Montrose Paranormal Academy, Book 1: The Nexis Secret: A Young Adult Urban Fantasy Academy Novel

by Barbara Hartzler

“Time for a taste of your own medicine.” I curled my lips at Shanda and tapped my nails on the counter at his thumb.

  This would be interesting. No way could she back down from a challenge. Would she start now? Click, click, click went my index finger, counting down to her decision.

  She snatched the marker from my fingers, scribbling the symbol as fast as she could.

  She shot me the stink eye and turned to Ozzy. “Any good bands playing tonight?”

  “Heard there’s a pretty good show at Riot.” Ozzy flashed us both hands, fangs barred under that scraggly fuzz. “You girls should check it out. I might stop in when I’m done here, around midnight. Maybe I’ll see you there.” His eyes hovered on me.

  “Maybe you will.” Shanda winked at me. Great, I’d never hear the end of this.

  Bits of breathy laughter puffed behind me, probably Brooke or Julia, or both. I straightened my shoulders, winding my way to the end of the bar to wait for my drink.

  “What was that?” Shanda hissed at me. “I can’t believe you let him write Ozzy on your knuckles, like he was branding you. If Bryan were here, he’d be so jealous. Right, Brooke?”

  “Ouch.” Her words seared into me as I rubbed the scar on my wrist. I wouldn’t let that horrible church fire could get me down tonight.

  “We weren’t going to worry about him, right?” Brooke’s eyes lit into me, then her shoulders slumped. “But yeah, probably.”

  Shanda gave me a satisfied smirk, hands on her hips. “See what I mean, you were totally flirting with that guy.”

  “Gross, no I wasn’t. Maybe he was flirting with me, but I wasn’t flirting with him.” I grabbed my mint frappe and poked the straw in my mouth, sucking down the icy goodness until I got a brain freeze. The cold squelched out all the heat from my cheeks. “No way could that be construed as flirting. Friendliness doesn’t equal flirting, right?”

  All three of them busted out laughing, and I had my answer. “But he’s not even cute. Such a nerd with that horrible chin puke and giant glasses. This is terrible.” My stomach rumbled if it knew more than I did.

  “So much for girl’s night.” Julia flipped her hair and batted her eyelashes, which sent Brooke into another fit of hysteria.

  “Whatever.” I flashed my evil glare at her.

  “She’s right.” Shanda grabbed two drinks from the bar. “Now he’s going to stalk us at the club.”

  “We’ll just have to leave before midnight.” I slurped up the minty-chocolate concoction.

  “What are you Cinderella now? I’m sure we’ll think of something.” Shanda’s face twisted into her scheming look. “Let’s head over now, it’s too crowded in here, anyway. We’ll take the back door, so we don’t tempt Lucy to flirt with Ozzy over there anymore.”

  The girls giggled as they skittered out the back.

  “Very funny,” I rolled my eyes and ducked into Shanda’s Fiat.

  “It’s a good thing you’ve got such a small car with these tiny parking spaces.” I stared out the window as we drove off.

  “Don’t try to change the subject,” Shanda said. “I saw you write on some strange guy’s knuckles. What’s up with you?”

  “You did it, too.” I pointed my frappe at her.

  “Yeah, because you made me.”

  “I was just having some fun.” I fiddled with the radio. Anything to get her to shut up. A blast of country twanged from the speakers.

  “Do you still like Bryan?” Shanda turned down the noise, eyes darting between me and the windshield.

  “What kind of question is that? Of course I do.” A mini-van switched lanes, slowing to a crawl. “Watch the road.”

  Her head snapped forward, just in time to stomp on the brakes. A coil of unnamed energy balled up inside me, like something was wrong. “I was just trying to be friendly. Besides, Bryan’s the one who said we can’t be together. Can we drop it already?”

  “Fine, for now.” She said through clenched teeth. “I’m sure we’ll see Ozzy later.”

  Soft giggles wafted up from the backseat.

  “I hope not.” My eyes fixed on a neutral spot of the windshield. The New York night glistened with rain, the streets shimmering and reflecting all the lights.

