A Tale of Two Centuries (16 page)

Chapter Seventeen

“Alessandra?”

My cousin’s frantic shriek jerks me from staring at my shocking reflection. Two days have passed since our day at the amusement park. Two days of drifting through the endless school day, knowing my time in the twenty-first century is only one sign away from ending. Two days of hearing Austin’s confession of his past repeating in my mind. And two days of hiding the black shopping bag stuffed with clothes at the back of Cat’s closet, wondering when I would get the courage to wear what was inside.

This morning I decided that day is today.

It’s time I abandoned myself fully to this process. Going along with everyone’s wishes has always been my
thing,
my way of ensuring their constant approval. But I am here. In the future. In the land of opportunity where women can stretch their wings and make mistakes. I craved adventure, I craved more, and after wasting two days wishing I could be more like that enthusiastic performer at Rush, I’m going for it.

I turn off the tap as the doorknob on the locked door of the bathroom shakes. “I hear you in there, you know,” Cat says as I dry my hands on the soft towel hanging near the sink. “Do you have any idea how much I’ve been freaking out since you didn’t show at lunch? I covered for you on Monday, but I don’t know if I can do it again. They’re gonna call my parents.”

Worry and disappointment strain her voice.

When she sees me, I’m sure that concern will grow.

The door thumps as if Cat is leaning against the wood. “I’ve been wracking my brain wondering where you could’ve gone or what you were doing—though it doesn’t exactly take a genius to figure out who you were with.” The door shakes again and she knocks twice. “Less? What’s going on? Open up!”

A hollow cavern in my stomach flutters. After enlisting Austin’s help in my complete makeover, and then basking in the pure rush of
finally
doing something wild, it never even crossed my mind that my disappearance this afternoon would affect Cat.

I meet my dark eye-lined gaze in the mirror. Monday’s stunt already kicked her overprotective vibe into full force. Confiding the truth about Austin’s challenge now would not be wise. But while I may have to withhold certain aspects of my stay, I want to share this moment with her. Whether she approves of my actions or not will be plainly obvious the moment I open the door.

My hands tremble as the fullness of my apprehension sets in.

The doorknob rattles, and I walk toward it, smoothing the sides of my newly donned modern top along the way. I place an open palm against the frame and draw a steadying breath.

This is it.

Unlocking the door, I say in a shaky voice, “Come in.”

“Oh my G—”

Fortunately, Cat’s astonished yelp cut short her blasphemy as her widened eyes rake over me. Strangely enough, her reaction is nearly the precise response I had anticipated.

To ensure she gets the entire effect, I lift my arms, displaying my exposed elbows, and fluff my hair as I turn in a slow circle. “So…what do you think?”

When I make a full rotation and face her again, Cat squeezes her eyes shut. She shakes her head and then opens them again, wide. Then she laughs.

“What do I
think
?” She tentatively reaches out and pinches a lock of my hair between her fingers. “I think what in blazing Hades did you do?”

The stupefied expression on her face gives me a twinge, and I glance at the captured strand in her grasp. The bright color makes me grin.

“Less, I’ve been scared out of my mind since lunch, wondering if you were hurt, lost, dead, or back in the sixteenth century, and you…you…” She releases her grip and wraps her hands around my head, yanking it down so she can study my hair better. “And you’ve been getting a makeover by Dr. Seuss?”

“It’s called highlights,” I explain, unable to contain my excitement. I do not know this Dr. Seuss she is referring to, but I
have
shocked my un-shockable cousin. That alone is cause for celebration. “When I couldn’t choose between the shades, the lady at the salon just let me do them all. This is Cotton Candy Pink, over here is Electric Amethyst, and this one strip here is Atomic Turquoise. I admit that one is a bit bold, but I just could not resist adding it. Isn’t it fun?”

My cousin presses a palm to her cheek. “Well, it is certainly that.” She moves her hand to her forehead as if checking for a fever, then settles a closed fist over her mouth. After a moment, she asks, “And I suppose Austin is somehow behind this experiment?”

“No,” I answer emphatically.

Austin may be at the root of most of my adventures, but this one was just me…which makes me all the prouder for it. If I ever wanted to prove I was more than a dutiful, rule-abiding daughter, this did it.

