Paranormalcy: Endlessly Part 2

I scowled, wiping away the hearts I'd traced along the window. "It wasn't like that. Something was up-something weird. She's definitely not acting like herself. I think she's scared about something, or...I don't know. It was like she couldn't tell me anything. Maybe she's trying to protect me by bringing me back in. Remember I told you I read all their doc.u.ments about elemental paranormals going missing?"

He nodded grudgingly. "We still haven't heard from my mom in months. But she usually doesn't come out in winter anyway because of the ice."

"It could be connected. Nona's getting weirder by the day; now she's having me followed. There could be something going on that Raquel knows about."

"Why didn't she tell you what it is, then?"

"I don't know. But Raquel has my back. Always."

"I have your back."

I smiled and wove my hand through his elbow, leaning over to put my head on his shoulder. "I know."

"Good. That settled, I hereby declare a moratorium on any and all talk of IPCA or paranormals stalking you."

"Ooh, breaking out the fancy language. Why?"

"Because today is about fun."

"I like fun days!"

"This is a special one."

"It is?" Had I forgotten some sort of anniversary?

His face split into a sly grin. "It's your birthday."

"No, it's not," I answered, confused. "I mean, I guess it could be, but since we didn't know when it was for sure we always said I was a year older on New Year's."

"Ah, but when was the last time you checked your birth certificate?"

I laughed. "You mean the fake doc.u.ment your dad had Arianna compel the county records office into making?"

"Yup. You never noticed the date we put on it?"

"No..."

"December twenty-first. Which is today." He pulled into the mall and parked. "Happy birthday, Evie," he said, leaning in and kissing me with his perfectly soft lips. I smiled under his mouth, letting everything else slip away. Best fake birthday ever.

"Okay, I never thought I'd say this, but I'm tired of the mall." I sat on a bench, feet aching but heart happy. Lend had dragged me through the entire thing, even insisting I get a manicure and surprising me with a scheduled makeover appointment at one of the high-end salons. My hair twisted and curled just so, along with dramatic eyeliner, looked a little odd with normal clothes, but I felt special.

Lend finished texting someone and slipped his phone into his back pocket, then stood up. I'd never paid much attention to guys' jeans before (not for lack of desire, but rather lack of opportunity in the Center), but in the past few months I'd come to realize that most guys' jeans are really, truly horrendous. Too baggy, too tight, too low, etc. It's like guys don't realize that they can look great in a good pair of jeans. Shockingly enough girls, too, enjoy a well-framed b.u.t.t.

Another area Lend was perfect in. His jeans choice, I mean. Well, his b.u.t.t, too.

I smiled and stared at his face, watching his two profiles-the glamour one, which fit snugly over his real one. He looked down and caught me staring.

"Evie?"

"You, my dear boyfriend, are kind of beautiful, you know that?"

"That's what all the old ladies tell me before pinching my cheek."

"Which cheek?" I reached out and goosed him. He jumped and swatted my hand away, laughing.

"Okay, we're going to meet Arianna and my dad at the house; they made a big dinner and cake. Then a movie?"

I shrugged, happy. "Sounds good to me." It wasn't huge or over-the-top, but that was never Lend's style. I was glad that this wasn't when I usually had my birthday. New Year's would remind me how I used to celebrate. Every year I was in the Center, I figured out a way to sneak a ladder into Central Processing, climb the side of Lish's tank, and cannonball in. It was my favorite tradition.

Maybe I could talk Arianna and Lend into a polar bear plunge as a memorial.

My phone buzzed with a text and I pulled it out. Carlee. I smiled as I read, "OMG BRATTT U DIDNT TELL ME ITS UR BDAY. Girls nite friday?"

I texted back a yes, touched she cared about my pretend birthday. "Did you tell Carlee it was my birthday?" I asked Lend as we wriggled into our coats, held hands, and braced ourselves against the bitter chill of twilight that slammed into us when we walked outside.

"Guilty."

I smiled, then shivered. "It's dark so early these days."

"Today's Winter Solstice-shortest day of the year."

"Gee, thanks a lot. Way to pick the shortest day of the bleeping year for my birthday."

He laughed and put his arms around me. "Ah, but the longest night..."

"Scandalous!"

He blinked innocently at me. "What? More time for movies, right?"

"Sure..."

We drove through the town and into the trees toward his house, finally turning onto the long, winding drive. Just before we pa.s.sed the last curve of the driveway he stopped the car and turned it off. I smiled wickedly, remembering how many times we'd sneaked off into the forest for a little post-date making out. Alone was really the only time he could melt off his glamour and be himself with me. Even around his dad and Arianna it made him too self-conscious. I reached out to open my door, but he leaned over and pulled it shut.

"Too cold?" I asked.

"You have to wait here for a minute, okay?" His look was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with excitement and mischief and I wondered what he had for me. Maybe some sweet present, like my necklace. I fingered the iron heart pendent, warm from being against my chest.

I bounced impatiently in my seat, watching as he ran up the drive and around the curve. In the dark I pulled open the neck of my shirt and peered down at the skin over my heart, doing my nightly soul check. No visible difference, just that same faint glow with a spark or two. Not gonna die today. Another thing to add to the happy list.

A couple of minutes later I was surprised when the figure that came back was...not him. It was Arianna, holding something bulky draped over her arm.

