The Blue Door

18



THE FICKLE FRIEND



Jedrick gazed down at Tamaes, who sat upon the sloping roof just beyond the bright pattern of colors created by the light shining from Prissie’s bedroom window. “You seem rattled,” the Protector remarked.

The Guardian stared at his hands, which were loosely laced before him. Eventually, he dipped his head. “A little.”

“This is the second time you were able to meet Prissie.” With a faint smile, Jedrick remarked, “I remember how dismayed you were the last time.”

Tamaes huffed in amusement. “She cried.”

“And this time?”

The Guardian ducked his head and softly said, “She smiled.”

Choosing a seat beside the other angel, Jedrick frankly broached, “There is said to be a danger amongst Guardians. When they place too much importance on their charge, they lose sight of God.”

Leaning back to gaze into the spread of stars overhead, Tamaes lightly traced the scar that cut down his right cheek. “I am well aware of this, Captain.”

“I know,” Jedrick acknowledged. “However, I would be a poor leader if I did not address the matter.”

“I shall remain Faithful.”

With a nod, the Protector moved on. “Several in our Flight have already befriended Prissie, and I see no reason why you cannot do the same.”

Silence lingered long, but Tamaes finally broke it, wryly admitting, “That may be why I am rattled.”


Usually after the fair closed, summer’s excitement fizzled away, but Prissie’s mind still whirled with new faces, half-formed fears, and an unsettling suspicion that even if she wished it, none of the strange things she’d seen were going to fade away. Maybe it would be better if they did, like waking from a bad dream.

But was it all bad?

“No,” she sighed, staring hard at her bedroom ceiling. Still, Prissie would have been happier if she could pick and choose the parts that involved her — the friendly, smiling, happy parts. Determined to put the previous days’ events behind her, she thrust all thoughts of angels from her mind.

Prissie wandered downstairs in the vague hopes that Momma would be able to suggest something to do. A little excitement might be nice, just not the kind that involved death-defying tumbles, ominous warnings, and keen-edged swords.

She found Momma and Grandma Nell on the back porch, sipping iced tea on the slowly swaying swing. Her grandmother was casually flipping through the pages of Beau’s new book about Sunderland State Park, but she glanced up over her reading glasses and blandly remarked, “Here comes another one.”

One look at her daughter, and Momma smiled knowingly. “You look restless.”

“I’m bored,” grumbled Prissie.

Grandma Nell chuckled. “I can’t believe you young ones! Anyone with sense would thank heaven for a quiet place to collapse after all the flimflam and folderol of the fair, but here you come, begging for more!”

“But there’s nothing to do!”

“Oh, there’s always something that needs doing,” her grandmother retorted, a teasing sparkle in her eyes. “Are you looking for extra chores?”

“Something fun,” she hastily amended.

“Why don’t you call Margery?” Momma suggested. “You two are usually full of plans about how to spend your last free days before school starts.”

Prissie gave her a pained look. “She’s probably busy.”

Momma chased a droplet of condensation down the side of her glass with one finger, then casually asked, “Did something happen with Margery the other day? You left with one set of friends and came back with another.” Studying her daughter’s face, she added, “Neil seemed to think you had a falling out.”

“Since when does Neil know anything about anything?” Prissie snapped, upset that he’d tattled.

“He was only passing along something that nice young man Baird said,” Naomi explained, her voice soft.

Momma always did get quieter when she scolded, and Prissie knew she was pushing it. Still, her tone sharpened defensively. “He has no right to stick his nose into other people’s problems!”

“So there is a problem.” Momma shook her head and prompted, “What happened, sweetheart?”

Prissie only hesitated a little. It felt good to finally tell someone. Momma and Grandma listened patiently as she explained how awful Margery’s birthday party had been. Being looked down on, left out, and laughed at — maybe they were small things, but they hurt in a big way. “It’s like they’ve forgotten all about me!” she exclaimed bitterly.

