Something Witchy This Way Comes

by Veronica Blade

  “Debauchery, huh?” I smirked. “That’s a big word. And why would I know about any parties your friends throw?” Hayden had to be losing it if he thought I’d know when went on with his crowd or that I’d want anything to do with them.

  “I figured someone must have told you. But now that you know, do you want to go?”

  “I have no desire to crash her party.” I flipped the page in the textbook, wondering how I’d allowed him to take us so far off our studies.

  “It’s not crashing if you’ve been invited.” He grinned.

  Maybe Hayden only had so much room in his pretty little head and smartening him up had caused an overload, making other vital data go poof. “Where am I going to get an invite? Do they sell them at the local Quick Mart?” I smirked.

  He laughed, his eyes fixed on mine. “I’m inviting you. I’m your in.”

  My mouth dropped open. “Who said I wanted an in?”

  “Don’t you want to see how the other half lives?”

  “Not interested.” I returned my focus to the textbook.

  “A little curious?” He leaned forward but I didn’t look at him. “You can bring a friend.”

  “You’re not thinking this through, Hayden. In what alternate universe would Christina want me at her party?” Being with a bunch of superficial social climbers didn’t sound like my idea of fun anyway. I wondered what was in it for Hayden to have me there. But his mental images eluded me for the moment. What was he thinking?

  “I’ll pick you up and we can drive over together. You’d be safer,” he said as though my objections meant little.

  I didn’t have to wait long to see his thoughts. A flash of us making out assaulted me. Not just kissing — he was lifting me up on a table, my legs wrapped around his hips. My stomach came alive with giant agitated butterflies.

  It wasn’t as if I was all revved up to get married or anything. But the idea of finding a nice guy now who would want that someday didn’t sound horrible. Hayden was not that guy, nor did he want to be that guy. No matter how well he behaved or how hot he was, I could never ever let myself give into the temptation. No matter how powerful his pull on me.

  He’d drawn me in when he kept his promise and watched over me. He wasn’t all bad — but bad enough that maintaining my distance was crucial. “Safer with you?” I asked. “Are you kidding?”

  Hayden lifted one shoulder. “I thought since we’re studying together, things might be easier on you if everyone thinks I’m interested in more than a hit and ditch.”

  “You mean easier for you.” Because he’d get to act out his fantasies. If I hadn’t seen the inner workings of his mind, I might’ve bought that he was only thinking of me. Of course, just because he wanted to do things didn’t mean he’d do them. Maybe he’d behave like a saint at the party and my hesitation would’ve been for nothing. But satisfying that question would probably land me in trouble.

  “I don’t think hanging out is a good idea. I have plans anyway.” Plans to stay the hell away from him.

  He shrugged. “Think about it. I’ll let her know you might be coming.”

  Chapter Seven

  Hayden

  From my car, I watched Tessa drive safely through the school gate and onto the street. A moment later, a silver sedan left the curb and followed. Some days a red Porsche tailed her, other days a black Hummer. I always wondered who sat behind the tinted glass. Good guys or bad?

  Something wasn’t right about that whole thing but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Mr. Linton came on the scene and suddenly Tessa was mysteriously in danger. Coincidence? And I doubted Agent Phillips was really FBI. I had a feeling that when Tessa left the school grounds, she was as safe as a turkey before Thanksgiving.

  I didn’t know where the attack would come from — possibly the agent… or our principal? Or was there someone else I needed to watch for? At least between tutoring, the Halloween party and teaching her how to fight on weekends, I’d have plenty of opportunity to observe anyone suspicious.

  My car would easily keep up with a sedan. I jumped in and took off after it. My yellow Viper wasn’t exactly low profile, so I kept a safe distance without losing them.

  With little else to occupy it, my mind wandered to Tessa.

  Christina would be pissed that I invited an outsider to her party. But if I hung out with Tessa, at least a little bit, she’d gain social acceptance which translated into the guys not harassing me as much over talking to her now and then. Their joking and ribbing had grown old.

