Focus (The Crescent Chronicles, #2) (16 page)

“
Hey! Up here!” A group of
guys on a balcony yelled down at us. “Show us some titties if you
want some beads.”

Hailey rolled her eyes. “Do they really
think we’re that desperate for cheap plastic beads?”

Anne gave them the finger.

“
Over here.” I covered my
face with my hands as one of my floor mates, Amy, lifted her
shirt.

Anne laughed, so I looked up. Amy had a
tank top underneath.

“
Get a life!” Amy
yelled.

“
Nice one,” a few of us
said at once.

“
Did you really think I was
going to flash them?” Amy was definitely insulted.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I hoped
not.”

“
For future knowledge, I’m
not a skank.”

“
All right, duly
noted.”

“
We’re going to head over
to Oz, you guys want to come?” Amy asked.

“
No thanks,” Tiffany
answered quickly.

I laughed. “We’re good.”

“
You weren’t interested in
hitting up a gay bar on Halloween?” Hailey teased
Tiffany.

Tiffany laughed. “That place is crazy
even on a normal night. Plus, the last time we were there a guy
from my American lit class was dancing. That was a sight I don’t
need to see again.”

We all laughed and decided to check out
some more bars. We continued down Bourbon Street.

“
Those are incredible
vampire costumes!” Anne pointed to two guys with long fangs and
black capes.

I tried to get a closer look at their
eyes as we passed them, and they definitely had the rings Levi had
told me about. I was sure the fangs were real. I shivered.
Halloween was a lot scarier when you knew monsters actually
existed.

***

“
Why, hello Matey.” Levi’s
voice came as a whisper right behind me.

I spun around. “Hi.” The word stuck in
my throat as I took him in. Dressed in a black tank and jeans, his
clothing didn’t hint at a costume, but his wings did. I looked past
him and noticed Jared and Owen dressed identically.

“
We’re fallen
angels.”

“
Ah, those are really
realistic wings.” I reached out to touch one but held
back.

“
You can touch me, Al. You
always can.”

I shivered knowing he meant more than
his wings.

“
Wow, awesome costumes!”
Anne walked around the boys, taking them in.

“
Hailey has one of these
costumes too, but I guess she thought being a slutty pirate was
cooler,” Owen taunted.

Hailey glared. “We’re sexy pirates, not
slutty.”

“
I don’t care what you are.
You can make me walk your plank anytime.” Jared said it to all of
us, but his eyes were fixed entirely on Tiffany. She blushed. I
resisted the urge to reprimand Jared. It might make Tiffany feel
weirder.

“
Just be glad he’s not
asking you to walk
his
plank.” Hailey grinned.

“
Ugh, okay, no need to give
me that image.” I rolled my eyes.

“
Want something to drink?”
Levi was right next to me, his lips inches from mine. I leaned into
him, already a little tipsy. Looking at the “Real Levi” was making
it hard for me to resist him.

“
Get me my usual.” Levi
still hadn’t told me what was in my drink, but it was sweet,
strong, and so good.

“
Someone’s getting some
tonight,” Jared mumbled, following Levi away. Levi heard and turned
back to grin at me.

“
No, he’s not.” Anne
crossed her arms. The effect had her cleavage spilling out ever so
slightly from her top. Owen’s eyes widened. If she noticed, she
didn’t show it. “Allie made us promise not to let her go home with
him if she was drunk, and she’s drunk.”

“
I’m going to help them
with the drinks.” Owen stumbled away.

I put down my empty glass on a nearby
table. “I’m not drunk.”

“
You’re getting
there.”

“
It doesn’t matter. I don’t
want to go home with him.”

“
Sure…” Hailey rolled her
eyes.

The guys returned and Levi took his
spot next to me again.

“
You make a good looking
pirate.” He handed me my drink. “I’d go hunting for buried treasure
with you anytime.”

I looked down at my tight, black top
with the white ruffles and red ties, but knew it was the length of
the black skirt that probably had his attention. “You’d like it
better if it were all red, wouldn’t you?”

“
I like you in more than
red.” He paused, playing with the laces on the top. “And in
less.”

His eyes devoured me, and I sipped my
drink.

“
I didn’t expect to see you
guys here.” We were on Bourbon Street, and I’d heard most of the
upperclassman hung out on Frenchman Street on Halloween.

“
I knew you’d be around
here somewhere.”

“
So you came looking for
me?” I took another few sips of my drink. It was easy to drink
fast.

“
Yes. You wouldn’t tell me
what your costume was, but I knew it would be something I’d have to
see.”

“
In other words, you didn’t
want me dressed this way without you?”

“
Can you blame me?” He
moved closer.

“
I can say the same about
you.”

He cracked a smile. “You don’t like me
out with my wings showing?”

“
Not without me.” I ran a
hand through my hair.

“
Wow, I had no idea they
had that effect on you. So nice to know.”

“
I’m not going to even try
to deny it.” I finished my drink.

“
Want another?”

“
Yes.” I didn’t hesitate
with my answer. I followed him over to the bar, hoping to hear what
he ordered. Unfortunately, he just asked the bartender for the same
thing. With a crowd that big, I’d have expected the girl to have
forgotten—but I don’t think it’s easy to forget anything about
Levi.

He handed me the drink, and we walked
back to where our friends had migrated to. Levi sat down on a bar
stool pushed against the wall.

“
You look so good with your
wings.” I reached out and touched one, but he shifted, moving it
from my reach.

“
If you want to touch them,
you have to come closer.”

