Read Online The Guardian by Carey Corp - Free Book Online
Authors: Carey Corp
Tags: Juvenile Fiction
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I’m a lousy actress. Brightly Kate rubs her hands together. “Take it off and I’ll get the next bunch.”
With a nod I retreat back into the safety of the dressing room, catching my reflection in the full length mirror. My image doesn’t even glow. I’ve never been able to see my own halo—maybe I don’t have one. Why am I cursed with this ability? Why am I such a freak?
Try as I might, I can’t find anything “divine” in my appearance. At best I appear to be a girl playing dress up—a poor substitute for the kind of girl the gown was designed for. A girl like Alexia.
I barely manage to slip the garment off before Kate returns. “Here, try these.”
Over the top of the door, a barrage of colors and textures slide into my waiting arms. Dutifully I hang the dresses on a nearby hook, wincing at the festive fuchsia, teal, and lime. I pick up a Caribbean-blue gown, the color of Gabriel’s eyes, and hastily discard it. That relationship is confusing enough without sporting the azure dress as a reminder.
For weeks, he’s been my escort and protector, bewildering me with his luminous eyes and cryptic comments. His barely-there touches imprinting my skin the way his very presence has imprinted my life. But his secrets have become mountains between us. He won’t tell me why he’s assumed such a pivotal role in my life. Or what he wants from me.
I’ve rejected the idea he’s doing this merely because he’s a good person—no one is that good. But even if he were the exception, one of those rare creatures that are better than the rest, he’s got to have flaws. He is human, after all. And even if he was some selfless saint, there are so many kids that have it worse off than I do. I’ve seen their waning halos, the outward extensions of their pain, flickering as if gasping for breath in the midst of drowning. Those kids need a protector. I can take care of myself.
So why me?
“Ready?” Kate’s voice brings me back to earth as I hastily shimmy into the first thing I pick up, a moss-colored gown with yards of skirting.
As I burst from the dressing room, Kate tries to contain her enthusiasm, probably for my benefit. “Well,” she asks. “What do you think?”
The best I can do is shrug. Puzzling over Gabriel has taken away any pretense of enjoyment.
Kate’s pixie-like features narrow as she regards me, no longer focused on the dress. “You know, Alex,” she begins hesitantly. “You can talk to me about anything.”
I stare down at my bare toes, peeking beneath the curtain of subdued green. “I know.”
“Or tell me anything…”
I hate it when someone places unclear expectations on me. I know she’s waiting for me to say something, but I don’t know what she wants to hear. “Not much to tell—I don’t have any family—moved around a lot. I don’t make friends easily and I don’t open up to people, not even the good ones.”
Kate sighs. “You’re telling me stuff I already know.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“Why don’t you tell me about that boy who walks you to and from school every day?”
Shocked, I stare at her briefly before squeezing my eyes shut in mortification. The waiting silence causes me to peek from one eye. “You know about him?”
Her answering shrug is both dainty and apologetic. “The neighbors. They’re just looking out for you.”
Knowing nothing of the type of neighbors she’s describing, I wince, wondering just how much they’ve witnessed and exactly when I let my guard down. Kate’s frowning, her displeasure warring with her unconditional acceptance as she tries to understand, and I can’t bear the thought she might be disappointed in me.
“Kate, I’ve never had him in your house when you guys weren’t home—or when you guys were—I mean he’s never been inside. I promise.”
Then Kate surprises me, both with her words and the force with which she declares them. “I almost wish you had snuck him in.”
I’m so stunned, I
With a nod I retreat back into the safety of the dressing room, catching my reflection in the full length mirror. My image doesn’t even glow. I’ve never been able to see my own halo—maybe I don’t have one. Why am I cursed with this ability? Why am I such a freak?
Try as I might, I can’t find anything “divine” in my appearance. At best I appear to be a girl playing dress up—a poor substitute for the kind of girl the gown was designed for. A girl like Alexia.
I barely manage to slip the garment off before Kate returns. “Here, try these.”
Over the top of the door, a barrage of colors and textures slide into my waiting arms. Dutifully I hang the dresses on a nearby hook, wincing at the festive fuchsia, teal, and lime. I pick up a Caribbean-blue gown, the color of Gabriel’s eyes, and hastily discard it. That relationship is confusing enough without sporting the azure dress as a reminder.
For weeks, he’s been my escort and protector, bewildering me with his luminous eyes and cryptic comments. His barely-there touches imprinting my skin the way his very presence has imprinted my life. But his secrets have become mountains between us. He won’t tell me why he’s assumed such a pivotal role in my life. Or what he wants from me.
I’ve rejected the idea he’s doing this merely because he’s a good person—no one is that good. But even if he were the exception, one of those rare creatures that are better than the rest, he’s got to have flaws. He is human, after all. And even if he was some selfless saint, there are so many kids that have it worse off than I do. I’ve seen their waning halos, the outward extensions of their pain, flickering as if gasping for breath in the midst of drowning. Those kids need a protector. I can take care of myself.
So why me?
“Ready?” Kate’s voice brings me back to earth as I hastily shimmy into the first thing I pick up, a moss-colored gown with yards of skirting.
As I burst from the dressing room, Kate tries to contain her enthusiasm, probably for my benefit. “Well,” she asks. “What do you think?”
The best I can do is shrug. Puzzling over Gabriel has taken away any pretense of enjoyment.
Kate’s pixie-like features narrow as she regards me, no longer focused on the dress. “You know, Alex,” she begins hesitantly. “You can talk to me about anything.”
I stare down at my bare toes, peeking beneath the curtain of subdued green. “I know.”
“Or tell me anything…”
I hate it when someone places unclear expectations on me. I know she’s waiting for me to say something, but I don’t know what she wants to hear. “Not much to tell—I don’t have any family—moved around a lot. I don’t make friends easily and I don’t open up to people, not even the good ones.”
Kate sighs. “You’re telling me stuff I already know.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“Why don’t you tell me about that boy who walks you to and from school every day?”
Shocked, I stare at her briefly before squeezing my eyes shut in mortification. The waiting silence causes me to peek from one eye. “You know about him?”
Her answering shrug is both dainty and apologetic. “The neighbors. They’re just looking out for you.”
Knowing nothing of the type of neighbors she’s describing, I wince, wondering just how much they’ve witnessed and exactly when I let my guard down. Kate’s frowning, her displeasure warring with her unconditional acceptance as she tries to understand, and I can’t bear the thought she might be disappointed in me.
“Kate, I’ve never had him in your house when you guys weren’t home—or when you guys were—I mean he’s never been inside. I promise.”
Then Kate surprises me, both with her words and the force with which she declares them. “I almost wish you had snuck him in.”
I’m so stunned, I
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