Night World : Dark Angel Chapter 6

Your hair Amy screamed. Gillian, your hair What did you do to it?Amys own hair was short, cropped stringent in back and full in front. She had large, limpid blue eyes thatalways looked as if she were virtu totallyy to cry, because she was nearlysighted only if couldnt wear contacts andwouldnt wear glasses. Her organization was sweet and usually anxious s carce now it looked more anxious thannormal.Gillian get a self-conscious hand to her head. Dont you like it?I dont know Its g cardinal(p)This is true.But why? Calm down, Amy. (If this is the way everybodys going away to react, I venture Im in trouble.) Gillian haddiscovered that she could talk to Angel without moving her lips and that he could answer in her head. Itwas convenient.(Tell her you attenuated it because it froze. That ought to flip her guilt circuits.) Angels voice sounded the sameas it did when she could see him. Soft, wry, distinctly his. It seemed to be located just behind her left ear.I had to cut it because it was frozen, Gillian said. It broke off, she added brightly, inspired.Amys blue eyes got regular wider with horror. She looked stricken. Oh, my God, Gillian- consequently shecocked her head and frowned. Actually, I dont think thats possible, she said. I think itd stay pliableeven frozen. Unless, like, you dipped it in liquid nitrogen. Whatever, Gillian said grimly. I did it. Listen, Ive got it slicked back behind my ears right now, but theends are break up of uneven. Can you smooth them out a lower-ranking?I can try, Amy said doubtfully.Gillian sat down, pulling together the neck of the rose- distorted bathrobe she was clothing over herclothes. She handed Amy the scissors. Got a comb?Yes. Oh, Gillian, I was arduous to tell you. Im so sorry almost yesterday. I just forgot-but its all myfault-and you almost died The comb quivered against the back of Gillians neck.Wait a minute. How did you find out some that?Eugeneheard it from Steffi Lockharts little brother, and I think S teffi heard it from David Blackburn.Did he really save you? Thats so incredibly romantic.Yeah, sort of. (Uh, what do I tell people about that? What do I tell them about the whole thing?)(The truth. Up to a point. Just leave me and the near-death stuff out.)Ive been thinking all morning, Amy was saying, and I know that Ive been an absolute pig this endingweek. I dont deserve to be called a best friend. And I want you to know that Im sorry, and that thingsare going to be different now. I came to pick you up first, and thence were going to getEugene .(Oh, joy.)(Be nice, dragonfly. Shes trying. Say thank you.)Gillian shrugged. It didnt seem to matter much what Amy did, now that she had Angel. But she said,Thanks, Amy, and held in time as the frozen scissors went snip behind her ear.Youre so sweet, Amy murmured. I thought youd be all mad. But youre such a good person. I felt soterrible, thinking about you alone out there, freezing, and being so brave, trying to save a little kid-Did they find a kid? Gillian interrupted.Huh? No, I dont think so. Nobody was talking about anything like that last night. And I stoolnt heardabout any kid being missing, either. (Told you, dragonfly. Are you satisfied now?)(Yes, I am. Sorry.)But it was still brave, Amy said. Your mom thinks so, too.My moms up?She went to the store. She said shed be back in a few minutes. Amy stepped back and looked atGillian, scissors held in the air. You know, Im non sure I should be doing this in front Gillian could summon up a reply, she heard the sound of the front door opening and the rustlingof paper bags. Then her mother appeared, her cheeks red with cold. She had two grocery bags in herarms.Hi, girls, she began, and broke off. She focused on Gillians hair. Her mouth fell open.Dont drop the bags, Gillian said. She tried to sound careless, but her accept was clenched like a fist.Her neck felt stiff and unnatural as she held very still. Do you like it?I-I- Gillians mother put the bags on the c ounter. Amy did you have to cut it all?Amy didnt do it. I did it last night. I just got tired of it long- (And getting all wet and icy) -and gettingall wet and icy. So I cut it. So do you like it, or non?I dont know, her mother said slowly. You look so much older. Like a Parisian model.Gillian glowed.Well. Her mother shook her head slightly. Now that its donehere, let me shape it a little.Just touch up the ends. She took the scissors from Amy.(Im going to be bald when this is finished)(No, youre not, kid. She knows what shes doing.)And, strangely, there was something comforting about feeling her mother gently wield the scissors.About her mothers scent, which was tonic like lavender soap, without any gratuity of the terrible alcoholsmell. It reminded Gillian of the old days, when her mom taught at the junior college and was up everymorning and never had uncombed hair or bloodshot eyes. Before the fights started, before her mom hadto go to the hospital.Her mother seemed to feel it, too. She gave Gillians shoulder a pat as she whisked a bit of cut hairaway. I got fresh bread. Ill make cinnamon toast and hot chocolate. Another pat, and then she spokewith careful calm. Are you sure youre all right? You must have been attractive cold last night. We cancall Dr. Kaczmarek if you want it wouldnt take a minute.No, Im fine. Really. But wheres Daddy? Did he already go to work? There was a pause, then her mother said, still calmly, Your father left last night.Dad left? (Dad left?)