If I Die
Page 89
Its gonna be the scene of a homicide if you dont put bitchy on the back burner, Emma snapped, and I laughed out loud.
Seriously, Sophie, you dont have to stay. I crossed my arms over my chest. Em and I are just studying for a test.
You have enough junk food to feed the girls wrestling team and not a book in sight. Besides, my dad wouldnt send me over here just to crash a study session. I dont give a damn what youre really doing, but Im not gonna risk my car just so you can do it in privacy. Youre stuck with me till your dad brings my dad back. She dropped onto the couch and grabbed the remote control. I hope you dont mind the TV, cause Im not gonna suffer in silence.
I knew what my uncle was doing, and it was sweet of him to try to get Sophie to spend some time with me before I died. But even if she felt guilty after I was gone, I couldnt imagine her actually missing me, and I really didnt want to spend my last night on earth with my spoiled, bitchy cousin.
Unfortunately, she liked her new car more than she disliked me. Sophie wasnt going anywhere.
Fine. But were watching Aliens. I plucked the remote from her fist. And if you want something more substantial than popcorn, there may be some carrot sticks in the fridge. But theyre about a month old, so they may be more green than orange by now.
Sophie made a face. Its a wonder youre still alive, the way you eat.
Give it one more day, I mumbled under my breath, and Emma frowned.
Okay, I got green olives on one side, cause I like green olives, Tod said, half a second after blinking into existence in the doorway between the living room and the kitchen.
Sophie jumped at the sound of his voice and whirled around fast enough to make my head spin. Her eyes widened at the sight of him, and for one irrational moment, I wanted to step in front of him so she couldnt even look at him. I might only have him for a couple of days, but he was mine. Completely. Who the hell are you?
Tod glanced at me with one brow raised in surprise, holding a grease-stained pizza box. Who am I, Kay?
I stood and took the pizza from him. This is myTod.
Your Tod? Sophie frowned, then understanding brightened her eyes and she stood, eyeing him like she might assess him for quality control. Youre the guy from the math hall. She said it like an accusation. Then she turned to me, reluctantly impressed. Hes why you dumped Nash?
Tods eyes narrowed in anger. You shouldnt talk about things you dont understand. Which should leave you pretty damn quiet.
Sophie blinked, and a flash of temper flared in hereyes. You dont even know me.
I know enough. Tod had seen Sophie die, and hed helped reinstate her soul. Hed expelled Avari from her body when she was possessed. Hed seen her insult me and Emma over and over. What is she doing here? He asked, following me into the kitchen, where I set the pizza box on the counter and pulled a stack of paper plates from an overhead cabinet.
Her dad sent her. I think he wants us to spend some time together.
Then Im forced to question his wisdom.
I handed him a plate, and as I turned to dig some sodas from the fridge, I heard Sophie whisper from the living room. But who is he? And why the hell do hot guys keep throwing themselves at Kaylee?
Tod blinked out of the kitchen, and before I could hiss for him to come back, he appeared behind Sophies chair and leaned down inches from her ear. Because shes nice. Maybe you should try it.
Sophie nearly jumped out of her own skin, and I couldnt help laughing, which ruined the stern face I tried to scold Tod with.
How did you get back there? she demanded.
Tod shrugged. The usual way.
I didnt see you She glanced up at the path he would have had to take to walk past her.
Tod shrugged. Maybe youre losing it. I hear they make pills for that.
Em laughed and Sophie glared at him, and I was thoroughly amused to realize she wasfor maybe the first time everspeechless.
Emma started the movie, and Sophie ate the tomatoes and olives from her slice of pizza, but instead of watching Aliens, she watched me and Tod. Which made us both uncomfortable. He wasnt accustomed to being seen by people he didnt like, and I was sure she was watching us and thinking about Nash, and my guilt compounded under her scrutiny.
Four hours later, Sophie slouched over in her chair, asleep, and Emma fell into a food coma with Styx on her lap, chocolate on her breath, and Ripley fighting prison planet aliens on the TV. I decided to let her sleep until my dad got home, so Tod and I would have a little semi-privacy.
Thanks for staying, I whispered to keep from waking Emma. I cant think of a better way to spend my last night. Sophie, not withstanding.
Beats the hell out of fighting an evil math teacher, doesnt it? he said, curling the fingers of his free hand around mine. Or keeping Nash from sneaking out to replace his stash.
I wish there was something we could do for him.
