“No, no. I’m fine.”
Gloria brought me to the counter and motioned for me to sit down. “Tell us everything. What happened?”
I laced my fingers to keep from fidgeting. “I was reading my book, and I heard someone cry for help. I looked out the window and saw a little girl. She was only about eight. She was crying. I went outside to see what was wrong and why she was alone so late at night.”
Gloria poured me a glass of water, and I took a sip before continuing. “She said she was out riding her bike. She went out without asking because she was mad at her mom. They’d had a fight earlier. So, anyway, the girl got a flat tire, and she couldn’t get back home. She came to the diner looking for someone to help her.”
“So what, you walked her home?” Ethan said.
“Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you come get me? I would’ve taken her in my car or you could’ve driven her.”
“She was so freaked out, and I wasn’t sure if she’d get scared if I involved more people.”
Ethan shook his head, but Gloria put her hand to her chest and said, “Well, you nearly gave me a heart attack. Next time you tell someone before you go running off like that.”
I nodded. “I’m sorry I made you worry.”
She started for her office. “I’m going to call Jackson and let him know you’re okay.”
Ethan waited for her to get to the office before he said anything else. “I don’t understand why you would do something like this when you’ve got that guy following you around.”
“I’m not afraid of Dylan.”
His eyes widened and he stepped back. “What, now you’re on a first-name basis with him?”
“No. He wrote his name on that note, remember?”
Ethan put his hands on his hips. “This isn’t like you, Sam.”
I stood and reached up on my toes, grazing his lips with mine.
“Don’t.” He stood rigid, not giving in to me. “You can’t make everything better by kissing me. I’m pissed at you right now.”
“Ethan, I’m sorry. I should’ve told you what I was doing before I left, but I didn’t think it was a big deal. She said she lived close by. She was just afraid to walk home alone in the dark.”
“What was her name?”
“What?” Was he quizzing me now?
“Her name. I’m guessing she told you.”
“Rebecca.” I blurted out the name on my mind. I knew it was stupid to even say her name right now, but I couldn’t help it. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I just wanted to get Ethan to stop being mad at me.
“Let’s go home. I’m finished in the kitchen.”
He didn’t say another word to me all night.
With Ethan not talking to me and staying on his side of the bed, I had no choice but to sleep. I felt really energized, and I had to wonder if draining a witch’s life also gave me her power. It certainly felt like her power had transferred to me. If I kept doing this, would I become a witch? Would I be able to do spells like Nora? The thought lingered in my head as I drifted off to sleep.
I woke up before my alarm, feeling better than I could ever remember feeling. Sure there were the lingering thoughts of what I’d done to feel this energized, but for the most part, I’d accepted what I had to do until Nora could make a new protective necklace for me.
I got ready for school and ate breakfast. Ethan headed to the bathroom without even mumbling a hello. I wasn’t sure how long this was going to last, and I hated that he was mad at me when I was feeling so great otherwise.
I finished my cereal and washed the bowl. Ethan was taking longer to get ready this morning, and I couldn’t help thinking it was intentional. He was trying to put off the ride to school, where he’d be forced to acknowledge me at least a little. He finally came out, and before I could say a word, he grabbed my face and kissed me.
I was more than surprised, but I kissed him back, happy he was letting this issue go. When he pulled away, he looked me in the eyes. “I know you didn’t mean to make me worry, and you were trying to help that little girl. And I know if you had a cell phone, you would’ve called me.”
Um, maybe not. I’d had the phone Nora gave me, and not once did I think to call Ethan last night.
“So on the way to school, we’re stopping at the store so I can get you one of those prepaid phones. I need to get one, too.”
“What happened to your phone?” He’d had it this entire time.
“I threw it against the bathroom wall last night.”
So that’s what those little bits of plastic on the floor had been. I’d stepped on one getting out of the shower.
“Oh.” I decided against mentioning the cut on my foot from the smashed phone.
“No big deal. I needed to stop using it anyway. I don’t want my parents to be able to trace it to me.”
“Right.”
He grabbed his backpack and keys.
“Hey,” I said, picking up my bag. “I really am sorry, and I think getting cell phones is a good idea. Not that we’re apart a lot, but I’d feel better if I could get in touch with you easily.”
He smiled and put his arm around me as we walked to the car. He opened my door for me, and my eyes fell on the yellow Post-it note on the floor of the car. I threw my bag down on it before Ethan could notice it. I was careful not to let my bag move as he drove us to Walmart.
“You want to come in or wait in the car?” Ethan asked.
“Um, I’ll stay if you don’t mind. I need to finish my reading for class.”
“Okay. Be right back.”
I watched him disappear inside the store before I picked up my bag and the note under it.
She’s lying.
Had Dylan left this for Ethan? Was he trying to tell Ethan my secret? I balled the note in my fist and stuffed it in my school bag. I’d had enough of this guy. He was one of them—the evil witches I was going to get rid of. He was trying to ruin my life, but I wouldn’t let him. My anger continued to build as I waited for Ethan. I came to the conclusion that I was okay with killing people like Dylan. If I had to kill, he’d be next.
Ethan ran back to the car with a bag in his hands. He tore open the packages and held both phones out to me. “Pick one.” One was black, and the other was silver.
I’d always had a thing for silver. “This one.” I took the silver phone.
“How did I know?” He smiled and reached for my phone.
“Hey, what are you doing?” I protested.
“Programming my number into your phone and your number into mine. What, did you think I was stealing your silver phone and sticking you with the boring black one?”
“Maybe.” I shrugged, feeling silly for even thinking such a thing. Ethan was too thoughtful to do something like that.
“There you go. I’m the first—and only—number in your speed dial.”
“Am I in your speed dial?”
“Yup, and that leaves me with nine more spots for the girls of my choosing.” He wagged his eyebrows at me.
I laughed. “I wonder who the lucky ladies will be.”
He leaned over and kissed me. My head spun, but not from a vision or an attack. From Ethan.
“What was that for?” I asked, breathless.
“For being first on my speed dial.”
“Oh, of course. But I think technically voice mail is set to the first speed dial spot. I can’t wait to see what you do to that automated voice. If I got a kiss like that—”
“Okay, okay. Very funny.”
We drove to school, and things between Ethan and me seemed back to normal. He kissed me goodbye before our first class, and I slipped into Mr. Ryan’s room without being noticed by Shannon or the other future stalkers. I took a seat in the back row and texted Ethan.
In lit class. Last row. Just keeping you updated.
Having a cell phone in school might actually keep this place interesting. I could bust on Ethan all I wanted, and it would be almost like having him in class with me.