CHAPTER 16 – Hold On
Joanna looked in the mirror as she fingered the hem of her shirt, trying to be objective as she analyzed her reflection. Her mom had taken her shopping on the far side of the island, and she had bought Joanna an entire new wardrobe. Jo had never had clothes like this before, but she liked the look. Her ripped jeans clung to her legs, and she felt badass in her leather jacket and boots.
She reached up to touch her hair; it was smooth as silk and fell in loose waves, thanks to the products her mom had finished putting in a few minutes ago. It had been a while since she'd gotten it cut, so it was long and voluminous. She stood straight and confident, despite the bleak terror inside her. How could she do this? How could she face her friends, her ex-boyfriend? Her mouth twisted grimly. Kirsten, Alex. She smoothed the expression quickly with practiced ease. She had to be able to lie. She couldn't – she wouldn't – bring them into this. She'd gotten very good at ignoring the faint painful echo of her heartbeat in her chest. It was easy to pretend it wasn't there; strangely enough, when she was with Asher, it ceased to exist.
She leaned into the mirror, holding the mascara wand carefully. Her hand trembled slightly as she brushed it through her eyelashes, trying not to think of the countless times Kirsten had done this to her at one of their monthly sleepovers. She swallowed hard and leaned back. For a second she couldn't breath, unable to remember where she'd put her glasses. The momentary panic dissipated, leaving her with a feeling of unease. Her glasses hadn't been on her when she'd been kidnapped, and she'd long since gotten rid of the contacts she'd had in at the time. Of course, she had perfect sight after getting her Marks and no longer needed them.
She stepped back, her heels tapping against the hardwood as she crossed the room and slung her backpack over her shoulder. I can do this, she told herself firmly. I am strong.
"You clean up nice, Devereau." Joanna turned quickly to find Asher leaning against her doorframe. She scowled at him, and he knocked mockingly against the open door before walking in. He tossed something at her that she caught automatically. "You left that in the weapons room," he said.
She held her stele in her hands, smooth and faintly warm. She hadn't put on any fresh Marks this morning. She looked at it her a second before slipping it into her jacket pocket. Asher was now lounging across her bed, watching her with his silver-grey eyes.
"Thanks," Jo murmured. It had been two days since the kiss, and neither of them had said a word about it. Joanna sometimes thought she'd imagined it, but the memory was so real it was impossible to question. She remembered every second vividly.
"When are we going?" she asked Asher, shaking herself out of her thoughts.
"Soon," he replied. "Remington and your mom wanted to talk to us first. Are you ready?" Joanna nodded, her fingers tightening her grip on strap of her backpack. Asher sat up, swinging off the bed, running a hand through his hair. "Let's go."
Jo followed Asher down the hall to the kitchen. Her mother was standing there, looking alert and put-together as always. Remington was also there, conversing with her quietly. When Asher and Joanna walked in, he looked up and smiled broadly at them.
"Good morning," he said.
"Morning," Asher and Jo replied simultaneously.
"Would you like some breakfast?" Remington asked. Joanna shook her head. Her stomach felt like it had shrivelled up to the size of a dried pea. The mere thought of food made her nauseous. Asher plucked an apple out of the bowl on the table and took a bite.
"You should eat something, honey," Patricia said.
"I'm not hungry, Mom," she said. Her mother nodded knowingly.
"I know you're nervous, but you need food for energy," she said.
"I–" Joanna started to object to being nervous, but it was useless.
"You'll do great," her mom encouraged, smiling. "This is easy as pie compared to Caulker demons," Patricia joked. Joanna smiled back, straightening her back and taking a deep breath. This would be easy. But it wasn't the danger she was nervous about. She could feel Asher watching her carefully, but she kept her expression under tight control. Still, she had the feeling he could see right through her.
"So, give me a brief on your mission," Remington ordered.
"We go in, I drop Joanna off, Joanna finds the rogue Nephilim boy, we call you," Asher said easily, taking another bite of his apple.
"It may not be that simple," Remington warned. "It may take a while to find the boy, especially if he recognizes Joanna as a Shadowhunter."
"I'll be careful," Joanna said. Remington nodded, and her mother smiled again.
"Can we go?" Asher asked abruptly, impatient. Remington sighed with a half-smile.
"Yes, you may go," he said. Asher was already walking out the door, tossing the half-eaten apple in the trash as he went, but Joanna paused, looking towards her mother.
"Have a good day at school, honey," Patricia said, like it was any other day. And Jo knew that's exactly how she had to treat it. Like any other day. Because this was her life now, as a Shadowhunter. This was what she'd wanted.
"See you later, Mom." And then she followed Asher out the door.
"You can't be serious!" Joanna stared at the sleek, shiny black metal of the motorcycle. Asher raised an eyebrow, his mouth twisting into a smirk. "This is what we're riding to go to school?"
"What, are you scared, Devereau?" he asked challengingly. She snatched the helmet he held out to her from his hands, but glanced down at the bike doubtfully.
"Do you even know how to drive it?" she asked as he pulled on his leather jacket over his long-sleeve grey shirt and jeans. His eyes sparkled mischievously as he grabbed his own helmet off the seat.
"Are you doubting my skills, Joanna?" he asked in mock outrage. She rolled her eyes.
"Of course not, Oh Great One," she said sarcastically. But her heart was jittery in her chest as she watched him swing one leg over the bike and sit down.
"C'mon, get on," he said, prompting Jo to follow his lead. She raised an eyebrow at the sliver of space behind him. I have to sit there?
"How will I fit?" she muttered as she got on the motorcycle.
"Snugly," he said, and he was right. Her chest was pressed against his back and she could feel his warmth through both their jackets. A new heat bloomed across her cheeks. She wasn't sure where to put her hands.
"Don't worry Joanna, I'm an excellent driver," he said as he started the bike. It growled and rumbled beneath them. He manoeuvred his way out of the Institute's garage carefully and they made their way out of the cool shadow of the stone building. The air was still fresh and clear from the huge storm a few days ago. The sun was shining and Joanna could feel its warmth immediately beating down on the black leather of her jacket, only a few puffy white clouds floating in the cerulean sky. But as the gravel of the winding driveway crunched beneath the bike's tires, Joanna felt unstable.
"Um, Asher, where do I–"
"Hold on!" he shouted over the roar of the engine as the bike suddenly leaped forward. Stones sprayed out behind them as Asher turned onto the paved road. Joanna had never been this far away from the Institute, except for in the forest. This road had a single yellow line down the middle and was utterly deserted, with trees rising on both sides. Asher was clearly not concerned by the speed limit.
Joanna found herself clinging to Asher tightly around the waist, grabbing his belt. She swore loudly as he sped up, and felt his laughter through his back. Air rushed past them, the pavement disappearing at an alarming speed beneath them. Joanna's eyes were wide, her whole body tensed as adrenaline jolted through her. Slowly her heart calmed slightly; she found herself enjoying the ride, and noticed other things. The scenery was slowly changing around them as Asher drove through the main city, Victoria. She couldn't tear her eyes away.
The deep blue ocean glittered in the sunlight as Joanna stared out at it from the bridge. Asher was taking her off Vancouver Island.
And closer and closer to Westbrook Public High.
OKay, okay, so the motorcycle thing has been done before. I couldn't resist. Sorry if it was a little boring. Anyway, thanks for reading and please review! YOU GUYS ROCK!