My Soul to Keep
Page 28
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What? Sophie snapped, and I edged closer to the door, backing along the canvas until I could see Scott, though my cousin remained out of sight.
I mean my car. Scott rubbed his forehead in frustration.
I cant think with all that noise! He glared toward the gym, and I ducked out of sight, glancing around the gym at the other volunteers. Yes, everyone was chatting while they worked, but the gym was huge, and it was nowhere near capacity. Nor were we very loud.
Scott was hearing things. Auditory hallucinations? Not good
I need to get something he mumbled, and I risked scooting forward again to see him staring at the wall to his left, as if something were about to burst through it.
Yeah, and then you wont come back, Sophie spat. You promised youd help, and every time you walk out, I look like an idiot in front of my friends.
Then you need better friends. Or maybe youre not the only one clawing to be crowned Ice Bitch this year.
Its Snow Queen. And what good would it do me to win if no ones there to escort me?
Nash had reached Doug and Emma by then, and had drawn Doug closer to the bleachers for their private chat, and it felt weird to be watching them while I eavesdropped on my cousin and her boyfriend.
I said Id be there. Scott spoke through gritted teeth that time, and my pulse jumped at the intensity of the anger in his voice.
You also said youd help us all week, and this is the first time youve shown up. And now youre ready to bail.
His sneakers squeaked on the tile as he turned and stomped away from her, and her flats clacked after him. Damn it, Sophie, get off! Then I heard a thud, and a stunned oof from Sophie. I whirled back toward the hall to see her sitting on the floor, propped up by both hands, legs splayed in front of her.
You ass! she hissed, cloth rustling as she picked herself up.
He exhaled slowly, looking both sorry and impatient. You justyou never know when to quit.
That sounds like your problem, she snapped, and I almost applauded, surprised to find that for once she and I agreed. And I was just as surprised that shed picked up on his problem. But I shouldnt have been. She was mean, not stupid.
Youre acting like more of a freak than Kaylee.
Andthere shed lost me again.
Whatever. Scott stomped off, his left arm twitching violently, and just before he passed out of my line of sight, he glanced over his shoulder one last time, not at Sophie, but at the row of lockers to his right. As if he saw something that no one else could see.
Sophie straightened her blouse and I hurried back to the hot-chocolate stand as Nash started across the basketball court toward me. An instant later, Sophie clacked into the gymand stopped short when her gaze met mine.
Her face paled when she realized Id heard their argument. Then,in true Sophie style, her critical eye took me in from head to toe and a sneer formed on her perfectly made-up mouth. Youre dripping on your shoe, she said, then stomped off to join a group of dancers gathered around the temporary Snow Queen stage with handfuls of fake snow.
Whats wrong with her? Nash bent to pick up his paintbrush.
I heard her fighting with Scott. Who just left for another huff from his balloon. I swear, he and Doug are like babies with pacifiers. And Scotts sounding less coherent by the minute.
Great. Nashs jaw tightened, but then his gaze caught on the white paint splattered all over my right foot, and he smiled. You look like youre bleeding milk.
So I hear. Disgusted, I dropped my brush into my half-empty bucket and knelt to work on my shoe. What did Doug say?
Nash sat on the canvas to touch up the bottom of the booth. Hes having a party Friday night, and Everetts going to be there. He said I can buy my own then, but hes not selling any more of his.
I dabbed at the paint on my shoe with a damp rag, but only smeared it. So, were going to the party?
Looks like. He sighed and glanced around to make sure we werent being overheard. But I dont see how that will help. Even if we meet Everett, what are we supposed to do? Haul him out the back door and demand he stop selling in the human world? If hes selling Demons Breath, he must have a supplier, and there nothing we can do against another hellion. He grabbed the rag Id dropped to wipe another drip before I could sit in it.
I know. Or rather, I didnt know. I had no solution. No way of stopping Everettor the hellion backing himand no way of knowing that cutting off the supply and sending them into withdrawal would actually help Scott and Doug, rather than hurt them. But we couldnt stand by and watch a couple of incidents turn into the epidemic Id originally feared. Were gonna have to bring in someone else.
Like who?
I dont know. My dad? Your mom? Uncle Brendon? I held my breath in anticipation of Nashs argument.
Kaylee
Wait, I know how that sounds. I set my brush across the top of the can, like Id seen him do, and edged closer to him on the canvas so I could lower my voice. But we wouldnt really be ratting anyone out. No cops, no arrests. Nash, if we dont do something, Scotts going to go insane. Like, talking-to-himself, showing-up-half-dressed, cowering-in-the-shadows insane. And thats just the beginning. The same thing will happen to Doug, and everyone he passes a balloon to. And possibly to Emma and Sophie, and anyone else who breathes too deeply near someone whos just inhaled. We have to get rid of Everett and his supply, and we cant do that on our own.
