Wilder: The Guardian Series (8 page)

“That is strange. I know you girls are hot and all, but
– ”

“Oh stop!” said Celeste as she threw a sugar packet at Nico’s
face.

As Nico drove Celeste home, she thought about last night and
the desperate look in Roman’s face when he had told her to leave, and somehow
Nico’s explanation just didn’t ring true. She decided to let it go for now, but
she resolved to find out what was really going on
one way
or another.
 

***

“Celeste thinks she saw Patrick at her school today,”
announced Nico as he walked in the house.

“What?” asked Roman, dropping the book he had been
reading.
“Damn it - he should be long gone by now.” He stood
abruptly, clenching his fist tensely.

 
“She wasn’t sure
it was him, but to be safe, we better keep an eye on her.”

“I always do,” Roman murmured.

“I hate lying to her, Roman.”

“I know that, but it’s better for her not to know anything
yet. The less she knows the safer she will be for now. Besides, Stellan said
her eighteenth birthday is next week, and once we find out if she has been
chosen as the next Guardian, nothing will be the same for her ever again.”

Celeste, Brian and a handful of classmates from the prom
committee were scattered around the gym hanging decorations and candle-lit
chandeliers while setting up poker tables and vintage slot machines. Natalie
directed all of the activity, hastily twirling a feather boa while determining
the exact location of the DJ booth in relation to the dance floor. By the time
they were finished they had succeeded in transforming the gym into an
extravagant Roaring 20’s Casino.

“Nat, you really went all out, this place looks amazing!”
said Celeste, taking a step back to take it all in.

“I couldn’t have done it without the two of you. Thank you so
much!” she said as she hugged Celeste and Brian. A sneaky look crossed Natalie’s
face. “I just have one more favor to ask of you Celeste.”

 
“Sure, anything.”

“Will you take Nico to prom with you?”

Celeste shot a quick glance at Brian and caught a surprised
look in his sea-green eyes,
then
she turned back to
Natalie. “Why Nico?”

“Why not? He’s new in town, and Dani Lynn said that he had
mentioned to her how he had never gone to his own prom, and how much fun it
would have been to come to ours,” Natalie explained. “And anyway, I promised
you I’d make sure you had the perfect date to match your outfit.”

“Isn’t he like twenty-something?” interjected Brian. “Why
would he want to go to a senior prom?”

“Brian, you obviously are underestimating my talents in
creating this epic night. I’ve heard that all of Oak Bluffs is talking about
it, so it totally makes sense that he would want to come,” Natalie interjected.

“Right…” he said, shaking his head.

“Come on Celeste, why wouldn’t you take him? He’s fun and
super hot! Imagine how amazing your prom pictures will turn out? I see it as a
win-win for all,” finished Natalie.

Celeste could feel Brian’s eyes on her, awaiting her
decision. There was no way she was getting out of this one. “As always I feel
like there is no point in trying to argue, so I guess I’ll just save us all
some time and give in now.”

“Yes! This is going to be the best prom ever!” squealed
Natalie.

“Celeste, you look so beautiful!” her mom exclaimed as she
finished curling her bouncy golden hair. “Sometimes I wish I still had long
hair,” she said wistfully as she looked at her own tired reflection.

Celeste examined herself in the mirror and smiled. Her hair
was curling just right, and the dress that Natalie had picked out was quite
flattering on her. Even her boring hazel eyes seemed to stand out with the
smoky eye shadow Natalie had convinced her to buy.

“And you were right; my pearls are the perfect match for your
dress.” Mrs. Wilder placed the necklace on her daughter and reaching under her
hair closed the clasp tightly. “I’m so happy I got to see you all dressed up
before your senior prom. I can’t believe how quickly time has passed; it seems
like just yesterday your father and I were bringing you home from the
hospital.”

“Mom, don’t do it, please don’t cry or else I will start to
and then I’ll have to redo my makeup all over again.”

“Okay, okay I’ll stop. I just can’t get over how grown up you
are. I still can’t believe you’re going to be eighteen next week,” she said.