  Mostly, it annoyed me that they had so little respect for her… or girls in general. Not that I’d been a saint, but at least with me, the girls always knew where they stood. I didn’t talk about them to the guys and they wouldn’t wait by the phone for me to call. I always made it my policy to lay that out for them ahead of time.

  That kind of honesty would get me nowhere with Tessa — and I wanted to get everywhere with her. Even so, I refused to resort to deception to get what I wanted from a girl.

  Just because I wanted her didn’t mean that acting on it was a good idea. My spontaneous invitation to the party had been a stupid thing to do and I hoped she’d think better of taking me up on it.

  On the other hand, if she made the wrong choice, I’d have an opportunity to get her out of my system. I didn’t think it would take much — a taste would be enough.

  * * * *

  Thursday morning, I arrived at school earlier than usual, hoping to get a glimpse of the drivers that shadowed Tessa. But I had as much luck as the night before. None at all.

  I leaned my foot against the bumper of my car and waited for Tessa. She parked close by and exited the Scion. Her golden hair was pinned up. Thin wisps escaped whatever she used to secure it and fell around her face. She wore a white sundress that revealed more skin than I was used to seeing on her and the skirt swished around her thighs as she walked.

  “Hey.” She smiled in a way that told me she suspected I might have scales under my clothes instead of skin. Good. I had nothing to offer a girl like her who would want the old-fashioned everything.

  “Hi.” I stared into her green eyes, searching for something more to say.

  “What’s up?”

  “Nothing.” I shoved my hands in my pockets. “Just thought I should be here when you arrive.”

  “Oh.” She averted her gaze. “You usually avoid talking to me in public.”

  I scanned the parking lot. “There’s hardly anyone here yet.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “But if you don’t have anything to say, why bother?”

  “Just making sure you’re safe and that we’re still meeting in the library after school.” I knew we were since we hadn’t agreed otherwise, but I wanted to keep talking to her.

  “Yeah, sure. Why would that change?”

  Right… time to switch the subject. “Meeting with Agent Phillips later?”

  “No. Not today.” Her gaze wandered past me. “I need to go to my locker.”

  I felt myself being pulled to her like gravity. This had to stop. “Go ahead. I’ll catch up.”

  She smiled, relief evident by the renewed spark in her eyes. I squashed the welling disappointment and determined, yet again, to keep my distance. Damn. I needed a good hard make-out session with her, so I could get on with my regularly scheduled life.

  Chapter Eight

  Tessa

  “Hayden asked me if I was going with you to Christina’s party tomorrow.” Nadia’s tray banged as she laid it on the lunch table. “What the hell’s that all about?”

  “He asked me too.” Corinne used her index finger to push her eyeglasses further up the bridge of her nose. “Why didn’t you tell us he invited you?”

  I groaned and popped a French fry in my mouth, hoping neither of them would be interested in going to the party.

  “Why do you think he’s telling us about this party? Is it mentor-a-riff-raff week?” Nadia wore her eye makeup so dark today, the rest of her face all but disappeared. C
ombined with her black hair, she looked every inch the goth she’d aimed for. “Or are they playing some cruel joke on us?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe Hayden’s trying to be nice. You know, pay me back for tutoring him.” I froze, wishing those words hadn’t slipped out. If I made the party seem safe and enticing, they’d try to drag me there. I didn’t want anything to do with that kind of party.

  “We should all go.” Nadia grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye. “That’ll teach him to invite you anywhere — unless he means it.”

  When one of those two got a plan in their head for something new to do, it was hard to dissuade them. Since the three of us were a team and went everywhere together, they’d nag me until I gave in. Nadia would have better sense. I hoped.

  “Oh, I think he means it. And by the way he watches you, Tessa, I suspect his reasons are less than noble.” Corinne giggled.

  “All the more reason to avoid him.” I snuck a peek at Hayden and found him watching me.

