Fateful Signs (Ballad of the Seer, Book Three)

Chapter 28 - The Talk

It was amazing how quickly Lily fell back into her pre-fugitive routine: school; cheerleading practice; magic lessons with Ms. Birch; hanging out with Duncan, during his shifts at Express-O; even the basketball game on Friday night, which St. Steven's won - apparently they were undefeated - thanks mostly to the supernatural gifts of Jack and Jason. Jason seemed to be embracing his hunter skills deftly. Also, in a strange twist of fate that Lily never could have predicted, he and Jack had come to be friends.

        When Saturday rolled around, Lily found herself wandering the halls of her house, bored to death. It had been a long time since she had the luxury of boredom like this. It was different from the tedious waiting around and the driving through back roads and deserted highways for hours. It was kinda nice.

        But not really. She hated sitting around idly. So, she called her friends to see if they wanted to do something. Hilary was busy. A special anniversary date with Eric. Lily wondered if tonight would be when Hilary finally let Eric in on the big secret. She had been agonizing over how exactly to break it to him since Lily gave her the go-ahead. At times, Lily wondered if Hilary even wanted him to know. There was something off about her these last few days. She was trying to hide it, but Lily could see how anxious she was, jumping at slamming lockers or any time someone came up behind her. Lily tried to give her the space to work it out on her own. It was just so hard to watch her go through it, whatever it was, alone. Not when she had Lily and Dianna to lean on. If she didn't get better soon, Lily vowed to intervene.

        Dianna, however, was all for going out. She even had an idea of what they could do. "There's this thing in Hartford tonight. It's like a concert for all these new bands. I heard some of them are actually good."

        "A concert?" Lily asked, skeptically. "You know how I get around crowds." It didn't sound like the best idea.

        "I know, but I thought you could have a couple of drinks." Dianna was like the tiny devil sitting on Lily's shoulder, whispering in her ear to do bad things. "You are totally entitled to a few. I mean, you died! At the hands of your Xeroxed doublemint twin. If that doesn't earn you a cocktail, I don't know what does."

        Lily laughed, leaning against the bookshelves in their library. "Can Duncan come?"

        "Of course, doll," Dianna said. Then, she gasped. Lily knew that sound. It meant Dianna had an idea. "Ooh, I have a brills plan. How 'bout we make it a full foursome and do a double date? We've never done that before."

        "We did once. Sorta. Remember the bowling alley and Sebastian?"

        "Ew, don't remind me." Dianna said. "I could barf just thinking about how into that d-bag I was." A rustling sound on the other end of the phone was followed by a muffled statement from Dianna. "No, Mom, I'm on the phone." There was a mumbled response from Mrs. Blake. "It's Lily. Duh."

        "Do you need to go?" Lily asked.

        "Um, no, hold on."

        Lily could hear Dianna moving through her house: the quick succession of thuds as she ran up the stairs, followed by her bedroom door closing. "Sorry about that. My mom is trying to make me take Jonny to his stupid little friend's house. I will be so glad when he gets his own car."

        "You should take him." Lily said.

        "Why on earth would I do something nice for the worm?"

        Lily could practically heat Dianna's brows furrowing through the phone. "Maybe if you do it, your mom will extend your curfew."

        "Lilypop, you are an evilicious genius."