Juliet Immortal

door, dark circles under his eyes, a tattered brown scarf wrapped around his neck. He looks even worse than he did yesterday, more dead than alive, but no one else seems to notice. Melanie shoots him a menacing look and Mike ignores him altogether as Romeo steps inside, spoiling the energy in the room. My stomach pinches, relief and dread twisting my insides until it feels like I’m being turned inside out. I hate him, but I need him. Like it or not, my future lies partly in his hands.
    I brace myself for eye contact, but he doesn’t look my way. Instead, he goes to Gemma. “We can’t do this. We can’t lie. Ariel and Ben didn’t do anything wrong.”
    Gemma’s eyebrows shoot up and her eyes flicker to me for half a second. Just long enough for me to see the fear inside her. “What are you talking about? She told me she was going to kill you. I heard—”
    “You didn’t hear anything. You know you didn’t.”
    Gemma points an accusing finger at Romeo’s chest. “Don’t you dare start changing your story now, Dylan. You’re the one—”
    “Dylan, Gemma, let’s save it for the meeting,” Mike says in his teacher’s voice. He doesn’t sound like a man who’s talking to a rival, but I don’t miss the hint of jealousy in his eyes when he looks at Dylan.
    Romeo ignores them both and turns to me. “I’m so sorry,” he says, his expression holding the perfect mix of fear and regret. There isn’t a spark of mischief, not a whisper of an evil agenda. He seems
truly
sorry.
    God
, what is he up to now? Why the sudden change of plans? What can he have to gain from playing nice other than …
    He still hopes I’ll help him with the spell. That
has
to be it.
    Maybe it isn’t too late.
    “I’m going to tell Mrs. Felix the truth,” he says. “I’m—”
    “Okay, we’re ready for you.” Mr. Stark appears at the principal’s office door and stops to scan the waiting room. “Dylan, where’s your dad?”
    “He couldn’t make it.” Romeo’s gaze doesn’t waver from mine. I hold his eyes, even when my blood runs cold. There’s something awful in his expression, lurking beneath his yellow skin. What’s happened to him since we parted yesterday? Has he seen the specters again too? Or is he haunted by something worse?
    Mr. Stark sighs. “Dylan, the note you took home expressly said that you would be expelled if your father didn’t—”
    “He doesn’t care if you expel me, Mr. Stark.” He faces Mr. Stark, the picture of a penitent come to plead for forgiveness. “But I’m here because I do care, and I want to do the right thing.”
    “Yeah, right.” Gemma snorts. “You’re
insane
, is what you are.”
    “Gemma, please.” Mr. Stark sighs again. “Okay. Fine. Let’s just get this over with.” He waves his hand and Mike, Gemma, and Romeo move forward. Melanie stands beside me.
    “But Mr. Stark, what about Ben and his brother?” I ask, casting a glance back at the door. “Shouldn’t we wait?”
    “They’re not coming,” Mr. Stark says. “Mrs. Felix filed the paperwork to expel Ben from school yesterday.”
    My jaw drops. “What?”
    Mr. Stark shrugs. “He’s been in trouble before, Ariel, and we have a strict no-tolerance policy for repeat offenders.”
    “But he wasn’t in trouble at school,” I say, ignoring Melanie’s hand on my arm silently urging me to keep quiet. Defending Ben is instinctive, imperative. “And not at
this
school. Please, Mr. Stark, I—”
    “Ariel, it’s not my decision. I had nothing to do with it.” Mr. Stark backs toward the principal’s office, where Romeo, Gemma, and Mike have already found seats. “Anyway, it’s decided. Ben’s brother came and cleaned out his locker this morning. I think he also picked up a study guide for the GED. Ben can still get a diploma if he passes the exam.”
    I shake my head. Anger flashes through me, followed closely by a spark of hope.
    This will make it easier for me to convince Ben to leave. He isn’t going to be able to finish senior year at SHS. There’s nothing to keep him in Solvang but his family, and life with his brother hasn’t exactly been smooth. He might jump at the chance for a fresh start.
    But a fresh start with a girl he doesn’t know? Or doesn’t think he knows? With no money and not even a high school diploma between us? It’s me and Romeo all over again. Ben and I probably won’t starve to death or be killed by highwaymen,but our future won’t be a bright one. Not at first.