  “You should seize the moment. He’s so yummy.” Nadia fanned herself with her hand. “If I went as Goth Girl, I wouldn’t need a costume.”

  “It’s a costume party?” Corinne practically bounced in her seat as she swiveled to face Nadia. “I think I’ll go as a slutty angel. With your black hair, you’d make a great devil’s helper.”

  Nadia pointed a black painted fingernail at me. “I’ve got the perfect thing for you.”

  If they were thinking about costumes, they wanted to go. I slumped on the lunch bench and covered my face with my hands. “You guys, no.” Why hadn’t my boss at Delia’s Deli put me on the schedule for Friday instead of Saturday? It would’ve been the perfect excuse to get out of the party.

  “We’ll be at your house at eight sharp.” Nadia looked pleased with herself. “We’ll arrive dressed then get you ready, since you’re practically a hostile witness.”

  “You sure nothing’s going on with you and Hayden?” Corinne’s eyes narrowed.

  “Nothing. I swear. He’s too full of himself.” I raised my right hand as if a bible were present then remembered the first day Hayden and I worked together. “Oh, wait. Once, he suggested we make out instead of study.”

  “And you said no?” Corinne dropped her jaw.

  Clearly, my friends would be no help. I said a quick goodbye when the warning bell rang then bolted for my locker.

  As I reached for my combination lock two students flew past me. One slammed against the locker next to mine. My body jolted into the flight side of fight-or-flight mode but my breathing steadied when I saw it was Hayden and not a stranger.

  “What do you want with her?” Hayden growled, readjusting Bryce by the collar so his feet dangled higher off the ground.

  “Wh-what?” the captive replied.

  “You were tearing down the hallway straight for her. What were you going to do?” Hayden pressed Bryce firmly into the hard metal wall.

  I pushed at Hayden’s arm, trying to unlock his steely grasp. “Hayden. He wasn’t going to hurt me. It’s Bryce. You had to have seen him sitting at our table. C’mon.”

  Hayden glanced at me, then slowly eased his grip on Bryce. “Sorry. He was moving toward you pretty fast. I went on automatic and didn’t take the time to identify him. I didn’t realize…”

  The guy could move when he needed to, that was for sure. At that moment, I had one word to describe Hayden — intense.

  He lowered Bryce to the floor, then turned him in a new direction. Away.

  Bryce scurried off. He looked a little shaken but I was pretty sure he’d be fine. I stared at Hayden in disbelief. And awe. Though I felt badly for Bryce, Hayden’s display of testosterone — on my behalf — made him sexier than ever.

  Chapter Nine

  Hayden

  Tessa gaped at me like I was a monster. “How could you think Bryce would hurt me?”

  Girls generally didn’t want to cozy up with scary guys, so there went any hope of getting her to warm up to me any time soon. Again, I told myself it was for the best. “I didn’t think anything. It was reflex. I only knew that if I didn’t act quickly, anything could happen.”

  “Well, thanks for looking out for me.” Tessa glanced away, gnawing her lower lip nervously. Then she moved closer and whispered, “Everyone’s staring.”

  A scan of the corridor revealed a gawking crowd. Students. Teachers. Even the janitor.

  “We’d better get to class.” At that, she walked away. I followed, maintaining my distance, so I didn’t spook her again.

  * * * *

  After last class, she darted into the hallway before I had a chance to gather my books. By the time I caught up, Brad had cornered her. “What are you doing Saturday night?” he asked.

  “Why?” She stepped back, baffled.

  “Yeah, why do you want to know?” I moved next to Tessa and eyed Brad.

  “Thinking she and I could go out.” He grinned and that pissed me off a little. I stared back and his smile faltered.

  “Actually, I have to work that night. But apparently, my presence is required at Christina’s party tomorrow.” She glared at me. “I guess I’ll see you both there.”

