I sat up a little straighter. Once every two weeks. The same time frame Id discovered for the monsters. It could be a coincidence, butCole had tried to tell me something about the tracks and traps today. Hed had injuries the night after Id seen Bridezilla. Wed envisioned fighting the monsters together.
He had to see them in real life, too. He just had to.
When the boys are missing, I said, trying not to give in to excitement, do you know where they go?
Nope, but like I said, theyre always beat-up the next day. Some of them even miss days or weeks of school afterward. Strange, if you ask me, but Dr. Wright never gives them any lip about it, so why should I?
Another bead of evidence. The length of recovery time. Serious injuries from serious creatures. Were he and his friends actually seeking out and warring with those monsters?
If sothat would mean the monsters were real. That would mean my dad had been the sanest person at home. That would mean everything hed ever said was true, and I had wrongly blamed him for his paranoia.
I hope youre excited because this club rocks! Kat said. Technically kids our age arent allowed in, but Cole and company always are. Probably has to do with their scariness factor. Anyway, Frosty had me put on the list, and because he secretly hopes Ill do exactly this and spy on him, Im just positive he hasnt removed my name.
Forget spying. I wanted to talk with Cole. Wanted to ask him questions about the monsters and the visions, gauge his reactions. He wouldnt tell me outright, and I wouldnt ask outright, but maybe I could trick him into spilling. Or, I dont know, flirt until he couldnt help himself. I looked down at my T-shirt and jeans. As Id already learned, this outfit would not convince him to drop any secrets.
UhKat?
Dont worry, she said with a laugh, clearly knowing exactly what was bothering me. Were making a pit stop first. Well be smoking by the time we arrive at the club, you have my word.
* * *
Smoking wasnt the right term. Kat drove us to Reeves house and by the time Reeve finished with us, we were five-alarm blazing and should probably have been hosed down.
Apparently, Reeve had attended a school of beauty over the summerwhich brought me to my next apparently. Apparently, Reeve was loaded.
She lived in a tall and sprawling mansion, with white columns, domed ceilings, chandeliers dripping with thousands of crystal teardrops, winding staircases and plush rugs with the most elaborate weave work. Out back was a pool as big as a football field. Oh, and there was an entirely separate section of the house where the servants lived.
Yeah. Servants.
Reeve dressed us in slutty, too-tight outfits and hooker heels. My outfit, or as I liked to call it, my Band-Aid, consisted of an ice-blue corset top, a micro-mini skirt with dark blue ruffles and ripped-up leggings. Black boots laced up to just under my knees.
With my pale skin, Id never been one to wear makeup, but Reeve knew exactly what colors to apply to make my eyes pop, my cheeks appear rosy and my lips look like plump candy apples all the boys will want to bite. Her words, not mine.
Kat wore a long-sleeved top that veed all the way down to her navel, forcing her to ditch her bra. At least her legs were covered by a pair of skinny jeans, the lucky girl. Rather than jewelry, Reeve had given her a boys necktie that would play hide-and-seek with her chest.
Reeve dressed in a black-and-white polka-dot dress that flared at the hips and ended at the knees. She reminded me of a sexy seventies housewife.
Sometime during my transformation, Wren and Poppy arrived.
I cant believe were ditching the game for this, Poppy said, gorgeous in a tank top, jean shorts and cowgirl boots.
Better to support our friends than our team, Wren said, as long as you swear were not going to the club so that Ali can hook up with Cole and his gang of societal sores.
Kat held up her hand, palm out. Swear.
As Poppy studied herself in the full-length mirror, she said, Societal sores? Yes, they are losers, but is the witchiness really necessary, Wren?
Im not a witch! Wren said with a stomp of her foot.
Are, too. The guy at Starbucks hit on me, not you, and youre lashing out.
He totally hit on me.
Did not.
Did too!
They continued to argue as we walked to Reeves SUV. Night was in full swing, casting shadows over the house and driveway. Porch lights offered the occasional safe haven, and kept me going. Fear would not control me tonight, though. I wouldnt let it. Tonight was too important, my mission too critical.
