Page 58 of Heathens
As she snakes past me and out the door, I chew on my worry for a few minutes longer. Perhaps it’s the way she was raised—always thinking the best of people, always trying to explain away their faults. Always covering over her true feelings, always shielding herself from harm in some way. Always protecting herself from hurt.
I open the door and walk to class, and I pray to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit that no one ever takes advantage of that.
* * *
By the time school ends a couple of hours later, news of Evelyn and Kell fooling around in the broom closet has infested the halls of Saint Francis Prep. As I walk out of calculus with Evelyn, the cupped hands and giggling is the first thing to tip me off. When Evelyn pulls her jacket and hood on, I watch as her translucent skin flushes cranberry red and I dig my nails into my palms.
“...there they go, Lilith and Evelyn. The witch sisters. I bet she put a spell on Kell Thomas.”
“Who?”
“Lilith, obviously. Just look at her.”
I clench my jaw and ignore them.
“Hey, Lily.” I turn to face Noah Abrams. All six-two of him. His wavy dark hair and turquoise eyes give me what Evelyn likes to say: fanny flutters. As his smile turns lopsided, the flutters become giant, flapping wings.
“Hi.” I run my hand through my hair as Evelyn sighs from next to me. I ignore her, though I know how much of a sap I look like. I can’t help it around him.
“Kell told me you’d be down for a threesome.” He juts his chin out at Evelyn. “As I’m not exactly a homo, I vote the three of us.”
My stomach drops. “You’re disgusting.” Disappointment floods through me. Noah and Kell are both on the football team, but I had no idea they were both pigs. I thought that maybe he was different, but now I know better.
“Are you gonna voodoo me tonight?” He laughs, and the guys behind him titter. “Or a spell? Is that why you guys always hang out in the old graveyard?”
“Bite me,” I hiss, adding Noah to the list of people I will be glad to never see again next year. Though Boston is only an hour away, at least it’s not this shithole.
“Only if you like that kind of thing.” He cocks his head. “And something tells me you do.”
The guys whoop behind him. That same fire from before reignites in my bones. Boys. They’re all immature boys who think it’s okay to talk like this. Who think our bodies and our sexuality is okay to dissect, okay to make fun of. Boys who think they have arightto those things. Suddenly, an idea forms.
“I do,“ I purr, pulling my long hair over one shoulder and jutting my hip out. “But I don't think you can handle it.“
More whoops, laughs, and giggles.
“Come on, Lily. Let’s go.”
I look at Evelyn, pleading with her silently.Let’s play a game. “We’ve always fantasized about you and Kell,” I say to Noah, batting my eyelashes. His smile drops from his pretty face and he swallows.
“Really?”
I nod slowly. Evelyn must catch on, because she saunters up next to me. “Oh, yeah. The four of us together would behot.”
I try to keep from laughing. “Yeah. In fact, whenever the two of us... you know... we always moan your names.” Noah coughs and his eyes widen. “I mean, whatelsewould we be doing in that dark graveyard all the time?” The group goes silent. “Meet us there tonight at ten. Tell Kell he’s welcome.Ifyou two can handle it, that is.”
I turn and walk away, linking my arm with Evelyn’s as we sway our hips and relish in the frantic whispers behind us.
“Morons,” I murmur as Evelyn and I push the door open.
“They deserve whatever you're planning,“ is her only answer and acknowledgment.
I smile as we step into the cool, fall air. “I know.”
* * *
The next day, I’m called into Sister Marietta’s office again. This time, it’s not because of the length of my skirt.
“Ms. Damewood, I’ve heard some concerning rumors about you and Ms. Snow.”
