Ember

by Rachel Van Dyken

  “You do know that’s illegal, right?” Tex asked.

  I released Bee’s hand and crossed my arms. “You do know that’s your sister… right?”

  “And that’s our cue.” Nixon’s eyebrows shot up as he pulled Tex away from us. “Have fun, Bee, and remember the girls are all upperclassmen, but you can always hang with them in between classes.”

  Bee saluted them as they made their way back to Chase and the rest of the girls.

  Ten minutes later, and I was stuck with four women.

  So basically, if Hell decided to come to earth, I was in the middle of it, surrounded by perfume and sharp nails.

  “So…” Bee reached for my hand again. “Shall we go experience college?”

  I let out a groan, pushing her hand away.

  Suddenly clammy, I let my wooden legs carry me through campus, biting my tongue, tasting blood in my mouth. I freaking hated this place. Everywhere I looked memories assaulted me.

  The first day Trace came to Elite.

  Nixon’s warnings.

  I looked toward the registrar building, knowing that the building next to it — the Elect headquarters at the time — would be staring back at me. I’d taken Trace in there.

  My chest hurt so bad it felt like it was going to crack.

  “It’s okay, Phoenix.” Trace spoke up for the first time, nudging me in the side. “We won’t let them hurt you.”

  A few girls walked by and waved in my direction.

  “Ah, she has jokes.” I managed a tight smile before realizing I was doing it.

  Bee let out a loud gasp.

  I stopped walking. “What?”

  “N-nothing.” Her cheeks blushed bright red. “I just… nothing.”

  “Nervous?”

  “Yeah.” She nodded enthusiastically. “That’s it.”

  “Well, let’s get it over with then.” I pulled her away from the girls and waved goodbye.”Your first class is this way.”

  “Right.”

  I leaned over and peered into her bright eyes. “You sure you aren’t on drugs?”

  “Ha ha.” Her voice was breathless. “More walking, less talking.”

  “Read my mind, little girl.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  His smile was like the sun.

  Bee

  PEOPLE WERE STARING AT me, and they didn’t even try to hide it. Phoenix kept a safe distance behind me — and it made me feel even more lonely than before. It was like he was trying to show everyone who saw me that he wanted nothing to do with me. At all.

  When I tried to slow down, he slowed down. When I sped up, he only went fast enough to keep up with me.

  I passed my classroom on purpose.

  Phoenix cleared his throat.

  I rolled my eyes, backtracked, and went through the door. Twenty-something pairs of eyes all landed on me; everyone went completely silent. My heart started beating so fast that it was the only thing I could hear as blood surged toward my face. Everyone was already seated. Holy crap, I really was late.

  With a nervous smile, I opened my mouth to say something when Phoenix smoothly walked by me and approached the professor. He smiled, freaking smiled, the same way he had with Trace. I knew it! I knew I wasn’t losing my mind. Dimple, right cheek, deep, so deep, and sexy. I bit down hard on my lower lip to keep from sighing out loud.

  The professor laughed at something Phoenix said, which immediately hurt my feelings. Why couldn’t he laugh with me? Joke with me? Was I that annoying? That must be it. I was annoying. Like the little sister he never wanted but was stuck with.

  Who fed him lasagna at two a.m. and wouldn’t shut up even when he asked me nicely. But it wasn’t like I could just turn off my sparkling personality; he just brought out the need for me to get in a good verbal sparring. Again, it was better than nothing.

  “Miss Campisi?” The professor addressed me, tilting his head to the side. “Please take a seat in the back.”

  I tucked my hair behind my ear and quickly made my way to the back of the class. Just as I was about to make it to the empty table, a guy’s foot shot out, nearly tripping me.

  With a quick sidestep, I managed to avoid the collision then leaned over, as if I needed to fix my pant leg, and whispered, “Try that again, and I’m asking the brother to order a hit on you. Better yet, I’ll complete it myself. I may be new to school, but you’re in my world. And in my world, we don’t put up with bullies. We shoot them.” I paused as I stood up. “Didn’t catch your name?” My voice held a slight tremble, but he didn’t seem to notice it. I tended to lash out when I was scared, and in that moment with all those kids, in a school, I was terrified, which meant he was going to be on the receiving end of my wrath. Lucky him.

