Thorn Abbey (11 page)

“Don’t be so sure. Has anything else happened? Anything supernatural, that is?”

I consider this. My second day here, I imagined that someone snuck up on me from behind on the Kerrith stairs, making me fall. When I was at the library with Max, I imagined that Becca’s signature scorched my fingers. Then there was the tapping.

And Devon’s sleep-talking spells. And the crying from Gita’s room.

I relay all this to Kayleigh.

“If you want my opinion? I think we’re talking serious paranormal activity,” Kayleigh says when I’m finished. “Unless it’s drugs. You haven’t gotten into drugs, have you?”

“No!”

“Don’t be so touchy! I’m just asking. What about your roommate? Is
she
on something.”

“Maybe?”

“Although that wouldn’t explain the glowing. I don’t know of any drugs that make you glow. I’ll have to Wikipedia that.”

“Okay.”

“Listen, Tess. I’ll research all this for you and get back to you. Do you have any cat’s-eye?”

“Any
what
?” I picture a dead cat’s eye.
Gross
.

“Cat’s-eye. Peridot would work too. They’re gemstones that provide protection against evil. Check online. There’s a site called ‘The Magikal Owl’ that has awesome stuff. That’s ‘Magikal’ with a
K
.”

“I will,” I say, although I doubt I’ll be shopping at The Magikal Owl anytime soon. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Be safe, please? And call me like
immediately
if anything else happens.”

“I will. Bye, Kayleigh.”

“Bye, Tessie.”

I hang up and start getting ready for bed. I do feel a little better after talking with Kayleigh. It was good to hear a familiar, friendly voice.

Not that I buy any of her ideas about the supernatural. I don’t believe in ghosts or cat’s-eyes or any of this occult stuff.

On the other hand, what other explanation is there?

A
T
7:20
ON
M
ONDAY NIGHT
, I
RUSH INTO
C
HAPIN, CHOMPING
on a breath mint and swiping stray strands of hair out of my face. I’m running late. I was supposed to meet Max in the lobby five minutes ago so we could walk into tonight’s movie together:
Double Indemnity
, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray.

I left Devon in our room, studying for a Spanish quiz. She’s been acting normal since the Corn Roast. Normal for Devon, anyway. She didn’t come home that night. Yesterday, she showed up around noon wearing her same clothes. She called me an “accident magnet” and asked me if I was okay after the bonfire incident. She also updated me on the lounge project. But that was all.

Maybe Kayleigh is right. Maybe Devon’s got a drug problem. That would explain so much.

Max is not in the lobby. I reach into my pocket for my phone to text him. It’s not there. It’s not in my backpack, either.
Ugh.
Did I leave it on the charger again?

“Looking for someone?”

An extremely cute blond guy stands in the doorway to the parlors. He has a slight British accent. Something about the way he looks at me—like I’m a fascinating insect or a particularly tasty snack—makes me blush.

“I, uh . . . no. I mean, yes. I’m meeting Max. Max De Villiers.”

He smiles affably. “Oh, you’re waiting for Maxi! You must be the new girlfriend. Lucky guy.”

Now I’m
definitely
blushing. “I’m Tess.”

He walks up to me and takes my hand. He raises it to his lips and kisses it lightly. “Killian. Killian Montgomery. I’m sure Maxi’s told you all about me.”

His name sounds familiar. “I don’t think so.”

“Really? I’m very offended. Let me keep you company while you wait for him.” Killian leads me by the hand to a blue velvet couch in the corner. Hanging above it is a painting of men on horseback chasing some poor little fox. At the moment, I can kind of relate to the fox. “So! You’re new, aren’t you? Where are you from? What do you think of our quaint little
school? I’m sorry, I’m barraging you with questions, aren’t I?”

“Not at all.” Killian is still holding my hand. I gently pull it away and pretend to retie my ponytail. The front door opens and closes as a group of students make their way to the parlors for the movie, but no Max. “I’m from upstate. New York, that is. Thorn Abbey is really nice. It’s—” I pause, trying to figure out what I can say that won’t make me sound like a school brochure.

