4 Waxing & Waning

by Amanda M. Lee

  I cast her a sidelong look. She was trying really hard to make amends.

  “Well, I don’t like you either,” Caitlyn said.

  “I’m sure I’ll lose a lot of sleep over that,” Matilda said.

  Professor Cooper was across the room talking with another group, but her eyes drifted in our direction. I had a feeling she’d sensed the building hostility. Uh-oh.

  “I want to pick the next book,” Caitlyn announced.

  “We vote on the books,” I said. “You can make a suggestion, and then we’ll tell you if we agree with it or not.”

  “You’re just going to purposely vote against any book I pick,” she countered.

  “That’s not true,” I said.

  “I want to read Divergent.”

  “I don’t think that counts as women’s fiction,” Beth said.

  “You just want to watch the movie,” I said, smiling tightly.

  “I do not,” Caitlyn said. “I heard it’s a great book.”

  “I still don’t think it counts,” Beth said. “Let’s ask Professor Cooper.” She raised her hand, drawing Cooper’s attention back to us. I could see the woman’s shoulders heave as she let out a sigh and headed in our direction.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “Divergent doesn’t count as women’s fiction, does it?” Beth asked.

  “Well, I guess technically it does,” Cooper said. “It’s really not what I had in mind, though. I was hoping you would embrace some of the classics.”

  Beth’s face was smug. “I told you.”

  Caitlyn pouted.

  “Still,” Cooper said. “If it will keep you guys from fighting, which seems to be a constant worry these days, I’m willing to allow it.”

  Beth deflated some as Caitlyn preened. “So, is everyone agreed on Divergent?”

  I wanted to disagree with her on general principle but, since I’d already read the book, it would save me some time. “I think it’s a great idea,” I said.

  Now Caitlyn was the one deflating. “You do?”

  “You’re a genius, really,” I said.

  Once class was over, I couldn’t get out of the room fast enough. Unfortunately, Caitlyn was close on my heels. “I want to talk to you,” she said.

  I slowed my pace. “Why?”

  “I think it’s time.”

  “What do you want to talk about?”

  “You and Aric,” she said. “I want to know what’s going on with the two of you.”

  “Nothing,” I said. “I haven’t seen him in weeks.” Unfortunately, that was the truth.

  “I think you’re lying,” Caitlyn said. “I think the two of you are sneaking around behind my back.”

  “I thought you were in love,” I said, my tone mocking.

  “We are,” Caitlyn replied stiffly. “You just insist on confusing him.”

  “Whatever.”

  “Oh, look, here he comes now,” Caitlyn said.

  I glanced up, my heart clenching as our eyes met across the busy hallway. This wouldn’t be good. Aric stilled as he neared us. “Is something going on?”

  “Your girlfriend thinks we’re humping like rabbits when she’s not around,” I said.

  “That’s not what I said,” Caitlyn protested.

  “What did you say?” Aric asked.

  “I just said that I thought it was low of her to keep … confusing you the way she does,” Caitlyn said. “I was trying to look out for your feelings.”

  “Yeah,” I snickered. “This is all about what’s best for you, Aric.”

  “I’m fine,” Aric said.

  “I’m fine, too,” I said. “Look, everyone is fine.”

  “I’m not fine,” Caitlyn said. “I’m pretty far from fine.”

  “Well, they say admitting it is the first step,” I said.

  Caitlyn’s hand was moving before I even realized what she was doing, slapping me across the face. I was so surprised, I just stood there for a moment.

  Aric’s eyes widened. “What the hell?”

  “She’s a horrible person,” Caitlyn sniffed. “She deserved it.”

  Well, that did it. I straightened. “Don’t touch me again,” I warned.

  “Or what? You’ll call me another name and try to make me look stupid in public? You do that anyway.”

  “I don’t have to try to make you look stupid,” I said. “You do that all on your own.”

