“How are you guys?” I asked after we detangled.
“Good. We were just spring clothes shopping. Forever 21 has some really adorable skirts.”
Having never shopped there, I'd have to take Deena's word for it. Before we could catch up any more, Aunt Kim stepped up next to them.
“Girls, there's a line. Why don't you get into it, so we aren't late getting home to start dinner for Daddy.”
“Okay. Bye, Lark. Stop by the house and I'll show you my new clothes.” Carol called and Deena waved as well before they disappeared into the cafe. I was aware of Aunt Kim's focus even before I turned back to her. Poppy and Sophia, as usual, refused to acknowledge my aunt.
“Larkspur.” Suspicion began to unfurl at my aunt’s addressing me directly. Something she practically never did, even with me in her own house. “I heard about Brad. Are you really going to let that boy stand trial?”
“Excuse me?”
“Well, seems like an awfully big price for him to pay for a dalliance gone wrong.”
“Dalliance? He tried to rape me.”
“Did he though? Looking the way you do, your boyfriend being out of town and you not being a virgin, are you sure you weren't giving off vibes?”
Before I could process the flood of emotions stirred by her vile accusation, Poppy jumped up from her spot at the table and had Sophia not grabbed her, I think she would have slugged my aunt.
“You bitch,” screeched Poppy.
“No call for that kind of language, young lady. I'm merely holding the mirror to Larkspur's face. Whether she chooses to look is entirely up to her. Excuse me.”
She disappeared into the cafe and as much as I would have liked to have hurled a scathing remark at her retreating form, I wasn't capable of forming one. Had I not had people in my life repeatedly telling me that I wasn't at fault, her words would have done some serious damage.
“What a fucking bitch,” Poppy snarled again.
“You can say that again.” Sophia, I realized, was also steaming mad. The sight of their outrage brought a smile to my lips. “I love you, guys.”
Poppy's outrage turned to confusion at my words, “Aren't you pissed?”
“Sure, but not surprised.”
“I'm glad you're out from under her roof,” Sophia said.
“Me too. Let's finish our coffee and I'll treat for donuts.”
“Deal.” Poppy added.
Settling at our table, I caught Poppy’s eye. “Thanks for defending me to her.”
Her smile came in a flash. “That's what families do.”
***
The next day at school was the dreaded lottery. When the lottery cage was wheeled out, you could have heard a pin drop in the gym. Bastian, who was watching the events unfold with a blank look on his face, leaned into me and asked, “What's up with everyone?”
One glance around the stands showed there to be not one smiling face, but I decided to play stupid. “What do you mean?”
The incredulous expression he gave me in response almost had me laughing out loud, and I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from doing so.
Coach Farlay stepped up to the lottery cage and, honestly, if I listened really hard I could hear the sound of the death march playing quietly in the background. “It's time to select this year's mascot.” Unlike the pep rally, and the seeking of Victory, Coach sounded sullen this time, no doubt because he might very well pull out his own name. When Coach started to turn the lever, spinning the ballots in that caged ball, it was the only sound in the room. As he selected a card, he hesitated a moment before pulling it from the cage and lifting it to read. He fumbled with the slip as the entire gym leaned slightly forward and inhaled, holding their breaths until he whispered, “Sebastian Ross.”
Realizing he wasn't the doomed one, he lifted the paper over his head and shouted, “Sebastian Ross!”
Everyone jumped to their feet cheering because they had been spared. I looked over at Bastian, but quite suddenly he turned those teal eyes on me and I saw the wheels turning.
“Why do I have the sense that you are somehow behind this?”
“Because you are smart and handsome.” I leaned a bit closer, “Payback is a bitch.”
He just sat there stunned and I watched as it dawned on him just how far I had gone to get even with him. “You rigged the lottery?”
My evil grin gave him the answer. He responded by grinning back, one so devilish it had mine looking almost angelic.
He whispered, “I know exactly what you've just gotten me into and now, my love, the gloves are most definitely off.” He leaned into me and kissed me hard on the mouth. He strutted down the stands, a man seemingly unconcerned about the horror that awaited him in just a few short days.
Despite his nonchalance, dinner that night was a solemn affair. Mr. Wright and Caden continually threw sympathetic glances at Bastian. Me, I was having a hard time keeping from laughing out loud. I couldn't wait, I knew it was mean and heartless, but I just couldn't wait to see Bastian, my inked and ridiculously sexy Bastian, as the Spring fair mascot. I needed to make sure I brought my camera. Hell, I should do his portrait and send that off to the state art show.
My jubilant mood didn't go unnoticed, especially by Bastian.
After the Wrights disappeared into the kitchen to start the coffee, I said, “I heard it's going to be a bit chilly on Saturday, which is good news for you, Bastian. Nothing like being overly warm.”
He eyes speared me from across the table. A grin curved the one side of his mouth. “As I recall, you know quite a bit about being overly warm.”
I held his stare and replied sweetly, “I do, yes, but I dare say there won't be any chance of that happening on Saturday.”
He placed his fork down and when he spoke it was downright sexy. “You sure about that?”
Poppy stood to head us off. Her parents were in the next room, after all. “Help me clear the dishes, Lark.”
Standing to join her, I saw the wicked gleam in Bastian's eyes, “You all right beautiful, you look a bit warm.”
I stuck my tongue out at him, then disappeared into the kitchen because, damn him, I was feeling warm.
***
The day of the fair arrived, and with it my victory. A Victory for him, and a victory for me. That seemed fair. When we reached the fairgrounds, I noticed my uncle had come with the twins. They had their friends with them and I could tell my uncle felt a bit overwhelmed. When he saw me, he walked right to me and pulled me in for a hug.
“How are you doing?”
“I'm good, better.”
“Good. I know you have people to talk to but if you ever need my ear, I'm here.”
Tenderness filled me—he was outside of his comfort zone, and yet still he offered. “I appreciate that, thanks.”
It was then he realized that Bastian wasn't with me. “Where's Bastian?”
“He's the spring mascot this year.”
An uncontrollable ick face crossed over his features. “Poor Bastian.”
***
The only way in to the fair was through the entrance, currently blocked by a red ribbon. Bastian, as the mascot, needed to greet the crowd and cut the ribbon to kick off the fair.
He had left before all of us to report for duty, but there was something in his manner that concerned me. He was up to something.
I waited in the crowd ready to capture Bastian's fifteen minutes of fame on film. With a bit of fanfare, the moment arrived.
The head was larger than I remembered, the long ears twisted at odd angles, the eyes—a shade of blue that didn't occur naturally anywhere in the world—had an almost satanic look to them. The fur was pink, a hot pink like the color of Pepto Bismol, but it was the smile—the big full smile with those two front teeth—that sent a chill through me. Yes, the love of my life was dressed like a giant rabbit—the Easter bunny on crack. Our school mascot, the Fighting Falcon, was embarrassing but even that didn't hold a candle to this. He was having a hard time walking both with the huge feet and because his stomach now extended quite a bit. It threw off his balance.