Prophecy Girl (14 page)

Finn opened his mouth to speak, but then fell silent, as Meg suddenly turned in her seat, facing him, wanting to know too. Corrine was slyly looking as well. He turned his attention to Eva and seemed to regain his composure. “Well, he uh…couldn’t stop talking about you. It was driving Devin crazy.”

Oh?!

“But what’d he say?” Meg prodded Finn, continuing her stare down.

Finn broke under the pressure, and started transforming into a black fog.

“Hey, buddy!” Liam snapped his fingers. “Come back to us, buddy!”

After a few seconds, Finn finally returned, but looked away from everyone, silent.  Suddenly, Eva made a connection. She believed that Finn liked Meg, and when the redhead confronted him, he got nervous, and almost completely vanished. Devin did the same thing. He seemed to panic when she was near, and once, he disappeared, and twice, he ran from her. Did that mean…

Does Devin like her?

Liam slapped his hand over Eva’s, holding it, tearing her away from delicious thoughts. “Yeah, well, Lucas was sayin’ how you’re so beautiful and such a great kisser and how he loves it when he holds ya…all this mushy romance stuff. Not that me and Finn didn’t wanna hear more about the kissin’, but Devin was about to lose it! Right before we were to start playin’ again, he just bolted, with his guitar slung across his chest.” Liam quickly slid his hand across hers to demonstrate Devin’s speedy exit.

“He just vanished?” Eva asked.

“Nah, ran like his ass was on fire,” Liam clarified, and then he shook his head. “Somethin’s been buggin’ that guy ever since…”—he gave Eva a hard stare—“well, ever since
you
arrived.” 

Eva panicked, not knowing how to defend herself, but was saved by the appearance of her math professor. He was tall, mid-forties, with brown hair gelled back from his face. He was wearing a black suit with an emerald tie, and handsome just like many of the Leprechauns at the school.

Must be something in the blood.

Of course, all the Banshees were pretty too, but she wouldn’t really count herself as extraordinary. That was Bree. But Lucas had told his friends that Eva was beautiful. Which was nice, but she was more intrigued by the fact that Devin freaked out. She couldn’t help thinking that Devin actually liked her…or maybe he didn’t. Maybe she just misread Finn’s reaction to Meg. Maybe Devin was being weird for some other reason. Maybe he was mad because he wanted to rock out and Lucas wanted to chit-chat. 

It was all so confusing. She just wanted to concentrate for the next two hours on math, but it was her least favorite subject, so that was doubtful.

Professor Aidan O’Connor introduced himself and seemed very nice. But he embarrassed Eva when he pointed out that she was the only new student. 

“New girl!” Liam shouted, applauding. Some clapped along with him, obviously aware of Liam’s status as class clown.

“All right, settle down,” Professor O’Connor said, giving Eva a shy smile. “Let’s get to work.”

Eva was grateful to turn the attention away from her, but was overwhelmed by the lecture. When the two hours were up, and her hands were tired from coping down notes and numbers, the bell—old-looking and loud—finally rang.   

“No homework for tonight, but expect some tomorrow,” said the professor.

Everyone groaned.

Professor O’Connor ignored them, looking at Eva. “Could we talk for a minute?”

“Okay,” she said softly, thinking she was in trouble.

Meg and Corrine didn’t seem concerned, waved to her, and left. Liam shot his lips at her in a kissing motion, and Finn just lazily waved, while allowing Meg to leave out before him—a very gentlemanly thing to do. Eva couldn’t shake that something was going on. Or she just wanted to believe that, constantly thinking about Devin, and his mysterious actions.

“Eva,” began the professor after all the students had left, “I know about your situation. The headmaster told me.”

She panicked. “He did?”

He nodded. “It’s okay. I know you probably don’t want the others to know, but believe me, over the years, many like you, Banshees, have been sent…away. Don’t be ashamed of it.”

“I just don’t want anyone to find out,” she said.

