“Aaron, we have to do something,” I say.
Aaron’s still filming, but his mischievous grin is gone, replaced by a look of horror.
Tessla leans back, her wings spread. She stomps forward like a lowland gorilla. Then her feet fly up in front of her face as she trips on a loose tile in the floor, splatting on the floor. Feathers fly everywhere. Aaron laughs. Shelly runs away and we dash outside as the other Fliers fume behind us.
“Now that’s a great video,” Aaron says as we catch our breath.
“You have to delete it,” I say.
“Nah, there’s money in that,” he says. “I’m posting it online right now.”
Aaron can be so cruel. He plays back the video, and when I watch Tessla toppling over like a lumbering hippo, I laugh inside. I guess I’m pretty cruel too.
“Aaron, you have to delete it.”
“Why? Doesn’t she deserve it?”
“No one deserves it.”
“You laughed, didn’t you?”
I stand there fuming. “Delete it.”
Aaron shakes his head.
“I can’t believe you,” I say.
My hands reach out to grab his phone, but he pulls it away and skips down the grassy field. I don’t bother to chase after him. There are bigger problems. Like who I’m going to coax into accompanying me to Shelly’s party. For the first time, I wish I was more of a social butterfly.
Elliott could be an option. After all, blasting me against a wall during his cricket experiment has to be worth some sort of payback. I am about to call him when Zach walks by reading his phone. He waves and holds it out in front of me.
“Are you attending the extravaganza?” he asks, pointing at the invitation on his screen.
“Yeah, Shelly kind of twisted my arm. She thinks I owe her after she helped me.”
“Right.” He puts his phone in his pocket and strokes his chiseled face. “I’ll be there as well. Perhaps I could accompany you?”
My face feels flush and I’m weightless. He breaks out into a huge grin. Then I realize that I’m standing there, gawking at him. I must look ridiculous. I turn away. “Sounds good.”
“It should be quite extraordinary,” he says.
“Yeah,” I say, tongue-tied.
He drifts away, prancing down the hall as if sailing on the wind. The way he moves is graceful, but strong.
“You’d better watch it, you’re getting as bad as Shelly,” Aaron says, walking up behind me.
I push Aaron away. “Cut it out.”
“I’m sure Shelly will be glad you’re bringing a Flier to the party.”
It’s like a splash of cold water to the face. I had visions of a fun evening with Zach and now all I can think of is Shelly batting her eyelashes and pawing over him. Maybe I should tell him not to show up. But he has to know what he’s getting into; she isn’t subtle about her Flier obsessions.
Now all I have to do is figure out what to wear. And if there’s any salvaging my hair today.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The couple of hours between school and the start of the party zoom by like lightning. Mom is far too happy to help iron my outfit. She thinks I deserve to give Elliott a better impression this time. I have to explain that I’m going with Zach.
“It’s hard to keep up with you lately,” she says. “Who is Zach?”
“He’s a Flier I know from—”
“Oooh, a Flier,” she says, and I wince at her Shelly-like tone.
Everyone is fixated on his flying ability, which I have to admit isn’t a bad thing, but Zach is interesting in so many other ways. For one, he’s smart.
And he has a great body.
I giggle inside. Maybe I’m as shallow as everyone else.
It takes a battle of wills, but I end up happy with my hairstyle. Either that or I’m too exhausted to care anymore. If anything, I’m saved by the fact I’m wearing my favorite outfit, a skirt with bright-colored flowers and an emerald blouse that everyone says sets off my red hair. I open the door to wait for Zach outside and am surprised to find him standing on my front doorstep. He looks stunning in a charcoal suit, perfectly tailored to his body.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” he says.
I hadn’t realized I was running late. But the clock on the wall says I am. “Sorry about that, took me a while to get dressed,” I say.
“It was worth the wait,” he says, eyeing my outfit.
A warm breeze brushes my skin.
He steps over to the car and opens the passenger door. “Shall we?”
