Reborn (Shadow Falls: After Dark #1)(46)

“Do you know exactly where this gang is?” Della asked, wondering if that was what Chan had called her about last week. Guilt wiggled through her chest. If she’d called him back then, maybe she could have talked him out of it.

“No, since I’m already with a gang, I didn’t pay attention.”

“Could you ask around?” Della asked. “I’d be grateful,” she added, realizing how stupid that sounded the moment she said it. Vampires didn’t care about grateful—especially those in a gang.

He chuckled. “What does grateful do for me?”

Okay, so maybe she could spin this her way. “It never hurts to have someone who owes you a favor. If you’re ever in Texas.”

He hesitated. “I do get to Texas a lot.”

“Then it could be a win-win.”

“You do know paybacks can be hell,” he said.

“Yeah.” But if she could find Chan she’d gladly pay hell.

He exhaled. “I’ll see if I can’t find the time.”

“Thanks.” She hung up, now more confused than ever. Since Chan had come here last night, he’d obviously wanted to see her. So why wasn’t he answering her calls?

All sorts of answers formed in her head. He’d lost his phone. He couldn’t afford to pay the phone bill. She’d have to find a way to see him. But how?

Wednesday morning at campmate hour, everyone stood in front of the dining hall. Della had actually slept. The flashes of the dead girl popping in her head had lessened and there had been no more feathers or feeling of ghosts. Which made Della certain that the whole thing hadn’t been connected to her, but to Kylie. She was, after all, the ghost whisperer.

Maybe Della just wanted to believe that, but until something proved her wrong she was going to let herself believe it.

Chris walked up with his silly-looking hat. “Well, today we have no special meet-ups.”

Which meant no one was paying blood to choose someone special.

“Surprising.” Chris shot Chase a cold stare. Chase just stared back, as if he didn’t give a flip how Chris felt. Both being vampire, you’d think they would have found enough common ground for a truce.

That thought reminded Della what Chase had said about them having a lot in common. Not that it was true.

The blond vamp cleared his throat and pulled two bags from his hat. Then he pulled one name out of each. He started pairing up campers. Della tensed, waiting to see who she’d be joined at the hip with for the next hour. Sixty minutes could seem really long if you were stuck with someone totally lame. Chris’s gaze went to her.

Chris exhaled, adding a bit of drama to the moment. “Della, you get to spend an hour with Jenny Yates. Our new chameleon chick.”

Della relaxed. She hadn’t really gotten a chance to talk to Jenny since the girl had donated a pint of blood along with the others to get her out of meeting Chase.

As she started over to Jenny, Derek stepped beside her. “Be nice, could you?” he muttered.

Della scowled up. Lately, the fact that everyone seemed to think she was a rude bitch bothered her.

“Damn,” Della snapped. “I guess that means I can’t suck all her blood and give her to the weres to use as a chew toy.”

Derek shook his head. “You know what I mean.”

She’d spent a good hour talking to Derek yesterday about her uncle, and her aunt. And getting pissy with him wouldn’t help her cause, but Della couldn’t help it.

“Yeah, I do know,” she said. “You think I’m such a bitch that I’d hurt her on purpose.” She left Derek and walked over to Jenny, trying not to let others’ opinions annoy her. She recalled again that old saying her mom taught her? “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”

Her mom was wrong. Words did hurt. And you couldn’t take words back.

“Did Derek rig this?” Jenny asked as Della approached her.

“Rig what?” Della asked.

“Us being together?”

“No,” Della said. “You just got unlucky.” She started walking away from the crowd, Derek’s comment still stinging.

Jenny just arched a brow and followed.

“You okay?” Jenny asked when Della didn’t speak.

“Fine. You want to just go to my cabin?” Della asked.

“Sure.” Jenny looked back at Derek. “What did he say to you?”

Della frowned. “For me to be nice.”

Jenny made a face. “I don’t get why he thinks it’s his job to take care of me.”

“He likes you,” Della said. And he thinks I’m a rude bitch.

They got to the trail, away from the crowd. The morning air felt fresh and crisp. Jenny kicked a rock and watched it bounce into the brush. “Steve likes you and I don’t see him going around making people be nice to you,” Jenny said.

“I’m not here because Derek made me.” All of a sudden, Della caught what else Jenny had said. She stopped walking. “How do you know Steve likes me?”

Jenny shrugged. “Everyone knows Steve likes you. It’s super obvious by the way he looks at you. Like everything about you is the most fascinating, amazing thing he’s ever witnessed. I’ve seen him just hear your voice across the room and he completely tunes everything else out and looks for you. It’s so sweet.”