I seriously hated this class. What had I ever done to him to make him dislike me so much? I cleared my throat and met his gaze. With only a few months left of school, I was not going to let this guy ruin my chances of graduating.
“I can keep up just fine, Mr. Gordon.” I smiled sweetly. “But I’m bored, so maybe you should see about teaching something a little more interesting.”
Gasps and muffed laughter filtered through the room.
Mr. Gordon’s face turned bright red, and his eyes bulged. “Principal’s office. Now.” He pointed toward the door. “And take your things because you will not be returning to my class today.”
I gathered my stuff from the top of the desk and scooped my backpack from the floor. Then I walked out of the room, keeping my gaze straight ahead so I wouldn’t have to see Whitney’s shocked and disapproving frown, and made my way toward Principal Donavan’s office.
When I walked in, his secretary, Miss Jameson, nodded toward the row of chairs lined up against the far wall. This was the first time I’d been sent to the principal’s office. Ever. I had no idea how any of this worked, but I took a seat in one of the empty chairs, rested my head against the wall, and closed my eyes.
If Mr. Gordon refused to let me back into his stupid class, I’d fail, and if I failed, I couldn’t graduate. Aunt Beth, Uncle Dean, and my father would take turns killing me if that happened.
“Miss Madison?” Principal Donavan stood near Miss Jameson’s desk. He had a folder tucked under one arm, probably my file. “Follow me.”
He turned on his heel, and I scrambled to follow. He led me into his office, which looked exactly like any other boring old office—desk, chair, bookshelves, filing cabinets, inspirational posters.
He took a seat behind his desk, then motioned at the empty chairs across from him. I flopped down into one and set my backpack on the floor near my feet.
“So.” He flipped open my file. “You transferred here in early March of last year, left near the end of the year to attend a prep school in Malibu, and then you returned to Keene Valley at the start of this new school year. That correct?”
“Yes,” I said.
He closed the file and folded his hands on top of it. “Why all the back and forth?”
I hadn’t realized this was going to be a counseling session. Why couldn’t he just give me my punishment and let me go? Maybe if I gave him all the gritty details, he’d go easy on me and not kick me out of Mr. Gordon’s class.
“My dad walked out on me when I was seven, so growing up, it was just me and my mom, but then she died in a car accident. My aunt Beth and uncle Dean—Abby Benson’s parents—took me in because that’s what my mom wanted but also because we couldn’t find my father.” I took a deep breath. “Somehow, he found out what had happened and came to get me. That’s why I had to leave and go to Malibu. Believe me, I didn’t want to.” I laughed nervously. “The day I turned eighteen, I moved back here.”
Principal Donavan was silent for a moment; then he nodded. “I see.”
“The past year hasn’t exactly been easy,” I said. And he didn’t even know the half of it. “Losing my mom crushed me, and even though I’m learning to deal with it, some days are harder than others.” That wasn’t a lie, so I didn’t feel bad saying it.
“Have you spoken to a grief counselor?”
“Yes.” My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat again.
“I’m truly sorry you’ve had to deal with so much at such a young age, Chloe.” His expression was sympathetic, and for a fleeting moment, guilt stabbed at me, but I pushed it away.
“Thank you.”
“However, we don’t tolerate disrespect toward our teachers,” he said, leaning back in his chair.
“I know.” I sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said what I did to Mr. Gordon, but in my defense, he basically called me slow.”
A fresh spark of anger ignited in my chest at how he’d been so smug, as if he enjoyed making students feel bad.
“He did what?” Principal Donavan’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline.
I explained exactly what happened and what was said. When I finished, I blew out a breath and rubbed my palms along the armrests.
“Well, I suppose I’ll have to have a chat with Mr. Gordon. Still, that doesn’t excuse your behavior in his classroom, or talking back to him.” Principal Donavan gave me a stern look.
“I know.”