Nodding, I slide inside. If we were going to a fancy restaurant or concert, this night would be one of the most exciting in my life. But I won’t let the fact that we’re on our way to Shelly’s party ruin this moment.
Zach smiles and directs the car. It pulls out of the driveway and onto the road. He turns his seat to the side and stares at me for a moment. I want to think he’s admiring me, but his expression looks confused.
“I need to ask you something,” he says.
“What?”
“You are a girl. And, I think you are very smart.”
He’s obviously falling over his words, but I’m still not sure what he’s getting at. All I can respond with is, “Yes.”
“It’s just, let’s see, I don’t know why, but I can’t seem to stop thinking about Shelly.”
An atomic bomb explodes in my brain.
“Really?”
“She is the embodiment of everything wrong for me. Insipid, vapid, involved with the government, but yet, I find myself drawn to her for some reason.”
“Why?”
Zach shakes his head. “I can’t figure it out, hoped you might know.”
Is this why he invited me? What a jerk.
“How should I know, Zach? I barely know you. I was kind of hoping to learn more about you tonight.”
“Like what?”
“I dunno. Your favorite book, or color or—”
He laughs. “Going to interview me for a blog or something?”
“No, I just—I thought we were going to have fun.”
Zach pauses and shifts his eyes. “Oh dear. You don’t have affection for me, do you?”
It’s like the air has been sucked out of the room. I don’t even know how to respond. This situation couldn’t be anymore awkward. No win scenario.
Zach rubs his face. “I’m sorry. I’m such an idiot. You must think this a date, right?”
The knife in my heart twists further. I want to turn around, to go back home. This night, which began like a dream, has transformed into a nightmare within a couple of seconds. My insides hurt. Of course I thought it was a date. Only an idiot could invite someone on a date without—
Crap.
“I thought you were dating Aaron.”
“Aaron?”
“You do spend a fair amount of time with him.”
“He’s like a brother to me.”
“And then you didn’t talk to me until I became a Flier.”
“Shelly is only interested in you because you’re a Flier. Nothing more.”
Zach smacks the steering wheel. “I hate being a Flier.”
“You do?”
“What does it gain me? Stalkers? People begging me to show off? The ability to schmooze with snobs on a sky deck? I’ve haven’t even been to a sky deck. They’re too high up.”
“Zach, do you mean—”
“Yes, I’m scared of heights,” he says before turning away from me.
“So that’s why you didn’t make it up the pole.”
“Go ahead, laugh.”
“I’m not laughing, Zach.”
“You’d be the first then,” he says. “I have no chance tomorrow with my flying test.”
“You can do it, Zach. It’s only once.”
It hadn’t occurred to me how, in many ways, a Flier’s life could be difficult. Especially for those who don’t like being up high.
He looks back at me and nods. “It’s alright
. I’m sorry I brought the whole thing up. This is so embarrassing.”
I put my hand on his shoulder. It wasn’t fair of me to be mad at him for not realizing I was starting to care for him. I hadn’t said anything. I had been a coward.
The car continues on the path to Shelly’s party and we sit in awkward silence. I lean back and sigh, preparing myself for the long night ahead.
***
Giant spotlights lead us a gigantic two-story mansion on a lake rented out for the party. The brick-walled manor is something out of a Victorian novel. It’s unfortunate Shelly decided to blast neon lighting on it, making it a Frankenstein of eras.
We stop on the front lawn, and I open the door to the ear-blasting sound of techno music. Between the flashing lights and the harsh drumming, the assault on the senses gives me an instant headache. Searching for a calm, or at least somewhat quiet spot, I dash inside the house, forgetting Zach is even behind me.
Once I get indoors, there’s a tug at my arm.
“There you are,” Zach says. He has to shout over the music, still loud even inside. “Thought I’d lost you.”
“I was trying to get away from the blaring music.”
“Good job,” he shouts.
