Call Me Grim (22 page)

Of Abaddon.

“Libbi?” Aaron caresses my cheek with the back of his hand. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I say, but I can’t stop the shiver that runs through my body.

“You don’t look fine. You’re trembling.” His hand slides around my shoulder and he pulls me close. I wrap my arms around his middle and run my hand up his back. I can feel the raised lines of his scars through his shirt, but I ignore them. If I think about those scars, or Abaddon’s rules and his screwed up idea of punishment, I’ll change my mind and have to meet the asshole personally.

I press my cheek to Aaron’s chest and breathe in his earthy-floral aroma. How can such a dark scent smell so good, so comforting?

“Are you going to be all right?” He softly strokes my hair.

“I’ll be okay…eventually,” I whisper.

I take Aaron’s hand and lead him out from behind the bush and onto the sidewalk.

“I guess.” I turn to face him, but he places a finger against my lips.

“Don’t talk to me anymore. I’m still invisible and you have an audience.” His eyes dart to the right and I turn to see Ms. Wellings at her front door with one of her many cats making figure eights between her legs. She squints to see me in the low light.

“Hi, Ms. Wellings,” I call and raise my hand in greeting. “It’s just me, Libbi Piper.”

She doesn’t smile or wave back. She nods once, nudges her white fluff-ball back with her foot and shuts the front door.

“Crotchety old bitch,” I mumble. “That woman has never liked me.”

“I should go.” Aaron yawns wide. I guess his nap in the clearing next to the Gateway wasn’t enough for him. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Libbi.”

He shakes his head no when I open my mouth to ask him what time.

“She’s still watching,” he says, and I snap my lips closed and glance over at Ms. Wellings’ house. She’s peeking through her window blinds. “We can talk tomorrow.”

He strolls across the street with his head high and his hands in his pockets. I wait until he reaches the corner before I spin around and head for Kyle’s front door. I don’t care if he doesn’t want to see me. I’m not giving him a choice.

The door swings open a moment after I knock. Dark brown eyes scorch me from under a mop of tight blond curls.

“Hi, Haley,” I say.

She looks me up and down and then pushes the door closed in my face. I catch it with my foot and push it back open.

“I know you’re mad at me for some reason, and I wish I knew why, but I can’t worry about that right now. I need to talk to Kyle. It’s really important. I mean life-or-death important.”

“He’s not here.” She tries to close the door again, but my foot is in the way. “Move your foot, Libbi.”

“Not until you talk to me.” I cross my arms over my chest.

Haley glances over her shoulder. The scent of peppers and onions wafts through the open door and my stomach grumbles. I haven’t eaten since breakfast. Dishes clink together as Ms. Lisa hums in the kitchen. The blue glow of the television flickers from the living room. Mr. Andy barks a laugh.

“Fine.” Haley stomps past me onto the porch, yanking the front door closed behind her. She stands with her head cocked and her hands on her hips. “What do you want?”

“Where’s Kyle?”

“I already told you. He’s not here.”

“Yeah, but where is he? He won’t talk to me or answer my texts or anything.”

“Join the club.” Her frown deepens into a scowl. “He left with Matt and Tyler a couple of hours ago. I don’t know where they went, but ever since Red Motive lost the Battle of the Bands, Kyle’s gone out with them every night and he hasn’t come home until way after Mom and Dad is asleep.” Her lips purse as she scrutinizes me, accuses me. “And he reeks of alcohol and weed.”

“What? You think that’s my fault?” The pang of hunger in my stomach disappears.

“Yeah, it’s your fault.”

“I didn’t even know he was drinking. How is that my fault?”

“If you don’t know, you’re a moron.”

She shoves me aside and yanks the front door open, but I step in front of her, blocking her way. I have at least fifteen pounds on her, probably twenty. If I have to, I’m not afraid to tackle her.

“Then I’m a moron, Haley, because I don’t know.” My cheeks flush with heat. “I have no effing clue what you’re talking about, actually.”

“Oh, yeah? Well, who’s this guy Aaron then?”

“What?” My brain does a back flip inside my skull. “What the hell does Aaron have to do with any of this?”

“Is he your boyfriend?” She smirks like she has it all figured out, but she obviously has it all wrong.

“No.” I shake my head. “It’s not like that.”

“Well, Kyle thinks it
is
like that.” Haley leans against the porch railing and gazes off in the same direction Aaron went a few minutes ago.