At Cat’s skeptical look, I clarify. “I asked Austin to bring me to the salon, yes. And he took me shopping Monday. But the clothes, the makeup, the hair,
and
the nails were all completely my idea.”

“Nails?” Cat asks with a laugh. “I’m almost afraid to look.”

Giddy to show off the extent of my transformation, I wave my To-Teally-Hot-coated fingernails in the air. “Aren’t they delightful? I am painted from head to toe with color.”

“It’s like a rainbow threw up,” she says dryly. She pushes away from the doorframe and walks backward toward her bed, unable to stop gaping at me. Plopping onto the soft mattress, she raises her hand, indicating my wardrobe. “Dare I ask what happened to the strict ban on elbow showing and gentlemen’s trousers?”

I lift a jean-clad leg for inspection and shrug. “I believe I may’ve overreacted upon my first encounter with them. The sensation was just so new and shocking. But that is what I am here for, is it not? To experience life and do things that I cannot in my own time?”

Almost begrudgingly, and blinking repeatedly as if she still cannot make sense of me, she nods.

I’ve avoided telling Cat about finding the second sign, afraid that once I admit it aloud it will make it true. But that’s just it—it is true. And admitting it may help explain what she obviously believes to be my crazy behavior. Joining her on the bed, I fold my legs like one of the delicious pretzel snacks I consumed in her kitchen. The complete freedom modern clothes provides for mobility is definitely a plus. “I found Reyna’s second sign.”

Cat’s sharp intake of breath and wide eyes is her only reaction.

“The soft-rose songstress was a vibrant singer with bright pink hair and a zest for life,” I say. “And watching her captivate an audience—captivate
me—
well, it woke something inside me, Cat. In the sixteenth century, all I do is live by established rules, follow expectations, and look perfect. I can never simply let go and do what
I
want. And seeing that girl out there living her life with such joy, it made me wonder if maybe she wasn’t just a marker but also a suggestion. A role model for how I should spend the rest of my journey. When I return home, I won’t be able to dye my hair on a whim, wear trousers, or go shopping unchaperoned with a male who isn’t a relative.” The lyrics to a song from my cousin’s iPhone, another modern convenience I will not have when I return but will miss, plays in my mind. “Just once I wanted to be the girl who says,
what the hell
?”

Cat’s response is a surprised bark of laughter. “Wow. Okay, note to self: keep Alessandra away from mass media.” Tucking her legs under her, she sits up tall across from me. “Less, I hear what you’re saying. I get it—remember I visited your time two months ago, so I know what it’s like where you’re from. And the clothes
do
look great, and the hair is…uh, well, fun. But, girl…” She touches my hand. “You scared the ever-loving snot out of me today.”

At the worry shining in her eyes, I lower my lashes.

She’s right. Regardless of how excited I am to be here, and how eager I am to discover all that life can truly hold, there is no excuse for upsetting my loved ones. Running my fingers along the rough texture of denim, remembering the similar dark blue of Austin’s eyes during his admission at the Snack Shoppe, I confess, “I suppose I got swept away with the possibilities of adventure. But it was wrong and selfish of me to cause you concern.”

“Yeah. It was.”

At the blunt words, I look up. Cat flashes me a frazzled grin. “But you know what? I’m not your mama. And really, it’s not that I care what you do; it’s your journey, and you should spend it how you want. But I need to make sure you’re safe while doing it. This world—my world—is totally different from what you’re used to. And I’m not even talking about cars and phones and electricity. You can’t even imagine all the ways you can get in trouble or lost around here.”

I wrinkle my nose. “But Austin was with me the whole time.”

“Yeah,” she says, shoving a section of hair behind her ear. The skin around her eyes and mouth tighten as if she is about to say something unpleasant.
This cannot be good.
“About that.”

My entire being stiffens, waiting.

Cat waves her open palms in the air. “Don’t get me wrong, if you’re gonna be gallivanting around town, I’d much rather you be with someone you trust than by yourself. And it’s not that there’s anything particularly wrong with Austin.” She pauses, tilting her head back and forth, obviously conflicted about something. She bites the corner of her lip and says, “It’s just that he doesn’t really get where you’re coming from. Or how, er,
new
all this is for you.”

I get the distinct impression that was not what she had intended to say. Ever since Austin and I started spending time together, she has acted strangely.

