Chapter 10 #2
During the last chunk of English, the class was given free rein to partner up and study for tomorrow’s test. Chairs screeched and chatter filled the air as Gabriel got up to drag his seat to Miles’s desk.
A cluster of girls gave him hopeful looks until he smoothly sidestepped them.
Their deflation was simultaneous and immediate.
“Did you hear back from Nadia?” Gabriel questioned. He had to scoot in close to avoid blocking the aisle, twisting in his chair so their knees didn’t touch. Miles was starting to feel like he had the plague.
“Uh…” Miles fumbled getting his phone out of his pocket. “Yeah. A few minutes ago.”
this is the wildest summoning spell ive seen its badass
i should have most of this stuff let me check my stock
“They’re going to see what they’ve got. Fair warning, if they charge us, I’m making you cover it. I’m officially out of cash.”
“I’ll settle it.” Gabriel was unconcerned in that unfair way rich people always were.
Miles sent back a quick message.
Thanks… you’re a lifesaver
ive got everything except fresh queen of
poisons but that should be easy enough for
you to get
youll have to come to me though im running
the shop all day
“Do you know what queen of poisons is?”
Gabriel pulled out his own phone. “It’s either a murder mystery,” he shared a moment later, scrolling through Google, “a lipstick, or another name for wolfsbane.”
“Gotta be the lipstick,” Miles joked. His mom had a small fenced-off garden in the backyard where she grew her more dangerous herbs and plants—he was pretty sure wolfsbane was one of them, a few purple blooms still lingering from summer.
Before answering Nadia, Miles fired a text to Charlee. He’d sent her one earlier laying out the plan and—he wasn’t sure if he was relieved or disappointed—she’d agreed it was worth a shot.
How do you feel about driving to seattle for summoning supplies… nadia has them ready to go so you’d be in and out. Unless you want
to stay for a bit
He flipped absentmindedly through his textbook while he waited, mostly to keep his hands busy. Gabriel didn’t bother, fixating on the posters tacked up along the back wall. Neither of them spoke.
When Charlee finally responded, Miles could feel the prickle of defensiveness in her words.
What’s that supposed to mean?
Nothing… just saying. Can I tell them you’ll
stop by
She deserved a little ribbing after all the shit she’d given him—and continued to give him—about Gabriel.
“What did they say?” Gabriel asked, leaning in to see the screen.
Fine. I’ll leave in a minute. And I’m not staying
“It’s Charlee.” Miles sent her back an obnoxious flood of heart emojis. “Nadia has everything we need, so she’s going to run over to the shop. As long as I can get the wolfsbane, we’re good to go.”
“Tonight?”
He bit back a groan. These late nights were going to start catching up with him in an ugly way. Uglier than the dark bags under his eyes and perpetual sleepy yawns. “I guess we’ll have to. Another midnight adventure at the cemetery… awesome.”
“As long as no ghosts try to kill us, it’ll be an improvement on the last one.”
“Did you just ‘look on the bright side’ me? Who are you and what have you done with Gabriel?”
Gabriel wasn’t amused, scoffing under his breath. “Nothing will go wrong.”
“Right, because the monster in that tunnel was a figment of my imagination.”
“I’m certain that was an unfortunate one-time anomaly.”
“I’ll remember you said that when another one shows up and tries to eat us.
” Miles hesitated, choosing his next words carefully.
“You know… there’s no pressure to do this, right?
If you’re second-guessing or worried about using the grimoire?
We can just keep searching for the curse and go from there. ”
“Why would there be pressure?” Gabriel asked bluntly.
“I…” This wasn’t the time or place to bring up his guilt, reassure him he’s not responsible for saving Miles’s life. “I just want to make sure you know we can call it quits anytime. And that we have other options.”
Gabriel twisted the button of his cuff. “I’m aware, and I have no intentions of throwing away our best chance.”
Miles swapped back to Nadia, letting them know Charlee would be on her way.
perfect
help me woo your cousin and ill let you keep the compass heart
I don’t want it… I literally can’t wait to give it
back to you
fine
help me woo your cousin because youre a
romantic at heart
we might be soulmates you dont know
“Nadia’s seriously got a thing for Charlee,” he told Gabriel, relieved to be talking about someone else’s love life. “Think I should warn them that they’re playing with fire?”
Gabriel’s nose wrinkled. “They already met her. They know what they’re getting into. At this point, they deserve to get burned.”
“You’re just bitter they kicked you out.”
His answering silence said it all.
Charlee isn’t really the type to get wooed
give me something to work with
pretty please
with a hefty discount for your supplies on top
Damn it. Miles was a sucker for a deal and, if he was being honest, he was a romantic at heart. Charlee never had to know.
She has a mega sweet tooth… the way to her
heart is through sugar. But that’s all I’m telling
you
youre a real one
good luck with whatever nasty magic youre
working tonight
The end-of-period bell rang overhead.
