Chapter 20
Creepy Vampires to the Left, Stalkers to the Right

“Velcome!” A pimply-faced teenager in a satin Dracula cape, plastic fangs, and a penciled-in widow’s peak leapt into the doorway of Scare-O-Rama, Tucson’s best-stocked Halloween store. “Can I help you? You girls look good enough to bite!” When he laughed, he sounded like the Count from Sesame Street.

“Ew, no!” Laurel said, brushing past him. Dracula covered half his face with his cape, shunned vampire-style, and scooted away to his perch behind the counter.

It was Thursday after school, and Emma and Laurel were on the hunt for their Homecoming costumes. Truthfully, all Emma had wanted to do for the rest of the night was lie in Sutton’s bed in a tight, safe ball and thank her lucky stars that the light fixture hadn’t been a couple of inches to the left, but she’d finally relented after Laurel’s constant badgering. The dance was tomorrow, after all—time was running out. And even if she didn’t have a date, she had to attend in style. But just venturing into the world felt dangerous, like Lili and Gabby could be anywhere or do anything.

Emma kept checking their private Twitter accounts, but they hadn’t posted anything new since Gabby’s tweet that afternoon. She needed more on them—something concrete, unequivocal. But she’d scoured Sutton’s bedroom, house, iPhone, social networking sites, two lockers, and everywhere else she could think of.

Laurel took Emma’s arm and guided her to the racks of costumes cramming nearly every inch of the store. Pitchforks, sparkly top hats, slasher masks, and spiders hung on the wall. Fun-house mirrors made Emma’s body look either lumpish or taffy-stretched. Predictably, “Monster Mash” blared over the stereo, and Dracula and his coworker—a tall girl stuffed into a leather bustier—bobbed along to the beat. Laurel strode up to a rack of southern belle hoop skirts and touched the faux taffeta. “I’m thinking of something retro.” She tied a bonnet under her chin and posed to the right and left. “What do you think? Is it me?”

Despite her exhaustion, Emma smiled. “It’s definitely you.” They both collapsed into giggles. For once, Emma actually felt close to Laurel, almost like she was a real sister. The only thing missing here was Sutton herself.

What I wouldn’t give for Emma, Laurel, and me to be shopping together right now, trying on stupid witch hats and fake noses. Having a true blood sister would change so much. Emma and I would be instant family, a different kind than I’d ever experienced. There would be no jealousy that my parents loved her more than me. We would be bound together always; I would try my hardest for us to have the best relationship possible.