Page 48 of The Boy Who Loved Wicked
They loitered near one of the speakers, which made it difficult for them to hear each other once the DJ turned the music up. That meant Mr. Jones now had an excuse to lean in close and talk directly into Phoenix’s ear. I jammed my fists into my trouser pockets with aggression, tearing the thread at the pocket seams. And when Phoenix rested a hand on Mason’s shoulder and replied in his ear, I took two subconscious steps forward before a group of students passed in front of me, jarring me out of my bad decision.
“Don’t leave them alone,” I muttered through a tight jaw when Ms. Kumar walked off. Betrayal, hurt feelings, and anger fought for space in my chest. But shame is what left me gasping for air.How dare I.
Hadn’t I cast him aside? Promised to love him always, and then ripped that promise into tiny pieces and watched them float to the ground like confetti?What choice did I have?
I ran a clammy hand down the corners of my mouth, clearing the froth that had settled there at the sight of Mr. Jones’ hand resting on Phoenix’s lower back.
I tore my mask off, my hair fell across my eyes, veiling them and providing a smidgen of respite. Mr. Jones flicked his wrist, pushing his cuff up to check the time. He said something to Phoenix, and Phoenix inclined his head, then pointed to the bathroom before strolling away.
Against my better judgement, I replaced my face covering, kept to the corners of the gymnasium, and followed him.
Chapter 16
Phoenix
“The madness of love is the greatest of heaven’s blessings.”
~Plato
Earlier that day
“Phoenix!” The soft knocking escalated to pounding. “Open the door. We’re not leaving without you,” Theory promised.
“Yeah, dude. Come on. You’ve been locked up all weekend. Even your mom’s worried.”
I’d cried myself to sleep every night since running out of Sebastian’s house on Friday. Of course, this would be the weekend my mom decided to take off from work. A first in God knew how many years. I ignored her raps on the door, her calls, her text messages, and only shouted an affirmative that I lived when she dangled 911 over my head.
Twice she’d left food outside my door that went untouched, and aside from the occasional bathroom break, I hadn’t moved. Not even to look out the window.Especiallynot to. Throwing the covers back, I coughed at the rank smell that surrounded me like a cloud of dust.
I zombie walked to the door, flipped the lock and fell back into bed, pulling the blanket over my head.
“Jesus,” Danny exclaimed, shoving the window open. I burrowed deeper into the quilts. “We’ve gotta air this place out.”
The bed dipped. “Pheeny,” Theory whispered near my head. My throat clogged from the pity in her voice.
“I’m not going.” My voice gave out at the end, and I had to repeat myself. “He’ll be there.” Sebastian was volunteering. Hard to believe that seeing him had been the highlight of going to the Winter Formal only a few days ago.
Theory snatched the comforter from my body. “Do youreallythink he’d show his face tonight? After what he did to you? He wouldn’t be that cruel.” She hated him. It would do no good to mention that Sebastian wasn’t a cruel person. Defending him in any way would only make her detest him more. If he went tonight, it would be because he assumed I wouldn’t. Or maybe because he wanted to see me. The idea sent adrenaline coursing through me like an electric shock.
“Mason’s gonna be there,” Danny chimed in. “And I’m not saying you should use him as a rebound or anything” —he waggled his eyebrows— “but he’s got less friends than you. He’s counting on us being there.”
“I’m pretty sure you’ve got the same amount of friends as me, Danny.”
“Yeah, but I’ve got associates,” he said smugly, winking and shooting me with a finger-gun. He was dressed like Kevin Costner inThe Untouchables.
“You’ve gotta get out. You need some sun,” Theory said.
Sun.She had no idea how much that word terrified me. I didn’t want to be enlightened. I’d rather believe the shadowed fish on my wall was all there was to be had, than to learn that there were many more just like it in the sea. “I don’t have anything to wear.” I’d been so wrapped up in Sebastian learning the truth, and then the breakup, I hadn’t gotten around to picking up my tux.
“Already handled.” She pointed toward my door where a crisp tuxedo hung in a clear garment bag. “And so what if he’s there?” she challenged. “When I’m done with you, he’ll be eating his drool for dinner.” She reached into a bag near her feet and pulled out enough hair products to start her own salon.
I snorted. The idea of Sebastian spooning his drool like soup did have some appeal. Big hopeful eyes stared back at me, awaiting my final answer. “Thanks, guys.” I sat up with my arms extended, and Theory hit me with a stop sign.
“Uh-uh. Shower first, hugs later.” She pinched her nostrils together.
I’d gained a few pounds of muscle since my last tuxedo fitting, so it was a bit snug around the shoulders. Theory and Danny insisted it made me look “killer,” whatever that meant. My hair had been straightened and gelled into a bun so tight my eyes felt like they were going to pop out. Apparently that elevated my look. I felt like roadkill, but at least I didn’t resemble it.
I stopped outside of the school gymnasium, my fingers curling into the sides of my pants. “He’s here,” I murmured. The place was packed with people and decorations, and coupled with the dim lighting, I couldn’t see him. But he was there, the hairs attempting to jump from my skin told me so. Danny craned his neck around, searching, and I turned to leave when Theory stopped me.
