The Cinderella Society (14 page)

So I did the next best thing to leaving: I manned the iPod station.

Manning the iPod station wasn’t actually as lame as it sounds. Because pretty much everyone at the party, at one point or another, came over to request something. And suddenly, I was the Girl in the Know. The only people who didn’t come over were Lexy and Morgan (which was fine) and Ryan (which was also fine,
obviously)
. My shirt was drying and not nearly as cold anymore, the flames of my mortification having long since warmed up the fabric.

SJ asked me to hang out after the party with the other Sisters for a Sisterhood birthday tradition, and I gladly obliged. Man the iPod to keep a low profile, do the Sisterhood
birthday thing for Kyra, and then I’d be out of there.
I can do this
.

Of course, that was also the moment my luck took a bathroom break. Avril Lavigne faded out, and I heard a tempting voice behind me. “Got any John Mayer?”

I played it chill, no pun intended. “The classics or his new album?”

“The classics. What’s your favorite Mayer album?” he asked, copping a squat on the floor next to me.

“Any Given Thursday
. I love hearing him play live.”

Ryan nodded, the lock of hair I’d touched drawing my attention. I curled my fingernails into my palms to restrain myself from further inappropriate urges. “I like acoustic versions the best,” he said. “Acoustic always gets to the soul of the song.”

We ended up talking music for so long I lost track of time. People still stopped by to request songs, and we all did the cake thing for Kyra (with much laughter over Ben’s serenade of “You Say It’s Your Birthday”). But other than that and a quick trip for nonfrosty drinks, Ryan hung by the iPod for the rest of the party, until Mark came by to ask if he needed a ride home.

I looked up and realized the whole rec room had emptied out, save the band of Sisters cleaning up the bar area. And Lexy, tapping her foot impatiently by the stairs while Ryan talked to Mark. She glared at me and, after checking for Mrs. Gonzalez, snapped an
L
against her forehead.

Loser
.

I looked at Ryan, then back at her, and realized her real beef was that the big brother she idolized was paying attention to her sworn enemy. The thought made me smile. I discreetly
touched the tips of my thumbs together and flicked up my forefingers in response.

Whatever
.

Ryan turned back to me, his keys dangling from his thumb. “I need to give my sister a ride home. See you around?”

“Probably.”

“Keep rockin’ John Mayer.”

I smiled to hide my disappointment, thanks to Sarah Jane’s half lecture, half pep talk. “Always.”

He nodded and turned to go, but only made it a few steps before he turned back. “Jess?”

“Yeah?” I said, a little too quickly and a lot too eagerly.

“My dad’s out of town this weekend, so we’re having a pool party on Sunday. Are you coming?”

Was that an invitation? “Um, I don’t know.”

I wasn’t toying with him. I seriously didn’t know if it was kosher for me to go, since I was pretty sure Lexy would be there. But if Ryan wanted me there …

Ryan shrugged, and my excitement snuffed out like a candle in a tornado. “That’s cool,” he said.

He headed over to Lexy before I could clarify the situation. Lexy gave me a smirk, then plastered on a cheeky smile for her big brother. He let her go up the stairs first as I watched, my heart crushed by my stupid lack of response. Why was it that people like Kyra and Sarah Jane could simply say, “Yep, I’ll be there!” anytime a party was hosted, but I had to worry about being booted out on my butt?

Ryan started up the stairs after Lexy, but at the last second popped his head back around the corner and winked. At me. With a grin, he disappeared to follow his heinous excuse for a sibling.

A new bathing suit was definitely in my future.

*   *   *

Working at Nan’s store was a little like being the ringmaster at a circus. Not that her clients were a bunch of sideshow freaks. Most of the customers at Celestial Gifts were totally normal. Even the few who gave new meaning to “quirky and eccentric” were really nice. But when events like summer solstice came around, people tended to get a little carried away with their preparations.

The morning had started off fine until one of Nan’s regulars knocked over a pyramid of gems I’d painstakingly arranged, just because the one he
had
to have for his talisman was right smack in the middle. I was trying to clean up the scattered amethysts so no one stepped on them when a woman with a chunky amulet on a long chain got herself tangled up in the pendulum display. Then, right as Mary Alice Higgenbotham launched into a deep, booming chant in front of the incense holders, the dragon phone rang. That’s Nan’s cue for scurrying away and closing her office door to answer it in private.

