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I stared him down.
"It's okay," he said to me. "The offer isn't good anymore."
When Jagger looked at Stormy, she wasn't budging, either. She stared up at the Maxwell twin with vehemence.
"Why did you do that to my family and friends?" Stormy charged. "Isn't it enough what you have here? This club? If it wasn't for Alexander, you wouldn't be here at all. You should be thanking him, not trying to stab him in the back."
Both siblings were shocked at her words.
Just then Valentine stepped out from behind us.
"So this is why you don't like me?" he said to Stormy. His voice couldn't hide his sadness but instead gave it away. "Because of them?" t=" "W
"No - " she said to him, "it's not about them. I do like you. But I want to have more friends."
"It is their fault," he insisted. Now Valentine was the one squaring off at his older siblings. "You guys always have to make trouble. It's bad enough at home.
But here, too? Why can't you leave well enough alone? Alexander likes Raven. Let them be."
"I was just trying to help Raven out," Jagger answered defensively.
"Well, you weren't," Stormy said. "If you want to help her out, just be her friend. And Alexander's." I was so impressed with Stormy's arguments and sticking up for me in front of Jagger, I was speechless. But I'd let her take over for long enough, and it was time for me to step in.
"Having a dance club is nice, but not if no one here is your friend," I said to Jagger.
"I don't need friends," Jagger mumbled. But clearly he did. He liked being the popular one in town now that he owned the club. He gazed out at the crowd as if he was really wondering how many of them he could call his friends.
"It's funny," he said as if we weren't in the room. "I don't know these people. Even Onyx and Scarlet. They are all here because of the club." His voice was reflective and suddenly soft. "Alexander has been a friend to me. I guess I really never realized it until now." Stormy relaxed her stance and appeared pleased with Jagger's reaction. And Luna was equally moved. She didn't want to be the only one who wasn't suddenly on the Sterling side.
"I'm sorry, Stormy," Luna said. "I really am. I didn't mean to hurt you, of all people." I felt she seemed sincere. This time I think the example she was setting for her brother and her younger friend really hit her.
"Speaking of Alexander," Jagger said. "Where is he? I'd like to talk to him about that night."
"We were hoping he was here," I said. "You haven't seen him?"
They shook their heads.
"Were you supposed to meet him here?" Jagger asked.
"Uh, no. I just thought he might show up."
"Well, maybe we can dance until he does," Valentine said to Stormy.
"Uh ... that would be great. But I really want to find him."
Valentine appeared deflated, and Stormy put her hand on his shoulder. "But the next dance is all yours," she said to her lifelong friend.
His sullen face brightened.
"If you see Alexander, tell him I need to speak with him," she said to the Maxwells. "Immediately." They nodded affirmatively and gave her a smile.
They nodded affirmatively and gave her a smile.
We scanned every corner of the Crypt and finally saw Becky.
"I haven't seen him anywhere," my best friend finally said.
"Neither have we." I was disheartened. "Well, I guess we should go."
We left the club, and Becky drove us back to the Mansion to drop off Stormy.
"When Alexander gets home," Stormy said, "I'll give him a good talking to."
I leaned over and gave Stormy a big hug. She had become a really good friend to me, and I cherished her.
As we drove to my house, it began to pour. Becky dropped me off in the driveway.
"Thanks, Becky. I'll let you know if I hear anything."
"Don't worry, Raven. It will be okay. Someday you'll look back on this time and barely remember it."
"I hope so," I said, and dashed to the house.
There was one final place where I thought Alexander might be. I hoped I was right.
I hopped on my bike and tore down the road in the sprinkling rain. By the time I got to Dullsville's cemetery, it was pouring. I was drenched and my boots were soaked. But I didn't care. When I turned into the parking lot, I saw the sight I'd been longing to see - the Mercedes.
The cemetery was closed, and the gates were locked. Normally, climbing the fence wasn't too hard for me; I'd done it a million times. But tonight, the pounding rain made it hard to see and the wrought-iron posts were slippery. I grabbed them as tightly as I could but slid several times. With a few curse words and all my might, I wrapped my fingers and wedged my boots into the grooves and hoisted myself up.
I flipped myself over and lost my footing on the slick fence. I fell on my bottom on the wet grass with a thud. I swore some more and then laughed at myself. If I had only been patient, I wouldn't have been in this mess. Alexander and I would have been bopping at the Crypt, and I would have received romantic kisses, not solitude. Instead, I was on my backside in the mud in the graveyard. chasing after my angry boyfriend.
I got to my feet and didn't even bother trying to beautify myself. It was far too late for that.
I raced through the cemetery - past tombstones and memorials. And then I saw a figure standing in front of the Baroness Sterling's monument.
Even in the pouring rain and with his back to me, Alexander was a magnetic presence.
I knew he sensed me standing a few yards away.
"I'm sorry - " I called to him through the falling rain. "I didn't mean for us to fight." He didn't respond or look at me.
"Alexander - " I said. "Please understand."
He slowly turned around. He was gorgeous, wearing skinny black jeans, monster boots, and a black T-shirt. He was soaking, like me, and even though he was angry, he was still as radiant as the handsome guy I'd fallen in love with. I wasn't sure if he was going to yell or walk away.
Instead, he just stared at me with his soft chocolate eyes.
I hurried over to him but didn't hug him. I wasn't sure if he was ready for me to.
"I never meant to hurt you - " I said. "I didn't want us to fight. I just wanted us to talk. It got out of hand. I never meant for us to get angry." Alexander didn't respond but just listened.
"I looked for you everywhere - " I said. "At the Mansion, Sebastian's, the Crypt. I was ready to fly to Romania," I said, my voice breaking.