“Then maybe it’s time to remind them,” Momma suggested. “Do something to show them you still want to be friends.”

“Like what?”

Grandma Nell interjected, “It’s not like you to sit back and wait for your friends. Don’t you usually keep them organized.”

Prissie nodded slowly as she thought back. “I did have lots of fun things planned, but right around the middle of summer, everyone was suddenly too busy.” It had been frustrating to hear nothing but no and not this time from Margery and the others, so she’d stopped asking. “Maybe I gave up.”

“Try, try again,” Momma cheerfully rejoined. “Why don’t you invite the girls to the mall?”

“When?”

“The longer you put off reconnecting, the harder it will be,” Grandma Nell warned.

Prissie’s mother brightly agreed. “There’s no time like the present!”

“Today?”

“It’s short notice, but why not?” Momma replied encouragingly. “Go see if they’re free, and we’ll take it from there.”

“I thought you were tired,” Prissie said, dragging her feet just a little.

“Completely exhausted,” her mother acknowledged, waving her toward the door. “Which is why I’ll bribe Tad into playing chauffeur if you can get a group together.”

Grandma Nell closed the oversized book she’d been perusing and extended it. “Put this in the office for me on your way to the phone?”

Prissie was grateful for the advice, but it didn’t really make it any easier for her to make the first move. She shouldn’t have to remind Margery, April, and Jennifer that they were friends — should she? But a trip to the mall would be the perfect distraction.

In the end, Prissie couldn’t quite summon up the nerve to call. Instead, she fired up the family computer in the little office area off the kitchen and copied them all on an email instead. Down in West Edinton, three cell phones were undoubtedly alerting their owners to new messages.

While she waited for a response, Prissie idly turned the pages of the big book Grandma had passed along. It was the one Harken had given Beau. Apparently, the nearby state park’s property had once belonged to A. J. Sunderland, one of West Edinton’s founders. She’d always liked the hiking trails that meandered through the nearby woodlands, and she could remember camping there a few times when she was little. Near the center of the book, Prissie found a foldout map of part of Sunderland’s impressive cave system and traced her finger along the maze of tunnels that apparently stretched for miles.

Just then, the computer chimed, and she felt a zing of excitement. April had responded! Clicking the message, Prissie smiled triumphantly. Jennifer was over at April’s house, and they were both bored to tears. They could meet up. The sooner, the better!

Margery’s reply came through a few minutes later, also agreeing to the plan. Margery used to use a lot more exclamation points, maybe because shopping was involved. Still, a yes was a yes.

She was just logging out when Koji tapped on the door frame. “Are you going somewhere, Prissie?”

Not quite meeting his gaze, she said, “Yes. I’m going to the mall with my friends.”

“May I accompany you?”

Prissie appreciated everything Koji had done for her, but she replied, “Not this time. Girls only.”

Momma leaned into the office niche and announced, “Your brother is ready and willing, but you’ll need to leave on the early side so he can put gas in the van.”

“Thanks,” Prissie replied with a weak smile.

Koji’s steady gaze was discomfiting. “Tad is not a girl.”

“He doesn’t count!” she exclaimed defensively. “He’s our driver.”

Nodding, the young angel solemnly said, “I understand. Please, be careful.”

As soon as he excused himself, Prissie wished she’d been more honest with Koji. She felt guilty, especially since she knew what it was like being left out, and she was kicking herself for using the very words she’d come to hate — not this time. In trying to prove she still fit in with her old friends, she’d pushed away her new one.


The mall was packed with teenagers also making the most of their last week of summer vacation. To Prissie’s delight, Jennifer wore a long, crinkly skirt with little seashells stitched along its hem. “I bought it at the cutest little shop close to the beach!” she enthused, twirling to show off her summery souvenir.

Prissie exclaimed over the perfect little seashell earrings that matched. “It’s perfect! You look beautiful!”

