Dark Angel; The Chosen; Soulmate by L.J. Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

It was convenient.
    (Tell her you cut it because it froze. That ought to flip her guilt circuits.) Angel’s voice sounded the same as it did when she could see him. Soft, wry, distinctly his. It seemed to be located just behind her left ear.
    â€œI had to cut it because it was frozen,” Gillian said. “It broke off,” she added brightly, inspired.
    Amy’s blue eyes got even wider with horror. She looked stricken. “Oh, my God, Gillian—” Then she cocked her head and frowned. “Actually, I don’t think that’s possible,” she said. “I think it’d stay pliable even frozen. Unless, like, you dipped it in liquid nitrogen….”
    â€œWhatever,” Gillian said grimly. “I did it. Listen, I’ve got it slicked back behind my ears right now, but the ends are sort of uneven. Can you smooth them out a little?”
    â€œI can try,” Amy said doubtfully.
    Gillian sat down, pulling together the neck of the rose-colored bathrobe she was wearing over her clothes. She handed Amy the scissors. “Got a comb?”
    â€œYes. Oh, Gillian, I was trying to tell you. I’m so sorry about yesterday. I just forgot—but it’s all my fault—and you almost
died
!” The comb quivered against the back of Gillian’s neck.
    â€œWait a minute. How did you find out about that?”
    â€œEugene heard it from Steffi Lockhart’s little brother, and I think Steffi heard it from David Blackburn. Did he really save you? That’s so incredibly romantic.”
    â€œYeah, sort of.” (Uh, what do I tell people about that? What do I tell them about the whole thing?)
    (The truth. Up to a point. Just leave me and the near-death stuff out.)
    â€œI’ve been thinking all morning,” Amy was saying, “and I realized that I’ve been an absolute pig this last week. I don’t deserve to be called a best friend. And I want you to know that I’m sorry, and that things are going to be different now. I came to pick
you
up first, and then we’re going to get Eugene.”
    (Oh, joy.)
    (Be nice, dragonfly. She’s trying. Say thank you.)
    Gillian shrugged. It didn’t seem to matter much
what
Amy did, now that she had Angel. But she said, “Thanks, Amy,” and held still as the cold scissors went
snip
behind her ear.
    â€œYou’re so sweet,” Amy murmured. “I thought you’d be all mad. But you’re such a good person. I felt so terrible, thinking about you alone out there, freezing, and being so brave, trying to save a little kid—”
    â€œDid they
find
a kid?” Gillian interrupted.
    â€œHuh? No, I don’t think so. Nobody was talking about anything like that last night. And I haven’t heard about any kid being missing, either.”
    (Told you, dragonfly. Are you satisfied now?)
    (Yes, I am. Sorry.)
    â€œBut it was still brave,” Amy said. “Your mom thinks so, too.”
    â€œMy mom’s up?”
    â€œShe went to the store. She said she’d be back in a few minutes.” Amy stepped back and looked at Gillian, scissors held in the air. “You know, I’m not sure I should be doing this….”
    Before Gillian could summon up a reply, she heard the sound of the front door opening and the rustling of paper bags. Then her mother appeared, her cheeks red with cold. She had two grocery bags in her arms.
    â€œHi, girls,” she began, and broke off. She focused on Gillian’s hair. Her mouth fell open.
    â€œDon’t drop the bags,” Gillian said. She tried to sound careless, but her stomach was clenched like a fist. Her neck felt stiff and unnatural as she held very still. “Do you like it?”
    â€œI—I—” Gillian’s mother put the bags on the counter. “Amy… did you have to cut it
all
?”
    â€œAmy didn’t do it. I did it last night. I just got tired of it long—” (And getting