Laughing, I suggest a drink, and we head towards a table that looks like it has some sort of punch. I glance around the room, and I’m surprised at how few people I recognize. It’s a bunch of strangers, most of whom seem too old to be friends with Shelly.
We reach the buffet line and I dive into the food, lacking any restraint I normally would have with an attractive man behind me. The punch tastes of fruit and fresh mint. And, of course, it’s pink. Zach nibbles on some cotton candy. We stand there as silent as we were on the drive over. I’d think we were the most awkward couple in the room, except everyone around wanders past in a daze, as if they have no idea how to act at a party.
Maddock enters the room and the music quiets, sparing my ears for a blissful moment. He wears a black suit made even darker by his pale skin. Around his lapels, a decorative stripe glows in a stunning bright red.
“Lumosilk,” I whisper. “Taken from Elevated silkworms. Very rare, considering the small chance a silkworm will get that specific ability.”
Zach nods. Then leans down to whisper, “Weird to see him face to face, isn’t it?”
Weird doesn’t begin to describe how I feel. Being feet away from the man who had something to do with my dad’s wrongful disappearance makes my insides burn. Maddock grins widely as he passes me. I wonder if he knows who I am. He certainly doesn’t have any idea what his daughter’s been up to lately.
I grin back and take a sip of punch.
He raises his hands and, like magic, the guests start dancing and carousing as if they were old friends. Maddock leaves the room.
Zach scrunches up his face. “This is the most bizarre party I’ve ever seen.”
I nod, putting my lips to my cup and finding it empty. Zach grabs it from my hand. “You sure are thirsty. Let me get you some more.”
Great. I bet he thinks I’m a glutton. Maybe he likes Shelly because she’s skinnier than I am. It doesn’t take him long to return with my drink, which I chug down before I catch myself. Wish I knew why I am so thirsty.
“Found out what’s going on,” Zach whispers. “They’re only here for the concert. Maddock hired that band with the three-armed guitar player. Guess it was the only way they could insure a large crowd for Shelly’s party.”
I force myself to take a small sip this time. “I wonder if anyone’s here because they want to be.”
Zach shakes his head. “Must be a sad life to have to bribe guests to come to your birthday party.”
“Seems like a fair punishment to me.”
“That’s a bit harsh. What did she ever do to you?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I say and gulp down far too much punch. I can’t think of a clever way to tell him how much of a terror Shelly had been without it sounding like jealousy.
“Fair enough,” he says, and goes back to his punch.
I always knew that Zach was a smart guy.
The earsplitting drumming stops and I breathe a sigh of relief. It’s short lived though, as Shelly soon enters. She’s wearing a bright pink dress with more frills than I thought could fit through as sewing machine. All the attention is on her plunging neckline, which wills her body to form a chest that isn’t there. To look upwards risks blindness by her pale face and fuchsia lipstick. She waves like a celebrity to the room, oblivious to the snickering and rude faces the guests make at her behind her back. Zach has a big grin on his face.
I move my glass to my lips. Empty again. I wait a minute, but Zach doesn’t offer to refill it. He just stares at Shelly. Excusing myself, I head over back to the buffet line.
The dancing starts up again, and brings with it that horrific drumming. The guests seem to be getting along a lot better now, or at least I hope so, based on how close they dance. I don’t enjoy dance parties. I don’t have any rhythm. Not that it matters these days since dancing consists mostly of writhing around. But I’m not much good at grinding against random strangers either.
Shelly snakes through the dance floor, but strikes out partnering with anyone. I glance back over to where Zach stood a moment ago, but he’s gone. Restroom break, maybe.
With him gone, I feel less self-conscious about grabbing some food. It’s sickly sweet and indulgent. Fitting, if you ask me.
I stand by the buffet, watching the sweaty mass thrashing in front of me. Shelly slouches down in the corner, burying her face in her elbow. Against my better judgment, I begin to feel sorry for her. Maybe she didn’t deserve this. It is her birthday after all.