Her friend’s big, brown eyes took on a happy shine, and she linked arms with Prissie, pledging, “We’re gonna have so much fun today! I’m so glad you called! There was absolutely nothing else to do!”

April gave the girl a poke and demanded, “Coming over to my house was nothing?”

“Your house doesn’t have a coffee shop, summer clearances, or cute guys!” Jennifer argued.

Prissie glanced after their driver, who’d manfully escaped in the direction of the food court. “Are you talking about my brother?”

“Not Tad,” she giggled. “I was talking about hypothetical boys. You never know who we might see at the mall!”

“Hypothetical, huh?” April countered with a smirk. “Are you sure you’re not thinking of someone in particular?”

Margery glanced up from her cell phone and remarked, “I think it’s pretty obvious who she’s hoping to see. Jennifer has a one-track mind.”

“Right up until she changes it!” April teased.

Jennifer giggled all the more, and Prissie smiled. It was almost like old times. Almost. Despite being exactly where she wanted to be, and with the people she wanted to be close to, something felt a little odd. Without meaning to, she found herself scanning the crowds and wondering if everyone’s guardian angels were camped out on the roof. The middle of the mall was spacious enough for flight. Even now, it could be a battlefield.

“Oooh, he’s gorgeous!” Jennifer swooned, her gaze fixed upward as they rode an escalator down.

“Interesting fashion sense,” April remarked, tapping Prissie’s shoulder to get her attention. “You two match.”

By the time she figured out where to look, the young man had turned away, so she only caught a glimpse of sleek, dark hair and a shirt in the same rich shade of violet as hers. Prissie’s heart gave a little leap, for she was almost positive it had been Adin.

“I saw him earlier, outside the dressing rooms,” Margery interjected.

“Maybe he’s following us!” giggled Jennifer.

April snorted. “Even if he’s pretty to look at, that would be creepy.”

Prissie hadn’t wanted anything supernatural to follow her to the mall, but Adin fit neatly into the category of pleasant angelic encounters. “I hope we see him again,” she murmured.

They wandered through shops for a couple of hours, then agreed it was high time for a treat. Migrating toward a popular establishment on the first floor, they ordered iced coffees and crowded around one of the tiny tables out front to watch passersby. Prissie was still on the lookout for men in violet shirts.

“Omigosh! Did you see him?” Jennifer squealed.

“Can you be more specific?” April asked, glancing around quizzically. “There are a lot of guys to choose from.”

“The gorgeous stalker again?” Margery guessed.

“Marcus!” the girl hissed, her eyes wide. “I can’t believe he’s actually here! And he was looking right at me! Omigosh!”

“Marcus from our class Marcus?” Prissie checked, trying to keep the incredulity from her tone.

“More like the Marcus,” April replied. “And I don’t see him. Are you sure you’re not hallucinating, Jennifer? It’s a dangerous business, mixing caffeine and crushes.”

“He was right up there a second ago!” Pointing to the mall’s second level, she muttered, “And of course I’m sure!”

“He’s hard to miss with that hair,” Prissie reasoned, scanning the upper walkway.

“I know!” crooned Jennifer, a dreamy expression on her face. “I wonder why he’s here.”

“Destiny,” April deadpanned. “Or there’s the remote possibility that he has shopping to do. How about we ask him?”

Shaking her head, Jennifer mournfully said, “He’s gone.”

“He can’t have gotten far,” April challenged.

“You wouldn’t!”

“Wouldn’t I?”

“Dare you to,” Margery interjected, egging them on.

“Done!” April had never been shy about approaching people, and she was on her feet in a moment. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she loudly announced, “I’ll just go say hello!”

When she sauntered off without a backward glance, Jennifer wailed in dismay and snatched up her various bags before chasing after her. Shaking her head, Prissie remarked, “I can’t believe she’s being so silly over someone like Marcus.”

Margery’s green eyes were oddly flat. “You’re one to talk. When we were kids, you were in love with the mailman.”

