Dead Is Not an Option (13 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

It was the
end of May, and the feeling at Nightshade High was one of high excitement, mixed with a tinge of melancholy. Everyone seemed hyperaware that this was a time of lasts. It was certainly affecting me that way. Every time I walked down the hall, I knew it would be one of the last few times I went to my locker or ate lunch with Ryan and my friends in the cafeteria, that these were my last days of being a high school student.

Even Sam's ordering me around took on a certain bittersweet quality.

There was less than a month before I was going to graduate from Nightshade High, but I wasn't really looking forward to it. The conversation at the donut shop kept ringing in my ears. Was I destined for college at all?

One Monday afternoon I was moping on the couch in old sweats and hadn't bothered with a shower. Poppy came in and turned the television channel without asking, which was something that normally only mildly annoyed me. Today I decided to pick a fight with her.

"Hey, I was watching that," I said. "Could you stop being so self-absorbed for just ten seconds and ask before you change the channel?"

Poppy practically dropped the remote, she was so surprised.

"Sorry," she said shortly. She didn't seem like she meant it though.

"What's your problem?" I snarled at her.

"You're completely unbearable these days," Poppy said. "What's the matter with you?"

"I'm such a loser," I said.

"What are you talking about?" She moved my legs out of the way and sat next to me.

"Everyone says long-distance relationships never work," I said. "And you should hear everyone else's college plans. Ryan should be going out with someone like Jordan or Rachel instead of a loser like me."

"What's this really about?" she asked me shrewdly. "The Daisy I know would rather claw out her own eyes than give up Ryan Mendez, so what's the story?"

"I still haven't gotten any acceptance letters," I wailed, bursting into tears. "Not even from UC Nightshade."

"That's not right," she said with gratifying speed. "There's something rotten in the state of Nightshade."

"I called admissions, and they said their database was down."

"When was that?"

"I don't know," I said. "A couple of weeks ago."

"Why don't you call them again?"

I followed my sister's advice, but the phone call wasn't that illuminating. "Yes, there was an issue with our database, but it's been resolved. New letters have been mailed out," the woman on the phone said.

"You can't tell me if I've been accepted or not?" I asked.

"I'm afraid not. You should receive your replacement letter any day."

I thanked her and hung up the phone.

"Well?" Poppy asked.

"I have to wait until I get the new letter," I said.

"That sucks," she replied.

No kidding.

But by Friday my mood had improved.

"Guess what I finally got my hands on?" Ryan said. He jingled a set of keys in front of my face.

"Excellent," I said. "When can we do it?"

"How about tonight?" he said. "It's Memorial Day weekend and Officer Denton and Dad are always busy with the tourists."

Ryan was right. There was no sign of Chief Mendez or Officer Denton when we slipped into the precinct. I had remembered my handy-dandy penlight and shone it around so that we wouldn't break a toe or anything.

"The old files are in storage," he whispered.

We passed by the morgue, and Ryan swept me into his arms for a quick kiss. "Just for old times' sake," he said.

"As enjoyable as that was," I said, "we're on a tight schedule."

The old files were stored in a creepy basement room with bad lighting and a musty smell. Row upon row of metal shelving contained white storage boxes with a year and a name written in a black Sharpie on the front.

"Exactly how old is Mrs. Wilder?" Ryan asked. "That might help us figure out what year it's filed under."

"I don't know," I said. "Maybe she's in her eighties? Lily was her older sister. Mrs. Wilder was a little girl when Lily disappeared."

It felt like we'd already been there a long time, and I was worried we'd get caught and Ryan would get into trouble.

"Maybe the evidence file was misfiled," I suggested.

Ryan looked offended.

"I don't mean by your dad," I added. "How far back have you looked?"

"Nineteen thirties," he said.

"Is there anything earlier? It's got to be here."Just as I said it I spotted the name varcol on one of the boxes on the top shelf. "This is it."

Ryan grabbed it and put it on the floor. We sat and looked through it. I read quickly. "It shows the ring was entered into evidence, but it's not here," I said.

Ryan lifted up the box. "There's a hole in the bottom. Maybe it fell out."

With an inward shudder, I lay on the floor and shone the penlight under the shelving. I caught a gleam when the light hit an object.

"I see something," I said. I stretched my arm out and wiggled closer in order to reach it.

I closed my hand over a small, cold object and brought it out from under the shelving. Lily Varcol's engagement ring was in the palm of my hand. I felt like shouting with joy but didn't want anyone to hear us.

Could it be so simple? Could it have been in the old police files all this time?

