Chapter 9

I feel like death on a cracker.

Allie shuffled to the bathroom; her head throbbed, and she just felt weird. She’d been on edge since the fire last week but was losing patience with Aidan. He insisted she needed time to recover and promised to explain the strange things she’d witnessed, but he wanted her to enjoy tonight. Allie was feeling incredibly anxious about her birthday party, but she was not entirely sure why. She sensed a menacing storm churning on the horizon, just out of sight.

Allie stared at the bandages covering her arms. They were a constant reminder of the scars that would be with her forever. Her doctor claimed her recovery bordered on miraculous and the scarring would be minimal, but she didn’t know if she could trust her definition of “minimal.”

The fire left her with hideous burns from shoulders to wrists. But if it weren’t for Kayla, it would be so much worse. Allie constantly relived that moment when Kayla pushed her out of harm’s way. She felt so guilty and wondered if the situation had been reversed, if she would have—could have—done the same for her friend.

Allie was trying very hard not to be vain, but accepting her permanent disfigurement was proving difficult when the image of Aidan’s perfectly healed hands was still so fresh in her mind.

I saw something that didn’t happen … that’s all.

Kayla had accepted her more substantial scarring without pause, and Allie was determined to be forever grateful for her sacrifice.

“Presents already?” She smiled when she joined her mother in the kitchen. She eyed the small, gift-wrapped package on the counter as she poured a cup of coffee.

“Morning, Allie. Happy day-before-your-birthday,” her father said.

“Thanks, Dad. What’s with that car-key-sized-box there?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

“Har, har. You’re killing me!” She slammed her mug against the concrete countertop for emphasis. The cup shattered, and hot coffee splattered everywhere.

“Oops, sorry, Ma. Guess I don’t know my own strength.”

Carson eyed his daughter warily, a shadow of sadness crossing his face.

“Really, stop teasing her.” Lily swatted her husband playfully as she swooped in to mop up the mess.

“All right.” Carson eagerly handed her the box. He was almost as excited as she was.

“Yes!” Allie shrieked when the keys fell into her palm. “Where is it? Can I drive to school? Does it run yet?” Her dad loved fixing up old cars. She knew he wouldn’t have passed up the opportunity to do some restoration work.

“It’s in the driveway,” Lily said.

Allie rushed outside to see her present. “Oh, Dad, it’s beautiful! When did you do this?” She stared at the silver, sixty-five Chevy Impala. It still had the original faded black leather seats, but the new chrome trim and rims sparkled in the sunlight.

“I’ve been working on it since we got here.”

It still needed a lot of work and would never stand out among the expensive cars parked in the Cliffton student lot, but it suited her.

She lunged at her father, catching him around the middle in a bone-crunching hug. “Thanks, Dad,” she mumbled into his shirt. “Can I drive the guys to school?”

Carson winced, rubbing his ribs.

“Aw, come on. You’re not that old.”

“Yeah, old,” he rasped.

“You might want to call Sasha first,” Lily said, “but you’ll need this.” She handed Allie a shiny new iPhone.

“Okay, who are you, and what have you done with my parents?” They’d always had cheap pre-paid phones before. This new smartphone came with a contract, and that meant more to her than anything. It meant permanence.

“Go have fun, honey, but please be careful. And no texting and driving! It’s a stupid way to die!”

* * *

“What’s with all the fuss?” Allie dropped to the lawn beside Vince during their morning break. “Everyone’s extra interested in me today.” She scarfed a pack of crackers in record time. She was starving, her head was pounding, and she couldn’t give a flying crap about her party tonight.

“Aw, you’re cute when you’re grumpy,” Vince said in a patronizing tone.

“I told you guys, she doesn’t like surprises,” Aidan said.

“Cheers to that.” Sometimes, it was astonishing how well he understood her.

“We’ll tell you if you stop with the moaning and groaning.” Chloe rolled her eyes.

“I promise.”

“We’re just going dancing.” Aidan winked.

“Dancing? I could get on board with dancing. But why is everyone so excited? Did you invite the whole friggin’ school?”

“Just meet us at Aidan’s later this afternoon and we’ll get you ready.” Chloe sighed patiently.

“Why do I feel like you guys are trying to distract me?”

“Trust me, Lex, I planned this party, and who knows you better than me?”

“Hey.” Vince frowned, affronted by the insinuation that he did not know Allie as well as Aidan.

“Sure man,” Aidan scoffed.

“Does the jerky behavior take work or is it some kind of gift?” Allie asked. She was getting annoyed with the ever-increasing boy drama.

* * *

“Chloe, you made this?” Allie admired the cute shimmery green dress. It was super short with a banded bottom and draped off one shoulder with a pretty rhinestone detail.

“I’m afraid I didn’t think about hiding your burns.”

“It’s okay. I’ve decided to embrace them proudly. I’m just a little worried about that off the shoulder thing. It’s a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen.”