  Caitlyn’s hand was flying through the air again, but this time I was ready. I caught her wrist before her hand could make contact with my face. “I told you not to do that,” I growled.

  “I hate you,” Caitlyn hissed, striking out with her other hand.

  I moved my head away just in time, but Caitlyn’s wallet key chain flicked against my chin, causing the auburn-haired devil to lose her grip on it. I grabbed her wrist with my other hand, forcing her to remain still.

  “Let me go,” Caitlyn ordered.

  I glanced over at Aric. “I’m going to kill her. I hope you’re not too attached.”

  Aric pinched the bridge of his nose. “You can’t kill her,” he said. “You’ll go to jail, and no one wants that.”

  “That’s why you don’t want her to kill me?” Caitlyn screeched. “Because she might go to jail? What about me? What about my feelings?”

  “You hit her,” Aric said. “If you’re going to hit someone, you have to live with the consequences.”

  “So, you’re taking her side again? You always take her side.”

  “She’s not the one in the wrong,” Aric said.

  “See, this is what I’m talking about,” Caitlyn said. “I know something is going on between you two.”

  Aric reached over, placing his hands over mine and prying my fingers from Caitlyn’s wrists. “Let her go.”

  “If she tries to hit me again, I’m going to beat the living crap out of her,” I warned.

  “If she tries to hit you again, I’ll hold her down while you do it,” he said.

  I exchanged one more dubious look with him and then released my grip. Caitlyn was playing her sudden freedom to the hilt. She threw herself against Aric’s broad chest and started sobbing. “She could have really hurt me.”

  Aric didn’t raise his arms to hold her, and he didn’t offer her any solace. Instead, he focused on me. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m hurt,” Caitlyn said.

  “He was talking to me, you idiot,” I said, bending over so I could retrieve Caitlyn’s wallet from the floor. I glanced down at it, flipping it over so I could get a better look at her identification card. Realization dawned on me when I saw her last name. How did I miss this?

  The look on my face must have been comical, because Aric was pushing past Caitlyn and moving in my direction, his hand clamping down over my mouth, before I could utter the question on the tip of my tongue.

  “Um, Caitlyn, why don’t you go,” Aric said, struggling as I whipped my head around. “I need to make sure Zoe isn’t going to go after you … don’t bite me … and I don’t think you should be here when I do.”

  Caitlyn was flabbergasted. “Excuse me?”

  “Just go,” Aric ordered, ripping her wallet from my hand and handing it over to her. “Just go.”

  Caitlyn narrowed her eyes. “I know something is going on here.”

  Aric’s hand over my mouth muffled my reply. When Caitlyn realized Aric wasn’t kidding – and he wasn’t going anywhere with her – she huffed, turning on her heel and stalking out of the nearby exit door. Aric waited until she was gone before moving his hand.

  “Why is her last name Blake?” The question was out of my mouth before I regained my breath.

  “You’ll have to ask her parents,” Aric said, glancing around the hallway to make sure people weren’t eavesdropping.

  “Is she related to Sam Blake?”

  Aric sighed. “Yes. She’s his sister.”

  “I knew it!”

  “You knew what?”

  “You’re sleeping with her to g
et information about Blake,” I said. “That explains why you’re with her. I couldn’t figure out why you would put up with her.”

  Aric grabbed my arms forcefully. “I’m only going to tell you this one more time,” he said, lowering his voice as his eyes darkened. “I am not sleeping with her. I’m not a whore.”

  I pulled back in surprise. “I didn’t mean … .”

  “I know what you meant,” Aric said. “I’m not lying to you when I say that I’m not sleeping with her. I haven’t touched her that way, and I don’t plan to.”

  “Then why does she think you’re her boyfriend?”

  “She’s playing a game,” Aric said. “She knows I know it.”

  “Does she know you’re playing one, too?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then why play it?”

  “Because I need information,” Aric said. “The only way I can get it is if I’m in close proximity to her. Trust me. There’s nothing in this world I would rather see than you yanking every hair out of her head.”

