Wendy Corsi Staub - Lily Dale: connecting

Monday, September 24
3:09 p.m.

Jacy! Dumping her math notebook into her backpack, Calla hurries to catch up with him as he strides out of the classroom after the last bell. Wait up!

Jacy doesnt stop walking, and he doesnt look back, but he does slow down enough to let her fall into step beside him.

Whats up? he asks tersely.

Maybe this wasnt such a great idea after all, she concludes, fumbling with the zipper on her backpack, then slinging it over one shoulder.

Bold confrontations never been her style.

But then, its not like she and Jacy arent friends, right? If nothing else.

And friends talk to each other.

Which Jacy hasnt done at all today. Or last week, either, for that matter.

Shes been trying to convince herself that it might be her imagination that hes been standoffish. But the other day, he was less than friendly in the cafeteria, and today, when she was really paying close attention, she couldnt help but notice that he didnt talk to her or sit near her or even glance in her direction.

Which is odd, considering where they left off that night on Odelias front porch, when Calla was 99.9 percent sure Jacy would have kissed her good night if Evangelines brother, Mason, hadnt ruined the moment.

A few nights later, Jacy jogged by Odelias house as she was waiting for Blue Slayton to pick her up for a date. Of course, he didnt know that was where she was going...

Or did he?

Jacy, like everyone else around here, is a gifted psychic.

Anyway, Lily Dale isnt just a small town filled with psychics; its a small town, period. Word gets around.

So Jacy probably knows all about her and Bluemaybe he saw her talking to him in the cafeteria yesterday, evenand now hes giving her the cold shoulder, because...

Well, because hes jealous, which seems out of character. What else can it be, though?

Anyway, if hes such a gifted psychic, shouldnt he realize that Calla isnt only interested in Blue Slayton? Doesnt Jacy realize that she likes him just as much? Or maybe even more?

Theres something about lanky, soft-spoken Jacywith his sensitive mouth and exotic dark hair, eyes, and complexion that has physically appealed to her from the first time they connected, back in August.

Yes, and even then, as they shook hands, Calla was literally jolted by... something. Some kind of static electricity, sizzling up her arm.

Early on, Jacybronzed and usually barefoothad a way of popping up when she least expected it, kind of like the many spirits who tend to hang around Lily Dale. And, like the spirits, his presence tends to rattle Callatie her tongue in knots and make her heart beat faster, though not for the same reasons.

The foster son of a pair of local male mediums, Jacys a relative newcomer to the Dale himself. But Calla never would have guessed that, considering his insight into how things work around hereand on the Other Side.

Until she spilled her suspicions to Lisa the other day, Jacy was the only one who knew about Callas theory that her mothers death was no accident. Hes the one who helped her decipher the spirit messages that led to that conclusion, and hes been helping her try to track down the long-missing Darrin Yates, her mothers long-ago boyfriend.

Maybe hes just being a good friend and nothing more.

He did hold her hand as they walked home together after that troubling confrontation with Darrins parents...

But that was probably because he felt sorry for her, after the way the Yateses treated heras if her mother possibly had something to do with Darrins disappearance years ago.

Anyway, Blues the one whos been asking her out, not Jacy. It was Blue who kissed her good night, and Blue who invited her to homecoming, and if she had any common sense, shed get over Jacy right now.

Uh-huh. Good luck with that.

Whats up with you lately? she asks him over the chaotic chatter that echoes through the crowded corridor.

The same. Homework. Running.

Running. Hes on the cross-country team.

Is it my imagination, or have you been avoiding me lately? She waits for him to deny it, but he does the opposite.

No, he replies evenly, its not your imagination.

Caught off guard, she wonders what shes supposed to say to that.

Did I... um, do something to make you mad?

Mad? No.

Jealous, then?

She doesnt dare ask that.

She has a moment to think of something else to say as they take opposite routes past a handful of girls gathered around someones cell phone in the hallway, laughing about a text message one of them is typing in.

Hi, Calla, a voice calls from the group as she passes.

Its Pam Moraco, a petite, sharp-featured blonde who might be more attractive if her smile ever reached her close-set eyes.

Hey, Pam, Calla says briefly, and is glad, and not at all surprised, to see that Pam and her friends are much more interested in the cell phone than in her.

She moves past them and meets up with Jacy again on the other side, still wondering what shes going to say to him. But before she has a chance to come up with something, he stops walking and turns to her.

What? she asks, taken aback by the accusation in his narrowed black eyes.

I know what happened last Saturday night.

Last Saturday night, I was at home playing cards with my dad and my grandmother and the Taggarts, she tells him, confused. Is that a problem?

No... last Saturday night. Not this past one.

Last Saturday: her date with Blue, and Blue asking her to homecoming...

So she was right. Hes jealous.

Well, its not like you didnt have the opportunity to do it yourself, she shoots back, not sure whether to be irritated or flattered by his blunt honesty.

Something flickers in his expression, but he says nothing.

I was actually kind of hoping you would, she goes on, but he beat you to it.

There. Total honesty in exchange for his. Its only fair.

Now what?

Now, most likely, Jacy will tell her how much he regrets missing his chance, and that he hopes to make up for it.

If he asks her out now, shell definitely say yes, Blue or no Blue. They might have a homecoming dance date, but its not like she cant go out with anyone else in the meantime.

She glances back at Pam and her gossipy friends, to see if any of them are paying attention to her and Jacy.

It doesnt seem like it, but you never know.

Calla might be free to talk to other guys, or even date them, but she really doesnt need anyone running back to Blue and starting trouble.

Come on, she tells Jacy. Lets go.

Jacy obliges, but hes wearing a confused expression. What do you mean, he beat you to it?

I mean, he asked first. What was I supposed to do, say no because Id rather go with you?

Go where?

Suddenly uneasy, Calla asks slowly, What do you mean, go where?

Theres a long pause.

I, uh, dont think were talking about the same thing.

You said... last Saturday night.

Right. I was up late that night, and I saw the cops over at your place, and

She gasps, pressing her hands to her flaming cheeks. That was what you meant?

Some lunatic breaking into Odelias house and attacking you. Yeah. After I warned you to be careful.

Totally mortified, Calla shakes her head, barely hearing his words.

So he wasnt talking about Blue, and her love life, and his wishing he had asked her out.

No, he was talking about that lunatic killer coming after her.

Meanwhile, I just basically told him that not only do I have athing for him, but that Id much rather go to the dance with him thanBlue.

Its a wonder hes even still here talking to her, but he is, not that she can really even grasp what hes saying.

I told you I thought there was something... I just had a bad feeling. I knew you were in trouble. You should have been more careful. If you had just