  Bryan and I weren’t even dating or anything. In fact, he was the one who put on the brakes. So why did I feel so pent up? Maybe I really liked Bryan, even more than I dared. We ate lunch together every day, dinner in the caf most nights—at least before this stupid distance pact. When I was with him, he seemed different from the rest of the guys, set apart as something more than a friend. And now without him around, determined to keep his distance, my gut ached like a thousand butterflies died and dug a thousand little graves inside me.

  He was the one who said to trust my gut, but right now my gut was tied in a million knots I’d never be able to untangle. I hated not knowing where I stood with the guy.

  How could I let this happen? I wasn’t ready for the teenage equivalent of a relationship, let alone the Real Thing, capitol R, capitol T. But there it was, staring me in the face, daring me to make the next move.

  Did I have the guts to put myself out there and admit the truth? That was the real question.

  ~

  “Is that it?” Julia’s squeal pierced through my Bryan musings and I shoved them aside with pleasure. She pointed at a neon green Riot sign across the street, the line stretching to the end of the block.

  “Oh, man.” Excitement faded from her voice with each breath. “Look at that line, we’ll never get in.”

  “We’ll see about that.” Shanda veered left, whipping the car into a compact only space in the parking garage. “I’ve got connections.”

  “You better, otherwise we’ll be in line till midnight and Lucy will turn into a pumpkin.” Brooke patted my shoulder as we stepped onto the grimy wet pavement.

  “Who said I was the feisty one?” I cocked my head at her and she grinned back at me.

  “We don’t want to miss the show,” Shanda hollered from ten feet ahead. We scurried around the puddles in our heels to catch up with her like kangaroos in party dresses.

  “Listen,” she nodded at the bouncer lifted the rope for us, “I didn’t mean to come down on you so hard. I was just trying to have some fun.” She gave me her I’m-sorry-but-won’t-admit it smile.

  Canned music blared from the giant black speakers as Shanda paraded us right past the mostly teenage crowd to a roped off area in the back. One fist bump later, and she’d scored us a primo table near the stage. The lights were dim and everything was painted black, except a neon green sign on the stage flashing the Club Riot logo.

  “Sometimes I’m just too friendly and guys think I’m flirting. It’s so annoying.” I jangled my bracelets like a tambourine against my leg.

  “What about Bryan?” Shanda creaked her wooden chair closer to me, away from the suitemates.

  “Somehow I feel like I betrayed him. Maybe I do want more.” It felt good admitting the truth out loud, made it more real, even if it was drowned out by tinny pop songs.

  Her mouth curled into an enormous grin. “That’s great, you two are made for each other.”

  “After what I went through with Jake, and what happened with you and Kevin …” My throat tightened like the grip of fear itself clamped my throat. A waitress came and set Cokes in front of us. “I just don’t know if I’m ready for it yet.”

  “Girl.” She clucked her tongue at me, slipping the waitress some cash. “Jake was a terrible guy. Kevin was just a player, we all knew it had to end sometime. But not Bryan, he’s not like that.”

  As the house lights dimmed, shadows descended on me from above. Only slivers of light filtered among the wispy tendrils of darkness. The clutches of doubt tightened around my airway again, constricting my lungs. My breaths came in shallow, ragged gasps.

  Shanda’s voice rose above the shadows, the fear. “It’s hard to put yourself out there, believe me, I know. Sometimes it’s worth it, though. If you wanna know my two
cents, I think Bryan’s worth it.”

  With those words, hope surged through me. I lifted my eyes to the ceiling, two words beating a steady rhythm, more like a silent prayer, please help. And with that the shadows fled, my throat opened, my lungs breathed easy.

  I sucked in breaths of stale club air. “He said we can’t be together. What makes you think I have a shot?”

  “Who cares what he said? He’s so obviously into you. Even he can’t fight it much longer.” She squeezed my hand, warmth seeping into me. “Honestly, I don’t know why he does. I’m sure he thinks he’s protecting you, or some moronic guy thing. He’s just patient and cautious, just like you. AKA, perfect for you.”

  “Maybe you’re right.” Her words rang true, tingling straight to my toes. I couldn’t keep my lips from curving. “Maybe I should just follow my heart and see where it leads.”

  A great idea in theory, one that still scared me.

  “That’s my romantic girl you always tried to hide.” She huddled in as the band took the stage. “What’re you gonna do about it?”