“Even if Aaron was my boyfriend, what does it matter to Kyle? He’s supposed to be my friend. Shouldn’t he be happy for me?”

Haley swings around and stares at me, eyes wide and mouth gaping.

“Really? Are you that blind?” She shakes her head like I’m the simplest idiot she has ever met. “Do you remember a few months ago, after me and Mike…you know?”

“Yeah?”

“You were complaining that you hadn’t even kissed a guy and I suggested you ask Kyle if he’d kiss you—”

“So I would at least know how it felt,” I finish for her.

“Yeah, well…” She gazes across the street again. “Kyle put me up to that.”

“He did what?” My heart pounds in my ears.

“He asked me to set you up with him.” Haley touches her temple. “Honestly, Libbi, I can’t believe you had no clue about this. The boy’s been drooling over you since the third grade.”

“Why?” I sink into the lawn chair next to the door. “I mean, why didn’t you tell me?”

“When we were kids, I thought it was gross. You’re like a sister and he’s my brother, you know?” She shrugs. “But when we got older, Kyle begged me not to say anything. He used the Twin Oath of Secrecy on me. And as he fell deeper and deeper, I thought it was so painfully obvious, I didn’t
have
to say anything.” Haley meets my eyes. The anger has melted away, and all that’s left is sadness. “He would do anything for you, Libbi. Can’t you see that? When I was mad about the test, he didn’t leave with me, his twin sister. He stayed with you. He walks with you to school. He practically lives at your house, on your front porch, sun or snow. Do you think he does all of that for Max?”

Now that Haley has pointed it out, I can’t believe I didn’t see it before. I really am blind and a complete and utter idiot. That mark showed up on Kyle’s face right after I caught him and Max talking on the porch about Aaron. Jealousy was the beginning of Kyle’s suicide chain reaction. How did I not see that?

“I’ve never thought of him that way.” I rest my head in my hands. “And I’m sorry, but I don’t think I ever will. He’s like a brother to me.”

“I know. But I think he hoped one day you’d come around.” Haley settles in the lawn chair next to me. “And I always hoped you’d have the decency to break his heart gently.”

“I swear I wasn’t trying to hurt him, Haley. I didn’t know he felt that way.” I glance over at her, and she meets my eyes and nods. A huge weight lifts. She believes me. “But it doesn’t matter anyway. Aaron’s not my boyfriend. So, technically, I haven’t broken Kyle’s heart.”

“Yeah, but you have to tell him how you feel, Libs. Now that you know, you can’t string him along anymore. It’s cruel.”

“I know,” I say, though I wonder if stringing him along would mend his heart enough to mend his mark. It would only be for a couple of days, then I’ll be a Reaper and disappear and he’ll never know the difference. “Just let me handle it. Okay, Haley?”

My phone buzzes in my purse, and I dig it out. It’s a call from a number I don’t recognize.

“Hello?”

“Libbi? It’s Max. Did you forget you’re supposed to pick me up tonight?”

“Oh, crap!” I slap my hand to my forehead. “I’m sorry, Max. Are you still at camp?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, I’m on my way. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

As I snap my phone shut, I realize that it will take me a lot longer than twenty minutes to get to the camp. I left my car in the supermarket parking lot, around the corner from Jon’s house.

“I’m sorry, Haley. I have to go.” I slip my phone back in my purse. “I have to pick Max up from camp.”

“It’s fine.” She smiles. It’s a tired smile, but it’s still a smile. And it’s much more than she would have given me even five minutes ago. “Tell Max I said hi.”

“I will,” I say as I hop down the front steps.

It’s not that far of a walk to the parking lot where my car awaits, but after a day of running around Carroll Falls at supersonic speeds, it feels like forever.

Finally behind the wheel of my jalopy, I relax.

Hell’s Highway rolls under my tires. As much as I’d like to avoid that road and what waits at the edge of town, it’s the only way to get to Camp Constance. I’m not superstitious enough to drive all the way around town to avoid driving past the Gateway.

I slow my car as I come to the hairpin turn in the road and glance over the guardrail at the clearing in the underbrush. The sun has disappeared and the full moon has just poked its head above the trees. The grass in the clearing shimmers in the silvery light like knives. Like little, metal teeth.

I shake my head and laugh. I’ve become very good at scaring myself lately.

