Catty remembered Vanessa’s early-morning call. “But why did you sneak inside the apartment?” Catty asked. “Don’t you know how risky that was?”
“Just as we drove up we saw Maggie and the Regulators.” Vanessa nervously brushed her hands through her hair. “We knew if you were inside, you were going to be in big trouble.”
Catty looked at her friend with appreciation. “Let’s get out of here then. Do you think you can make me invisible?”
“I’ll do my best.”
Catty walked over to the table and picked up the manuscript. “You’ll have to make this invisible, too.” Catty held it up. “No way am I leaving it here for Maggie to give to the Regulators.”
“I can’t believe she’d actually betray us.” Vanessa said sadly. “Well, at least we know.”
Vanessa put both arms around Catty. Almost immediately the change started. Soon, Catty’s feet, legs, and arms elongated and became like clouds of coarse sand. Then she disappeared entirely. She felt Vanessa lightly guiding her, but it was more a sensation of the softest breeze. She loved the lightness of being invisible and the way she could float on the air or spin and twirl with a breeze.
They stopped at the door. Vanessa had learned how to move objects while she was invisible. The door swung open and then they flowed from the room into the corridor.
She followed Vanessa up to the ceiling, and they fluttered over the heads of Maggie and the Regulators.
Catty could feel Vanessa’s heartbeat accelerate. The Regulators seemed suddenly tense and alert as if they could hear it.
She felt the pull of gravity and then she knew what was happening. Vanessa had become too nervous again.
Catty looked in front of her. Vanessa was becoming dense.
Then she glanced down sharply. The molecules of her hand were swirling into formation. Any second she would become too heavy for Vanessa to hold and she’d fall, right on top of the Regulators.
Her molecules began to connect one by one. If the Regulators happened to look up, they’d see a hazy partially formed girl floating above them.
She felt Vanessa tug at her, and then she sensed herself tumbling, head over heels. When she was able to look up again she was at the door, her molecules re-forming rapidly.
“What’s that?” one of the Regulators asked.
“What?” Maggie’s voice seemed unperturbed. “I didn’t hear anything.”
A chair pushed back. “Yes, something at the door. I’ll see what it was.”
Then another chair scraped back. “I’ll check,” Maggie announced. “This is an apartment building after all. Noises aren’t that unusual.”
Maggie’s footsteps sounded on the floor.
Catty froze. “Do something!”
“I’m trying,” Vanessa shot back in a low voice.
“Come on,” Catty glanced down. She was no more than a cloud of dancing dust. She tried to concentrate to make herself invisible again, but it was no use. It required Vanessa’s power.
As Maggie turned the corner, Vanessa opened the door a crack and she and Catty rippled outside onto the balcony.
The door started to swing open behind them, and Catty’s heart sunk. They were completely solid now and there was nowhere to hide. They couldn’t even pretend that they had just stopped by to visit, because Catty held the manuscript in her hands.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
SUDDENLY, VANESSA grabbed Catty and plunged over the railing. Startled, Catty clutched for the iron banister. She caught a handful of ivy and fell. Just as she was about to scream, her molecules spread and melded with the air. Invisible again, she and Vanessa swirled up in a lazy curl, then drifted gently down and landed safely on the ground.
Vanessa dropped her hold and Catty’s molecules collided together in icy pain. The manuscript flapped crazily in her hands as tiny specks pulled tightly into place.
“Sorry.” Vanessa rubbed her arms.
Catty looked back up at the balcony. “Don’t ever do that again,” she said in a raspy voice.
“I had no choice,” Vanessa answered, looking somewhat pleased with her powers. “Did you want Maggie to see you?”
“What if you hadn’t made us invisible in time?” Catty pointed out. “We’d be splattered all over the patio.”
Vanessa had a smug smile on her face. “But I did make us invisible in time.” Then her smile faded. “What are we going to do about Maggie?
Catty shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Vanessa started walking. “We better tell Jimena and Serena.”
