Spellbound - Cara Lynn Shultz [38]
“I’m really sorry, Emma,” Ashley whispered.
“What?” I was incredulous. “Why are you apologizing to me?”
“Because you were right. I should have listened to you.”
“Look, there was no way to know what you were walking into,” I said, putting my arm around my cousin and rubbing her shoulder. “I only thought you were going to a party that was going to get out of hand. And that was only because I hung out with those guys once and I felt like I was in over my head. I had no idea he was capable of this….”
I continued what I felt were feeble attempts at comforting Ashley, who just shrugged glumly. My heart sank. I realized this was the moment for her, the moment your innocence—not your physical innocence, but your emotional one—was lost. After that, you looked at the world more harshly and your heart was harder.
“It’ll be okay,” I said, softly. “Really. You’ll feel better in the morning.” I tried my best to convince her but it was difficult because I didn’t really have any faith myself.
I called her parents and convinced them to let her stay the night. I said she had a fight with one of her girlfriends at the party and was upset, so after leaving a note on the kitchen table for Aunt Christine explaining our overnight guest, Ashley and I tucked into my bed. Our plans for Anthony’s destruction were sporadically interrupted by me consoling her and telling her she really wasn’t stupid, this really wasn’t her fault, she really was pretty and, no, not all guys are evil. I told her if I really did have some supernatural force after me, I would sic it on Anthony. For a moment, I truly hoped I did have a bitter spirit in my arsenal. If so, I had work for it to do.
Chapter 8
We walked to school on Monday, having passed the weekend helping Ashley’s parents give out candy to the trick-or-treaters in their building. Ashley didn’t want to leave home, and I didn’t want to leave her alone. As we crossed the street to Vincent Academy, I reminded Ashley again that she likely wouldn’t even see Anthony. They didn’t have any classes together—just a free period—which she could spend in an empty classroom, doing homework.
For me, it wasn’t so easy. In the cafeteria, I spent most of my time glaring at Anthony from across the room. He didn’t even notice me—I wasn’t on his radar anymore; there were younger girls to be preyed upon, after all. I was seething—angry at him, angry at myself. I knew I should have stopped her, but she was so determined to go her own way. No, no excuses, Emma. You should have looked out for her better. But you were too caught up in Brendan ignoring you to take care of Ashley.
As we were walking out of the cafeteria and heading to our next class, I turned to Cisco.
“Okay, I have to get this off my chest,” I said, my eyes narrowing.
“Emma, I’d be pissed at Anthony, too. I saw you giving him the stink eye,” Cisco admitted, giving me a sympathetic look.
“He’s a such piece of— Wait, how do you know why I’m mad at him?” I asked suspiciously. I felt an angry pit beginning to form in my stomach and began walking more slowly.
Cisco slowed his walk as well, keeping in step with me. He leaned in and whispered in a low voice, “Well, if my baby cousin slept with a creeper like Anthony and then he told the entire school, I wouldn’t be thrilled, either.”
I could feel my blood boiling. The pit in my stomach sprouted, and the anger took over all my senses.
“That’s not what happened,” I hissed, my hands clenched into fists. “Here’s what really went down.” I quickly relayed the events of Friday night—how my traumatized cousin had come over, a fountain of tears.
Cisco sighed and paused on the staircase. “You know, he’s always bragging about this girl and that girl.” Cisco adopted Anthony’s swaggering pose and mimicked his voice.