In the Shadows (12 page)

              “Are you going to go back?”

              “I have to try.”

              “No you really don’t. So what if it is them?

Knowing for sure won’t change anything. It sucks either way.”

              “Yes it does, but knowing whether or not they are behind it will affect how we respond.”

              “Please promise me you won’t go back—at least not alone. It’s too risky. What if the Dökkálfar found you? I’d never see you again.” The tears start pouring like rain down my face and I can’t help but wonder why I’m so freaking emotional! It’s embarrassing.  Jacoby pulls me into his arms, pressing his face into the top of my head.

              “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I won’t go back. I’ll think of another way to get to the bottom of this. Come on. Let’s go get something to eat before heading back to school.”

              I wipe away my tears. “Is my face all red?”

              “Just your nose.” He kisses it. “I never noticed how green your eyes are.”

              “They only look this green when I cry.”

              “Like identical mood rings.”

              “Something like that.”

              As we walk through the castle toward the dining room we pass a familiar face.

              “Good afternoon, Princess,” a female dark-haired elf greets me warmly.

              “Hello.” I return her greeting, feeling awkward because I don’t really remember her name but I also don’t want to ask because that would be really embarrassing.

              “Nice to see you, Anya,” Jacoby nods towards her, but she responds with only a curt nod of her own before hastily walking away. That part doesn’t come as a surprise--hardly any of the Light Elves are friendly toward Jacoby, but I’m surprised that he knew her name.

              “I met her a few weeks ago when I was waiting for Isobel.” He answers my thought before I even had a chance to vocalize it.

              “Oh.”

              “And yes, she’s always that friendly,” he says sarcastically.

              “She didn’t seem that bad.”

              “To you Princess, but to the rest of us paupers, her manners are somewhat lacking.”

              “Jacoby! Mia!” Isobel calls out from down the hall. “What are you doing here?”

              “We decided that human food just wasn’t going to do it for us today so we needed to indulge in the deliciousness that can only be found here for lunch,” Jacoby answers as he allows Isobel to hug him. She pulls me into her arms next and for someone so tiny, I’m always surprised at how fiercely she can hug.

              “How long can you stay?” she asks.

              “Not very long.” We only have forty-five minutes for lunch, which never seems long enough and probably explains why fifth hour is a popular class to skip. Of course, I’ve only skipped school the one time and it had nothing to do with not having enough time to eat my lunch. 

              “Well then, I won’t keep you. But you must return later so we can chat. Jacoby told me you guys will be attending the prom and that you need a dress.”

              “Yeah, but as of right now I’m still grounded so prom might be a no-go.”

              “Oh no! Surely your mom will not have you miss prom? It is a big deal, no?”

              “Sorta, I mean, yeah, especially since it’s my senior year.”

              “See? She has to let you go! And I would be honored to have Eloise design a dress for you. Please say yes.”

              “Eloise?”

              “Oh yes, she’s fantastic. She designs all of my formal ball gowns.”

              I was planning on going dress shopping in Topeka since our mall sucks, but shopping really isn’t all that fun without Hannah. I’m thinking that having a dress designed just for me sounds way better.

              “Okay, thanks,” I agree wholeheartedly “But on one condition: I refuse to wear heels so the dress has to be suitable for flats.”

              “I am sure that can be arranged. Oh, I am so happy. I’m going to go make all the arrangements right away!” She kisses both of my cheeks before practically floating away.

              We transport back to the rear parking lot at MHS with a few minutes to spare before our next class. Jacoby walks me to my class where Hannah’s sitting at our shared desk. She looks furious and I’m nervous because I know I’m about to get my butt chewed and there won’t be anything I can do but take it because I know it’s my fault. I blow out a gush of air and prepare myself for the verbal lashing I’m about to receive at the hand of my best friend.

              “Where were you Saturday?” she demands as soon as she sees me.

              “I’m sorry! Something came up.”