They went outside, then turned the corner. Jimena was resting on the hood of the car. Serena was pacing on the sidewalk.
“Well?” Jimena sat up.
Vanessa shook her head. “It’s not good news.”
Jimena jumped off the car. She and Serena gathered close around Vanessa and Catty, and listened as they explained what had happened inside.
“Why do you think Regulators are with Maggie?” Jimena asked. “Was she really going to give them the manuscript?”
“Yes,” Vanessa answered.
“Let’s go,” Catty interrupted. She had a chilling sense that something bad would happen if they stayed. “Let’s go someplace safer before we discuss it more.”
She closed her eyes and let a breeze curl around her. She didn’t detect any electrical charge in the air, not yet anyway.
They piled into Jimena’s car and drove away.
Twenty minutes later, they sat in Catty’s kitchen, staring down at the manuscript.
“Any ideas?” Catty asked again.
Serena shook her head. Vanessa sighed.
“I think we need to clear our minds for a while,” Jimena said suddenly. “Let’s go to Planet Bang and forget about the manuscript for now.”
“But what about Maggie?” Vanessa asked.
“It’s not like we’re coming up with any brilliant ideas here,” Serena remarked.
Catty ran her finger along the edge of the Scroll. “How can I follow the Path of the manuscript, when I can’t even read it?”
“Maybe that’s what Maggie was supposed to do,” Jimena pointed out. “Maybe she was supposed to translate it for you.”
“But look at what she did.” Vanessa complained.
Catty studied the curling letters. “The answers are all here. All we have to do is find another person to translate it.”
“What about Kendra?” Vanessa asked.
Catty felt uneasy. “Do you think it’s safe? What about the curse?”
“You don’t really believe in the curse, do you?” Jimena asked.
“It’s just superstition,” Serena put in.
“You’re probably right,” Catty agreed. “I’ll leave it here for Kendra.”
“Let’s dress up and make it over to Planet Bang.” Jimena urged as if she were trying to lift everyone’s spirits.
Vanessa hesitated. “I don’t know. Toby might—”
“Toby might what?” Serena interrupted with a teasing voice.
Vanessa shrugged.
Catty glanced at Vanessa. Why was she acting so serious? Was she that concerned about upsetting Toby?
Vanessa smiled. “You’re right. Let’s go!”
Then they all stared at Catty.
“What?” she asked.
“Can we raid Kendra’s closet?” Jimena asked.
Catty looked at her friends. Kendra had saved everything from her hippie and disco days. The closets in the spare bedroom were full of her old clothes. She never seemed to mind when Catty and Vanessa borrowed her things. Her clothes fit them nicely. Even though she was tall, she had been extremely thin when she was young, and they could wear most everything in the closet.
“Why not?” Catty laughed.
When they finished dressing, Jimena wore racy red hot pants, a silky blouse with a star-burst pattern, and crazy ankle boots with thin chains draped around her ankles.
“Too cool.” Serena admired Jimena’s outfit, then she twirled to sh
ow off her own shoulder-baring top that exposed her midriff. She had pasted a crystal in her belly button. Kendra’s bell-bottoms had been too long, but when she stepped into a pair of gold ’70s platform shoes the length became just right.
Catty wore a backless halter top and a pair of lacy bell-bottoms. She held up some stencils. “Kendra is going to start selling these at the shop. Anyone want to try one?” She had two dragons in one hand and a lacy snowflake pattern in the other.
Jimena and Serena started to examine them, when Vanessa walked into the room. She was wearing a pinstripe shirt unbuttoned over a black leather bra top. Kendra’s mini-skirt was too big and the waist fell around Vanessa’s hips. Her skin looked golden bronze and she had applied one of the snowflake stencils on her stomach.
“Wow,” Serena said.
“Talk about going for the jugular,” Jimena teased.
“You like it?” she asked and took off the shirt. “It’s too hot to wear.” She hung it back on a hanger.
