“No, I mean like cereal.” She huffed and handed me a bowl. “I’m not your mama.”
“Too bad.” I shuffled behind her to the mini fridge by the door she’d set up as a clever little kitchen station. Grabbing a bowl, I poured in cereal and milk. “Still tastes good.”
“I’m a gourmet chef, you know.” Pulling out her phone, she tapped out a message on the screen. “We’ve only got five hours to prepare for tonight.”
“Five hours?” I choked on my cereal. “How long does it take you to get ready for a date?”
She shrugged, sliding the phone in her pocket. “I thought we could get our nails done and get blow outs. I’m sure you want to look good for Will after texting him all night.”
“What are you talking about?” I gulped down the last of my cereal and padded over to the sink to rinse the bowl.
“Please.” Shanda gave me an eyeroll that I was beginning to think of as her signature move. “I saw your phone lighting up over and over last night. Kept me up till 2 a.m.”
Suddenly my lungs froze as the air stilled around me. “There’s a message on my phone? I didn’t give Will or Kevin my number. Did I?”
Making a mad dash across the room, I lunged for my nightstand. Tremors seized my hands, but somehow I gripped my cell. Sure enough, 6 texts appeared from Jake. The first one read, Miss you, babe. Let’s meet up before you leave. Hope it’s not too late. Call me.
“I’m gonna kill her. How could she do this?” I slammed the phone on my bed, but it bounced once, landing as softly as a happy leprechaun. How pathetic, just like my gullible little sister who must’ve ratted me out.
“Hey, I didn’t look. I swear.” She swiveled her four-inch heel into the wood floor.
I punched the delete button until my index finger turned white. Paige couldn’t be that stupid, could she? “Not you, my sister. She obviously gave Jake my new number. That’s the last thing I wanted. I just wanted to be free of that jerk.”
I cratered my face into the pillow.
“That was your ex texting you at all hours of the night? What a creep.” She eased down beside me on the bed. “Okay, I’ve waited long enough. Time to spill it. What happened between the two of you?”
“If you must know…” I let my words trail off. I couldn’t look at her, so I rolled over and examined the ceiling. Plastic stars stuck to the drywall in some sort of constellation probably leftover from the last girl.
Shanda huffed next to me. Better just rip off the band-aid and be done with it.
“Fine, not like it’s something original, anyway. Same old sad story. I’d been with Jake since freshman year. Right after my brother disappeared, he was really there for me. Until I caught him making out with my best friend.” I glued my eyes to the plastic stars above, not daring even to take a peek at Shanda. She didn’t say a word. “Becca mouthed off to me and we got into a fight. I hit my head on the fireplace and ended up in the hospital with eleven stitches in my head.”
“Seriously?” Her screech filled the room. Probably echoed down the hall, too, then around the world. A mixture of pity and sadness filled her eyes, her jaw dangling open like a horror-movie poster child. “Sorry, but dang, girl, that sounds really bad. Can I see?”
“You mean the freak show. Why not?” The numbness crept in as I parted my hair and bent down. “I was out for a few hours. Had eleven stitches.”
Her fingers grazed the bumpy scar. “Ouch, that looks painful. How long ago was this?”
“Six months.” My eyes welled up. I wiped the mist away and fingered the jagged path in my hairline before flipping my hair back into place. “Needless to say, I’m kinda nervous about this double date tonight.”
She leveled her gaze at me. “How long are you gonna let some loser keep you from dating?”
The full weight of her question hit me. My neck throbbed and I rubbed the kink away. “Jake can’t keep me from anything. I’m just not ready.”
“Seriously?” She arched back, eyes wide as I’d ever seen. Why was that the most shocking part of my story? “Personally, I believe in the rebound guy. It’s worked for me on several occasions. Who wants to be tied down by a guy in high school, anyway? This is the time to be free and have fun.”
“That’s my plan, just without a guy.” I retreated to my spot on the windowsill.
She inhaled a sharp whistle. “Does that mean you chose to come to boarding school?”
Her question caught me off guard. “Kinda. But not because of that.”