  “Why didn’t you just tell me that?”

  Aric sighed. “Because you weren’t talking to me at the beginning of the year,” he said. “And, when you finally did starting talking to me – kind of – there was never a good way to explain it.”

  “The truth might have been nice,” I said. “Of course, you’re not big on the truth.”

  Aric extended a finger in my face. “Don’t,” he said. “I’m working so hard to fix all of this right now, I won’t take a step back.”

  “You know, if you’d told me what you were doing, it might have made me feel better,” I said.

  “I considered that,” Aric said. “I thought it would … make things more difficult.”

  “How?”

  Aric glanced around the hallway again before leaning in closer. “Because I can barely stay away from you now.” He brushed his lips against mine softly and then took a step back.

  My heart was hammering, and my cheeks were on fire. “Why did you do that?”

  “Because I needed to,” Aric said. “Things are going to start happening fast now.”

  “What do you need from Caitlyn?”

  “I need to know what the Academy is planning,” Aric said. “I need to know who they’re going to target next.”

  “Why can’t I just get that information?”

  “Because Blake doesn’t trust you,” Aric said. “He never has.”

  “He definitely doesn’t trust me,” I said.

  “I want you to quit the Academy,” Aric said, holding up a hand to ward off my ensuing complaints. “It’s not safe for you there anymore.”

  “Rafael says I have to stay for now,” I argued.

  “Why?”

  I shifted uncomfortably. “I … .”

  “You have something you can’t tell me, don’t you?”

  “Maybe.”

  Aric nodded. “Okay. Listen to Rafael.”

  I lifted my eyebrows in surprise. “Really?”

  “Yeah. Listen to him. He’s trying to keep you safe. Trust him. Well, unless he tries to talk you into bed. Then he’s a complete idiot.”

  I couldn’t hide my snort. “You’re unbelievable.”

  Aric flashed me his million-watt grin. “You’re going to be able to find that out for yourself again one day. We’re almost there.”

  I took a step back. “I’m still mad at you.”

  “I know.”

  “I don’t forgive you.”

  “I know.”

  “Then what makes you think we’ll get back to where we were?”

  Aric’s eyes were twinkling. “Because some things are meant to be.”

  God, he really had turned into a sap.

  March

  Twenty-Eight

  “Who wants to go on an adventure?”

  Kelsey and Paris glanced up from their places on the couch, both of them clearly suspicious of my newfound bravado.

  “An adventure?” Kelsey asked. “Not like at the sorority house.”

  “Probably not.”

  “Ugh,” she said. “You have a bad idea. I know you do.”

  “You’re definitely more chipper,” Paris said. “What happened?”

  I told them the truth about Caitlyn’s identity. I’d sat on the information for a week, mulling it, and now I was ready for action.

  “Huh,” Kelsey said. “Well, that explains a whole heck of a lot.”

  “I know, right?”

  Paris smirked. “So, Aric is only sleeping with her to get information. I knew he couldn’t really like her.”

  “He’s not a whore,” I scoffed. “He’s not sleeping with her.”

  “Ah, that’s why you’re in such a good mood all of a sudden,” Kelsey said. “Aric is back on the menu, and you’re hungry again.”

  “That is a horrible thing to say.”

  “Am I wrong?”

  “That’s neither here nor there,” I said. “That’s not the point of tonight.”

  “And what are we doing tonight?” Paris asked.

  “We’re going to break into the Academy so I can steal some files,” I said.

  Paris and Kelsey exchanged nonplussed looks. “How are we going to break in?”

  “I have a security pass,” I said.

  “Then it’s not really breaking in,” Paris said.

  “No,” I agreed. “But I do happen to know that they’re running two different ops tonight. That means the place should be empty.”

  “How did you get out of the ops?” Paris asked.

