“
So, your coven is aware of this information?
”
Dad questions as he leans forward watching every detail of Gwen, as if he is seeking the truth in her words.
“
Oh, yes, I told them all of this and then I heard what she did. Something is very wrong and my coven doesn
’
t seem too interested in the matter. When they questioned her about the incident, she became manic and threatened our high priestess, Lady Calantha. Now, no one knows where she is or what she
’
s doing. I
’
m just afraid something may
have
happen
ed
to her.
”
“
Gwen, I truly appreciate your trust in the
Worthington
coven to assist with this. Here is my card, call me anytime with an
ything else you want to share.
Alyssa and I only wish to help.
”
Gwen
stands and her hair clip falls out of her auburn hair down to the floor. She
’
s extremely pretty
,
yet
a haze
of stress overrides her beauty. Her designer clothes don
’
t quite match and my guess is that she must have been in a blinding rush to get here.
I reach down and pick up her hair clip and hand it back to her. Her blouse is wrinkled and for someone as well spoken as her to appear this way, makes me realize she is truly afraid of... something. She awkwardly hugs my dad quite unexpectedly, but I know she
’
s concerned for her friend and maybe for others as well.
After Gwen leaves
Dad
and I decide to go grab a bite before we start shopping. After hours of relentless browsing I finally find a one shoulder silver sequin dress. It has a long and slimming fit which flows like diamonds down to the floor. Dad tells me he
’
s my fairy god
father for the day
,
so his goal it seems is to treat me like a princess.
I roll my eyes
dramatically
at him,
“
You know
Dad;
it felt great when I was young
er, but now that I
’
m growing up
.
”
I
g
ive
him a fake pouting face.
He pays no attention to me
whatsoever
and grins,
“
Next the glass slippers.
”
On to one store and another, we come across a Tiffany & Co. store which is where we find the most gorgeous diamond choker and matching diamond earrings. As the sun stretches along the
California
sky we finally decide to call it a day and head back to the Ritz Hotel.
We begin packing up to head
home;
I glance at the time and guess t
hat we may not make it home til
late the next mornin
g. I lay down across the bed
check
ing
my messages and find they are all from Megan and Lisa. I call them back.
“
Your not going believe my dress and I can only talk for a minute, I
’
ve got to head to the airport soon.
”
I listen patiently to Lisa as she describes her dress and then explains why I can
’
t get a hold of
Megan;
of course she
’
s still out shopping. That annoying ache claws at me when I ask her if she has seen Marc around.
“
Yes
,
and no, he
’
s been at school
,
but he wasn
’
t there today. Don
’
t worry
Alyss;
you just need to get home, okay?
”
Lisa says in her best cheery voice
,
and we hang up. I roll
on
to my side and curl myself around a pillow tightly and wonder about Marc. I know he will not be that kind of guy to just blow anyone off. W
hen he does things he always has
a reason. Shoving the pillow back I chastise myself for even worrying.
We are on the plane getting ready to take off when my cell buzzes. I have it on vibe. Looking down at it,
it
’
s
Marc
, but
I can
’
t answer it. The flight attendant is announcing right now to turn all electronic devices off. I put my
iPod
on
, but
then I have to turn that off too. Gazing out
of
the window
,
I say a silent prayer to my gods that there won
’
t be any flight delays.
I
’
m right,
it
’
s
six in morning and we are
just
pulling in the driveway. I am so zonked, hitting my pillow and I
’
m instantly out. My cell is going off non-stop and I want to just throw it across my room to make it stop playing
,
“
Break the Ice.
”
I finally pick it up an
d in an exhausted voice I manage to grumble out,
“
Hello Megan.
”
I move over onto my back and roll my eyes at the same time, waiting to hear her news.
“
Hey there
girl
,
Lisa and I are going to get our manicure, you coming?
”
“
I
’
m going to pass on the offer Meg, I splurged yesterday in
California
.
”
It
’
s
as if I hadn
’
t even
spoken
to her.
