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Jared Kovach. Now what were the odds of that? Two more questions sprang to mind immediately. First, why would he lie about his name? And second, how could he have read the fine print of that poster from so far away?
I scanned the distance back to see if Mr. Davis was still standing watch. Instead, I found Cameron Lusk. He hadn’t gone to class. I could see him through the plate-glass windows that lined the front of Riley High. He stood leaning against the building, looking directly at me, a strange expression I couldn’t decipher shadowing his face.
I offered my own glare, completely perplexed. The guy had never shown the slightest bit of interest in me. Then, out of nowhere, I couldn’t turn around without finding him waiting for me, watching, like he was mentally calculating how long it would take to strangle the life out of my body. A cold chill shimmied down my spine with the thought.
And worse, I didn’t know what to do about it. I didn’t want to alarm my grandparents. They had enough to worry about. The anniversary of my parents’ disappearance always put them in a strange state, as it did me. I didn’t want to call the police. Naturally, they would have to tell my grandparents. And I was nowhere near moronic enough to pretend I could take him. Boys, no matter how lanky, were generally strong.
“I’m stronger.”
I jumped at the sound of a male voice behind me and whirled around to slam face-first into a brick wall. My notebook flew out of my arms, launching a ticker tape parade of science notes into the air. They floated down to land in whispery chaos on the ground.
For a second I just stood there in shock until humiliation took hold and surged through me with a fiery vengeance. I could feel my cheeks heating as I looked up. And up. Into the eyes of the offending wall.
I stilled.
It was the new guy. And his eyes were amazing. Dark, steady, penetrating.
Penetrating?
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Where’d
Supernova knelt to help me.
“You don’t need to do that,” I said, even more embarrassed as he scooped up my messy notes before I could get to them. Honestly, why couldn’t I at least try to write neatly?
“I don’t mind,” he said, lifting the drawing I’d done that morning.
I snatched it out of his hand before he could get a good look.
He glanced at me but not in surprise at what I’d done. More like curiosity. His dark gaze was startlingly intense. The contrast of molasses-colored eyes and hair made his flawless skin appear almost translucent. The effect was haunting.
I forced my thoughts back to the present. “I’m Lorelei,” I managed at last.
He hesitated as he had with Mr. Davis. After a quick glance over his shoulder, he stood and offered his hand. “I’m Jared.”
I almost looked at the poster again. Instead, I shut my eyes as a slow dawning crept over me. I recognized his face. I’d drawn it that very morning. I’d been dwelling on it for three days. It was him. The boy. Only the puzzle was complete, and what a puzzle it was.
After an eternity, I realized how rude I was being and rushed to place my hand into his for a boost. The contact electrified me. One minute I was kneeling on the floor; the next I was standing in front of him, as if we had slipped forward in time.
When I felt my feet on solid ground again, I smiled and pulled my hand back. “Thank you.”
He watched me a long moment, his brows furrowing in thought; then he blinked as if coming to his senses and handed over a stack of notes. “You should be more careful.”
His deep voice, velvety and rich like hot chocolate, tugged at my insides, warmed them. It took a great deal of concentration to focus on anything but the visceral reaction every inch of my body was having as a result of his nearness. Finally, after a couple of false starts, I said, “My grandmother tells me the same thing.”
A half smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes lifted one corner of his incredible mouth. I couldn’t seem to look away. His lashes lowered to fan across his cheeks as if overcome by a sudden jolt of shyness. They were long and thick, just like in my vision, and made his eyes sparkle. I felt that sharp tug at my insides again as I recognized every curve of his face, every contour. My vision had actually manifested right before my very eyes.
I fought to stay focused. “So, you’re new?” I asked, pretending I hadn’t just heard his entire conversation with Mr. Davis.
“Yes.” His gaze meandered back up. It paused a moment on my mouth, just long enough to make my heart miss a beat, before boring into mine again.
“Well, then, welcome to Riley High,” I said a tad breathlessly.
He continued to study me and I was beginning to wonder if I had something on my face. Why would anyone that gorgeous spend so much time looking at me? My thoughts jumped back to the vision, replayed it in my mind. The boy. The monster. The sword. And the blood pooling in the valleys of his muscles, dripping down his arm. My attention drifted to his chest, wondering if he took off his shirt right then and there, would he have three slashes across his torso?
With an airy sigh, I came to my senses. Of course not. What I saw wasn’t real. Could never be real.
“Oh, my,” I heard from down the hall. “Did you fall again, Lor?”
Heels echoed off the walls as the creature whose name shall not be spoken aloud decided to goad me. Again. I glanced around the corner to see Tabitha Sind heading our way with her long, perfect legs, perfect blond hair, and a perfect face to back up her ’tude. I only had Brooklyn and Glitch to back up mine, but that was okay. I really didn’t have much of an attitude anyway. Except for when my grandmother said, “Don’t give me that attitude.” Then I guess I had one. But since nobody could make me feel more ill equipped to be human than Tabi, I decided to access my usual coping mechanism and avoid her at all costs.
“I better get to class,” I said, backing away from the most beautiful thing I’d ever laid eyes upon, but Tabitha rounded the corner before I could make my escape. In a heartbeat I was face-to-face with my archenemy, and I had to wonder if it was just me or if her head really was too big for her body.
“Have you considered physical therapy?” she asked, her voice syrupy sweet. “She does that a lot, you kno —”
Tabitha stopped berating me midstream as her vulturous eyes locked on to Jared, and I couldn’t help the fierce reaction that bucked inside me. I ground my teeth, biting back the jealousy that leapt onto my nerve endings. I could just chalk this up to one more encounter that would add to the debilitating ulcers I’d someday have as a result of Tabitha’s existence.
“H-hi,” she said, holding out her hand to Jared. “You must be new here.”
“Yes.” His hand practically swallowed hers, but just as quickly he tried to pull it back. Apparently, prying his hand out of Tabitha’s grip was easier said than done. When he pulled, she stepped. Way closer than was acceptable in a public school setting. PDA anyone?
“I’m Tabitha,” she said, making the short statement sound more like an invitation than an introduction. Then she offered him her nuclear smile—the one that melted boys’ hearts and had every girl at Riley High wishing she could afford cosmetic dentistry—and I groaned inwardly. There’d be no getting him back now. I may as well cut my losses and make a hasty exit while I still had enough self-esteem to walk upright. Crawling was so demoralizing.
I’d stepped around Tabitha and started down the hall when I heard, “Can I walk you to class?”
I looked back and Jared was looking at me. Not at Tabitha and her big fat head, but at me and my tiny pixie head with squiggly hair. He’d managed to free his hand and was leaning around her, eyeing me with the slightest tilt of his mouth.
“Me?”
“Her?” Tabitha seemed just as surprised as I. She cleared her throat when his brows shot up. “I have to get
