a scene. She came up to me and yelled, “I can’t believe you threw my phone in the toilet. Get it out now.”
There was no use competing with them. I walked over to the bench in front of the theater and flung myself down. Bronwyn, Allison, and Brooke went inside to save seats, while the others stayed in the lobby to watch me. I didn’t say a word. I just stared at my shoes.
Right before the movie was about to start, Courtney came up to me. In one hand she had my movie ticket (her mother had bought them all ahead of time) and in the other my cell phone. “You have a choice,” she said. “This,” she held up the ticket, “means you’re truly one of us. This,” she raised my phone, “well, I think you can figure that one out. But once you make up your mind, there’s no going back.”
If I took the phone, my life at Goode Middle School was over. Courtney would make my life a constant misery. Not only would I be giving up any popularity that I had, but I would be the school joke, and I could forget ever having a chance with Cole. All I had to do was take the ticket. Then everyone would still like me. Everyone but Gabi.
My eyes went back and forth between Courtney’s hands. There really wasn’t a question about what I had to do.
I reached for my phone.
“Wrong choice,” Courtney said, pulling back her hand. She flung my phone and the ticket in the garbage can. Then she took Lana’s soda and poured it in over them. “Let’s go, girls.”
I glared at her as she made her way into the theater, and then I shoved my hand in the trash. That was it. Courtney Lourde was going down.
chapter 31
My phone, while incredibly sticky and gross, still worked, but Gabi wouldn’t answer my calls. I left her three voicemails, but she didn’t respond, and then I tried her at her house, but her mom said she was sleeping.
I decided to walk home, since I couldn’t really wait for Courtney’s mom, and I didn’t want to explain the situation to mine.
I only made it a few blocks when a streak of light flashed by me. It came to a halt a few yards in front of me. At first I thought it was a bolt of lightning. But I was wrong. It was Lou in a bright red convertible with the headlights on. “Can I give you a lift?” he asked.
“No thanks,” I answered and continued to trudge home. I was regretting my choice of the combat boots. If I had known I’d get abandoned at the theater, I really would have worn my Vans. At least they weren’t a half-size too small.
Lou continued to drive slowly alongside me. “I don’t think your mother would like you walking home alone at this hour.”
He was right. She’d never let me go out again if she found out, but I didn’t care. It wasn’t like I had anywhere to go, anyway. I didn’t have any friends left. I didn’t bother answering him, I just kept walking.
“Angel, please,” he said. “Listen to me. I know you don’t want anything to do with me as long as I’m the devil. So I’
ve quit.”
I stopped walking. I was afraid to look at him. Was this just another one of his tricks to win me over? Or was it possible that he was being straight with me? “Really?” I asked, studying the crack in the sidewalk.
“Really,” he said, without missing a beat. “You’re much more important to me than a job.”
I was at a loss. He was going to quit? For me? I felt little prickles form all over my skin. Lou wanted to be my dad. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“You’re my daughter. I’d do anything for you.”
It was a lot to absorb, but in a good way. I was going to have a dad.
“So does this mean now you will give me a shot?” he asked.
How could I say no? He had just given up his whole profession for me. “Yes,” I said, trying not to let him see how excited I really was. I didn’t want him to think I needed him all these years. I did just fine without him, thank you very much.
“So what are you going to do now—for work, I mean,” I said, trying to keep the conversation going.
“I’ll find something after I tie up some loose ends.”
“Loose ends?”
“Nothing to worry yourself about,” he said, giving me a huge grin. I didn’t trust it one bit.
“What kind of loose ends?”
“Well,” he said slowly. “I have to find a replacement before I give up my responsibilities.”
I couldn’t believe this. “So you’re still the devil?”
“Just until I find someone to take over.”
I started walking again.
“Angel, wait,” he called out to me.
I refused to slow down, despite the fact that my feet were on fire. “You said you quit.”
“I did, but it’s not so easy. My job is important. I keep evil in check. I can’t just leave the underworld unmanned. You have to understand that. Please, why don’t you get in the car, and I’ll give you a ride home. I can explain everything.”
“No.”
“I’ll leave as soon as I can. I promise. You have to trust me.”
I wanted to believe him, but I couldn’t. “Nothing changes until you actually quit,” I said. “Then you can be a part of my life. Only then.”
“But—”
“I’m serious,” I told him, while picking at the skin around my thumb. I remembered what Mom said. Lou had promised her he’d leave his work for her all those years ago, but he lied. This time I wanted to make sure he did more than just talk about it.
I let Lou continue to drive alongside me for the rest of the trip home, although I didn’t say another word and neither did he.
Mom was up reading Mysticism Monthly when I got home. She flung it down on the couch and raced over to me when I walked in. “Why are you home so early? Did something happen? Is it Lou? Did he do something to you?”
“No, I’m just not feeling well,” I lied.
“In that case,” she said, holding her hands out five inches from my body and sweeping the air, “let me work on your chakras.” She was always talking about chakras. The Third Eye Chakra, the Heart Chakra . . . Supposedly they were energy centers in the body. “You’ll feel better in a jiffy.”
“I just need sleep,” I said, taking several steps away. My night had been bad enough. I couldn’t take any more of her mumbo jumbo.
“Let me work on you first,” she said. “There’s bad energy floating all around you.”
That was all I needed to hear. “What do you expect from the devil’s daughter?” I shouted. Then I ran upstairs and slammed my bedroom door behind me.
chapter 32
I tried Gabi all weekend on her cell phone and at home, but I never got through. Monday morning I waited by the old McBrin house for her, but she didn’t show. I ended up walking to school by myself. I had a feeling I’d be doing a lot of things by myself from that point on.