She continues her incessant rambling,
“
So, we are on the way to get you right now. I can
’
t wait for you to see our dresses, hot is not the word, they are killer.
C
an
not
wait to see yours
too
and where did you get it? It
’
s so hard shopping out here in no
-
mans
-
land.
”
Then without any warning she says,
“
Hey Lisa just pulled in, get ready we
’
ll be over in a few.
”
And she hangs up.
“
Bye
,
”
I
mumble to the nothingness on the other line.
I shower and dress and
I call Marc, he still doesn
’
t pick up. Ultimately I’m left leaving another voice message,
“
See you at the prom tonight, and gardenias.
”
I am sure he will know what I
’
m talking about, the corsage.
Lisa and Megan are at t
he front door, I walk over and the moment I open the door I know
is my first mistake.
Megan and Lisa both shift to my room bef
ore I can even get one word out,
“
Hey?
!
”
I shift too trying to beat them to my closet.
It
’
s
Megan that beats me to it and quickly pulls out my dress. They both immediately fall in love with it.
Lisa smiles and in an eager tone says,
“
It
’
s
just like you to get the most dazzling dress
, huh
?
”
Megan strolls over to my bed, sits down and smiles deviously,
“
Yeah
, you two are my two evil step sisters.
”
Lisa and I both look at eac
h other.
With a disapproving
fake frown Lisa smirks at Megan,
“
At least
we have our own prince charming
.
”
Megan replies as she leans deeper
on my bed and crosses her legs,
“
No, you have a couple of stable
boys;
there is only one prince charming. I just haven
’
t met him yet.
”
Chapter 22
I soon find myself back in another spa with Megan and Lisa. I think that if my skin is exfoliated one more time, it
’
s going to fall off. We finish and drive down to a café to eat. My food is just
delivered to
me when Marc calls.
“
Hey
,
I
’
m so sorry I
’
ve missed your calls.
”
Hearing his deep sensual voice makes me miss him even more. I want nothing more, than to be right where he is, feeling his arms wrap around me, holding me the way he does.
“
Hey,
”
I say back,
“
Megan and Lisa told me what happened and I completely understand.
”
There is a long paus
e for a moment and then he says,
“
I have missed you so much, where are you?
”
“
I
’
m downtown eating with Lisa and Megan.
”
“
When do you think you
’
ll be home?
”
“
I
’
m not sure yet
,
but I will call you and let you know, when Megan and Lisa are done holding me hostage.
”
He laughs softly and says
,
“
I will see you soon, okay?
”
As we hang up I notice that he sounds a bit off.
Megan looks up at me,
“
So, how
’
s lover boy?
”
“
Fine, but I can hear in his voice the sadness he
’
s carrying with him.
”
Lisa then proceeds in telling me
,
“
Apparently Kelly
’
s brother was only twelve
yea
rs old and he had leukemia.
It
’
s
been really hard on her and her family.
”
“
I would imagine so.
”
I quickly lay my napkin o
n my lap, trying to keep my emotions in check.
“
Marc
’
s been spending a lot of time with her lately, not only at the school, but he
’
s been going over to her house everyday since it happened.
”
Megan
casually
says between bites of her salad.
I struggle inside not to let it bother me, slowly pushing my plate away. Suddenly, I
’
m n
ot hungry any
more.
Lisa gives Megan
“
The L
ook
”
trying to get her to shut up. Something in me didn
’
t feel right, but I try again, dismissing the feelings away. Gently tapping my fork, debating with myself and I just can
’
t seem to shake it.
Am I so selfish that I can
’
t feel comfortable with Marc being a friend to Kelly in her time of need
, I wonder?
We drop Megan off at her house and then off to my house. I didn
’
t say much after lunch, finding myself just staring out
of
the
passenger
window, thinking.
Lisa reaches over
,
tenderly and touches my hand
,
“
E
verything will be fine.
”
S
he squeezes my hand
and continues
,
“
Marc
,
is an amazing guy Alyssa, he has a big heart, that
’
s all.
”