The Darlings Are Forever by Melissa Kantor

Author:Melissa Kantor [Kantor, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781423146483
Publisher: Disney
Published: 2011-12-06T00:00:00+00:00

COLIN’S MAP WAS FLAWLESS: Natalya made her way back downstairs and through the gigantic kitchen with the wall of glass doors leading out to a garden where a small pond shimmered in the light of another gas lamp. The house was more crowded than it had been when she went upstairs. She headed back up the main stairs but turned at a landing half a flight up.

This room was not quite as big as the living room, but it was still pretty big. The dark green walls were lined with hundreds and hundreds, maybe thousands of books.

Jane was sitting at the end of a small, dark green love seat. Across from her, on another love seat, sat Victoria. On a third love seat sat Morgan, Katrina, and Sloane.

As Natalya entered the room, Morgan looked up and beckoned her over eagerly. “We were just talking about you. Victoria says you guys aren’t going to the costume gala at the Metropolitan Museum!”

“Um,” Natalya began. She looked at Victoria. Costume gala? Museum?

Victoria laughed and shrugged at Natalya’s unasked question. “I didn’t even know about it.”

“Me either,” Natalya admitted. Hearing Victoria laugh, Natalya felt a sense of relief so great she could have cried. It was okay. Everything was okay.

Just to be sure, she sat down on the sofa next to Victoria and whispered into Victoria’s ear. “Are you having fun? Really?”

Victoria gave Natalya a puzzled look as Jane asked Natalya from across the space between them, “Where were you?” Her voice sounded ever so slightly accusatory, though maybe Natalya was imagining it.

Natalya turned. She wished she could tell her friends about Colin, but there was no way to do that in front of everyone. “I got a little lost.”

“Hel-lo!” Morgan sang toward the sofa Natalya and Victoria were sitting on. “What are we wearing to the gala? You are totally coming as my guests.” Still amazed at how unnecessary all of her worries had turned out to be, Natalya finally let herself relax against the back of the couch.

“I still say we should go as movie stars,” said Sloane.

“Dibs on Audrey Hepburn,” said Jane, leaning forward. “From Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

“Oh my god, I love that movie,” said Katrina.

“Jane’s made us watch it about ten million times,” said Natalya, laughing. Her cheeks felt flushed.

“I didn’t make you watch it,” Jane corrected.

A tall guy appeared in the archway of the room and looked around. He was chubby, with short black hair, and he was wearing a black T-shirt and the same khaki pants as all the other boys at the party.

“Hey, George!” Morgan waved and beckoned for him to come over.

“Where’s Grant?” Katrina called. Then she giggled and buried her face in her hands.

Morgan pushed at Katrina’s shoulder. “You have got to stop.” Katrina just giggled harder, and Morgan rolled her eyes at Natalya. For the first time, Natalya felt as though it was okay for her to roll her eyes back at Morgan; they grinned at each other.

George came over, and Morgan gestured around the circle.

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