“Don’t forget to finish Lord of the Flies by tomorrow,” Mr. Keller called as everyone went back to their desks and packed up. “We’re starting Shakespeare next, so get ready for group reading.”
The class collectively groaned. Beside Miles, Gabriel stiffened.
“Shakespeare doesn’t have to mean Romeo and Juliet,” Miles pointed out swiftly.
Gabriel’s words from before he’d disappeared echoed in his head—it’s been a comfort to know that my time wasn’t up yet.
That I still had at least one more day because you hadn’t made a terrible joke about Shakespeare—and nausea took over.
Gabriel snatched up his binder. “Of course it does.”
Miles packed more slowly. “Really, it doesn’t mean anything. We know the future has at least a few potential paths. We shouldn’t treat any of them like solid fact. And it’s not like the second after I make that joke, we’ll be teleported into the tomb to die. We’ve still got time.”
He was trying to be optimistic, but it did feel a bit like the finish line had suddenly sprung up right in front of him. And it led right off the edge of a cliff.
“Who knows,” he continued, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “Maybe your vision takes place after we both survive.”
Gabriel gave him an incredulous look.
Yeah. Miles didn’t believe it either.
“Mr. Warren!” Mr. Keller called from his desk, a wooden monstrosity tucked into the back corner of the room. “Stay behind for a minute.”
Nerves clenched Miles’s lungs. Had they been overheard? Or—more likely and potentially more terribly—did he want to chew Miles out for all his recent missing assignments?
“Go ahead,” Miles mumbled to Gabriel. “I’ll see you in Pre-Calc.”
Mr. Keller settled back in his chair, fingers steepled over his thick middle.
Miles liked him, liked the way he didn’t talk to his students like they were stupid kids, which was going to make his disapproval that much worse.
He was a cool teacher, but Miles doubted he’d accept ghosts and death premonitions as an excuse for not doing homework.
“This’ll just take a minute,” Mr. Keller declared once the rest of the students had left. “I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that your grades have been dropping.”
Miles winced. “I know, I’m sorry. I’ve had… family stuff going on lately. I guess I’m not managing my time very well, but I’ll try to do better.”
Mr. Keller considered him for a long moment.
“You’re a good student, and from how strong you started this year, I know you care about your grade.
You show up, you pay attention, and that’s more important to me than finished homework.
” He sighed, leather chair creaking as he leaned forward.
“But I can’t make an exception and let you turn in your assignments late.
It’s not fair to my other students. If you want to get your grade back up, you’ll have to work for it. ”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I’m just having a hard time keeping up. I’m hoping once everything calms down, I can get back on track.”
“I get it,” Mr. Keller said kindly. He lifted his glasses up to rest in his salt and pepper hair, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
“I see it every day with my team—most of them struggle to keep their grades up when they’re practicing after school every day of the week.
” He coached the football team, a choice Miles had always thought was out of character for an unflappable English teacher.
“What I can offer right now, to help give your grade a boost until life simmers down, is an extra credit opportunity.”
That would be great—if Miles had any free time. Or the mental energy. It was impossible to focus on analyzing the themes of class warfare in Animal Farm while worrying about not getting murdered.
“What’s the extra credit?” he hedged, hoping he didn’t sound ungrateful.
“The homecoming committee needs some serious help for Spirit Week. They’ve tried hitting up my team for volunteers, but we’re too busy with the game.
If you want to stay after school and help out, I’ll count it as extra credit.
It won’t be a lot, but it’ll keep your grade from sinking any lower for the next week or two. ”
It was generous of him, which made Miles feel worse that he was going to have to say no. He was too swamped already, trying to create excuses to get out of the house for grimoire reading with Gabriel that his mom would buy—
Hang on.
This might work. He needed a believable reason, one that wouldn’t make his mom suspicious. What was more legit than a school assignment?
“I’d love to help.” Miles aimed for enthusiastic despite cringing at the thought of glittery banners and balloon arches. “Thank you, I appreciate it. Can I give you my mom’s email so you can let her know? She’s a bit paranoid about me getting home right after school. Stranger danger and all that.”
He must’ve sold it, because Mr. Keller handed him a pad of paper and pen to jot down his mom’s email.
“I’ll let the homecoming committee know to expect you after school tomorrow,” he told Miles once he was done. “Show up and help out. I won’t monitor you, we’ll keep this to the honor system, okay?”
“Okay. Thanks again.”
Gabriel was waiting for him out in the hall, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Everyone gave him a wide berth, skirting around him like he was protected by an invisible bubble.
“You didn’t have to wait.”
“I’m aware.” Gabriel lifted his chin towards the classroom door swinging closed behind Miles. “Is there a problem?”
“Nah. A solution, actually.” They fell into step together, heading towards Pre-Calc. “But I don’t think you’ll like it.”