If there were, Id be doing it. Sabine will call if she needs help, Tod said, and that reminded me of something Id meant to ask him earlier.
Seriously, Sophie, you dont have to stay. I crossed my arms over my chest. Em and I are just studying for a test.
You have enough junk food to feed the girls wrestling team and not a book in sight. Besides, my dad wouldnt send me over here just to crash a study session. I dont give a damn what youre really doing, but Im not gonna risk my car just so you can do it in privacy. Youre stuck with me till your dad brings my dad back. She dropped onto the couch and grabbed the remote control. I hope you dont mind the TV, cause Im not gonna suffer in silence.
I knew what my uncle was doing, and it was sweet of him to try to get Sophie to spend some time with me before I died. But even if she felt guilty after I was gone, I couldnt imagine her actually missing me, and I really didnt want to spend my last night on earth with my spoiled, bitchy cousin.
Unfortunately, she liked her new car more than she disliked me. Sophie wasnt going anywhere.
Fine. But were watching Aliens. I plucked the remote from her fist. And if you want something more substantial than popcorn, there may be some carrot sticks in the fridge. But theyre about a month old, so they may be more green than orange by now.
Sophie made a face. Its a wonder youre still alive, the way you eat.
Give it one more day, I mumbled under my breath, and Emma frowned.
Okay, I got green olives on one side, cause I like green olives, Tod said, half a second after blinking into existence in the doorway between the living room and the kitchen.
Sophie jumped at the sound of his voice and whirled around fast enough to make my head spin. Her eyes widened at the sight of him, and for one irrational moment, I wanted to step in front of him so she couldnt even look at him. I might only have him for a couple of days, but he was mine. Completely. Who the hell are you?
Tod glanced at me with one brow raised in surprise, holding a grease-stained pizza box. Who am I, Kay?
I stood and took the pizza from him. This is myTod.
Your Tod? Sophie frowned, then understanding brightened her eyes and she stood, eyeing him like she might assess him for quality control. Youre the guy from the math hall. She said it like an accusation. Then she turned to me, reluctantly impressed. Hes why you dumped Nash?
Tods eyes narrowed in anger. You shouldnt talk about things you dont understand. Which should leave you pretty damn quiet.
Sophie blinked, and a flash of temper flared in hereyes. You dont even know me.
I know enough. Tod had seen Sophie die, and hed helped reinstate her soul. Hed expelled Avari from her body when she was possessed. Hed seen her insult me and Emma over and over. What is she doing here? He asked, following me into the kitchen, where I set the pizza box on the counter and pulled a stack of paper plates from an overhead cabinet.
Her dad sent her. I think he wants us to spend some time together.
Then Im forced to question his wisdom.
I handed him a plate, and as I turned to dig some sodas from the fridge, I heard Sophie whisper from the living room. But who is he? And why the hell do hot guys keep throwing themselves at Kaylee?
Tod blinked out of the kitchen, and before I could hiss for him to come back, he appeared behind Sophies chair and leaned down inches from her ear. Because shes nice. Maybe you should try it.
Sophie nearly jumped out of her own skin, and I couldnt help laughing, which ruined the stern face I tried to scold Tod with.
How did you get back there? she demanded.
Tod shrugged. The usual way.
I didnt see you She glanced up at the path he would have had to take to walk past her.
Tod shrugged. Maybe youre losing it. I hear they make pills for that.
Em laughed and Sophie glared at him, and I was thoroughly amused to realize she wasfor maybe the first time everspeechless.
Emma started the movie, and Sophie ate the tomatoes and olives from her slice of pizza, but instead of watching Aliens, she watched me and Tod. Which made us both uncomfortable. He wasnt accustomed to being seen by people he didnt like, and I was sure she was watching us and thinking about Nash, and my guilt compounded under her scrutiny.
Four hours later, Sophie slouched over in her chair, asleep, and Emma fell into a food coma with Styx on her lap, chocolate on her breath, and Ripley fighting prison planet aliens on the TV. I decided to let her sleep until my dad got home, so Tod and I would have a little semi-privacy.
Thanks for staying, I whispered to keep from waking Emma. I cant think of a better way to spend my last night. Sophie, not withstanding.
Beats the hell out of fighting an evil math teacher, doesnt it? he said, curling the fingers of his free hand around mine. Or keeping Nash from sneaking out to replace his stash.
I wish there was something we could do for him.
If there were, Id be doing it. Sabine will call if she needs help, Tod said, and that reminded me of something Id meant to ask him earlier.
