True Colors (The Masks #1)(14)

I smiled at Libby, hoping to ease her nerves a little. I could practically hear her begging us to like her as she chatted about the sun and how nice it was that the weather was warming up. Indie kept the conversation going a little, but it was so forced. It was like she was doing it under duress.

“I love that summer is coming. Sand, surf, and bikinis. Yay.” She giggled.

Stella’s nose wrinkled and I could tell she was picturing Libby in a bikini.

I winced. Did she have to be so openly repulsed by it?

I felt guilty just being near her radiating animosity.

“You okay, Caitlyn? You look kind of pale.” Libby’s gentle, brown eyes were filled with concern as they landed on me. Genuine concern.

It threw me a little.

Shaking my head, I mumbled. “Just a headache.”

“Still?” Stella looked at me. “You’ve had it all weekend. What’s wrong with you?”

“Wow, all weekend?” Libby’s brow creased with compassion. “Maybe you should go to the doctor. When did the headache start?”

“She’s fine, Nurse Libby. Thank you.” Stella flicked her hand, raising her shades to get a better look at me. I could see that she didn’t like someone else fussing over her best friend. Was that insecurity I glimpsed? That didn’t seem right. Stella was the most confident person I knew.

Glancing back at Libby, I saw her face crest with disappointment over Stella’s sharp words. She looked about ready to cry, but there was a smile on her face. It took me a second, but I told my brain to see past the smile and I spotted it again. The watery grin, the wobbling lips. The effort to keep herself in control so we didn’t know how desperately she needed us to accept her.

“Well, see you around then.” She waved, looking dejected as she slumped away.

“Stella,” I whispered. “That was a bit harsh, don’t you think?”

“What?” Stella looked confused.

“Libby. Look how rejected she feels.” I pointed after her.

“What are you talking about? She’s smiling.”

Glancing back, I noticed Libby was, in fact, smiling and waving at people as she passed. She looked like a happy, carefree girl who was friends with everyone. I frowned and rubbed my temples, feeling stupid for even saying anything.

“Seriously, Caitlyn, you have been acting so weird this weekend. What is wrong with you?”

“I don’t know.” I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Ever since Friday night at the club.” Stella shook her. “Did aliens snatch you and mess with your brain or something?”

I froze. “What did you say?”

Stella frowned. “It was only a joke, Caity. Chill out.”

Chill out? I couldn’t! My heart was racing too fast. My mind was ready to explode. Friday night. That man...on the street...the electric shock.

No freaking way. Did he do something to me? Was that more than just a shock?

I had to know.

Grabbing my bag, I flicked it onto my shoulder.

“Caitlyn, what the hell are you doing?”

“I gotta go.” I pulled on my shoes and dug my keys out of my pocket.

“Where?” Stella looked seriously irritated.

“I’m sorry. I just...I have to go. I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Caitlyn! Caity!”

I ignored her calls and kept my head down as I walked up the sandy path. I was on a mission and for once I wasn’t going to let Stella’s anger stop me.





Chapter 7




I put my foot to the floor and cruised along Pacific Coast Highway, up the California incline to Ocean Avenue and steadily made my way back to Sunset Boulevard and Skybar at the Mondrian Hotel. Coming from the beach wasn’t the most convenient drive, but I needed to get back to the club. Although I found my way easily, I still had to park down the block. Clutching my bag to my shoulder, I walked back down the street, keeping my eyes to the ground. My emotions were zinging like bullets inside of me. I couldn’t pinpoint which one to focus on. Everything from fear to outright rage was turning my brain into spaghetti.

The man wasn’t in the spot from Friday night. Stamping my foot, I swore loudly, scaring off a woman walking past me. I ignored her. Part of me wanted to head back to my car and forget this whole thing. It was ridiculous. I was out on the street looking for some homeless guy, because I thought he cursed me with the ability to see everyone’s true emotions.

Yes, that’s what it was.

I was seeing who people truly were. The facades everyone normally hid behind weren't there for me anymore. It's like they were laid bare, for my eyes alone.

It felt good to define it.

But that didn’t change the fact that I didn’t want this. I didn’t want to see what people were feeling. It was fully messing with my head and there was no way I could continue life this way.

Shoving my hands into my pockets, I looked up the street and then down, trying to decide which way to go. How long did I look for this guy? What if he’d moved on?

I wasn’t overly keen on searching through alley after alley of homeless people. Not to sound overly judgemental, but it scared me a little. What if something bad happened to me?

Something worse than what has already occurred? I rolled my eyes.

The mental argument raged within me as I kept walking. The least I could do was check the full length of the street. If I didn’t find him after that, I’d head back home and I don’t know...start seeking out a psychiatrist or something.