Night World : Dark Angel Chapter 9

It was David, of course.Gillian sprained a plump and stared at him, blinking. He was standing yet inside the doorway, his jacketslung over one shoulder, the separate hand in his pocket. His jaw was tight, his eyes sick. He was looking atTanya.There was a silence.(How grand? How long has he been there, Angel?)(Uhhh, Id presuppose since round roughly(predicate) the beginning.)(Oh, my.) So thats why Gillian had been so low key and noble and let Tanya do any the yelling andthreatening. They must leave come forward manage Dorothy and the Wicked Witch.A sense of mediocreice stirred inside Gillian. She make a hesitant move toward David.David-you dont understand-David shook his head. I understand just fine. Dont try to cover for her. Its better for me to find out(a).(Yeah, shut up, minibrain outright look mildly distressed, slightly awkward. You scene they want to bealone now.)Uh, I guess you guys want to be alone now.(Anyway, you have to hurry to get your ride.)Anyway, I hav e to hurry to get my ride.(These arent the droids youre looking for.)These arent- (Im going to kill you, Angel) Flustered, Gillian made one last gesture of apology and around ran for the door.Outside, she walked blindly. (Angel)(Sorry, I couldnt resist. But look at you, kid Do you shaft what youve done?)(I guess I got rid of Tanya.) As the adrenaline of battle faded, the truth of this was slowly beginning todawn on her. It brought a hint of glorious warmth, a sparkling annunciate of future happiness.(Smart kid)(And-I did it fairly. It was all true, wasnt it, Angel? Shes solidly been messing around with Bruce?)(Everybodys been messing around with Bruce. Yes, it was all true.)(And what about Kim? Is she the one who spreads rumors about people?) (Like yetter on Eggos.)(I just-she expected so sweet. When we talked about rumors in the cafeteria she patted my hand.)(Sure, shes sweet-to your face. Turn left here.)Gillian put up herself emerging from the school building. As she went down the steps she saw three orfour cars place casually in the roundabout. macons BMW convertible was one. He looked up at herand gave an inviting nod toward the car.Other people shouted. Hey, Jill, need a ride? We wouldnt want you to get bemused in the woods againGillian stood, obtaining worry a southern belle. So many people wanting her-it made her giddy. Angel wasgrandly nonmaterial (Pick anybody) and she could see Amys Geo a little distance away. Amy and Eugenewere standing by it, looking up at her. But getting in a car with Eugene Elfred would be disastrous to hernew status.She picked Cory the Party Guy, and the ride home was filled with his nonstop talk about maconnaiss partyon Saturday. She had trouble getting rid of him at the door. Once she did, she walked up to her bedroomand fell on her bed, arms out. She stared at the ceiling.(Phew)It had been the most incredible day of her life.She lay and listened to the quiet house and tried to touch her thoughts.The warmth was still percolating inside her, although it was mixed with a certain amount ofanxiety. She wanted to see David again. She wanted to know how things had turned out with Tanya.She couldnt let herself facial expression happy until she was sureRelax, would you?Gillian sat up. The voice wasnt in her ear, it was beside the bed. Angel was sitting there.The sight hit her standardised a physical blow.She hadnt seen him since that morning and shed forgotten how better-looking he was.His hair was dark golden with paler gold lights shimmering in it. His face was-well-classic perfection.Absolutely pure, denned like a sculpture in marble. His eyes were a reddish blue so glorious it actually hurt tolook at it. His expression was rapt and uplifted until he winked. Then it dissolved into mischief.Uh, hi, Gillian whispered huskily.Hi, kid. Tired?Yeah. I feel used up. Well, take a nap, why dont you? Ive got places to go in any event.Gillian blinked. Places? Angel I neer asked you. Whats heaven like ? I plastered, with angels like you,its got to be dissimilar from most peoples idea. That meadow I saw-that wasnt it, was it?No, that wasnt it. Heaven-well, its dangerous to explain. Its all in the oscillation of the spatial-temporalharmonics, you know-what youd call the inherent vibration of the plane. At a highervibration everything assumes a much much complicated harmonic theme. Youre making this up,arent you? Yeah. Actually its classified. Why dont you get some sleep? Gillian already had her eyesshut.She was happy when she woke up to touch sensation dinner. But when she got downstairs, she found only hermother.Dads not home?No. He called, honey, and left a message for you. Hell be out of town on stock for a while.But hell be back for Christmas. Wont he?Im sure he will.Gillian didnt say anything else. She ate the hamburger casserole her mother served-and noticed that hermother didnt eat. Afterward, she sat in the kitchen and played with a fork.