The Dolls(85)
Peregrine ignores me. “This town relies on us. We couldn’t just turn our backs on it.”
“Really? You’re worried about the town? Not your pimples?”
Peregrine gives me a dirty look.
Chloe clears her throat. “Besides, our moms got back from New Orleans last night. They talked to a few of the queens there, who said the best way to get Main de Lumière to lose interest is to ignore them and go about our business. If we give in to their demands so easily, they’ll know they have the upper hand.”
“Did these queens have any firsthand experience with Main de Lumière?”
“Not that I know of,” Chloe says.
“Then this situation is different!”
“Quiet down, Eveny,” Peregrine says. “People are staring. This isn’t the place.”
I’m so angry I don’t care. “So your mothers know you did this?”
“Yes,” Chloe says.
“Our mothers feel, as do we, that we’ve been given this gift for a reason, and it’s our right—our duty—to use it,” Peregrine whispers.
“Just because you want better skin,” I say. “And better grades. And better hair. And better boys.”
“But now that you’re back, we’re not drawing our power from the Périphérie anymore,” Peregrine says. “Things are in complete balance. I don’t see what’s so wrong about what we’re doing.”
“Everything’s wrong with it, Peregrine. And I’m really afraid we’re about to find that out.” I walk away quickly before she can say anything else, but a moment later, I realize Chloe is following me.
“What?” I whirl to face her. “There’s no way to justify what you’ve done. This was a decision we were supposed to make together, the three of us, and you and Peregrine just did what you wanted!”
That’s when I realize she looks like she’s about to cry. “It’s not that,” she says. “It’s . . . It’s Justin. I need some advice.”
I realize with a surge of guilt that between the car accident with Drew and Main de Lumière, I’d forgotten to say something to Chloe about him. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about him too. Want to go outside for a bit?”
She nods, and we head out the door as the bell rings to start second period. No one seems to notice, but then again, I’m getting accustomed to the rules being different for Dolls like us.
She looks at her hands once we’re sitting on a bench facing the Hickories. “So I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said. About how maybe I should let Justin make up his own mind about me.”
I wait for her to go on.
“The thing is, I’m scared. Do you think he’ll want to keep dating me without a charm?”
I hesitate. “I think that’s a chance you have to take.”
“I’m scared he’s in love with another girl,” she says.
“I’m sure he’s not,” I answer honestly. “But if there’s someone else he’s meant to be with, you’re taking that possibility away. If he’s supposed to be with you, he will be.”
“It could mean losing him,” she says almost inaudibly.
“But it could also mean opening the door to someone who’s right for you. If you’re in the wrong relationship, your eyes won’t be open for the right one.”
She’s quiet for a moment. “Eveny,” she says, “you’re in love with Caleb, aren’t you?”
I can feel myself turning red. “I don’t know. Maybe. Why do you say that?”
“It’s just the way you get when he’s around. Like you’re a little nervous, but also happy. Like seeing him makes you feel better.”
I consider this. “That’s pretty much exactly how I feel.”
“But you know you can’t be with him. He’s explained that to you.”
“I keep hoping he’ll change his mind.”
She looks sad. “It’s more complicated than that for him. I think he’s trying to do the right thing.” She hesitates and adds, “You know, you could cast a charm on him to make him see things your way.”
“It’s tempting,” I reply. “But whatever would come of it, it wouldn’t be real.”
“I guess.” After a moment, she stands up. “Wait, what were you going to say? You were going to tell me something about Justin.”
I hesitate. “I just wanted to say I know you’ll do the right thing.”
“You too, Eveny.” She walks away without another word.
In her wake, I’m left wondering exactly what that right thing is, though, and how I’ll find my way there.