“Me neither, I can’t wait!”

“You know, eighteen is a pretty big deal. You’re going to be
an adult now. You may find yourself having to make some important decisions
soon.”

“I know that Mom, and anyway I already decided where I’m
going to college so I think I’m pretty set.”

“Right, of course. So when is this date of yours going to be
here? I am looking forward to meeting him!” she said, changing the subject.
“Although I am very surprised Brian didn’t ask you to go with him.”

“Oh Mom, I already told you Natalie talked me into taking
Nico. He’s new in town and needed a date to the dance, that’s all. And as for
Brian, we’ll have to go into that another day.” Celeste looked at herself in
the mirror one more
time
before heading downstairs.

As the elegant white limo pulled up in the driveway, Brian walked
over as Celeste was saying goodnight to her mother on the front porch.

“Brian you look so handsome! Hold on let me get a picture of
the two of you,” she said as she snapped away a couple of shots.

“Do you like the suit? Natalie picked it out,” he said as he
struck a modeling pose.

“Let me guess – you two are going as Bonnie and Clyde?”
she chuckled.

As they posed for the camera, Natalie and Nico came up the
walkway to join them.

“Good! Now I can take pictures of all of you together!” Celeste’s
mom exclaimed.

“Don’t mind my mom guys, she’s a little snap-happy tonight,”
announced Celeste.

“Good evening Mrs. Wilder, I wanted to introduce myself. My
name is Nico Constantin,” he said, extending his hand with his usual charm and
sophistication. “And it is my pleasure to escort your daughter to the dance
this evening.” He was impeccably dressed with a black and white pinstriped
three-piece suit and red rose in his lapel. Even Mrs. Wilder couldn’t help but
succumb to his charms as she grinned from ear to ear shaking his outstretched
hand. She followed with a not-too-discreet wink and a thumbs-up to Celeste.
“Very nice to meet you, Nico. You kids have fun tonight, and don’t stay out too
late!”

Nico held the door open for Celeste as Natalie and Brian
climbed over their friends trying to find a spot inside the limo. She peeked
inside and saw her rowdy classmates, drinks in hand, and found she needed a
deep breath to steady herself. Nico, sensing her hesitation, flashed her a
smile and placed a reassuring hand on her back and she climbed in.

Celeste truly felt like she had stepped back in time to a
casino in the 1920’s as Nico led her into the candle-lit gym. She looked around
in fascination, taking in all of the sights and sounds. The poker tables were
filled with gangsters and flappers in colorful roaring 20’s attire. Even the DJ
was decked out in a vintage mobster suit complete with fedora and black and
white wing tipped shoes. There was something magical in the air. “Can I get you
some moonshine, doll?” asked Nico.

“Okay daddy-o, that would be just swell,” she responded in
her best 1920’s slang.

Nico and Brian went off in search of beverages, leaving
Natalie and Celeste to admire the crowd.

“Doesn’t Brian look so hot in his suit?”

Celeste noticed that Natalie’s face had lit up with a huge
smile. “Oh yes, he looks quite dapper! And I love your beret!” she said.
 
“I’ll even admit that you were right.
Bringing Nico was a really good idea. I think this is going to be an amazing
night.”

“I think you’re totally right!” she said. “So was it me or
did I see you flirting with Nico in the limo?”

“You’re so bad Natalie!”

“What? I was just curious. You two looked pretty friendly.”

“I don’t know. I like Nico, I really do, but there is
something about Roman that I just can’t explain.”

Natalie rolled her eyes in mock disapproval. “Maybe it’s his
incredible looks and the intense way he stares at you.”

“I think it’s more than that,” she laughed. In all honesty Celeste
had no clue what it was about Roman that had her so smitten.

Nico and Brian returned with a vibrant red punch, and with a
quick glance around the room Nico pulled a flask out of his jacket pocket and
poured a touch of vodka into each of their cups.

“Cheers!”

