Shades of Amber (4 page)

Ms. Mitts’ voice boomed
over the shuffle of books. “Don’t forget this is the only class
time you get for this project. Make sure you have your likes and
dislikes ready for Wednesday!”

My paper barely had two
sentences, I realized as I strangled my pen. The second I turned to
say we could email each other, I lost my train of
thought.

He was watching me,
again.

“
What are you doing?” I
asked as I shoved my things into my backpack.

“
What do you think I’m
doing?”

I lowered my voice. “It
looks like you’re watching me.”

He smiled. “I am watching
you.”

My mind was void of a
response. I got up and moved my desk back to its rightful spot.
“Why?”

“
You’re different, and it
makes me curious,” he said, backing toward the front of the
room.

Not wanting to leave with
him, I took an extra moment to bend down and grab my bag. My
shoulders relaxed until I found him standing in front of the
exit.

My heart was pounding, but
I stayed where I was. “Curious about what?” I asked as he walked
toward me.

He laughed when I climbed
over the desk to the next row. “You are so spirited and dramatic.
We would be good together.”

I climbed over the next
desk, walking along the wall until I was by the whiteboard. “I feel
like I should take offense to that statement.”

“
Opposites attract.” He
stood in the middle of the room, but his gaze held mine. “I want
you to stop running and agree to go on a date with me,” he said,
slowly closing the gap.

I glanced at the door.
“You’re making me feel cagey.”

“
I’m sorry.” He chuckled
softly. “I know it’s silly, but I really wanted you to like
me.”

I ran for the exit and
grabbed the knob right as he reached me. His cheek brushed mine as
he pressed me against the door.

“
You need to feel
comfortable around me, and at the rate we’re going, you’ll never
want that.” He leaned his forehead against mine. “You won’t even
give me your phone number.”

“
You want my number that
badly?”

He brushed my hair behind
my shoulder. “We do have to finish the project. We can complete it
over the phone or in person. It’s your choice.”

My pulse sped up. “I’m
afraid to give you my phone number.”

“
Why?”

“
You might not leave me
alone.”

His laugh was sinister,
yet seductive. “I won’t let you avoid me, Jade.”

I stared into his eyes,
wondering what it would be like to let him get close.

He’d probably destroy
me.

Best to get the project
done and stay professional, that way he’d get bored and find
someone willing.

I exhaled. “Meet me in the
library tomorrow at two o’clock, okay?”

He smiled and pulled the
door open. “It’s a date.”

I rushed into the hallway.
“No, it isn’t! See you tomorrow,” I called over my
shoulder.

It was hard to concentrate
when someone was openly stalking you.

By the end of the day,
Troy was in three of my classes. As if Math and History didn’t
already suck. I didn’t know much about him, just that he preferred
the last row and enjoyed staring holes into the back of my head—or
maybe he was trying to picture me naked. If he was, that would be
as far as he got.

When I was fifteen, my
sixteen year old cousin lost her virginity to a boy she’d dated for
three weeks. He’d claimed love and she’d given it up, only to get
dumped. Therefore, anytime I stumble upon a sexy guy, I remind
myself that I promised to wait until I knew what love
was.

Once Math ended, I packed
my things at a snail’s pace. My school day was over, but I still
had one goal: get to my car without seeing him. This could work, I
realized as I grabbed my bag.

Or not.

I turned the corner, and
found Troy leaning against the wall. His hair fell in his face as
he watched me move toward the stairs.

As soon as I passed him,
he swiped my bag and fell into step beside me.

“
Now what are your
plans?”

“
I’m leaving,” I replied
as my boot hit the lobby floor. I reached for my backpack, but he
took my hand, releasing a swarm of butterflies in my stomach. I
gave myself a mental shake and pulled away.

“
We could work on our
project.”

I shook my head. “I’m
leaving.”

He held the door, waiting
until I walked through to try a new approach. “We could discuss it
over lunch… or dinner.”

“
No, we’ll finish it
tomorrow.” I walked off in the direction of my car, but he stayed
on my heels.

“
Why when we have the rest
of today?”

“
Aren’t you tired? You’re
in three of my classes! Which is extremely unsettling.” I could
feel my cheeks growing red with frustration.

“
I’m sure you share
classes with a lot of people.”

My voice turned shrill.
“Yeah, but they don’t stare at me the entire time.” I paced back
and forth, looking anywhere but at him.

He looked like the
proverbial bad boy as he leaned against the side of the Media
building. I tried to turn so that he wasn’t in my line of sight,
but I could still see him.

Frustration got the better
of me. I walked over and poked him in the chest with my index
finger. “What the hell do you want?” I asked, standing on the tips
of my toes so he could see how serious I was.

He took my hand. “I’m not
tired of seeing you. I want you to sit down so we can get better
acquainted.”

Crossing my arms, I sank
onto the bench a few feet away. “I already know you. You’re cocky,
attractive, and dangerous to my academic health.”

The corner of his mouth
rose. “You think I’m attractive?” He put his arm around my
shoulders.

I found myself wanting to
relax, but I shook it off. “You’re alright.”

He tilted my chin. “Tell
me about yourself, Jade.”

Hearing the intimate
whisper made me shiver. I took a deep breath and tried to scoot
away, but there was nowhere to go.

“
I’d rather hear more
about you, Troy.”

“
You are far more
interesting.”