“Wow, I thought I had it bad, being shipped here because Daddy’s too busy working.” Her hand smacked her lips, as if she hadn’t meant to say that. “But I’m glad you’re not gonna let a cheater we texts you in the middle of the night stop you from living your life. Sounds like he’s a real psycho.”
“Tell me about it.” The clouds still colored the world as gray and moody as I felt. I pressed my forehead against the cool glass.
Tiptoeing toward me, she hovered near my window perch. “But I don’t get it. If you’re not ready to date, why are we going on a double date tonight? Just say the word and we cancel this whole thing.”
“You can’t tell anyone this.” I whispered, saying a silent prayer that I was reading this girl right. “I’m not in it for the double date. I’m trying to get information on my brother.”
“You’re kidding?” Shanda gasped and reared back, almost hitting her head on the cinder block wall. “I had no idea you had it in you, Lucy. My roommate, the little spy.”
“Sshhh!” I hissed, smacking her arm. “Keep it to yourself, okay?”
“Of course. You have my word, I won’t tell a soul.” She clapped her hand over her heart. “I promise.”
“Thank you.” Something akin to hope flared up inside me, now that someone at Montrose knew the whole truth. Maybe I’d finally found someone I could trust.
“Okay, I’ll stop grilling you.” She took a few steps back and smoothed out the wrinkles on my bedspread, like nothing ever happened. If only I could smooth out the mess of my life so easily.
My feet found the floor and I crossed the room, pulling her into a big hug. “Thanks for listening, even though you made me tell.”
“How else are we gonna be best buds? Dishing about guys brings girls together.” She wriggled away from my embrace.
Maybe Shanda had a point. Was I really going to let Jake stop me from dating? It was high time to forget about Jake, my ex, and focus on pumping Will and Kevin for information on my brother. What better way than a trip to New York City on a Saturday night? Finally, something worth looking forward to.
Chapter 8
“Wow, it reeks in here.” As the car rumbled down the track, Shanda elbowed closer to me in the jam-packed tin can. She pinched her nose with one hand, gripping the subway rail with the other. “Who knew you could cram so many people into one car? I can’t believe we had to take a train for this. I haven’t been on the subway in years.”
“Poor spoiled rich girl.” Kevin slung his arm around her shoulder. “I hope you can survive one night of roughing it on the subway.”
“I doubt it.” She smiled up at him like she’d forgotten all about the twenty-plus people surrounding her.
“Gross.” The car lurched to a stop, and I bounced into Will’s rock-solid chest. Probably a six-pack under there. My mouth dried up. I hoped he didn’t think I was talking about him. Why didn’t Shanda pull me aside and shake some sense into me? This guy was too gorgeous, not to mention way out of my league.
People rushed out as the doors opened. The perfect opportunity to put some much-needed space between me and Will.
The silver peep-toes I thought were oh-so-cute only an hour ago now dug into my feet as I scooched away from Mr. Ken Doll. But the cute shoes perfectly accessorized my flowy purple dress, which matched the three-stone amethyst ring on my left hand. Plus, those extra few inches of height might pay off later.
We piled off the train at the next stop and Shanda yanked me up the cement subw
ay steps. My heels pinched with each step. At the top, I walked out into the most breathtaking scene ever.
Neon lights lit up the darkness. Storefront signs, billboards, marquees, all colored the night sky as bright as a runway. I twirled to take it all in, my skirt ruffling around me. “Times Square, how fabulous is this? Look, it’s Hello Kitty.” I pointed to the person in the life-sized plush costume a few feet ahead.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Will’s eyes flashed at me. Was he talking about me or Times Square? Certainly not Hello Kitty.
Heat rose to my cheeks. I stopped spinning and smoothed down my dress. “Yeah, that Hello Kitty is a real bombshell.”
“Wait till you see the restaurant I picked out.” Kevin sauntered to the curb, his spiky hair blocking the fuzzy feline face.
I pulled my phone out of my clutch and tilted to the left to see around him. “Great, now she’s gone.”
“Shush, you’re ruining this beautiful moment for Lucy.” Shanda looped her arm through mine. “This is one of my favorite spots in the city. I’ll always love Times Square. It’s always bright, always loud, always changing.”
“Always commercial.”
“Bite your tongue.” She kicked Kevin’s shin.