It’s only after I finish the curve and continue down the road another two miles that I realize I wasn’t knocked back by the invisible force field holding Aaron in town. It must not work on Reapers-in-training.

“This is so disgusting.” Max stirs his soggy cereal and then pokes at it with his spoon.

“You know,” I say as I shove his Avengers lunchbox into his backpack. “I’ve heard if you eat that stuff right away, it doesn’t get all mushy.”

Max gives me a skeptical glance. He swirls the cereal one last time and drops his spoon into the bowl. Gray milk splashes onto the tabletop.

“Can I be done now?”

I peek at the clock on the microwave. We’re both ready for school with fifteen minutes to spare. That never happens. I suppose I’m a little eager to get to school and talk to Kyle. Aaron didn’t say what time he’d meet me today, but I’m sure he’ll pop up at some point and take me away. I need to see Kyle before he does.

“I guess you can be done,” I say.

“Yes!” Max scoots his chair out and heads for the living room and the Xbox.

“Hey, wait a second.” I tug his sleeve and Max freezes midstride, like he’s been zapped by an ice-ray gun. “You fell asleep as soon as I picked you up last night and I haven’t seen you all weekend. How was camp?”

“It was awesome!” He unfreezes and beams at me. “There was a bonfire and a lake and Dominick said a sea monster lives at the bottom.” The smile drops from his face as he leans toward me and whispers, “I think I saw it.”

“Oh, yeah?” I rumple his hair. “Lucky you!”

“I know, right?”

I sit down in the kitchen chair, grab both of his hands and pull him in front of me. He tilts his head with curiosity and my breath hitches in my throat. I’m not going to fall apart like I did with Mom. Big, blubbery sobs would make this worse and scare the kid, so I gulp back the tears and try again.

“Max, I want to apologize for being a jerk and leaving you alone the other night.”

“It’s okay.” Max shrugs and tries to pull his hands out of mine, but I hold them tight.

“It’s not okay. I shouldn’t have done it and I shouldn’t have gotten mad at you for calling Mom. You did the right thing. I was being stupid. And I’m sorry. Do you forgive me?”

“Yeah, of course I forgive you. You’re my big sister.” He grins and his green eyes sparkle under his flaming-red mop. I kiss his forehead and pull him into a humongous bear hug, rocking him back and forth. I won’t get many more of these hugs and I intend to make every one of them count.

“Ugh! Libs! Stop! I can’t breathe,” he says, but his arms wrap around me nonetheless.

“What can I do to make this up to you?” I say, once I reluctantly let him go.

“Hmm…” He touches a finger to his chin. “Can I take your Alaskan meteorite to school today? I want to show it to Shane.”

“You know what?” I slap my knees. “You can take it to school with you every day, if you want. It’s yours. I’m giving it to you.”

“Really? Your Alaskan meteorite?” His face lifts with joy. “I thought you loved that thing.”

“I do, but I want you to have it,” I say. It’s not like I’ll need an Alaskan meteorite once I’m a Reaper. “You can have anything of mine that you want, Max. Anything. Take it all.”

“I don’t want
all
of your stuff. You have girly things like a Hello Kitty alarm clock and makeup.” He frowns. “And bras.”

I laugh, but the laughter loosens the tight grip I have on my tears and warmth spreads over my cheeks. My throat becomes thick and my vision clouds. It takes me a minute to choke it all back enough to continue.

“Then don’t take that stuff,” I say, once I have myself under control again. “But anything else is yours. Okay?”

Max’s smile slips away as he studies me. “You’re being even weirder than you were last week,” he says. The ridge between his eyes deepens.

“No, I’m not.” I smooth down my shirt and meet his stare.

“Yes, you are. You’re never this nice to me.”

I open my mouth to protest then snap it closed. He’s right. Even if I’ve never been outright mean to him, I would never have handed over my prized possessions. Until now. But I’m not about to tell him why.

“Well, it’s about time I started. Don’t you think?” I grin.

Max doesn’t return my smile.

***

The clock over the blackboard must be broken. It feels like only one minute has passed since it said Kyle had ten minutes to get to homeroom, but now the bell is about to ring. Time is cruel like that. It goes faster when you want it to slow down and creeps when you need it to speed up.

Kyle didn’t knock on my door this morning to walk me to school. Not a big deal. It is the second to last day of the school year, and Haley told me he was out all night. Whenever Kyle’s late for school, his dad drives him, but he usually texts me if that happens. This morning he didn’t.