Page 46 of Rookie Season
Fisher finally hands Ally her costume, which is just a slightly smaller version of ours. She eyes it like it’s the most hideous thing I’ve ever seen, then laughs, but it sounds a little off—not like her usual bubbly, sunshiny laughter. “Fisher, I’m a girl, remember? I’m not wearing this.”
Fisher’s face falls, and he eyes her with worry. “You don’t want to wear the costume, or you don’t want to go to the party?” His tone is surprisingly gentle.
Ally hesitates. “I don’t know. I’ll think about it?”
“Of course,” Fisher replies immediately.
“Thanks.” Ally gives him a grateful look then tosses the costume back into the box before turning toward her room. “I’m going to grab a shower.”
Penn sniffs his armpit and finally puts the weapon back inside the box. “Ugh, same. I smell awful.” He strides toward his and Fisher’s side of the apartment.
Fisher begins tucking the costumes back inside the box, seeming much less excited now than he did before Ally’s comment. I leave him to it, heading to my room to wait my turn for the bathroom I share with Ally.
Stepping inside my room, I don’t close the door all the way, unsure if Harry is in here. A moment later, I hear hushed whispers from across the hall. Perhaps against mybetter judgment, I peer through the crack in my door to see Fisher in front of Ally’s room.
“If you don’t want to come to the party, you don’t have to,” Fisher says. “But I just wanted you to have an opportunity to have fun and not worry about anything. I figured this could be good because all three of us will be there with you, we’ll be like your super-hot bodyguards.”
I squint my eyes, feeling bad for eavesdropping, but more curious than ever.What happened to make her dislike parties so much?
Ally huffs a laugh, wrapping her arms tightly around herself. “You guys will leave me alone the second a woman grabs your attention.”
Fisher makes the sign of the cross over his heart. “I promise we won’t. I meant it when I said I’m here for you, that I’ll stay with you during the party.”
Her expression is conflicted, like she wants to say yes, but is scared.
The fear in her eyes has me on autopilot, opening my door and stepping into the hallway before I hardly even realize what I’m doing.
“Wewillstay with you. All three of us.” I give Fisher a serious look. “And none of us will drink either, if that helps you feel more secure.”
Ally’s face brightens. “Really?”
Fisher heaves a resigned sigh. “Yeah, okay. We won’t even drink.”
Ally smiles, all the fear and worry that was just there disappearing. “You guys are the best.” She walks into the bathroom, her change of clothes tucked under one arm.
When the bathroom door closes Fisher narrows his eyes at me and shakes his head.
“What?”
“I’m not into her,” Fisher says in a mocking tone.
“I’m not,” I whisper-yell.
“And none of us will drink,” Fisher mocks again.
I step inside my room and close my door behind me, but I can hear him laughing all the way back to his side of the loft.
CHAPTER 19
ALLEGRA
“How are you doing, honey?”I crouch down, directing the question at a nine-year-old on the verge of crying. “You okay?”
Sasha looks up at me with huge brown eyes that appear even bigger through the lenses of her baby blue glasses. “I’m the only one in class who can’t do that barrel jump, Miss Ally. It’s embarrassing.”
Her bottom lip wobbles like she’s about to burst into tears, and I quickly look around to check that nobody is watching us before I pull her into a hug.
I remember dance classes at her age, where everything starts to pick up as you learn to master more skills, and I wouldn't have wanted anyone to see the teacher hugging me back then, or for any of my peers to know I was upset—and Sasha probably feels the same way. Luckily, right now the other girls are all filing out of the room, chatting and laughing, and nobody is paying us any attention.
