Aven's Dream (25 page)

“Hi,” I said with a little wave.

I smiled, squirming a little bit when I noticed that Megan’s expression remained a few degrees shy of freezing as she looked at me. I turned toward Matt and Jeff.

“Matt, Jeff—this is Will.”

Matt straightened.

“Hey, didn’t I see you at the party at Jason Everett’s the other week?” he asked Will.

“It’s possible,” Will shrugged. “I wasn’t there for long.”

I grabbed Will’s arm.

“We’ll be right back,” I called over my shoulder as I hurried toward the line.

I hadn’t realized that anyone else had seen Will at the party, and the thought made my skin crawl with anxiety before I realized that there was no way that anyone had seen Will anywhere near Scott Adams—or me—since Will had literally flown in the window of a back bedroom. He caught my hand as we made our way through the line.

“What is it?”

“I just didn’t think anyone else saw you at the party,” I said distractedly as I looked over the cafeteria’s offerings.

I picked up a tray and grabbed a slice of pizza, a salad, and water. When Will set some items on the tray, I looked up at him.

“It
would
be customary for me to eat as well,” Will said as he took the tray and paid before I got a chance to take out my wallet.

Clasping my hand in his, he easily balanced the tray in his free hand as we walked back to the table, where Will waited for me to sit before taking the seat next to me.

“It was totally Mike Nickels,” Matt said. “Think about it. Mike was going out with Shelly Alton until the summer … and then she hooked up with Scott. Mike waited for his chance, and then he beat the living hell out of Scott.”

Jeff shook his head.

“No way. He’s not stupid. His hands would have been destroyed. He’s not taking that chance if he thinks he’s gonna be pitching his first year of college. Besides, how many guys would it have taken to obliterate all three of them like that? Whoever did it had a dozen guys with him. And they definitely weren’t from school, ’cause nobody’s said a word—and obviously none of ’em recognized the guys that did it.”

I winced as I realized what they were talking about, but when I glanced at Will, his eyes didn’t even flicker in recognition.

“Served him right.” I looked up at Lizzie’s friend Amy. “That guy’s a jerk. He got what was coming to him.”

Matt raised his hand in a high five, and Amy tentatively made contact.

“Remind me not to get on your bad side,” he smiled.

Lizzie started quizzing everyone about the fall formal. I looked over at her, wondering if
that
was why she was trying to set up her friends with Matt and Jeff. Group date? I looked from Matt and Jeff to Amy and Megan. If this was the first time they were all hanging out, it seemed a little early to assume Lizzie’s matchmaking attempt would work, but what did I know? I had fallen in love with a more than two-century-old energy vampire I had known for a matter of weeks. I wasn’t in a position to judge anyone. Besides, nobody ever seemed to fault Romeo and Juliet for insta-love followed up by double suicide.

“I thought it would be fun to go as a group,” Lizzie continued brightly, winking at Sean.

I could feel myself getting paler by the second, and I was already hoping I wasn’t being included in this optimistic little social experiment of Lizzie’s. Looking desperately at Will, I shook my head. He was the only one I had ever told about my problems in public places and with large groups of people. Of course, my dad knew, but it wasn’t something we
talked
about.

“Let’s make sure we know who’s in, so we can rent a limo and buy the tickets,” Lizzie pleaded.

A limo
? I swallowed nervously. How seriously did they take this dance thing at Winters?

“Hey, Will. Do you play poker?” Jeff asked with a look on his face that said he was eager to change subjects.

“I try not to,” Will smiled.

“Not into it or what?” Sean asked.

“I take people’s money too easily.”

“That’s what I keep telling these guys, but they keep letting me rob ’em blind,” Matt bragged. “We get together and play once a month, and we could use a fourth, if you’re interested.”

“I’m game,” Will said.

I stopped and stared at him as the four of them continued talking. Seeing how easily Will had integrated himself into a group of high school students, it made me wonder how many times he had attended high school in the past two centuries. I shuddered. Repeating high school was my own personal version of eternal damnation.

“So, do you guys want to go into Portland to look for dresses for the dance?” Lizzie asked. “How about Friday after school? We can grab dinner somewhere near the mall …”

Will’s eyes darted in my direction as she said this.

“I can’t. Well, I mean, I’m not going to the dance,” I said nervously.

I noticed Megan’s lips curl into a poorly concealed smile as she glanced in Will’s direction. Amy, who didn’t seem to realize what a bitch her friend was, shook her head.

“You should come with to Portland. Shopping’s always fun—and it’ll be good to get out of town.”

I didn’t necessarily agree that shopping was always fun, but I didn’t want to be a complete social mutant.

“Sure,” I smiled.

The lunch bell rang, and everyone scattered. When we reached my locker, I noticed that Will appeared lost in thought.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want you going into the city by yourself,” he said quietly, looking away from me.

I turned and stared at him.

“This is the first time I’ve had a chance to hang out with girls since I moved here! I can’t be a complete shut-in. I mean, I usually am, but I shouldn’t be.”

“Fidatov could use it as an opportunity. There are too many variables. I can’t take that risk.”

When he looked back at me, his eyes were filled with concern.

“So then come with. Follow me around. Pretend you’re still stalking me,” I smiled.

Will stayed silent as I pulled books from my locker.

“We’ll figure out something before then. I promise. Aven?” When I looked up at him, his expression was apprehensive or eager—I couldn’t tell which. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”

My stomach flipped as we started walking.