As Celeste had suspected, Nico was a natural born dancer. He
was the perfect partner, twirling her, dipping her, and even picking her up off
of her feet once or twice. Celeste laughed breathlessly as Nico led her around
the dance floor like a pro. Time flew by as the DJ played hit after hit. During
one of her twirls, she glanced around the room and caught sight of Brian
sitting by himself on the bleachers staring at her.

“Hey Nico, let’s take a break for a second, I need to catch
my breath,” she said.

“Of course, do you want me to get you something to drink?”

“No, I’m okay. I’ll get it. Here comes Natalie, why don’t you
dance with her for a bit?”

As Natalie happily accepted Nico’s extended hand, Celeste
walked over to Brian, asking, “Hey, how’s it going? Why aren’t you dancing?”

“I just needed a break. Natalie had to make her rounds so I snuck
off to sit down for a bit,” he said. “But I’m all good.
 
You still owe me that dance.”

Celeste nodded and they made their way back to the dance
floor. A slow song had come on, the lights had been dimmed and a romantic mood
pervaded as dozens of couples swayed slowly to the music. Celeste always felt
so comfortable dancing with Brian. It was like slipping into a warm snuggly
blanket on a cool winter’s night. Brian was quiet at first, and she enjoyed the
comfortable silence that comes from a long-established friendship.

“You look like you’re having a lot of fun out there.”

“Yeah, I really am actually,”
Celeste
said contentedly.

“I’m really happy to see you like this. I don’t remember the
last time I saw you having so much fun.”

She paused when she noticed a dismal tone in his voice. “Then
why don’t you look happy?”

“Huh? I don’t?”

She looked up at him questioningly with big brown eyes.

“I don’t know Cel, I guess I just always thought that I would
be the one to make you feel like that again.”

Celeste felt like someone had just poured a large bucket of
ice water on her head. She waited for a few seconds to collect her thoughts
before answering.

“Brian, you know that you are the one that has gotten me
through some of the worst years of my life. I never would have survived losing
my dad without you. What we have is so special to me, and I never want to lose
you as my best friend.”

“You’ll never lose me Cel. I’ll always be here for you, I
promise,” he said and pulled her close to him.

Celeste felt tears welling up and her throat began to
tighten. She pulled away quickly and excused herself to make a run to the
ladies room.

Celeste dabbed at her eyes in the mirror, and reapplied some
lip-gloss. As much as she tried to deny it, it seemed that Natalie had been
right.

Does Brian really have
feelings for me?

She shrugged off the thought, pulled herself together, and
headed back to the dance. As she walked through the quiet hallway, she heard
footsteps behind her. She turned around quickly, and found herself face to face
with Patrick.

“Oh geez, you scared me,” she said. “What are you doing
here?”

“Sorry about that. I’ve been wanting to talk to you all
night, but I didn’t want to get beaten up by your boyfriend,” said Patrick
caustically. The bright smile from the other night was gone, replaced instead
by dark circles under his bloodshot eyes that stood out in contrast to his pale
ivory skin.

Patrick lurking in the shadows waiting for her to come out of
the bathroom just didn’t seem right to her. She tried to remain calm, and keep
the conversation casual hoping that she could make her way back to a more
public area.

“So what did you want to talk to me about?” asked Celeste.

“It was actually something I wanted to show you. It’s in my
car -- let’s go,” he said as he reached forcefully for her arm.

“No, I don’t think so,” Celeste said equally forcefully as
she wriggled away from his grasp. “I have to get back to Nico. He must be
wondering where I went.”

“It’s about your father’s death, Celeste. You may want to
reconsider.”

Celeste’s heart froze at the mention of her father. “How do
you know my dad?” she asked and the calmness in her voice had disappeared.

 
“I guess you’ll
never know unless you come with me.”

Visions of Roman warning her about Patrick danced through her
head, but if he knew something about her father, she had to find out what it
was. Against her better judgment, she followed Patrick out to his car. She kept
hoping to pass someone on the way, but the parking lot was deserted. She could
hear the echoing of Roman’s desperate voice warning her to go back, but she
trudged on determinedly.

“I guess meeting you at Ralph’s the other night wasn’t a
coincidence?”