Chapter 100 Never good
Chapter 100 Never good
She shrugged. "I don’t think so. She doesn’t give off broody werewolf spy to me.”
“Keep your voice down!” I exclaimed. Ruby raised her hands in mock surrender as she chuckled.
“Don’t worry! Nobody heard me.”
\-—————————
I met Faye during lunch.
She appeared at my table, her tray in her hands, her smile bright and open. She was beautiful, long dark curly hair, deep brown eyes, skin like warm caramel. She looked like she belonged on a magazine cover, not in our high school cafeteria.
"Hi!" she said, sliding into the seat across from me. "You're Calliope, right?"
I stared at her blankly, wondering how she knew my name. “Yes."
"I'm Faye. I'm new here. I was hoping you could take me around and maybe we could possibly become friends."
"Friends?"
"Yeah." She beamed. "You seem so cool. And I don't know anyone yet. So I'm kind of just... introducing myself to everyone. And I saw you from afar and I was like, I feel like I’d really click with you!”
No you didn’t. I thought to myself. I don’t think anyone normal would ever see me and decided that I would be good friend material. Especially when Ruby was right there.
Ruby appeared beside me, her eyes narrowed. "Faye!!! You're in my English class, right?"
Faye nodded. "You're Ruby. I saw you in the hallway talking to calliope. You guys are friends right?”
Ruby's expression softened, just slightly. "Yeah. That's me."
"Your hair is amazing, by the way. I've been trying to get mine to do that for years. Is that box dye? What type of dye is that?”
Ruby blinked. "Thanks? I have a picture so I’ll show you if you want. It’s a really small brand.”
Faye turned back to me. "Anyway, I just wanted to say hi. Maybe we could hang out sometime? Get coffee? There's a cafe on Main Street I've been wanting to try."
I opened my mouth to say no, to make an excuse, to push her away.
But something in her eyes made me pause. She seemed genuine. Open. Like she actually wanted to be my friend. Maybe I shouldn’t be so paranoid about it all and just open my heart to another friend. I could use another female friend.
"Sure," I said. "Maybe."
She grinned. "Great! I'll text you."
She walked away, and Ruby leaned in close.
"She's the weird. But the good kind of weird.
Do you understand?” Ruby said.
"Maybe."
"Like, how are you in school and you have so many friends already? No one has that much star power. Literally no one!”
"I know."
I didn’t argue with Ruby.
\---
I saw Faye again after school.
I was in the bathroom, washing my hands, when the door swung open. Faye walked in, her smile still bright, her eyes still warm.
"Calliope," she said. "I'm so glad I found you."
I dried my hands slowly. "Hello Faye. Can I help you with something?"
"I wanted to give you a message." Her voice dropped, losing its cheerfulness. "From Cornelius."
My blood ran cold. I was right about my suspicious after all. She as a spy. "What?"
"He sends his regards. He wants you to know that he enjoyed meeting you at the party. And he's looking forward to formally meeting you soon." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "He said you shouldn't worry. He'll come to you when the time is right."
I stared at her, my heart pounding. "So you’re working for him. Just like Damien and Marcus?”
"I'm only the messenger." She stepped closer. "Cornelius knows everything, Calliope. He knows about you and Romeo. He knows everything you’ve done." She paused. "He also knows you told the police about Damien and Marcus.”
"How did he know that?”
"You were the only one who saw. Easy to find out." She reached out and touched my arm.m, a brief and cold contact. "I'm not here to hurt you, remember? Just delivering the message.”
She walked out of the bathroom.
I stood there, frozen, her words echoing in my head.
\---
I found Romeo in the parking lot.
He was leaning against his car, his phone in his hand, his expression dark. When he saw me, he straightened.
"Calliope…”
"I was right. She's a spy," I said. "Faye. She's one of them. She said Cornelius sent her. She said he knows everything."
Romeo's jaw tightened. "I know. Kai just confirmed it. She's the new replacement for Damien and Marcus."
"Replacement?"
"Cornelius isn't done watching me so it seems. He's just using different eyes." He pulled out his phone. "We need to leave. Now."
"Where are we going?"
"Anywhere but here."
We climbed into the car, and he drove.
\---
We were on the road when Kai's message came through.
Romeo glanced at his phone, his expression shifting. He pulled over to the side of the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel.
"Kai says my uncle has summoned him," he said. "He's going to the pack house to see him."
I stared at him. "Why?"
"I don't know."
"What’s he up to now? Why Kai?”
"My uncle never summons Kai alone. Never alone." Romeo's voice was tight. "He's always summoned me alone. Never Kai."
"Maybe it's about the party. Maybe he wants to—"
"I don't know, Calliope." He looked at me, and I saw the fear in his eyes. "But it's not good. It's never good."