Darker Days (The Darker Agency #1)(49)

“I know,” I said again, this time stronger. “And you’re right. I am getting attached. But I’m not an idiot. I know how it’s gonna end.”

“Jessie—”

“It is what it is.”

I needed to get out of the room. Away from the conversation and away from her.

“At least a little good came out of it. I think we both learned something on this one.” I started rummaging through my drawers for clothes. A black sock. A white one. A random shirt. Whatever I could get my hands on.

“Oh?”

“This thing with Lukas—my attachment—is the perfect example of why I won’t end up like you.” I glared at her as I passed and spoke, even though the declaration was pointless. The damage was done already.

Her eyes went wide. “Like me?”

I could see she didn’t understand what I was getting at, but she was hurt all the same. All I’d ever said growing up was that I wanted to be just like her. And I did. In every area except this.

A part of me dug my heels in, wanting nothing more than to stop—but I couldn’t. I was a planet-sized Jessie-boulder rolling at warp-speed down a steep hill. I drove my point home with cruel accuracy. “Miserable. Missing someone you can never have. It’s not worth it.” I slammed the door behind me—my first act of truly juvenile teenage behavior.

…

I didn’t wait for Lukas before heading to school. Mom didn’t want us getting any more attached? Fine. Neither did I. There was no reason for me to lug him around. It would only make things harder. Let her play babysitter.

The first thing I noticed when I got to school was Garrett’s absence. I didn’t know if he’d remember anything that happened—for his sake, I hoped not—but I couldn’t forget. And I needed some time.

Contrary to my I’m an island rant this morning, I’d grabbed Mom’s phone book on the way out the door. I might have made the decision to let my feelings for Lukas slip into the background, but that didn’t change the fact that we’d made him a promise. The Darkers were girls of their word. I’d keep fighting ’til the last possible minute, even if Mom was ready to give up. She wouldn’t let me help find the Sins? Well, then I’d help another way.

By the time I hit third period study hall, I was itching to crack open the phone book. All Mom’s Otherworlder contacts in one nifty, leather-bound bundle. I knew which ones to stay away from—Jenna Mason, the owner of the Black Cat bar, and one of Mom’s best friends. As soon as we got off the phone, she’d be running to Mom to tell her what I was up to.

Allen Bane—leader of the local were pack. We’d too recently pissed him off. That whole incident with him and Mom and an ill-timed game of fetch wasn’t about to blow over any time soon.

And McKenna Blaire—the Voodoo priestess with a mouth for gossip. Not besties, Mom and McKenna still talked. And worse than that, they knew a lot of the same people. McKenna had a mouth like a bullhorn. One call to her and the entire Otherworlder population would know what I was up to. And so would Mom.

There was one specific number I was looking for. I flipped to the N’s—Mom had the book organized not by name—but by association. I needed the N’s for necromancer.

I’d just punched Paulson Miller’s name into my cell when a low growl filled the air.

Oh, hell in a hailstorm. Not now.

I looked around. No one else seemed to have heard it. Trying to play it cool, I glanced around the room. The sound seemed to be coming from the front row. Right next to David Ogden’s desk. He chose that moment to look up. He caught my eye with a cheesy wink and a thumbs-up.

Really? A thumbs-up? Did the dude really think a thumbs-up was a turn on? That smooch with Hannah the other day had given him all sorts of confidence.

Creepy, Hi, I’m a stalker in the making confidence.

At the front of the room, Mr. Dakota looked up from his papers as the door opened. On top of his desk, a shimmer of black smoke trailed upward from the floor. I couldn’t see beneath his desk, but I was betting my vial of Fairy Dust that Mr. Winkie was lingering close by.

Mr. Dakota’s mouth fell open as in sauntered Vida wearing a black skirt that looked like it belonged on a first grader and a bright red corset top that left little to the imagination. If she bent over too far, I had no doubt she’d pop out of it—cartoon sound effects and all.

She slid slowly across the room and over to his desk. “I need to see Jessie Darker in the hallway. You don’t mind, do you?” The words dripped like honey from her lips as she trailed a finger over the edge of his desk. My demon dog stalker gave another growl, but one look from Vida in his general direction and he fell silent, another puff of black smoke tufting upward to tell me he’d split.

Dakota waved a hand in my general direction, then pointed toward the door, never taking his eyes from Vida—or her chest.

I contemplated staying put. She couldn’t make me leave with her—but I was curious. Plus, if opportunity presented itself, maybe I could bring her in. I’d probably get crap from Mom, but in the end, it would be one less innocent for her to find. She’d have to appreciate that—even if she wasn’t willing to admit it out loud.

Gathering my things, I started down the aisle toward the door. Vida stood in the doorway with a sickeningly sweet smile plastered on her ruby-tinted lips.