18
ALWAYS EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED, AND KNOW THAT
SOME SIGNS HANDLE SURPRISE EVENTS BETTER THAN
OTHERS. ARIES BLAZES PAST ANY CHANGE OF PLANS.
TAURUS DOESN’T LIKE ANY SUDDEN ONES. GEMINI
HEADS FOR THE BACK BURNER AND PLAN B, C, AND
MAYBE EVEN D. CANCER RESISTS. LEO GETS BOSSY.
VIRGO WORRIES. LIBRA DELIBERATES. SCORPIO IGNORES.
SAGITTARIUS TALKS MORE. CAPRICORN WORKS MORE.
AQUARIUS THINKS MORE. PISCES WITHDRAWS MORE.
It was true that I was thinking more, but it was all I could do just now. Finally, I had a chance to look at the ephemeris for the weekend of October 31. And, yes, I should have done it sooner. Arianna wasn’t the only one who had a potential for disaster at that time. It appeared as though I had better be equally cautious. Not only was Fire sign Leo going to be squared, but Mars was going to be in Sagittarius, another Fire sign that would affect my Aries Rising. And maybe not in a good way.
As I sat there trying to digest the astrological warning glyphs early that morning, I received a text message from Cory.
Sorry. Have to take a date to the party. Still hope to see u there. CS.
Why was Cory—make that CS—apologizing to me? We had only planned to meet up there. And now, just after I had insisted that he should be in the magazine, he was telling me that he had to take someone to the party. The someone could be only one person. Stacy had found her King of Hearts, and I had helped seal the magazine deal. She had used me, and maybe he had too.
Mercury in Retro had taken its toll. Paige spilled Chai tea on her sketchbook. Chili had left her bag, books, and homework in journalism.
That morning Paige showed us the sketches of her Aphrodite costume. Even through the tea stains, the drawings were amazing. Looking at them, I could imagine that sleek, draped, and fitted gown with intricate braided cords and slits that revealed matching gladiator sandals. I tried to picture her in it and knew that it would be a Paige we had never seen before.
“It’s beautiful,” I said. “And you will be too.”
“I just hope I can pull it off. It’s the spirit and the soul of everything I want to show Graciela about my design abilities. I’m just wondering if I should ask someone else to wear it.”
“You have to wear it,” Chili said. “How else will Graciela know it’s your design?”
“And there’s no reason to get someone else involved.” I ran my finger along one of the drawings. “You have the perfect shape for it, Paige.”
“Make that lack of shape.” But I could tell she was feeling more confident.
“A model’s shape.” Chili said. “Just suck in your cheeks, turn off your smile, and channel your inner bitch.”
We were still talking about the dress when we got to school.
Dina waited for us in the parking lot. This time, Kat was with her. They wore matching white shirts and big own-the-world grins.
“Hi, Chili. Hi Paige. Hiiii...,” Dina called out as if unable to turn off the one-word-fits-all-Terra High greeting machine.
“Dude,” Chili interrupted, “what the hell is your problem? Or do you always hang out in parking lots? Never know who you might pick up there, do you?”
“You could teach us a lot about picking up guys, Chili.” Aries Kat was in rare form. Pure Cardinal bitch. Her eyes had so much liner on them and so much mascara that it flaked in ugly chunks. I wondered how she could see around them.
“You’d better shut your mouth,” I told her. “This isn’t going to play out the way it did before. You aren’t going to turn the school against me again.”
“I don’t even care about you right now, Logan.”
“Good. Then get the hell out of our way,” I said. “How pathetic, hanging out here waiting for us to show up.”
“Pathetic is right.” Chili gave her a look of pure disgust. “And before you go to class, you really ought to wash your face.”
Paige and I exchanged looks. The bad Gemini twin had been unleashed.
Although clearly pissed, Kat continued to smile. I could only imagine how much she wanted to rub her finger under her eyes.
Instead she pointed her key at the monster of an SUV beside us. Mega click. Monster car was unlocked. Kat reached in.