              “Something came up? Seriously? Have you noticed that’s been your excuse for everything lately? Why can’t you come up with something a little more original, Mia? Or better yet, why don’t you try the truth for a change? Because it’s not like I don’t know exactly who you were with.” Her voice is filled with venom. “You know what? Forget it. I’m done. I don’t even care anymore. I just think it’s really sad and pathetic that as soon as you get a boyfriend you find it so easy to discard your best friend. You want me to trust you? To believe that you  still care about me? Well, why don't you start by being actually
being
here for me.”

              I start to tell her that that isn’t it at all, I never meant to make her feel like she isn't important to me, but I know exactly why she  does and I can’t give her any explanations to contradict it.  I know that she must be so irritated and it kills me that I can't just tell her everything.

              “I’m sorry.” The words don’t seem like enough but they’re all I’ve got.

              She rolls her eyes then turns toward the front of the class, crossing her arms and ignoring me for the rest of the hour.

              Jacoby meets me by my locker after school and he doesn’t even ask me what’s wrong; he just wraps his arms around me and holds me tight. When I’m upset I forget to block out my thoughts so I know that he already knows. That’s definitely one of the perks of having your boyfriend in your head.

              “I’m sorry, Lark. I know it sucks but she’ll forgive you eventually. It’s Hannah. She can’t stay mad at you forever.”

              “Are you sure about that?”

              “She’ll come around. You’re her best friend. She might not remember that right now because she’s mad, but can you blame her? She has to feel like crap knowing that you’re keeping secrets from her.”

              “It’s not like I can really help that.”

              “I know. It’s not your fault, Lark. It’ll be okay.

She knows you aren’t a bad person. Once she cools down, she’ll forgive you. ”

              “Thank you for saying that even if it’s hard to believe right now.”

              He presses his lips to my forehead. I close my eyes and breathe him in. “Do you think you’ll be able to transport to Álfheimr tonight?”

              “I doubt it.” I sigh in disappointment. “Even if I wasn’t grounded, I still wouldn’t be able to. I have to babysit Maddie tonight.”

              “Oh yeah, your mom has her big opening tonight, right?”

              “Yeah.”

              “I’m guessing a date tomorrow night to celebrate your birthday is out too then, huh?” he says with a disheartened shrug of his shoulders.

              “Unfortunately.”

              “Rain check?”

              “Of course,” I assure him. “Maybe when they leave tonight you can come over and not just be a creeper on my roof, you can actually come inside and hang out with me.”

              “I do not creep on your roof. Okay, sometimes I do but it’s all in the name of chivalry, I swear.” He smirks irresistibly. “Let me know when the coast is clear and I’m there. I’ll even bring movies and day-old movie theater popcorn.”

              “You sure do know the way to a girl’s heart,” I laugh.

              “Yours is the only heart I ever want to make a home in,” he whispers, uncharacteristically serious and with a penetrating look in his emerald green eyes that causes my breath to catch in my chest.

              I hear a honk and look up to find my mom’s vehicle a few cars down from the front so I kiss him on the cheek and wave good-bye.

              “See you later.”
I speak inside his head. His answering smirk awakens the butterflies in my stomach and I feel better knowing I have something to look forward to later.

Chapter Fourteen

I
wake up on April eighteenth expecting to feel different but I don’t. I feel exactly the same as I did when I fell asleep the night before but even if I don’t feel any older, I’m officially an adult now—and that’s just weird.

Mom, Paul, and Maddie are all seated at the round kitchen table when I come down the stairs ready to go to school. Like a perfectly timed chorus they greet me with an off-key “Happy Birthday” song.

“Officially a grown up,” Paul says, as he musses my hair before giving me an awkward one armed hug.

Mom hands me a small box wrapped in festive paper with the words ‘Happy Birthday’ in bright rainbow colors all over it

“Thanks, Mom.” I take it from her and unwrap it. It looks like a jewelry box so I’m surprised when I open it to find a large key. I look up in confusion to find her and Paul beaming down at me. She even has tears in her eyes.

“What’s this?”

“Why don’t you go look out front?” Paul suggests.

