Lee's voice broke through the softly playing music. “My mom's dating again.”
I glanced her way, glad for the topic change even though my mind was still trying to take in Ms. Rhodes's death. “Really? Have you met him?”
She nodded slowly, eyes focused out her window so I couldn't see her face. “Yeah, once. He came over last night, after they'd gone out to dinner. We all watched a movie together.”
“And?” I prompted, when she didn't continue right away.
She sighed. “And… I don't know. He's a little weird.”
“Have you looked in a mirror, Lee?”
A smile tugged her lips, and she glanced toward me. “Yeah, I know. But it's different. She'd kind of stopped the dating game for a while, and I thought maybe she'd given up.”
“What's his name?” I asked, sensing she wanted to keep to the facts for now.
“Peter Keegan.”
“He sounds like a lawyer or something.”
She grimaced. “Yeah, I know.”
“So, did she meet him at work?”
“No, I'm not sure where they ran into each other. My mom just said they'd been seeing each other for about a week now, and she thought I should meet him.”
“So, is he, like, a creep or something? Like Larry?”
She laughed. “Not even close. He's even better than Ray. He's just… weird.”
“What does he do?”
“I'm not sure. I didn't put him through the Inquisition. I was more worried about my outfit coming together, to be honest.”
“So what's so weird about him?” I asked, pulling into the crowded parking lot of the high school.
“It's hard to define,” she answered cryptically. “I want you to meet him.”
Her request wasn't uncommon to me—I'd been asked to meet all the guys Lee's mom brought home. I think she relied on me even more ever since I'd become “psychic.”
I answered as I carefully guided my car into an available space. “Okay—I'd love to.”
“Great. My mom's invited him to dinner this Friday. Does that work for you?”
“I'll clear my schedule,” I promised lightly.
She smiled appreciatively. “Thanks, Kate. You're the best.”
Once all the doors were locked, we walked together toward the front of the school. Class wouldn't start for another thirteen minutes or so, so we took our time. Lee's outrageous new look got many stares, but she didn't even seem to notice. She was absorbed in asking about me and Patrick.
I kept my answers concise, but the little smile I couldn't keep back made Lee laugh out loud. “He's that great, huh? I knew it. I'm glad you're happy together and that things are going good.”
“He's perfect,” I agreed. “Now you just need one like him.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, you're right. ’Cuz all the guys love orange, huh?”
“I just want you to be happy.”
“I am happy.”
“Maybe your mom's right, and these extreme fashions you choose are actually your inner cries for help.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Her phone vibrated, and she pulled it from her pocket quickly. I was a little surprised to see it wasn't orange, but I guess even Lee had limits. She flipped it open, the sudden light in her eyes more telling than words.
“Toni?” I guessed easily, wondering how I should feel about an immortal Guardian showing interest in my best friend. Especially when that immortal Guardian was Toni.
“Yep.” Lee answered with a smile. “He's such a funny guy…”
“Isn't he in class?” I asked, though of course I knew my Guardian didn't attend the community college like he claimed. He was probably at the warehouse he called home, lounging on the broken couch and killing time on the computer. Immortality seemed a bit wasted on him.
“Yeah—but since when did that stop anyone from having a decent conversation?”
“Are you guys getting serious?” I asked.
She rolled her eyes at me. “We've only hung out a couple times. It's no big deal.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“Of course.” It was time for us to part ways. “I'll see you in second hour,” she called over her shoulder, fingers still tapping over her phone.
I shook my head fondly in her direction before continuing my walk toward the main entrance. A couple classmates sitting on the grass called out to me, and I gave them each a quick wave. I was ready to start up the stairs when I heard a deep voice speak up somewhere behind me.
“Kate, wait up a sec, huh?”
My legs stopped moving and I twisted around to face Jaxon, Aaron's best friend. He was a big guy—a star athlete. His white teeth gleamed brightly on his otherwise dark face. He was usually spouting jokes or laughing at someone else's. Today he was looking serious, his aura a combination of uneasiness and determination, accented with wisps of red anger. His face was firmly set, but he was trying to keep his eyes from looking too accusatory. It was in situations like these I really disliked my Sight: Seeing the full force of a person's emotions was intimidating, and that intimidation was only exaggerated when the person was putting on a relatively calm face.
I'd been hoping to avoid this conversation with Aaron's best friend and, after a week, I'd thought I was relatively safe.
I guess not.
I forced a smile. “Hey, Jaxon, what's up?”
He smiled just a little, his eyes still tight. “Nothing much. You?”
I shrugged, reaching up to grip the shoulder straps on my bag. “Nope.”
He nodded, coming to a stop two steps away from me. A few clusters of students passed around us on their way into the school, but for the most part we were ignored.
I refused to shift my weight and appear awkward. I kept my smile firmly in place and waited for him to speak while my fingers circumspectly strangled my bag.
He blew out his breath, half wincing. “Look, I wasn't going to do this. Honestly. What you and Aaron do isn't my business. I respect you too much to lecture you or anything.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that, Jax.”