(You okay?)The voice in her e ar was a welcome relief. (Angel. Yeah, Im all right. I was just work outing about howeverything started with Mom. It wasnt always like this. She was a teacher at the junior college)(I know.)(And then-I think it was about five years ago- things just started happening. She started acting crazy.And then she was seeing things-what did I know about drinking then? I just thought shewas nuts. It wasnt until Dad started finding empty stores)(I know.)(I just wish that things could be different.) A pause. (Angel? Do you think maybe they could be?)Another pause. Then Angels voice was quiet. (Ill work on it, kid. But, yeah, I think maybe they couldbe.)Gillian shut her eyes.After a moment she opened them again. (Angel-how crapper I thank you? The things youre doing for me I domiciliatet even start to tell you )(Dont mention it. And dont cry. A cheery face is worth triple A bonds. Besides, you have to dissolving agent the phone.)(What phone?)The phone rang.(That phone.)Gillian blew her nose and said a practice Hello to make sure her voice wasnt shaky. Then she took adeep breath and picked up the receiver.Gillian?Her fingers clenched on the phone. Hi, David.Look, I just wanted to make , sure you were okay. I didnt even ask you that when-you know, thisafternoon.Sure, Im okay. Gillian didnt need Angel to tell her what to say to this. I can handle myself, youknow.Yeah. But Tanya can be pretty intense sometimes. After you left she was-well, forget that.He doesnt want to say anything bad about her, Gillian thought. She said, Im fine.Its just- She could almost feel the frustration building on the other side of the line. And then Davidburst out as if something had snapped, I didnt knowWhat?I didnt know she was-like that I remember, she runs the teen helpline and shes on the Centralia reliefcommittee and the Food Cupboard project and .. . Anyway, I thought she was different. A goodperson.Conscience twinged. David, I think she is some of the things you thought. Shes brave. Whe n thatwindow-Quit it, Gillian. Youre those things. Youre brave and funny and-well, too honorable for your owngood. You tried to give Tanya another chance. He let out a breath. But, anyway you might haveguessed, were finished. I told Tanya that. And now His voice wobbled. Suddenly he laughed, enceinteing as if some burden had fallen mop up him. Well, would you like me to revolt you to the partySaturday night?Gillian laughed, too. Id like it. Id love it. (Oh, Angel-thank you)She was very happy.The rest of the week was wonderful. Every day she wore something daring and flattering scavengedfrom the depths of her closet. Every day she seemed to get much popular. People looked up when shewalked into a room, not just meeting her eyes, but laborious to catch her eye. They waved to her from adistance. They said hello up and down the halls. Everyone seemed pleased to talk to her, and pleased if she wanted to talk to them. It was like being on a skyrocket, going higher and higher.And, al ways, her guide and protector was with her. Angel had come to seem like a part of her, the mostsavvy and ingenious part. He provided quips, smoothed over awkward situations, gave advice aboutwho to tolerate and who to snub. Gillian was developing an instinct for this, too. She was gaining boldness in herself, finding new skills every day. She was literally becoming a new person.She didnt see much of Amy now. But Amy had Eugene, after all. And Gillian was so busy that she nevereven got to see David alone.The day of the party she went to Houghton with Amanda the Cheerleader and Steffi the Singer. Theylaughed a lot, got whistled at everywhere, and shopped until they were dizzy. Gillian bought a dress andankle boots-both approved by Angel.When David picked her up that night, he let out a soft whistle himself.I look okay?You look He shook his head. Illegal, but also sort of spiritual. How do you do that?Gillian smiled.Macon the Wallets house was the house of a rich guy. A fleet of artsy reindeer made out of some kindof white twigs and glowing with tiny lights graced the lawn. Inside, it was all high ceilings and tracklighting, oriental rugs, old china, silver. Gillian was dazzled.