  “Isn’t it enough that I said it out loud?” I threw my hands up in the air as everyone else clapped in anticipation. “Now I have to make the first move?”

  “It’s hardly the first move.” She tsked her tongue at me, a dissonant note against the band’s tuning noises like we’d just gone back two steps. “If you want him, you have to go for it. Even if you’re scared. Life’s too short to keep pretending.”

  “It sounds so easy when you say it like that.” I managed a weak smile. “How much do I owe you?”

  “Free of charge.” She bumped up against my shoulder. “Now let’s sing our song.”

  “No.” I glanced around the darkening club as everyone crowded to the front. Beside me, she started into the chorus.

  “I’m a survivor, I’m gonna make it.” She paused as the band introduced themselves as Canyon Road, waiting for me to finish.

  Under my breath I sang, “You’re not gonna stop me, I’m gonna work harder.”

  We cracked up at each other as the first soft guitar chords rang out.

  “One more time, everyone now.” Shanda stretched her arms around Brooke and Julia, squishing them closer. Her next words were drowned out by the thumping drumbeat of Canyon Road’s folksy rock music.

  Chapter 28

  The days were colder now, the crisp scent of snow tingeing the air. A lingering chill hovered in the distance Bryan put between us, as December reared its cold, bleak head. I huddled into my soft comforter on my favorite window-perch. No matter how hard I tried to push him out of my mind, he lingered in the corners, waiting for me in my most vulnerable moments. I’d had a fitful night’s sleep, worrying about what I would say to Bryan, how I would approach him.

  On this cold Sunday night, I knew I had to call him. We just had to work out some other arrangement, because this was killing me inside. After months of trying not to like this guy and failing, I needed to admit defeat. I couldn’t deny my feelings anymore. And I deserved some kind of resolution—relationship or not.

  I dug my cell out of my new winter purse, a peace offering from Mom. Four rings later it went to voicemail, so I worked up the nerve to text him. Whatcha up to tonight? Maybe we could hang out somewhere that no one knows us. Yep, I was getting more than a little desperate.

  Tempting, but I’m busy tonight. Maybe another time if I can swing it.

  “How could he be busy tonight?” I punched the end button, chucking my cell phone onto the bed. It bounced and floated back to the bedspread with a happy little thud. The nerve of this guy. “He’s just determined to keep this stupid distance pact. Pathetic.”

  “Enough of this. You’ve got to snap out of it, girl.” Shanda switched off her desk lamp and grabbed her purse. “Let’s get out of here so maybe you’ll stop moping.”

  “I’m not moping, I’m thinking.” I rolled over, only to catch her rolling her eyes. I grabbed my purse, too. “Fine, you’re right. I’m starting to annoy myself now. What’d you have in mind?”

  She dabbed on some berry lip gloss. “I’m in the mood for a good mocha. Let’s go to the coffee shop.”

  “Coffee sounds good.” I stared at my phone, as if sheer will could make it ring, then dumped it in my purse. “Anything to get me out of this dorm room.”

  We bundled up and scuttled downstairs to the lobby where Monica, Laura, and a few other girls played a game of Mafia. I waved to Laura, opening my mouth to invite her, but Shanda clamped a hand on my shoulder.

  “Don’t,” she whispered in my ear. “I don’t want Monica tagging along.”

  I shut my trap in an instant.

  As if she had dog ears, Monica flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder. “You girls headed out?”

  I glanced at Shanda, whose lips clenched in a straight line. “Yep, just wanted to get out of the dorm for a little while.”

  Monica nodded at me, a strange shadow creeping around her shoulders. Her lips curled up, twitching in an odd little half-smile. “Have fun at the coffeehouse, just be back by curfew.”

  “No prob.” I scurried after Shanda.

  “Thanks, Mom,” she muttered under her breath.

  At the front door, I turned around for one last glance. “Did I accidentally say where we were going?” The dark cloud had congealed into a serpentine mist hovering behind Monica, contrasting against her blonde hair. Almost like the shadows I’d seen around Will.

  Shanda shook her head at me.

  “Weird.” A chill crept up my spine. Maybe Bryan was wrong, and Nexis had no plans to leave us alone. “I think you’re right about that girl.”