“Okay …”

“Would you come back to the house this weekend?” He hesitated. “I have company arriving.”

I stopped, and my mouth went dry.

“Um, wouldn’t that be a reason for me
not
to come over? What if your
company
doesn’t like me, or likes me too much?” I asked. “I mean, your kind does eat empaths for breakfast, right?”

I smiled and started walking again.

“My
kind
?” he repeated in amusement. Then, more seriously, he added, “Anyone who is loyal to me would never harm you.”

“They’re
loyal
to you?”

“As I am to them,” he said evenly.

We stopped in front of Ms. Fielding’s classroom, and I tried desperately to think of a more effective argument. Before I could think of one, Will touched my cheek.

“I’ve already met your father, so it’s only fair that you meet my closest companions.”

“I don’t think that’s a valid comparison, thank you very much. Besides, when you met my dad, we weren’t … I mean you weren’t—”

I looked down.

“Your boyfriend?” Will finished.

My eyes shot to his face.

“Is that what you are?”

“Unless you would prefer
undyingly loyal immortal beloved
?”

“Shhh!”

“This weekend, then. It’s a date,” Will said triumphantly, taking my hand and bringing it up to his lips.

“I wouldn’t call it a date,” I grumbled.

He just smiled again.

“I’ll come for you after school, and we can pick up Darcy.”

He was halfway down the empty hallway before I could form another argument. I walked to my seat and found Lizzie nearly bursting with excitement.

“I think it went really well!” she said.

I scrambled to catch up with her enthusiasm. All my energy was now trained on meeting immortal strangers I desperately hoped would approve of—or at least
tolerate
—me. I shook my head, focusing on Lizzie.

“Okay, so who were you trying to set up?” I asked.

“Jeff and Megan and Matt and Amy.”

I nodded.

“Yeah, Matt and Amy really seemed into each other.”

I didn’t mention that I wasn’t so sure the Jeff and Megan thing was going to take, judging from the way Megan had looked at Will—like he had been something tasty to eat. I pulled out my books and worked steadily for the rest of the hour, managing to get through most of my assignments before the bell rang. In sixth period, I was working on the latest assignment for Mr. Blake when a hand came down on my shoulder. Jumping up, I spun around.

“Dammit, Sean! You scared the hell out of me.”

“You have been one jumpy chick lately, Aven. Has anyone told you that?”

“Did you just call me a chick?”

Sean hip checked me.

“Did you get the feeling Megan was into your boyfriend, or what?” he laughed.

“Well, up until now I
had
been hoping that it was my imagination.”

“No way. That girl wants to jump your boyfriend.”

“Sean! Don’t be crass.”

“It’s the truth!”

“What about Amy and Matt? You think they liked each other?” I asked.

Sean shrugged.

“Sure. Hey, so what’s the deal with Will?”

I froze.

“What do you mean?”

“Is he a card shark or something?” Sean prodded.

I grinned.

“
I
wouldn’t bet against him.”

“Great, that’s two people who are going to take my money,” Sean moaned.

My eyes narrowed as I remembered something.

“Don’t you guys play for nickels anyway?”

“Hey, that adds up fast with the kind of money I make, which is almost nothing. Oh, by the way, I talked to the boss man.”

I nodded eagerly. Sean’s boss was manager of the bookstore that paid him the minimum wage he frequently complained about.

“He said he might be able to give you a job when you get your license. You know, if you ever get around to getting one that is,” he teased.

“I’m scheduling the test soon.”

I didn’t mention that I hadn’t been practicing my driving at all lately.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“That’s it,” I snapped. “I’m finishing my article. One more word out of you, and you’re not getting any rides in my invisible car.”

Sean got up and sauntered into the layout room, grinning as he cast a backwards glance at me. I
had
to remember to make the appointment for my driver’s exam. On the bright side, my dad’s Volvo was nearly indestructible, the perfect vehicle for learning how to drive. Smirking, I wondered how Will would handle having
me
behind the wheel of a car for once.

At the end of class, I walked out to meet Will, who was already waiting for me. By the time we reached the parking lot, the wind picked up, blasting icy air around us. I shivered and pulled my jacket closer. As Will opened my door, he bent down toward me.

“I wish I could keep you every night.”

His words made my heart pound as the memory of our kiss from earlier resurfaced. I sat down breathlessly, and the door whooshed closed behind me. By the time Will pulled out of the parking lot, I was already lost in thought. I had so many unanswered questions, and I knew there were ones I hadn’t even thought of yet.

How in control had Will been earlier today in school when he had kissed me? And what if we went further than that—would he still be in control? How long did we have together? I would go off to college—if I got in—next year while Will would remain perfectly ageless. And what would happen when I met his
closest companions
, as he had called them? Did Will have other enemies? Would this feud, or whatever it was, with Vladimir Fidatov ever end? And how did something ever
end
if no one involved could die—with the exception of me, of course? The sound of Will’s voice snapped me out of my reverie.

“What are you thinking of?”

“Nothing,” I shrugged. “Everything.”

He smiled crookedly and then watched me, waiting. I thought about making up something and then sighed in defeat. Will would probably sense a lie.

“I was thinking about my mortality.”

“Is that all?” Will smiled.

“Pretty much,” I sighed. “Don’t worry. It’s been kind of a hobby of mine since my mom died.”