makes its way toward the center of the green, where walkways leading to the different buildings on campus intersect. Elijah and Zed stand up and I reluctantly follow them as they head over to the crowd. Most everyone has reddened, tearstained faces. Yeah, I’m glad I didn’t view Vika’s virtual history. Even with the extra Calmer, I’m sure I’d be a mess.
We end up at the back of the crowd and wait for Colonel Fairbanks to speak. Hushed whispers circulate like a low hum. I keep quiet. This is the most important part of the ceremony, when Vika’s family will deliver her ashes back to the earth. My heart is heavy. I’ll never see her in person again. Her body is gone, destroyed in a fire that left her as nothing more than a pile of dust. I take several deep breaths. I don’t know if I can make it through this.
Colonel Fairbanks begins her address, holding the silver urn with Vika’s remains. She thanks everyone for coming to help celebrate Vika’s life. Beside me, Elijah sniffs a few times. My own eyes begin to well up with more damn tears. I look down and wipe at them hard, then check out everyone else. I’m not alone in showing emotion, but I don’t like it. Not in front of everyone. I turn around for a moment to calm myself.
That’s when I see her.
Standing back at the main building is Vika. She blows a kiss and I take a step back. No furing way . That’s not her. It can’t be. I blink then look again.
Nobody’s there.
12
ALORA
APRIL 10, 2013
M y body tenses as Sela turns into the parking lot at Java Jive, then I sigh as the tension melts away—Trevor’s truck isn’t here. I yell over the music, “Okay, Trevor’s not here. Let’s go.”
Sela turns the radio off. “Oh, no. You’re not gonna bail. Besides, we’re early. He said three thirty, right?”
Sela is practically glowing. You’d think she was the one meeting Trevor.
“Yeah.” Trevor reminded me right after history class today. As if I could forget. “I’m not so sure about this. What if it’s a prank?”
She rolls her eyes. “I swear, you’re beyond exasperating. He said he was gonna help you study. How could that be a prank?”
“I don’t know.” I need all the help I can get with the history test, but my mind isn’t here. I just want to leave. I plan to sneak into Aunt Grace’s room again while she’s cooking supper.
“Exactly, you don’t know. He might be using this as an excuse to hang out with you. Or maybe ask you out on a date.” Sela waggles her eyebrows.
“Jeez, no he won’t. I’m not his type.”
“Shows how much you pay attention. If you’re female, you’re his type.” She parks the car close to the building. “Are you ready to knock his boots off?”
“Really, Sela, this is a bad idea. Just take me home.”
“Nope. You’ve got to pass the test, remember? I’m tired of you being grounded already, and you said you’d try out for the cheer squad.”
I scowl. Funny how her saying that makes me want to fail the history test.
She laughs and opens her door. “Oh, lighten up. You’ll have fun, I promise. Now are you gonna get out or do I have to drag you out?”
I consider telling her I’d like to see her drag me out, but I did agree to meet Trevor. “Fine,” I huff. “But don’t expect me to have fun.”
“I don’t get you. Half the girls at school would kill to have Trevor notice them.”
“Yeah, the half he hasn’t already screwed behind Naomi’s back,” I mutter as I grab my history book and open the door. “Do I look okay?”
Sela glances at my skinny jeans and green shirt. “Girl, please. You could dress like a bum and still look good.”
“No, I wouldn’t, but thanks anyway.” Leave it to Sela to make me feel a tiny bit better. “Well, I guess I better go.”
“I’m sending you thoughts of rainbows and fairy dust and if that doesn’t work, I’ll even stoop to gummy bears and chocolate,” she says with a grimace.
“If that doesn’t work, nothing
We end up at the back of the crowd and wait for Colonel Fairbanks to speak. Hushed whispers circulate like a low hum. I keep quiet. This is the most important part of the ceremony, when Vika’s family will deliver her ashes back to the earth. My heart is heavy. I’ll never see her in person again. Her body is gone, destroyed in a fire that left her as nothing more than a pile of dust. I take several deep breaths. I don’t know if I can make it through this.
Colonel Fairbanks begins her address, holding the silver urn with Vika’s remains. She thanks everyone for coming to help celebrate Vika’s life. Beside me, Elijah sniffs a few times. My own eyes begin to well up with more damn tears. I look down and wipe at them hard, then check out everyone else. I’m not alone in showing emotion, but I don’t like it. Not in front of everyone. I turn around for a moment to calm myself.
That’s when I see her.
Standing back at the main building is Vika. She blows a kiss and I take a step back. No furing way . That’s not her. It can’t be. I blink then look again.
Nobody’s there.
12
ALORA
APRIL 10, 2013
M y body tenses as Sela turns into the parking lot at Java Jive, then I sigh as the tension melts away—Trevor’s truck isn’t here. I yell over the music, “Okay, Trevor’s not here. Let’s go.”
Sela turns the radio off. “Oh, no. You’re not gonna bail. Besides, we’re early. He said three thirty, right?”
Sela is practically glowing. You’d think she was the one meeting Trevor.
“Yeah.” Trevor reminded me right after history class today. As if I could forget. “I’m not so sure about this. What if it’s a prank?”
She rolls her eyes. “I swear, you’re beyond exasperating. He said he was gonna help you study. How could that be a prank?”
“I don’t know.” I need all the help I can get with the history test, but my mind isn’t here. I just want to leave. I plan to sneak into Aunt Grace’s room again while she’s cooking supper.
“Exactly, you don’t know. He might be using this as an excuse to hang out with you. Or maybe ask you out on a date.” Sela waggles her eyebrows.
“Jeez, no he won’t. I’m not his type.”
“Shows how much you pay attention. If you’re female, you’re his type.” She parks the car close to the building. “Are you ready to knock his boots off?”
“Really, Sela, this is a bad idea. Just take me home.”
“Nope. You’ve got to pass the test, remember? I’m tired of you being grounded already, and you said you’d try out for the cheer squad.”
I scowl. Funny how her saying that makes me want to fail the history test.
She laughs and opens her door. “Oh, lighten up. You’ll have fun, I promise. Now are you gonna get out or do I have to drag you out?”
I consider telling her I’d like to see her drag me out, but I did agree to meet Trevor. “Fine,” I huff. “But don’t expect me to have fun.”
“I don’t get you. Half the girls at school would kill to have Trevor notice them.”
“Yeah, the half he hasn’t already screwed behind Naomi’s back,” I mutter as I grab my history book and open the door. “Do I look okay?”
Sela glances at my skinny jeans and green shirt. “Girl, please. You could dress like a bum and still look good.”
“No, I wouldn’t, but thanks anyway.” Leave it to Sela to make me feel a tiny bit better. “Well, I guess I better go.”
“I’m sending you thoughts of rainbows and fairy dust and if that doesn’t work, I’ll even stoop to gummy bears and chocolate,” she says with a grimace.
“If that doesn’t work, nothing
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