“We’ll tape you in. Don’t worry,” Sasha said.

The girls spent the afternoon getting ready, and Allie finally relented and let Chloe attempt to tame her unruly hair.

“Such a pretty shade of red.” She sighed wistfully, carefully pinning her curls.

“Ouch!”

“Did I stab you?”

“No, it’s this stupid headache.”

“You have a headache already?”

Allie didn’t miss the sharp looks that passed between the girls as Chloe stammered, “I mean … the music hasn’t even started yet, and you already have a headache?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Time to go, girls!” Aidan banged loudly on the door. “It can’t be difficult to make her pretty, she was already hot!”

“All right already.” Allie rolled her eyes, stalking to the door.

“Whoa, nice dress.” He gave her a lingering once over.

“I trust you remembered to invite Vince?”

“Keep your hair on, red, he’ll meet us there.”

“You would plan a night of dancing when you know very well my date doesn’t dance.”

“This is your night, and you love to dance.”

“And with whom will I be dancing?” she asked.

“Me, of course,” he said arrogantly.

* * *

“Happy birthday, Allie.” Graham gave her a small, plastic card as she and her friends headed down West Sixth Street after dinner with their families.

“College ID?”

“Enough to get you in. Just don’t try to order a drink.”

“First stop is the Velvet Dog.” Aidan ducked down a dark alley, leading them to the secluded club entrance.

“I know you hate dancing, but you’re going to have to suck it up tonight.” Allie grinned as she and Vince made their way across the crowded club.

“Well, I suppose I could manage a dance or two for the birthday girl.” He sighed reluctantly. “Just don’t judge me too harshly.”

“Happy birthday!”

Allie turned to find the girls’ basketball team beaming at her.

She and her friends were just getting started when Aidan announced it was time to go.

“What? We just got here.”

“This is a mobile party.” He steered her out the door. “We’re going to Liquid for live music.”

“Vin, we’re leaving!” Allie called.

“Let’s stay at this one longer than five seconds,” Sasha grumbled as she and Quinn darted into the club just around the corner on Lakeside Avenue. Allie found more of their school friends waiting to greet her there.

“Something told me you’d do better with friends in small doses,” Aidan said, drifting off to dance with one of her teammates.

“Can I kidnap the birthday girl?” Vince pointed to a secluded alcove with dim lights and comfortable looking seats.

“Yes, please.” She was eager for some alone time. “Sorry, I know all this isn’t your thing.”

“Don’t worry about me, this is your night.” He leaned in for a kiss.

“Ahem, sorry to bother you,” Chloe whispered loudly, “but we need the birthday girl. Aidan’s about to join the band.”

“Thanks, we’ll be there in a sec,” he said, removing a white satin bag from his pocket.

Allie tugged on the black cord to find a simple silver chain with tiny, barbed studs that gave it a hint of a harder edge. “Oh Vin, it’s perfect!” She clasped the bracelet around her wrist.

“It’s not much, but when I found this dainty little barbed thing, I immediately thought of you and that sarcastic mouth of yours,” he said dryly.

“Sarcasm? Me?”

“Come on, Allie. I’m sure McBrien’s dying to show off for you.”

They headed back to the party where Aidan was taking the stage with the band, and to her delight, he had his violin.

He played furiously, covering some of her favorite songs. He had the whole club cheering, but Allie wanted to punch him in the throat when she heard the solo strains of his violin and recognized the mellow beat of U2’s With or Without you.

“What a tool.” Vince shook his head at Aidan’s audacity. With the absent lyrics, he was telling Allie that he’d wait patiently for her to realize Vince wasn’t the guy for her.

Allie felt a stab of regret and more than a little fury as the song hit a nerve. It was time to put a stop to the boy drama, but she didn’t want to face that tonight. She didn’t know how to tell him that his feelings scared her—that Vince was the easy, less complicated choice—that at her age, and with everything she’d been through, she didn’t want complicated and neither did Vince. He was what she needed.

He pushes too hard! She adored Aidan but knew she could never be the girl he wanted. It would be so much easier if he could just be happy as friends.

He began a different melody she didn’t recognize and suspected it was something he composed himself. It was slow and broody, and she knew he was talking to her.

It seemed like every Cliffton student came by to wish her a happy birthday, but no one lingered, thanks to Aidan’s careful instructions.

“One more stop, Lex.” He ushered them from the club and several blocks over to Midnight Hour on Superior Avenue for food and music.

“Care to try again?” Vince asked, and they eagerly slipped off for some privacy.

“That’s a killer dress, Allie.” He pulled her close, planting a kiss just below her ear.

“Mmmm, thanks,” she murmured as his lips trailed along her jaw, and she turned to meet his kiss.

“Oops, sorry.” Chloe winced. “We’re going to miss the last boat if we don’t hurry.”

“All right, we’ll be right there.” Allie leaned back into his embrace.

“I think she’s been paid to chaperone.”