Where Silence Gathers Read Free Page B

before.”
    There’s a thud . “You may not see it, but Alex is exactly like William. I won’t let her go down the same path he did.”
    My aunt takes her time in answering. She must be frying something, because there’s the distinct smell of grease in the air and the sound of sizzling. “She might be like Will in some ways, but she does have her mother’s qualities too, Saul.”
    â€œMaybe.” He sighs. That single release of air contains the weight of all our sorrow. “But if we come down hard on her now, maybe she’ll think twice next time she wants to steal our rum and come home drunk.”
    â€œWhen you put it like that … ”
    I don’t want to hear any more. Pretending to yawn, I shuffle into the room. Both of them instantly stop talking. Missy stands at the stove, attempting to make scrambled eggs from the looks of it. She can’t cook anything without burning it—she always gets distracted by other tasks or her own thoughts—but that doesn’t stop her from trying.
    â€œWant some?” she asks, glancing briefly in my direction. She must have been warned about the eyebrow ring, because she doesn’t look surprised.
    Saul is at the table again, this time with a paper and a cup of coffee. Steam rises from the black surface. He doesn’t look any less severe than he did last night. I smile at my aunt and shake my head, going to sit down across from him. He doesn’t look up, and my keys glint in front of my seat, along with a wrapped gift.
    â€œIt’s cold today” is all Saul says. Meaning, I have permission to drive. The present gleams and beckons, and I know they expect me to open it, but I can’t bring myself to touch it.
    Not when I don’t deserve to.
    Another apology sticks in my throat, but Revenge decides to show up just as I’m about to speak. The sight of him makes my mouth go dry. He’s chosen to dress in modern clothes again—today it’s a brown leather jacket, form-fitting jeans, his typical glinting hair, and that cocky grin—yet I can’t control the way my entire body ignites.
    Another Emotion comes up behind my chair and leans down, putting hands on my shoulders and a mouth by my ear to whisper, “You don’t know what you’re getting into, girl.” I don’t turn around or acknowledge the words, but her scent overwhelms me.
    Oblivious, or maybe choosing to ignore her too, my friend settles into one of the other chairs. It doesn’t creak or even move. “Better eat something,” he drawls. “You’ve got a test in American Lit, right?”
    I freeze, forgetting to be disappointed that he doesn’t seem as affected by my presence as I am by his. “Shit.”
    Saul and Missy stare at me now. Recovering, I clear my throat. “Uh, sorry. I just meant … I just realized that I have to be at school early today. I’ll see you guys tonight, okay? I’ll open your gift then.” Standing, I scrape my hair into a ponytail and use the hair binder around my wrist to secure it. The gathered strands brush my lower back.
    A line deepens between Saul’s eyes as he begins to stand, too. Worry twitches into reality behind him, a frizzy-haired Emotion who avoids eye contact. “Alex—” my uncle begins.
    But I’m quicker. I snatch a piece of toast from the plate on the counter, grab my keys, and dart back down the hallway. Missy says something I don’t catch. My teeth sink into the burnt bread as I yank my boots on—no socks—and I’m out the door before my left heel slides into it completely. The keys jangle in my hand, and once I’ve hurried down the stairs and reached the car I spare a moment to look up and wave at Angus, who’s watching me from their front window.
    Revenge materializes in his spot in the passenger seat. “Smooth,” he says, eyes light with amusement.
    I roll my own eyes in