“But, Kate,” he continued quickly, ignoring my words, “I don't think you understand what you're doing. What this looks like. I mean, you completely dumped him without any warning. He came to pick you up for a dance—after you stood him up all day. Then Monday morning comes around, and you're with O'Donnell, holding hands and smacking lips. Couldn't you have at least waited a week before moving on? Aaron's ego is completely shot. He's a wreck.”
I swallowed hard and glanced at my feet, the guilt making my stomach twist. “Jaxon—”
“I know. Totally not my place, totally awkward—I get that.” I looked up and our eyes locked. I'd never seen him so serious. “But Aaron's my best friend, Kate. And I think he needs some kind of explanation or something. I don't think he's going to get over this unless you talk to him about what happened. Why it happened.”
“What on earth would I say?” I asked, honestly hoping he'd have some ideas.
“I don't know.” He sighed. “But come on, you can't pretend that you don't feel guilty about all this. I know you too well not to see the signs. I know you cared about him a lot, and feelings don't just disappear like that.”
“Jaxon, things between us were shaky at best since I lost my parents.”
“I know. I saw that. I think everyone did. But Aaron was trying. I thought you were trying too. So did he. You didn't even give him a chance to talk this out with you.”
“We talked,” I argued.
He cut in firmly, the red in his aura flaring sharply. “No. You talked. He listened without a choice.”
I pursed my lips and glanced away. His words hurt, but I knew that was only because they were true. After all Aaron had done for me… I hadn't treated him fairly at all.
Jaxon continued heavily. “Sorry. I don't mean to sound like a jerk. But he's my best friend. What would you do in my place?”
I didn't answer. I didn't have to. We both knew the answer. “I c
an't make any promises,” I finally said. “But I'll try talking to him.”
“Thanks. That's all I'm asking for. Just give him a chance to talk this out with you.”
I narrowed my eyes, hoping to convey my seriousness. “This isn't going to change anything. You know that, right? Aaron and I… we're through.”
“I know. But let him at least understand that before you stop talking to him forever.”
“He's the one that's been avoiding me,” I said defensively.
Jaxon's stare was unwavering. “And you blame him?”
He waited a moment—like I'd have a good rebuttal for that?—and then gave me a quick nod before moving around my still form and up the few stairs to the school doors.
I didn't follow right away, because I didn't want him to see how much his words had affected me. For the first time, I really started to see how all of this had looked to Aaron. And knowing how much I'd hurt him… the guilt was almost making me sick.
I let out a sigh and walked into the school.
Patrick was waiting for me in American Lit, like he always did, sitting in the prearranged circle. He was the first one in the room, which was usually the case. He was thumbing through a paperback—probably The House of the Seven Gables, the book he'd finished long before the rest of the class. We were going to be taking a test on it today, so maybe he was refreshing his memory. Or maybe he was just waiting for me to show up. Because as soon as I stepped into the room, he looked up, closing the book and laying it on his desk in the same motion.
He smiled over at me, and I felt my own smile mirror his without effort or thought. He was wearing the usual light jeans and button-up shirt, this one dark blue. The sleeves were rolled to just above the elbows and a thick black bracelet circled his left wrist, something Toni had filched for him years ago, though Patrick hadn't known it was stolen property initially. His well-defined face was lightly dusted in freckles, and his eyes were the clearest, brightest blue. Just the sight of him made my heart lurch. To know he cared for me made it hard to breathe.
I stepped into the room quickly, wanting to be at his side as soon as possible. He stood to meet me, taking the final step that brought us together. He kissed me gently and then pulled me close in a warm embrace. “Good morning,” he whispered, his Irish accent obvious but not overpowering. “I feel like I haven't seen you for so long…”
“Saturday night, wasn't it?” I teased, pulling back so I could brush my fingers against the side of his face.
He grinned and caught my retreating fingers in his hand. “Too long,” he insisted.
“For being immortal, you'd think you'd have a bit more patience.”
“It's something to work on, I guess.”
I mumbled an agreement and pressed my lips back to his. With his free hand, he rubbed my back and then moved it to rest against my cheek. His thumb stroked my sensitive skin, just below my closed eye, and I sighed in contentment.
“I've waited two centuries for you,” he whispered against my mouth. “I think I've earned the right to be a little impatient.”
I didn't bother to answer. I was too distracted by his deep kiss, his delicate fingers, the closeness of his body… I don't know how much time passed, but all too soon someone stepped into the room behind us and grunted loudly.
Worried that it might be Aaron, I pulled back quickly, turning to see the intruder. Patrick looked with me, his hand still holding mine tightly.
It was a fellow student named Andrea, probably the most jealous and judgmental person I'd ever encountered. She didn't talk a lot, but her aura—purple enough to join Lee's Rainbow Days—told her whole story.
I blushed a little, but I knew Patrick was inwardly laughing. “Sorry,” he told her, though he didn't sound remotely apologetic.
Andrea gave us a withering look before stepping away from the open door. She sat across from us in the circle, and in seconds she was digging in her bag for her battered copy of The House of the Seven Gables.
