The Girl and The Raven (5 page)

* * * *

Caroline Appleberg’s Toyota Camry isn’t meant for six people, but we manage to squeeze into it.

Katie makes introductions as we back out of the driveway.

Caroline, who is lucky enough to have her own car, is super pretty. She has blonde shoulder-length hair, brown eyes and the most perfect teeth I’d ever seen. I love her hot pink top.

Ella Rosenthal has wavy red hair, shocking blue eyes that I’m certain aren’t natural and based on the strain going on under her white tank top, she’s either blessed or is wearing a killer push-up bra.

Suzy Rodriguez seems easy going—an artist according to Katie—with long, dark brown hair and huge, beautiful brown eyes.

Cloe Gardner has skin the color of milk chocolate and shoulder-length, curly, dark hair that frames her face. Her lop-sided grin and easy laugh put me at ease.

“I’m hoping the caliber of hotness at the mall is better than last week,” Ella announces from the passenger seat, staring in her visor mirror as she applies lip-gloss.

Caroline cranes her neck to check traffic as we enter Highway I-90. “Yeah, no kidding.”

“Don’t mind them.” Suzy smiles and winks at me as she lies across our laps in the back seat. “They’re boy crazy.”

Everybody laughs except for Cloe.

Did my laugh sound natural? I force my posture to relax. My gaze sweeps around the car again and I wonder if my jean shorts and red top measure up. I catch Ella’s eyes on me from her visor mirror. My breath catches at the intensity of her stare and I quickly look away.

At the mall, we walk in and out of half a dozen stores, spending the most time at Hot Topic and Forever 21. Two hours later, my stomach is eating itself and I stare longingly as we pass an ice cream shop. No one else seems interested, so I don’t suggest stopping.

“So what’s the deal with the beach?” Caroline asks as we exit Aeropostale. “Are we going to Oak Street on Friday, and if so, what time?”

“Definitely Oak Street,” Ella says vaguely as she turns toward a group of four guys off to our right. Suzy pokes my arm and twirls her finger by her ear, reminding me that Ella is boy crazy.

“What about North Avenue Beach?” Katie suggests. “My mom said it’s nicer.”

Ella and Caroline both stop cold and turn around. My stomach lurches as Ella raises one eyebrow and fixes Katie with an icy stare.

“Because we don’t want to go to the mom-friendly beach, Katie. We want to go where the hot guys hang out.” She enunciates each word as if Katie’s dense. Suddenly my stomach swirls. White heat races down my arms and settles in my hands, throbbing. I clench my fists tight to my sides and take a deep breath. Then another. And another. Incinerating Ella at the mall would be bad. Very, very bad.

“Don’t be so bitchy.” Cloe glares at Ella. “Besides, wasn’t Oak Street Beach shut down last year for pollution or an algae problem?”

“Seriously? That’s totally gross!” Caroline covers her mouth with her hand.

“That’s our Cloe. Always on top of pollution and algae.” Suzy hooks one arm through Cloe’s and the other through Katie’s. “It’s just one of the many things we love about her. That and her monochromatic wardrobe.”

Looking at Cloe’s outfit—a mid-thigh black cotton skirt and white top—I assume she chose them because they look good on her.

Cloe narrows her eyes at Suzy. “I’m color blind, girlfriend. How many times do I have to tell you?”

“Let’s just go and check it out.” Ella’s voice turns whiny. “My cousin was there last week and said it’s awesome. If it sucks, we can head over to North Ave.”

As soon as everyone gives in to Ella’s demand, we continue through the mall.

“FYI—my parents gave me the thumbs up for an end-of-the-year party,” Caroline announces. 

Suzy and Cloe exchange a baffled look.

“What changed their minds?” Katie asks.

“My mom convinced my dad that I’m nothing like my brother and none of my friends are going to sneak booze into their house.”

“It’s been a year since the famous bash.” Ella sighs. “They need to get over it. Besides, what fun is a party without alcohol?”

“Don’t even think about it, Ella,” Caroline warns. “I don’t want to spend the next year grounded from my car.”