Zach reenters the room and passes right by me. He nods to someone in the corner of the room, and the music stops. He reaches out his hand towards Shelly and takes a bow. A waltz begins to play and he sweeps her up and onto the dance floor. His elegant grace doesn’t surprise me. He leads Shelly around the room, twisting and turning her like a champion. I have an instant desire to take up ballroom dancing.
“It’s so romantic,” a girl says next to me. “They are perfect for each other.”
The crowd oohs and ahhs as they blitz around the room. I shouldn’t be angry. This is Shelly’s birthday, she deserves to be happy. I squint my eyes shut to prevent any tears escaping. A tap on my shoulder startles me.
“May I have this dance?”
Elliott stands behind me, dressed in a chocolate brown suit that matches his fedora. He holds out a shimmering flower, one of the glowlilies from Fowler’s Grove. Stunned, I find it difficult to move. He gently grabs my hand, assumes a waltzing position, then starts to dance.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Now that’s a fine introduction.”
“Sorry, I’m just—surprised.”
He smiles. “Aaron told me about the party.”
“Oh.”
I knew I was best friends with Aaron for a reason.
Elliott and I stumble across the dance floor. Though we try our best, our waltz leaves much to be desired. Compared to Zach and Shelly’s dazzling routine, we dance like drunk penguins.
“Besides,” Elliott says, “based on what you said about Shelly, I had a feeling you’d need a partner after she ensnared your date.”
“I think Zach was perfectly happy abandoning me.”
Elliott dips me and gazes down with his striking blue eyes. “His loss then.”
He pulls me up, but with too much force, and I go toppling over. My hands grasp at the air for balance, but I lose control and crash onto the marble floor.
“Rose, are you hurt?”
I lie there, laughing. “Let’s stay away from the dance moves until we have some practice.
We laugh together.
Zach and Shelly twirl around the room before stopping in the center of the atrium. The whole audience stands transfixed by the couple. Zach releases Shelly’s hands, and in a swift move, r
emoves his jacket and wingvest. His feathers illuminate in dazzling colors under the neon lights. Scooping Shelly into his arms, the couple floats up in an aerial ballet as the orchestral music reaches a crescendo.
“A little corny, don’t you think?” Elliott asks.
The crowd cheers. A girl next to me wipes tears from her eyes. The music fades and they come back down for a gentle landing. Shelly has a smile too big for her face. This has to be one of the happiest nights of her life. They hug, and Zach glances over at me and gives me a wink. Maddock runs over, applauding ecstatically.
My heart races from the excitement. They start walking over to me, hand in hand. Then they pass me. And head outside.
“Where are they going?” I ask.
“Does it matter?” Elliott asks, gazing into my eyes.
I can almost feel the door slamming me in the face as I watch it close behind them. What is he doing? I head towards the door, but a hand grabs me.
“Hey there,” a girl in a tight blouse says. “Give the birthday girl a little privacy.”
Another girl downs a glass of punch. “She’s probably going to give him a night he won’t forget.”
Shuddering, I turn away.
“Are you ok?” Elliott asks.
“Yeah—I’m—well—I’m fine.”
Elliott smiles and places arm around my shoulders. “Nice dance, by the way.”
“Thanks.”
My attention keeps drifting to outside. I shouldn’t scan. It’s none of my business. I have no right to know. But there they are. They sit, Shelly wrapped around Zach like a weed. His back is turned and I can’t get a good scan of his face.
“You look beautiful, by the way,” Elliott says.
I nod.
Zach and Shelly are talking. That’s good. I’m good with talking.
“Something on your mind?” Elliott asks.
Shelly tries to pull Zach closer, but there’s no space left between them. He shifts. She’s talking again, and the bouncing of his head indicates laughter.
A hand waves in front of my face “Rose?”
“Huh—what?”
Elliott wrinkles his forehead. “You aren’t watching them, are you?”
“No—I’m—well.”
Elevated (Book 1): Elevated Page 15