I stepped into the dress, hooked everything together and studied myself in the mirror. Not bad. Quite fancy. I wished my parents were here to see me. They’d—
I cut off that thought before it could fully form. I’d cry.
Something warm and wet trickled down my cheek. Great. I was already crying.
My cell phone chirped, signaling a text had just come in. I wiped the tears away with the back of my hand.
Cole McHottie: Sorry, Ali, but making plans w/U was a mistake. I need a break. Stay in & we’ll talk 2morrow
I had to read the words three times before reality set in. He needed a freaking break? Seriously?
From what? I wanted to scream. And what, exactly did “need a break” mean?
My anger and disappointment were as sharp as a blade.
Me: WHY? What’s going on w/you? Respect me enough 2 talk 2 me! Apparently that’s how relationships WORK.
A minute passed. Two, three. He didn’t respond.
I threw my phone across the room, and then had to rush over to make sure I hadn’t cracked the screen.
What the heck was he planning to do on this “break”?
And whom was he going to do it with?
This can’t be happening.
My cell phone chirped. Heart racing, I checked the screen.
Mad Dog: Where are U?
Me, pressing the keys a little too forcefully: Home.
Mad Dog: U ditched Cole??
Me: No. He ditched me.
Mad Dog: UH, HE’S HERE. Just walked in.
Wait, wait, wait. He’d meant he needed a break from me?
Yeah. He must have. He had to know Kat would contact me. He had to know I would find out he’d gone to Hearts without me.
He just didn’t care.
I trembled as I typed What’s he doing?
Mad Dog: He’s talking w/Lucas, Veronica & that hobag Trina & get this: he’s wearing a costume that says he’s a bad mofo—meaning, he’s not in costume.
Veronica again.
Me, grinding my teeth: He told me he needed a break from me.
Mad Dog: WHAT? Oh, I’ll give him a break—in both of his legs!! 1st, of course, I’ll spy.
For the next hour, I received nearly fifty texts from Kat.
He’s talking w/Frosty now.
Just came out of shadows w/Justin S—what’s up w/THAT?? Altho, he just had Frosty kick JS out of club & it wasn’t pretty (4 JS).
Just rubbed his knuckles in2 Veronica’s hair. She laughed, & I almost punched her teeth down her throat (don’t 4get my fighting lesson 2morrow!).
Handed hobag Trina a drink.
Handed Lucas a drink.
Talking heatedly w/Gavin.
Walking away from Gavin (I hate the C-man right now, I really do, but he sure does have a nice butt).
Telling me 2 stop following him.
Telling me he knows what I’m doing & getting ticked when I ignore him.
Walking away as I flip him off.
Telling Frosty 2 control me (like that’s really possible).
Becoming more agitated by the second, I stomped downstairs. I trusted Cole; sometimes I trusted him more than I trusted myself. But that didn’t mean I was going to stay here and let him take a “break” without talking to me about it.
Nana was at the front door, handing out the last of the candy to a ghost, a cowboy and a Smurf.
“Nana,” I said as soon as the door was shut. “This is probably the first time in history a teenage girl will pose this question to her grandmother, but, will you drive me to a nightclub? Cole’s there,” I rushed to assure her. “And Frosty and Kat.”
She frowned at me. “I thought Cole was picking you up.”
“I thought so, too,” I said a little bitterly.
“What about the—” her voice lowered to a frightened whisper “—the creatures?”
“You don’t have to worry. To my knowledge, they aren’t out tonight. And even if they do make an appearance, your car is protected with a Blood Line. They can’t get to you.”
Her smile was sad and affectionate at the same time. “I wasn’t worried about me, dear, but my inability to help you.”