Dead Girl Dancing (5 page)

I hesitated, thinking of the red-haired girl. “Not really.”

“Damn. Why didn’t Sharayah tell us? I feel like I’ve let her down.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Be careful, and stick close to Shari’s friends.”

I looked over at Mauve and Sadie, who were both hanging out their separate windows as they flirted with the guys in the convertible.

“Tops up!” Mauve called over to Sadie.

“On the count of three!” Sadie giggled.

“One, two—” Mauve began.

“Three!” Sadie finished.

They flipped up their tops and flashed the guys. It happened so fast that all I caught was a flash of arms lifting and flesh. Nudity on Interstate Five!

“—don’t go anywhere alone,” Eli was saying.

“No such luck,” I said ruefully.

“It’s a good thing you left the college. You’ll be safer around my sister’s friends.”

Safer—assuming my companions didn’t get arrested for indecent exposure!

Shaking my head, I turned away from the road show and assured Eli I’d be fine. “But things will be easier once I consult with my GEM.”

“GEM? What’s that?”

“A Temp Lifer guidance manual.” I spoke so softly I could hardly hear myself. “If I ask the book a question, it’ll tell me stuff about my mission.”

“Your grandmother gave you a manual? Great! When did you see her?”

“I didn’t actually see her.” I hesitated, wondering how much weirdness Eli could take. “The book was delivered by … you won’t believe it.”

“Try me.”

I swallowed, then glanced up to make sure Mauve and Sadie couldn’t overhear (they were now whistling cat calls at the “Hot Guys”), then blurted out the famous name.

He gasped. “You talked with her?”

“It wasn’t really her. She was replaced with a Temp Lifer like me—except, well, this TL has been doing this for way longer.”

“Did you get her autograph?”

“How can you even ask such a question?” I tried to sound insulted so he wouldn’t guess how close I came to doing just that. “Celebrities don’t impress me. They’re just ordinary people like us.”

“Ordinary—you are definitely not.”

“Tell me about it.” I groaned as I glanced down at my borrowed body. “But at least the GEM will help.”

“Shari seriously needs help. Can your book explain why she changed so much and why someone’s stalking her?”

“I’ll ask,” I said, reaching for Sharayah’s purse.

Laughter erupted from the front seat. I glanced up as Mauve flung open her door and gestured toward the two guys in the red convertible. Wasn’t flashing them bad enough? Now she was inviting them over! I looked at Sadie, hoping she’d have some common sense, but she had her door open, too, and was waving eagerly at the guys.

Pure insanity! Those guys could be perverts or ex-convicts or even married. I’d never behave so irresponsibly … but what about the real Sharayah? I had a bad feeling she would have flashed, too—but not because she enjoyed being a player. Her body sent me simmering undercurrents of anger and guilt. No, she didn’t party to have a good time; she partied to punish herself.

I hoped the GEM would help me solve her crisis.

Tucking the phone between my ear and shoulder, I reached inside the purse—but didn’t feel the squared edges of a book. Puzzled, I dumped the purse out. A wallet, keys, makeup and other items fell in my lap.

No gold-covered book.

My body went hot, then cold, and then scorching hot as my thoughts raced back to when I’d last seen the GEM. I was in the dorm, sick with nausea and so exhausted I couldn’t stay awake. I was positive I’d tossed the GEM into Sharayah’s purse. I’d heard a soft thud as it hit the purse. But did I check to make sure it fell inside? Um … nope.

“Amber! Are you there?” I heard Eli calling. “Say something.”

“I don’t have the GEM.” I stared dismally out a window, reeling in disappointment. That tiny book had been my only connection to the other side—and I’d lost it.

“Do you know where it is?” Eli asked.

“It must be in the dorm room.”

“I’d go look for it, except the door is locked and I doubt the R.A. will let me in again,” Eli said. “I could ask Katelyn to help—”

“No! Don’t ask her!”

“What do you expect me to do?” he retorted. “Break into your room?”

“Would you?” I asked, half-seriously.

“Sure, I’ve always wanted to get arrested.”

“Well … I guess it’s not such a good idea.”

Still, I couldn’t just give up on the GEM, not when it held the answers to Sharayah’s crisis. I’d recently had some experience getting in and out of locked rooms and even a locked cemetery—but I hadn’t done it on my own. I’d had the help of friends.

This gave me an idea.

“Listen,” I told Eli in an urgent whisper. “If you’re serious about getting the book, call Dustin.”

“Why?”

I was reminding him about Dustin’s locksmith expertise and his amazing collection of keys when a blur of pink hair swooped around from the front seat and snatched the phone right out of my hand.

“No more talking, Rayah!” Mauve ordered.

