Captivate Me (Book One: The Captivated Series) (3 page)

I’d looked up to its owner, and my
breath had hitched. He was all perfect white teeth, tan skin and
blonde-tipped hair. “Here,” he had said, bending down to clean up
my lunch as I wiped what was left of the sorrow from my face.
“We’ll get you another one of these.”

The rest was a blur of people he had
introduced me to and me trying not to ogle him. After two weeks
here, I still had a hard time not staring. He then walked me to the
rest of my classes and made sure I felt like I fit in, which didn’t
take long. At first I thought he was only being friendly, that a
guy like him wouldn’t settle for one option, but I realized his
friendliness ran deeper when he had risked getting in trouble by
knocking on my door late one night and stealing me away to the
courtyard. He’d done that more than once, obviously, and even
during the daytime he found reasons to come find me and pull me
away somewhere so we could talk in private. I liked the attention
in a way, but he could have almost smothered me if I’d let him, and
I wasn’t entirely sure I would have cared. In all reality, it
seemed like Levi and I were destined to be together.

As Anna and I strode through the
lunchroom, me confidently on my way to the usual spot, and her
taking in the huge throng of students, I felt the need to explain
the set-up. “Even though everyone is nice,” I began, “we still have
cliques around here. Just not like the snobby, divisive ones you
probably picture when you think of the word.”

She arched an eyebrow.
“Okay…”

“For example – those with similar
gifts tend to gravitate toward one another. Like your kind, the
elementals.”

She tested the word.
“Elementals?”

“Yes, that’s what they call someone
like you, an elemental. It means you can manipulate one of the four
elements – air, fire, earth or water.”

“Oh.”

“
And the mind readers will
all sit together,” I continued. “And the shape-shifters will all
sit tog-

“Wait a minute,” she said
tugging on my arm to stop, her eyes wide, “…mind readers?
Shape-shifters?!
”

“Yeah. Cool, huh?

Her eyes went distant with
some secret thought and snapped back to mine. She leaned in with an
urgent whisper. “So they can read my mind, like,
now?
”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “No, Anna,
they don’t read your mind unless you give them permission. They
block your thoughts otherwise.”

Her shoulders relaxed. “You
sure?”

“Well… I guess we don’t really know
for sure. But they teach us here to be respectful and use our gifts
appropriately.” I jabbed her teasingly. “Why? You don’t want anyone
to know that you’re secretly a pervert or something?”

“No, it’s just a little creepy to
think others can read my thoughts.”

“I know. But you don’t have to worry
here.”

We started on our way
again. “And
our
table,” I said, pointing to a table in the far corner,
“consists of mainly soccer players and me, Sarah, and whoever
decides to sit there that day, regardless of what our gifts
are.”

She stopped short again, mortification
sweeping over her face as she took in the tableful of tasty guys. I
then wondered what made her more nervous – them, or the mind
readers. “They’re all really cool, Anna,” I assured her and tugged
her along. “And your mouth is hanging open.”

When we finally made it to
the table with its array of colored shirts over muscled torsos –
thanks to soccer practice every Friday morning for the senior
players – everyone had already dumped their trays and had broken
into separate conversations. Some of the soccer players weren’t
there - probably in line to get seconds, as usual. I also noticed
that a certain blonde-haired boy wasn’t at the table,
either.
He’s probably on his
‘thirds,’
I thought.

“They’re in line again,” Sarah said
from halfway down the table, regarding my disappointed look, and
then went back to studying her pale blonde hair for split
ends.

“Figures!” I replied. The feeding
habits of a teenage boy should have been considered the eighth
wonder of the world, or at least as an act in a side
show.

Anna and I settled into
chairs at the end of the table, and before I had a chance for
introductions, a pair of lips breezed over my cheek with a playful
kiss.
Levi.
My
expression instantly brightened.

He plopped next to me with two trays
in his hands. “Here, babe,” he said, sliding one across the table.
“I figured you’d be hungry.”

