Page 15 of The 13th Daughter
"Every year," Billy confirmed. "They were born on the same day."
"Really?" Ethan frowned. "When is your birthday?"
"Halloween," I told him.
His eyes widened and his breath came out on a hiss. "Who's older, you or her?"
"Don't know," I shrugged. "We were born in the same hour, same minute. No one knows who came first." Ethan's face went a little white.
"The chicken or the egg?" Jeff quirked an eyebrow.
I laughed. "Real mature."
"I live but to please." He smiled at me and I noticed for the first time what a nice smile he had. He was very cute, adorable really with those killer blue eyes. Why hadn't I noticed before? Because he was a jerk before, I snorted to myself. Ethan's interest seemed to have brought out a new side to him. Shame I still only thought of him as a friend. No, my stomach only knotted up in nervous anticipation when Ethan looked at me.
Ethan's frown turned into a glare again. "Come on, Cassie, let's grab a table. We're supposed to be on a date, remember?"
"Are we now?" I asked. "Could have fooled me."
Jeff chuckled. I kicked him.
"People don't leave notes on lockers while they take another girl home if they're on a date."
His eyes widened. Understanding dawned in his sleepy gray eyes.
"You know, I'm really not in the mood anymore." I stood up and Ethan mimicked the movement. "I'm going to the bathroom. Then I'm going home."
Ethan frowned and started to say something, but I turned away. I went through the back and made my way to thebathrooms, but stopped before rounding the corner. I heard my name.
"Why hasn't Rebecca forced CJ to come to the meetings?" Ms. Anderson whispered.
"Roger won't allow it," Ms. Johnson replied. "She can't with Roger being so stubborn about it."
"But did you see that, Joanne? Think of what we could do with her in the Coven? What we might have already been able to do? I haven't seen that much talent since Emily."
"That may be the case," Mrs. Johnson sighed, "but we shouldn't let ourselves get attached in case she's..."
"Yes, yes, I know," Mrs. Anderson cut in. "But just think..."
What the hell were they talking about? Did it have something to do with that shadow thing I saw earlier? My stomach cramped. I stepped around the corner and both women let out a little gasp. "CJ, dear, we didn't see you there."
I eyed them and waited. Neither seemed willing to say anything. "Are you going to explain that to me?" I asked after another long minute of silence passed.
"Explain what, dear?" Mrs. Johnson smiled at me.
"In case I'm what?" I asked, agitated.
"In case you never decide to join the Coven," Mrs. Johnson told me.
She was lying. I could feel it in my gut.
"Now, Alice and I have to get going, honey. If you change your mind, you're always welcome at the meetings."
They stepped around me and went through the double doors leading back out to main floor. I stared after them, frustrated to no end. What was going on? Had this entire town gone crazy?
They'll be pestering you soon to start coming to the meetings, my dad's words whispered through my mind. I frowned. People were pestering me more than usual. Why were they suddenly so interested? The looks on their faces earlier came to mind. Theyeyed me like I was some kind of revelation or something. All I'd done was come up with a stupid poem.
And what had Mrs. Anderson meant about Emily? Did she think I had some kind of talent too? I just said some words. It wasn't like I'd done anything. Or had I? Had my words made that shadow appear? I was so confused. I sighed, frustrated. This was getting me nowhere and my arm was killing me.
