Tags:
Fiction,
Paranormal,
YA),
Mystery,
Young Adult Fiction,
Young Adult,
Murder,
teen fiction,
ya fiction,
goth,
Paranormal Young Adult,
Thorn,
Thorn series,
goth girl mystery
canât rehearse.â
âLetâs rehearse at my house,â Skarla says, pushing between the sisters like a referee. âItâll be quieter there too, not noisy like here.â
âWith her in our group, weâll need extra rehearsals.â Barbee turns to me. âWeâre scheduled to audition next Tuesdayâthatâs only four days away! No offense, but that doesnât leave us much time to find a replacement if you suck.â
âOr, you could suck. If you donât want me hereââ I start to say.
âOf course we do!â Skarla intervenes, hooking her arm through mine like weâre BFFs. âAmerie says youâre really talented. Thatâs so cool. Will you have any trouble meeting at my house at seven tonight? And be sure to bring your guitar.â
Three stares under pink hats study me, like Iâve been given a test and they doubt Iâll pass. Whatever .
I say Iâll be there.
They leave the auditorium but I linger, gazing purposely around. The locket, which Iâve been wearing under my shirt, has grown warmer since I entered the room. Itâs uncomfortably hot now. Could it be sending me a message? That seems crazy even to me. Still, this is where it was found, so it makes sense the owner could be nearby.
So, instead of hiding the locket, I flaunt it around my neck. I hold the shoelace in a very obvious way, wiggling it so the golden heart jiggles above my breasts. Everyone look! I want to shout. A few do, but most are too busy singing or reading music or playing instruments. I run my fingers over the smooth locket and linger on the point, which is sharp but not enough to draw blood. I think of the fragile curl tucked inside and study the girls suspiciously. Which one of you hid a pregnancy and then buried your secret in a shallow grave?
But no one seems startled by the locket.
Iâd ask Amerie to announce that a locket was found, except I donât see her anywhere. Sheâs obsessed with this contest, so itâs strange sheâd leave early.
I leave, too, heading for the office to call K.C. for a ride home. But he doesnât answer his cell. Asking my parents is out of the question. Not because theyâll refuse but for the opposite reason. Mom will be thrilled Iâm involved in school activities and hanging out with ânormalâ girlsâwhich is exactly why I wonât tell her. Guess Iâm walking home.
Iâm passing the staff parking lot when I notice a ginormous, gleaming silver bus. Unlike the yellow clunk-mobiles students ride in, itâs sleek and luxurious with reflective tinted windows glittering like mirrors. This has to be Philippeâs tour bus.
My guess is confirmed when the door opens and automatic stairs unfold to the ground. Out steps gorgeous Philippe. And heâs not alone. His arm is draped around the petite shoulders of a girl with light brown hair and some sort of sparkly hat on her head. No ⦠not a hat. A winged headband!
Amerie? With Philippe?
Disbelief stuns me. Amerie never said anything about going out with Philippe. Not one word from the girl who usually spills volumes of gossip. I stare, even more shocked when Philippe stops to face Amerie and pulls her tight to his chest, his infamous long black curls spiraling over her shoulders as they embrace.
Are they kissing? Oh. My. God. Unbelievable!
Iâm still gaping in shock as they stroll away, hand in hand, back toward campus, probably headed back to the auditorium.
Now I know why Amerie wasnât at rehearsal.
How did she work so fast? Sure, she admitted lusting after Philippe, and even I have to admit heâs hot. But Amerie deserves a sweet guy who will cherish her, not someone who sold out creativity for commercialism. Amerie is selling out also, becoming a Philippe groupie. Heâs too old for her, too, and sheâs so gullible. Heâll break her heart, and guess who will be left to pick up
Terry Pratchett
Stan Hayes
Charlotte Stein
Dan Verner
Chad Evercroft
Mickey Huff
Jeannette Winters
Will Self
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