If Mary Alice doesn’t make Nan bat an eyelash, I don’t want to know what kind of clients make Nan feel the need to hide them from the world.

To say Nan embraced the New Age movement would be a massive understatement. The only thing keeping her from a completely bohemian lifestyle was her mysterious draw toward science professors and an uptight daughter—that would be Mom—who got creeped out by braless women in broomstick skirts. Mom’s clearly a good match for the bean counter profession. Or was. How they could possibly be mother and daughter, I had no idea.

The good thing about days like this was that I was usually too busy trying to keep track of our customers’ bazillion
requests (“Where did you find a jade pillar in such a brilliant shade of blue? Can I custom-order one with nine sides?”) that I didn’t have time to dwell. Today was definitely not a dwelling day. Not when I was battling a serious case of nerves about the Steeles’ pool party.

“Jessica, can you refill the fountains while I package the garden gnome for Mrs. Bertrice?” Nan asked, back from her office to help me with the last of the gems.

“Sure.” I nabbed the water jug from the back room and starting making the daily fountain run. Water was constantly evaporating out of them, so you had to refill them every day or they’d run dry and the motors would burn out.

I didn’t really mind, though. I love fountains. Maybe it’s because I’m a Pisces, or maybe it’s because my favorite places we ever lived were Seattle and Cleveland (both by the shore), but gently moving water has always been really soothing for me.

At the moment, soothing was good, because in only twenty-six hours and seventeen minutes, I’d see Ryan again. At his pool party. In my new bathing suit.

Breathe in. Breathe out
.

A guy seeing you in next to nothing is a big step. Sarah Jane had wanted me to get this super cute bikini, but I almost had a cow trying it on, so that was a definite no-go. Better to err on the safe side with a turquoise tankini that left a little to the imagination. The style quiz would be proud.

I finished with the last of the fountains, rubbing my shoulder from the nerve pinch I’d gotten reaching up onto the top shelf. Nan and I swapped spots while she went to weigh the package in the back room. The door chimed with another customer. She stepped in, saw me behind the counter, and turned to make a quick exit.

“Hi, Heather!”

New Kid Rule #37: If you wave at someone and use her name, only a truly mean person will completely ignore you.

True fact. Most people at least grunt a greeting in return. Nan says using someone’s name engages them. I wanted the scoop on the Lexy torment and was happy to dip into my bag of newbie tricks to get it.

Heather, being the nice person she is, froze after hearing her name.

Gotcha
.

She paused for a second, then turned and came in with a half smile on her face. “Hey, Jess.”

“What can I getcha?”

“Oh, a bunch of little stuff. Just stocking up, you know?”

“Gotta keep the good stuff on hand.” I gave her my warmest
you can trust me
smile. “Want a basket?”

Heather took the small woven basket from my hand and started shopping. As skittish as she was, I wasn’t pressing my luck. Better to give her some room and see if she loosened up. I’d never seen her be distant—at least not with me—so the Lexy thing must’ve really shaken her up. Or she was mad at me about the last day of school, even though she’d definitely gotten me back in front of Lexy. Whether she’d meant to or not.

I cleaned the mirrored display counter and waited patiently while Heather filled her basket with goodies. She kept stealing glances toward the back, and I realized she was waiting for Nan so she could check out. Fortunately, Nan was lugging a shipping box and her purse when she came back up front. “I’m running this to the post office and picking up something to eat. Would you like soup and salad or a sandwich?”

“Salad, no soup. Thanks, Nan.” No sense getting anything heavy in my stomach that would turn to lead from the stress. Me in a bathing suit with Ryan. And Lexy.

Help
.

Nan gave Heather a little shoulder hug as she passed, stopping for a second to say hi. Nan is like that … she makes all her regulars feel like the store is their second home. Heather’s shoulders sagged when the door closed behind Nan, and I knew I had her. Not that I let on. I pulled out a small box of rings and took my time choosing rose quartz, tourmaline, and citrine ones to refill the empty slots in the jewelry display.

