Page 28 of Styx & Stones

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

ALASKA

Iglance in the mirrorat my new locks. I hadn’t been able to bring myself to shave off the rest of my hair, but Styx is right; I look totally badass with a side shave. I decided to have a hairdresser cut off the majority of my length, but I’ll keep it long and wispy on one side—at least until that falls out too. The stylist carefully carved out two little lines into my side shave, and I asked him to dye the whole thing blue. I could tell my mom wanted to pitch a fit, and the stylist refused to use bleach because it would melt off my remaining hair, but I still left the salon with my head high while I rocked my gorgeous navy–blue strands.

The doorbell rings. I check my makeup one last time in the mirror before smoothing my dress, and then I head downstairs. Styx is standing at the door in a navy suit, his head and stubble freshly shaved, his tie off-kilter and a pair of bright cornflower-blue Converse on his feet.

His gaze rolls over me from head to toe, taking in my hair, my pastel-blue skater dress, and finally resting on my pink Hello Kitty Chuck Taylors. His grip tightens on the corsage box in his hand and the plastic crinkles in protest. “You look like cotton candy.”

“Screw you, asshole.”

“Hey, I didn’t say I didn’t like it. I’ve just never seen you in so much pastel.”

“That’s it. I’m going upstairs to change.”

He grabs my hand and pulls me toward him, so close his breath grazes my cheek. “You look fucking edible, Stones.”

I blush and bite my lip. My stomach unleashes a swarm of suicidal butterflies, dipping, and whirling towards death.

“Thanks,” I say, because I have no other words for the warmth spreading through my chest. “You don’t look like cotton candy, but you look ... good too.”

“I got you this.” His brow furrows as he holds out the box. “Mom said it was like ... a thing.”

“Oh, thanks.” I take it from him and remove the corsage from the plastic carton. It’s some kind of blush rose—a peony, maybe—with pale sage–green leaves, surrounded by tiny white flowers. “It’s really beautiful.”

“Here, let me help you.” He takes the box and sets it on the small table in the entryway. Then he grabs my wrist and gently ties the ribbon, his fingers lingering against my flesh for a beat longer than necessary.

My stomach flips, and my heart beats double time as his eyes meet mine. I swallow hard and walk toward the kitchen, not sure what to do now that things have taken a turn for the AWKWARD. “Popcorn, let’s do that. And soda. Soda’s good too, right?”

“Honey, what are you doing?” Mom says, coming into the kitchen. She takes a bottle from the wine fridge and sets it on the counter. “You’re going to be late for homecoming.”

I scowl at her. “We’re not going to the dance, Mom.”

“You’re not?”

“Not with these chemo bodies. We only had treatment two days ago. I can barely stand long enough to shower.”

“I did ask her, Mrs. Stone,” Styx-and-his-big-mouth says. “She turned me down.”

“Good thing too, because it looks like you didn’t bring the wheelchairs you promised me.”

“Wheelchairs?” Mom frowns and then shakes her head. “Never mind. Thank God I got pictures before you ...” Mom turns her attention to the food I’m preparing. “What is it you two are going to do tonight?”

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