A Different Blue(33)

venom that I fell back a few steps.

“Does Mason know you're here, Brandon?” I said flatly.

“Mason says you and he have an arrangement, not a relationship, so I doubt he'd care.” Brandon

smiled at me like it was my lucky day. Gracie glowered at me like I had stolen her soulmate.

Time to send everyone home.

“Really, Brandon?” I cooed. “I don't remember you being part of that arrangement, so I think

I'll pass on that ride. And look at the time! Darn it, my aunt is gonna be home soon.” It was a

lie, but Brandon wouldn't know that.

“You guys better head out.” I opened the door and looked at them, one eyebrow raised

expectantly. Matt and Cory stood obediently, but Brandon looked a little peeved. He was slower

to rise, and I thought for a minute I might have trouble on my hands.

“I'll walk you out, Brandon,” Graciela purred and rose to her feet beside him. Manny's

brotherly instincts finally kicked in, and he stood abruptly and grabbed Graciela by the hand.

“Come on, Gracie. We need to go, too.” Gracie yanked her hand away, and Manny's eyes flashed.

He spit something out in fiery Spanish and Gracie snarled back at him like a cornered cat, but

she let him pull her from the apartment.

“I'll text you, okay, Brandon?” Gracie flung the words over her shoulder, and Brandon's

friends snickered as Manny launched into another tirade that faded away with their footsteps.

Brandon and his friends followed them out, and I breathed a small sigh of relief.

Brandon said something under his breath, and the snickers became snorts and sly suggestions.

They jostled each other as they headed down the sidewalk leading away from my apartment.

“Hey, Brandon,” I called after them. “Stay away from Gracie, please.”

“Gracie isn't the one I'm interested in, Blue,” Brandon called back. “You let me know when

you're ready to take that ride, all right?”

I shut the door in response.





“Joan of Arc was born in 1412 in a little village in eastern France. Her family was poor, and

they lived in a region that had been ravaged by conflict. Three years after Joan's birth,

England's King Henry the fifth invaded France and defeated the French at Agincourt, leaving the

country very divided.” Wilson's hands were shoved into his pockets, his eyes serious as he

gazed at his class.

[page]“In surviving documents, Joan has been described as resembling a mere 'shepherd girl.'

But to me she is one of the most fascinating people in history. At thirteen she began having

visions of a religious or spiritual nature. She described them as admonitions to be good or

pious, to go to church. Very simple, as far as visions go.” Wilson smiled, a quick flash of

straight white teeth, a concession to the fact that visions weren't commonplace or simple at

all. “It wasn't until she was closer to sixteen years old when the visions changed. She started

getting specific instructions to 'go to France.' She obeyed.

“Joan of Arc was sixteen years when she petitioned Charles de Ponthieu, beliguered heir to the

throne, and told him she had been sent by God to help him. Can you imagine a girl of our day

going to the President of the United States and telling him she was sent by God to assist him? I

submit that it wasn't any less dramatic for young Joan to petition a king. The fact that she was