A few minutes later, they'd reached the end of the path where the cabins that housed the office and the dining hall were located. She glanced around to see if she could spot Helen, the shy half-fae who had checked Kylie for a brain tumor, but Kylie didn't see her.
Because Helen was also a healer, Kylie figured she would be the person to ask about the gift. Questions like "Have you ever brought something back to life?" But Helen wasn't one of the teens hanging out front of the dining hall. However, Kylie did see Burnett walk into the office and she remembered she had things to talk to him about, too.
She turned to Perry. "I need to chat with Burnett for a bit. I'll see you in few-"
"No, you won't," Perry said. "Where you go, I go. It's questionable if you can pee today." He grinned. "And I've got Burnett's permission to morph into a giant anteater and kick ass and ask questions later if anyone tries to take over my job."
Kylie rolled her eyes, knowing Burnett had been talking about Lucas. And thinking of Lucas, she looked around a second time, but he wasn't in the crowd either.
Looking back at Perry, she added, "Yeah, but I'm going to see Burnett. I don't think you have to be there then."
He tightened his shoulders. "Where you go, I go. Until Burnett dismisses me."
"Oh, hell. Come on."
* * *
Breakfast started out awkward. As had walking into Holiday's office, Perry in tow, and seeing Burnett sitting at Holiday's desk for the second time. Thankfully, Burnett dismissed Perry for their chat. Kylie asked for any update on the elderly couple who had pretended to be her grandparents and was told that nothing had come through yet.
She almost told Burnett about the dream with Red but at the last moment decided she wanted to be able to handle one thing on her own. And this was it. If it happened again, she'd talk to Holiday, but for now, she was flying solo on this mission. As crazy as it sounded, it felt kind of good, too. She wanted to believe she could take care of herself.
When she'd told Burnett about Holiday's aunt passing away, he'd looked shocked and ... something else. It took her a second, but she'd recognized the emotion in his eyes. Hurt.
"Why would she not tell me this?" he had asked.
"I'm sure she's just dealing with it in her own way," Kylie had tried to assure him, but she could tell her efforts were futile. And as she'd turned to leave, she didn't know what compelled her to do it, but she'd looked back over her shoulder and said, "Be patient with her. She's worth it."
Now, in the dining hall, Perry still in tow, Kylie stared at her breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast. For a change, the eggs weren't runny and the bacon wasn't raw or burned. But she'd eaten only a few bites, and after being painfully aware that everyone was staring at her forehead again, she decided she must have left her appetite at the cabin.
A symphony of noise-people jabbering, forks clinking, and trays being dropped onto the tables-bounced around the large cabin. Both Miranda and Della were missing in action, and Kylie hadn't spotted Helen or Lucas either.
Unfortunately, she had spotted Derek and Ellie.
They sat together at a table toward the back. It was only right that Derek sit with her, considering she was the new kid at camp. Last night, staring at the ceiling for a good two hours, Kylie had resigned herself not to hate Ellie or Derek, but to accept things-even if it meant seeing them come together as a couple-and move on.
Kylie had also resigned herself to making good on that promise to Della and give Lucas a chance. However, even after all that resigning she'd done, seeing Derek and Ellie whispering to each other stung like a fire ant bite between the toes.
Time, Kylie told herself. In time, it wouldn't hurt. "I need a fast-forward button," she muttered.
"A what?" Perry asked.
"Nothing," Kylie said. "Just muttering to myself." She looked up and caught another three or four people twitching their brows at her. She turned and looked at Perry. "What's it doing now?"
"What's what doing?"
"My friggin' pattern. Everyone's staring again."
Perry twitched. "Oh, shit! It's doing that shifting thing again. Only faster."
Kylie closed her eyes. "I'm so tired of being everyone's entertainment, of being the freak on display."
"You're not a freak," Perry said, sounding concerned. "You're just different." He gave her a nudge with his elbow. "But everyone likes you anyway."
Opening her eyes, she muttered, "Thanks."
"Are you going to eat that piece of bacon?" Perry asked.
"No." She pushed her tray over to him. Miranda came strolling by with her breakfast tray in her hands. Stopping, about to plop down beside Kylie, she spotted Perry.
She froze. "What is he doing here?" she asked as if Perry couldn't hear her.
"Eating breakfast," Kylie said, hoping to deter Perry from saying something smartass. Seeing him open his mouth, she gave him a good kick under the table. He flinched but closed his mouth.
"Well, I'll just join my sister witches today and let you enjoy each other's company." Miranda turned to leave.
Kylie grabbed Miranda by the arm, bringing her to a sudden halt that almost had Miranda's eggs taking a flying leap off her tray.
"Sit down. Please," Kylie begged. When Miranda looked about to argue, she added, "I could use the support." She cut her eyes toward Derek and Ellie. And it was true, she could use the support, but neither could she deny that she wanted to get Miranda over her repugnance of Perry. He really wasn't a bad guy.
Miranda relented and dropped down on the bench seat. Kylie mouthed, "Thank you," and then asked, "Where's Della?"
"Off drinking blood with the other vamps," Miranda answered just as she shoved a piece of toast into her mouth.
Kylie grabbed her milk and took a long sip while searching for a topic of conversation that would get Miranda and Perry talking.
"So," Kylie said, dropping the half-empty milk carton. "Does anyone know if Holiday has hired any teachers yet for the school year?"
Perry, as if he'd figured out what Kylie was up to, jumped into the conversation. "When I was at the office last night with Burnett, he got a call from some fae dude that Holiday had supposedly hired. I think he's supposed to show up and move into his cabin next week."
Miranda, as if she'd figured out what Kylie was up to, too, started forking eggs into her mouth.
Kylie and Perry chatted a few minutes about the fae teacher and how it would be odd to actually go to real classes at the camp in the fall. Miranda continued to shove food in her mouth as if needing an excuse not to talk.