I couldn't wait until the morning, when I could call Natalie. I was scheduled to work anyway. I'd see her even before Slim's opened.

"We'd better get out of here," Ryan said.

I put the ring in my pocket, and we managed to sneak out without getting caught.

Ryan parked in front of my house and turned off the engine.

"Ryan, I can't tell you how much this means to me. Thanks so much for going with me tonight."

"You know I'd do anything for you. You have a smudge on your face," he said. Right before he kissed me.

I was a bundle of nerves, though, and couldn't enjoy the moment. "I'm taking the ring to work tomorrow," I said. "I'll give it to Lily as soon as we break the enchantment."

After we said good night, I went up to my room, still too keyed up to sleep. What should I do with the ring? I finally decided to put it on a gold chain and conceal it under my clothing.

But when I got to work the next morning, there was an unfamiliar face behind the grill.

"Where's Slim?" I asked Flo.

She was wearing a skirt and a T-shirt with cut-off sleeves. Today's tee read
PLEASE DON'T FEED THE DEMONS
.

"He and Natalie are taking a little vacation," she said. "Manfred's cooking while Slim's gone."

"When will they be back?"

The disappointment I felt must have shown, but Flo misunderstood the reason. "Don't worry, they'll be back before your commencement ceremony. And I'm watching Balthazar."

She pointed in the direction of the jukebox. There he was, curled up against Lil.

I was beyond disappointed. Graduation was two weeks away, and there's no way I'd be able to break the enchantment without Natalie. Lily and Bam had waited this long. It looked like they'd have to wait a little while longer.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The next couple
of weeks were filled with senior finals, awards night, and picking up my cap and gown before the commencement ceremony. Finally, it was the day before graduation and I was kind of at loose ends for a change. Mom shooed me out of the house.

"Go on," she said. "Your father and I want to cook the food for your graduation dinner."

"I can help," I said. "Besides, Mom, I already told you that we could just go out to eat."

"I'd rather cook here," she said. "Every restaurant in town will be packed with graduation parties."

I couldn't convince her, so instead I reached over and snatched an apple slice.

Mom smacked my hand. "That's for the pie. Why don't you go find that cute boyfriend of yours?"

"You're sure I can't help with anything?" I asked.

"Go ahead," Mom said. "Have some fun with your friends and Ryan before everyone leaves for college."

Sam was babysitting Katie, and Sean and Ryan were off on some guy bonding thing. I drifted into Slim's and took a seat at the counter next to Flo. Today's tee read the fouR pretty ponies of the apocalypse. So much for a kinder, gentler Flo.

"Present from Vinnie?" I asked. I gestured to her shirt.

She grinned. "Nope," she said. "I bought it. One for me and one for him."

"I like it," I replied.

"No plans for today?" she asked.

"Not really," I said. "I feel kind of in limbo."

"I have something that will cheer you up," she said. She hopped down off the stool. "I'll be right back."

While I waited for Flo to come back, I went to say hi to Lil. I fished for some change and deposited it into the machine.

"I've had a lot going on lately, Lil," I said. "But I haven't forgotten you. We found your engagement ring! Hopefully now the spell will work."

Her response was to play "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" by the Animals.

"I promise," I said. "Besides, I'm staying right here in Nightshade. Even if Circe won't cooperate, I'll find a way to free you. Balthazar too."

Flo came back holding an envelope, which she presented to me with a flourish. "It's from Slim and me. Your graduation present."

"You didn't have to!" I said. "Thank you."

The melancholy strains of Chris Isaak's "Graduation Day" floated through the air.

"We wanted to," she said. "And besides, you don't even know what it is. So open it already."

I ran my finger along the flap and opened the envelope. Inside was a handmade card and a check. The amount made my eyes bug.

"Flo, I can't take this," I said. "It's too much."

"Daisy, we appreciate everything you've done. Honestly, we wish it was more," Flo said. "Slim mentioned he hoped you'll consider taking a cordon bleu—level cooking course somewhere. Either this summer or after you finish college."

"The new chef at Wilder's said he was starting a cordon bleu class this summer," I told her. "Thank you so much." I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a big hug.

Flo squirmed away, but she had a big grin on her face. Her tattoos swirled and danced, like they were pulsating with happiness.

"Disgusting," I heard someone snort.

I'd heard that voice before, but I couldn't place it. I whipped my head around, but I couldn't tell who'd spoken.

There was one stranger in the restaurant though. She sat at the counter with an untouched cup of black coffee in front of her. She wore a wide scarf that covered her hair, enormous round sunglasses, and a white trench coat that covered most of her body. She looked like a celebrity who was trying to go incognito and failing. I was certain it was the same woman I'd seen with Sam's dad.