“Life Skills is a required class for graduation, and Mr. Gordon is the only one who teaches it, so you’re going to have to learn to get along.” Principal Donavan leaned forward and once again folded his arms on his desk. “When you get out there in the real world, you’re going to meet a lot of people you may not like, and you might even have to work with them. So…”
He tapped his desk. “Let’s consider this a practical life lesson, shall we?” He grinned. “I want you to write a three-page paper on how to work with someone you don’t like. You can work on it during detention. In Mr. Gordon’s room. Starting today. And you’ll have detention for as long as it takes you to finish this paper. Understood?”
I refrained from rolling my eyes, but I couldn’t completely stifle my groan. Detention on a Friday? Ugh. “Yes, I understand,” I said.
“Good. And you’ll apologize to Mr. Gordon for disrupting his class.” Principal Donavan stood. “See Miss Jameson on your way out, and she’ll give you a pass.”
I stood, then hesitated. “Mr. Gordon said I wasn’t allowed to return to his class today.”
“Unfortunately, he’s going to have to let you.” Principal Donavan opened his office door. I waited for him to explain, but he didn’t. “Have a good day, Miss Madison.”
“Thanks. You too.” Grabbing my backpack, I slung it over my shoulder and headed toward Miss Jameson’s desk.
After getting a pass, I stepped into the hallway. A sudden chill snaked up my arms. Why was it always so cold in this school? I took my time walking to Mr. Gordon’s room, but the longer it took me, the stronger my unease became. Not because I had to face him again, but because I couldn’t shake the feeling I was being watched.
I glanced around. The hallway was completely empty. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on edge. I picked up my pace, suddenly very eager to get back to class. I rounded the corner and came to a skidding halt.
Jax leaned against a locker, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. I forced myself not to stare at him.
“What’s the hurry?” he asked.
“What’re you doing out here?” I narrowed my eyes, trying to appear angry, but truthfully, I was glad he was here.
Every instinct I had was screaming at me that I wasn’t safe, that someone was watching me. But who? I shook my head. Being alone in this hallway was messing with my mind.
Jax and I had formed a tentative friendship, but I still didn’t allow myself to be alone with him. The bond we’d shared faded more and more each day, but I still cared for Jax. I always would, and I wasn’t willing to let him use whatever lingering feelings I had to wiggle his way back into my life and heart. We were friends, soon to be in-laws, and that was all.
“I’m waiting for you.” Jax pushed away from the locker and sauntered toward me.
I took a small step back. “Why?”
He smirked, and my breath caught. “You know why.”
I backed up a little more, though I didn’t know why. He could catch up to me quickly if he really wanted to.
“Knock it off, Jax,” I said with a laugh, hoping he knew this was nothing more than a joke to me.
“Seriously, I was just worried, okay?” he said, hands up in a show of surrender. “You haven’t really been yourself lately.”
“I’m fine,” I said, refusing to tell him everything that had been on my mind.
At one time, I would have spilled my guts to him, but not anymore. Too much had changed between us, and while I still trusted him, I didn’t feel the need to confide in him like I used to.
Thankfully, the b
ell rang, and students poured into the hallway. I made my escape and rushed to my locker. Trent, as always, was waiting for me.
“What’s wrong?” he said the moment he saw me.
“I talked back to Mr. Gordon, got sent Principal Donavan’s office, and he gave me detention until I finish writing some stupid paper.” I scowled. “On the way back to class, I swore someone was watching me.”
I didn’t bother to tell him about Jax because I didn’t need Trent to start a fight with him, but also because nothing had happened.
“Watching you?” he asked.
I nodded. “But the hallway was empty.” I turned to open my locker.
“So, you didn’t see anyone?”
“No.” I grabbed my math book and shoved it into my backpack, then closed my locker. When I turned back around, Trent was right there. I nearly bumped into him.
He grabbed my arms and steadied me. “Do you feel like someone is watching you right now?” His gaze was intense and concerned.
I shook my head. “I think I’m just anxious. All this stuff is supposed to be happening, but nothing is actually happening yet. Graduation. The wedding. The honeymoon.” I gave him a sly, knowing grin. “The big change. The Zoya.”