It turned out Gabi never came in. She must have been crazy angry to skip school and, more importantly, play rehearsal, with her show coming up on Friday. She was never absent.
I managed to get through the first few periods without any major problems. Courtney probably hadn’t gotten around to spreading her hate yet. And right as I was about to walk into science class, Cole called out to me. “Angel, wait up.”
He seemed friendly. Obviously he hadn’t spoken to Courtney yet. “Hey,” I said, trying my best to be cheery. It was only a matter of minutes before he’d learn that talking to me would be a major pimple on his popularity. I had to make the most of the time I had left.
“Did you finish the science homework?” he asked.
I told him I did. Ever since I offered to help him out with it, I made it my number one school priority. I wanted to come off as exceptionally smart when—and if—he actually took me up on it.
“I didn’t get a chance to do mine,” he said. “Mind if I look at yours?”
I’d wanted to help him, not give him the answers. I had pictured us working side by side as he finished his work. But it was so cute the way he put his thumbs in his pockets and shrugged his right shoulder. How could I refuse? “Sure.”
“Thanks. I owe you one.”
Cole Daniels owed me one! At least someone didn’t hate me—yet, anyway. I searched my bag for the assignment.
“Here you go.” At that moment, my klutziness kicked in and the crumpled paper slipped out of my hands. I quickly scooped it up, and when I looked back at Cole, we made eye contact. His eyes were almost as dark as his pupils. Was he admiring my eyes, too? After a few seconds, I looked away. But only because I felt my cheeks turning hot. I didn’t want him to see me blush. Pink was so not my color.
When I handed him the paper, our hands totally grazed. It was like, well, like he sent my whole body swirling out of control. Unfortunately, the bell rang, bringing everything to a halt. Not that he even noticed, but I certainly did. I wanted to stay out there forever, where it was just the two of us and he was still oblivious to my descent into the land below nerdville.
Cole walked into Mrs. Laurel’s room. I followed, but just as I was about to step inside a gust of wind pushed me back and slammed the door shut—right in my face.
I tried to get in the classroom, but the doorknob wouldn’t work. Cole was trying it from his side, too, but the stupid thing wouldn’t budge. I could see him getting frustrated, which I secretly enjoyed. He was getting worked up over me.
The bell finally stopped ringing, and I saw Cole go flying. The door had swung open while he was yanking on it. When I got inside, I could see why.
“You’re late,” the teacher said to me. “Detention.” Only it wasn’t Mrs. Laurel. It was a sub. And not just any sub.
It was Lou.
chapter 33
Whoa. This was really too much. Lou standing in front of my classroom for everyone to see. How dare he! My whole body started to shake.
“Report here straight after school,” he said.
Phew. At least he’s not letting on that we know each other.
“That’s not fair,” Max chimed in. “It wasn’t her fault.”
“I’m sorry,” Cole whispered to me.
I heard Courtney snicker.
“Quiet,” said Lou. He turned to me. “What’s your name?”
“Angel,” I told him.
“Well, Angel, I’m Mr. Cipher. It looks like we’ll be getting to know each other a lot better today.”
Not fair was right! He was the absolute last person in the world I wanted to spend time with, and just because he had special powers, I had no choice in the matter. “But I was here,” I pleaded. “The door was stuck!”
“Sorry, but late is late.”
“Who better to know about late than you?” I spat back. I don’t even know why I bothered. Like anything I said made a difference. What did he care if I thought it was too late for us to have a relationship? What I thought obviously didn’t count. He could just turn himself into a substitute teacher, or president of the United States, or king of the wo
rld, for that matter, and force me to do whatever he wanted. I took my seat and didn’t make eye contact with him for the rest of class.
When the bell rang, I raced to gym class. Not only did I want to get away from Lou, but I needed to change into my uniform before Lana and Jaydin made it to the locker room. Changing in front of them was just opening myself up to a more painful level of ridicule.
But there was only so much I could control by way of harassment. I still got picked last in volleyball. Then Jaydin threw the ball right at my stomach, Bronwyn snatched the last towel right out from under me in the locker room, and Lana tripped me in the hallway. All of which led up to the ultimate humiliation—eating lunch alone.
I had considered skipping the cafeteria altogether, but I didn’t want Courtney to think that she had won and scared me off. But it was brutal. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me as I sat down. They had to be talking about me. And probably making up awful lies. I never felt more alone. I guess I finally knew how Gabi felt when she thought I was going to leave her for Courtney.
I had no one. Not Gabi, not Cole, not even Courtney and her friends. Eighth grade was officially the worst year ever. I wished I were invisible again. At least then I had Gabi by my side.
I didn’t dare turn around when I felt something smack the back of my head, but I saw it hit the ground. A slice of bologna. I heard the laughter from Courtney’s table. I hoped Cole wasn’t part of it. But I also hoped my mom would pull me out of school, and I knew that wasn’t going to happen.
As I concentrated on keeping the tears from brimming over my lids, I heard Courtney saying those six horrifying words. “Okay everyone, guess who I am.” That sent the droplets cascading down my cheeks. “I thought I was so supercool,” she announced in a voice that sounded way too familiar. Not that I wanted to admit it, but she kind of had my voice down. “I mean, I totally got to go onstage with Mara’s Daughters. Don’t tell, it’s kind of a secret, but they just did that as part of their Help a Spaz program. It’s, like, supernew, and I was the spazziest loser to write to them.”
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