“Hey, I was just kidding.” He hobbled into the crosswalk. “C’mon.”
“Fine.” She huffed, and we followed Kevin across the street, then down the dirty sidewalk.
The whole time I drank in every color, every flash. Until I face-planted into Shanda’s braids.
“The Hard Rock Café?” She halted in front of the glittering two-story guitar, her nose wrinkled like we stood in front of a truck stop or something. She punched his arm, shoving him against Will.
“Give it a chance, I’ve got connections.” Kevin pulled out his cell, speaking in rapid-fire Spanish.
The crowd parted, and a hostess appeared with menus. He dragged Shanda through the maze of tourists milling around the entrance. Will and I pushed people aside to catch up.
The hostess led us up a curvy staircase to a booth by the window. “Your server will be out in a sec. Later, Kev.”
“See you, Carmen.” He waved as she scurried off.
Shanda glared at Carmen’s back. “How did you do that?” Her question held a brittle edge.
“My best friend from Cali’s girl. We all grew up together, yet somehow she ended up in New York, too.” Kevin shrugged and slid into a giant U-shaped booth right in front of the immense bank of windows. He patted the seat beside him. “What’s the big deal? I come here a lot.”
“Whatever it takes to get this view.” She scooted next to him, bouncing on the red leather bench and turning her face to the window. “Times Square is amazing from up here.”
She pressed her nose to the glass. I slid in next to her, gazing out the window. The lights twinkled back at me through the tinted pane.
“Stop that. Who knows what’s on that window.” Kevin tugged her arm until she sat down. “At least wait till after we eat to get all germy.”
“You guys ready to order?” A waiter hovered over our table.
“It’s not rocket science. Everything’s good here, right, Jeremy?” He nodded at the waiter and started us off, then we all gave our orders.
As the waiter stalked off, Kevin put his arm around Shanda and said something in a low tone. She giggled like a middle-schooler.
“Gag me.” I veered away, right into Will’s stare, like a tractor beam reeling me in.
He bent down, his voice low. “I had no idea they’d hit it off so well.”
“Funny how opposites attract.” A shiver crawled down my neck and I backed up. “Where are you from?”
I did not just do that. Now who’s dishing out pickup lines?
His eyes wrinkled in the corners, like he knew every silly schoolgirl thought running around in my head. “I’m from the DC area, but my dad recently moved to Chicago after my parents split. I go back and forth between the two cities breaks and holidays.”
“That sounds hard.” Great job, Captain Obvious. I wanted to smack myself in the forehead. That could be construed as a general, friend-type question, right? I wish. Proof positive that I had no idea how to just be friends with this guy. I sipped my water, smoothing the napkin over my dress.
“Pretty much.” That intense blue-eyed stare fixed itself on me. Draping his arm around the back of the booth, he inched closer to me. “It’s a recent split. They were a DC power couple for fifteen years. My mom’s a political consultant and my dad is a lawyer. He had to retake the bar exam when he moved out of state.”
“Man, that sounds rough.” I winced, giving him a sad smile.
“There were definitely some nasty headlines about them.” His eyes sparked as he leaned in closer.
“Wow. I can’t even imagine.” My whole body tensed at his proximity and my eyes fell to the tabletop. I scratched a chip in the wood with my fingernail, anything to avoid those sea-gray eyes staring a hole in the side of my head.
Will’s fingers brushed mine, sending a shockwave through me. I gazed up at him, then caught a glimpse of someone standing over our table.
Jake.
My heart thudded in my chest, loud as a thunderstorm. It was all I could hear. A dark shadow hovered next to him, bringing a musty stench with it.
“No way.” I blinked, but he still stood there. And so did the shadow. Something curdled in my throat. I could practically taste the fear, and it was coming from the wisps of dark smoke emanating from the black, monster-like shadow creature hovering next to my ex. This couldn’t be happening. Or was this exactly what Mr. Harlixton was talking about?
“That’s not Jeremy.” Shanda eyed the stranger. When she glanced over at me her expression died. “Do you know that guy?”
“Lucy, you okay?” Will grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “Who is this guy?”
