Free Long Black Veil by Jeanette Battista Page B

turned back to Devon, taking a step closer. “Do. You. Like. My. Costume?”
    Devon had no idea what she looked like, but knew she had to pull herself together. This was clearly not the place to lose it. As it was, she was likely never going to live this night down. Still, she would be damned if Skylar Preston would know how much her costume had hurt her. She mustered every ounce of calm she had and managed to get out, in a normal voice, “Orange is a good color on you.”
    A few kids close enough to hear what she’d said laughed. Devon’s mouth twitched from nerves. She saw Skylar’s eyes narrow and knew that her torture wasn’t finished yet.
    “I know,” the girl said, brushing imaginary dirt of the orange jumpsuit. “But it doesn’t suit me nearly as well as it does your mom.” She turned a megawatt smile on Devon. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
    “Burn!” Micah shouted, already halfway drunk. “She’s got you there!”
    Devon felt her hands grow cold. The sounds of the party began to dim, almost like she was hearing them underwater. She tried to rally. “I wouldn’t know, since I haven’t seen my mother in a decade.” Weaksauce was what that was. And everyone knew it.
    “Poor Devon. Poor little orphan girl.” Skylar’s sincerity was cloyingly false.
    Devon gritted her teeth. This was why she was so desperate to get out of this town, this right here. She would go as far away as scholarship money and student loans would take her and she wouldn’t come back until she could rub everyone’s face in her success. And maybe not even then.
    Brock grabbed Skylar by the arm and pulled her back down the hallway. “That’s enough.”
    A few boos from those disappointed at being deprived of a good fight rang out as the two disappeared into a room at the front of the house. Devon caught looks of pity, but when she tried to meet anyone’s eyes, they turned away, suddenly deeply interested in something else. She didn’t know which one was worse.
    She was done. So very, very done here. But she wasn’t going to run crying out into the night like some pathetic little bitch. She wouldn’t give any of them the satisfaction of seeing her run. Instead Devon went to find Gil. She was amazed he hadn’t immediately appeared in the thick of it, like some kind of conflict genie, as drawn as he was to drama.
    He found her first. “Are you okay?” His voice was trembling, as if he was holding back anger.
    “I’m good.” It was a lie, but it was all she had right now. “But I have to get out of here.”
    “I’ll drive you.”
    “NO!” She said it too loud, and immediately quieted. “No. You’ve been drinking. Just stay here and sober up. I can make it home on my own.” She had to get out while she still had some dignity left.
    “But it’s like miles…” he trailed off when he saw the look on her face. “Be careful. I’ll call you in the morning.”
    “Sure, fine, whatever.” Devon was already moving towards the back of the house. She planned to use the back door and cut across the side lawn. It would put her closer to the road and would have the added bonus of having fewer people to run into. It would be a long, cold walk, but cold was exactly what she needed right now.
    *****
    It was way beyond late when she finally hit the gravel road to Gammy’s house. She was wrung out and tired and just sick of it all. She’d walked fast at first, rage and embarrassment fueling her footsteps. It had been a huge mistake going with Gil to that Halloween party; she should have known better. She wasn’t their kind and everyone knew it, including her. She would have been better off just passing the night with Gammy, watching her knot charms and all her other mountain superstitious stuff. Gammy didn’t believe in going out on Halloween, but she didn’t stop Devon. Now she kind of wished her grandmother had.
    Her legs hurt and her feet ached and she was full on tired. All she wanted to do was get to the trailer and