(My first real party I mean, my first Popular Party. And its even kind of, sort of for me.)(Your first real party, and its all for you. The world is your oyster, kid. Go out and crack it.)Macon was coming toward her. Other people were looking. Gillian paused in the doorway of the roomfor effect, aware that she was making an entrance-and amiable it.Her outfit was designer casual. A black minidress with a pattern of purple flowers so dark it could hardlybe distinguished. The soft, crepey material dung to her like a second skin. Matte black tights. And ofcourse the ankle boots. Not much makeup shed decided on the fresh, soft look for her face. Sheddarkened her lashes just plentiful to make the violet of her eyes a startling contrast.She looked stunning and effortless. And she knew it very we ll.Macons hooded eyes roved over her with something like suppressed hunger. Hows it going? Yourelooking good.We feel good, Gillian said, press Davids arm.Macons eyes darkened. He looked at the intersection of Gillians hand and Davids arm as if it offendedhim.David looked back dispassionately, but a sort of wordless menace exuded from him. Macon actuallytook a step back. But all he said was, Well, my parents are gone for the weekend, so make yourself athome. There should be regimen somewhere. There was food everywhere. Every kind of munchy thing. Music blasted from the den, echoing all overthe house. As they walked in, Cory greeted them with, Hey, guys Grab a glass, its going fast.When hed said that he would round up a keg last week, Gillian had foolishly misheard it as a cake.Now she understood. It was a keg of beer and everybody was drinking.And not just beer. There were hard liquor bottles around. One guy was lying on a table with his mouthopen while a girl poured something from a rectangular bottle into it.Hey, Jill, this is for you. Cory was trying to give her a plastic glass with foam overflowing the top.Gillian looked at him with open scorn. She didnt need Angels help for this.Thanks, but I happen to like my brain cells, Maybe if you had more respect for yours you wouldnt beflunking biology.There was laughter. Even Cory laughed and winced.Right on, Daryl the Rich Girl said, raising a can of diet Barqs ancestry beer to Gillian in salute. And Davidwaved Cory away and reached for a Coke.Nobody tried to pressure them and the guy on the table even looked a little embarrassed. Gillian hadlearned that you could pull anything off if you were cool enough, composed enough, and if you didntback down. The feeling of success was much more intoxicating than liquor could have been.(How about that? Pretty good, huh? Huh? Huh?)(Oh oh, yeah, fine.) Angel seemed to deliberate. (Of course, it does say, Wine maketh the nubble ofman glad)(Oh, Angel, youre so silly. You s ound like Cory) Gillian almost laughed out loud.Everything was exciting. The music, the huge house with its opulent Christmas decorations. The people.All the girls threw their arms around Gillian and kissed her as if they hadnt seen her in weeks. Some ofthe boys tried, but David warned them off with a look.That was exciting, too. Having everyone know she was together with David Blackburn, that he washers. It put her status through the ceiling.Want to look around? David was saying. I can show you the upstairs Macon doesnt care.Gillian looked at him. Bored?He grinned. No. But I wouldnt mind seeing you alone for a few minutes.They went up a long carpeted staircase lined with oil paintings. The rooms upstairs were just as beautifulas downstairs palatial and almost awe inspiring.It put Gillian in a quiet mood. The music wasnt as loud up here, and the cool marble gave her the feelingof being in a museum. She looked out a window to see velvet darkness punctuated by little twinkling lights. You know, Im glad you didnt want to drink back there. Davids voice rear her was quiet.She turned, trying to read his face. But you were surprised?Well-its just sometimes now you seem so adult. Sort of worldly.Me? I mean-I mean youre the one who seems like that. And thats what you like in girls, she thought.He looked away and laughed. Oh, yeah. The tough guy. The wild guy. Tanya and I used to party prettyhard. He shrugged. Im not tough. Im just a small-town guy trying to get through life. I dont look fortrouble. I try to run from it if I can.Gillian had to laugh herself at that. But there was something serious in Davids dark eyes.I admit, it sort of had a way of finding me in the past, he said slowly. And Ive done some things thatIm not proud of. But, you know Id like to change that-if its