A Tale of Two Proms (Bard Academy) (20 page)

I couldn’t say it was my best look, but whatever. I had a job to do. I glanced frantically around the pool looking for Samir. I caught a glimpse of his profile near the door leading into the house.

 “Samir!” I shouted, as I trotted that way while maneuvering around a man in a tuxedo dancing with two ladies by the pool. The way they were waving their arms, I figured it must have been some precursor to the chicken dance.

Once inside, I spotted Samir walking just ahead of me. I reached out and grabbed his shoulder. He turned, and I saw that his hair was parted down the middle and slicked back. He also was wearing a white tuxedo jacket with a white linen scarf draped around his neck.

“Miranda! So good of you to come to my party,” he said, just as a bubbly group of flappers squealed and raised their glasses to him in toast.

“Here’s to Gatsby!” they cried.

Samir raised his champagne glass and smiled at the girls. “I have no idea who they are,” he confided to me. “Or actually, who anybody else is at this party.”

“Come on, we need to go,” I said, grabbing his elbow.

“Go? Are you insane? This is
my
party. And did you see this house? I’m riiiiich biotch! And I mean, come on, I’m wearing a tux. I look like James Bond.”

He looked less like James Bond and more like a very young Hugh Hefner. All he needed was a ship captain’s hat.

“You look ridiculous.”

“I believe the word you’re looking for is ‘distinguished.’”

I took in his too skinny neck in the big white scarf and the tuxedo jacket that looked one size too big. “No, ridiculous. That’s definitely what I meant.” 

“How about ‘independently wealthy’ then?” Samir asked me. “You see that house? This pool? Cost a fortune. And there are other perks. Do you see that girl over there? The redhead?”

I glanced over and a woman with long red hair and a sparkling green dress waved at Samir.

“She promised to do things to me that I cannot repeat to you. You hear what I’m saying?”

“Samir, this isn’t real. You’re stuck in
The Great Gatsby
.”

“Yeah, but it’s pretty cool. I mean, for once in my life I’m
not
a bit character; I’m not in a supporting role. I’m the
lead
. You have no idea how cool that is.”

“Samir, this book isn’t for you. And Blade and Hana are missing, and the whole school and we need to find out what happened….”

“Blade’s not missing.” Samir snapped his fingers, and a butler emerged out of nowhere. He was tall and bald and wearing a tuxedo and tails. “Fetch Daisy for me, my good man.” The butler gave a stout nod. In just a few seconds, the butler had weaved his way through the party and found a young, blond girl with delicate feet and hands. When she turned around, I swear to you, I did not recognize her at all. It was Blade’s face, but without any of the piercings or henna tattoos or blue or purple hair. Blade’s hair was long and soft and blond. I hadn’t realized it before, but Blade was actually…pretty. With a shock, I realized she was wearing the yellow silk dress she’d tried on at the dorm before I left. She was wearing her prom dress.

When Blade saw me she ran over and wrapped me up in a hug – also strangely not Blade like. “Oh, thank Mother Earth,” Blade said. The “Mother Earth” reference, however, was definitely old school Blade. “You have no idea how horrible it is here. Nobody has ever even heard of combat boots. Or tattoos. They don’t even have indie rock here. They just have
jazz
.” Blade grabbed me by the front of my dress and shook me. “Jazz! Do you hear what I’m saying? It’s like I’m stuck for eternity in a dentist’s office!”

Yep, she might not look like herself, but this was definitely Blade.

“It’s not that bad,” Samir said. “I get to wear a tux all the time.”

“You look ridiculous,” Blade said.

“That’s what I said.” I had to agree.

“And look at me!” Blade held up her dress.

“You look nice,” I said.

“I look like my mother,” Blade said, and sighed.

“Well, let’s go back to Bard then.” Even as the last words were out of my mouth, a small portal opened near the swimming pool. It was a bright golden light, a slit that was getting ever bigger. On the other side, I saw the dark woods, and the cabin and Lindsay reading from the book. For once, she’d actually done what I told her. I guess there was a first time for everything. “Come on, we need to go.”

“Yes!” Blade pumped a fist in the air. “I am getting out of here. I want my purple hair back.” Blade swung her arm around Samir’s shoulders and started to drag him to the portal.

