by Kasi Blake
That weekend Bay-Lee received another surprise. They knew how to party at Van’s school. Everyone gathered outside at dusk in front of the awesome black building. Magical firecrackers continued to explode in the sky even after they should have fizzled, numerous kegs of beer surrounded them, and music blasted from invisible speakers. Students danced, laughed, and acted crazy while some of the teachers joined in on the fun. Bay-Lee didn’t feel up to a party, but Keisha wouldn’t take no for an answer. The other girl hooked her by the arm and physically dragged her to the festivities.
“Van figured we needed to blow off some steam,” Keisha said, eyes glowing with excitement. “Someone with a big mouth told students about hunters getting killed on their birthdays. I think Van wanted to keep it a secret so there wouldn’t be a huge panic.”
“Hey!” a boy shouted while pointing up. “Look at Maxx go.”
Bay-Lee’s gaze lifted, and the breath caught in her throat. The instructor slash magician known as Maxx was climbing the building without any special equipment. Using his hands and the toes of his boots, he scaled the seemingly slippery exterior. It was a suicidal climb. Bay-Lee shook her head and mumbled, “He’s crazy.”
Keisha grabbed two paper cups filled with beer. “Don’t worry about him. This isn’t the first time he’s tried to climb to the top.”
“Will it be the first time he falls and breaks his neck?”
Keisha chuckled as she handed a cup to Bay-Lee along with a napkin. “The man is like a cat. He has nine lives. Of course he’s fallen, but he never seriously hurts himself. He won’t make it high enough to do serious damage.”
“Why do it at all? Seems pretty stupid and pointless to me.”
“Back when he was Bait someone bet him he couldn’t do it. Flash forward several years and he’s still trying. Gotta give the guy props for not quitting.” Keisha’s eyes narrowed on Bay-Lee’s face. “What about you and Gavin Murdoch? Anything going on there?”
“Not really.”
“Well, he’s the guy I was talking about the night in the cafeteria, the one I couldn’t wait for you to see cause I heard a rumor you were more than just friends. Guess I heard wrong.” She shrugged. “Have you given up on our resident rock star too?”
By what seemed to be a mutually silent agreement she hadn’t seen Nick since she’d bandaged him in his bedroom. After making a fool of herself, crying in front of him, she wanted to avoid him for as long as possible. He hadn’t sought her out either. Perhaps he was embarrassed over his weakened state following the attack. Tough guys didn’t like it when others saw them on their knees. She’d learned that from Connor.
“I told you,” she said. “I’m not looking for a hook up.”
“I think you mean it about as much as I mean it when I say I’m sorry. If you like him, go for it. Life is too short to let a great guy like him get away, and you know some other girl is going to grab him if you don’t.”
“Why are you pushing so hard for us to get together? Everyone else has made it perfectly clear I should stay away from him. You’re the only one who keeps telling me to go for it. Why?”
Keisha shrugged, coy smile in place. “I told you I’m a sucker for a good love story.”
“What makes you think this is going to be one?”
Keisha leaned forward and whispered in Bay-Lee’s ear. “Because of the prophecy. The two of you are meant to be. It’s going to be epic.”
Bay-Lee skipped a breath. The girl turned to go, but Bay-Lee caught her by the arm. “You are not going to dangle the prophecy in front of my face and walk away. Tell me everything or I’ll challenge you to a fight right here in front of the whole school. I have had it with all the lies.”
“You little blackmailer.” The smile remained on the girl’s face even as her eyes cooled a bit. “I didn’t personally read the prophecy, but I’ve heard it quoted. You and Nick are supposed to make every other love story in history look like a Saturday morning cartoon.”
A tiny thrill shook Bay-Lee to her core, but she squelched the excitement, knowing the odds of her winding up with Nick were close to zero.
“Quoted? Who quoted it?”
“Alec Gallos.” Keisha continued to grin from ear to ear. “Ask him. He’ll tell you even if Van doesn’t like it. The guy hates your guts so he’ll tell you the whole story just to hurt you.”