She opened my door, and I got out. "Where's Lend? I'm supposed to wait for him."

"Nope." She smiled bigger than I'd ever seen her smile before, and suddenly I was a touch nervous. What if she was working with Nona and the faeries? "You were waiting for me. Now, strip."

"I-What?"

"You heard me. Strip. Take off your coat, shirt, and pants. You can leave your bra, for all the good it does you."

I noticed then that the bulky thing over her arm was a garment bag. Aha! "Ar, listen, I don't feel that way about you. You're not my type."

"Oh, shut up, take your clothes off, and close your eyes."

"Again, not something I was hoping to hear from you tonight."

Her smile was replaced by an annoyed scowl. "DO IT NOW."

I laughed, confused but figuring this was her present to me. She had been in fashion school before she died and was an amazing seamstress. I closed my eyes and peeled my clothes off, goose b.u.mpy and shivering in the frigid air. "Hurry, hurry."

"Lift your arms up."

I did and tried not to squirm as she pulled what felt like a hundred layers of fabric over my head. A zipper went up my back, then she tugged and twisted and smoothed. From what I could tell it was a dress-nothing on my arms, but material swishing against my legs. "Perfect. Of course." She sounded smug. "Foot," she said, taking one and pulling off my boot before putting a much higher heeled shoe on, then repeating the process.

"Can I open my eyes yet?"

"No. Take my arm."

I did and let her walk me around the corner. Behind my closed eyes I could tell there was light-a lot of light, way more than there should have been.

"Hold still," she said, slipping something carefully past my hair and putting it in place over my eyes and the top of my nose. "And keep your eyes closed!"

"Hmph."

"Brat." She let go of my arm, then put both of hers around me and gave me a quick hug. "Have fun."

Another hand took my elbow, one I instantly recognized by its perfectly smooth skin. "Can I open my eyes yet?"

"Yes," Lend said, and I opened them to see him, in a tux with a gorgeous midnight-blue and silver mask. Okay, maybe it was a good color scheme, after all. I looked down and my breath caught at what was quite possibly the most beautiful dress I'd ever seen in my life. Layers of sheer fabric cascaded from my waist with impossibly intricate pleating and ruffle accents. Flowers trailed from my shoulders down to the bodice, and it was a rich, perfect plum color. It felt like I was wearing a dream.

Beaming, I put a hand up to feel my own masquerade mask. I couldn't believe Lend had done this for me. Then I turned to see the entire house lit up with twinkle lights, and what looked to be half the senior cla.s.s on the wraparound porch, Carlee at the front, all wearing formals and masks.

"Surprise!" they shouted.

It definitely was.

GLAMOUROUS PARTIES.

Lend twirled me to the beat in the furniture-free living room and I laughed, my dress spinning around me. They'd draped the walls with swaths of shimmery material in purples and violets, and covered the overhead lights so that even the lighting was filtered and soft. I didn't know what it was about putting on masks and fancy clothes, but the people I saw every day in the halls seemed prettier, more mysterious, older. Easton Heights totally had this one right after all.

I spun back into Lend's arms and rested my head on his shoulder. "This is the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me." The amount of time and preparation he must have put into this-it boggled my mind.

He squeezed my hand in his. "Had to make up for prom, right?"

Reth kidnapping me, confronting Vivian and almost killing her, nearly sucking the soul out of Lend...yeah, prom hadn't been quite what I'd hoped. "Let's not mention that dance. Where did everyone get the masks?"

Each mask was individual, with different flourishes and details; everything from sequins to feathers to what looked like gold leaf. They were breathtaking. Definitely not something from a cheap party store.

"I designed most of them and Arianna made them. A little mystery that you can't see through-and you don't have to. Just a magical normal night."

"It's amazing."

He dipped me down, then leaned forward and nuzzled into my arched neck. "So are you."

When the dance music sped up, Carlee found me amid the crush of people. She looked hot in a deep green strapless mini, dark brown hair stick straight and loose, her mask blue and green with peac.o.c.k feathers trailing down either side.

"Happy birthday!" she shouted, throwing her arms around me, and I hugged her back, giddy.

"Thank you!"

"Is this not the best freaking party ever?"

"Totally!"

She beamed. "Lend's been working on it for like a month. I've been here all day setting up."

"You were in on it?"

"Psh, of course I was, girl. Who do you think did invites and forced the idiot boys from school to actually dress nice?"

"Carlee, I'm so glad you're my friend," I said, blinking back any hint of tears because I was so not messing up my makeup.

"Me, too. And I'm glad Lend finally manned up and threw a decent party."

"I'm right here, you know," he said, leaning over my shoulder. "So let's not go too heavy on the manning up talk."

My stomach growled. "Food?" I asked.

"In the kitchen. Want me to make you a plate?"

"Perfect." I watched him weave away through the crowd.

"So, are you two going to get married already or what?"

I laughed. "Excuse me?"

Carlee rolled her eyes. "Please. You don't even look at other guys. And I have never seen a guy that crazy about a girl before. You're, like, his entire world."

I shrugged, smiling. "I can't imagine ever finding someone better than Lend. He just-he knows me. Totally. Everything. And miraculously he still likes me."

"Likes? Girl, he head-over-heels-freaking-loves you."