Did he use a stun gun on me or something? I couldn’t move, couldn’t form a coherent sentence. Maybe it was the weird shadow. It had wraith-like tendrils that curled around the jerk’s throat.
I rubbed my eyes again, but it didn’t go away like my other visions. Was this a nightmare? The lump in my throat dropped like a bomb, exploding fireflies in my stomach. If seeing this Creature from the Black Lagoon hovering next to Jake was one of my new Seer powers, no way could stomach that role.
“Sorry to interrupt like this.” Jake pulled up a chair and parked himself at the end of our table. Typical Jake. Except now he had a demon shadow buddy by his side. “I had to see Lucy. She and I go way back.”
He shook Kevin’s hand, then Will’s. “I’m Jake, her boyfriend.”
Disgust gurgled in my stomach, mixed with Jake-rage. Who did he think he was? Showing up here like this? Suddenly the shadow’s tendril drifted from Jake’s side of the table toward me. Before I knew it, an icy grip encircled my throat. I clawed at my throat to get more air. My fingers froze like they’d wrestled a Popsicle, the cold shivering down to my feet.
Words were impossible, breathing difficult.
Jake reached over to shake Shanda’s hand.
She didn’t budge, just blinked at me. “You mean ex-boyfriend, right, Lucy?”
I tried to nod, but I couldn’t move. Like my limbs suddenly turned to stone. The panic welled up with a fire, burning in the corners of my eyes.
Then the waiter came over with our food, nodding at the new guy. “Did I miss someone?”
“I’ll have the Hard Rock bacon burger and a chocolate shake.” Jake shot me his I’m-so-charming face. Yeah, right. “You don’t mind if I join you, do you?”
“Not at all.” Kevin popped a fry in his mouth.
Shanda and Will just stared at me.
With a surge of strength I shook my head hard, too hard. The shadow tightened its grip around my throat, cutting off my air supply.
“You feeling okay? You don’t look so good.” Will brushed my hair back. His touch sparked the shadow and made it slither back to Jake’s side.
Panting like I�
�d run a mile, I gulped lungfuls of air. No way could I meet Will’s stare, full of questions. I had to think, to figure out some way to keep Jake’s god-awful monster away from me.
“Jake, what brings you to New York?” Kevin asked.
“That’s a funny story.” His eyes roamed over me like a piece of meat.
The anger swirled inside me, mixing with the fear and sheer panic until I couldn’t take it anymore. Acid burned in my throat. I clutched my stomach.
“I could lie and say I was in the area. But it’s not true.” He reached for my hand. His touch burned my fingers, and I jerked back.
“How’s Becca?” I spat out the words like they were a disease. As far as I was concerned that’s what he was, too. Biting into my lip, I glared my worst evil-eye at him.
“It’s over now,” he snapped. “That’s why I’m here.”
Shanda’s face scrunched up, and she rubbed my forearm. “How can you come here and say these things to Lucy? In front of her friends that you don’t even know?” She threw down her napkin.
Will slid his arm around my shoulders. Even Kevin tensed up.
A glimmer of hope surged through me. I clenched my teeth. Time to get it together. No more creepy shadow to hold me back. “Why don’t you just leave? I don’t know why you came, but I don’t want you here. Please go.”
Jake’s face softened. “Luce, I miss you, that’s all.”
“Maybe we should take this outside.” Will’s jaw tightened into a straight line, his eyebrows bunching up.
“I won’t go anywhere with him. It’s over. It’s been over for months and I’m not discussing it.” Flashes of hot anger seethed under my skin, ready to electrocute that crazy shadow if it came any closer. I kept my voice steady, loud and firm. “Leave.”
Jake jerked back in his chair like he’d been slapped. “How can you say that? It wasn’t all bad, remember?” The smoky figure lingered at his side. “I’m sorry, Luce. Can’t we just get over it and move on?”
“Stop it,” Will cut in. “You’re upsetting Lucy, can’t you see that? You heard the lady, it’s time for you to leave.”
He squeezed my shoulder but kept his angry eyes on the cheater. What a hero.
Montrose Paranormal Academy, Book 1: The Nexis Secret: A Young Adult Urban Fantasy Academy Novel Page 9