He dragged his hands down my arms and laced our fingers. “I’m not sure I’d be so eager for that last thing.”
“I’m not.” I sighed. “I just wish something would happen. I’m tired of waiting.”
Trent captured my lips in a soft kiss. “We could always practice making a baby,” he whispered, his eyes sparkling.
I laughed and playfully pushed him away. “You’re terrible.”
The bell rang, and I groaned. Trent walked me to class, gave me a kiss, then left. I watched his retreating form, a permanent smile on my face. He was going to be my husband! I still couldn’t believe it. I spun around to go into class when someone at the opposite end of the hall caught my eye.
It was a girl about my age—she looked like any other student—but she had bleach blonde hair and wore red-rimmed glasses that were a size too small for her pert face. She was staring right at me. I hadn’t ever seen her before.
Squinting, I attempted to get a better look, but students were jostling me out of the way so they could get into the classroom. I shoved around them, but by the time I got a clearer view, the girl was gone.
Goose bumps erupted on my arms, and a shiver wiggled down my spine. Who was that? Was she a member of Ivy’s coven, sent here to watch me? Or worse, was she a Zoya?
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
Friend or Foe?
WHEN LUNCH ROLLED AROUND, I RUSHED into the cafeteria, needing a minute or two alone with my human friends before Trent and the rest of the vampires showed up. Thankfully, the table was crowded with humans only. I made my way toward them and sat next to Ellie.
“Hey,” I said with a cheery smile. “So, this is going to sound weird, but you haven’t heard anything about a new student, have you?”
“No…” Ellie drew out the word and tilted her head as if trying to remember. “Has anyone else?”
Nick, Luke, Gina, and Tonya all shook their heads. “Did you?” Gina asked me.
“No, but I thought I saw someone earlier, and I didn’t recognize them, so I wondered if it was a new student.” I shrugged like it was no big deal, even though to me, it was a huge deal.
If that girl wasn’t a student, then she was definitely here to watch me. But who had sent her? And why?
“I need food,” Nick announced and stood.
Luke followed. A moment later, Gina and Tonya wandered toward the food line, too.
“So, I talked to my mom,” Ellie said as she crunched on a carrot stick. “She said she’s happy to make centerpieces for the tables.”
Ellie’s mom was really crafty, and she loved to make any type of decorations, so when Ellie had suggested asking her mom to help with the wedding, I’d happily agreed.
“That’s great. Tell her I said thank you, and if she needs any help at all, let me know,” I said.
Ellie laughed. “Even if she does need help, she won’t ask. She loves doing this kind of thing. And it gives her an excuse to get away from my father.” She scrunched up her face.
A moment later, strong, familiar arms wrapped around me, and I instinctively leaned into his embrace.
Trent dropped a kiss onto my cheek, then sat in the empty seat next to me. “I waited for you at your locker,” he said.
I frowned. “Sorry. I needed to talk wedding stuff with Ellie.”
“I was worried,” he said, and the concern in his voice was unmistakable.
Cupping his cheeks, I slanted my lips over his. “I’m sorry,” I said again, this time with a little more force. I knew I’d freaked him out earlier with all that talk about someone watching me, and when I told him about the bleach blonde, he was going to be even more worried.
“You two are seriously so cute,” Ellie said with a dreamy sigh.
Laughing, I rested against Trent’s side, and he wrapped his arm around me. He stroked his fingers up and down my arm, his lips never straying too far from my forehead, almost as if he couldn’t stand the thought of not kissing me or touching me right then.
Luke, Nick, Gina, and Tonya returned with food, and the conversation at the table picked up, shifting to upcoming finals and mandatory state testing. Two things I was not prepared for.
Moments later, Abby, Isach, and Whitney arrived and squeezed in around the table. Wyatt and Jax were missing. Not that Wyatt had really been attending classes since he’d broken up with Abby, and now that I didn’t need to be protected from Isach, there really was no reason for Wyatt to be here. Though I had to imagine not having him around was hard for Whitney. She and her brother had been inseparable their entire lives.
