Jocelyn Davies - A Beautiful Dark

A Beautiful Dark

Jocelyn Davies

For my grandparents Sandra and Mark Messler, who have been saving a place for my first novel on their coffee table since I was old enough to spell

Contents

It happened at night. I woke to the sound of the wind blowing my curtains back. I opened my eyes but saw nothing. Not even moonlight. Not even shadows.

And in the morning, the window was closed. A feather rested on the floor beneath it, the only reminder that Id woken up in the night at all. In the shadows, I couldnt tell if it was lightor dark.

T he air had a brutal edge to it as I stood outside of Love the Bean, the local free-trade coffee shop. Snow from a recent storm had frozen over in the subsequent days chill, leaving the roads and the sidewalks in town slick and hazardous. I almost slipped four different times as I walked from my car to the front door. The wind sliced at my neck where it was exposed beneath my hat, and I scanned up and down the street for signs of life.

Welcome to Saturday night in River Springs, Colorado: downtown was dead. Edens Gate Market, Big Mouths Diner, Into the Woods Outdoor Co.: most of the storefronts were dark.

Cassie and Dan were waiting for me inside the coffee shop. Every year I made them promise not to throw me a party, and every year they didnt listen. It had become a tradition. So tonight, Id planned everything. We were starting with celebratory cupcakes and lattes, courtesy of our friend Ian, who worked at the Bean and was always giving us free stuff; then when Ian ended his shift the four of us were going to see the midnight show of Storm Enemy at the Clark Street Cineplex, because I loved, loved, loved terrible disaster movies.

Struggling not to lose my balance on the icy sidewalk, I pushed through the front door.

At first, I thought Id made a mistake. Except for the recent addition of some fairy-tale-caliber twinkle lights, the room was mostly dark, and completely empty.

Hello? I whispered. The door closed behind me with a light jangle of bells. I could hear a quiet, insistent sound. A soft shhhh ing.

Surprise! Cassie jumped out at me from behind a purple velvet armchair.

Come on , I groaned dramatically, finding it difficult to act surprised when I really wasnt. I should have known shed ignore my plan in favor of hers.

On cue, probably half of the junior class exploded out from behind various other velvet armchairs and overstuffed couches and from behind the coffee bar. I could see the rest of the girls from the ski team, Cassies friends from her band, and Dans track buddies. Northwood High School was small enough that most of the different groups got along, and apparently my birthday was enough of a reason for them to converge.

Happy birthday! everyone yelled.

Cassie! I hit her with my hat. You promised!

She held up her hands in surrender. Sorry. You know I never do what you tell me to do. She laughed and shook her head. You never learn.

Cassie grabbed my arm and maneuvered me through the crowd toward a circle of couches in the back. I could see Dan waiting for us with a mischievous smile and a glittering box.

Okay, wait, I know you also said no presents, Cassie shouted above the music as we worked our way through the throng, but I have no self-control.

You better not have spent

Of course not. Dont worry, its total crap.

When we got to the table, I started to say I hate you, but Dan interrupted me by nearly toppling me over in a bear hug. Aw, dont be mad! Are you mad? Do you still love us? Because if not, my plan to finally have Cassie all to myself worked. He punched Cassie playfully on her arm. She rubbed the spot, and I could see the muscles in her cheeks twitch as if she was trying not to smile.

Please, do you see the apocalypse? Because Id give up on that happening until you do. She reached down to pick up a steaming mug. And even then, its negotiable.

Im holding out for a hot zombie, I added.

Yeah, or, like, the hot scientist who finds the cure.

Or the hot government agent whos assigned to protect you from the international terrorist who plans to wipe out the nation with the worlds first zombie virus weapon of mass destruction.

Because you carry the zombie virus antidote in your blood.

Exactly.

Its a recessive trait.

What movie are we talking about? Dan asked.

Anyway, Skye, Cassie said, ignoring Dans question and holding the mug out ceremoniously, this is for you. She opened her cardigan, and a flash of metallic flask glinted at me. Seventeen is a big year.

Itd be bigger if the apocalypse was coming, Dan mumbled.

Did you two start drinking before I got here? I asked teasingly.

Cassie was decked out for the occasion in a floral minidress under her favorite yellow vintage cardigan, her red hair piled loosely on top of her head. She wore thick, sweatery tights and snow boots that were ubiquitous in Colorado during the winter. Dan was in his navy blue hoodie, the one he never took off. His straight brown hair flopped in his eyes, and he pushed it back. I just couldnt stay mad at them. Theyd been my best friends since kindergarten, and we were still as tight a unit as ever.

Okay, I admit it, I said. You guys are amazing. This place looks incredible.

Aw, she likes it! Dan nudged Cassie. Dont get all mushy on us now, Skye.

It better look effing incredible. Cassie sighed. It took me like two hours to finish making the paper icicles and untangle those little twinkle lights.

You are a craft goddess, I assured her.

Speaking of crafty, Dan said, pointing to the present on the couch behind him, you probably dont want to hear thishis voice dropped to a stage whisperbut we got you something . He mock-ducked, as if I was going to hit him.

Hilarious, I said. Did you practice that?

The present was wrapped in wrinkled silver tinfoil with gold glitter glue looping out the words Happy Birthday, Skye .

The present was totally my idea, Cassie said.

But I was in charge of wrapping it, Dan said, jumping in.

As if she couldnt tell. Cassie rolled her eyes at me. But dont open it now; it might be too much for your surprise-averse heart. Do us all a favor and open it later when we dont have to painfully wait for your reaction. Okay?

Okay. I laughed. Plus, I dont want to ruin this gorgeous wrapping job.

Its harder than it looks, Dan insisted.

Id like to propose a toast. I know I dont usually like surprises, but... They looked at me expectantly. This one is pretty cool. Thanks.

Cassie lifted her mug. We like doing this stuff. It makes us feel all warm and fuzzy. And we know birthdays are hard for you. I gave her a pointed look, which she pretended not to notice.

To always having each others backs. Dan raised his own mug.

To seventeen, Cassie added. The year it all falls into place.

Our mugs clinked together, echoing through the noisy coffeehouse as if it were only the three of us.

The twinkle lights cast a fuzzy glow over everything, and the music blasted full-volume out of the coffee shop speakers. More than one person had Cassies idea to stash a flask on them. Maggie Meltzer, the captain of the girls ski team, fed me shots of Jgermeister from her pink aluminum water bottle as the rest of the team started a dance party around us. Someone else pushed one of Dans track friends up against me and then we were dancing, too. From somewhere I couldnt quite pinpoint, I heard Cassies voice float up: For someone who isnt crazy about surprises, shes really taken to this one.

Eventually I started to feel a little dizzy, like when you swim too far from shore and suddenly realize that you cant touch the bottom anymore. Pausing for breath, I tipsily made my way back to our couches, using my arms to propel myself off the furniture, swimming against the tide. Cassie was sitting next to Dan, their heads tilted toward each other, their knees almost touching as they talked.