“But I don’t want to go,” Samir said, digging in his heels. “I like it here. People like me. Or, at least, they kiss up to me.”

 “Have you even read this book?” I asked him. He shook his head.

“Let me enlighten you,” I said. “You’re a big guy right now, but you wind up dead in that swimming pool by the end.”

Surprise danced across Samir’s face. “Ouch,” he said.

“See? Let’s
get out of here
,” Blade said, pulling harder.

 “Okay, fine. I’m going.” Samir put down his glass and let Blade lead him away. As we got nearer to the portal, we realized it was floating above the water of the swimming pool.

“How do we get to it?” Samir asked.

“We jump,” Blade said, and then she took four steps back, and began running to the pool. She swan-dived into the portal, and as we watched, she flew through it and managed a pretty graceful landing on the other side.

“Show off,” Samir said.

“Seriously,” I agreed.

“I know I can’t do what she just did. I don’t know if I can make it,” Samir said. “What if I fall in the pool?”

“Then you get wet and you try again,” I said. “Come on. Go.” I noticed the portal was beginning to close. We didn’t have much time.

Samir hesitated because he always hesitates.

I didn’t even think about it, I gave him a hard push forward. He tumbled into the portal butt-first and landed awkwardly on the cabin floor. I took a big jump and followed, and then, I was on the other side, too. I looked down and noticed that the dress was gone, my jeans were back and my hair was back to normal. Seriously weird.

I glanced up and saw Blade was back to her punked-out self. Samir was no longer wearing the tuxedo. He was once again in his Bard academy uniform.

“I’ll miss you, Gatsby,” he said, sounding sad as the portal slid shut, the light fading, as he gave a farewell wave to the air where the portal had been.

“Cheer up,” I said. “You’re back at Bard and we’ve got saltines for dinner.”

“You didn’t tell me that before you pushed me,” Samir said, his voice accusing. “I had mini quiche over there! And a personal chef.” Samir glanced around the small cabin and hugged himself.

“I cannot believed that worked,” Lindsay said, amazement on her face.

“What a rush!” Blade agreed.

 “Wait, you came in after us and you didn’t know if you could get out?” Samir was just realizing the full implications of my not-so-thought-out-plan.

“I had to try,” I said. “Besides, I was pretty sure I could get out.”

“Pretty sure? That’s just great.” Samir folded his arms across his chest. 

“Now what?” Blade asked, clapping her hands together, her eyes bright with excitement.

“First, you have to tell us what you know,” I said. “How did you get into
The Great Gatsby
? Have either of you seen Hana or Ryan? Or Heathcliff?”

Blade glanced at Samir. They both knew something they didn’t want to say.

“I’m not telling her,” Blade said, looking at Samir.

“Why do I have to tell her?” Samir squeaked.

“Tell me what?” I asked, growing frustrated.

“You’re not going to like it,” Samir said, not meeting my eyes.

“Just tell me and let me decide.” I glanced from Samir to Blade and back again. Samir shook his head firmly.

“Coward!” Blade accused. She took a deep breath and looked me in the eye. “Brace yourself, Miranda.” She paused and took a deep breath. I knew it was bad because nothing scared Blade. She hardly ever hesitated in delivering bad news. “Heathcliff is with Catherine now.”

“What do you mean?” I felt dread pooling in my stomach and part of me wanted to put my hands over my ears and not hear any more.

 “They’re a couple, Miranda,” Blade said, her voice soft. “They seem like they’re in love.”

C
HAPTER
T
HIRTEEN

Blade would’ve been better off just hitting me in the face. It would’ve hurt less.

Heathcliff,
my
Heathcliff, and Catherine…a couple?

Sure, I’d feared it. But it was like fearing that there might be an axe murderer lurking in the dark corner of your closet. I never actually thought the fear would really come true.

All the blood drained from my head and my feet and hands felt hot and cold all at once. My emotions rolled around in my chest like they’d been set on a spin cycle. Was I angry? Sad? Devestated? Bitter? I was everything and all at once, and my nerves felt like they were on fire with the information I never wanted to know.

But now I did.

Heathcliff loved someone else. I put my hand in my pocket and felt for the cool locket there. I felt like someone had just turned the world upside down.