On the drive, I spied what could have been a rabbit-shaped cloud. I told Reeve to slow down, convinced for a moment that we were going to wreck. But wonder of wonders, I must have been mistaken. We reached the club safely, no wreck, no deaths.
Kat gave her name to two ginormous bouncers I would have run screaming from in any other situation, and they allowed us to bypass the hundreds waiting to get in. We sailed inside, loud, raucous music instantly assailing my ears.
Isnt this wonderful? Kat had to shout to be heard.
Wonderful wasnt the right word. Id seen things like this on TV, of course. Read about them in books. Listened to lectures from my mom. But this was exciting mixed with scary and sprinkled with a whole lot of this really cant be happening right in front of me.
On the dance floor, men and women were writhing with Cirque du Soleil flexibility. At the bar, guys were doing body shots off girls. In the corners, a whole lot of making out was going on. I smelled sweat and perfume and a few things I couldnt identify.
Building-wise, there were two floors. The bottom was where the dancing and socializing were done, and the top was for VIPs, maybe. An iron railing circled the second tier, allowing a clear view for those at the edge of a separate sectioned-off area. There I could make out black leather couches and chairs, iron tables and
Cole.
Oh, glory, there he was. He sat on one of the couches, facing me, with Frosty beside him. He was talking to someone across from him and laughing. That amusement softened his face, making him look less scary and more Hollywood. He wasnt wearing a hat tonight. Dressed in a black T-shirt that looked as if it had been painted on he was total smex appeal, and I wished I could see his lower half.
I nudged Kat in the stomach and pointed. She followed the line of my finger and clapped.
Goody! Rising on her tiptoes so that she was poised at my ear, she said, Time to enact Operation Boys Will Cry. Stage onemake them notice us.
What? Wren yelped. I thought we were here to dance.
And so we will, Kat said.
What about spying? I demanded. My ticket to Cole.
We cant really spy on them if theyre not spying on us, now can we?
Warped logic, but okay. I wanted to talk to Cole, would talk to him, and yet suddenly all I could think was, oh crap, this wont end well.
9A Fiendishly Mad Tea Party
Okay. So. OBWC. Stage one, part A: Kat pilfered a beer from the tray of a passing waitress, took a swig, then handed it to Reeve, who took a swig and handed it to me.
This will relax you, she mouthed.
Without taking a swig of my own, I handed the beer to Poppy, who grimaced and handed it to Wren, who grimaced and set it on a table. The thing smelled like battery acid and moldy bread, and besides that, I too easily recalled all the problems alcohol had caused my dad. No way was I going there.
Stage one, part B: doing a bump and grind on the dance floor. We formed a train as we maneuvered our way to the center. There, Kat somehow forced everyone else to take a few steps back, leaving us in our own private circle. Anyone watching from the top floor would be unable to miss us.
Unlike Emma, I had no idea how to dance gracefully. Or attractively. But I watched the way the other girls moved their arms and hips and mimicked them. I must have succeeded, because all four offered me smiles of encouragement.
After what seemed an eternity of this I motioned Kat over, and when she reached me, I said, I dont actually want Cole to spy on me. I want him to talk to me.
Oh, he will. But listen, whatever you do, she said, moving behind me and placing her hands on my hips, dont look up. Im about to enact stage two. Stage three will commence soon after that, with no more action required on our part, so be ready.
With a force of will I hadnt known I possessed, I glanced at her over my shoulder rather than at the boys. I want this to happen, but I have a bad feeling about how were going about it.
Good. I know Im on the right track. So, here we go! Like the sex kitten I was beginning to think she was, Kat spun around me and crooked her finger at a group of ultracute random guys.
Stage two: fanning the flames of jealousy.
The guys eagerly joined our little circle. Within minutes, masculine hands were roaming, and soft bodies were bumping into hard bodies. I was uncomfortable and embarrassed, and actually had to slap a boys fingers away from my butt, but I kept dancing, determined to see Kats plan through to the end. Not once did I look in Coles direction.
When I noticed that Reeves expression was as pinched as mine probably was, I twirled my way to her sideyes, Im lameallowing us to concentrate on each other.
