Tonight there were a few random spirits, like Hecker Smithson, who took up more room than a pro lineman and never spoke to anyone, or Reuben Seyferr, who was always itching like he had fleas. Kaleb had waved to both when he arrived. The Lasalles—as they had done in life—discriminated against none, but befriended few. Kaleb had learned a long time ago that trust was not something to hand out like candy, but friendliness went a long way.
Jonas was the first to show his ugly mug. He stood at the serving station with one foot propped leisurely behind the other, leaning against the counter of the bar like a wannabe cowboy watching the door. Probably waiting for Alex. Pitiful. Jonas didn’t seem to realize that his fifteen minutes with her were over. Chase was back, and things were normal again.
Jonas always went after things he couldn’t have. And then he got pissed when he didn’t come out on top. Impossible odds.
When Alex predictably arrived with Chase, Jonas turned around and pretended he hadn’t been waiting. Kaleb shook his head in amusement. Jonas was wasting his time. Alex and Chase had been attached at the hip since they were born. In life, Kaleb would sometimes enter a room and wonder how in the middle of winter it could possibly smell like spring. Then he’d hear giggling and look down to find the two of them playing together. That strange feeling in the air, it had to be love. It followed them now like a trail. He thought of those two as one entity. Before Alex died, Kaleb would look into Chase’s eyes and his brother would not be there. Some part of him was missing. She was that part of him. How the hell could Jonas not see that?
Kaleb wasn’t sure he believed in love. But he believed in whatever hovered between Chase and Alex.
Jonas turned and acknowledged Alex, a dowdy straw dangling from his mouth. None of them noticed Kaleb sitting behind a computer.
The barista appeared. “What will it be?”
“Want anything?” Jonas asked Alex, but she shook her head. “What about you, delinquent?”
Chase stepped up to the counter and surveyed his options. Jonas waited, resting an elbow on Alex’s shoulder and flicking the straw in her hair.
“Cut it out,” she said, swatting him away.
“Did you have fun trying to beat the crap out of Jack Bond? I know I would.”
“I thought you didn’t mind Jack.”
Jonas shrugged indifferently. He was trying to act cool, but he just looked dumb. Kaleb snorted loudly, and they all turned to see him.
Alex drew back her head slightly. “Kaleb! I’ve never seen you look so serious!”
He winked at her, and she walked around the table to sit next to him. “You’re going to scare all my admirers away,” he joked.
“I don’t think any of your admirers have ever been intimidated by me.”
It was true. Alex was a good wingman, actually. He wouldn’t have put up with her for so many years if she wasn’t.
“What are you wearing that for?” she exclaimed in surprise.
“What?”
She picked at his shirt. His mind projected a jersey each day by default. He typically didn’t question it because it didn’t bother him. Now, however, he looked down and realized why Alex was wrinkling her nose.
“You hate that team,” she said as if he didn’t know.
“I have no clue why I have it on. Maybe because I hate doing homework.”
“What are you up to?”
“History research for Paleo. It sounds very high school, but it isn’t so bad.” He twisted his head left to right and then leaned in close. “Don’t tell anyone, but research doesn’t make me want to slit my throat anymore.”
“Now that you finally have a brain.”
“My sentiments exactly.”
Alex stared at his paper. “Josephine Anovark,” she read. “Eighteen forty-nine to eighteen sixty-five to nineteen-oh-one.”
“It’s odd to have two death dates, huh?”
“She didn’t last very long. Who was she?”
Kaleb held up his notebook. “We were supposed to focus on the advancements within a particular time period, not the people, but I couldn't help myself. This chick was everywhere. She was the first advisor for the DeLyres and some sort of celebrity.”
“DeLyres?” Alex perked up. “I’ve heard of them. Who are they?”
She was joking, right? He studied her face. Nope, not joking. “You know … like our Chancellor?”
“Who?”
“The Chancellor basically runs the city, Alex. He’s in charge around here. You’ve been here a few months. You should know these things by now.”
Her Intro teacher must be slacking. She probably got stuck with Van Hanlin.
“You haven’t heard of someone named Eviar, have you?”
“Eviar?” Sounded like a brand of bottled water. “No.”
Disappointment clouded her face. “So the DeLyres are in charge, but this girl helped them?”
He nodded. “Actually, she even ran away with one of them. Except their little union didn’t last long because some lunatic named Syrus Raive hunted her down and killed her.”
“Why?”
“I think he was pretty irritated that she destroyed his side of the war.”
“And he killed her?”
He nodded. “Totally slaughtered. I’ll have to thank Paleo for assigning me a time period with such heartwarming stories.”
He was actually pleased that this project hadn't been a snore. The spirited world treated this girl like some sort of second coming.
Jonas and Chase arrived with steaming mugs. Jonas wore his typical peeved expression, and Chase seemed bemused. All was right with the world.
Alex lifted her bag and took out a text the size of a phone book. Because spirits could read so efficiently, the teachers assigned hundreds of pages to read for homework. He didn’t envy her right now.
“I still need to do that, too.” Chase sighed. “I usually like Van Hanlin’s law class, but amendments to transportation laws are just boring.” He opened his own law book. “Maybe I’ll just get that out of the way now. Let me know if you need help with it.”
“Or you could just do it and I’ll copy.” Alex suggested.
“Oh, may I please?” Chase turned to Jonas and reached for his notebook. “Can I borrow some paper?”
“No.” Jonas snatched the notebook and stuffed it in his bag.
Kaleb narrowed his eyes at his brother. “What’s your—”
“Here,” Alex said quickly, handing Chase several sheets. “Gabe gave me some earlier.”
“Where is he?” Kaleb asked. Gabe would be so proud of him for being interested in history, and he wasn’t even here to witness it. What a waste.
“He isn’t coming,” Alex replied. “Romey came to see him at the fields last night. He has to play watchdog for the front desk.”
Jonas began to gather his things feverishly. What was he up to?
“I forgot I need to go to the Grandiuse and check out some books.” Jonas scooped up his pile of belongings.
The only person less likely than Kaleb to check out books would be Jonas. Kaleb didn’t believe him for a second.
“Don’t you want your drink?” Alex asked.
“You can have it,” he said quickly. His sports gear spilled over the armload of books.
And now he was giving things out? Something was definitely up.
“That was strange,” Chase murmured after Jonas disappeared.
Kaleb nodded. “What’s in that drink of his? Hand me that,” he said to Alex.
She adjusted her seat to reach for the abandoned drink, and the leg of the chair caught on a backpack Jonas had forgotten in all his hurry. When Kaleb reached down to dislodge it from the chair, flower petals fluttered to the ground.
He made eye contact with Alex. Flower petals? Alex shrugged in response and held up the bag. There, condensed together snug as pickles in a jar, were dozens of yellow flowers.