had to go on. "Hi, guys," I said, trying to sound normal. This time there wasn't an awkward silence at my presence. In stead there was an equally awkward everyone-talking-perkily-all-at-once. "Hi, Z!"
"Zoey!"
"Hey there, Z!" I managed not to sigh or roll my eyes as I took my place beside Erik. He put his arm around me and squeezed, which made me feel weirdly better but guilty. Better--because he was totally sweet and hot and I was still a little amazed that he seemed to like me so much. Guilty--well, that could be summed up in one word: Heath. "Good! Now that Z's here we can start the marathon," Erik said. "You mean the dorkathon," Shaunee said with a snort. "If it was the weekend we could call it the geekend," Erin said. "Let me guess." I looked up at Erik. "You brought the DVDs."
"Yep I did!" The rest of the group groaned in exaggerated pain. "Which means we're watching Star Wars," I said. "Again," his friend Cole muttered. Shaunee arched one perfectly waxed brow at Cole. "Are you saying that you're not a big Star Wars fan?" He smiled at Shaunee, and even from where I was sitting I could see the flirty glimmer in his eyes. "Watching Erik's long ex tended director's cut of Star Wars for the millionth time is not why I came over here. I am a fan, but it's not of Darth and Chew bacca."
"Are you saying Princess Leia does it for you?" Shaunee quipped. "No, I'm more colorful than that," he said, leaning toward her. "I'm not here because I'm a fan of Star Wars either," Jack piped in, giving Damien an adoring look. Erin giggled. "Well, we know Princess Leia doesn't do it for you. "Thankfully," Damien said. "I wish Stevie Rae was here," Erik said. "She'd be all, Y'all, you're not bein' very niiiice." Erik's words made everyone shut up. I glanced at him and saw that his cheeks were getting red, like he hadn't realized exactly what he'd said till after he said it. I smiled and rested my head on his shoulder. "You're right. Stevie Rae would be scolding us like a mamma."
"And then she'd make everyone some popcorn and tell us to share nice," Damien said. "Even though she should say share nicely."
"I liked the way Stevie Rae messed up the English language," Shaunee said.
"Yeah, she Okie-fied it," Erin said. We all smiled at each other, and I felt a small warmth begin in my chest. This is how it started--this is how we would remember Stevie Rae--with smiles and love. "Uh, can I sit with you guys?" I looked up to see that cute Drew Partain kid standing ner vously at the edge of our group. He looked pale and sad, and his eyes were red as if he'd been crying. I remembered how he had looked at Stevie Rae, and felt a stab of sympathy for him. "Sure!" I said warmly. "Pull up a chair." Then an inner prompt ing made me add, "There's room over there by Erin." Erin's blue eyes widened a little, but she recovered quickly. "Yeah, pull up a chair, Drew. But be warned, we're watching Star Wars."
"Cool with me," Drew said, giving Erin a hesitant smile. "Short, but cute," I heard Shaunee whisper to Erin, and I do believe I saw Erin's cheeks get a little pink. "Hey, I'm going to make us some popcorn. Plus, I need my--"
"Brown pop!" Damien, the Twins, and Erik said together. I disentangled myself from Erik's arm and went to the kitchen, feeling more lighthearted than I had since Stevie Rae began cough ing. Everything would be okay. The House of Night was my home. My friends were my family. I'd follow my own advice and take one day at a time--one issue at a time. I'd figure out a way to wade through my boyfriend issues. I'd do my best to avoid Neferet (without being too obvious that I was avoiding her) until I could figure out what was going on with her and the weird nondead Elliott (who was enough to give anyone nightmares--no wonder I'd had such a terrible dream about Stevie Rae and Heath). I put one bag of extra-butter, super-pop popcorn in each of the four microwaves and grabbed big bowls as they started pop ping. Maybe I should cast another private circle and ask Nyx for help understanding the gross Elliott issue. My stomach clenched as I realized that I