Whether intended or not, the barb cut deeply, and it took a while for Prissie to work around the sudden tightness in her throat. “You’re right,” she managed. “I shouldn’t criticize.”

Her friend shrugged and carelessly said, “At least Marcus is good looking.”

Prissie wanted to defend Milo somehow, but to do so would mean confessing too much. Valiantly changing the subject, she asked, “Do you have any shopping you need to do?”

“Not really,” Margery replied, sounding bored. “I was here yesterday.”

“Oh.” Her mind was a blank, so she sipped her iced coffee in awkward silence. When her friend’s phone gave a perky ching-a-ring, Prissie honestly thought she’d been saved by the bell. Margery whipped it out and smiled at the display. “Message?” Prissie politely inquired.

“Yep.”

“Is it April?”

“Nope,” Margery replied, slinging her purse strap over her shoulder and standing. “Come on.”

“But what if they come back, and we’re gone?”

Rolling her eyes, she held up her phone. “All they have to do is call, and we’ll tell them where we are!”

Feeling stupid, Prissie mumbled, “Obviously.” Margery headed straight for the main entrance, and she had to lengthen her strides to keep up. “Where are we going?” she finally asked.

Her friend didn’t answer. She was too busy waving to someone leaning against the wall just inside the bank of sliding doors. “Elise! You made it!”

“I pulled it off,” she said.

Margery turned to Prissie and smiled sweetly. “It turns out Elise could come, too.”

“It’s not like you guys were excluding me on purpose,” Elise said.

At a loss for what else to say, Prissie lamely said, “Hello. It’s nice to see you again.”

Hooking her arm through the other girl’s, Margery demanded, “Where were you all morning?”

“Out.”

“Doing what?”

“Stuff,” Elise replied with a haughty glance that suggested she wasn’t going to say anything while Prissie was in earshot.

Although she’d thought Margery was being unusually quiet, Prissie felt sick when her best friend suddenly transformed into her old, chatterbox self, gushing with news as she led Elise toward the glass elevators. Her steps lagged as the other two girls boarded. Elise quirked a brow. “Are you coming, or what?”

Prissie shot a pleading look at Margery, who knew about her fear of heights. The message carried across, and Margery exclaimed, “Oh! That’s right!” However, instead of getting off, she nodded toward the high-end department store at the far end of the mall and said, “We’ll be up in the makeup department. Catch up to us there.”

“Or not!” Elise added with a smirk. And the doors slid shut.

Too stunned to move, Prissie watched the elevator soar upward without her.

“That wasn’t very nice.” Prissie turned in surprise to find Adin standing nearby, also watching the elevator’s ascent. His gaze slanted her way, and he mildly inquired, “Friends of yours?”

“Not so much,” she murmured, grateful that God had again seen fit to send reinforcements. With a wan smile, she asked, “Are you here to keep me company?”

Glancing around, he remarked, “Since you’re suddenly on your own, how can I do otherwise? It’ll give us the chance to catch up!”

“I’d like that,” she admitted, grateful that Adin had showed up right when she’d needed him most. Only Koji would have been more welcome right now. Unlike Margery, he was a friend she could count on.

As if he could read her mind, Adin remarked, “I hear you’re keeping an Observer around the house these days.”

“Koji,” she replied warmly.

“I see he’s endeared himself to you,” he said with a soft laugh.

Smiling readily, she explained, “We’re friends.”

“I’m surprised he isn’t with you.”

Prissie looked away sheepishly. “Oh, he would have been, but it’s just girls today.”

Adin leaned down in order to get her to meet his gaze. “Are you regretting that choice?”

“Just a little.”

His brows lifted, and she blushed.

“Okay, maybe a lot.”

They strolled along companionably. “The two of you must be close.”

“I guess.” Was it possible to be closer to Koji, someone she’d only known for a few weeks, than to Margery, someone she’d known for years? That’s certainly how she felt. Prissie suddenly realized why Adin’s assessment rang true. “I trust him.”

