Night World : Dark Angel Chapter 6

Your hair Amy screamed. Gillian, your hair What did you do to it?Amys own hair was short, cropped close in pole and full in front. She had large, limpid savoury eyes thatal elbow rooms looked as if she were near to cry, because she was nearsighted barely couldnt strike contacts andwouldnt wear glasses. Her organisation was sweet and usu whollyy anxious adept with step to the fore delay it looked more(prenominal) anxious thannormal.Gillian throw up a self-conscious hand to her motion. Dont you akin it?I dont know Its goneThis is true. only why? Calm pull down, Amy. (If this is the way e trulybodys passage to react, I think Im in trouble.) Gillian haddiscovered that she could talk to apotheosis without moving her lips and that he could answer in her head. Itwas convenient.(Tell her you truncated it because it froze. That ought to flip her wickedness circuits.) Angels voice sullened the sameas it did when she could follow out him. Soft, wry, distinctly his. It come alonged to be ascertain proficient down her left ear.I had to cut it because it was frozen, Gillian verbalise. It broke off, she added brightly, inspired.Amys robust eyes got even wider with horror. She looked stricken. Oh, my God, Gillian- Then shecocked her head and frowned. Actually, I dont think thats possible, she tell. I think itd stay pliableeven frozen. Unless, ilk, you dipped it in liquidity nitrogen. Whatever, Gillian said grimly. I did it. Listen, Ive got it slicked back behind my ears right now, precisely theends are sort of uneven. Can you smooth them out a footling(a)?I can try, Amy said doubtfully.Gillian sit down, pulling together the uterine cervix of the rose-colored bathrobe she was exhausting over herclothes. She handed Amy the scissor hold. Got a comb?Yes. Oh, Gillian, I was try to tell you. Im so sorry close to yesterday. I good forgot-but its all myfault-and you almost died The comb quivered against the back of Gillians neck.Wait a minute. Ho w did you find out round that?Eugeneheard it from Steffi Lockharts little brother, and I think Steffi heard it from David Blackburn.Did he really save you? Thats so incredibly romantic.Yeah, sort of. (Uh, what do I tell people and about that? What do I tell them about the whole thing?)(The truth. Up to a point. Just leave me and the near-death throw out.)Ive been thinking all morning, Amy was saying, and I agnise that Ive been an absolute pig this departweek. I dont deserve to be called a best friend. And I demand you to know that Im sorry, and that thingsare discharge to be different now. I came to pickax you up first, and then were going to getEugene .(Oh, joy.)(Be nice, dragonfly. Shes trying. Say thank you.)Gillian shrugged. It didnt seem to content much what Amy did, now that she had Angel. exactly she said,Thanks, Amy, and held still as the low temperature scissors hold went snip behind her ear.Youre so sweet, Amy murmured. I thought youd be all mad. But youre suc h a good person. I felt soterrible, thinking about you alone out there, freezing, and being so brave, trying to save a little kid-Did they find a kid? Gillian interrupted.Huh? No, I dont think so. Nobody was talking about anything care that last night. And I start outnt heardabout any kid being missing, either. (Told you, dragonfly. atomic number 18 you satisfy now?)(Yes, I am. Sorry.)But it was still brave, Amy said. Your mom thinks so, excessively.My moms up?She went to the store. She said shed be back in a few minutes. Amy stepped back and looked atGillian, scissors held in the air. You know, Im not sure I should be doing this in advance Gillian could summon up a reply, she heard the sound of the front doorway opening and the rustlingof paper wallets. Then her mother appeared, her cheeks red with cold. She had ii grocery bags in her weapons system.Hi, daughters, she began, and broke off. She focused on Gillians hair. Her mouth ferocious open.Dont drop the bags, Gillian said. She tried to sound careless, but her stomach was clenched standardized a fist.Her neck felt stiff and unnatural as she held very still. Do you wish it?I-I- Gillians mother put the bags on the counter. Amy did you allow to cut it all?Amy didnt do it. I did it last night. I just got tire of it ample- (And getting all wet and icy) -and gettingall wet and icy. So I cut it. So do you like it, or not?I dont know, her mother said slowly. You look so much older. give care a Parisian model.Gillian glowed.Well. Her mother shook her head slightly. Now that its dohere, let me shape it a little.Just touch up the ends. She took the scissors from Amy.(Im going to be bald when this is finished)(No, youre not, kid. She knows what shes doing.)And, strangely, there was something comforting about feeling her mother gently wield the scissors.About her mothers scent, which was fresh like lavender soap, without any hint of the terrible alcoholsmell. It reminded Gillian of the old days, whe n her mom taught at the junior college and was up allmorning and never had uncombable hair or bloodshot eyes. Before the fights started, before her mom hadto go to the hospital.Her mother seemed to feel it, too. She gave Gillians shoulder a pat as she whisked a bit of cut hairaway. I got fresh bread. Ill make cinnamon fuddle and hot chocolate. Another pat, and then she spokewith careful calm. Are you sure youre all right? You must incur been pretty cold last night. We cancall Dr. Kaczmarek if you want it wouldnt take a minute.No, Im fine. Really. But wheres soda waterdy? Did he already go to work? There was a pause, then her mother said, still calmly, Your buzz off left last night.Dad left? (Dad left?)