Alarm whispered through Thea. She didn't want to think about what had happened in the desert.
"Yes, okay, I know," she said. He was watching her so intently, his eyes such a deep green. "Well- you see, the reason I wanted to talk to you was... you know, there's the Homecoming dance this Saturday. So I thought we could maybe go together."
She remembered at the last instant that in human society boys frequently asked girls to dances. Maybe she'd been too direct.
But he looked-well, extremely pleased. "You're kidding! You're serious? You'd go with me?"
Thea just nodded.
"But that's terrific. I mean-thanks." He was as excited as a kid at Beltane. Then his face clouded over.
"I forgot, though. I promised Dr. Salinger-that's my boss at the pet hospital-that I'd spend the night there Saturday. Midnight to eight a.m. Somebody needs to watch the animals that stay overnight, and Dr. Salinger's going to a conference out of town."
"It doesn't matter," Thea said. "We'll just go to the dance before midnight." She was relieved. It meant less time play-acting in front of Blaise.
"It's a date, then." He still looked so happy. "And, Thea?" He said the name shyly, as if almost afraid to use it. "Maybe-maybe we could do something else sometime. I mean, we could go out, or you could come over to my house...."
"Uh..." The yemonja smell was really making her dizzy. "Uh... well, this week-I'm trying to get adjusted to the new school and all. But maybe later."
"Okay. Later." His smile was unexpected, astonishing. It transformed his face, turning the sweet, serious shyness into charismatic radiance. "If there's any way I can help, just ask."
Why, he's handsome, Thea thought. She felt a sort of tug at her insides, like a bird being charmed out of a tree. She hadn't realized how attractive he was, or how the gray flecks in his eyes seemed to catch sunlight....
Stop that! she told herself abruptly. This is business, and he's vermin. She felt a flush of shame at using the word, even in thought. But she had to do something. Without meaning to, she'd moved closer to him, so she was looking up into his face. Now they were only inches apart and she was feeling distinctly giddy.
"I have to go-wow. I'll see you later," she murmured, and made herself back up. "Later," he said. He was still glowing. Thea fled.
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, she tried to ignore him. Avoided him in the halls, acting as busy as possible. He seemed to understand, and didn't chase her down. She just wished he wouldn't look so dreamy and happy all the time.
And then there was Blaise. Blaise already had a couple of husky football players who followed her everywhere, Buck and Duane-but neither of them was invited to the dance. Blaise had a unique method of choosing a partner. She told them all to go away.
"You don't want me," she said to a gorgeous Asian-American guy with one earring.
It was lunch break on Thursday, and the witches had a whole table to themselves: Vivienne and Selene with Blaise on one side; Dani with Thea on the other. The gorgeous guy had one knee on a chair and was looking very nervous.
"You can't afford me, Kevin. I'll ruin you. Better get out of here," Blaise said, all the while looking up with sleeping fire in her gray eyes.
Kevin shifted. "But I'm rich." He said it simply, without affectation.
"I'm not talking about money," Blaise said. She gave a deprecating smile. "And anyway, I don't think you're really interested."
"Are you kidding? I'm crazy about you. Every time I see you... I don't know; it just makes me crazy."
He glanced at the other girls and Thea knew he was uncomfortable at having an audience. But not uncomfortable enough to stop talking. "I'd do anything for you."
"No, I don't think so." Blaise was toying with a ring on her left index finger.
"What's that?" Vivienne interjected nonchalantly.
"Hm? Oh, just a little diamond," Blaise said. She held out her hand and light scintillated. "Stuart Mac-Ready gave it to me this morning."
Kevin shifted again. "I can buy you dozens of rings."
Thea felt sorry for him. He seemed like an okay guy, and she'd heard him talk about wanting to be a musician. But she knew from long experience that it wouldn't do any good to tell him to get out of here. It would only make him more stubborn.
"But I wouldn't want a ring from you," Blaise was saying in a soft, chiding voice. "Stuart gave this to me because it was the only memento he had of his mom. It meant everything to him-so he wanted me to have it."
"I'd do the same thing," Kevin said.
Blaise just shook her head. "I don't think so."
"Yes, I would."
"No. The thing that means the most to you is your car, and you'd never give that up."
Thea had seen the car. It was a silver-gray Porsche. Kevin lovingly touched it up with a chamois in the school parking lot every morning.
Now Kevin looked confused. "But-that car's not really mine. It belongs to my parents. They just let me use it."
Blaise nodded understanding. "You see? I told you that you wouldn't. Now, why don't you go away like a good boy?"
Kevin seemed to collapse internally. He stared at Blaise pleadingly, not making a move to go away. At last, Blaise tilted her head at the football flunkies.
"C'mon, man," one flunky-Thea thought it was Duane-said. They took Kevin by the shoulders and propelled him away. Kevin kept looking back.
Blaise dusted her fingers off briskly.
Selene pushed back pale hair and drawled, "Think he'll cough up the car?"