Ella smiles, her expression void of any warmth as she glances at her French manicured nails. “Hey...didn’t Rachel Martin hook up with your brother at that party?”

“Rachel’s been with half the guys at school.” Cloe grimaces.

“Say what you want, but she scored with Brandon and now she’s dating the other hottest guy in school,” Ella points out.

“Yeah.” Caroline turns to Ella and sticks out her bottom lip. “I’d give anything to be Dylan’s girlfriend.”

“You and me, both.” Ella throws her arm around Caroline, sliding a sideways glance at her. “Although if you think about it, Rachel has been with your brother
and
with Dylan. That’s pretty gross for you. You should probably reconsider.”

“You’re disgusting!” Caroline shrieks and pushes Ella away.

“Hey Lucy, ten o’clock.” Katie elbows me in the side. “Isn’t that Marcus Turner, your super hot upstairs neighbor?”

It takes me a minute to get her directional reference, but I spot him exiting the music store. He’s walking in our direction.

“My first love…” Katie sighs.

“You and hundreds of other girls.” Suzy laughs.

“What do you mean?” I ask without taking my eyes off him.

“We all went to the same middle school and nearly every girl there was in love with him,” Suzy says. “We were all so depressed he went to St. Pat’s.”

“St. Pat’s?”

“An all-boys private Catholic school.” Katie pouts. “Some crazy rumors went around about him being a freak, but I never heard anything specific.” She sighs. “Such a waste.”

Freak? Hardly. It’s totally stupid, I know, but I can’t help the sad, heavy feeling that washes over me knowing Marcus and I won’t attend the same school. “I don’t know where I’m going yet.”

Katie tugs on my arm. “You’ll be a sophomore, right? I’ll be a sophomore, too, at St. Aquinas Academy. We all will. It’s co-ed, so there’s boyfriend potential. Maybe you can tell your uncles you want to go there?”

“Katie, you shouldn’t get Lucy’s hopes up. Tuition at St. Aquinas is pretty expensive.”

There’s no missing Ella’s message. She’s putting me in my place. I reconsider turning her into a roasted marshmallow.

“I’ll mention it to them.” My gaze follows Marcus as he pulls a CD from a bag and studies the back of it. “How long has he lived at my Gram’s…I mean my uncles’ place?”

“He and Aiden—the older brother—moved in about three years ago. My mom thinks Aiden is totally gorgeous,” Katie says.

“What about their parents?”

“No one really knows,” Suzy says. I catch Ella staring at me and let the subject drop.

I try to figure out how Marcus and I hadn’t run into each other three years ago when I remember that I was only here for a week and a half that summer before Momma cut the trip short. Gram argued, but Momma won by threatening to cut off my visits permanently.

Gram drove me home the next day—ten and a half hours straight—and when we walked into the trailer, we found the place trashed. Dishes were smashed. My two plants had been thrown against a wall and lay dead on the floor. Momma, filthy, with a deranged look in her eyes, slumped on dirt-strewn linoleum.

“Fix me!” Momma screamed at Gram. “I know you can, goddammit!”

I shake off the memory. “I could’ve had him if I wanted to.” Ella says. Her eyes are glued to Marcus. 

I hide my disgust. Marcus shoves the CD back in the bag and continues across the mall. I’m rooted to the spot. He’s about to pass our group when he notices me. He does a double take and then scans the faces of my companions.

“Lucy.” One word—so simple—and every inch of my skin tingles. I feel energized. I return his smile, taking in all six-foot-two-blue-jeans-black-Pearl Jam-t-shirt-inches of him.

“Marcus.” As we stare at each other, everything else…everyone else…disappears. It’s just us.

Until Ella clears her throat. Twice.

“It’s good to see you Marcus.” She beams at him, her hand reaching out to touch his arm. “We went to middle school together. Ella Thompson.”

Her voice. The casual flip of her hair. The smile…flirty, sexy and full of confidence. I hate her for it. Her hand reaches out to touch him again and I fight the urge to smack it away. My belly bubbles. Just one little zap. Surely that wouldn’t hurt her permanently or anything right? I take deep breaths. No, I’ve got to keep it under control.