(It happened last night while you were asleep.)(A lot seems to have happened last night while I was asleep.)(The worlds lovely of that way, dragonfly. Itkeeps on going even when youre not paying attention.)Anyway, well talk about it later, her mother said. A final pat. There, t hats perfect. Youre beautiful,even if you dont look like my little girl anymore. Youd get around bundle up, though its pretty cold out thismorning.Im already dressed. The second base had come, and Gillian didnt really care if she shocked her mothernow or not. Her father had left again- and if that wasnt unusual, it was still upsetting. The closeness withher mother had been spoiled, and she didnt want cinnamon toast anymore.Gillian stepped to the middle of the kitchen and shrugged off the pink bathrobe.She was wearing black hipsters and a black camisole. Over it was a sheer black shirt, worn loose. Shehad on flat black boots and a black watch, and that was all she had on.Gillian.Amy and her mother were utter(a).Gillian stood defiantly.But you never wear black, her mother said weakly.Gillian knew. It had taken a long time to cull these things from the forgotten hinterlands of her closet. Thecamisole was from Great-grandma Elspeth, two Christmases ago, and had still had the bell ta gattached.Didnt you sort of forget to put on a pinafore on top? Amy suggested.(Stand your ground, kid. You look terrific.)No, I didnt forget. Im going to wear a coat outside, of course. How do I look?Amy swallowed. Well- capital. Extremely hot. But kind of scary.Gillians mother lifted her hands and dropped them. I dont really know you anymore.(Hooray)(Yup, kid. Perfect.) Gillian was joyful enough to give her mother a flying kiss. Come on, Amy Wed ruin get moving ifwere going to pick upEugene . She dragged the other girl behind her like the tail of a comet. Her motherfollowed, calling worriedly about breakfast.Give us something to take with us. Wheres that old black coat I never wore? The fancy one you gotme for church. Never mind, I found it.In three minutes she and Amy were on the porch. Wait, Gillian said. She fished through and through the black canvas bag she was carrying in place of a backpackand came up with a small compact and a tube of lipstick. I almost forgot.She put o n the lipstick. It was red, not orange-red or blue-red, but red red, the color of holly berries orChristmas ribbon. That shiny, too. It make her lips look fuller, somehow, almost pouty. Gillian pursed herlips, considered her image, then kissed the compact mirror lightly and snapped it shut.Amy was staring again. Gillian what is going on? Whats happened to you?Come on, were going to be late.The outfit just makes you look like youre going out to burgle something, but that lipstick makes youlook bad. Like a girl with a reputation.Good.Gillian Youre scaring me. Theres something- She caught Gillians arm and peered into her eyes.Something about you-around you- oh, I dont know what Im talking about But its different and its fateful and its not good.She was so genuinely shaken that for a moment Gillian was scare herself. A quick stab of fear likethe flick of a knife in her stomach. Amy was neurotic, sure, but she wasnt the type to hallucinate. Whatif-(Angel-)A horn honked.Startled, Gillian turned. business at the edge of the involveway, behind Amys Geo, was a somewhat batteredbut still proud tan Mustang. A dark head was sticking out the window.Standing me up? David Blackburn called.What-is-that? Amy breathed.Gillian waved to David-after a sharp nudge from Angel. I think its called a car, she said to Amy. Iforgot. He said hed drive me to school. So-I count I should go with him. See youIt only made mavin to go with David after all, he had asked first. Besides, Amys driving was lifethreatening she sped like a maniac and wove all over the road because she couldnt see without herglasses. It should have been satisfying. After all, yesterday Amy had stood her up for a guy-and a guy likeEugene Elfred. But right this moment Gillian was too scared to be smug.This was it. David was going to see her new self. And it was all happening too fast.(Angel, what if I unclouded? What if I throw up? Thats going to make a great first impression, isnt it?)(Keep breathing, kid. Breath e. Breathe. Not that fast. Now smile.)Gillian couldnt quite manage a smile as she opened the car door. Suddenly she felt exposed. What ifDavid thought she was flash or even freakish? Like a little girl dressed up in her moms clothes?And her hair-all at once she remembered how David had moved(p) it yesterday. What if he hated it?Trying to breathe, she slipped into the car. Her coat came open as she sat down. She could hardly makeherself look toward the drivers seat.But when she did, her breath stopped completely. David was wearing a look that shed never seen onany guys impertinence before, at least not directed toward her. Shed seen it, occasionally, when guys werelooking at other girls, girls at school likeSteffi Lockhart or J.Z. Oberlin. A stricken gaze, a supreme movement of the throat, an expressionthat almost made you sorry for them. An Im lying down and I dont care if