A Breath of Eyre (27 page)

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Authors: Eve Marie Mont

BOOK: A Breath of Eyre
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C
HAPTER
27
G
ray’s lips move softy over my neck, his breath warm and spiced like a Caribbean beach. His hands, gentle yet firm, cup my face as he pulls my mouth toward his. There is a moment of unbearable tension as we hover mere centimeters from each other—waiting, wanting—and then pure release as our lips collide, sending sparks of heat and light through every limb down to our fingers and toes. He grabs my waist and draws me close, and my mind reels as he bends to kiss my ear, nuzzle my throat....
 
“Ahem. Ms. Townsend, are you still with us today?”
Mr. Gallagher’s booming voice rudely invaded my subconscious mind, jerking me abruptly and tragically out of my daydream.
“What?” I said, feeling blood rush immediately to my cheeks.
Elise and Amber snickered, and Michelle looked at me like I was pathetic, which I was.
“You seem to have your head in the clouds today,” he said.
“It’s just,
Mrs. Dalloway
sort of confuses me,” I said, trying to recover.
“It should confuse you,” he said. “It’s a Woolf in sheep’s clothing.” He laughed at his own joke, and I felt embarrassed that I’d ever had a crush on him.
I was off the hook for the moment. I sighed and rested my head on my palm. A small part of me felt bad for Gallagher because generally, I was the only girl in class who got excited about literature, and even I could not be swayed by
Mrs. Dalloway
. After last weekend’s date with Gray, it wasn’t hard to see why.
I’d never been boy-crazy like other girls, had somehow avoided the pitiable fate of becoming a blathering idiot whenever a cute guy walked by. But now I was the living embodiment of a lovesick schoolgirl, watching the clock in agony, waiting for the minute hand to make its way around seven more times so I could be released from this prison, free to daydream about kissing a cute boy in peace.
Finally, the bell rang, and I hustled out of the room, not even waiting for Michelle. I was afraid that if I lingered, Gallagher would ask me to stay after to discuss my lack of focus, and I just couldn’t deal with that right now. I was speed walking back to the dorm when I heard Elise’s silky voice behind me. “Emma, I need to talk to you.”
I stopped in my tracks. I should have ignored her and kept walking, but there was something in her tone that made me pause. It was ... a kind of sincerity, a seriousness of purpose that made me believe that maybe she wanted to reconcile. She caught up to me, and I thought I saw a flicker of fear in her eyes, however briefly; then it was gone and I was standing in front of this formidable girl who had the power to expel Michelle and me in her back pocket.
“What is it, Elise?” I said.
“I just thought I should tell you something.”
I folded my arms and waited for the inevitable power play. “What?”
“Look, I know you think I was responsible for that fire. And I know you told Overbrook that you’d seen me at the stables smoking pot. I also know he doesn’t believe you.”
“How do you know that, Elise? The two board members seemed quite interested when I told them.”
“Whatever. It doesn’t matter. It’s your word against mine, and who are they going to believe? The girl whose daddy gives the school thousands of dollars every year? Or the girl who got struck by lightning and probably has brain damage? Think about it.”
“Elise, you can’t scare me into not testifying.”
“I know that. But maybe I can convince you that testifying would be really stupid. I know about you and Gray. I can’t believe he went from me to you, but there’s no accounting for taste. Did he tell you his little secret yet?”
I was getting impatient. “What are you talking about, Elise?”
“Oh, he hasn’t told you. Well, don’t feel bad. He didn’t tell me either. I had to hear it from one of his friends. Dan Brockman, remember him?”
“Stop playing games, Elise. You obviously want to tell me something, so just spit it out and stop wasting my time.”
“Oh, no, that wouldn’t be any fun. It would be much better coming from him. But I will give you a little preview.” She paused and tilted her head up. “It’s one of those things that would prevent him from getting into college. One of those secrets that destroys reputations. Do you want poor Gray to have to attend community college next year?”
“Elise, you’re obviously making this up so I don’t testify.”
“Oh, really? Go and ask your boyfriend. Ask him what Dan Brockman knows that nobody else does, then come back and tell me I’m lying.”
“So, what are you saying? That if I testify, you’re going to spill his secret?”
“I always knew you were bright, Emma. Lots of brains, just not much common sense.” She swiveled around and walked back toward the dorm, leaving me staring at the back of her head, wishing I had a blow dart. When Michelle approached me from behind, I nearly jumped out of my skin.
“What was that all about?” she said.
“She claims she has some dirt on Gray, and that if I testify, she’s going to spread it all over and ruin him.”
“I warned you about her. I’ve been dealing with this shit all year.”
“Do you think she’s telling the truth or just playing with my head?”
“I don’t know,” Michelle said, but she looked like she wanted to say more.
“What is it?” I stopped her with my arm.
“Nothing.”
“Michelle, I know you. What do you want to say?”
She sighed. “I don’t want you to get mad at me. The last time I even implied that Gray wasn’t perfect, you nearly bit my head off.”
“You’re right. And I’m sorry. I promise I won’t bite your head off this time.”
“I meant it when I told you Owen’s heard things. Probably rumors. But I wouldn’t be surprised to find out some things you wish you didn’t know.” I was starting to feel a little queasy. “Then again, we might all be wrong, and Gray might be the only good guy left on the entire planet.”
“Aside from Owen, of course,” I said. “Has he forgiven you yet?”
“I think so,” she said. “He wants to take me out Friday night. On a proper date. But we’re going to take things slow this time. I’m not very good at that, if you haven’t noticed.”
“Me neither,” I said.
“Oh, really?” She arched an eyebrow and smirked. “Do tell.”
I could feel my cheeks getting hot. “Nothing. It’s just ... Gray is insanely sexy. When he kisses me, I melt.”