And I was glad Jax wasn’t here. After what he’d said to me in the hallway, I was worried he was falling back into our old ways, into caring about me more than he should considering I was marrying his brother in just a few months.
I needed to talk to Isach alone and find out if there was anyone in his coven who matched the description of the girl I’d seen. If not, then she had to be part of Ivy’s coven. Those were the only two possibilities, because I absolutely refused to even think that there might be yet another threat coming after me or the people I loved.
“Chloe?” Abby’s sharp tone cut through my thoughts.
“Huh?”
Abby sighed. “I talked to Mom, told her we still had a lot of wedding plans to go over, so she agreed to let us spend the weekend at Whitney’s.”
“Cool.”
Spending the weekend at Whitney’s actually meant spending the weekend with Trent, and I’d never say no to that. Of course, that was providing he’d be home, too, and not out with his brothers.
I leaned over and placed my mouth near Trent’s ear. “Looks like we’ll get to practice making a baby after all.”
He chuckled, the sound deep and soothing. “You’re officially my favorite soon-to-be cousin-in-law,” Trent said to Abby.
But his gaze kept shifting back to me, his eyes bordering on dark. He pressed his lips to my temple in a firm, lingering kiss. What was up with him today?
Abby rolled her eyes, but there was a smile on her face. “We really do need to make wedding plans, so you’re going to have to let her out of your sight for a little while.”
Trent stiffened. I patted his leg, and he relaxed. A little.
“And we have to go shopping for the stuff for the centerpieces,” Ellie added.
“I have the list of stuff we still need to do at home,” Whitney said. “We’re going to check off as many as we can this weekend. Time’s running out.”
I was so grateful for my friends for so many reasons, and most of all, right now, it was because without them, my wedding would be a total bust. I had no idea what I was doing, but they kept me on track. They were awesome like that. I still needed to find another bridesmaid, though.
My mind kept wandering bac
k to Karina. She really was the perfect choice, and every night Trent was with Colt, she and I—the official “Abandoned Girlfriend Gang”—would hang out and talk. I’d gotten to know her a lot better, so asking her now wouldn’t be too weird. I hoped.
“Have you bothered to do anything on the list I gave you?” Whitney pinned Trent with an accusatory glare.
“You gave him a list?” I asked, glancing between the two of them.
“Yes, she gave me a very long list.” His tone was filled with fake annoyance. “And for your information, I have done a few things.”
Whitney smiled with satisfaction. “Good. This is your wedding, too, so it’s only fair you do your share.”
“What’s on this list?” I asked, amused.
“Nothing you need to be worried about.” He placed another lingering kiss to my temple, and then pulled me closer until his lips brushed across mine.
“You know I’ll just get Whitney to tell me later, right?” I said, slightly breathless from his kiss.
The bell rang, and I groaned. Only two more classes and then I had to report to Mr. Gordon’s room for detention, and this time, Trent wouldn’t be showing up to share in my punishment. That was going to suck.
Trent laced our fingers, and we walked to my locker. “She said it was my job to plan the honeymoon,” he said.
“Seriously?”
He nodded. “Yes, and I’m working on it, but you can’t ask me any questions, okay?”
I laughed. “Right, because I’m so good at that.”
Smiling, he gave me a slow, deep kiss, and then he walked me toward my next class, but he didn’t release me. Instead, he pulled me closer, wrapping me in his arms.
“What’s up with you today?” I asked.
He tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
“You’re a lot more affectionate than usual,” I said, staring into his eyes. “You haven’t stopped looking at me or touching me or kissing me since you walked into the cafeteria.”
“Is that a bad thing?” he asked.
“No,” I said with a teasing smile, loving how no matter what we said, neither of us could stop answering a question with another question.
Eternal Promise: (The Cursed Series, Book 5) Page 9