“I have something of yours,” she said and pulled out Chili’s book bag.
“Where’d you steal that?” I asked.
“I didn’t steal it.” She grinned. “I found it in the journalism room. And, yeah, girls, I found more than I bargained for.”
“Give it to me.” Chili yanked it out of her hands.
“Oh, you can have it back now.” Kat crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ve already taken everything I need. From your cell phone, I mean.”
Chili’s eyes grew wide, and she almost choked. “You slutty, little ...”
“You should talk.”
“What is it, Kat?” I demanded. “What are you trying to say?”
“Let your friend answer that one.” Over her shoulder, Kat spelled out, “S-E-X.”
“Chili?” I still couldn’t figure out what was going on.
She seemed to melt. “You skank,” she shouted to Kat. “You’re the biggest bitch in school. You flash your ass and your tats all over town. You have no right to even attempt to ...”
Kat smirked. “Tell me one time I ever sent my naked boobs to anyone.”
“They weren’t naked.” Chili looked frantic now. “Big freaking deal.”
“Sexting,” she said. “Come on, Dina. We have a lot of work to do.”
Paige and I turned to Chili. She blinked and tossed her hair. “It’s not like I was naked or anything,” she said, and burst into tears.
“How naked?” I whispered.
“I cropped the shot.” She made a chopping movement across her front and then reached for the clump of tissues Paige handed her.
“Why didn’t you tell us,” Paige asked, in a pleading voice.
“Because I knew you’d tell me not to. I knew you’d tell me it was too dangerous.” She wiped her eyes and turned her smeared face toward me. “Freaking Mercury in Retrograde. Oh, Logan, what am I going to do?”
NOTES TO SELF
I didn’t have any easy answers for her, and neither did the stars. Kat and Dina played their game all day long. Soon everyone in school had a fine view of most of Chili’s magnificent chest. The photo even showed up in Bodmer’s class by way of Dina. Bodmer took her phone on the spot and sent both it and Dina to the Student Responsibility Center. At least that phone would stay there until one of Dina’s parents picked it up.
Tonight, Chili tried to explain it to Paige and me that Alex was the only guy for her. Since he was older and more sophisticated, she wanted him to have something special. He had asked for a really personal commitment and had even sent some photos of himself to her. Thankfully, she had deleted them before Kat got hold of her phone.
So now we have a couple of problems. The first is Chili’s attractive upper and very bare chest being shared around school. The second is will this little social error keep her from being able to attend the magazine launch party? I don’t know. All I know is that Mercury is in Retrograde and communication and technical errors are going to be common. In a way, Chili’s situation is both. And Mercury is Gemini’s ruling planet. It’s going to be double trouble for her this time.
CRUSHES: HOW TO INTRIGUE A SCORPIO
By Logan McRae
That Scorpio guy is probably one of the most passionate ones you will ever meet. Passionate about what he wears to school. Passionate about what he eats for lunch. Passionate about whom he dates, and, most of all, passionate about his past. He may not be happy about his role and responsibilities in his family, but he’ll be passionate about them as well.
To get him looking at you, don’t ask many questions. Unlike the chatty Air signs, he’ll hold back at first, and only tell you when he’s ready. Or maybe never.
Here are three ways to intrigue him: • Demonstrate trust. That Scorpion isn’t going to come one step closer unless you show that you’re someone safe. Translated, someone who can keep his secrets. Refuse to discuss any school gossip that involves a friend. Make, “That’s a confidence I can’t break,” your new favorite mantra. Don’t spill personal info, and that Scorpio will soon be looking your way.
• Share intensity. When the weather cooperates, tell him how much you enjoy a rainstorm. Suggest that the two of you watch it together. Scorpio doesn’t mind if you make the first move.
• Stay separate and independent. Make it clear that, as much as you are into him, you have your own life and your own interests. Scorpio doesn’t want to be joined at the hip from day one.
What to say when he asks you out: “Let’s go someplace quiet where we can just talk.”