I looked up at Patrick, pressing my lips tightly together to keep a laugh from escaping. He placed a long finger up to his mouth, his eyes wide as he pantomimed for me to stay quiet. That made it all the harder to keep my laugh from exploding out.
We took our usual seats side by side and I reached down to get my things, lips still twitching in amusement. After the bell rang, students began to amble into the classroom. Once everyone had taken their seats, and we weren't alone anymore, Patrick spoke.
“So, are you still planning on dinner tonight?”
“You don't seem that nervous,” I commented, a bit wryly.
He shrugged a single shoulder. “Why should I be nervous? I already know your grandfather, your sisters love me, and your grandmother sounds like an amazing woman.”
“What about me? Don't I make you nervous?”
He ducked his brown head slightly, his eyes deeply amused. “Extremely nervous. You're the only person I really worry about scaring off.”
“Pretty sure you don't need to worry about that.” He grinned at my almost blushing response. “What? Are you nervous about tonight?”
“Nope,” I lied quickly. He cocked his head to the side in question, but I changed the subject quickly, my voice subdued. “I heard about Ms. Rhodes.”
His eyes tightened, the shift in his mood almost tangible. “I was going to tell you after school,” he explained slowly.
“Did Toni find her?”
Patrick nodded once. “The little sneak is quite the tracker, actually. We're not sure if it was Avalos or Romero, but… the accident was no accident.”
I bobbed my head, showing I understood. “I know. I just… It's hard to know she died because of me.”
Patrick reached for my hand, and I surrendered it to him with a sigh. “It wasn't your fault, Kate. The Demons are to blame. And Toni and I… we should have been paying closer attention. There just aren't enough Guardians to be everywhere at once.”
“I know. And I don't blame you—not at all.”
One corner of his mouth lifted into a tentative smile, though it was clear he didn't fully believe my words.
Over his shoulder I caught sight of Aaron, stepping into the classroom. Patrick followed my glance, and we watched while my old boyfriend took a seat beside Andrea, not looking in our direction even once.
I sighed without thinking, and Patrick's gaze settled against my face. But Patrick was wise enough not to say anything, even though I knew he wanted to.
Class started a minute later, and gradually Patrick relaxed beside me. We focused on Mr. Benson's instructions, and then we concentrated on the essay-form test with the rest of the class. Regardless, it surprised me—like it always did—how hard it was to keep my eyes from wandering across the circle to steal a glance at Aaron.
Jaxon was right—we needed to talk. Things hadn't ended well, and until they did, both of us were going to have a hard time moving on.
Patrick and I had every class together. Originally, choir was the only one he wasn't technically in, but that was only because he'd stood there the whole period, completely invisible. Since we'd become a couple, he'd started participating in the last hour of the day. His tenor voice was amazing, and Mr. Hyer was more than happy to welcome him in. Attending class invisible for weeks had also given him a great handle on all the music, so he looked even more like a show-off—something I pointed out often, much to Patrick's delight.
The only problem with being together all day: there wasn't a great chance to talk to Aaron. But then, I guess stealing a couple minutes with him in the hall probably wasn't the best way to communicate. And so I made a resolution to stop by his house sometime—maybe tomorrow, once tonight was over with.
Lunch found us with Lee and the special-needs kids. Trent called out several hellos, as was his custom, and he begged for spaghetti, just like always. (He liked mac and cheese too, though, luckily.) Bianca's long, somewhat flat face was twisted in a strange mix of fear and pleasure at seeing Lee's new look. Bianca's favorite
color had always been purple, but after Lee had assured her she wasn't some kind of freaky orange alien, Bianca assured us all she really liked orange too. Mark was hunched over his lunch tray, and he scratched distractedly at a sore on the side of his face as he talked about a new game he'd received for his birthday. Jason—a larger kid—was listening intently, though he hardly spoke a word. Sitting right next to him was the bright-blue-eyed Landen. He was even quieter than Jason, but his aura was definitely the brightest of the bunch. I didn't quite understand how Landen's yellow aura could be so much happier than the others at the table, since all of the special-needs kids were noticeably happier than anyone else in the cafeteria, but it was. Sometimes I wondered if the answer was in his smile. It was like he knew something we didn't—knew a kind of joy the rest of us could only guess at.
David was listening in on our conversation, inserting his thoughts occasionally while pushing his glasses further up his nose in a nervous habit. Olivia sat next to me, eating her cookie before even thinking about eating her sandwich. She liked her dessert and refused to get distracted by substantial food. She'd grown attached to me despite the little time we'd spent together, and she sat next to me every day. Patrick was on my other side, sitting closer to the other boys.
These teenagers were, in a word, awesome. They weren't judgmental, and their quirkiness was something I'd come to really appreciate. Their auras were childlike, as was their behavior. Sometimes they could be very perceptive. Most of the time they talked about favorite toys, their families, or nothing at all. And all still firmly believed in the power of cooties, ergo the split of boys and girls at the table.
There was a time Aaron and Jaxon had joined us here, but that was before I'd ended things between us. Trent had mentioned their absence every day last week, but today he said nothing. I was grateful for that, because I didn't need another reason to feel the guilt return.
“I already won the hardest level,” Mark was bragging.
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