  The guy paled, his skin matching his blond hair. He opened his mouth then closed it.

  “Problem?” Phoenix asked, coming up behind me; his hands touched my shoulders briefly before pushing me forward toward the desk.

  I turned and shrugged. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

  Phoenix stayed put while I took my seat. With a smirk — not a sexy one, but one that had me wanting to back up and lift my hands in surrender — he took the seat next to me and leaned forward, whispering in hushed tones, “Didn’t catch your name?”

  My breath caught. He’d repeated my words.

  “B-brian,” the guy whispered.

  “Listen… Brian.” Phoenix sneered a bit.

  The professor, clearly unaware of what was taking place in the back of his classroom, continued talking about expectations and rules.

  But Phoenix was laying out his own rules and expectations. “I see you look at her in a way that personally offends me… I cut your finger off then mail it to your parents as a reminder to teach their son some manners. I trust you’ll be able to keep all negativity to yourself. After all, we want your college experience to be a positive one, don’t we? Granted, you have to live that long first.”

  The guy started visibly shaking. “Sorry… er, Mr. um…”

  “Phoenix—” His teeth snapped. “—De Lange.”

  “Shit,” the guy muttered before he jolted from his seat and ran out the door.

  The professor looked back at both of us with a query in his eyes.

  Phoenix merely offered an innocent shrug and nodded as if to say, “Do continue with that fascinating lesson on not cheating.”

  He’d scared the guy shitless.

  And I kind of loved him for it.

  “You didn’t have to do that,” I whispered a few minutes later as papers were getting passed back to us.

  “I did.” Phoenix handed me the piece of paper, his hand lingering. “And I always will.”

  I gulped, pulling the paper from his hand. “But he could have been a friend.”

  His lips twitched. Come on, one small smile? “Friends don’t let friends make friends with jackasses.”

  “More wisdom.” I nodded, tapping my temple. “Stored right up here.”

  “Along with name brands and selfies?”

  “Along with dimples and smiles,” I said before I could stop myself.

  His lips parted as his eyes fell to my mouth.

  “Any questions about the assignment?” the professor asked in a booming voice, jolting me out of my daydream about what Phoenix’s mouth would feel like pressed against mine.

  I raised my hand.

  “Yes, Miss Campisi?”

  “I’m sorry. What was the assignment again?”

  The entire class let out a groan.

  I squinted and fired Phoenix a what did I do? look.

  He shook his head, but I saw a ghost of a smile, and I knew whatever I’d done, I wanted to do it again. One day I’d get a full smile, and I’d deserve it.

  ALL IN ALL MY classes weren’t completely horrible, but if Phoenix didn’t stop asking me to pick a major and get it over with, I was going to stuff my fist down his throat, or maybe just my tongue. It was a toss-up, and I was grumpy because Sergio had rushed me through b
reakfast.

  “Lunch.” Phoenix nodded toward a huge two-story brick building. A tasteful black sign with the word Commons stamped on it in gold. The Eagle mascot was right below it in red. “Aren’t you hungry?”

  “Starving!” I started to head for the door but was jerked backward by my backpack. Pouting, I crossed my arms and turned. “You clotheslined me.”

  “That wasn’t clotheslining.” Phoenix rolled his eyes. “And I asked if you were hungry.”

  “And I said I’m star-ving.” I said the word slower this time like he was a two year old. “So can we go in?”

  “Where?”

  “There.” I pointed back at the building. “Isn’t that were lunch is?”

  “Not for you.”

  “Oh.” I looked down at the pavement. “Do I have to eat alone or something?”