“Hey!” I shouted, glaring at her. “Give that back!”

“Come on! Why are you talking to
him
when there are guys everywhere?”

“But I wasn’t finished.”

“Now you are.” Mauve snapped the phone shut. “Traffic may not be making moves, but I am. Here come the guys!”

Picking up guys in traffic was insane—not to mention embarrassing. I wanted to hide while Mauve and Sadie flaunted their assets. Mauve’s grin was jubilant, like finding guys was a contest and she’d won top prize. She stepped out of the car and exchanged introductions.

The big guy, Warren, towered over everyone with his linebacker shoulders and snow-blond hair. His black, short- sleeved shirt opened over a red T-shirt dripping with a fiery dragon design that matched the design on his red leather gloves. Gloves? I thought, surprised. That style went out with Michael Jackson.

At least the other guy, Alonzo, seemed normal—and extremely cute, with a tight body, springy black curls and soft, full lips. From the way Mauve was eyeing him, it was obvious she’d staked her claim.

“Yo, girls,” Warren said with the eloquence of a cave man. “How ya’ doing?”

“Much better now,” Sadie said as she sidled up to him.

“Yeah,” Mauve agreed, her gaze lingering on cute Alonzo. “The traffic is insane but I don’t mind so much now.”

They were paired up evenly and didn’t need me. So I said nothing, having zero flirting style. I tried to blend invisibly into the seat, humming to the CD. But of course I was listening to the drama unfolding outside with acute fascination.

“So, hey,” Alonzo flipped his black curls in Mauve’s direction. “Where you headed?”

“Venice,” Mauve answered.

“Italy?” Warren said with a snort, like he’d made a joke.

“You’re too funny,” Sadie giggled.

Gag me. Sadie couldn’t really like this brute, could she?

At least Mauve wasn’t impressed with Warren. She rolled her eyes. “Venice
Beach
,” she corrected him.

“For spring break?”

“What else?” Mauve leaned against the open car door and turned to Alonzo with a bright smile. “So how about you?”

“Same, except Warren and I keep our options open so we got no definite plans. You really know how to get a guy’s attention, although I would have noticed you anywhere,” Alonzo said, reaching over and curling a strand of her spiky hair around his finger.

“Hey, Lonz, check out the back seat.” Warren suddenly peered through Mauve’s open window and leaned over to wave at me. “There’s another girl.”

“That’s Rayah,” Sadie chirped. “She had a wild night and spewed in a parking lot this morning. She’s kind of out of it.”

“I’m just tired,” I said with an exaggerated yawn, hoping Warren would get the hint and leave me alone.

But no such luck.

“Party Girl, come out and party with us,” Warren urged.

“You go ahead without me.”

“Come on, Warren, let Rayah rest.” Sadie moved closer to Warren, obviously realizing that two guys divided by three girls weren’t great odds unless you removed one girl from the equation.

Warren ignored her and tapped on my window. “Come on, join our road party. You’ll have more fun with us.”

“I’m enjoying the music,” I said, pointing to the front seat where Sadie had kept the power on and music playing. I bobbed my head to the rhythm to show I was having plenty of fun sitting by myself.

“If it’s music you want to hear, Lonz and I have some cool CDs in our car.”

What was it with this guy? Sadie was practically dripping all over him yet he wouldn’t leave me alone. So I shook my head in a firm
no
.

“Forget her, I’d love to hear your CDs,” Sadie told Warren. “Let’s go to your car.”

“And leave your friend?” Warren stared me in a way that gave me shivers.

“If you know what’s good for you,” Mauve put in with a wicked grin. She raked her black-tipped fingernails through her pink head and gave Warren a warning look. “You better leave Rayah alone.”

“Why?” he asked, frowning.

“After a night of partying, she’s got a short fuse.” Mauve turned so I could see her face (but the guys couldn’t) and winked at me. “If you push her, she could get dangerous.”

Me, dangerous? Was Mauve trying to help me or stirring up drama for her own amusement? I was like the most non-violent person ever. I rarely lost my temper—not even when my little sisters turned an essay I’d spent a week writing into paper diapers for their dolls.

Mauve’s lie was ridiculous … or was it? What if Sharayah’s personality change included violence? How could I be sure until I knew more about her? I needed the GEM to tell me the truth. Then I wouldn’t stumble around in this borrowed body like an actress without a script.

“Let’s go sit in your car,” Sadie urged Warren, gently pulling on his arm.

“Sure.” Warren glanced over at Alonzo. “You coming or staying here?”

“Coming, as soon as I’m done listening.” He tilted his head toward the car stereo, which was still playing loud and strong. “I didn’t know this album was out yet.”

