stay
away."
I give an almost
imperceptible nod, and then try to cover even that up by putting a lock of hair
behind my ear. As always, Anna is spot on. I had been too scared to confide in
her and her brother, and it cost me both of their friendships. Anna hated me
afterwards, of course. She quit cheering when the season ended and immersed
herself in chorus and the school musicals. For the rest of the year, the
football players got up in Jimmy's face and bellowed things like "De- nied !"
and "Re-jected!" They weren't the only jerks, though. Jimmy's friends
called me Ice Princess. He didn't, but he didn't tell them to stop,
either. The nickname didn’t stick, but I spent the rest of high school
stringing boys along, always pulling back when things would get too hot and
heavy. I didn’t hook up with anyone regularly until Max.
“It
must have had something to do with…Jasper,” Anna realizes, pausing before
saying his name as though she can't get used to him having one. “Everything
fell apart after that night. He’s affected you in a way I can’t fully
appreciate. I want us to be friends again, Siobhan,” she admits, sounding
frustrated, “but you have to promise me that, when you’re ready, you’ll tell me
everything. I think it will make it easier for me to forgive you.”
“I promise,” I
say even though I’m not sure I can keep it. Being friends with her and Jimmy
would mean the world to me, but I can’t tell them Jasper turned me into some
kind of creature. Especially Anna—his black aura didn’t affect her like it did
me. She had sensed he was dangerous and insisted we leave. She wouldn’t be
talking friendship if she knew he transferred his darkness to me.
“So,
what are you going to do about Jasper? He’s made it clear he knows who we are,
but we still don’t know who or what he is.”
“I have no
idea.” My shoulders heave as I give a heavy sigh. “I guess just try to not fail
the class while at the same time figuring out what he is and why he’s
here."
“Piece of cake.”
Something about the combination of her nonchalance and the absurdity of the
situation makes us both burst out into hysterical laughter until we’re nearly
hyper-ventilating.
“I think I’d
better head back,” I say once I’ve recovered myself.
“Of course.
Please take the rest of these.” Anna thrusts the container of cookies into my
hands. “Maybe your sisters can help you eat them. Assuming sorority girls eat
cookies.”
“You have no idea.”
Chapter 6
I
finally have a dreamless night’s rest and awakefeeling refreshed the
next morning and ready to confront Jasper in class. Or if not confront, at
least be able to look at him without cowering in my seat. My armor is a
sleeveless leopard-print dress with a red belt and red sandals. Wearing my
favorite dress boosts my determination, and I walk into Dr. Mars’s class with
my head held high.
But
it turns out I didn't need my fashion shield today. The auditorium fills up,
but there's no sign of our dapper teaching assistant.
My
purse vibrates in my lap. It's yet another text from Max. My phone has been
blowing up with nonstop messages from him since late last night. This one says:
Siobhan,
what's up? Please txt or call me. Miss u. It's punctuated with an animated
frowny face. I toss my phone into my purse.
I'm
only half-listening to Dr. Mars’s lecture about Gilgamesh. Instead, I fasten my
eyes on the door, waiting for Jasper to walk through it.
At
ten to eleven, it's pretty clear he's not coming. After assigning the next
readings, Dr. Mars lets us go. I lag behind the rush of undergraduates spilling
out of the doors, wondering if maybe he needs to stop by and check in with the
professor. While I linger in the hall, my phone buzzes once. Twice. I think
someone is trying to call me, but when I take my phone back out it’s Max again.
What's
up worried.
Horny is more like it. I'm surprised to see the second text is from Anna:
Jim's
band
away."
I give an almost
imperceptible nod, and then try to cover even that up by putting a lock of hair
behind my ear. As always, Anna is spot on. I had been too scared to confide in
her and her brother, and it cost me both of their friendships. Anna hated me
afterwards, of course. She quit cheering when the season ended and immersed
herself in chorus and the school musicals. For the rest of the year, the
football players got up in Jimmy's face and bellowed things like "De- nied !"
and "Re-jected!" They weren't the only jerks, though. Jimmy's friends
called me Ice Princess. He didn't, but he didn't tell them to stop,
either. The nickname didn’t stick, but I spent the rest of high school
stringing boys along, always pulling back when things would get too hot and
heavy. I didn’t hook up with anyone regularly until Max.
“It
must have had something to do with…Jasper,” Anna realizes, pausing before
saying his name as though she can't get used to him having one. “Everything
fell apart after that night. He’s affected you in a way I can’t fully
appreciate. I want us to be friends again, Siobhan,” she admits, sounding
frustrated, “but you have to promise me that, when you’re ready, you’ll tell me
everything. I think it will make it easier for me to forgive you.”
“I promise,” I
say even though I’m not sure I can keep it. Being friends with her and Jimmy
would mean the world to me, but I can’t tell them Jasper turned me into some
kind of creature. Especially Anna—his black aura didn’t affect her like it did
me. She had sensed he was dangerous and insisted we leave. She wouldn’t be
talking friendship if she knew he transferred his darkness to me.
“So,
what are you going to do about Jasper? He’s made it clear he knows who we are,
but we still don’t know who or what he is.”
“I have no
idea.” My shoulders heave as I give a heavy sigh. “I guess just try to not fail
the class while at the same time figuring out what he is and why he’s
here."
“Piece of cake.”
Something about the combination of her nonchalance and the absurdity of the
situation makes us both burst out into hysterical laughter until we’re nearly
hyper-ventilating.
“I think I’d
better head back,” I say once I’ve recovered myself.
“Of course.
Please take the rest of these.” Anna thrusts the container of cookies into my
hands. “Maybe your sisters can help you eat them. Assuming sorority girls eat
cookies.”
“You have no idea.”
Chapter 6
I
finally have a dreamless night’s rest and awakefeeling refreshed the
next morning and ready to confront Jasper in class. Or if not confront, at
least be able to look at him without cowering in my seat. My armor is a
sleeveless leopard-print dress with a red belt and red sandals. Wearing my
favorite dress boosts my determination, and I walk into Dr. Mars’s class with
my head held high.
But
it turns out I didn't need my fashion shield today. The auditorium fills up,
but there's no sign of our dapper teaching assistant.
My
purse vibrates in my lap. It's yet another text from Max. My phone has been
blowing up with nonstop messages from him since late last night. This one says:
Siobhan,
what's up? Please txt or call me. Miss u. It's punctuated with an animated
frowny face. I toss my phone into my purse.
I'm
only half-listening to Dr. Mars’s lecture about Gilgamesh. Instead, I fasten my
eyes on the door, waiting for Jasper to walk through it.
At
ten to eleven, it's pretty clear he's not coming. After assigning the next
readings, Dr. Mars lets us go. I lag behind the rush of undergraduates spilling
out of the doors, wondering if maybe he needs to stop by and check in with the
professor. While I linger in the hall, my phone buzzes once. Twice. I think
someone is trying to call me, but when I take my phone back out it’s Max again.
What's
up worried.
Horny is more like it. I'm surprised to see the second text is from Anna:
Jim's
band
Similar Books