“Let’s go, then.” Jimena started for the door.
The strobe light flashed and blue lasers swept over the girls as they entered Planet Bang. The club was crowded already. The DJ turned the music and a loud beat vibrated through the haze.
A hand touched Catty’s back. She turned quickly. Chris stood behind her. He smiled at her and she liked the feel of his hand on her bare back.
“Let’s dance,” he whispered.
She nodded.
He took her hand, but instead of taking her out to the dance floor he pulled her back to the shadows.
Catty stopped. “Why do you want to dance over here?”
He leaned next to her. “I don’t want to share you with anyone.”
She smiled back at him and followed him into a far corner. Both his hands held her waist, and a pleasant warmth ran through her body. He danced slow against her and stared down at her, his eyes lingering on her lips. She parted her mouth slightly and waited.
“You look so beautiful, Catty.” His eyes did not leave hers. “I wish we could be together always.”
His fingers wandered up her back and rested on her shoulders, then he cupped her face in his hands and bent down. He gave her a light kiss and murmured against her, “I like you a lot, Catty. Always believe that, even if I act strangely. It doesn’t have anything to do with the way I feel about you. That’s real. I just have a lot going on right now that I can’t talk about.”
He pulled away and she stared back at him, feeling suddenly guilty. So many kids had bad things going on in their lives. She wondered if his parents were going through a divorce or having money problems.
“I’m here for you if you want to talk,” she offered. “Anytime. Just call me or come over.”
“Thanks.” His hands brushed down her arms and he pulled her tight against him.
She closed her eyes and let her arms slowly wrap around his neck. She had never imagined that it could feel this good to dance with a guy. Her lips moved across his cheek, searching for his. She needed a kiss. Then his lips found hers and softly traced the outline of her mouth. His kiss tasted even sweeter than she remembered and the feel of his hands on her back made her light-headed and breathless.
They stood motionless in the shadows, and then she felt him pull back. She didn’t want him to stop.
“Promise you’ll trust me,” he whispered. “Promise, no matter what happens.”
She nodded. How could she not trust him? And yet the way he was asking made her think that something really bad had happened to him or his family. And then she realized with a shock that she had never heard him mention his parents or any brothers or sisters.
“Maybe we should go someplace and talk,” she suggested.
She felt him shake his head, then he leaned in to kiss her again when a commotion made them turn.
Michael was dancing with Vanessa, and Toby was picking a fight with him.
“What’s he doing now?” Catty asked and started to run over to find out what was going on.
Chris grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Who’s the guy with Michael?”
Chris’s eyes held hers and he pointed behind her. “That guy. He doesn’t go to our school. Who is he?”
“You’re right,” Catty answered and wondered why Chris would care. “That’s Toby. He goes to Fairfax High, I think. I’m not really sure. He’s some guy that Vanessa met in dance class.”
She thought he would let her go now, but he didn’t. His hand squeezed tighter and he stared at Toby as if he sensed something.
“I have to help Vanessa.” Catty started to pull away. “Come on, Toby is just a hundred percent creep.”
She ran out to the dance floor, expecting Chris to follow her. She pushed through the ring of kids who had circled Toby, Michael, and Vanessa. She reached a hand back for Chris, but he wasn’t there. She didn’t see him anywhere. Where had he gone? She didn’t have time to look for him now.
Toby glared at Michael.
“Toby?” Vanessa grabbed his arm as he started to lunge forward. “Stop. You want to get us kicked out?”
Toby laughed and the sound made Catty’s scalp tingle.
Suddenly he charged forward and swung at Michael. Michael ducked, and Toby lost his balance.
Kids laughed at his clumsiness. Toby looked enraged.
Michael put both hands up and shook his head. “Vanessa and I are just friends, okay? I only asked a friend to dance.”
Toby answered with a shove at Michael’s chest. Michael took two quick steps backward to regain his balance, then shrugged and smiled crookedly. Catty could tell he was starting to become angry and that was dangerous.