Even though one of the boys maintained a station behind her, she offered me a relieved smile.
Finally, I begin to lose myself in the music. My arms lifted over my head, and my eyes closed. I swayed, spunand smacked into a hard chest. Boys! I swear. I peered up, ready to tell whichever guy had decided to come after me to back off. I
I never should have doubted Kat.
Violet eyes glared down at me, barely leashed aggression in their depths. Hard hands settled on my waist, jerking me closercloseruntil only a whisper separated us.
The words back off never formed. And, shockingly enough, neither did a vision.
Lets dance, he said.
You dance? I squeaked. Gotta get that under control, Bell. Adrenaline fizzed in my veins. This boy exhilarated me in a way Id never before known.
From the corner of my eye, I saw that Frosty had taken over Kats personal space. They were arguing and kissing, arguing and kissing. A boy I hadnt met was positioned in front of Reeve, and when he wasnt scowling at her, he was scowling at Bronx, who was backing the random cuties away from us. He looked ready to murder anyone who protested.
No one protested.
Other boys from Coles group were attempting to dance with Poppy and Wren, but the girls ignored them, turning away.
Cole cupped my cheeks and brought my gaze back to him. Why wouldnt I dance?
Uh, maybe because at first glance he looked like he ate puppies for breakfast and kittens for lunch? As for what he enjoyed having for dinnerthat couldnt be discussed in polite company.
Because you think its dumb? The words emerged as a question rather than the statement Id meant them to be.
Something that allows a guy to put his hands all over a girl isnt dumb. Its genius.
As he tugged me ever closer, I muttered, I dont know about this.
Then Ill convince you. Now put your arms around me.
Orders again. But you know what? I obeyed him. I even walked my fingers up his spine and sifted them into his soft, silky hair. I just couldnt help myself. Touching him was a compulsion.
His pupils expanded, black overshadowing all that beautiful purple. Most people are so afraid of me they jump to obey the moment I speak.
Just a guess, but most people hadnt imagined his tongue inside their mouth. Im not most people.
I know. What I dont know is why youre here.
His stinging tone told me far more than his words. I wasnt welcome. I wanted to try something new, I said, lifting my chin. I wouldnt mention my plans to chat with him. Yet. Just then, I had to convince myself there were three things I would not allow him to do. 1) Embarrass me. 2) Intimidate me. Or 3) Send me running.
His frown was less dark and more confused. Whats new for you? Dancing?
And so much more, but all I said was, Yes.
And you let some strange college boy grind all over you for your first time? Thats stupid, Ali.
Not going to be embarrassed, not going to be embarrassed. First, he wasnt grinding on me, and second, youre no better than him.
A solid minute of silence, then You are terrible for my ego, you know that?
I could say the same to him.
But I cant seem to stay away, he added.
I could have melted into a puddle on the floor. I know the feeling, I admitted.
His gaze lowered to my mouth, lingered for a moment before snapping back up. But that didnt stop him from bending down, putting his lips to my ear and saying, So youve imagined kissing me, huh. A husky note had entered his voice. Something intimate, just for me, and a blush heated my cheeks.
That was part of what Id wanted to talk about tonight, yet hed been the one to bring it up. Score one for Ali. I pointed out, The same as youve imagined kissing me.
I know. So how are you making me do that?
Me? Youve got to be kidding.
Yes, you. I never kid. He tightened his grip on me, as if he assumed Id bolt. It has to be you. Nothing like that has ever happened to me before.
Well, nothing like that has ever happened to me before, either, so Im blaming you!
He lifted his head, studied me, and I wasnt sure whether to love or hate the reason behind all that intensity. Lets tackle this from a less volatile angle. Have you wondered what it will be like for real?
Ihad no idea how to answer that. We continued to move together, rocking, swaying. His fingers flexed on me, lowered, and stopped at the curve of my butt, yet slapping his hands away was the last thing I wanted to do.
Well? he insisted.
Only the truth would do, I decided. Yes, I have.
Me, too, he rasped.
My knees almost buckled. Are you saying
That I want to discover if reality compares with imagination? Yes.