“Naturally,” Adin rejoined. “The Faithful are faithful, after all!”

“Oh, right,” she murmured, embarrassed to have taken so long to come to such an obvious conclusion.

“I’m sure he trusts you, as well.”

“I suppose.” Prissie wasn’t so sure Koji could count on her, not when she was so frightened by what friendship with him might lead to. The Faithful were one thing, but the Fallen were another. Getting mixed up in an invisible war sounded like a very bad idea.

“Prissie?” She nearly bumped into Adin, who’d swung around to face her. “You’re not listening to me,” he scolded in sing-song tones.

“Sorry. What?”

“I was only saying that good friends often trade secrets.”

Color rose in her cheeks as Prissie recalled some of the secrets she’d entrusted to Margery. Would the girl keep them even if their friendship ended, or would they be betrayed to the likes of Elise?

Adin’s brows lifted inquiringly. “Is that a yes?”

“Naturally,” she murmured, unconsciously borrowing his word. “The longer you know someone, the more secrets you share.”

Suddenly, something bright zipped between them, and they both stepped back in surprise. More dazzling lights arrowed past, like so many shooting stars. Prissie gasped in delight and backed up even further to watch a cluster of yahavim spiral toward the ceiling far overhead. “Did you see? I wonder what they’re doing here!”

Her companion laughed lightly and said, “It seems a new escort has arrived.”

More tiny angels darted in from every direction, as if drawn by the others. Several tapped her, as if to say, I found you! She smiled at their antics, and her heart melted every time one smiled back. The only problem was, the more of them there were, the brighter it became.

“Since these little ones seem to think you need them, I’ll leave you to their tender mercies!”

“Thank you, Adin.” With a slightly harried smile, she earnestly said, “You always seem to cheer me up.”

“Don’t mention it,” he demurred. “And don’t be afraid to get closer to your Observer friend. Something tells me his secrets will be well worth finding out!”

More little manna-makers rushed around her, and Prissie was nearly blinded by their combined glory. Trying to act naturally in case anyone was looking, she slipped into a long, empty hall with lockers, pay phones, and an exit sign flickering at the far end. Blinking away the spots that danced before her eyes, she quietly demanded, “What’s gotten into you guys?”

When Prissie held out her hands, two of the tiny angels settled on her palms. She didn’t really recognize them, but that didn’t stop her from enjoying their company. She seemed to have attracted an entire flock, and their soft humming and affectionate gestures banished many of her fears. Even at the mall, God was watching over her.

All at once, the yahavim scattered, just as someone swung around the corner, nearly knocking her off her feet. Hands grabbed her shoulders, and a gruff voice muttered, “That was close.” Prissie stared blankly into the scowling face of Marcus Truman. “You okay?” he asked.

Badly startled and more than a little afraid, she twisted away from him, demanding, “Get away from me!”

“ ‘Scuse me,” he quickly apologized, holding up his hands. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

Prissie glanced around, wondering where all the manna-makers had disappeared to. Had Marcus’s arrival driven them off? With the beginnings of a very bad feeling in the pit of her stomach, she edged toward the safety in numbers that the mall offered.

Her classmate shoved his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket and bluntly asked, “Do you think maybe you could call off that friend of yours?”

“Jennifer?”

“That’s the one,” he confirmed.

“Oh.” With a glance down the empty hallway, Prissie asked, “Are you hiding from her?”

“Sorta. Are you?”

She shook her head. “We were separated.”

“No kidding,” he muttered, looking disgusted. “Try the food court.”

“Why?” she asked suspiciously.

He grumbled something under his breath, but his answer was civil enough. “Because I last saw her in the food court with April. They were talking to your brother.”

With a hasty word of thanks, she fled, wanting nothing more than to reach Tad and convince him it was time to go home. Although she hated to admit it, hiding was exactly what she wanted to do right now.