Unpretty
By- Victoria Escobar
Genre- Young Adult Paranormal
Being plain and average would be a step up for Sidonie. The book nerd, gamer geek with larger than average jeans doesn’t really fit in anywhere. Add a drunk father and a dump in the projects and she’s pretty much guaranteed to be a social pariah. There would never be a happily ever after in her future, unless her books counted. Instead, she has accepted her lot and surrounded herself with friends who genuinely love and support her.
Music. Art. Creating. That’s what made Sidonie remarkable. As she began to find a chance of happiness in her gifts, dark forces start to impact her future. A magical world she had no idea even existed could alter the course of her life forever—if it didn’t cut it short entirely.
Excerpt-
I jolted as a tall shadow moved
forward. My heart raced until the street light hit his face and I could see him
clearly. Foolish of me, if I had been paying attention I would have recognized
the cadence in his voice.
“You are a borderline stalker,
you know.” I crossed my arms to hide my shaking hands. He had scared me more
than a little with that stunt. Not that I would ever let him see that.
“Manners require I see you safely
home.” Deveroux’s smile would have melted ice castles. “I am more afraid of my
gnome of a father than I am of you.”
“You’ll probably get robbed
walking in my neighborhood. Especially in those clothes.” Without waiting for
his response I started walking, hoping the light threat would make him go away.
The thought of muggings kept my close friends from walking with me—it should
certainly work on a stranger.
Deveroux fell in step beside me.
“Oh, I am more than capable of ripping my shirt off and flexing my amazing
muscles in intimidating poses.”
I coughed to cover my laughter. I
could actually imagine him doing it, and the image was ridiculous.
Deveroux was easily the strangest
boy I’d ever met.
He shrugged. “And if that does
not work, I suppose I could deploy my deviously incredible interpretation of Bruce
Lee.”
“Do you actually know karate?” I
fell into the easy conversation despite myself.
“I know enough to protect myself.
I do not have my rapier, as that is frowned upon in public, but I am quite the
swordsman.” He offered his arm.
After a heartbeat of hesitation,
I slide my hand into the crook. “Probably a commonplace thing in France.”
His shoulders rose and fell in
dismissal. “My father is very old fashioned. I imagine if the Musketeers were
still a thing I would be forced to attempt to enlist.”
I laughed aloud. “All for one.”
Deveroux rolled his eyes.
“Indeed. Well, I am lucky that ship sailed without me.”
“But you still took lessons?”
“Not by choice.” Deveroux hummed
a quiet lullaby.
Caught by the music I hummed a
harmony to the song I didn’t know. Lulled by the music we walked like that for
a few blocks. Music always soothed the soul.
“How far is your home?” Deveroux
frowned at the dark street in front of us. Ever since I could remember the
lights for the next half mile never glowed, and though we weren’t close to the
bad side of town, things did tend to happen in the dark.
“Tired already?”
Deveroux shook his head. “Walking
in the dark really is not safe.” He huffed and snapped his fingers repeatedly
as if thinking about something and trying to recall it.
“What?”
“Would you be offended if I asked
to drive you home instead of allowing you to walk in these less than acceptable
circumstances?”
“Really?” My eyebrows rose. “I’ve
walked this path hundreds of times in the last two years. It’s fine, I promise.”
He huffed again and looked at the
street lamps. “Sure. Fine.”
He went back to humming and as we
passed the last working street lamp, Deveroux reached out and touched it. Ahead
of us, the blown lamps began to flicker before coming on completely and showering
the road and sidewalk with bright, unclouded light. Surprise made me stop in my
tracks.
“Something wrong?” Deveroux
turned to glance at me.
“No. Just…” What just happened?
In all the time, I’d walked the road these lamps never came on. Deveroux touched
a lit one and…no. Deveroux had nothing to do with the lights. That was just
coincidence. What was more likely was someone replaced the bulbs and screwed up
the timer for them to kick on.
About the Author-
Born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but with the ability to claim eight states as home; Victoria Escobar writes fiction from her current home in New York. She writes whatever comes to mind and because of such has a variety of genres written including Young Adult, New Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, and Contemporary Fiction.
In spare time if not with family, and friends Victoria enjoys curling up with a book from a favorite author with music playing. If not reading or writing she spends time drawing, sketching, crocheting, or some other random art project. She enjoys staying busy, but most of all enjoys staying creative.
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