“Giddy, I told you I didn’t think it was him.”
“But you didn’t give me an alternative.” His critical eyes pin me to the wall. “We know Seth and Melody argued yesterday. Plus, remember when we all went to Gina’s last week? Seth showed up, and Melody said he was stalking her.”
The last thing I want to remember is that night at the diner. The night of my colossal lapse in judgment. But Gideon’s right. Seth was there, and Melody was picking on him, as usual.
“Melody didn’t say he was stalking her. She just called him a stalker.”
Gideon’s head dips in irritation. “It’s the best lead we have.”
Actually, the best lead we have is the person who texted me at school, right after I snooped around in his locker. But Gideon needs to feel like he’s doing something to help, and I’m not going to be the one to stop him.
“Okay, I’ll come with you,” I offer, pushing away from the door. “Maybe we can look in his car or in the backyard. See if he’s hiding something.”
“Stay here. I’ll take Asher.”
I block his path. “You’re not going without me.”
“Cass, this guy is dangerous.”
“Then bring Asher. But I’m coming too.”
Gideon sighs, and his phone buzzes. He pulls it from his pocket, mumbling, “Brandon.”
Cold, sharp fear streaks through me. Brandon’s threat said we were in this together. But maybe something spooked him and he’s going to share the notebook. With Gideon. “Ignore him.”
Gideon sends off a quick text and tilts his head. “Cass, I thought you were giving him a chance. Did something happen at the party?”
“No,” I say, startled. A flush fans up my neck and guilt swells in my chest.
“Then it’s still about Laura?” He passes me a knowing look. “You can be honest with me.”
Gideon’s wrong, of course. Honest would mean admitting what really happened a week ago at that party.
With Brandon.
I’d never wanted to go to that party, but the boys dragged me along, despite my pouting. There was a lone glimmer of promise: a party would provide an endless amount of faces for casting our favorite classic horror movies. So I stashed the notebook in my purse, planning to spend the evening with Gideon, nursing a Coke and passing the pages back and forth.
But that’s not how things turned out. When we got to the house, Brandon shoved a beer in my hand and slumped back against the living room wall. Cigarette smoke and spilled booze permeated every inch of the place. I stood awkwardly, wondering how to get rid of the can and wondering how Asher and Gideon had managed to disappear.
I didn’t want to be alone with him. Gideon and Asher insisted that Brandon and Laura were never getting back together, but that didn’t matter to me. My resentment was rooted in principle—he’d been a willing participant in a long-term relationship with one of my two biggest tormentors.
Then the front door opened, and I cowered in a corner as Melody appeared. Apparently, she’d deigned to grace a high school party with her recently graduated presence. She strutted into the room, dress skintight, hair majestic, and several sets of eyes frolicked after her, just like old times.
But Brandon made a face. And I realized he was disgusted by the most beautiful girl in the room.
“What was that look about?” I asked, lowering onto the carpet beside him. I knew Melody’s big mouth had inflicted some damage over the years. But I’d never seen anyone look at her the exact way I felt. I hadn’t managed to ditch my beer, so I took a sip. Just to busy myself.
“I’m surprised she made it somewhere without her sidekick, is all.” A slender, dark-haired figure passed through the door next. Brandon’s head lowered. “Never mind, then.”
“Wait, Laura? Don’t tell me you’re still hung up on the Antichrist.”
“No—well, not anymore. I was for a while.”
“Tell me about that,” I said, my words laced with sarcasm. But truthfully, I was curious how someone could possibly be so blind to Laura’s true nature.
“I just couldn’t figure out why she broke up with me.”
“You are quite the catch.” I widened my eyes dramatically. “It’s inconceivable.”
Brandon laughed, and a layer of that wall I’d had up against him crumbled. “But see, I finally figured it out.”
“She discovered your true identity as a demon slayer and shrank back into the fires from whence she came?”
“No.” He grinned and took a swig of beer. “A different sort of devil was whispering into her ear our entire relationship, telling her to break up with me. And that devil finally got to her.”
“Melody.”
“You got it.”
A sophomore boy reeking of body odor staggered into the wall, belting words that bore little resemblance to the ones blaring from the speakers. Brandon and I scooted away, beers in hand. “She doesn’t like you?” I asked.
“That wasn’t it. She’s just…weirdly possessive of Laura. I wouldn’t be surprised if she persuaded Laura to drop her college plans and stay in Maribel so they can work together at Gina’s for the rest of their lives.”
“But Laura’s not just a pretty face.” Something else about her that always annoyed me.
“I’m sure Melody will convince her none of that matters as long as they’re together. Maybe that’s why Melody has never had a boyfriend for more than two weeks. Her role as psycho best friend is all consuming.”
“Maybe that’s not it,” I said with a devious smirk. “Maybe Melody is in love with you, and this was all part of her big plan to get you to fall for her instead. Actually”—I ducked my head lower—“don’t look, but she’s staring at you right now.”
Brandon’s eyes widened. His head whipped from side to side. Then he reddened, shrinking into the wall. “You got me.” He bumped my shoulder with his. “What about you? Is Melody still giving you a hard time with the cousin killer stuff?”
“I wish. She’s upped her game from schoolyard bullying, unfortunately.”
“What’d she do now?”
My face warmed and my gaze drifted. “Let’s talk about something else.” I took another sip of my beer. Then another.
“Come on,” he pleaded. “I told you my embarrassing tale.” I attempted to stand, but he touched my arm, gently. “Hey, hey. It’s fine. Keep your big secret.”