  “I told Blake I had cramps,” I said. “He didn’t want to hear another word once I mentioned my terrible bloating and heavy flow.”

  Kelsey snickered. “Men are so easy.”

  “What kind of files are you going to look for?” Paris asked.

  “If Blake isn’t going to tell me what he’s up to, then I’m going to find out on my own,” I said. “I’m done with them. I don’t want to go there anymore. I’m hoping this will be the last time I have to enter that building.”

  “Does this mean you’re going to be fun again?” Kelsey asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Good,” she said, getting to her feet. “I’ve missed this Zoe.”

  “Me, too,” Paris said. “Let’s go. It will be just like old times.”

  I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but I was ready to stop wallowing. Tonight, I was taking the fight – or at least the theft – to the Academy. I just hoped it would be worth it in the end.

  “WAIT. What do you want me to do?”

  We were standing at the top of the stairwell that led down to the Academy, and Kelsey wasn’t thrilled with the task I’d given her.

  “I just need you to stand up here and text if anyone comes through the door,” I said.

  “Why can’t Paris stay up here with me?”

  “Because, depending on how many files we find, I might need help carrying them,” I said.

  “Didn’t you bring bags?”

  “Yes.”

  “Just shove them in the bags,” Kelsey said. “I don’t want to stay up here alone.”

  “You have to,” I said. “The more time we stand up here arguing, the longer this is going to take.”

  “Fine,” Kelsey said. “What do I do if someone asks me what I’m doing?”

  “This is a public hallway,” I said. “Pretend you’re talking on your phone. If they ask you what you’re doing, tell them to go screw themselves and mind their own business.”

  “Oh, that’s a good idea,” Kelsey said. “You’re good at this.”

  I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “I’ll have my phone on vibrate,” I said. “I’ll be watching. We’ll be as quick as we can.”

  “Okay. Good luck.”

  I swiped my security pass in the door and ushered Paris in ahead of me. We started down the stairs in silence. When we got to the bottom floor, Paris couldn’t hide her surprise – or rampant curiosity.

  “This isn
’t what I was expecting.”

  “I know,” I said. “I was so disappointed when I found out it was nothing like Hogwarts.”

  Paris giggled. “How did you know that was what I was thinking?”

  “Because that’s exactly what I was thinking,” I said, shuffling down the hallway.

  “Do you know where you’re going?”

  “I know that Blake has an office down here,” I said. “I figured that was the best place to start.”

  We purposely kept our voices low and tried to walk as quietly as possible. I led Paris to the far end of the hallway and then crouched in front of the last door on the left.

  “Is this it?”

  “Yeah.”

  “How are you going to get in there?”

  “I’m going to pick the lock.”

  “How do you know how to do that?”

  “Will’s brother was a notorious delinquent,” I said. “He used to break into his mom’s liquor cabinet every chance he got. The woman loved her Jack Daniels. He taught me how to pick a lock.”

  It took me longer than I would have liked but, finally, I heard the lock tumble. I pushed the door open and led Paris inside, closing the door behind us. The office was dark, so I flicked the switch on Blake’s desk lamp. It didn’t give us a lot of light to work with, but it was better than alerting someone walking down the hallway that we were inside.

  “What should we take?” Paris asked, eyeing the books on the shelves.

  I moved over to the filing cabinet against the far wall. “I don’t think we need the books. Go through his desk. Anything that looks remotely interesting: Take it.”

  “Got it.”

  We worked in silence. I rifled through the files, ignoring the ones dealing with the cadets, and focusing on anything else. By the time I was done, I’d practically emptied it.

  Paris raised her eyebrows. “He’s going to notice that.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “Really?”

  “I told you, I’m not coming back.”

  “Okay,” Paris said, unplugging Blake’s laptop from the desk and shoving it in her bag. “What? If we’re going to steal, we might as well go big.”

  My smile was wide and genuine. “Do we know any computer hackers?”

  “One,” Paris said.

  “Who?”