Ari’s smile falters for a second, a shadow of doubt passing over her beautiful face.
I’ve only seen Ariella’s father once over the years, and I can’t recall having ever met her mother. I wish Ariella’s family were a little more involved with her life, just as I wish mine were a little less intrusive. But despite—or maybe because of—our dysfunctional family bonds, the sisterhood between the two of us is unbreakable.
The clock’s chime slices through the silence. Ariella smooths down her blond waves and adjusts the gold ribbon in her hair. It forms a perfect bow, with two long tails cascading down her back.
“Almost time for me to go,” I whisper, with a hint of urgency. My nerves dance beneath my skin.
Ariella fidgets beside me, her concern palpable and made visible by the slight trembling that makes her dress’s beadwork sparkle in the light. Her eyes, those blue marbles of worry, seem to outshine the sun. “Emma,” she whispers, “there’s no way you can sneak past the guards in the middle of the day.”
“I have to,” I whisper. “Malcolm is waiting for me.” The emerald fabricthat clings to my skin is cool compared to the nervous heat flaring inside me. My palms sweat.
“But your family has eyes everywhere,” she groans. Her gold ribbon dances in her trembling fingers.
“I know,” I reply. “That’s why I begged you to come over this morning.”
“This is what you wanted to talk about?” She huffs, exasperation seeping into her voice. “Sneaking away this often isn’t smart. What if you have car trouble and you’re stuck in some faraway place? Or worse, you could get kidnapped. Women alone are women in danger. They are vulnerable. Us girls have got to stick together. If you insist on going to see Malcolm, at least take me with you.”
“So we could both be kidnapped?” I laugh. I love her loyalty, but I can’t take her traveling through time with me. “I’m safe with Malcolm, okay?” I reassure her. “I’ll be fine. But I will need your help to get past the guards. And my parents… Let’s tell them that I’m going to your house.”
“I don’t know about this.” She sighs, her worry a specter haunting us both. “It scares me to think of you out there alone.”
I push harder, knowing that if I keep applying pressure she’ll eventually give in and help me. “Remember when we first met?”
I was ten at the time, a jumble of nerves, hiding behind sapphire drapes, avoiding a boy I didn’t want to dance with at one of Gran’s lavish parties. Ariella, in her yellow dress with a gold ribbon in her hair, had found me.
She laughs. “I remember how wild and scared your eyes looked.” She giggles. “I danced with you to save you from Kelvin’s two left feet.”
“It was your first rescue mission”—I chuckle—“and look at us now.”
Ariella laughs warmly. “From terrified little girls at a fancy party to… well, terrified young women plotting escapades.” Her eyes meet mine. There’s a promise there—an unspoken pact to always try to save each other. It’s a promise we made as children and that we’ve kept to this day.
I’m so glad Gran invited Ariella’s father to that party. Gran had been impressed with his skill as an aviator years ago. It doesn’t matter that she mainly did it because she pitied him after hearing that his wife had left him. My life would be hollow if Ariella weren’t a part of it. She’s my only constant outside of this magical cursed life.
Ari glances at the fireplace before meeting my eyes. “You’ve always been the brave one, convincing me to break the rules.”
“Because I knew we’d have fun and that you’d always have my back,” I say. “Just like now. Right?”
She nods and grasps my hand. For a second, the tension eases. There’s comfort in recalling our shared rebellions.
She sighs. “Malcolm’s too far. I’m terrified that something will go wrong. That you’ll meet Jack the Ripper on the roadside…”
“Relax. He hasn’t killed in over thirty years. And he was in London. Not New Orleans. Besides, if something goes wrong, we’ll fix it together. Like always.” I squeeze her hand, the memory of our past mischief giving me courage. “We’ve gotten out of bad scrapes before. Ple-e-ease. I need you to help me. To cover for me. Seeing Malcolm is worth the risk.”
“Fine,” she concedes with a frown. “This boy better be worth it. If he hurts you or breaks your heart, I’ll break his guitar. And I’ll find his house and burn it to the ground. I swear I will.”
I smile, knowing she’d try her best to do just that. I think of the open road, the thrill of the escape, of seeing Malcolm again. I kind of wish I could take her and show Malcolm how special she is, but I don’t want to risk involving her.
She says, “If we tell your parents that we’re going to my house, then wearegoing to my house first. Because I hate lying. Besides, I can give you something—like a knife for protection, in case you run into trouble on the highway. When you have that, then you can do your… thing. And if your family calls asking questions, I’ll cover for you. Okay? But don’t stay away too long or you might get us both in trouble.”
My lips curl into a smile. I knew she couldn’t deny me forever. “Thank you.” I exhale, relief flooding me. The taste of freedom is on the tip of my tongue.
“Stay safe,” Ariella pleads, her pearls clinking softly as she pulls me into an embrace. “My life would be a lonely place without you.”
“You’ll never be without me.”
“All right, let’s go before they get suspicious,” Ariella coos. “Or I lose my nerve. My friend, I’ll help you chase your thrill—but hurry back, I love you still.”
“Thank you again for being my alibi.”
