“You’re beautiful.”
“Because I’m smart, funny, and some day some amazing guy is going to come along and realize it, once guys are mature enough to see over my current idiocy? Thanks, I’ve heard it. I’m sixteen. I’ve never even held hands with a guy.”
“Well, you are at an all-girls school.”
“I know it’s stupid, but I don’t have any friends at school so it’s not like I can even go to one of the mixer dances. Like I’m just going to walk in there alone and stand there the whole night, waiting for Mr. Mature to throw someone like Fallon or Kayleigh aside and ask me to dance. Never. Going. To. Happen. Never! I thought maybe—I don’t really believe in the stuff—but I thought maybe I could get a little extra help.” Her smile was small, almost apologetic. “I figured, what could it hurt, right?”
I sighed, wanting to hug her, wanting to gush about all the dances I sat at home through, how the last actual date I’d been on ended with a jaw-snapping werewolf and a zombie pub crawl. But I also wanted to give this kid hope.
“You don’t need any book of spells to get a boy to notice you. Maybe just—” I put an index finger under her lowered chin and gently tilted her head up. “Maybe just look up once in a while. Make eye contact.”
Miranda smiled, her cheeks still pink. “I was so embarrassed buying that book that I walked into the store, went straight to the book shelf, and assumed any book with a red binding must be about love. I guess I picked wrong. I hadn’t even opened it.”
“So you didn’t buy a book of protection spells because you thought you were in any danger?”
“Only in danger of being alone for the rest of my life.”
“That won’t happen. But no more spells, okay?”
“Okay.” Miranda turned and was halfway out of the alcove before I stopped her.
“Hey—what do you know about Lock and Key Club?”
She shrugged. “Only that I can’t get in. Ask one of the perfect girls.” She waved, made a point to look me in the eye, and disappeared down the hall.
I went back to my classroom to gather my things and sat there, alone, until the school quieted as students filed out of the halls and into the parking lot. It was still early, but the fog had already rolled in, casting shadows through the large picture windows. I was in a silent, mourning stupor, which is why I nearly tossed my cell phone across the room when it started sputtering a jazz-heavy version of “God Save the Queen.”
“You changed my ringtone again, didn’t you?”
“And a good day to you, too,” Will chirped into my ear. “Where are you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Simple question, love. Where. Are. You. I, myself, am sitting at your kitchen table enjoying a spot of tea.”
I hopped off the desk, offended. “Why are you at my house? How did you get into my house?”
“A good Guardian shall always have access to his charge’s place.”
“A good Guardian wouldn’t have to call to know where his charge is.”
“Touché.”
“I thought you’d come down here, to the school,” I said, pressing my fingers against my just-starting-to-ache forehead.
“I have my every confidence in you. Besides, football’s on.”
I could hear the rush of the crowd from his side of the phone. “Whatever. I’m going to grab a couple of those yearbooks, maybe poke around a bit, then I’m on my way home. Be ready to go by Alyssa’s house when I get there.” I glanced at the closed door. “And maybe Fallon’s. Okay?”
“Aye aye, love.”
I hung up the phone on a groan.
I heard the clack-clack-clack of Heddy’s shoes before I saw her. Then suddenly she was in front of me, all pudges and grins.
“Well, Sophie! I didn’t know you were still here.”
“Um, just wrapping up a few things. Actually, though, it’s a good thing I ran into you. Does Mercy have a policy against bullying?”
Heddy’s eyes were wide behind her big round glasses. “Oh my, yes. The bullying has gotten so bad nowadays.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “So you’ve had bullying here on campus?”
“Heavens, no! The girls here all get along. They’re just angels! Well, you remember that from your years here, don’t you?”
I thought back to my cowering, terror-filled years, the overwhelming silence and screaming into my pillows at night. “Yeah, sure. It was a big ol’ love fest.”
Heddy smiled at me and hiked up her bag, flipping up her collar as though she were heading into the Arctic. “I hope we get to see you around under better circumstances,” she said as she pushed open the door.
I offered her a pressed-lipped smile and waved. The door snapped shut behind her and echoed through the silent hall.
Chapter Twelve