I wanted to roll my eyes again at his
calling me “babe,” but I couldn’t bring myself to do it because of
his thoughtful gesture. “You’re the best,” I beamed.

He chomped into his burger, and his
eyes drew to Anna. “Oh, a newbie!” he said with a mouthful of food
and dusted his hands on his pants before extending one to her for a
shake. “I’m Levi.” He smiled his ever-glowing smile, dimples and
all.

“Anna,” she squeaked out.

I draped my arm around her for
support. She was obviously out of her element, in more ways than
one. “She’s my new roomie.”

“Awesome! Nice to meet you,
Anna.”

She only nodded.
Apparently, words had escaped her. And who could blame her, really.
I remember my first day at this table… so much eye candy. I then
raked my eyes over him as I reached for a fry; he did look
particularly yummy today in his seafoam t-shirt that matched his
eyes and made his tan look even bronzer. And the way his muscles
filled out every inch of it, well, I realized
my
mouth was hanging open. I shut it
over my fry with a snap and opened my milk. Could this be the
captivation my mom was referring to? His looks constantly stealing
my attention? I guess if I had to ask, it wasn’t, but it had to be
damn close.

Levi observed the empty table space in
front of Anna. “Oh, God,” he said and stood. “I feel so rude. Would
you like me to get you a tray?”

She held out her hands in
protest. “Oh, no… I already date… er, um… ate. I
ate
before I got
here.”

I stifled a
chuckle.
Poor Anna.

Two of Levi’s soccer buddies, Ronnie
and Dawson, showed up with their trays. Staring at his burger with
a big, hungry smile, Ronnie settled next to Levi. “Oh, God… I could
eat the balls out of this burger!” he groaned.

I spluttered into my milk.

Levi smacked his back. “Girls, Ron…
watch your language. There are girls at the table!”

I wiped my mouth. “Jeez, Ron, could
you not say stuff like that while I’m drinking?”

“Sorry, newbie,” he replied and turned
his gaze to Anna. “Hi, new-newbie!”

Her eyes washed over him, starting
with his closely cropped dark hair, moving down his strong, square
jaw line, and ending at his sculpted chest. He repeated his
greeting slower this time with an expectant look. “Hi…
new-newbie…”

Coming back to Earth, she shook her
head. “Hi,” she breathed.

“This is Anna,” I supplied for her.
“She’s an elemental too.”

Studying her now, he smiled. “Cool.
Welcome to Midland.”

Anna managed to string an
entire sentence together this time. “Thanks. What’s
your
gift?”

“Wind,” he said matter-of-factly and
took a giant bite of burger.

“Mine’s fire.”

Impressed, his eyes flared, and he
swallowed. “You’ll have to show me sometime.”

I could practically hear her heart
doing somersaults. “Sure!”

As they chatted, I shoveled my food
and contemplated introducing her to Dawson too, but he and Sarah
were now canoodling like a pair of love-sick puppies, as always.
Levi rubbed my shoulder. “You guys are coming to the game tonight,
right?” he asked.

I nodded as I chewed.
Friday nights were scrimmage game nights – the one night we could
stay out past our weekend curfew of ten o’clock. It was also the
one function we were allowed to wear our regular clothes to.
I
loved
Friday
nights. Besides, seeing the boys in their uniforms all sweaty and
pumping with adrenaline didn’t hurt. I swallowed my food and
flashed him a smile. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Good.” He yawned the word.

“What’s the matter?” I smirked with a
hitched brow. “Tired? Stay up too late?”

He smirked back. “I did. Couldn’t
sleep for some reason.”

Ronnie cleared his throat and jabbed
Dawson with his elbow. “Hey, Dawson,” he said pointedly, his
smiling eyes never leaving his tray as he ate, “guess what I saw
last night?”

Dawson tore himself away from Sarah
and gave an evil grin, flashing his eyes at Levi and me for a slice
of a second. “What’s that, Ron?” he replied, almost as if they’d
rehearsed the exchange. I flushed crimson, and Levi watched their
exchange with a set jaw and a look of humored annoyance.