possible.Sort of like a whole new side of you that wants to come out.He looked startled. Then he glanced up and down her and grinned. Yeah. Sort of like that.Gillian entangle suddenly inspired, hopeful. I think, she said slowly, trying to put her ideas together, thatsometimes people need to-to express both sides of themselves. And then they can be well, whole.Yeah. If thats possible. He hesitated. Gillian didnt say anything, because she had the feeling that hewas trying to. That there was some reason hed brought her up to talk to her alone.Well. You know something weird? he said after a moment. I dont feel exactly whole. And the truthis- He looked around the darkened room. Gillian could only see his profile. He shook his head, thentook a deep breath. Okay, this is going to sound even dumber than I thought, but Ive got to say it. Icant help it.He turned back, toward her and said with a mixture of determination and apology, And since that daywhen I found you out there in the snow, I have this feeling that I wont be, without He trailed off andshrugged. Well-you, he said finally, helplessly.The universe was one enormous heartbeat. Gillian could feel her body echoing it. She said slowly, I I know. I know how it sounds. Im sorry.No, Gillian whispered. That wasnt what I was going to say.Hed turned sharply away to glare at the window. Now he turned halfway back and she saw the glimmerof hope in his face.I was going to say, I understand.He looked as if he were alarmed to believe. Yeah, but do you really? I think I do-really.And then he was moving toward her and Gillian was holding up her arms. Literally as if drawn to doit-but not just by physical attraction. It sounded crazy, Gillian thought, but it wasnt physical so much as well, spiritual. They seemed to belong together.David was holding her. It felt incredibly strange and at the same time perfectly natural. He was warm andsolid and Gillian felt her eyes shutting, her head drifting to his shoulder. Such a simple embrace, but itseemed to mean everything.The feelings inside Gillian were like a wonderful discovery. And she had the sense that she was on theverge of some other discovery, that if she just ope ned her eyes and looked into Davids at this moment,somehow it would mean a change in the world(Kid?) The voice in Gillians ear was quiet. (I really hate to say it, but I have to break this up. You haveto sidle down to the master bedroom.)Gillian scarcely heard and couldnt pay attention.(Gillian I mean it, kid. Theres something going on that you have to know about.)(Angel?)(Tell him youll be back in a few minutes. This is important)There was no way to ignore that tone of urgency. Gillian stirred. David, I have to go for a sec. Be rightback.David just nodded. Sure. It was Gillian who had trouble letting go of his hand, and when she did shestill seemed to feel his grip.(This had better be good, Angel.) She blinked in the light of the hallway.(Go down to the end of the hall. Thats the master bedroom. Go on in. Dont turn on the light.)The master bedroom was cavernous and dark and filled with large dim shapes like sleeping elephants.Gillian walked in and immediately banged into a piece of labored furniture.(Be careful See that light over there?)Light was showing around the edges of double doors on the other side of the room. The doors wereclosed.(And locked. Thats the bathroom. Now, heres what I want you to do. base on balls carefully over to the rightof the bathroom and youll find another door. Its the closet. I want you to quietly open that door and getin it.)(What?)Angels voice was in an elaborate way patient. (Get in the closet and put your ear against the wall.) Gillian shut her eyes. Then, feeling exactly like a burglar, she slowly turned the handle of the closet doorand slipped inside.It was a walk-in closet, very long but stuffy because of the clothes bristling from both sides. Gillian had aprofound feeling of intrusion, of being an invader of privacy. She seemed to walk a long way in beforeAngel stopped her.(Okay. Here. Now put your ear against the left wall.)Eyes still shut-it seemed to make the absolute darkness more bearable-Gillian burrowed betweensom ething long sheathed in plastic and something heavy and velvety. With the clothes embracing her oneither side, she leaned her head until her bare ear touched wood.(Angel, I cant believe Im doing this. I feel really stupid, and Im scared, and if anybody finds me-)(Just listen, will you?)At first Gillians heart seemed to drown out all other sounds* But then, faint but clear, she heard twovoices she recognized.