Not-So-Little Sister

The music made a bubble for us. When my eyes were closed I could ignore the babble and bump of the bodies around us. But now . . . now I see the eyes, feel the whispers. Sense the shock. Here, in the dark broken by fractured light, with the floor vibrating under my feet, and with Chase's arms around me, I blink and am aware again.

We both lean back, breathe, eye each other carefully, happily.

But we aren't alone.

Chase looks like he's about to say something. But then his eyes flip over my shoulder and he curses. Without looking back at me he says, "You ready?"

I frown. "For what?"

"I didn't see that coming." His gaze still hasn't left whatever is behind me.

"Chase, what's . . ." I turn to follow his gaze and what I find nails me to the floor.

The double doors to the lobby are a golden rectangle behind me. I expected Shades coming for us. Or maybe some Shine looking to make trouble for Chase.