Bay-Lee turned for the front entrance, determined to track Alec down. Word was he hated students, meaning he wouldn’t be at the party. More likely he was in his office. Keisha spun around with her and stepped into Gavin. She accidentally knocked him sideways, and Bay-Lee almost collided with him. Her beer splashed over his arm and shirt.
“I am so sorry,” Bay-Lee said while trying to minimize the damage with the napkin in her hand. “I didn’t see you.”
Keisha continued on, not even a fake apology, and disappeared into the crowd.
“It was my fault,” Gavin said. “I wanted to surprise you, but I should know better than to sneak up on a hunter. Where were you going in such a hurry?”
She hesitated. If he was on the bandwagon with those wanting to keep her in the dark, he would try to stop her. Unable to think of a good lie, she simply smiled at him. It was enough. Gavin’s expression softened. He reached out and brushed dark hair from her shoulder. The intimate gesture caught the eye of several onlookers including new roommate Serena.
The girl snickered before walking away. At least Nick wasn’t around to see Gavin touching her. She didn’t want to get into another fight with him. For some reason he didn’t want her with Gavin. Was it jealousy? Or was it something else?
“Want me to get you another drink?” Gavin asked.
“No. I’m glad you’re here.”
His expression brightened. “Me too. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. You look really nice tonight.”
If she didn’t stop him, he was going to start talking about their relationship. She rushed her speech, trying to let him down easy. “This isn’t working. You’re a good guy, but I can’t be your girlfriend.”
“I don’t understand. We’ve been having so much fun. Is it something I did?”
“This is about me and my life, not you. There are things I have to do, plans I made years ago, and I can’t let them go. A boyfriend doesn’t fit. I’m sorry I didn’t say something sooner. I was hoping I could have a professional life and a personal life.”
“You told me you were willing to give us a chance.”
“I was wrong.” Bay-Lee shifted from foot to foot, uncomfortable. She didn’t dare glance around to see if the other students were watching her break his heart. “There isn’t room in my life for love. I can’t afford it. A boyfriend would just get in the way, and I need to become a great hunter.”
“I can help you do that.”
The pain in his eyes drove a dagger deep into her heart. “I’m sorry,” she repeated. “I need to spend all my free time training. Relationships are too big a distraction.”
He glared at her and asked, “What about Nick Gallos?”
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. Is your rule just for me or is it for everyone? Is it for Nick Gallos? If he wanted to be your boyfriend, would you say no?”
She stared at him in shock, speechless.
Nodding rapidly he said, “That’s what I thought.”
Gavin was about to storm off, but a silver chain caught her attention. It was dangling from his pocket. She pulled on it and held it up between their faces before he could walk away. Her pendent dangled from the end. “What the hell?” she breathed. “Why do you have my necklace?”
Red-faced, he rushed into denial mode. “I don’t know how that got into my pocket. I swear.”
She closed her fingers over it, determined to keep it safely in her possession now that she’d found it. “The last time I saw this I was wearing it on
a date with you. Did you take it or did you find it?”
If he’d found it after their date, why hadn’t he returned it?
“I didn’t put it in my pocket,” he insisted. “I don’t know how it got there.”
A loud commotion stole her attention for a moment. Two boys were fighting, pushing each other and yelling. Bruce, the combat teacher stepped between them, but he didn’t break it up. He told them if they wanted to fight, he’d be happy to take them both on. The boys quickly apologized to each other before walking away, leaving Bruce with an unsatisfied expression on his face. By the time she returned her gaze to where Gavin had been standing, he was gone.
She thought about Gavin’s question. She wouldn’t agree to date Nick if he asked her out, would she? Revenge burned in her heart. Vengeance was practically the only thing she’d thought about for years. Would she be willing to give it up for a boy she hardly knew?
Bay-Lee wasn’t sure.
She was only certain of one thing. Alec Gallos had the answers to her questions. She was going to trap him in his office and force the information out of him… somehow.
