“No shit!” Sadie did a double-take. “So why are we just standing around? Shouldn’t we tell someone?”
“You mean the police?”
“Well … maybe not that drastic.” Sadie hesitated, a thoughtful look flitting across her face. “I mean, you weren’t attacked, I didn’t get a good look at the girl, and you don’t even know her name. The police couldn’t do anything.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, thinking how risky being questioned would be when I wouldn’t be able to answer routine questions about myself.
“Are you sure you’re okay? I’ve never seen you so scared. Not even when you got that threatening note—” She broke off with a choked cry. “The stalker! Could it be the redhead?”
“I think so,” I admitted as I turned on the sink faucet, feeling oddly comforted by the rushing sound of water as I washed my hands. “She must go to our college. Are you positive you didn’t recognize her?”
“It was too quick and dark.” Sadie ripped off a paper towel and handed it to me.
“Thanks.” I wiped my hands. “I won’t forget what she looks like and I’ll be careful not to let her trap me again. I can’t believe she followed us all the way here. I don’t even know who she is.”
“Well, she obviously knows you. Probably the girlfriend of some guy you hit on — it wouldn’t be the first time you pissed off some chick.” Sadie giggled. “Like when you were sucking face with Bryanna’s fiance at her engagement party.”
“Can we not talk about my past? I’d rather get out of here and far away from that psycho girl. And I could really use your phone.”
“I understand.” She handed the phone over, then held my arm gently as she led me out of the restroom.
It was surreal how ordinary the gas station’s food mart seemed after my short moments of hell. People walked up and down the aisles, absorbed in choosing candy bars and other trivial items. I spotted Warren over by the hot-food area, squirting mustard on a corndog. He arched his brows in curiosity when Sadie called out that we were going to wait by the car.
When I stepped outside, I tensed and looked around for red hair. Logically, I knew the psycho girl wouldn’t be dumb enough to wait around. She was probably miles away by now. But if she was obsessed enough to follow me hundreds of miles, she wouldn’t give up that easily. She could still be lurking in one of the many parked cars — waiting for another chance to get me alone.
“She’s gone,” Sadie assured me, guessing my thoughts. She opened the back car door for me. “Talking to James will make you feel better. I’ll get us some burgers — no onions, with cheese, right?”
“Uh, fine. Thanks,” I told her. Of course I had no intention of calling James.
With the door shut, the outside noises of cars and trucks faded to calming silence. Lifting the phone, I rejoiced to have a signal.
“Eli, it’s me,” I said as soon as I heard his voice.
“Amber!” Relief, fear, shock merged in this one word.
I found myself smiling despite everything. “It’s great to hear my real name.”
“Why didn’t you call sooner? I’ve been freaking worried. Where are you?”
“A gas station outside of L.A. I couldn’t call until now because we were driving through hills and I couldn’t get a signal.”
“So what’s been happening?”
“Insanity!” I shook my head wearily. “Remember that stalker I told you about? She trapped me in a bathroom.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Sadie startled her and she ran off. I still have no idea who she is.” I sagged against the car seat. “How can I protect myself when I don’t know why she hates me?”
“It’s not you she hates,” Eli said angrily. “I love my sister but she’s the one who has enemies. Just get out of there and come home.”
“Not until I finish my assignment,” I insisted. “Grammy trusted me and I don’t want to let her down. I could work faster if I had the GEM.”
“I’ll get it for you,” he promised.
“Is that bi … Katelyn still helping you?”
“Yeah, Katelyn’s been great. She’s talking to the resident manager, trying to get a key to Shari’s room.”
I scowled. “That’s so sweet of her.”
“She’s totally cool,” Eli said, totally not getting my sarcasm. “I found out why she hates you … I mean, Sharayah.”
“Let me guess — because of some guy?”
“How’d you know?”
“I’m getting to know your sister … too well.”
“Unfortunately, I know what you mean.” His voice ached with misery. “Sharayah has changed so much, in all the wrong ways. When Katelyn was talking about her, it was like she was describing a stranger. Katelyn and Shari got along at first — until Katelyn went out with this guy and he only wanted to talk about my sister. Katelyn was disappointed but thought it was only fair to let Shari know this guy liked her. Only instead of being grateful, my sister flipped out, swearing and shouting at Katelyn.”
“Why?” I asked, surprised.
“I have no idea — and neither does Katelyn. They haven’t spoken since then.”
An idea struck me. “What if the guy was Gabe? We know they were going out, but they must have broken up because Rayah isn’t dating him anymore.”
“Except the guy Katelyn went out with was named Caleb.”
I frowned, confusion mounting as I added
Eli seemed to guess what I was thinking because he reassured me he’d keep trying to get the GEM. “If I can’t get someone into the room legally, I’ll pick the lock — I think I can do it thanks to tips from your friend Dustin.”
“You talked with him? Great! I was going to suggest that before Mauve grabbed the phone out of my hands.”
“He asked about you, too, and when I told him you were in my sister’s body, he wasn’t even surprised.”
“You told him?” I said, biting my lip as I thought of the Nine Divine Rules.
“I thought it was okay since you’re such good friends.”
“Well, it’s okay with me — but I’m not so sure about Grammy.”
“Your
“Telling anyone about being a Temp Lifer is against rules. I shouldn’t have told you,” I admitted. “But I’m glad I did. And I’m glad Dustin knows, too.”
“He has your back a thousand percent. He was ready to drive all the way here even though we could get arrested for breaking into a girl’s dorm.”
“It wouldn’t be his first arrest. Dust is proud of the handcuff scar he got from his first time resisting arrest.” My anxiety eased with my laugh. I told Eli how Dustin thrived on political challenges and believed freedom could only come from chaos. “I don’t always agree with him,” I added fondly, “but I love him like a brother.”
“Technically I’m your brother now,” Eli said wryly.
“You don’t feel like a brother to me.”
“Yeah, but hearing your voice, I keep thinking — that’s my sister.”
“Only on the outside.”
“I know … Still, it’ll be weird seeing you.”
“Way weird.” I paused, wondering what kind of contact was allowed between siblings. Could I hold his hand? Hug him? Give him a “sisterly” kiss on the cheek? Damn, this was going to be so awkward. If talking to him made my hands sweat and my heart pound, what would happen when we were face-to-face?
Before I could discuss any of this, he told me someone was at the door.
“No worry,” he said a moment later. “It’s only Katelyn.”
“Oh, goodie,” I said not-so-happily.
