I don’t know what to do.

“You’re frowning again,” Willow says, and I paste a smile on my face. She turns to Nadine. “You’re frowning too. You’re both ruining the moment.”

Nadine’s smile looks just as fake as mine. She still hasn’t found her friend. We share a look that promises we’ll keep our smiles in place for Willow.

So I let them paint my nails green. I protest only a little when they pull out the rack of gowns Lucius has sent for us. I kind of like gowns. I love feeling beautiful when I wear them. When I see Deb again, maybe I’ll let her take me shopping. My gown tonight is sapphire blue, the ocean at its purest, with a strapless top, cinched at the waist with a jeweled belt. I look like a pirate’s treasure with my flashing nails. Nadine’s blue dress is so dark it’s almost black. It hugs her legs and fans at the knees, shimmering with the faintest hint of light whenever she moves. Her silver nails turn her into a twilight goddess. Whereas she is the night, Willow is the day in sky-blue taffeta rolling from an empire waist. Her pink nails are the faintest hint of sunset against the sky. We are the night and the day and the sea—all different, yet all beautiful.

We part ways in the hallway as they head down, and I head to my room to wait for Xander to escort me.

My phone buzzes. It’s an unknown number, and I move to ignore the call, but it could always be Parker’s school or something, so I accept.

“Hello?”

“Ava?” Parker’s voice makes my heart leap with nervousness and love, and I suddenly miss him so much that tears threaten to fill my eyes, but I fight them off even with no one watching.

“Hey, kid. Where are you calling me from? This isn’t Deb’s number.”

“Deb got me my own cell, so I could text you, but I wanted to hear your voice,” he says.

Next time I see Deb, I’ll smile at her for real. My throat aches with happiness.

“Are you still traveling with the magicians?”

“Yeah.” I try and pick up on any resentment in his voice. Any sadness. I might go back right now if I hear it.

“I can’t wait to tell everyone at school next year. They already think I’m the coolest because I had them at my party. Will you be traveling back here soon?”

“I think so.” I don’t really know, but I vow to make it happen.

“Jacob’s texting me. He got a phone too.” He pauses and then laughs. “He wants to know if I want a cookie from downstairs. Gotta go. Love you.”

“Love you too.”