“Yeah…sure. Good to see you again.” He nods politely, removes her hand, and returns his attention to me. “I have to go, but…can we talk later? It’s important.”

I nod, forget how to breathe. “Sure.”

“Text me.” He leans in slightly, his voice soft, and I inhale his amazing smell. Cologne? Shower gel? It’s intoxicating. I wobble a little. “We can meet on the roof.”

He pulls out his phone and I whip out mine, an early birthday present from my uncles. I suppress a smile as I recall Bernard’s annoyance that Sheldon couldn’t wait one week to give it to me on my actual birthday. After Marcus and I exchange numbers, I watch him merge into the crowd. I turn back to the girls and my cheeks flush as I meet Ella’s hostile glare.

* * * *

First my uncles pushed me to hang out with Katie and her friends. Now that I have plans, they’re throwing a wrench in them. Not that I’m complaining. I’m not sure I’m ready for another day with them. Especially Ella.

“Can’t I meet with Gram’s attorney next week?” Does he want to meet with me about Gram’s estate, like Sheldon and Bernard previously told me? Or about something witchy?

Sheldon drains his wine glass. “I’m afraid not. He wanted to meet you sooner, but this is the first date that works with our schedules.”

“Then I’ll cancel with the girls,” I offer, twirling linguini around my fork.

Bernard lays his hand on Sheldon’s arm. “Is it really necessary for us to be there? Maybe Lucy could stop on her way to the beach?”

When I talk to Marcus later, I’ll find out if he wants to go to the beach, too. Then I remember Ella’s comment that she could’ve had Marcus if she wanted him. Dinner swirls in my stomach and I set down my fork, not able to eat anymore.

Sheldon eyeballs my plate. “You’re not leaving the table until you finish your dinner.”

“He’s trying to fatten you up,” Bernard says with a grin.

“Fine by me, especially if it means I have to eat lots of ice cream and pie.”

After helping Sheldon and Bernard clean the kitchen, I call Katie, who in turn calls Caroline, who says it’s absolutely fine that we make a stop on our way to the beach, so long as I don’t take too long.

I head to my room to go through my clothes and figure out what to wear to Mr. Klein’s office. Something nice that will hide the bathing suit underneath. I push open my door and pause as a tingly sensation erupts at the back of my neck and races down my arms and legs. Scanning the room, I notice my window is wide open. The screen is pushed up, too.

I hesitate for a moment before crossing to the window and poking my head out. My heart pounds in my chest. The hosta plants directly below don’t look trampled. The rest of Gram’s yard looks normal, too, at least as far as I can tell. After pulling the screen down and locking it in place, I check out my room again. My closet door is wide open. I’m certain it was closed before dinner.

I return to the kitchen and my uncles.

“Were either of you looking for something in my closet?”

“No,” Sheldon says, loading dishes into the dishwasher. “Why?”

“My closet was closed before dinner, but I just found it open.”

“You probably left it open and forgot.” Bernard points to Sheldon’s chest. “I can’t believe you did it again.”

“But…my window was open, too.” Bernard dabs at the pasta sauce on Sheldon’s shirt with a paper towel and complains about how hard he works to keep Sheldon’s clothes clean.

Unless I turn into a Tide stain stick, they aren’t going to be interrupted so I return to my bedroom and text Marcus.
Can you talk? I have a problem.

He texts back immediately.
What’s wrong?

Did he know about Gram and Persephone?

Someone’s been in my bedroom.

Staring at my phone, I bite my bottom lip and wait for his response.

I jump as something hits my window screen.

“Lucy!”

I look out the window. Marcus is standing in the yard.

“Open up.”

Squeezing the tabs at the bottom of the screen, I push it up as far as it’ll go. After I step back, Marcus climbs inside. Good thing I live on the first floor. I close my bedroom door, hoping the pasta stain discussion is enough to keep my uncles occupied.

I tell Marcus about the open screen and closet door. I shove my hands in my pockets and rock back on my heels. It’s impossible to act nonchalant with him standing in the middle of my bedroom. What if my uncles hear his voice and burst in? How would I explain this?