Heather looked like she was waffling about whether to pay or leave her basket and come back later, so I made the decision for her. “All ready to check out?”

Heather reluctantly set her basket on the counter, and I made small talk about the amber ring I really wanted and the cool new Willow Tree statue I’d been eyeing. This seemed to put Heather at ease, and she mentioned the angel pendant she loved to look at when she came in.

I scanned each of her items: patchouli incense, sage for smudging. Small bottles of geranium, vanilla, and clove essential oils, with a larger bottle of rice-bran oil. I glanced up at her and saw the blush forming. We both knew a love potion was in the making—adding a drop or two to a relaxing bath was always a nice touch if you planned to be mulling over a romance—but I gave her a relaxed smile to show her that I wasn’t about to call her out on it.

Even with my patented
your secrets are my secrets
Celestial Gifts smile, I saw Heather tense up as I reached my hand into the basket again. Looking down, I knew why. Frankincense, juniper berries, dried fennel, and rosemary oil.

All the fixings for protection incense.

I looked up at her again, but this time she wouldn’t meet my eyes. I finished up the sale and put everything in a bag while Heather shakily rummaged through her purse. She handed over the cash, and I took my time putting it away as I waved to another customer on her way out.

When we were the only ones near the register, I made my move. “She bullies me too, you know.”

I said it quietly, nonjudgmentally, but the point was clear.
You don’t have to go through it alone
.

“I know,” she said, averting her eyes. “I picked up your papers.”

“I’m sorry about that day. None of it went the way I planned.” I handed her the bag. “I offered before, but seriously, if there’s anything I can do—”

“It would only make things worse. If I do what they want, they’ll move on.”

That didn’t sound like the Lexy I knew. “You really think so?”

She nodded optimistically, still not meeting my eyes, then slowed the nod and shook her head. “Not really.”

“You can get out of it. I’ll help you.”

She didn’t respond, and I could almost hear the cries for help in her head. I knew that feeling of being trapped well. All it took was one person who wanted to help. But you had to open up and let them.

“You can’t,” she finally said. When she looked up, I saw tears glistening. “It’s not like with you, Jess. It’s more”—she searched for the word—“involved. She’s not just being a bully. She needs me.”

The way she said it made me want to shake her. “Lexy doesn’t need anyone, Heather. She just uses people.”

“As long as …”

“As …?”

“As long as she keeps her end of the bargain, she can use me.”

My eyes popped in surprise. “No one deserves to be used, Heather. That’s not how the world works. You need someone to—”

“I don’t need someone to do anything except butt out.”

It was the most blunt I’d ever heard Heather be. It didn’t come out rude, just … final. And it made my heart hurt, because I’d so been there. But this wasn’t my fight, and I couldn’t tread where she didn’t want me to.

“Thanks for the stuff, Jess. And for caring,” she added softly. She walked out of the store, and there wasn’t a single thing I could do to stop her. Or help her.

Chapter 10

“REPEAT AFTER ME:
I will not stoop to her level.”

“I won’t, Sarah Jane. Trust me.” Sarah Jane had been calming my fears on the drive over to the pool party, but now that we were rounding the bend to the Steeles’, I was starting to have a bad feeling. It might have been a bright, sunny day, but a cloud of doom could be right over the horizon.

SJ pulled in behind the long line of cars. “You can’t let her see she’s gotten to you either. She can sense fear like a cougar.”

“Comforting, thanks.” I pushed open the door, adjusted the wrap skirt around my tankini, and grabbed my beach bag. “I’m going to ignore her and stick with people I can trust. And be myself.”

SJ met me on the expanse of lush green grass standing between me and my future. “Spoken like a true Cindy,” she beamed.

We trudged across the grass, catching up to Gwen and Dale on their way to the wrought-iron fence. Mark was en route to his great-grandma’s for her eightieth-birthday bash, so I had Sarah Jane all to myself for the day. Given the
upcoming event on Lexy’s home turf—with Lexy there this time—I was grateful for the full-time support.

“Looking good, Jess. Trying to impress anyone we know?” Dale teased.

Gwen punched his offensive-tackle shoulder.