“
I am close. If I get any
closer, I’ll be on your lap.”

“
You say it like it’s a bad
thing.”

“
It’s a very bad thing.” I
gave up trying to reach his wing and put my hand on his leg
instead.

“
I disagree. It’s good.”
His heated look nearly undid me.

Distracted, I felt the tickle of a wing
brushing against me as he pulled me up on his lap to straddle him.
“Have you ever…”

“
Have I ever what?” He gave
me an amused smile.

“
I’m the only girl you’ve
been with who knows what you really are, right?” I touched his
wings.

“
Uh huh.”

“
So you’ve never done it
with your wings out, right?”

He laughed. “No, I haven’t.” His hand
settled on my very exposed leg.

“
Could we?”

“
Come home with me, Al, and
we can do anything you want.”

“
Does it have to be at your
place? The hotel is closer.”

“
It is, isn’t it?” he
whispered next to my ear. “Ready to go?”

“
Maybe.”

“
Whoa. Slow down there.”
Anne helped me down off his lap.

Levi reluctantly let go but he spun on
Anne. “Is there a reason you’re interrupting us?”

“
Yes. Allie’s not going
anywhere with you.” She put a hand on her hip and
scowled.

“
It’s okay—”

She cut me off. “No. You told me not to
let you go home with him, and I’m keeping my word.”

I smiled. Anne definitely was tough and
a good friend. With some distance between us, I was starting to
realize just how big of a mistake I was about to make.

“
If she wants to come home
with me, she will.” Levi was on his feet.

“
I think it’s time to go.”
Hailey grabbed my arm and Anne’s. Tiffany nodded.

I glanced behind me. Levi’s eyes were
starting to turn black. Jared and Owen were at his side, trying to
calm him down.

“
Wow, if looks could kill,
I’d be dead.” Anne shivered. She didn’t know the half of
it.

“
I’m sorry I brought you
into that.”

“
No, it’s totally fine…but
I have a feeling you’re the reason for the anger problem. A guy can
only take so much.” She gave me a knowing look. Was she really
blaming his anger on sexual frustration?

“
Yeah, I don’t know.” My
stomach rumbled. “Is anyone else hungry?” I asked.

“
Yes,” everyone said at
once.

“
How about beignets?”
Tiffany adjusted her top, probably trying to get more coverage than
it actually provided.

“
Café Du Monde?” I asked,
even though I didn’t have to.

Hailey glanced at her watch. “What
better way to end a night?”

“
Exactly.”

I was already dreaming about the hot,
sweet beignets before we got there.

***

“
I don’t think there’s a
better drunk food.” I took another bite of my beignet.

“
I agree. It just works.
Add in the coffee and it’s perfect.” Tiffany took a sip of her
chicory coffee.

“
So, what did you guys
think of your first Halloween in New Orleans?” Hailey
asked.

“
It was definitely my best
yet.” Anne polished off her beignet.

“
I know I already said it,
but I’m sorry about Levi.” I hoped Anne wasn’t mad at
me.

“
Don’t worry about it. I
really didn’t mind.”

“
You know Jared really
well, right?” Tiffany looked at Hailey.

“
Yeah. I’ve known him my
whole life.” Hailey glanced at me. We were both wondering where
this conversation was going.

Tiffany concentrated on her mug. “Is he
really like that, or is it an act?”

“
Do you mean is he really a
perverted jerk?” Hailey could be so blunt.

“
I was thinking more
whether he was always so forward?”

I decided to take over. “Yes. That’s
just him. He’s not a bad guy, just a player.”

“
Oh.” Tiffany looked
pensive.

“
Why are you asking, Tiff?
Are you interested in him?” Anne asked the question we were all
thinking.

“
No! Of course not. I was
just trying to figure him out.”

“
He likes you.” I figured
I’d be honest.

Tiffany blushed. “He does
not.”

“
He told me to tell you
‘hi’ the other night.”

“
The other night? When were
you with Jared at night?” Anne leaned forward.

I tried to think fast, but Tiffany
spared me. “Did he really say that?”

I smiled. “Yeah. He’s a player, and you
should keep your distance, but he definitely has a
crush.”

“
A crush? Can you imagine
what Jared would say if he heard you say that?” Hailey
laughed.

“
It’s the
truth.”

“
It’s flattering. I mean, I
know nothing’s ever going to happen, but you have to admit, he’s
really hot.”

“
No question. He’s hot.”
Anne sipped her coffee.

“
But you aren’t actually
interested, right?” Hailey asked.

“
No. Definitely not. He’s
not my type.”

“
Okay, good.”

I hoped she was being honest. I didn’t
want to watch him hurt another one of my friends.

Chapter
Thirteen

Time didn’t slow down after Halloween.
I was having fun, but sometimes the stress was hard to take. It
only got worse in November knowing finals were getting closer. I
never imagined it would be so hard to find a balance between
classes and a social life.

“
I already told you I’m not
going.” I crossed my arms, hoping my body language would get my
point across since my words were getting me nowhere.

“
Come on, Allie. It’s
supposed to be the party of the semester. We can’t miss it.” Anne
mirrored my pose. Probably trying to do the same thing—get her
point across.

“
What exactly makes
something the party of the semester?” Tiffany asked. She was
sitting on my bed reading
Mansfield
Park
. Sometimes, watching Tiffany read the
classics made me want to minor in English, but my recent decision
to major in biochemistry instead of business was enough. The only
good thing about being mad at my dad was that I didn’t have to feel
bad about not sticking with business.