“Sorry,” Michael said sarcastically. “I didn’t know you were so insecure about Vanessa. I thought things were solid between the two of you.”
Toby started to swing, but Jimena suddenly appeared from the crowd and grabbed his wrist. He turned, ready to fight. But she tilted her head in a flirty way and smiled up at him as only Jimena could do.
“Stop making an ass of yourself,” she whispered in a coy voice. “He just danced with her. You want to get a reputation for being weak?”
Toby glanced at Michael, then back at Jimena.
She leaned in close to him, a hand on her hip. “Yeah, if you believe your girl is yours, then there’s no way some vato is going to steal her love with a dance. No seas un payaso.”
Toby seemed to understand everything she was saying. He considered Jimena, then glanced at Vanessa. Abruptly he took Vanessa’s hand, smiled, and pulled her tightly against his chest. She gazed up in his eyes, and they started dancing as if nothing had happened.
Catty stared in amazement. “Can’t she see how gross he is?”
“Love is blind,” Michael said grimly.
Serena shook her head. “Are you okay, Michael?”
He looked at her. “I’m fine. I never would have asked Vanessa to dance if I’d known Toby would freak out.”
Jimena shook her head. “Why did he get so mad?”
“Because,” Catty explained, “Vanessa still likes Michael and he knows it.”
Michael tossed his head and shook the wild black curls away from his face. “You couldn’t tell by the way she’s acting.” He had a wounded look on his face.
“I know she does,” Catty assured him.
He shrugged and grabbed Serena’s hand as the beat of the music changed. A spark flew between them. Michael looked surprised, then smiled at Serena. “Let’s dance.” They walked out to the dance floor. Jimena began dancing with them.
Catty watched for a moment, then looked around the room, wondering where Chris had gone. She sighed heavily. She didn’t see him anywhere and she didn’t want to stay alone. She walked outside, hoping she might find him there. A long line of kids was still waiting to go inside.
The moon was high in the night sky, and she decided against taking the bus. She turned down a side street and started the long walk home.
A breeze soughed through the palm trees
overhead. The night air felt cool against her face. She thought of Chris and wondered what had happened to him. She wished he would talk to her. Problems were always easier to bear when they were shared.
On the opposite side of the street, the trees blocked the light, making the shadows dense and thick. As she stepped onto the sidewalk, she heard something that made her stop and turn. It sounded like a footstep.
Her body felt suddenly tense and watchful. She looked behind her. The road was empty. Maybe it had only been someone walking around their house, taking out the trash or fixing a water sprinkler. She shrugged and began walking again, but now an odd sensation overcame her. Someone was following her.
She slowed her steps and wondered if it could be the guy who had given her the manuscript.
“Hello,” she called and turned slowly, watching for any movement in the shadows around her.
Silence answered her.
She waited, hoping that if it were the mystery man he would step forward and show himself. She wanted to meet him, to see his face, and ask him about the manuscript.
“I know you’re there,” she spoke softly. “I can feel your presence.”
Again silence answered her.
Finally she started walking, her shoes tapping nicely on the cement walk.
When she got to her house, she unlocked the door and entered, then without turning on the lights, she tiptoed to the picture window in the front room and looked out, searching for whoever had followed her home. Disappointed, she turned and walked through the dark house to the kitchen. She was about to switch on the light, when she sensed someone in the room with her.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
KENDRA SAT AT THE kitchen table, holding the manuscript. She stared silently at Catty with the wide-eyed look of an insomniac. Her hair was wet and matted against her skull as if she were burning with a high fever. Beads of sweat clung to her upper lip.
The manuscript fluttered in her hands. Kendra was shaking too violently to hold it steady.
“You,” Kendra whispered.
“Are you all right?” Catty asked, taking a step forward. Kendra looked seriously ill.
Kendra stood abruptly. Her chair fell back and crashed to the floor. She stepped around it and eased to the back of the kitchen. Her eyes never left Catty.