(It happened last night slice you were asleep.)(A lot seems to have happened last night while I was asleep.)(The worlds kind of that way, dragonfly. Itkeeps on going even when youre not paying attention.)Anyway, well talk about it later, her mother said. A final pat. There, thats perfect. Youre beautiful,even if you dont look like my little girl anymore. Youd better bundle up, though its pretty cold out thismorning.Im already dressed. The moment had come, and Gillian didnt really care if she shock her mothernow or not. Her father had left again- and if that wasnt unusual, it was still upsetting. The closeness withher mother had been spoiled, and she didnt want cinnamon toast anymore.Gillian stepped to the middle of the kitchen and shrugged off the pink bathrobe.She was wearing black hipsters and a black camisole. Over it was a sheer black shirt, worn loose. Shehad on flat black boots and a black watch, and that was all she had on.Gillian.Amy and her mother were staring.Gillian stood defiantly.But you never wear black, her mother said weakly.Gillian knew. It had taken a long time to cull these things from the forgotten hinterlands of her closet. Thecamisole was from Great-grandma Elspeth, two Christmases ago, and had still had the price tagattached.Didnt you sort of forget to put on a sweater on top? Amy suggested.(Stand your ground, kid. You look terrific.)No, I didnt forget. Im going to wear a coat outside, of course. How do I look?Amy swallowed. Well- enormous. Extrem ely hot. But kind of scary.Gillians mother lifted her hands and dropped them. I dont really know you anymore.(Hooray)(Yup, kid. Perfect.) Gillian was happy large to give her mother a flying kiss. Come on, Amy Wed better get moving ifwere going to pick upEugene . She dragged the other girl behind her like the tail end of a comet. Her motherfollowed, calling worriedly about breakfast.Give us something to take with us. Wheres that old black coat I never wore? The fancy one you gotme for church. Never mind, I found it.In three minutes she and Amy were on the porch. Wait, Gillian said. She fished through the black canvas bag she was carrying in place of a carryand came up with a small compact and a tube of lipstick. I almost forgot.She put on the lipstick. It was red, not orange-red or blue-red, but red red, the color of holly berries orChristmas ribbon. That shiny, too. It made her lips look fuller, somehow, almost pouty. Gillian pursed herlips, considered her image, then kissed the compact mirror lightly and snapped it shut.Amy was staring again. Gillian what is going on? Whats happened to you?Come on, were going to be late.The match just makes you look like youre going out to burgle something, but that lipstick makes youlook bad. Like a girl with a reputation.Good.Gillian Youre scaring me. Theres something- She caught Gillians arm and peered into her eyes.Something about you-around you- oh, I dont know what Im talking about But its different and itsdark and its not good.She was so genuinely shaken that for a moment Gillian was frightened herself. A quick stab of fear likethe flick of a knife in her stomach. Amy was neurotic, sure, but she wasnt the type to hallucinate. Whatif-(Angel-)A horn honked.Startled, Gillian turned. Right at the delimitation of the driveway, behind Amys Geo, was a somewhat batteredbut still proud tan Mustang. A dark head was sticking out the window.Standing me up? David Blackburn called.What-is-that? Amy breathed.Gillian waved to Dav id-after a sharp nudge from Angel. I think its called a car, she said to Amy. Iforgot. He said hed drive me to school. So-I guess I should go with him. mind youIt only made sense to go with David after all, he had asked first. Besides, Amys driving was lifethreatening she sped like a maniac and wove all over the thoroughfare because she couldnt see without herglasses. It should have been satisfying. After all, yesterday Amy had stood her up for a guy-and a guy likeEugene Elfred. But right this moment Gillian was too scared to be smug.This was it. David was going to see her new self. And it was all happening too fast.(Angel, what if I faint? What if I throw up? Thats going to make a great first impression, isnt it?)(Keep breathing, kid. Breathe. Breathe. Not that fast. Now smile.)Gillian couldnt quite manage a smile as she opened the car door. Suddenly she felt exposed. What ifDavid thought she was cheap or even freakish? Like a little girl dressed up in her moms clothes?And her ha ir-all at once she remembered how David had touched it yesterday. What if he despised it?Trying to breathe, she slipped into the car. Her coat came open as she sat down. She could hardly makeherself look toward the drivers seat.But when she did, her breath stopped completely. David was wearing a look that shed never seen onany guys memorial tablet before, at least not directed toward her. Shed seen it, occasionally, when guys were flavor at other girls, girls at school likeSteffi Lockhart or J.Z. Oberlin. A stricken gaze, a compulsive movement of the throat, an expressionthat almost made you sorry for them. An Im lying down and I dont care if you walk on me, babe,expression.David was