I felt my cheeks getting really hot, and I actually giggled. He was just pulling me into a warm, but very proper-for-public-consumption hug when I heard a familiar hateful laugh. Aphrodite, looking amazing in a short black skirt, stiletto boots, and a slinky sweater, was laughing as she walked (actually, she twitched more than she walked--I mean, the girl could seriously shake her butt) past us. Over Erik's shoulder I met her eyes and, in a silky voice that would have sounded friendly had it not been coming from her mouth, said, "If he's calling you Desdemona, then I suggest you be careful. If it even looked like you're cheating on him he'll strangle you in your bed. But you'd never cheat on him, would you?" Then she flipped her long, blond, perfect hair and twitched away. No one said anything for a second, then the Twins, at the same time, said, "Issues. She has issues," and everyone laughed. Everyone but me. All I could think about was the fact that she'd seen Loren and me in the media center, and that it definitely could have looked like I was cheating on Erik. Was she warning me that she was going to tell Erik? Okay, I wasn't worried about him strangling me in my bed, but would he believe her? Also, Aphrodite's all-too-perfect appearance reminded me that I was wearing wrinkled jeans and a hastily thrown-on sweater. My hair and makeup had definitely looked better. Actually, I think I still might have pillow marks on my cheek. "Don't let her get to you," Erik said gently. I looked up at him. He was holding my hand and smiling down at me. I mentally shook myself. "Don't worry, she's not," I said brightly. "Anyway, who cares about her? You won the competition! That's amazing, Erik. I'm so proud of you!" I hugged him again, loving his clean smell and how his height made me feel small and delicate. Then our little pocket of pri vacy was gone as more and more people poured out of the au ditorium. "Erik, it's so cool you won!" Erin said. "But it's not like we're surprised. You definitely kick ass onstage."

"Totally. And so does boyfriend over there." Shaunee jerked her chin in Cole's direction. "He is one fine Romeo." Erik grinned. "I'll tell him you said so."

"You can also tell him that if he wants a little brown sugar in his Juliet he need look no farther than right here." She pointed at herself and shimmied her hips. "Twin, if Juliet had been black I do not believe things would have come to such a shitty end between her and Romeo. I mean, we would have shown more sense than drinking that sleeping potion crap and going through all that drama just because of some unfortunate parental issues."

"Exactly," Shaunee said. None of us stated the obvious--that Erin, with her blond hair and blue eyes, was definitely NOT BLACK. We were too used to her and Shaunee being twinlike to question the weirdness of it. "Erik, you were amazing!" Damien rushed up with Jack fol lowing close behind. "Congratulations," Jack said shyly, but with definite enthusiasm. Erik smiled at them. "Thanks, guys. Hey, Jack. I was too ner vous before the performance to say that I'm glad you're here. It'll be nice to have a roommate." Jack's cute face lit up, and I squeezed Erik's hand. This was one reason why I liked him so much. Besides being gorgeous and tal ented, Erik was an authentically nice guy. There were a lot of guys in his position (ridiculously popular) who would have either ig nored this little third former roommate or, worse, been visibly pissed that they'd have to share a room with a "fag." Erik wasn't like that at all, and I couldn't help but compare him to Heath, who would probably have been freaked that he had to room with a g*y kid. Not that Heath was hateful or anything like that, but he was a typical teenage Okie boy, which tended to mean narrow-minded homophobe. Which made me realize that I'd never asked Erik where he was from. Jeesh, I was a crappy girlfriend. "Did you hear me, Zoey?"

"Huh?" Damien's question shut off my inner babbling, but no, I hadn't heard him. "Hello! Earth to Zoey! I asked if you realized what time it was. And are you remembering the Full Moon Ritual starts at mid night?" I looked at the wall clock. "Ah, hell!" It was 11:05. I still needed to change my clothes and then get to the rec hall, light the circle candles, make sure the five candles for the elements were in place, and check on the Goddess's table. "Erik, I'm so sorry, but I have to leave. There are a million things to do before the ritual starts." I made eye contact with each of my four friends. "You guys have to come with me." They nodded like bobble-headed dolls. I turned back to Erik. "You're coming to the ritual, aren't you?"

"Yeah. And that reminds me. I got you something in New York. Hang on for just a sec, and I'll go get it." He hurried back through the actors' entrance to the audito rium. "I swear he is too damn good to be true," Erin said. "Let's hope his friend is just like him," Shaunee said, sending Cole a flirty smile from across the room, which I noticed he re turned. "Damien, did you get the eucalyptus and sage for me?" I was already feeling nervous. Hell! I should have eaten. My stomach was an empty cavern just waiting to clench up on me. "Don't worry, Z. I got the eucalyptus and I even braided it to gether with the sage for you," Damien said. "Everything will be perfect, you'll see," Stevie Rae said. "Yeah, you don't need to be nervous," Shaunee said. "We'll be right there with you," Erin finished. I smiled at them, incredibly glad they were my friends. And then Erik was back. He handed me the big white box he was carrying. I hesitated before tearing into it and Shaunee said, "Z, if you don't open it I will."