“Look, if you’re bored with school and want to be doing something else, I can take a few days off,” she continues. “You’re only going to be here for a short time, anyway, and skipping school is, like, a rite of passage. There are tons of places I’d love to take you.” The flash of excitement in her eyes transforms back to worry and I wonder if she is finally going to reveal what has been bothering her. Her teeth trap her lower lip and release it as she says, “But I’m not sure it’s the best idea to be hanging around with Austin quite so much.”

Time seems to stop for a moment. And the sole thought in my head is that I can’t lose Austin.

Without him, the exciting, passionate side of me that I always knew existed yet refused to let out will vanish. He’s the one who brought it out;
he’s
the one who gives me the courage to embrace it. But even more than that, the thought of spending the remainder of my time here without all his challenging taunts and devilish smiles causes a crushing heaviness to settle over my chest.

Cat’s gaze sharpens, and I realize I’m rocking back and forth. I loosen my grip around my knees and let them sink back onto the mattress.

Forcing a casual smile, I say, “I promise you, Austin is harmless.”

“Harmless?” Cat says incredulously. “I mean, it’s not like I think the boy’s gonna do bodily damage or anything, but that’s not exactly the description I’d choose. We are talking about the boy who got you—the textbook definition of Renaissance
propriety
—to break a bazillion rules, dye your hair like an Easter egg, and dress like a quote-unquote courtesan. Though”—she tilts her head—“it does kinda prove what I’m really worried about.” Her eyes pierce into mine, and I hold my breath. “You like him, don’t you?”

Clarity dawns. For Cat, a girl hurt so badly in the past, it makes sense that this would be what terrifies her the most. I rub my hands together and release a breath, pondering her question.

A few days ago, my answer would have been easy: an
automatic and resounding
no
. But that was before my conversation with Austin at the Snack Shoppe.

So how do I feel about him now?

Well, there is no escaping the fact that the boy drives me crazy. That he somehow simultaneously inspires me to want to tear his eyes out and wrap my arms around him. Or that his past brings forth my sympathy, and just one of his smoldering looks ignites a delicious fluttering in my belly. Austin pushes me. He questions me. He makes me laugh. We’re practically strangers—I’ve only known him for a fraction of the time I knew Matteo—but there is still something achingly familiar about him. It is as if his soul calls to my own, almost as if we met in another time.

No. Even though I did not come here wishing to lose my heart, denying my affection for him now would be a lie.

I lift my eyes. Cat gives me a knowing look, and I’m tempted to lie. The last time I thought I felt this way, it turned out quite unfavorably. It would be easy to save myself from the embarrassment I suffered with Matteo and feign indifference—thanks to my unfortunate skill for telling falsehoods of late, my cousin would no doubt believe me. But I can’t, I
won’t
, mislead her about something like this…not when she is trying so hard to do the same thing with her feelings for Lucas. So I shrug.

“Austin is different than you believe. When it is just the two of us, away from school, he is…” I frown, unable to complete that thought. “Actually, I cannot say he’s sweet. The truth is that he is still incredibly arrogant. Perhaps even more so. Not to mention horribly ill mannered. Half the time I wish to throttle him.”

I frown, realizing I’ve gotten severely off point, and clasp Cat’s knee. “
But
there is more to him, too. During our time together, I’ve gotten to see the real boy he hides behind that cavalier facade of his, and I am telling you, Cat, Austin’s heart is good.”

As I say the words, a tidal wave of emotion loosens within my chest. I wrap my arms around my waist in an attempt to keep it all inside.

Austin
is
good—though I doubt even he believes so.

I give my cousin a trembling smile, unfamiliar sensations coursing through me, and Cat catches her lip between her teeth. In a soft voice, she says, “But it’s not Austin’s heart I’m worried about.”

Elbows on her lap, chin in her hands, she levels me with eyes brimming with concern. “I understand if you want to spend your remaining time with him, and that’s cool. Just please promise me you’ll be careful. And I don’t mean with
him
—though I’m not gonna lie, cluing me in on any future adventures or ditching excursions would rock, and probably save me from going prematurely gray in my twenties. But I mean with your feelings. Less, we both know your stay here is temporary. It’s been almost a week already. One day soon, maybe very soon, you’re going to leave him. And you saw what happened with Lorenzo and me. Trust me when I tell you that the pain is just not worth it.”