I felt like I hadn't been to school in ages. In reality I only missed the day my dad was gone but the days after the funerals when I was making up so much homework, I just walked around like a zombie. Everyone stared at me. Maggie was out sick but Dover was with me. I felt far away from him too. The Lancasters stayed with me as much as possible (minus Blaze of course) but even with them I was feeling far away. Everyone used to run up to say hi to me. Now all they did was stand and stare. And instead of talking to me, they talked about me.
They had probably been doing that the whole two weeks after the funerals, but like I said, I was a zombie. To be honest, I don't really remember seeing any of them at the funerals. I was then known as the girl who had lost her whole family. Throughout the day, I heard crazy stories about my families deaths. Anything from a car accident to my dad and I killing all of them. It was all crazy and I was about ready to lose it. The only thing keeping me sane was the thought of practice after school.
My period of sulking was over. I would begin school, practice, and work once again. As normal. Maybe that could even get my mind off of everything. I was so close to yelling at everyone all day. But finally the day ended and I was able to blow off steam at practice. It was bound to be a hard one considering I had went without some sort of physical activity for a few weeks. By the end of the two and a half hour practice, my legs were burning and my arms were killing me and I was drenched with sweat.
By the time I got home, supper was ready and my dad and all the Lancasters were sitting at the large table, waiting for me.
"Do you want me to shower?" I asked. "I smell."
"No that's fine. We were waiting for you."
So we sat down and managed to have a nice supper together. Blaze was fine and even smiled at me a few times. I didn't smile back because the thought of him yelling at me still stung a little. The food was great and I was actually happy as we talked about the Solstice party. Every year I get to throw my own little twist to the party. Usually I choose masquerade. But this year I had something else in mind.
"Do you have your own twist, Electra?" My dad asked.
I swallowed my food before replying. "Of course."
"May I ask what it is?"
"Ball."
He hesitated. "Ball?"
"Yeah. Like a ball. The big dresses and the large ballroom. No childish masks this year."
"Interesting. And your dress coincides with this correct?"
"Oh of course. I've had this planned since last years party. I wanted a change."
"Perfect. The Winter Solstice Ball. It has a certain ring to it."
"Three weeks away. Better get to decorating."
"You'll help, right Electra?"
"Of course, dad."
"Good. Now if you're all done with supper, I think an early retirement to our rooms is really needed."
I didn't complain and neither did anyone else. It had been a long day and an early "retirement," as my dad called it, seemed perfect. I took a shower before crawling into bed and getting warm and comfortable. My brain had shut down and I was dozing pretty heavily. Before I could even slip into a dream, I was jolted awake by knocking at my balcony doors. The knocking continued, quietly but persistently. So I cautiously went over and peeked through the curtains to see Maggie knocking and Dover looking over the front yard. I sighed in relief and opened the doors.
"About damn time. We were out there freezing our asses off for almost ten minutes." Maggie said.
"I thought you were sick." I said, crossing my arms.
"Oh I was. Sick of school. I skipped today."
"When did you turn into a badass?"
"Electra...I think I know how to break the curse."
My heart stopped. Time slowed and all I could comprehend was Maggie.
"H...How, Maggie? How?"
"It's kind of...well...you need to come see something. It'll explain everything."
"She's not lying." Dover said, rubbing warmth back into his arms.
"I'll be right out."
I shut my balcony doors behind them then slipped on some warmer clothing. The house was quiet but when I came down the stairs I saw a light from the living room. I looked into the room to see my dad asleep in the armchair with a book in his lap. The fireplace was nothing but smoldering ashes so I grabbed a blanket off the couch and was about to put it over him. But then his book caught my eye. It was older and more worn than any book I'd ever seen in our library. There were some illustrations but mostly words.
I was just about to reach for it to pull it out of his hands when it slammed shut. I jumped and dropped the blanket, readying myself to explain what I was doing standing over him and also why I was in clothes to go out. But when I looked back at him, he was fast asleep with the book curled up in his arms. Time was running out and if I didn't go outside quick, Maggie and Dover were liable to ring the doorbell, waking the whole house in the process. I made a mental note to find the book again then quietly slipped out of the house.
Maggie and Dover were sitting on the steps shivering to beat hell. I threw them the extra clothes I brought with.
"The sweats may not fit you Dover because you have legs longer than a giraffe's but it's better than nothing." I told him, throwing a pair at him.
"Oh thank God. This is definitely better than nothing."
"Where are we going?"
"The diner. Thank the Lord you brought all black. We need to blend in because I could be in big trouble." Maggie said, shoving her hair into the hood of the sweatshirt.
"Oh no. What'd you do?"
"You'll see."
So we started the two mile run to the diner. We liked to run and it even kept us warm so it was no big deal. My muscles protested the whole way after my two and a half hour practice, but I kept on without complaining. When we finally made it to the diner, it was nearing eight o'clock; closing time. We snuck to the back without being spotted, but almost had a heart attack as Mary threw open the back door to take out the garbage. We quietly stood in the shadows until she went back inside.
"So what happened now? Hurry up. I don't want to be caught sneaking around my job." I whispered to Maggie.
She turned and stared sadly at the wall. I turned as well and, even though I was still warm from the run, all the warmth seemed to leave my body, leaving me shaking and weak.
"Ho...ly...shit."
