I touched his shoulder. "Thank you for everything. I'm so glad to know you." Heat rose in my cheeks.
He straightened and walked to the door. "Always a pleasure." He seemed sad, but before I could ask him why he added, "I'll see you tonight." Then he left.
I turned back to the mirror. Dark half-circles, like crescent bruises, made my blue eyes appear haunted. My short hair was a mess. The dress was beautiful, but I needed work.
I needed Cindy.
Chapter 5
I called Cindy on my regular phone because my dad and stepmother decided I wasn't mature enough to have a cell. Sure I'd lost the dang thing after only a month. It hadn't been my fault. I'd been in a blood-induced haze, caused by my belief that I killed Gabe. I shouldn't be held accountable for my actions. The problem was I couldn't explain any of it to them. My dad, and especially my stepmother wouldn't understand that I'd been so far gone they only existed in a deep recess of my mind-that I only remembered them on the rare occasion when I wasn't completely drunk on human blood.
"Happy birthday, Snow," Cindy shouted as soon as she picked up the phone.
"Thanks," I answered, plopping on the couch and flipping on the TV. Gatsby climbed next to me, and yowled, rubbing his head against my thigh. I needed to feed him. Rising, I went to get his kibble.
"Are you stoked about your party tonight?" Cindy's voice hitched.
"Um, yes. I am. It's just," I hesitated.
"You have no idea what to do with your hair and don't know the first thing about makeup," she finished for me.
I laughed, pushing away any doubts I had about our friendship. We hadn't talked about her magic, or lack thereof, since I'd been back. I hadn't really had a chance to hang out with her. Between training with the brothers, Professor Pops, and Kenmei, reading up on supernatural creatures, making out with Gabe, and catching up on the two weeks of school I missed, I hadn't had time. Professor Pops was right about one thing though, homework was easy, and I finished within the first week of being back. "Yes," I sighed. "Can you help?"
"Does Abercrombie go with Fitch?
"I-"
"Never mind. I'll be there in twenty minutes."
Letting out a huge breath in relief, I said, "Cool. See ya."
I clicked off the phone and filled Gatsby water dish. "Well kitty, I need a shower." I ran to the stairs and was halfway up when the phone rang.
"Bring over your dress," I said, thinking it was Cindy.
"What? Snow, is that you?" It was my dad.
"Oh, hi Dad. Sorry, I thought you were Cindy. She's coming over to help me get ready for my party." As I spoke I climbed the stairs, went into my bathroom and pulled out a clean towel, then turned on the water so it could warm up.
"That's nice." He paused and inhaled. Then in a totally fake perky voice, he said, "Happy birthday, Snow Angel. Wish I was there."
A lump formed in my throat. Did he really? I sure needed him. "Thanks, Dad. I wish you were here too."
He exhaled. "We should be there for Christmas." Then in a sharper tone he added, "You know what. I will be there for Christmas. Promise." I had a feeling his words defied my stepmother's wishes. If she had anything to do with it they'd be in Paris, or Italy. Anywhere but with me.
"That's awesome. Can't wait." The lump thickened. I wanted to believe he would come, no matter what. That I was important enough for him, but past experience told me it wasn't true.
I heard my stepmother speaking in the background, telling him to hurry up. "Alright, well have fun at your party. Take care of yourself. Be safe."
"I will. Thanks." The lump in my throat sunk like a rock to my stomach.
"Love you, Snow Angel. Talk to you soon."
"Love you-" The phone clicked off. "Too."
Chapter 6
I stood in front of my full-length mirror unable to believe the reflection was mine. Snow White. Klutzy tomboy turned vampire with a fondness for boyish hand-me-downs and Converse. I ran my fingers through the fluffy skirt. Hundreds of different sized ruffles in a soft, see-through material were capped with red satin ribbon. The tight bodice felt like a seamless hug-not to tight, not to loose. The dress hung at just the right length and looked awesome with my red Converse (yeah, not even Cindy could talk me out of my shoe choice). They were brand new. One of the pairs Professor Pops gave me (not the pair from the Vampire Queen). I had a feeling he'd picked out the color to go with my dress. He knew me better than most.
Except maybe the Vampire Queen, my inner voice cringed.
"You look tres gorgeous, Snow," Cindy said.
I laughed internally guessing she must've decided French wasn't as boring as she thought.
I turned back and forth, checking my reflection at different angles. "Thanks Cindy. You did an amazing job on my hair."
She grinned. "No duh. You're going to be the most beautiful girl at the ball tonight."
I snorted. "Whatever."
Cindy shook her head and continued to pet Gatsby, who sat on her lap, purring nosily. She still wore her jeans but had a strapless nude bra on top.
The party was in a half hour, but we'd agreed to meet at Professor Pops' twenty minutes ago.
Cindy's hair was in three loose French braids that came together in the back, near the nape of her neck. She'd curled the ends and pinned them into a bun and put little baby blue flowers in between the curls. Her makeup was a little darker than normal. "Dramatic," was what she called it.
My eye makeup was similar. On her lips she had a light pink gloss. On my lips was a dark red that matched my dress. Cindy spent an hour using different sizes of irons to put curls all over my head. Then she teased and backcombed until my dark hair was like a curly cloud. She left my bangs straight and used some kind of goop to make it stay to one side. I looked like me, only different. Older. More sophisticated.
"You gonna get dressed?" I asked turning to face her.
She nudged Gatsby off her lap and stood. "Yep, right now. Will you help zip me?"
"Sure."
She slid off her jeans and walked over to my opened bedroom door where she'd hung her dress. Beneath was a box, and she removed the most gorgeous, but dangerous-looking pair of shoes I'd ever seen. The heels were thin, like glass, but probably six inches tall. Gunmetal beads adorned the band across the foot and the cuff that went around the ankle.