  Tessa planned to go. My immense relief at that news alarmed me. If I were smart, I’d skip the party and not put myself at her mercy. But I knew I’d go. She’d become an obsession and the more time I had with her, the more I wanted.

  “We should get started. I’m scheduled for work tonight and, as it is, we have to quit early so I can get there on time.” Tessa spun around and headed toward the library.

  “Sure.” I scowled at Brad, then caught up with Tessa. “Where do you work?”

  “Delia’s Deli. But it’s not only deli stuff. They have other things too, like cappuccinos, espressos. I mostly do those. Flavio makes the food. Not sure why I’m babbling,” she muttered.

  “Yeah, I’ve been to Delia’s. It’s the only thing open around here after ten. Great sandwiches,” I said. “You haven’t been working there long or you would’ve seen us come in.” There, I’d paved the way so when I showed up with my friends — that was inevitable — I could ogle her without her taking it personally and I wouldn’t look creepy.

  Chapter Ten

  Tessa

  Friday morning. Bleh. In a few hours, I’d be tackled by Nadia and Corinne, forced to wear something objectionable and be whisked away to a party I didn’t want to go to.

  My normal enthusiasm to leave the house eluded me as I slipped my sandwich in a baggie, then placed it in my backpack by the door.

  Honk! Honk!

  I peeked through the living room window to see who honked. A convertible yellow Viper idled in our driveway. What the hell was Hayden doing at my house? I released the curtain and darted outside. As soon as he saw me, he killed the engine and got out.

  “What’s going on?” I cut across the lawn.

  “Thought it might be more efficient to drive to school together.”

  I glanced around to see if Brad and Skyler were around and wondered if the three of them were playing a joke on me. “It’s more efficient for you to drive out of your way to the slums rather than go straight to school?”

  Hayden chuckled and quickly surveyed the nearby houses. “This is hardly the slums. Your parents do okay.”

  I rested a fist on my hip, brows raised.

  “I have to get to school early, so I don’t miss you when you get there. Rather than stand around, I may as well come straight here. Then I only have to keep track of you from the front door to the driveway.”

  “How did you know my address?”

  “I asked around.” He shrugged, a smile teasing his lips. “Why? Is it a secret?”

  “Whatever. I’ll be back in a minute.” I shook my head and turned on my heel. His explanation didn’t make sense, but my curiosity over the sports car and its soft leather seats trumped all reason.

  My mom waited for me inside the front door. “Is that Sam Anders’ boy?” She said it with awe, like they were deiti
es or something.

  Of all the mornings for my mom to be home and awake, she picked this one. At least she could drive Bree to school which would free me up to go off with Hayden.

  “Yes. He’s driving me to school.” Just because they were probably the richest family in the state didn’t mean they had morals or integrity. Hayden was proof of that. It took more than a flashy car to impress me.

  “Are you dating him?” A hint of interest lit up her eyes.

  I found it sad that the possibility of me dating an heir to millions was what inspired my mom to have an actual conversation with me. Was it the money or did she have a genuine interest in my love life? Definitely the money. Otherwise, she would have been there for me last year when Blane dumped me and I lay curled up in fetal position, heartbroken and crying. I checked my anger. Telling her to stay out of my life wouldn’t do any good since she was about as removed from her children as a living mother could be. She’d never change. “No. We’re just friends.”

  “Oh.” She wandered off without saying goodbye.

  I scooped up my backpack, sweater and purse, then headed out to the waiting car. With each stride, my good sense warred with my anticipation of driving in a car so much cooler than my own. I slid into the passenger seat determined not to get gooey at Hayden, because he drove me to school in his epic ride.

  Hayden reached toward the keys then halted. “You want to drive?”

  My head whipped around. “Drive this?”

  He laughed and got out. When he arrived at my side and opened the door, I didn’t move. “Scoot over.”

  I awkwardly scrambled over to the driver’s side. After adjusting the seat and mirror, I reverently touched the steering wheel with my fingertips. Baby soft.