  The thought had me feeling insecure all over again. Yeah, my classes had been fine, but all the students had looked at me like I was a total nut job. The only girl who had been nice to me was the one who’d kindly pointed out that I was about to go into the guys’ restroom. And I think she only did it because she was worried I was going to see her boyfriend’s parts. He emerged minutes later and attacked her with his tongue — in a totally horrifying way that had me wanting to take a shower.

  “Bee…” Phoenix’s voice was tired. “…you can’t eat with them because they’ll just stare at you.”

  “Because I’m a freak,” I mumbled.

  Phoenix let out a snort of laughter. “Is that what you think?”

  I nodded, still staring at the pavement.

  “It’s because of who your brother is… it’s because of who your family is.” Phoenix’s voice was grim but all business. “They’re afraid of you, and when people are afraid, they do really stupid shit, believe me.”

  I wasn’t convinced. If anything, it made me feel that the situation was that much more hopeless.

  “Come on… I’ll spot you some lunch money.” His voice was back to being light, teasing.

  I jerked my head up. “Did you just tease me?”

  “Will that make you feel better?”

  I gave a weak nod.

  “Then yeah, I teased you. Surprise.”

  Examining my nails, I gave a noncommittal shrug. “You can do better.”

  “I’m not a monkey. I’m not dancing for you.”

  “Drop it like it’s hot, and it will make my week.”

  “No.”

  I pouted, jutting out my lower lip. “Please?”

  “Try again.” He coughed, shifting from one foot to the other. “And keep in mind we should get going since you only have an hour before your lab.”

  Scrunching up my nose, I thought about it. “Okay, no teasing… I don’t need teasing. Just one smile. One smile. For me.”

  “That’s worse than dancing.”

  “A smile?” I gasped. “So dance. Lesser of two evils.”

  “I can’t believe I’m negotiating with a terrorist right now.”

  “Aw…” I fluttered my eyelashes. “Aren’t you sweet. Now dance.”

  “I changed my mind. Stay in a crappy mood.” Phoenix’s lips did that twitch thing, and then a miracle occurred. A smile, a large smile formed across those gorgeous lips, framing perfect white teeth. And that dimple? Even better this close up. Swear, I felt my entire body heat from that one smile.

  “You should do that more often,” I croaked.

  “I may… if it gets that reaction where your eyes go all crazy, and that trap you like to call your mouth finds the sudden urge to mute itself.”

  “Happy moment destroyed,” I grumbled.

  “Let’s go.” Phoenix nodded toward a building next to the Commons. “Lunch. Let’s go feed you.”

  “I eat, you eat. That’s the deal.” I rushed to keep up with him.

  “I smiled. You’re the one officially in my debt.”

  “I love the sound of owing the great Phoenix De Lange a favor. Please, please let it be sexual,” I pleaded.

  Phoenix shook his head as if he was totally unfazed by my comment. “Barking up the wrong tree there, little girl.”

  “I’m not a little girl!” I huffed, barely keeping myself form pushing him into the tree, like a little girl at recess.

  “Oh look! Lunch, friends to make, people to talk to...” Phoenix pointed to the door. “Go ahead.”

  “By myself?”

  “Prove you’re not a little girl,” Phoenix challenged. “Go into lunch by yourself, tons of professors around, cameras everywhere. I’ll wait out here on the steps… eat a protein bar, make some calls.”

  “Fine, Grandpa.” I lifted my nose in the air. “But when I come out with tons of friends and forget your name, don’t get all moody on me.”

  “I’ll try to restrain myself.” He’d already turned around and was moving toward the far side of the stairs.

  Nervous, I fought the urge to run after him, wrap my arms around him, and sob into his chest.

  But I wanted to prove I could do it. So I turned on my heel and made my way into the building.

  The minute I opened the door, the smell of food hit me square in the face. My stomach decided that, yes, going through the door was the best idea I’d had in years. That was until I opened the second door and came face-to-face with a group of twelve students, all sitting around a lunch table and eating. A few other tables were scattered around, one or two students sitting at them on their computers, not paying attention to anything and typing furiously like the world was going to end if they stopped.

  The table with the most kids all stopped eating — at the same time, as if they’d planned it.

