“Wait up.” Will’s voice called out. More footsteps sloshed behind me.
“You girls walk fast.” Kevin puffed as he sidled up to Shanda. “How you been?”
Shanda’s usual cackle teetered into a giggle.
Will caught up with me as I lagged behind the flirting spectacle in front of me. “They seem to be hitting it off.” He stayed by my side as we headed to Salinger Hall where all the lit and art classes were held.
“I can see that.” If Shanda’s ebony cheeks could turn bright red like mine, they’d light our way to class like Rudolph’s shiny nose.
Will angled his jaw, tilting that perfect cleft in his chin toward me. Oh, to have such perfect genes. “You okay? You seemed upset back there. If it’s about the other night, I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have let that Bryan kid get to me like that.”
“No, it’s not about that. I feel kinda dumb for overreacting. Believe me, I’ve got bigger problems.” My fingers tangled in my long hair as I debated telling Will the truth. “My suitemate brought up my brother. It’s a sore subject.”
“You’re not dumb, but I’m glad we’re cool.” His gray eyes wrinkled like a smiling cat, as if he really meant it. “I wonder how your brother is doing.”
Could such a gorgeous guy really be a straight shooter? Before Jake, I always took things at face value. Now I had no clue. “How well did you know James?” I jumped a puddle and planted my feet on the sidewalk.
Stopping by my side, Will turned to face me. “I was only a freshman when he was a senior. He was president of Nexis then, always the life of the party.”
A picture of James sliding down our banister in his PJs popped into my head. His shaggy hair mussed up, that goofy grin all over his face.
I cracked a smile. “That’s definitely James. He’s probably the life of the party wherever he is now.”
The grit of rough fingers brushed the hair off my cheek.
A chill crept down my spine at his touch.
“I’m sure you miss him.” His gaze fixed on me, holding me in place. “Someone so beautiful shouldn’t be so sad.”
Tears rushed to my eyelids. One spilled over, trailing down my cheek.
With his index finger he wiped it away. “I’m sorry. I know you said it’s a sore subject.”
“You can say that again.” I wiped my eyes and studied the wet toes of my canvas Toms. Funny, I hadn’t even noticed until now.
He nudged me with his shoulder, out of my dreary thoughts. “Hey, at least you’ve got our double date to look forward tomorrow night.”
“Oh, right. I almost forgot about that.” Did my heart just stop?
“Ouch.” Will’s hand flew to his chest, over-dramatically clutching his chest muscles. “And here I’ve been planning something awesome to take your mind off of everything.”
“Oh, really?” I bit my lip, peeking up at him behind my lashes. “I could use a nice distraction right about now.”
“Good, ‘cause you’re gonna get it.” He turned those gray eyes on me full force, running his hand through his sandy mop. “I’ll make sure you forget all about your problems.”
“Really?” For the first time today a surge of warmth flooded through my body. “I think that’d be fun.”
“Me too. Now, let’s get you to class.” He pressed his hand against the small of my back, leading me to Salinger. Strange, how the warmth of his hand comforted me and sent chills up my back, all at the same time.
~
With quick strokes of ink, I sketched an outline of the city into the margins of my notebook. Tingles of excitement laced their way up my arms. A night in the city sounded like just the thing I needed to take my mind off of all the drama of my first week at Montrose Paranormal Academy.
The last bell rang, and I shoved my notebook and pen into my bag. The mad end-of-the-week rush carried me down the cobblestone path from Salinger and across the quad. Unfortunately, my week wasn’t quite over yet. I still had one more appointment with a certain teacher. Should I tell him about the strange things I’d seen, and the Nexis eye in the sky?
My stomach lurched as I fought against the current of students streaming down the steps of Trenton Hall. If only I could push back the image I’d seen in Harlixton’s class, the bearded man, kneeling, with black and white and gray swirling around him.
I trudged around the halls like a reluctant mouse who didn’t really want to find her way out of the maze. On the left, I found a door with a golden plaque that read Mr. Harlixton. Rocking back on my heels, I fiddled with my sweet-sixteen ring, wondering if I really wanted to go in.
“Better get this over with,” I mumbled to myself, peeking my head into the closet-sized room.
The balding man arched back from the stack of papers in front of him. “Miss McAllen, please take a seat.” He gestured to the only chair in the cramped room not piled with books or folders. “Do you have any idea why I wanted to see you today?”
I scooted the chair over in front of the cluttered desk to face him. “No, not really.”
His belly dented into the desk as his voice went low. “Your dad specifically requested me to be your advisor. He also asked that we make a change to your schedule.”
“Really?” I inched forward until I was perched on the edge of my seat. “Why would he do that?”
“For your protection.” His office chair squeaked as he shifted his weight. “We can’t have the girl next in line to be the Seer expose her powers in a class full of students. The word would certainly get out on you.”
“What are you talking about?” Sliding back in my chair, I crossed