He threw his hands up. “Hey, I understand. No problem. But since I know where you’ve been, I also know that most of this lecture today”—he waved at all the white marks on the blackboard—“was a lot to take in.”

She smiled. “It was.”

He nodded. “Thought so. That’s why I want you to know that you can always come by after your therapy sessions if you need extra help, and I’m sure the other students would be more than willing to help you out too.”

More work after school? 

“Okay, that’s good to know, and I’ll definitely come back if I need the help. Thanks, professor.”

She really didn’t want any remedial help unless it was absolutely necessary. She was never great with math, but it wasn’t that hard, and she was sure if she spent a lot of nights in her room, pouring over her books, she would catch up.

“Good. Now hurry along. Professor O’Keefe should be expecting you.”

She nodded and rushed out to her Biology class in the next room over, where everyone had already taken their seats. Her friends were in the back of the room, and Corrine sat next to an empty desk, waving her over.

Meg was seated in front of Eva. Finn sat across from Meg, looking a bit nervous, with Liam in front of him. Liam turned in his seat and blew a kiss to Eva. She smiled, catching it, and then threw it over her shoulder. Liam scrunched his face, as if he was going to cry, but then he smiled, wagging his finger at her. Finn smacked him on the back of the head, and then Liam punched him in the arm.

Corrine leaned over. “Leprechauns,” she said with disapproval.

Eva took the opportunity, and whispered, “Hey, do you still like Finn?”

Corrine’s eyes widened. “Well, not like that…anymore. Why?”

Eva lowered her voice even more. “I think he likes Meg.”

Meg turned in her seat, and said loudly, “You think Finn likes
me
?”

Eva dropped her head, embarrassed. When she looked up, the whole class was staring in her direction. She chanced looking at Finn. His face was beet red, and his eyes were wide with panic, so unsurprisingly, he vanished.

“Ah, hell! Not again! Finn, man! Come on back!”  Liam shouted.

“What’s going on?” asked a voice near the door. 

Eva turned around and saw a tall woman, mid-thirties and pretty, with auburn hair that fell to her shoulders. She was wearing black heels, a black pencil skirt, and a green blouse. The woman looked confused, standing in front of a poster of a DNA sequence, colorful and twisted.  

“Nothin’. Just tryin’ to get ol’ Finn to come back to us,” Liam answered.

They waited and waited, but he didn’t show up. 

The professor approached Eva. “Hi, I’m Mary O’Keefe. I’m glad you could come here. If you need any help catching up, just let me know, okay?” 

“Thanks for your help. I’m glad to be here.”

The professor continued, “Class doesn’t usually start out like this.” She nodded to Finn’s empty chair. “Of course, there’s the occasional Banshee mourning, and a Leprechaun vanishing when he has to give a report, but that’s just to be expected.”

Eva just nodded and watched as Professor O’Keefe went to the front of the classroom. “Well, while we’re waiting for Mr. O’Sullivan to return, let’s take out our books,” she instructed. 

They all did, opening it to the page the professor indicated on the board, but Eva was thinking about poor Finn. Both Meg and Corrine leaned to her. 

“What was that about?” Corrine whispered.

“What’s going on?” Meg asked a little louder.

Eva just shrugged, and said to Meg, “Sorry, but I had the suspicion that Finn liked you.”

“Based on what?”

“Well, he was staring at you during breakfast, and when you looked directly at him in math class, he got nervous and almost disappeared, and now...” She nodded to his empty desk.

“And that means he likes her?” Corrine asked. “He never disappeared with me.” Her face fell from the revelation.

Eva shook her head. “No, no, that’s not…don’t mind me. I don’t know what I’m talking about. I’m new here, remember? I don’t know all about Banshees and Leprechauns. Ignore me, okay?” she pleaded. 

She waited for their replies, hoping that she didn’t ruin their lives. Thankfully, Meg smiled, and Corrine nodded. 

“Don’t worry,” Corrine said. 

“Yeah, it’s over and done with,” Meg said.

