"I was thinking I'm sick of listening to Laurel and her friends talk about me."
"So you froze her shower?" I asked. "How is that going to stop her? It's not like you can claim credit for it."
Jill shrugged. "It made me feel better."
"That's your excuse?" I could hardly believe it. Jill had always seemed so reasonable. She'd survived becoming a princess and dying with a clear head. This was what broke her. "Do you know what you risked? We're trying to not attract attention here!"
"Miss Carson didn't think it was weird."
"Miss Carson came up with a flimsy excuse to reassure herself! That's what people do. All it's going to take is some janitor investigating and saying pipes don't randomly freeze - especially in Palm Springs!"
"So what?" Jill demanded. "What then? Is their next leap going to be that it was vampire magic?"
"Of course not," I said. "But people are going to talk. You've raised their suspicions."
She eyed me carefully. "Is that what's really upsetting you? Or is it that I used magic at all?"
"Isn't it the same thing?"
"No. I mean, you're upset that I used magic because you don't like magic. You don't like anything to do with vampires. I think this is personal. I know what you think of us."
I groaned. "Jill, I do like you. You're right that magic makes me a little uneasy." Okay, a lot uneasy. "But my personal feelings aren't what's going to make people wonder what could have caused water to freeze like that."
"It isn't right that she can keep doing that!"
"I know. But you have to be better than her."
Jill sat on the bed and sighed. Like that, her anger seemed to melt into despair. "I hate it here. I want to go back to St. Vladimir's. Or Court. Or Michigan. Anywhere but here." She looked at me pleadingly. "Hasn't there been any news about when I can go back?"
"No," I said, unwilling to tell her it might be a while.
"Everyone's having a great time here," she said. "You love it. You have tons of friends."
"I don't - "
"Eddie likes it too. He's got Micah and some other guys in their dorm to hang out with. Plus, he's got me to look after, which gives him a purpose." I'd never thought of it like that but realized she was right. "But me? What do I have? Nothing except this stupid bond that just makes me more depressed because I have to listen to Adrian feel sorry for himself."
"I'm taking Adrian job-hunting tomorrow," I said, not sure if that would really help.
Jill nodded bleakly. "I know. His life'll probably be great now too."
She was sinking into melodrama and her own self-pity, but in light of everything, I kind of felt like she was entitled to it right now.
"You have Lee," I said.
That brought a smile to her face. "I know. He's great. I like him a lot, and I can't believe... I mean, it just seems crazy that he'd like me too."
"Not that crazy."
Her brightness faded. "Did you know Lee told me he thinks I can be a model? He says I've got the figure human fashion designers really like and knows this designer downtown who's looking for models. But when I told Eddie, he said it was a terrible idea because I can't risk having my picture taken. He said if it leaked out, others could find me."
"That's true," I said. "On all counts. You do have a model's figure - but it'd be too dangerous."
She sighed, looking defeated. "See? Nothing works out for me."
"I'm sorry, Jill. I really am. I know it's hard. All I can ask is that you keep trying to stay strong. You've done really great so far. Just hang in there a little longer, okay? Just keep thinking of Lee."
My words sounded hollow, even to me. I almost wondered if I should bring her along with Adrian and me but finally decided against it. I didn't think Adrian needed any distractions. I also wasn't sure how interesting it would be for her. If she was really that eager to watch Adrian go through job interviews, she could "listen in" through the bond.
I met up with Adrian after school the next day, and for the first time in ages, neither Lee nor Keith was around the old house. Clarence was, however, and he practically ran me down when I entered.
"Did you hear?" he demanded. "Did you hear about that poor girl?"
"What girl?" I asked.
"The one killed in Los Angeles a couple weeks ago."
"Oh, yeah," I said, relieved there was no new death. "It was tragic. We're lucky there are no Strigoi here."
He gave me a surprisingly knowing look. "It wasn't Strigoi! Haven't you paid attention? It was them. The vampire hunters."
"But they drank her blood, sir. Didn't you say vampire hunters are human? No human would have any reason to drink Moroi blood."
He turned away from me and paced the living room. I glanced around, wondering where Adrian was.
"Everyone keeps saying that!" said Clarence. "As though I don't already know that. I can't explain why they do what they do. They're a strange lot. They worship the sun and have weird beliefs about evil and honor - more unusual than even your beliefs." Well, that was something. At least he knew I was human. Sometimes I wasn't sure. "They also have strange views on which vampires should die. They kill all Strigoi without question. With Moroi and dhampirs, they're more selective."
"You sure know a lot about them," I said.
"I've made it my business to, ever since Tamara." He sighed and suddenly seemed very, very old. "At least Keith believes me."
I kept my face expressionless. "Oh?"
Clarence nodded. "He's a good young man. You should give him a chance."
My control slipped, and I knew I was scowling. "I'll try, sir." Adrian entered just then, much to my relief. Being alone with Clarence was freaky enough without him actually praising Keith Darnell.
"Ready?" I asked.
"You bet," said Adrian. "I can't wait to be a productive member of society."
I gave his outfit a once-over and had to bite off any comments. It was nice, but of course, his clothes always were. Jill had claimed I had an expensive wardrobe, but Adrian's blew mine away. Today he wore black jeans and a burgundy button-down shirt. The shirt looked like it was some sort of silk blend, and he wore it loose and unbuttoned. His hair was carefully styled to look like he'd just rolled out of bed. Too bad he didn't have my hair's texture. My hair did that without any styling at all.