I mean my car. Scott rubbed his forehead in frustration.
I cant think with all that noise! He glared toward the gym, and I ducked out of sight, glancing around the gym at the other volunteers. Yes, everyone was chatting while they worked, but the gym was huge, and it was nowhere near capacity. Nor were we very loud.
Scott was hearing things. Auditory hallucinations? Not good
I need to get something he mumbled, and I risked scooting forward again to see him staring at the wall to his left, as if something were about to burst through it.
Yeah, and then you wont come back, Sophie spat. You promised youd help, and every time you walk out, I look like an idiot in front of my friends.
Then you need better friends. Or maybe youre not the only one clawing to be crowned Ice Bitch this year.
Its Snow Queen. And what good would it do me to win if no ones there to escort me?
Nash had reached Doug and Emma by then, and had drawn Doug closer to the bleachers for their private chat, and it felt weird to be watching them while I eavesdropped on my cousin and her boyfriend.
I said Id be there. Scott spoke through gritted teeth that time, and my pulse jumped at the intensity of the anger in his voice.
You also said youd help us all week, and this is the first time youve shown up. And now youre ready to bail.
His sneakers squeaked on the tile as he turned and stomped away from her, and her flats clacked after him. Damn it, Sophie, get off! Then I heard a thud, and a stunned oof from Sophie. I whirled back toward the hall to see her sitting on the floor, propped up by both hands, legs splayed in front of her.
You ass! she hissed, cloth rustling as she picked herself up.
He exhaled slowly, looking both sorry and impatient. You justyou never know when to quit.
That sounds like your problem, she snapped, and I almost applauded, surprised to find that for once she and I agreed. And I was just as surprised that shed picked up on his problem. But I shouldnt have been. She was mean, not stupid.
Youre acting like more of a freak than Kaylee.
Andthere shed lost me again.
Whatever. Scott stomped off, his left arm twitching violently, and just before he passed out of my line of sight, he glanced over his shoulder one last time, not at Sophie, but at the row of lockers to his right. As if he saw something that no one else could see.
Sophie straightened her blouse and I hurried back to the hot-chocolate stand as Nash started across the basketball court toward me. An instant later, Sophie clacked into the gymand stopped short when her gaze met mine.
Her face paled when she realized Id heard their argument. Then,in true Sophie style, her critical eye took me in from head to toe and a sneer formed on her perfectly made-up mouth. Youre dripping on your shoe, she said, then stomped off to join a group of dancers gathered around the temporary Snow Queen stage with handfuls of fake snow.
Whats wrong with her? Nash bent to pick up his paintbrush.
I heard her fighting with Scott. Who just left for another huff from his balloon. I swear, he and Doug are like babies with pacifiers. And Scotts sounding less coherent by the minute.
Great. Nashs jaw tightened, but then his gaze caught on the white paint splattered all over my right foot, and he smiled. You look like youre bleeding milk.
So I hear. Disgusted, I dropped my brush into my half-empty bucket and knelt to work on my shoe. What did Doug say?
Nash sat on the canvas to touch up the bottom of the booth. Hes having a party Friday night, and Everetts going to be there. He said I can buy my own then, but hes not selling any more of his.
I dabbed at the paint on my shoe with a damp rag, but only smeared it. So, were going to the party?
Looks like. He sighed and glanced around to make sure we werent being overheard. But I dont see how that will help. Even if we meet Everett, what are we supposed to do? Haul him out the back door and demand he stop selling in the human world? If hes selling Demons Breath, he must have a supplier, and there nothing we can do against another hellion. He grabbed the rag Id dropped to wipe another drip before I could sit in it.
I know. Or rather, I didnt know. I had no solution. No way of stopping Everettor the hellion backing himand no way of knowing that cutting off the supply and sending them into withdrawal would actually help Scott and Doug, rather than hurt them. But we couldnt stand by and watch a couple of incidents turn into the epidemic Id originally feared. Were gonna have to bring in someone else.
Like who?
I dont know. My dad? Your mom? Uncle Brendon? I held my breath in anticipation of Nashs argument.
Kaylee
Wait, I know how that sounds. I set my brush across the top of the can, like Id seen him do, and edged closer to him on the canvas so I could lower my voice. But we wouldnt really be ratting anyone out. No cops, no arrests. Nash, if we dont do something, Scotts going to go insane. Like, talking-to-himself, showing-up-half-dressed, cowering-in-the-shadows insane. And thats just the beginning. The same thing will happen to Doug, and everyone he passes a balloon to. And possibly to Emma and Sophie, and anyone else who breathes too deeply near someone whos just inhaled. We have to get rid of Everett and his supply, and we cant do that on our own.
