Page 22 of Haunting the Deep

“I said it wasn’t clear.”

I follow her to a different black curtain from the one I came through. “Yeah, but you also said ‘possibly’ when I asked about myself. Do you know something you’re not saying?”

“No. Now stop badgering me with questions I don’t have the answers to.” She pulls the curtain aside and grabs a door handle. “And you’re welcome for the warning.”

Her straight thick hair slides over her shoulder. It smells like lavender. The door clicks open and bright light streams in. I squint against it.

“Hang on, I don’t even know your name,” I say, but she pushes me onto the sidewalk. The door closes behind me. I jiggle the knob, but it’s locked.

Ikick at the loose pieces of asphalt near Mary’s black Jeep in the school parking lot and check my cell phone. The last bell rang more than fifteen minutes ago.

“Sam?” someone says, and I tense. I look up from the ground to find Dillon, Niki, and Blair. But no Jaxon.

“I thought you were out today. I didn’t see you in history,” Dillon says.

I scan the parking lot, looking for the Descendants. “I was.”

Niki examines her nails and acts like I don’t exist.

“Man, I wish my parents would let me stay home,” Dillon says. “I have to do full-on theatrics and throw myself on the floor when I’m sick. And most of the time they still say no.”

“Same,” Blair says. “And with all this dance planning and organizing, Niki and I barely have a minute to breathe. After it’s all over, I’ll probably collapse.”

“Exactly. So don’t come near us if you’re contagious,” Niki says with more force than she needs to, and rubs her glossy lips together.

“I’m not sick,” I say.

“In that case, you wanna join us? We’re gonna grab a bite with Jaxon at his mom’s bakery,” Dillon says.

Niki gives him the death stare.

They’re going to Sugar Spells? I’m liking Dillon dating Blair even less now.I point to Mary’s Jeep. “Thanks, but I’m meeting Alice, Mary, and Susannah.”

“Ohmigod, don’t tell me you stayed home because you had to confront a ghost or something,” Blair says, like I’m a fascinating headline. “I can’t even imagine.”

Before I can respond, Matt rounds the corner of the big SUV parked next to Mary’s Jeep and bumps into Niki’s bookbag. He doesn’t apologize.

“Ugh! Watch where you’re going. This bag’s suede,” Niki says with a good dose of drama.

“Wait, ’old on,” Matt says, and stops walking. “It’s made outtasuede?”

And here we go.

Matt smiles. “You want to tell us ’ow much it costs, too, Niki? I’m sure we’d all be impressed.”

I think I like this guy.

“If you’re jealous that I’m going to hang out with Jaxon, just say it,” Niki says, looking quite pleased with herself.

Was that for my benefit or his?

“Jealous of Jaxon?” Matt looks at me pointedly and back at Niki. He laughs. “Nope.”

Niki turns red as Matt walks away. “You’re such an ass, Matt,” she calls after him.

“And ’ere I thought you had dibs on that,” Matt says without turning around.

An embarrassed Niki glares at me, and I realize I’m smiling. “You think he’s funny?”