“So, Aaron, you’ve decided to start slumming it with us?” Jaden asked, entering the conversation for the first time.
I gaped at her momentarily, having completely forgotten that she was there.
“Never hurts to have a change of scenery,” he replied.
The rest of our meal was more social than usual with Aaron’s added presence. It was strange, but I felt like he’d been sitting at our table. Like he’d always been meant to be our friend.
***
After eighth period, which was my independent study instead of the regular music class, I rushed out of the auditorium and slammed into Aaron, who had been standing outside the door. He reached out and caught me as I almost fell to the floor.
“I’m so sorry,” I said as he steadied me.
“We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” he said with a smile that lit up his eyes.
It was the first truly happy smile I’d ever seen from him. The feeling of familiarity that I’d felt the first time our eyes met in the Dining Hall came rushing back.
“I need to watch where I’m walking,” I replied.
“Or I need to stop standing where you walk.”
We laughed and he surprised me by taking my bag from me. He threw it over his shoulder and we walked to dinner.
I managed to ignore the stares as we entered together for the second time that day. We got our food and I was secretly pleased when he followed me back to the table. It was a complete turnaround from my feelings at lunch, but he was suddenly a different person that the boy who’d been sitting next to me in class over the last few months and I liked the new Aaron.
“I wonder where Jaden is,” I said, making conversation. “I don’t usually like to eat without her. Bad things tend to happen when she’s not here.”
“There was a time when I too depended greatly on my friends,” he nodded in understanding.
He looked out the window, but I could see the sadness that had entered his gaze. I watched him silently as he was obviously lost in his memories, trying to get a better understanding of him. He glanced at me and seemed surprised by how intently I was watching him. I blushed and looked away.
“I’m here and I’m sure nothing bad will happen,” he said, reassuring me. “Look there’s Jaden now.”
He nodded over at the door and I turned to see Jaden striding in, looking confident and in control. She glared at Madalynn as she passed her table.
Aaron and I were making small talk when Jaden sat down with her food.
“I see you’re still here,” she said to Aaron.
“Is that a problem?” he asked.
“Nope. No problem. It’s actually good that you’re here.”
“It is?” he asked with surprise.
“Yeah. I’ve got a little problem with my project and I was wondering if you could help me with it after dinner.”
It seemed to me that there was more to what Jaden was saying, but I couldn’t tell what it was.
“Sure,” he answered. “I’d be happy to help you.”
“Great!” Jaden said, sounding as though she were trying too hard to seem happy.”
I was suddenly jealous. I didn’t want Aaron to have secrets with Jaden. I didn’t want Aaron to have secrets with anyone. I couldn’t help the blush that spread across my face as I realized my sudden infatuation with Aaron. It darkened when I realized that I’d been fascinated with him from the beginning and never recognized it.
“Is that okay with you?” Aaron’s surprising question pulled me out of my thoughts. He smiled at me and didn’t seem to notice that my face resembled a strawberry.
My jealousy melted away.
“Of course,” I said. “Jade wouldn’t ask for help if she didn’t really need it.”
“Hey!” she protested.
“Well it’s true,” I laughed.
“Yeah,” she admitted. “It is true. I’m really lost.”
After dinner, we went our separate ways. I headed up to my room wishing I was the one Aaron was spending his evening with. I put on some sweat pants and a t-shirt before settling in for a long night of homework.
Chapter 8
Aaron
Jaden and I entered my dorm room. I shut the door behind me, curious what it was she wanted to talk to me about.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Your friend from the Council was hanging around today,” she said.
“What? For how long?”
“Until dinner. I followed him after my class and made sure he left school property. He appeared to be satisfied that you weren’t up to anything, but I still thought you should know.”
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair; a nervous gesture that I rarely noticed anymore.
“This is bad,” I said. “I told him to leave. How much has he seen?”
“I didn’t know there was something to see,” she replied.
“More than you know,” I told her.
“So what do we do?”
“We?”
“Isn’t this what you trained me for? Either way, I’m in.”
She looked serious. There were still too many unanswered questions. I still had too many doubts about the Prophecy to tell Jaden everything. I did want Shaylee protected, however.
“There’s something here, at the school. It may or may not be important. Whether it is or not, the Council will see it as a threat and eliminate it as well as anyone who the Council thinks may be involved.”
“What do you need me to do?” Jaden asked.
“I need you to stay close to Shaylee,” I told her.
“How is that helpful?” she scoffed. “That’s just doing what I normally do.”
“If the Council comes, Shaylee is at the most risk of anyone.”
“Because she’s human?”
“Shaylee is totally defenseless,” I reminded her. “She has no idea what world she’s living in and she has no defenses against a Council attack.”
“Why can’t I protect whatever it is the Council is looking for and you can protect Shaylee?” she asked.
“Jaden, this is what I need you to do. Please just trust me. If the Council sends Warriors and Mages, I know exactly how it’s going to play out. Next to Shaylee is
