Halo by Alexandra Adornetto Page B

happened.
    “Fair enough.” I could hear suspicion in Xavier’s voice and sensed a reluctance to leave. But there was no reason for him to stay. “Tell Beth I hope she feels better soon.”
    I heard Xavier’s retreating footsteps crunching on the gravel drive and the sound of his car pulling out. The last thing I remembered was Ivy’s cool hands stroking my forehead and her healing energy flooding my body.

Phantom

    I had no idea what time it was when I woke. I was only aware of the relentless pounding in my head and that my tongue felt like sandpaper. It took a while before I could put the events of the previous night into coherent order, but when I did, I wished I hadn’t. I felt a rush of shame as I remembered my disoriented state, my slurred speech, my failure to support my own weight. I remembered Gabriel gathering me into his arms and the concern mingled with disappointment in his voice. I remembered having to be undressed and the look of dismay on Ivy’s face as she put me to bed like a small child. As Ivy pulled the covers over me, I heard Gabriel’s reiterate his thanks to someone at the door.
    Then I started to remember spending most of the time at Molly’s party slumped helplessly against the comforting body of a stranger. I groaned aloud when the stranger’s face flashed vividly in my mind. Of all the gallant knights who could have come to my rescue, why did it have to be Xavier Woods? What was Our Father in His infinite wisdom thinking? I struggled to recall the fragments of our brief conversation, but memory refused to volunteer such details.
    I was overcome with a mixture of regret and humiliation. I buried my burning cheeks under the quilt and curled myself into a ball, hoping I could stay that way forever. What must Xavier Woods, the school captain of Bryce Hamilton, think of me now? What must everyone think of me? I had barely been at the school a week and already I had disgraced my family and proclaimed to the world that I was a novice at life. How could I have not realized how powerful those cocktails were? On top of it all, I had proved to my brother and sister that I was incapable of looking after myself outside of their care.
    I heard muted voices floating up to me from downstairs. Gabriel and Ivy were discussing something in hushed tones. The burning returned to my cheeks as I thought of the position I had put them in. How selfish of me not to consider that my actions would impact on them as well! Their reputations were on the line as well as mine, and mine was now undoubtedly in tatters. I considered the possibility of us packing up and starting afresh in a new location. Surely Gabriel and Ivy wouldn’t expect me to stay in Venus Cove after the spectacle I’d made of myself. I half expected that in a moment they would come in to announce the news and we would quietly pack our bags and move on to a new town. There would be no time for farewells; the attachments I’d formed here would be reduced to nothing more than fond memories.
    But no one came, and eventually I had no choice but to venture downstairs and face the consequences of what I had done. I caught a glimpse of myself in a hallway mirror. I looked fragile and there were bluish shadows under my eyes. The clock told me it was close to noon.
    Downstairs, Ivy was working skillfully on a piece of embroidery at the kitchen table and Gabriel was standing at the window as straight as a pastor at his pulpit. He had his hands clasped behind his back and was looking thoughtfully out to sea. I went to the fridge and poured myself a tumbler of orange juice, which I gulped quickly to slake my raging thirst.
    Gabriel didn’t turn even though I knew he was aware of my presence. I shivered—an angry tirade would have been better than this silent recrimination. I cared too much for Gabriel’s regard to lose it. If nothing else, his anger would have helped ease my guilt. I wished he would turn around so I could at least see his face.
    Ivy put