I open the front door and in the driveway where my old piece of junk blue car used to sit, is a shiny, new bright yellow Volkswagen Beetle.

It’s adorable. It’s my dream car. It’s brand new. It’s all mine.

But it’s completely and excessively unnecessary.

“You guys really shouldn’t have,” I tell them. They are standing on the front porch, arms wrapped around each other and looking so happy as they watch me stare in shock at the car that is now mine.

“Don’t be silly, Mia. It’s your 18th birthday. We want you to go off to college next year in a reliable car. You deserve this and so much more. We love you so much, sweetie.” My mom steps off the porch and envelopes me in her arms.

“Thanks, Mom.” I blush because I don’t feel like I deserve her praise. I’ve spent the majority of the last few months lying to her. It’s not exactly something I’m proud of.

“Happy Birthday.” She kisses the top of my head. “I can’t believe you’re eighteen. It seems like just yesterday I was changing your diapers.”

“Moooommmmm.”

“Okay, okay.” She hugs me again. “Ready to head to school?”

I nod, sparing my new car one more affectionate look before handing her the key. “Do you think you could at least drive me to school in my new car?” I ask hopefully.

“No.”

I sigh in disappointment.

“But you can drive yourself to school in your brand new car, Birthday Girl.” She hands the key back to me grinning.

“Really?”

“Yes. Officially no longer grounded.”

“Are you sure?”

“Do you want me to change my mind?”

“Definitely not!” I squeal in excitement. “Thanks Mom! Bye Paul!”

“Have a great day, honey!” she calls after me.

The leather seats are smooth and so much nicer than the rough, ripped to shreds driver seat of my old car. It’s so clean and has that overwhelmingly strong new-car smell. I’ve never been that fond of the smell before but today, I’m loving it.

When I pull into the parking lot Jacoby is waiting for me. He’s empty handed which I notice right away. It’s kind of peculiar because I know for a fact that he already bought my present. Is it too big to bring to school? That doesn’t seem realistic. Maybe it’s something that can only be given in private? That could be interesting.

“Happy birthday, Lark!” He picks me up by my waist and kisses me leaving me momentarily breathless as I inhale his woodsy smell and my body fills with warmth from my toes to the tips of my ears.

When he pulls away I have to check to make sure I’m not accidentally glowing. That could be hard to explain.

“Hi,” he grins as he sets me back down on my own two feet.

“Hi.”

“Nice ride,” he says, tilting his head acknowledging my new car.

“Thanks. Guess what?”

“No longer grounded?”

“How’d you guess?”

“You drove to school like a big girl.” He winks at me to which I respond with a glare.

“Butthead.”

“So this means I get to take you out to celebrate your birthday right?”

“Yep!”

“Perfect. I’m guessing you want to drive?”

“Yep!” I can’t help but smile. I’ve never been so excited about a car before. I’m not one of those girls who gets all excited about cars and I never understand the hype around them. However, I’ve wanted a “Slug Bug” ever since my mom introduced me to the game in the fifth grade. Probably because it’s the only car that I can successfully identify from a distance and I wanted yellow because I figured it’d be easy to spot in a crowded parking lot. 

He kisses me again. “You’re kinda cute when you’re excited.”

“Just kinda cute?”

“Eh,” he shrugs before smirking. “Come on Birthday Girl. Let’s get to class. Don’t want to risk your newly free status.”

The day passes quickly with the typical ‘happy birthdays’ as I pass people in the hall. Adele brought me a delicious birthday cake.

“We would’ve brought your presents to school today but Alberico asked us to wait to celebrate together,” Adele tells me as she cuts into the decadent chocolate cake with raspberry topping.

“You guys didn’t need to get me anything.”

The three of them chuckled.

“Just wait until you see what Alberico and Isobel have planned,” Jacoby laughs. “Every time I see her she can hardly stop talking about it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Mia, you are the first princess we’ve had in at least a century. You didn’t honestly expect Alberico to NOT go a little overboard, did you?” Adele remarks.