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My head drifted dangerously close to my desk. The even, smooth slab of plastic faux wood was inviting, and the even, smooth drone of my English teacher's voice in the background seemed to have hit on a previously undiscovered cure for insomnia.
I couldn't remember the last time I'd been this bored. If only I were officially accepted to Georgetown. Then I could relax. Right now I couldn't afford any more slipups, just in case they checked on my grades.
Which was why I was doing yet another extra-credit fun run during lunch today for Miss Lynn. "Fun run" indeed, what a misnomer. That'd be like saying "calm gremlin" or "pleasant hag. " Or "entertaining history textbook. " It was my third fun run this week, and I was positive I was sacrificing years off my already shortened life for a bleeping grade. Still, at least running was so exhausting I couldn't be bored. Unlike right now.
I stifled a yawn. I wanted something-anything-to happen. Maybe Lend would come and rescue me again, and we could go on another magical date and get over the tension that still seemed to linger between us in the quiet moments. Resting my head on my fist, I stared at the door.
What if a zombie came in, reeking of death and decay? He'd totally go for the Vicious Redhead Soccer Girl sitting right by the door. I could take a zombie. That ruler on the teacher's desk looked like a sharp edge, and how cool would my classmates think I was? Especially if I had Tasey.
I sighed, leaning my head back and staring up at the ceiling. It would never work. No ruler would be sharp enough. Besides which, I never bring Tasey to school. And even if I saved everyone in the class, I'd probably still be expelled due to the school's zero tolerance policy on violence.
I'd just have to live without the everlasting appreciation and admiration of my classmates. Truth was, most of them barely noticed me. They had their established cliques, and while they were friendly enough, I didn't socialize with anyone outside school. Part of that wasn't my fault, what with all the time I spent working at the diner and devoting my weekends to Lend.
But if I were being honest, mostly it was because, as much as I wanted to, I didn't fit in here. Their dramas revolved around who was going out with who and who said what to who and who got in where and so on and so forth. My dramas mostly involved whats-as in, What on earth is that horrible creature about to rip out my throat?
Or at least they used to. I'd been on edge all week. Raquel hadn't needed me for anything, which left way too much time to stress about everything. There was nowhere I could go where I felt safe or calm. The diner was all paranormals, and even though Nona acted the same as always, I got the creeps every time she looked at me now. Arianna was like my own personal poltergeist, always home, always infecting the apartment with her moods. Outside made me too nervous-the breeze that followed me everywhere, constantly having to watch the sky for sylphs and the crowds for faeries. I had nowhere to go that was mine.
It was like Jack said: I was homeless.
But right now I was just bored. So, maybe a stray vampire came to the school and . . .
A paper slapped down on my desk and it took me several seconds to realize what I was looking at. My test. My last test! My test with a-
No, that couldn't be right.
I stared in disbelief at the letter gracing the front page. C+? C+? Didn't he know how much time I spent studying for this stupid, pointless test? Didn't he know I'd spent half the night before taking it battling the forces of evil? Didn't he know I needed to get into Georgefreakingtown?
The C+ sat there, mocking me. It was probably a good thing I didn't have Tasey in my bag, or I would have burned that heinous letter right off the page. Class was over before I could register any parting instructions the teacher gave us, and Carlee was standing next to my desk.
"A C+? Nice!"
"Nice doesn't get me into Georgetown," I moaned, perilously close to tears. Please, please let them check my transcripts before my new grades were posted.
"You'll get in for sure! You're so smart. Don't worry. " She put her arm around my shoulders as we walked together to lunch. "Let's talk about happy things. What should I be for Halloween? I can't decide between a sexy vampire or a sexy fairy. I've got a whole tub of glitter body gel for either costume, if you want to be the one I'm not!"
Faeries and vampires were glittery now?
Honestly.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Caramel-Coated Complications
I groaned, holding my stomach. "Easton Heights never covered this. Cue dramatic voice-over: 'On the next all-new episode: Halloween gone dangerously wrong. Carys consumes lethal amounts of sugar. Will she live to see Homecoming? And, more terrifying, Will anyone ask her now that she's gained three pounds?'"
Arianna frowned as she pinned my wig into place. "No one made you eat an entire bag of Tootsie Rolls. Hold still. "
Getting ready would be easier if we could use a mirror, but Arianna hated them, so I was sitting in a chair in the middle of the tiny family room. I couldn't complain too much, since there was no way on earth I could have come up with a costume this good on my own. Sometimes it paid to have an undead-former-fashion-school-student for a roommate.
"Okay. " She stepped back, admiring her work with a firm nod. "You're good to go. "
I jumped up and checked myself out in the bathroom mirror. "Oh, Arianna, this is awesome!"
My red wig and wide purple headband complemented my purple dress, pink tights, and green silk scarf. I always loved the Scooby-Doo gang. They were like my exact opposites. They hunted monsters that were revealed to be humans; I got to see humans that were actually monsters. I think they had a better deal. And they got a groovy van out of it, too.
"Fits then?" Arianna called from the other room.