  Cold night air blasted me as I opened the door. I zipped my black coat all the way up to the scarf at my neck and followed Shanda to her cute little red Fiat.

  “Duh, you don’t have to tell me that.” She hopped in, barely waiting for me to close the door before she zipped out of the parking lot. With a flourish, she zigzagged her way in and out of Riverdale traffic so fast it swirled my stomach into mush. The lights of the city blurred past, a twinkle of dots and sparks. She veered into the coffee shop parking lot in record time.

  A familiar shape emerged from the shadows, and there he was, walking out of the coffee shop—with a brassy blonde.

  “Is that Bryan?” Shanda gasped. Her arm flew to the door handle.

  “Don’t.” I clawed at her hand, my nails clutching her leather gloves. I had to see it with my own eyes, exactly why he blew me off.

  She turned to me, and her eyes softened. “Don’t you want to know what he’s doing here, who the girl is?”

  “I’m pretty sure I already know, but I want to see it for myself.” I slumped forward in the front seat, sticking my nose as close to the windshield as humanly possible. “Because that girl isn’t his sister. It’s Colleen.”

  I watched the scene play out in front of me like a movie scene. Before he got to his car, she tugged on his coat. He stopped and said something to her she didn’t look too happy about.

  “What the—?” Shanda screeched, then clapped her hand over her mouth. He flinched, turning in our direction, and we slid down in our seats. “Sorry.”

  It didn’t matter, her words barely registered, because all my energy fixated on one thing.

  Colleen tugged on his coat again, and the blood pumped through my veins faster and faster with each inch she got closer to him. Then she threw her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. He pulled away, but not fast enough.

  Tears beat against my eyelids so hard I didn’t know what hurt worse.

  “Was that on the cheek, or did that girl actually kiss your man?” Shanda’s snarl was indignant. “I have half a mind to go up there and punch that floozy.”

  Then in a matter of seconds, Bryan tucked Colleen into his car and they drove off.

  “Now she’s leaving with him?” Shanda’s eyes were wide in the darkness.

  The dam burst, and water gushed down my cheeks. “Let’s just go home.” My
words were a sob, shaky and hoarse. “Before I lose it big time.”

  “Whatever you need.” Shanda squeezed my hand, turned the car on, and spun out of the parking space. “I could ram his car if you want.”

  “Thanks, but I’ve had enough of ramming into things because of stupid boys.” I just shook my head, as if I could shake out the vision of him kissing her. But it was still there, clear as if I saw it five seconds ago.

  Just like before.

  I couldn’t believe it. Apparently nine months and a thousand miles of distance meant nothing. It’d happened all over again, my guy kissing someone else—and I had to watch.

  Bryan wasn’t even my guy, officially. But deep down, it hurt like he was. No technicality like a distance pact could get him out of this one.

  Riverdale’s lights were different at slower speeds, like a twinkle of hope in the blackness. Just not enough light to prick its way through the shroud of my present darkness.

  Shanda’s hushed tone shattered the silence. “Maybe it’s not what you think.”

  “Maybe it is. Maybe he’s just like Jake.” I spit the words out like they were infected.

  “This isn’t like him, did you think about that? Maybe it’s all her, maybe she’s the one who wants to get back together with him.” Shanda stopped at a red light and turned to face me. Streetlights cast wavy shadows on her cheekbones. When I finally looked her in the eye, she had her serious face on. “It is possible, you know. Maybe she’s just like Jake.”

  “Maybe.” As we got closer to campus, I flipped down the mirror. Splotches covered my face, but I wiped away the teary remnants. Good thing I hadn’t bothered with mascara.

  Still, none of it made any sense. “I don’t know what’s going on any more.”

  “Don’t say that.” Shanda clucked her tongue at me. “It could all be a misunderstanding. It’s possible. You know it is. Maybe you should trust him, at least give him the benefit of the doubt.”

  “Out of all of my friends, I never figured you’d be the one to stick up for Bryan.” I flipped up the mirror as we passed the Montrose Academy sign.

  How could two schools a thousand miles apart be so similar? I had hoped this place would be my escape, my sanctuary, but now I was worse off than before. A hollow ache crawled from my throat to my stomach, settling deep inside me.