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"I'm sorry. I know this sucks. "
"Oh, yeah. I mean, it sucks, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right?" I gave him my best aren't I a supportive girlfriend? smile.
We hurried back to the diner, the happy spring in my step dead. So the trees were changing color. Big bleeping deal. Lend made a few calls, but in spite of his best efforts it was clear he needed to be there to help fix it. He left me with a lingering, regretful kiss and nothing to do for the next two days except homework.
"Back already?" Arianna asked when I walked in, headphones on and voice way too loud.
"He had to go back to school. "
"Lame. " She actually looked up now and frowned, seeing my face. "That kinda makes your weekend suck, doesn't it. Wanna go . . . I don't know, hang out in some dark alley with me until the sun goes down?"
I forced a laugh. "No worries. You keep exacting virtual revenge. We're still on for the movie this afternoon. "
"Fine, but I'm not holding your hand. "
"Thank heavens for that. "
She put her headphones back on. I trudged to my room and flopped onto my bed.
And screamed as my door slammed shut. A figure stepped out from behind it. "Rather pink in here, isn't it?"
Chapter Six
A Trashy Life
My heart stopped. For one horrible moment I thought Reth was in my room. And then I picked up the nearest object-a shoe-and threw it straight at Jack's head.
"What are you doing in here, you little weasel?"
He picked up my shoe from where it had clattered to the floor after hitting the door behind him. "How do you walk in these heels?" He sat and removed his own shoe, trying to jam his foot into my purple sling-back.
I stalked over and yanked it away. "What are you, five? Answer my question. "
He looked up at me, impossibly big blue eyes wide with innocence. "I thought we were friends, after you made me strip and all. "
"I'm calling Raquel. "
"Fine, fine. I was just doing some reconnaissance. "
"Reconnaissance?"
"Oh, sorry, that's a big word, isn't it? It means I was scoping the scene, getting the-"
"I know what it means! What, is IPCA investigating me now? Screw them, they can forget about any help from-"
"Do you ever let anyone else finish a sentence?" He smiled at my glare, flashing his dimples. "That's more like it. You're much prettier when you aren't talking. True of most people, I've found. Anyhow, I needed to see the address Raquel gave me so that I could find it again. "
"Why?"
"As you so graciously pointed out the other day, I'm not a faerie. I need to see a place before I can open a door there. Or at least open a precise door there. Otherwise it's anyone's guess how close I'll get. "
I sat down on the edge of my bed. As long as the weirdo was already here, I might as well get some answers. It had been nagging at me: how he could do what he did? It shouldn't be possible. "How did you learn? To use the Paths, I mean. "
His mouth twisted into an impish grin. "Don't let my good looks fool you. I'm terribly clever. "
I rolled my eyes. "Clearly. But you still shouldn't be able to use the Paths. "
He shrugged, standing. "Watch and wait long enough, want something bad enough, and you can figure out a way to make it happen. I make a lot of things happen. " Smiling enigmatically, he reached out a hand to my wall. "I'll pick you up later?"
