as Eden turned to the boy’s shell and blew. The remains scattered into a million pieces, dust glistening in the sunlight before it settled.
A startled “Oh” drifted from Libby’s lips. Eden waved a hand over the girl’s body. In its wake was only stained asphalt.
Eden pulled away from the wall and turned to walk from the alley. Libby was instantly at her side, but Eden traipsed around the corner, no longer needing help. She vaulted up the stairs two at a time and slipped the key into the dead bolt, not even out of breath.
“You took their Touch, didn’t you?” Libby said as Eden opened the door and walked across the room, dropping onto the couch. “But it doesn’t affect you the way it does the rest of us.”
Eden grabbed for the cup on the coffee table. She grimaced at the tepid swallow and then set it back down. Damn, the girl was clever. She knew just about as much as any of them did, now. So let her stay, Eden thought. Jarrod had been right. Something had to give if she wanted to keep doing her thing. And after last night, letting Libby move in might even be enough of a peace offering.
“So, I mean, if you still need a place to crash, I owe you for yesterday.”
“Really?” Libby looked shaken by the offer, but held herself in check.
“Well, there’s a catch. We’re kind of low on space, so you’d be on the couch. At least until we figure something else out.”
“No, that’d be fine.” Libby hesitated. “Why the sudden change of heart?”
“Because we could use another Sider in our crew. And yesterday you proved to be an asset. Consider it a trial period.”
“Oh, totally. And I’ll do whatever you need. Really.” Libby blushed, though her smile stayed. “Sorry, it’s just…I haven’t had a good day in a long time.”
“Yeah, I kind of figured, you being a Sider and all. Why’d you do it?” Eden asked.
Libby sucked in a hiss of air, her smile vanishing as she dropped her eyes.
Finally she whispered, “Love.”
Eden rolled her eyes. “What, the quarterback didn’t ask you to prom even though you got hot and heavy under the bleachers?”
“You don’t have to be so bitchy about it. It wasn’t like that.” But Libby’s glare faltered, faded. “We did it so we could be together forever.”
“Suicide pact?” Eden sat up a little, taking stock of the girl in front of her. “How’d that work out for you?”
Libby turned away, hiding her face. “He’s not a Sider.”
“Jesus.” Eden shook her head.
Suddenly the room seemed too small. She could almost smell Az, crisp, like new snow. Her neck tingled, remembering the feel of his lips, the way his breath hit her skin. She closed her eyes and she was back there—the hotel, the sheets pulled loose and tossed aside, her heart pounding, hands pulling him closer, needing him closer. She forced her eyes open, shattering the memory.
Yesterday, she realized, for the first day in weeks, he hadn’t called. He’d probably given up. What was there to say, anyway?
She felt her face flush. “No one. He doesn’t matter.” Her phone hadn’t rung. Part of her wondered if he’d Fallen, if she’d never get the chance to answer. She swallowed hard, willing up the familiar feeling of betrayal. Rage slid scabs over the wounds.
“He really never mattered that much at all,” she found herself whispering.
Both girls jumped at the sound of the slamming door.
Jarrod stopped when he saw Eden sitting up straight, all traces of last night’s escapade reversed.
“You let her downstairs?” He glared at Libby.
Eden waved away his words. “Don’t be too hard on her. You know she didn’t stand a chance.”
“Told you she wasn’t strong enough to prevail against the will of our mighty Eden.” Adam sighed as he and James pushed around Jarrod. He set a tray on the coffee table before he graced Libby with a smile to show her everything was forgiven. “Java Boy asked about you,” he added, turning to Eden.
Jarrod tossed a newspaper at her, the pages rustling through the air before it landed with a heavy slap next to the cups.
“Ecstasy-fueled Rave Leaves Twenty Dead After ‘Bad Trip’” screamed the headline. Eden’s breath caught.
“Twenty?” she whispered. I should have listened to Jarrod, she thought. I shouldn’t have let it build.
“I’m really sorry.” James’s hand squeezed her shoulder, an offer of comfort she couldn’t bring herself to take.