“It’s new. I’ll burn you a CD, for a price.” Mauve smiled.

“A price?” Alonzo asked, grinning. “What did you have in mind?”

“What can you give me?” Mauve asked playfully.

“I can think of a lot of things—but not in public.” Alonzo rubbed his thumb over his lip ring. “Maybe we should wait till this traffic clears up and go somewhere private.”

“Whoa, you’re moving too fast,” Mauve said with a flirty laugh. “All I’m offering is a CD … for now.”

“Excuse me, but that’s my CD.” Sadie whirled from Warren to glare at Mauve. “You can’t give away my stuff.”

“I’d never take anything of
yours
,” Mauve said, with a hard emphasis on “yours” that abruptly shut Sadie up. Sadie pressed her lips tightly and stepped away from Mauve.

What was that about? I wondered, leaning closer so I wouldn’t miss a word. I was puzzled yet intrigued, like watching a movie with subtitles.

I was relieved to watch them leave and sit anonymously in the back seat, analyzing my feelings about this “college girls gone wild” drama. Part of me was appalled by the way my “friends” were acting, yet another part was impressed. Mauve handled the guys with enough attitude to stay in control. Even over-eager Sadie carried herself with a bold confidence.

And I felt like a high school girl—for good reason.

Sharayah wouldn’t be sitting nervously in the back seat like me. But without the GEM I didn’t know enough about her to know what to do. What did I know about spring break? Only what I’d watched on TV.

Of course Sharayah probably didn’t know much about spring break, either. According to Eli, she used to be so studious that she never had time for anything except homework and volunteering. A far cry from this new Sharayah, who partied hard, trashed her dorm room and randomly hooked up with guys. I didn’t think her behavior had anything to do with drugs—I would have suffered symptoms or cravings by now. Something traumatic happened to change her. But what? Was it the older boyfriend, Gabe? Hmmm … where was Gabe anyway? If he was “my” boyfriend, why did Mauve say Sharayah didn’t have a steady guy?

Suddenly there was a roar of shouts, honks and cheers. The traffic was moving! I leaned forward to peer out the window as the others rushed back.

“Taillights are flashing!” Sadie announced, jumping excitedly.

“So soon? Too bad, I was enjoying the view.” Alonzo leaned on the open door, his gaze lingering on Mauve.

“We can hook up later.” Mauve smiled. “We’re staying at Sadie’s cousin’s beach condo.” She rattled off an address on Tide Pool Street, which I memorized so I could let Eli know where I was next time I called him.

“A beach condo? Sweet deal,” Alonzo said as he nodded. “Count on seeing me again … really soon.”

Sadie turned from her conversation with Warren and lowered the volume on the stereo. “We can all hook up later.”

“Or sooner,” Mauve said with a wicked gleam in her eyes.

“You guys better hurry,” Sadie interrupted. “The traffic jam is over.”

“Hey, Party Girl, be seeing you, too.” Warren moved away from Sadie and peered into the back toward me.

“The car behind yours is honking,” I told him, pointing.

“We can talk more next time.”

Or not, I thought, disliking him strongly although I wasn’t sure why.

“Come on, War!” Alonzo called as he turned to leave.

But Warren hesitated, staring at me with that intense look again. “Do we know each other? There’s something familiar about you … Were you at Preston’s big bash last month?”

“No!” I said firmly—though I had no idea if it was true.

“Really? You remind me of this girl I saw there. I’ve got a great memory for faces … hmmm … guess I’m wrong. Bye, Party Girl.” He offered his gloved hand like he wanted to shake good-bye.

But I froze, staring at his glove with its bloody fire dragon design. A horrible suspicion chilled my heart; there was a reason why he’d wear gloves in unseasonably warm weather. What if the gloves were more than a tacky fashion choice? The gloves could be camouflage for glowing gray hands.

Was Warren a Dark Lifer?

Grammy Greta had warned me that Dark Lifers would try to suck my glowing energy by touching me. A brief touch would leave me with a sick, drained feeling like my soul had been violated. I never wanted to go through that. I had to stay away from Warren.

Cars behind us honked as the traffic moved but we remained parked.

“War,” Alonzo said. “We have to leave now.”

Finally, Warren turned to leave.

But Mauve had other ideas.

“Not so fast,” she told Alonzo in a sultry tone. “Aren’t you forgetting someone?”

Alonzo couldn’t take his gaze off Mauve. “Who?”

With a wicked smile she pointed to herself. “Me.”

She clasped Alonzo’s hand and before anyone could protest, the two of them raced back to the convertible—and drove off.

Leaving Warren with nothing else to do but go with us.

He took Mauve’s place in our car.

An arm’s reach from me.