“I saw the funniest thing through our
window when I got up to pee – a guy and a girl in the courtyard
after midnight.”

Dawson’s jaw dropped in mock horror.
“You don’t say! Well, that would be breaking the rules.”

Now everyone’s attention
was on us, and I blushed brighter.
Gah!

“I’d say so,” Ronnie continued. “I
hope it was worth all the kissing!”

Levi jabbed his shoulder. “Shut up,
dude! We didn’t kiss.”

Everyone at the table started
whispering and laughing, even Anna. And on the outside looking in,
I’m sure it was funny, but I really just wanted to die. Ronnie
threw his head back in laughter, and I tossed a chiding look at
Dawson, which only made him roar with laughter too. Levi embraced
me in a side hug. “Ignore them,” he said. “Their moms fed them
paint chips as kids.”

When Ronnie composed himself, he
leaned into us. “But really, guys. How did you not get
caught?”

“I’m sure we will one day,” Levi
replied. “But until then…”

“Did you go get her or something? How
did you make it onto the girls’ floor without getting
caught?”

Levi clasped his shoulder with a
playful shake. “One of these days, Ronnie, you’ll be as awesome as
me.”

Ronnie jabbed him back,
and they started mock fighting, laughing and throwing good-natured
insults. I chuckled at their exchange, forgetting how I was just
embarrassed beyond belief. Oh, Levi… so carefree and sweet. Maybe I
should quit worrying about labels – ‘captivated’ or ‘not
captivated’ – and enjoy being around him… or being
with
him. The idea made
my heart flutter, but I still felt that strange feeling in the pit
of my stomach. Doubt?

The bell rang, derailing my thoughts.
Levi stood and swept our trays up to empty them. “I’ll remember
this tonight, Ron,” he teased. “I’m on the burgundy team,
remember?”

Dawson scoffed as he and Sarah started
off to their next class. “Burgundy’s going down
tonight!”

“You wish!” Levi yelled after
him.

After disposing of our trays, the rest
of us migrated toward the double doors, and Anna pulled out her
schedule. “Chemistry,” she said aloud. “Wing C, Room
307.”

“Coach Carter’s class,” Ronnie said.
“I’m going there too.”

“You should help her, Ron,” Levi
insisted, grabbing my hand. He wasn’t going to let me get
away.

“Sure,” he said with a shrug, and Anna
couldn’t contain the smile that split her face in two.

* * *

“I’m proud of ya,” Levi said,
squeezing my hand tighter as we walked to my next class, “it was
nice what you did for the newbie, taking her under your wing like
that.”

“I couldn’t
not
take her under my
wing… you should have seen how sad she looked today.”

“That’s what I mean. You didn’t have
to do it, but you did. And you know, when you start initiating
newbies, you aren’t a newbie anymore!”

“Good…” I said, bumping into him, “can
you ask Ronnie and them to quit calling me that now? I prefer
Kat.”

We stopped at the door to my next
class, which was slowly becoming my favorite. “Sure. Fits you
better, anyway,” he mused, tipping my chin up with his finger. He
sweetly pecked my cheek before turning and lumbering on his
way.

Holding the spot on my
cheek he’d kissed, I watched him as he left. Surely if I were
around him enough my lingering doubt over whether or not we
belonged together would leave. I then decided to give him a chance…
a
real
chance and
see what happened. Maybe tonight we’d kiss for real and officially
be considered a couple. Who knows? He might be
the one.

* * *

Thinking of the game tonight and Levi
and our budding relationship, I didn’t have a prayer at
concentrating during class. Luckily, this one was an elective and I
could answer every question on a test in my sleep. I wasn’t even
sure why I’d signed up for it. The class was called “Blending in to
Society” and Mrs. Griffith taught us how to effectively hide our
gifts in public while feeling free to tap into them in private. It
doesn’t have to be one or the other. Even though I’d hid mine for
years, perhaps I had signed up for the class because I felt there
was still something I could learn. After all, slipping up and using
my gift in public was the reason I was here.