you walk on me, babe,expression.David was looking at her that way. forthwith all her fear, including the l ittle stab induced by Amy, was swept away. Her nerve centre was stillpounding and little waves of adrenaline were still going through her, but now what it felt like wasexcitement. Heady, buoyant anticipation. As if she had started on the roller coaster ride ofher life.David actually had to shake himself before he remembered to put the car in gear. And then he keptsneaking glances at her out of the side of his eye.You did something to your and your He made a vague deed near his own head. Gillians gazewas caught by his hand, which was surd, chocolate-brown, long-fingered, and handsome.Yeah, I cut my hair, she said. She meant to sound careless and sophisticated, but it came out shaky,with a little laugh at the end. She tried again. I figured I didnt want to look too young.Ouch. He made a face. Thats my fault, isnt it? You overheard that stuff yesterday. What Tanya and Isaid.(Tell him youve been thinking of doing it for a while.)Yeah, but Ive been thinking of doing it for a while no w, Gillian said. Its no big deal.David glanced at her as if to say he disagreed with that. But it wasnt a disapproving glance. It was morelike electrified awe and a sort of discovery that seemed to grow every time he looked at her. And I never saw you at school? he muttered. I mustve been blind.Sorry?No, nothing. Im sorry. He drove in silence for a while. Gillian forced herself to stare out the windowand realized they were onHillcrest Road . Strange how different the landscape looked today. Yesterdayit had been lonely and staring(a) this morning it seemed harmless, and the snow looked soft andcomfortable, like old cushions.Listen, David said abruptly. He broke off and shook his head. And then he did something thatabsolutely astound Gillian. He pulled the car to the side of the road-or at least as remote to the side as hecould get it-they were still in the proceed of traffic-and parked it.Theres something I have to say.Gillians heart now seemed to be tanning everywhere, in her t hroat and her fingertips and her ears. Shehad a dreamlike sensation that her body wasnt unfaltering anymore, that she was just a floating mass ofheartbeat. Her vision shimmered. She was waiting.But what David said was unexpected. Do you remember the first time we met?I-yes. Of course she did. Four days ago shed been twelve and tiny for her age. Shed been lying onthe ground beside her house, fashioning snow angels. Kind of childish, sure, but in those days a stretch out ofnew snow had affected her that way. And while she was lying on her back, arms out, making the imprintof the angels wings, a tree branch above her trenchant to shrug off its load of snow. Suddenly her facewas covered in damp, closely packed coldness and she couldnt breathe. She came up spluttering andgasping.And found herself steadied. Something was holding her, wiping her face gently. The first thing she sawwhen she got her vision back was a brown hand and a lean brown wrist. Then a face came into focushigh str ong bones and dark, mischievous eyes.Im David Blackburn. I just moved in over there, the boy said. He was wiping her face with his fingers.Youd repair be careful, snow princess. Next time I might not be around.Looking up at him, Gillian had felt her heart touch off and leak out of her chest.And shed walked away on air, even though hed patted her head after releasing her. She was in love.Well, back then, I sort of got the ill-treat impression, David was saying. I thought you were a lotyounger and more-well, more flimsy than youare. There was a pause, and then he said wonder-ingly, not quite looking at her, But, its like, theres somuch more to you. I started realizing that yesterday.Gillian understood. David didnt have a reputation for being wild for nothing. He liked girls who werebold, dashing, out there. If he were a knight, he wouldnt fall in love with the pampered princess back atthe castle. Hed fall in love with a female knight, or maybe a robber, somebody who could share th eAdventure with him, whod be just as tough as he-was. Of course he had a strong protective streak. That was why he rescued maidens in distress. But he didntgo for the maidens who needed rescuing.And now, David was saying, Now, I mean, youre He held his hands up in a whoa motion. Hewasnt looking at her at all.In a moment of perfect bliss, Gillian thought, Im cool.Youre kind of incredible, David said. And I feel really pillock for not noticing that before.Gillian couldnt breathe. There was something between her and David-a kind of quivering electricity. Theair was so thick with it that she felt pressure all over her. She had never been so awake before, but at thesame time she felt as if most of the world was insubstantial. Only she and David were real.And the voice in her head seemed very far away. (Uh, dragonfly, weve got company. Incoming.)Gillian couldnt move. A car drove by, swerving to avoid the Mustang. Gillian couldnt see well throughthe Mustangs steamed-up windows, but she t hought faces were looking at her.David didnt seem to notice the car at all. He was still staring at the gearshift, and when he spoke hisvoice was very quiet. So I guess what Im saying is, Im sorry if anything I said hurt your feelings. And-Isee you now.He raised his head. And Gillian suddenly realized he was going to kiss her.