But before I can go on, Killian cuts in. “It’s full of trust-fund babies and backstabbing bitches? I couldn’t agree with you more. Of course, if I had to be perfectly honest, I probably fall into one or both categories. But don’t hold that against me. I promise you, we’re going to be best friends.”

“We are?”

“We are. Wait, didn’t I hear about a demonic fireball attacking you at the hoedown on Saturday? Have you recovered? You certainly
look
perky.”

A demonic fireball.
Killian’s description is eerily accurate. “I’m fine,” I say. It’s the same thing I’ve been repeating to people for the past two days.

“Well, good! I got to the party late and missed all the drama. And speaking of parties, why weren’t you at mine?”

“Your party?”

“Two Wednesdays ago. It was quite the scene. A room full
of the aforementioned trust-fund babies and backstabbing bitches trying to out-rich and out-bitch each other. It was titillating.”

“Oh.” So
that’s
why his name sounded familiar. It was his party Devon wanted me to go to. Max refused to stop by, though. I wonder why, especially if he and Killian are supposedly friends?

“I host these little soirees regularly. Of course you’ll be at the next one,” Killian says.

“Well, I’m not sure if—”

“Good. It’s settled. Speaking of trust-fund babies, where
is
that Maximilian? It’s incredibly rude of him to keep you waiting like this. Doesn’t he know it’s dangerous for a lovely girl like you to be out and about on her own? Someone might snatch you up.”

Lovely girl?
Me?

The front door opens, and this time, Franklin walks in. He frowns when he spots the two of us on the couch. “Tess! Good, I was looking for you,” he says, ignoring Killian.

“You were?”

Killian puts his arm around my shoulders. “Well, you’re too late, Chase. She’s mine until your lord and master gets here. Aren’t you, Tess?”

“Very funny, Montgomery. Tess, can I talk to you? Alone?”

“Sure.” I rise to my feet. What’s up with Killian and Franklin? “Nice to meet you, Killian.”

“The pleasure was all mine.” Killian winks at me.

Franklin takes my elbow and nudges me in the direction of the parlors. “I’d advise you to stay away from him,” he whispers.

“Oh, really? First you tell me to stay away from Max. Now it’s Killian. Don’t you want me to have any friends?” I snap.

“Yes, of course I do. But if I were you, I wouldn’t tell Max that you were hanging out with Killian.”

“What? Why not?”

He sighs. “It’s complicated. Listen, Max texted me and asked me to find you. He said he tried to call you, but you didn’t pick up. “

“I left my cell in my room. Is he okay?”

“He can’t make it tonight. He’s not feeling well.”

“Oh.” I try to shrug off my disappointment.

“I’m going to the movie, though. Do you want to sit together?”

“Um, sure.” I force myself to sound enthusiastic. I do like Franklin. I just wish he were Max instead.

As Franklin and I walk into the parlors, I wonder why Killian wants to be my new best friend. Unless he was just being charming and over the top. Maybe that’s how British boys act.

I also wonder why I’m not supposed to mention him to Max. Is it my imagination, or are there a lot of rules and secrets swirling around this place? Devon doesn’t want me to date Max. Franklin doesn’t want me to either. Max seems to have an issue with Devon. He also seems to have an issue with Killian, at least according to Franklin. And there was a weird vibe between Franklin and Killian, too.

It’s like eighth grade all over again, except that the stakes feel way higher.

After the movie, Franklin and I sit on the front steps of Chapin snacking on candy bars from the vending machine. I’m sure Devon wouldn’t approve, but I can’t help it. I’m pretty much starving on my broth and salad regime, although my jeans are fitting a little looser these days.

“So what did you think?” Franklin asks me.

“It was creepy. But awesome. Nothing like a woman who seduces a guy, convinces him to help her kill her husband for the insurance money and all while she is hooking up with her stepdaughter’s boyfriend.” I laugh and take a bite of my Almond Joy. “I actually saw it once before on TMC, with my mom.”