"We've had a lot of out-of-towners in the diner lately," I commented.

"It's been great for business," Flo said. "But there have been a few unusual customers."

It was like we'd been overrun by the CIA or something. Lots of women and men in dark suits and sunglasses, who sat in the corner and carried on low-voiced conversations, which they halted whenever someone approached them.

"Maybe they're paparazzi," I suggested. "After all, Circe is back in town."

She laughed. "Maybe."

I went back home to rearrange my cap and gown and to try on Grandma's graduation dress one more time.

Graduation day finally arrived.

The graduation ceremony was scheduled for indoors, in the gym at sundown, to allow the more nocturnal citizens to attend. We gathered in the drama room to don caps and gowns over our dressy attire. I wore Grandma's white dress with the daisies under my crimson robe but picked practical flats for my feet.

Despite the anticipation, our graduation went smoothly. I spotted Sam's father sitting a few rows ahead of my family. He was with the mystery woman I'd seen in the diner earlier.

As if she felt me staring at her, the woman turned around. I could sense her stare even through those dark sunglasses. Normally I didn't invade the thoughts of total strangers, but something about her bugged me, so I did a little fishing.

I'd just found her in the sea of thoughts when I very distinctly heard
Oh no you don't,
right before a blank wall slammed down and concealed her mind from mine. Startled, I turned my attention back to the ceremony. I'd been so busy trying to figure out who the woman was that I missed most of the valedictorian's speech. I was thrilled to see Lilah up there and tuned in just in time to hear her closing statement.

"To quote the great Dr. Seuss, 'The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.'"

The audience laughed, and then when Lilah saw a few parents wiping away tears she said, "There's one more quote from the doctor that I'll leave you with. 'Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.'"

Lilah received a standing ovation, and then it was finally time to get our diplomas. Mr. Amador called our names alphabetically, which meant Sam's name was called before mine. She received her diploma with her usual grace and gave the audience an impish smile as she turned her cap's tassel to the other side.

I, on the other hand, was my usual less-than-graceful self and nearly tripped going up on the stage.

I looked out into the audience and saw the faces of my family. Mom beamed proudly, and Dad made his best effort not to look sad and nearly blinded me with his hundred-watt smile. Nicholas and Rose clapped loudly, and I caught Poppy wiping away a tear when she didn't think anyone was looking. Grandma Giordano let out a piercing whistle as I shook hands with Principal Amador.

It was dark when the graduating class trooped outside for the traditional cap toss. I threw mine up in the air with a sense of accomplishment. I'd made it through high school. College would be a cinch after the things I'd been through. If I ever made it in, that is.

A bunch of people were invited back to our house for dinner. I'd invited Sean and Samantha, but her dad was taking Sean and his whole family to Chanticlair's, which was a very expensive restaurant in San Carlos.

Mom and Dad had made antipasto, cioppino, and fresh crusty bread.

"This looks delicious," Mr. Bone said.

Nicholas and Rose held hands under the table.

Liam and Poppy sat on opposite sides of the table, but he watched her with a goofy smile on his face

"Liam, how were finals?" I asked him.

He looked surprised that I had initiated a conversation with him, but answered politely. "Grueling," he said. "But Poppy made sure I put in enough study time."

I'd finally confessed to my parents about my lack of admittance, so it was a relief not to have to hide that I was pretty much a question mark until the UC Nightshade Admissions Office finally sent me a letter.

"I wonder how many other students are biting their nails?" Dad said as we sat around the table.

"Plenty," Chief Mendez said grimly. "There are at least a thousand students who haven't had their admittance to UC Nightshade finalized."

"Do they have any clues about who hacked the computer system?" Dad asked.

"They think it was someone who works there," Chief Mendez said.

"I have a mind to call and give someone a piece of my mind," Grandma said.

"It's okay," I said. "Something will work out. The new chef at Wilder's is starting up a cordon bleu program. Maybe I'll try that."

"I'll pay for new copper pots," Grandma said.

After we ate dinner, Dad said, "And now for the grand finale." He disappeared into the kitchen and came back wheeling a dessert cart with an enormous three-tiered cake. Frosting daisies cascaded down the sides, and congratulations, daisy! was written in yellow on the top.

"That's why you guys shooed me out of the house," I said. "You two were baking my cake."

"It looks lovely, Mrs. Giordano," Liam said.

"Each layer is a different flavor," Mom said. "Let's cut into it."

Ryan and I took our cake and wandered out to the front porch. We sat in the swing and fed each other bites of cake. The perfect ending to a delicious dinner.