looking at her that way.Immediately all her fear, including the little stab induced by Amy, was swept away. Her heart was stillpounding and little waves of adrenaline were still going through her, but now what it felt like wasexcitement. Heady, buoyant anticipation. As if she had started on the roller coaster ride ofher life.David actually had to shake himself before he remembered to put the car in gear. And then he keptsneaking glances at her out of the side of his eye.You did something to your and your He made a vague motion near his own head. Gillians gazewas caught by his hand, which was strong, brown, long-fingered, and handsome.Yeah, I cut my hair, she said. She meant to sound careless and sophisticated, but it came out shaky,with a little laugh at the end. She tried again. I figured I didnt want to look too young.Ouch. He made a face. Thats my fault, isnt it? You overheard that stuff yesterday. What Tanya and Isaid.(Tell him youve been thinking of doing it for a while.)Yeah, but Ive been thinking of doing it for a while now, Gillian said. Its no big deal.David glanced at her as if to say he disagreed with that. But it wasnt a disapproving glance. It was morelike electrified awe and a sort of discovery that seemed to grow every time he looked at her. And I never saw you at school? he muttered. I mustve been blind.Sorry?No, nothing. Im sorry. He drove in silence for a while. Gillian forced herself to stare out the windowand realized they were onHillcrest Road . Strange how different the landscape looked today. Yesterdayit had been sole(a) and desolate this morning it seemed harmless, and the snow looked soft andcomfortable, like old cushions.Listen, David said abruptly. He broke off and shook his head. And then he did something thatabsolutely astonish Gillian. He pulled the car to the side of the road-or at least as far to the side as hecould get it-they were still in the flow of traffic-and place it.Theres something I have to say.Gillians heart now seemed to be beating everywhere, in her throat and her fingertips and her ears. Shehad a dreamlike sensation that her body wasnt solid anymore, that she was just a floating mass ofheartbeat. Her vision shimmered. She was waiting.But what David said was unexpected. Do you remember the first time we met?I -yes. Of course she did. Four years ago shed been twelve and diminutive for her age. Shed been lying onthe ground beside her house, making snow angels. Kind of childish, sure, but in those days a stretch ofnew snow had affected her that way. And while she was lying on her back, arms out, making the imprintof the angels wings, a tree branch above her decided to shrug off its load of snow. Suddenly her facewas covered in damp, closely packed coldness and she couldnt breathe. She came up spluttering andgasping.And found herself steadied. Something was holding her, wiping her face gently. The first thing she sawwhen she got her vision back was a brown hand and a lean brown wrist. Then a face came into focushigh strong bones and dark, mischievous eyes.Im David Blackburn. I just moved in over there, the boy said. He was wiping her face with his fingers.Youd better be careful, snow princess. Next time I might not be around.Looking up at him, Gillian had felt her heart explode and leak out of her chest.And shed walked away on air, even though hed patted her head after evacuant her. She was in love.Well, back then, I sort of got the wrong impression, David was saying. I thought you were a lotyounger and more-well, more fragile than youare. There was a pause, and then he said wonder-ingly, not quite looking at her, But, its like, theres somuch more to you. I started realizing that yesterday.Gillian understood. David didnt have a reputation for being tearing for nothing. He liked girls who werebold, dashing, out there. If he were a knight, he wouldnt fall in love with the pampered princess back atthe castle. Hed fall in love with a female knight, or maybe a robber, somebody who could share theAdventure with him, whod be just as tough as he-was. Of course he had a strong protective streak. That was why he rescued maidens in distress. But he didntgo for the maidens who needed rescuing.And now, David was saying, Now, I mean, youre He held his hands up in a whoa motion. H ewasnt looking at her at all.In a moment of perfect bliss, Gillian thought, Im cool.Youre kind of incredible, David said. And I feel really stupid for not noticing that before.Gillian couldnt breathe. There was something between her and David-a kind of quivering electricity. Theair was so thick with it that she felt pressure all over her. She had never been so awake before, but at thesame time she felt as if most of the world was insubstantial. Only she and David were real.And the voice in her head seemed very far away. (Uh, dragonfly, weve got company. Incoming.)Gillian couldnt move. A car drove by, swerving to avoid the Mustang. Gillian couldnt see well throughthe Mustangs steamed-up windows, but she thought faces were looking at her.David didnt seem to notice the car at all. He was still staring at the gearshift, and when he spoke hisvoice was very quiet. So I guess what Im saying is, Im sorry if anything I said vitiated your feelings. And-Isee you now.He raised his head. And Gi llian suddenly realized he was going to kiss her.