Authors: Susan Beth Pfeffer

Most Precious Blood (20 page)

“That's because I thought Daddy would make things better,” Val said. “Now I've lost that. That's the thing I've lost the most. That, and you.”

“I'm sorry,” Kit said. “I wish this week had never happened. I wish we could go back.”

Val nodded. “Will you be in school tomorrow?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Kit said. “Pop didn't know I cut today. He didn't come home last night. But he'll probably show up tonight, so I won't be able to get away with anything.”

“I wish,” Val said, and she began to cry again.

“What?” Kit asked. “What do you wish for?”

“I wish Mama was alive,” Val cried, and she sank onto the ground, and let the heaving sobs control her.

Kit knelt down beside her. “It's okay,” she said. “We all wish for the impossible all the time.” She embraced her friend and let Val weep.

Val found the remains of the tissues. “I'm a mess,” she said, getting up. She brushed some leaves off her skirt.

“You're okay,” Kit said. She began to help Val clean off her skirt, but Val pulled away.

“I can take care of myself,” Val said. “You don't have to keep doing for me.”

Kit nodded. “There's a lot to learn,” she said. “I haven't gotten it all figured out yet.”

“You will,” Val said. “Probably a lot faster than me.”

“I'll see you in school tomorrow?” Kit said.

“Sure,” Val said. “We're having a quiz in chemistry.”

“Thanks for the warning,” Kit said. “I'd better start studying right away.” She looked at Val for a moment, then hugged her. “It'll be okay,” she said. “No matter how it ends up.”

Val nodded.

Kit started walking away, and then she began to sprint. Val watched as she ran to the gate, opened it, then continued her run. She wondered what that was like, to be able to run with nobody watching, nobody protecting, but then she remembered what Kit was running to, and she knew that sort of freedom came with its own high price.

She brushed herself off some more, and gathered her books and bags together. The sun would be setting soon, and the Indian summer day was turning cold. Val turned away from the evergreens and walked to the front door. Before she had the chance to put her key in the lock, her father opened the door for her.

“Valentina,” he said, and Val nodded. As she let him lead her back into his house, she could feel the background shifting.

About the Author

Susan Beth Pfeffer wrote her first novel,
Just Morgan
, during her last semester at New York University. Since then, she has written over seventy novels for children and young adults, including
Kid Power, Fantasy Summer, Starring Peter and Leigh,
and
The Friendship Pact,
as well as the series Sebastian Sisters and Make Me a Star. Pfeffer's books have won ten statewide young reader awards and the Buxtehude Bulle Award.

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover design by Mimi Bark

ISBN: 978-1-4976-8272-6

This edition published in 2015 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

345 Hudson Street

New York, NY 10014

www.openroadmedia.com