“Me too. There’s this theater in Astoria that shows old movies.”

“Astoria. That’s across the river from Manhattan, right? In Queens? Is that where you’re from?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“You said you grew up with Max. Is he from Astoria, too?”

Franklin chuckles. “No. The De Villierses live on the Upper East Side. My dad works for Max’s father. Dad used to bring me to the office sometimes when I was little. That’s how I met Max.”

“Oh!” I had no idea their families were connected that way.

“Max went to Beardsley, a very exclusive day school. I went to PS 439. The thing is, I got picked on a lot there. So Mr. De Villiers pulled some strings and got me admitted to Beardsley, with a full scholarship. I didn’t get picked on there because I was Max’s best friend. No one messed with him because he was this big, tall kid and—I don’t know, people just didn’t mess with him. He and I were there through eighth grade. Then Max came to Thorn Abbey, and Mr. De Villiers pulled more strings and got me a full scholarship here.”

“Wow. That’s nice of Max’s dad to help you like that.”

Franklin shrugs. “He did it for Max. Max liked me, and he didn’t have a lot of other friends.”

“Why do you think that is?”

“I don’t know. He’s kind of guarded. Private. But you probably know that already.”

Max told me that he had a hard time opening up. It sounds like he’s always been this way.

A group of students walks by, debating the merits of San Andreas versus Liberty City. Franklin watches them, then crumples his candy bar wrapper and stuffs it into his backpack. “So the two of you are dating now,” he says without looking at me.

“D-did he tell you that?” I feel at once pleased and anxious. I like thinking of Max thinking of me that way. On the other hand, I don’t want another lecture from Franklin.

“It’s kind of obvious,” he replies testily.

I can’t tell if Franklin is annoyed with me for ignoring his advice, or jealous, or worried for Max, or what. Although maybe I’m flattering myself with the “jealous” thing.

“I guess we’re kind of dating. I’m not sure,” I admit. “Can I ask you something?”

He nods.

“That day when you ran into me in the computer center? You said I should stay away from Max because he had issues.”

“Yes.”

“What kind of issues?”

Franklin hesitates. “Issues having to do with Becca,” he says finally. “You could call it unfinished business. He’s not exactly in a position to be in a relationship with anyone right now.”

“Oh.”
Ouch.
If anyone knows if Max still has feelings for Becca, it would be Franklin, right?

“Obviously I can’t stop you. Or him, for that matter. But I don’t want to see you get hurt,” Franklin goes on.

“Oh.” I finish off my candy bar and immediately wish I had another one. “Hey, Franklin?”

“What?”

“What was Becca like?”

His eyes get a faraway look. “She was incredibly popular. And very beautiful. It was hard for anyone to resist her.”

I’m sorry I asked.

B
ACK IN OUR ROOM
, D
EVON IS LYING ON MY BED, SCROLLING
through my phone.

“What are you doing?” I dump my backpack on the floor and hold out my hand. “Give me that. That’s mine!”

Devon glares at me and tosses the phone in my direction. “Yeah, I know it’s yours, dumb ass. I’m trying to figure out how to make it stop beeping. I can’t get any studying done.”

Oh, God, how embarrassing.
“I’m sorry.”

“What model is this, anyway? It’s like from 1995. You need to upgrade.”

“Sorry.”

I check my phone. There are several texts and missed calls from Max. I glance at the first text:

Sorry. I can’t make it tonight. Migraine.

Devon rises to her feet and saunters over to her own bed. Her textbooks, notebooks, and laptop are scattered across her quilt along with a pile of magazines and manicure stuff.

She clears a swath and flops down on her stomach. “Soooo. You and Max have a big date tonight?”

She obviously read his texts. What the hell? It’s the first time she’s mentioned him since she saw us together at the Corn Roast.

“He had to cancel, so I went to the Monday Night Movie Fest with Franklin,” I explain.

“Oooh, smart move! Make Max jealous so he’ll think twice before bailing on you with a phony excuse.”