Beware of Boys by Kelli London Page B

ahead, a tall wrought-iron gate with brick columns and bushes and flowers planted in front of it, met her eyes. The beauty of it said it was new, and she exhaled, feeling better about what she was walking into, though she was still too far away to see the happenings behind the gate. The sun shone brightly, and laughter of children tickled her ears. Things suddenly didn’t seem so gloomy.
    Still, the dirty rocky path challenged her steadiness as she moved forward, bopping her head as the song’s volume increased with each step. The cracked cement and rocks crackled and popped under her feet, making her gain more appreciation for good-quality shoes. Though she was elevated to the height of a giant in them and the rubble moved under her steps, her soles felt as if they were resting on clouds.
    â€œWhat in the . . . ?” Her eyes widened. Her jaw dropped. Her knees locked, preventing her from progressing. The wind caught in her throat. The massive stretch of land that she’d finally set her vision on made her feet hurt because she knew her heels were going to stick in the grass. Already, she could feel the pain and swelling they were certain to endure, and she hadn’t even crossed the event threshold.
    Eden appeared between the two brick pillars, walking through the wrought-iron fence. She looked up and stopped. She smiled, putting one hand to her chest, surprised. “Wow, I was just stepping away to call you. There’s too much noise back there for me to hear.” She pointed behind her. “And I needed to check on you and see how you were making out. I guess Lex’s formula worked. I’m glad you made it. I was starting to worry. How’d you get here?” She made her way closer to Charly.
    Charly nodded, then shook her head. She looked down at the shoes she had been sure weren’t going to cause her a problem, and already knew she’d predicted wrong. Sneakers would’ve been wiser. Her shin-high leather boots would’ve been more ideal. The open makeshift field was lined with animal pens, inflatable bouncing houses, and what appeared to be building construction going on behind a barricade way in the back—all on the dirty, grassless, ground with puddles of sandy mud. “Whip brought me. I was okay, but now I don’t think so,” she was saying as Eden neared.
    â€œI had a feeling you’d show so I’ve been keeping this with me ever since I got here because you’re going to need it, and, somehow, they keep disappearing. I guess people think the pink’s fashionable. Here you go . . . ?” Eden said, cutting her sentence short and handing Charly a construction hat that matched the one she wore, and a matching T-shirt. “Oh.” She scanned her eyes over Charly’s wardrobe, then looked at her own. She was dressed in holey jeans, Timberland boots, and a pink T-shirt that read E MPOWER Y OUTH : T HE G RIME TO S HINE project. “I . . . I . . .” Eden stopped, clearly at a loss for words.
    Charly looked down at the long, flowing halter dress she wore, then surveyed her surroundings once more before locking eyes with Eden. “What’s going on, Eden? I thought this was supposed to be some sort of publicity event or something. You did say a gala.” She hiked her purse on her shoulder. “And is there a place I can put this? Do we have any lockers or anything for our valuables?”
    Eden nodded, then shook her head no. “You’re definitely going to want to lock up that bag. It’s very expensive, and I can show you where you can put it away. And yes, yesterday I did mention a gala event, but I said later, later meaning later during your visit. Not today. And this is an event for the girls. It’s the guys’ Youth Empowering Youth event, where the less fortunate teens, help the even less fortunate children.” She turned, moving her hand through the air. “Back through there—you might be