Eva relaxed. After an hour and a half, Finn finally reappeared, but his sudden arrival didn’t cause any reaction, as a Banshee from across the room started to wail. The few girls nearby went to console the girl, and even Professor O’Keefe got down on her knees, laying a hand on the young girl’s head.

Eva scanned the guys. Most of them were looking away, silent. They didn’t want to witness the sobbing, which went on for the rest of the class, with the professor refusing to leave her side. When the dismissal bell sounded, the girl was consoled, and everyone got ready to leave, writing down their homework assignment.  

Eva quickly pulled Finn aside, out of the classroom, and away from everyone, to the Commons Area.

“I’m so sorry,” she apologized, clutching onto his arm. “I feel so bad for what I said.  I thought you liked Meg and—”

“I do,” he admitted in a low voice, “but don’t tell her. Don’t tell anyone.”

She was right. “Why not? What if she feels the same way?”

“Does she?” he asked with a hopeful smile.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I could ask her.”

He shook his head. “No, don’t. Just leave it alone.”

“Why?”

“If she didn’t like me back, I couldn’t take it. I get so nervous around her. I’ve been able to control my panic attacks, but earlier it was too much, and I vanished. I can’t help it. Don’t say anything. Especially since her and Corrine are friends.”

“Did you like Meg last year? Is that why you broke up with Corrine?”

He shook his head. “No, not really. I knew it wasn’t working out with Corrine, but I didn’t know why. And then…I don’t know what happened.” He smiled. “When I came back to school this year, I saw Meg, and I just knew.”

“But—”

“No, don’t tell her, please,” he pleaded, grabbing her shoulder, and giving it a tight squeeze. “I just have to overcome vanishing when I’m around her. I want to talk to her, I do. I just need to stop getting so nervous around her.”

Eva nodded. “I understand. I won’t tell anyone.”

He gave her a grateful smile, and then quickly walked to the east wing. Eva wondered if he just needed some time to himself, since everyone was heading to the cafeteria.

Corrine, Meg, and Liam came out of class.

“What were you and Finn talking about?” Meg asked.

“I told him I was sorry. That I was being stupid…thinking he liked you,” she half-lied.

“Does he?”

Eva thought that she sensed hope, but she couldn’t say anything.

Liam spoke up. “He never said a word about it. Well, I’d love to chat about who likes who, but right now”—he patted his stomach—“I’m off to lunch. See ya around pretty ladies.” He gave Eva a wink and walked away to the cafeteria.

Meg raised her eyebrows. “Well, does he?” she prodded Eva.

“Um, I didn’t ask,” she lied to Meg. “Actually, we didn’t talk about much. He needed to go.”

“Oh.”

“Well, do you like him?” Corrine asked, but seemed more curious than jealous. 

Meg shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it.”

“He’s cute,” Eva said.

“Who’s cute?” Lucas asked, coming up behind Eva, wrapping his strong arms around her waist.

Instead of welcoming his touch, she looked around for Devin.  He was far away, avoiding any contact with Eva, heading to the cafeteria with Bree at his heels.

Eva’s mind zeroed in on a possibility that she had earlier dismissed:
If Finn likes Meg, and disappears in a panic, then does that mean Devin likes her?
 

“We’re talking about Finn,” Meg said, disrupting Eva’s worried thoughts.

“Oh,” Lucas said, turning Eva in his arms. “So you think my boy Finn is cute?” His eyebrow was raised, but he had a slight smile to show he wasn’t
that
worried.

“Yes,” she said, smiling. “In fact, I think all the boys here are cute.”

Lucas narrowed his eyes.

“Well, we’ll be off,” Corrine said, dragging Meg away to the cafeteria.

Eva kept her focus on Lucas, expecting a blow-up, but instead he pressed his lips forcibly against hers, hungry, and kissed her in an almost violent manner.

When he pulled away, he said in a husky voice, “But I’m the best kisser.”

She smirked. “I’ll have to test that theory with the other boys.” 

Then she panicked, worrying what the repercussions would be for her innocent joke.