  “Um…” I tucked my hair behind my ear. “I must have the wrong room.”

  “Hey, you’re Bee!” A tall guy with sandy brown hair stood and walked toward me, smile wide, hand outstretched. “Come on in.”

  I took his hand, shook it, and tried to paste a confident smile on my face as the rest of the students around the table looked at me anxiously.

  “How do you know my name?” I asked, taking the only empty seat next to him.

  “Student Body President.” He shrugged. “It’s my job.” His eyes narrowed. “You’re Tex’s sister, right?”

  “Right.”

  “And your bodyguard? Does he eat?”

  “Phoenix?” I asked, surprised he knew so much. “No, he prefers protein bars to people food.”

  “Ah…” The guy was good-looking, clean cut… but not Phoenix. Then again, nobody compared to Phoenix, and when you hung around the guys I did, everyone pretty much paled in comparison to their hotness. My brother excluded, for obvious reasons.

  “I’m Pike.” He tossed me a menu. “I hope you don’t mind, but you were kind of late, and I didn’t want you having to wait to eat, so I ordered you a burger and fries.”

  I sighed in relief, though it was a bit weird that he was expecting me. “Sounds amazing.”

  A plate of food was set in front of me as I glanced around the room. It looked like a really nice dining room. But it only had space for a few students, and Eagle Elite had over five thousand… I was still trying to figure it out when the girl to my right elbowed me.

  I glanced up.

  “Name’s Hartley.” She grinned, her green eyes sparkling like she knew some crazy secret I wasn’t a part of. “Are the rumors true?”

  “Rumors?” I repeated, stealing a glance at Pike.

  “A little rude, don’t you think, Hart?” Pike interrupted. “Let her at least eat before you start asking questions.”

  “Sorry.” Hartley tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “I’m just really curious…” She looked around the table. “I mean I can’t be the only one who’s curious.”

  “Hart,” Pike warned.

  “What!” Hart held up her hands. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be offensive, but The Elect leave our school, rumors spread about all these killings, mafia is like this revered word around here, and then she shows up at school wi
th a bodyguard, and not just any bodyguard, but one of the original elect who used to freaking run this school with an iron fist. And I’m supposed to keep silent and not ask questions?”

  The rest of the people around the table were looking at me like I was supposed to answer them, like I knew the answers.

  “Sorry,” I managed. “I don’t really know who The Elect are.”

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  “She’s good,” Hart said. “They taught her well. She’s a good liar.”

  “No!” My eyebrows knit together in confusion. “I seriously don’t know who they are… and why does my background even matter?”

  The room was silent again.

  I ate a fry, but it was soggy.

  “Because,” Pike finally said. “Rumor has it you’re not the only implant at the school this year.”

  “Implant?”

  Pike sighed. “Don’t worry about it. Rumors are just that… rumors, you know?”

  “Petrov,” said a female voice from behind me.

  I turned and smiled as Mil made her way toward our table. Mo and Trace followed close behind.

  If I thought the room was silent before, it was like death now.

  “Emiliana…” Pike’s smile didn’t reach his face. “How goes the business?”

  “Business?” Mil tilted her head. “Silly boy, this mouth is for eating, not talking… especially to you.”

  “Touché.” His eyes lit up in what I could only assume was respect.

  Mo’s fingers brushed my shoulder. “Why don’t you come eat with us for a bit? We should catch up.”

  I felt trapped between making new friends and talking to old ones.

  “Go ahead.” Pike nodded. “We can get to know each other better later.”

  Nodding, I picked up my plate and followed the girls to a corner table. I didn’t even realize I’d been holding a breath until we sat down and I exhaled my frustration.

  “So…” Mo grinned in my direction, then pulled her silky dark brown hair back into a ponytail. “…you make friends fast.”

  “It was a direct order from Phoenix… make friends, prove I know how.” I rolled my eyes. “Though to be fair, all I had to do was walk in here, and suddenly I had a plate of food in front of me, and I was being asked about The Elect.”