“When he kisses you, you melt?” She doubled over in laughter. “Oh, Gray, you’re so hot, I’m melting ... melllllt-ing,” she said, imitating the Wicked Witch of the West.
“You’re evil,” I said, but she was too busy collapsing onto the ground in hysterics to hear me.
I tried to do some homework that afternoon, but I was so distracted, I couldn’t even complete my very easy French worksheet on the conditional mood. “Si je témoigne, Elise va parler.”
If I testify, Elise will talk.
“Si elle parle, je vais perdre Gray.”
If she talks, I will lose Gray
.
The worst part was that Gray had his District swim meet that night, so I couldn’t even call him. I desperately wanted to believe that Elise was just engaging in her usual scheming and plotting. Last week, I’d asked Gray three questions and he’d promised to tell the truth. Now I wasn’t so sure the truth was what I wanted.
On Friday, I almost didn’t get out of bed because the thought of sitting through classes with Elise and her toadies made me sick to my stomach. But not showing up seemed like admitting defeat. Somehow I made it through the day on autopilot. I don’t think I spoke or glanced up all day, just stared out the window imagining scenarios, each one worse than the last.
Owen was waiting to pick up Michelle after school for their date. Part of me wished the four of us were going on a double date—two normal high school couples heading out for a Friday night of movies and mindless conversation. I didn’t want to have this confrontation with Gray. Maybe I’d end up feeling foolish when Gray told me it was all lies, and we’d spend the rest of the night making out in his Jeep.
I ran back to the dorm and changed out of my school clothes and into jeans, black boots, and a sexy black top. Gray was coming around six, so all I could do for the next two hours was pace around my room waiting, willing the time to go faster. Finally, I saw his Jeep making its way down the main drive through the drizzle, so I flung on my coat and ran downstairs to meet him in the parking lot.
He hadn’t even gotten out of the Jeep when I showed up at the passenger door, which was locked. He jumped when he saw me, then smiled and unlocked the door so I could climb in.
“Hi there,” he said, smiling broadly.
Oh God. He looked so cute and unsuspecting; I wasn’t sure I could do this.
My face was soaked with rain, and he wiped two damp streaks of hair off my face, then leaned in to kiss me. I’d been pining for him all week, and now that he was here in front of me, all I wanted to do was fall into his arms and spend an hour studying his face, kissing his lips. His right hand came around my neck, warm palm meeting cold skin, and he pulled me toward him and kissed me so deeply I thought sparks might shoot out of my fingertips. Our first kiss had started off achingly soft and cautious and had slowly intensified. Now we bypassed the slow seduction for an instantly mind-numbing, blisteringly hot kiss. That drug coursed through my veins again, and I worried I wouldn’t be able to say what I’d come here to say unless I pushed his mouth off mine.
It took every ounce of my willpower to do so, and Gray looked at me like I was crazy. “What’s wrong?” he said.
“We have to talk.”
“Uh-oh,” he said. “That’s never good.”
“Can we go somewhere?”
“Aren’t we going out to dinner?”
“Dinner?”
“Yeah. You were supposed to pick the place.”
He was right. I
was
supposed to pick the place, and once upon a time before Elise’s insinuations had shattered my bliss, I would have planned a night to remember. But all I could think about now was what past deeds were following Gray around, and what damage they might do to him and us now.
“I just want to go somewhere quiet where we can talk.”
“How about the park?” he said. I knew he meant Oakwood Lane, where we’d stopped last Sunday. Somehow I didn’t think that would be the best place for discussion, so I suggested we drive into Waverly Falls and get some coffee. I was mostly silent during the drive while Gray told me about his swim meet. They’d lost, but Gray had won the 100-meter freestyle, and the team had come in second place in the relay and third overall. “At least I can grow my hair again.” He ran a hand across his scalp, and he looked so vulnerable that I felt a wave of affection for him that nearly knocked the air out of me.
When we got into town, we had to drive around for ten minutes until someone pulled out of a parking space. We ran the two blocks to the coffee shop, then clattered into the vestibule, soaking wet and breathless. As we waited for a table to open up, the silence was agonizing. Gray kept looking at me and smiling, and I felt so incredibly guilty.
Finally we sat down at a small two-top table and ordered coffee and biscotti. I kept playing with my biscotti until it broke apart in my hands. Gray smiled patiently and stilled my hands with his own. “What’s going on?” he said.
I stared into his eyes and felt the most intense regret. “I don’t know how to ask you this.”
“Just ask me.”
And so I did.
At first Gray deflected, saying something vague about Elise being an unreliable source. I felt a surge of relief. Elise was just up to her usual tricks, and in ten minutes we’d be at the Italian place next door arguing over appetizers. But then a realization seemed to sweep over him, and his face grew pale. He cast his eyes down toward the table.
“What is it, Gray?” I said. He didn’t answer and he wouldn’t look at me. “Gray, you’re scaring me. Say something.”
“I knew it,” he said finally.
“Knew what?” He stood up now, grabbing his coffee and throwing it into the trash can. I watched as he stalked toward the door. “Gray, wait!”
I gathered my coat and ran to follow him, but he was already outside, practically running down the street. I ran after him, the rain spitting icy darts at my face. He stopped at the curb as if trying to make up his mind which way to go.
“Would you please slow down?” I said when I’d caught up with him. I grabbed his arm, but he wrenched it away. “Why are you taking this out on me? Let’s talk about this.”
“I knew it,” he said again. “I knew this was all an illusion. I knew I’d never be able to have you. You’re too good for me.”
“Gray, what are you talking about?”
He crossed the street, and I was off once again, chasing him through the rain. Thunder rumbled overhead, and I watched a streak of jagged lightning cut through the sky. I followed him, shivering, until we came to the bridge that spanned the river.

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