Of course he was. Ugh, I should have known he wasn’t coming to talk to me. I mean, I did just fail a huge rite of passage today. Gosh, I’m such a moron. It’s not like he’s still really my crush anyways.
Christina wrings her hands and bites her bottom lip. “I don’t know how I did it really.” She glances at me and cringes. “I just closed my eyes and tapped into my powers.”
“Huh.” He rubs his thumb across his bottom lip. “I guess that makes sense. Thanks.” He turns and leaves.
As soon as he’s out of hearing distance, she turns to me. “I’m so sorry.”
“Girl, please.” I hold up my hand. This is ridiculous. “Nothing for you to be sorry about. Got it?”
A small smile spreads across her face. “Yeah, but still. I know you like him.”
“Still, sisters before misters.” I wink at her.
“Oh my god.” She rolls her eyes and laughs. “Did you just say that?”
I grab her arm again and pull her close to me. “Yes, because it’s true. Now let’s get to my house and get something to eat. I’m starving.”
Since I don’t live far from campus, we arrive at my house within minutes. When we walk into the kitchen, Charlie is already there and sitting at the kitchen table eating a hotdog and chips.
His eyes land on Christina, and he scans her from head to toe.
He will deny it ‘til he’s blue in the face, but he’s always found my best friend attractive.“So, hope you guys aren’t hungry.” He takes a huge bite out of his hot dog and talks with his mouth full. “I just ate the last thing in the refrigerator.”
What a dickhead. He’s a great brother; except when it comes to food. It’s all hands on deck when it comes to that. I raise my middle finger and salute him high in the air.
Christina snorts with laughter.
After swallowing, Charlie takes a sip of water, then scowls in my direction. “You know. That’s very unlady like.”
“Eating all the food is inconsiderate.” I go to the pantry and grab some chips. “So, I guess that makes us even.” I turn and throw a pack of chips at Christina and then grab two waters. “See you later.”
We walk out of the kitchen and through the small living room to the hallway that connects the three bedrooms. Mom and Dad’s bedroom is to the left and to the right is a large bathroom Charlie and I share. To the left is my room and right across from my room is Charlie’s. Our house is small, and we have just enough space for the four of us, unlike Christina’s large mansion. However, her family is one of the prestigious ones. She’s a Malone.
Once we enter my room, we plop down on my full-size bed pushed against the pale blue wall.
I sit crisscross on my bed and open the bag of Doritos. “I’ve got to figure out what I did wrong today.”
Christina bends over and removes her shoes, before she pulls her socked feet underneath her and opens her own bag. “Yeah. Do you have any clue what happened?”
If I did, this would make it all easier. “Not a clue.” I eat a chip and sigh. “I couldn’t feel the magic inside me like you talked about. Nothing happened.”
Her blue eyes turn my way. “I’m so sorry. Maybe yours works different than mine.” She runs her fingers across her bottom lip. “I’m probably the reason why you messed up.”
Oh, no. We aren’t going down that road. “You’re not. That’s how it works for you.” I place my bag on the bed and put my hands in my lap. “You were just trying to help. You didn’t mess me up. Don’t even try to blame yourself.”
“But my parents….” Her hands jerk.
“Stop.” I hold up a hand. “Your parents are over critical of you. They don’t see what an amazing person you are. Just stop. It’s not your fault. I’ll figure it out tomorrow. Don’t worry.”
She lets out a breath and leans back against my wall. “They’re being really secretive here lately.”
Her parents are something else. “What’s going on? Any clue?”
“Not a clue.” She picks at the royal blue quilt we’re sitting on. “They are gone a lot and whisper when I’m around. They’ve never acted like this before. It’s like something big is going down.”
Times like this make me hate them even more. They always make her feel like something is wrong with her and exclude her from things. Families are supposed to be able to confide in one another. We’re old enough now to be in on the details. They’re making her feel more inadequate. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“Yeah.” She looks up at me and forces a grin. “You’re probably right.” Her cell phone chirps and she picks it up. “That’s mom. I’ve got to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She reaches over and pulls me into a hug. “Call me if you need to talk, okay?”
And that’s one reason why that girl is so amazing. No matter how hard her parents are on her, my problems and concerns always come first. “Of course, and same for you.”
She stands up and heads out my door.
I glance to the left and look at the window in my room. The sun is shining down and the leaves on the tree are beginning to turn yellow, orange, and red. Fall is coming on in full force and so is our last year of school. Next year, I will be out working the field with our parents, which is what Charlie is doing now. However, if I can’t get my shit together and reap that dummy tomorrow, I might just get stripped of my reaper ability.
2
My alarm blares loud, startling me from my sleep. I sit