“
Yeah right.” I shoved his
arm. “You’re whole persona screams mystery.”

“
When is your
birthday?”

At first, his question set
me on high alert, but then I decided it wasn’t too personal.
“November 11
^th
. When is
yours?”

“
April
12
^th
. What’s your
favorite thing to do when you get home?”

I paused, wondering where
this line of questioning was going. “I love to read. I just
finished
The
Vampire Diaries
by L.J.
Smith.”

“
You’d rather go home and
read than spend time with a guy who is interested in
you?”

I looked up and found two
squirrels fighting over a nut. “You make me uncomfortable,” I said
as their food fell from the tree.

He nodded. “And why is
that? Could it be because you like me, even though you don’t want
to?”

I looked away.

“
No.”

“
It’s alright to admit
it.” He traced the curve of my ear. “You like me, at least a
little.”

“
Maybe.”

He leaned closer. “You
have to learn to accept that feeling. I’m not going anywhere.” As
his lips brushed my cheek, I knew there was nothing I could do to
keep him away. Even worse, was the realization that I wanted him
almost as badly as he seemed to want me.

Chapter 5

October 1, 2007

The sun warmed my skin as
I stood outside the library. It was 2:05, but I couldn’t get my
feet to move. I fingered the keys in my coat pocket.

How long would a guy wait
before he gave up?

Troy might wait five,
maybe ten minutes before he started looking for me, which gave me
two options: go home now or suck it up and get the project
done.

My stomach twisted with
tension, making my decision that much easier. Hiking my bag onto my
shoulder, I spun around and collided with a wall. My hand rose as I
studied the solid structure. I blinked a few times, hoping Troy
didn’t witness me trying to ditch him, but who else would stand
that close?

The corner of his mouth
rose, but he didn’t speak. Instead, he relieved me of my bag, took
my hand, and tugged me toward my doom. The walk to the lobby was
short, and brimming with women who probably would’ve begged to be
in my boots.

Sure Troy looked good, but
he wasn’t a secret agent in a tux. He was just a man wearing jeans,
a red shirt, and a black blazer, but boy did they suite
him.

“
Does it bother you when
women look at you like you’re edible?” I whispered as we moved past
the computers and cubicles.

“
Do you think I’m
edible?”

“
Nah, too many carbs,” I
said when we stopped at a secluded area.

He laughed and set our
bags on the table before removing my coat. “I’m glad you
came.”

His words weren’t funny,
but I laughed at the implication: he knew I’d run. He stopped me,
now he had me in an isolated corner of the school
library.

Usually, a guy didn’t give
me a second thought once I said I was focused on school.

I sat down, wondering what
would make him lose interest as he claimed the chair beside
me.

“
You’re beautiful,
cher.”

I caught myself staring at
the thin silver chain around his neck. “Umm, thanks.” I shouldn’t
ask, but I couldn’t help myself. “What did you call me?”

He put his arm around my
shoulder. “It’s Creole for darling or sweetheart.”

I didn’t know what was
more dangerous—the things he said or the way his voice seeped into
the crevices of my soul.

I reached for my bag, but
he stopped my movements by rubbing his thumb along my
wrist.

Did I like him?

Yes.

Had I dreamt about what
his lips felt like?

Only a dozen times, but he
wouldn’t make a good first boyfriend. He was too intense, too
demanding, too hard to resist.

The no column was soaring
higher than a kite; however, it all came down to one question: Did
I want him to leave me alone?

Hell no, but he had to if
I had any hope of keeping my head on straight. My body liked the
effect he had on me, but my mind was gathering caution tape and a
hazmat suit.

His hand slid to the base
of my spine. “What are you doing tonight?”

“
I’m not sure.”

“
Come to dinner with me,”
he whispered.

My heart raced as I
dragged my bag over. “I can’t, I don’t think I can handle more than
a few hours with you.”

He turned my chair so we
were eye to eye. “Lead me, save me from my solitude! Say you want
me here, beside you. Anywhere you go let me go too.”

“
You’re quoting that song
again aren’t you?”

“
It’s very
romantic.”

“
They’re nice words.” I
exhaled. “But you already know that.” His thumb brushed my lower
lip, and for a moment, I wondered if I might let him kiss me. I
tried to get up, but he distracted me with a hand on my
thigh.

“
I mean every word. I want
you, Jade. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted
anything.”

I pushed him away, but one
look into his soulful eyes told me it wouldn’t be that easy. I
opened my notebook and stared at it until he pulled it to his side
of the desk.

“
Give it back.” I pulled
the edge, but didn’t want to risk the safety of my
notes.

“
Come to dinner with me
tonight or better yet; come to the Halloween dance with me
Friday.”

“
What?”

He leaned closer. “Be my
date for the Halloween dance and you won’t have to go to dinner
with me tonight.”

I opened my mouth,
prepared to object when he put one finger to my lips.

“
It’s one or both, Jade,
but you can’t say no to everything.” He swept my bangs away from my
eyes, his gaze so intense that my cheeks felt warm.

“
You can’t fight this
chemistry between us.”

It was hard to think of a
reason not to go with him. I mean, of course, there were excuses,
but I doubted he’d consider my fear of falling in love a legitimate
one.

After a few moments, he
brought my hand to his lips and kissed my palm. “I take your
silence to mean you couldn’t come up with a valid reason, so I’ll
pick you up Friday at six.