“Tell me everything,” I said, not looking at Blade. I was immensely proud of myself for keeping my voice from cracking, even though the tears were burning hot behind my eyes. 

I listened as Blade talked about seeing Heathcliff and Catherine holding hands in the library. Of seeing Catherine kissing Heathcliff and Heathcliff kissing her back, and then the two of them disappeared down into the stacks of the library, where the vault was hidden.

“Anyway, so Blade tells
me
that they’re up to no good and we should do something to try to stop them,” Samir said.

“And Samir says, no way, are you crazy? Heathcliff will kick my butt and I’m a little scaredy cat.” Blade made her voice go high and scratchy in imitation of Samir in coward-mode.

“That is
not
what I said.”  Samir sounded indignant. “I said I didn’t want to risk
your
life, my love.”

Blade let out an exasperated sounding sigh. “Whatever.” 

“Okay,” Samir relented. “I believe I said, ‘what? Are you crazy? And risk losing you
because
I’m a total coward?’”

“Aw, you’re so sweet when you’re scared,” Blade said, and gave Samir a little pat on his arm. Normally, I would laugh, but I was too preoccupied with the image of Heathcliff and Catherine holding hands in the library. I felt like this whole conversation I was hovering over my body, looking at everything from a distance.

“You’re sure it was Heathcliff?” My voice sounded soft and far away.

“What do you mean?” Samir asked.

“He’s got a double,” Lindsay explained. I’d told her about Syndey Carton and she filled in my friends.

While she talked about Sydney, I wondered if that was the excuse I was looking for. Was it Sydney, and not my Heathcliff, with Catherine?

Blade and Samir both agreed that they were pretty sure it was Heathcliff, but, of course, neither one could be one hundred percent sure. Still, I could tell they were humoring me. They didn’t want to hurt my feelings any more than they had to.

“Are you okay?” Lindsay asked me, touching my shoulder.

“Fine,” I lied. I was anything but fine, but now—in a cabin on Shipwreck Island with Bard Academy missing—was not a good time to have a total and complete breakdown.  I straightened myself and shook off the screaming voices in my head. “I’m not going to believe Heathcliff is with Catherine until Heathcliff tells me so.” I looked around at my friends, who were giving me uncomfortable glances. They thought I was playing a fool, but they weren’t going to say it. “Until he tells me to my face….” I drifted off, my voice suddenly lost to the heavy emotions that were threatening to close my throat.

“It’s okay, we’ll find him,” Lindsay said and squeezed my arm. I was glad of the support.

I swallowed back the tears that were threatening to fall. No use in being sad until I was sure there was a reason to be sad.

“Did you see what happened to the school?” I asked Samir and Blade.

“Heathcliff and Catherine went over to where the vault was and a few minutes later, it just blew up,” Blade said.

“The floor started to glow blue first,” Samir said. “You forgot that part.”

“Right, the floor started to glow. And then it blew up.”

“It didn’t blow up so much as get sucked in.” Samir made a whooshing sound with his mouth as he pounded one fist against another. “Think of a huge black hole or blue hole, come to think of it. Everything looked blue.”

“Where was the faculty?” I asked.

“I didn’t see
any
teachers around. Or Guardians. It was weird.” Samir shrugged. “Maybe Heathcliff and Catherine had taken care of them somehow. I don’t know. But nobody came to stop them. They walked right down there to the vault and destroyed everything.”

“But, wait—you didn’t actually
see
them do it,” I said.

“Well, no, we didn’t,” Blade said. “But we could put two and two together. They were the only ones near the vault at the time. They go down that book aisle and then—bam!—everything’s gone.”

“How could they have done that though? I don’t understand,” I said. Something wasn’t making sense here. Heathcliff destroying the whole school? I couldn’t believe he trashed the school on purpose. Either he didn’t know what Catherine had planned or neither one of them realized what would happen when they opened the door to that vault.

“Maybe that
was
Heathcliff’s plan,” Lindsay said, almost too softly for me to hear. “He knew you were gone from Bard. Maybe it was his way of ‘taking care of things.’”

“You mean he was too chicken to tell her he was leaving, so he just decided to banish the whole school while she was away?” Blade translated, skepticism thick in her voice.

“Farfetched,” Samir agreed.

“Maybe they had help,” I said.

“Emily Bronte?” Lindsay suggested.