Initiation by L. J. Smith

Author:L. J. Smith [Smith, L. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

"You're looking better this morning, Mom," Cassie said. Her mother, sitting on the edge of her bed, smiled at her.

"It was a bad flu, but I am better now," she said. "And you – you're looking happier, sweetheart."

"I am," Cassie said, dropping a quick kiss on her mother's cheek. You'll never know how much, she thought.

This morning was almost like the first day of school in excitement and anticipation. I don't care if everyone else in the entire school hates me, Cassie thought. Diana will be there. Just thinking about that will make the rest not matter.

Diana was looking particularly beautiful that day, wearing a green suede jacket lined with blue silk over jeans faded almost white. At her throat hung a simple pendant with a single stone in it, a milky stone with a blue-white shimmer. Cassie was proud just to walk beside her at school.

And in the halls, she noticed something strange. It was hard to walk three steps without getting stopped by someone.

"Oh, hi, Diana – have you got a minute?" "Diana! I'm so glad to see you…" "Diana, it's killing me. Won't you just think about this weekend?" (This from a guy.) Practically everybody they passed wanted to talk with Diana, and those who didn't have something to say hung around the edges just listening.

Cassie watched Diana speak to each of them. The guys begging for dates were the only ones she dismissed, smiling. Some of the people shot nervous glances at Cassie, but none of them backed away or said anything nasty. Apparently Diana had the power to counteract even Faye.

Finally, a few minutes before the bell, Diana pulled away from the crowd and walked Cassie to her English class. She not only came inside but sat down at a desk beside Cassie's and chatted with her, ignoring everyone who was looking at them.

"We'll have to have another pizza party this week," she said in a clear, carrying voice.

"And Laurel and I were talking about ways to redecorate your room if you still want to.

Laurel's very artistic. And I really think you ought to transfer into my AP history class if you can. It's last period, and the teacher, Ms. Lanning, is great…"

She went on talking, seeming utterly oblivious to the rest of the class. But Cassie could feel something bubbling up inside her like the carbonation in a bottle of soda. Girls who had actually turned their backs and scuttled away from her last week were now listening avidly to Diana's monologue, nodding as if they were part of the conversation.

"Well, I guess I'd better go – I'll meet you at eleven fifteen for lunch," Diana said.

"Where?" Cassie asked, almost panicking as Diana got up. She had just realized she'd never seen Diana – or Laurel or Melanie either – at lunch.

"Oh, in the cafeteria – the part in the rear. Behind the glass door. We call it the back room.

You'll see it," Diana said. The girls around Cassie were exchanging looks of astonishment.

As Diana walked away one of them spoke.

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