Wanted (12 page)

* * * *

Despite my outburst, Matt still waited for me after class. I ignored him and walked to my locker to exchange books. He just sighed and followed me, wisely not saying anything.

After third hour, Conor showed up to be my escort. My heart leapt when I saw him slouched against the wall, hands stuffed into his pockets, waiting for me. I set my jaw and refused to say anything to him, though I did allow him to hold my hand, my traitorous skin all afire from his touching me. Damn.

“Matt said you had a run-in with Tre earlier.” Conor’s voice was low.

I shrugged it off. “It was no big. I told him he was definitely not in the running. I don’t know if it made a difference.”

“Probably not. I like that you can stand up for yourself.” He smiled at me. I gave him a blank stare. His forehead wrinkled with concern. “What’s wrong?”

“Why would there be anything wrong?” I evaded. I didn’t want to get into it now. He moved to the side of the hallway, pulling me close, and wrapped his arm around my waist.

“Hey,” he said softly, gazing down at me. Why was he suddenly being warm and confusing? Oh, wait. People were looking.

I feebly put a hand to his chest to keep our bodies from completely touching head to toe. He was solid and warm. A steady, strong heartbeat pulsed under my hand, lulling me. Oh, he was still talking.

“Come with me after school. You can stay for dinner and homework. I promise I won’t seduce you.” He grinned down at me.

It was hard not to respond. He’s pretending, he’s pretending, I reminded myself.

I grimaced. “I wasn’t worried about that.” He opened his mouth to protest. I pushed at him. “Fine. I’ll come over. I need to talk to you anyway.”

I turned to leave. He held me fast and kissed my forehead.

“I’ll see you at lunch.” He released me slowly, his fingers lingering on my skin as he walked away with a grin. I went into class, telling my elated self he was just acting. Yeah. I didn’t believe me either.

Cora, Matt, and I walked to lunch quietly. I wasn’t quite as mad at Matt as before, but I wasn’t totally over my anger yet. I knew I was taking my frustrations out on him, there just wasn’t much else I could do. We joined Conor and Steven at a table in the back corner. Conversation was sparse as we ate. I was pretty sure people were being careful not to set me off, not wanting a repeat of my last outburst.

“Matty,” I started. He looked at me. “I’m sorry for yelling at you. I know this is hard for you, too. I’m hurting you, and no matter who I choose, it will hurt you. I hate that.”

Matt swallowed, glancing at Conor before turning to me. “You know I’ll do it if I you absolutely need me to. No matter what it does to me.” His voice was scary serious.

“I know,” I said sadly. “You are the best, most unselfish person I know. I don’t deserve you.”

Wow. Weren’t we all sappy today? Cora was smiling at us. I couldn’t look at Conor. He would probably be all gloaty because he was pretty much a lock for the position of getting my power.

Matt looked between us again. “You should just pick him now and get it over with, Ash. I’m worried about you going to this party Friday night.”

I shifted in my chair, studiously avoiding looking in Conor’s direction. It wasn’t like I hadn’t tried. Conor had refused to bite me when I’d asked. Dammit.

“I’ll think about it,” was all I said.

Conor took my left hand in his, finally forcing my attention to him.

“We have time,” he said. “If everyone thinks we’re dating, and I’ve claimed you already, that should be enough for most to stay away.”

“Except Tre,” Matt added with a scowl.

Conor nodded once. “Except Tre.”

If people
think
we’re dating. Goddess, I didn’t have to be a good actress because my body reacted to Conor like we really were dating. He was the only one acting. He deserved a damn Oscar.

“See, Matt?” I said with forced cheerfulness. “We have nothing to worry about. As long as Conor keeps pretending to like me, it’s all good.” Okay, I couldn’t help the pettiness in my rising voice. I guess I was just fed up with Conor pretending to date me and wanting to be friends. How he would kiss me but refused to bite me.

Matt’s eyes widened and Cora stopped eating to glance at me like I was on the verge of exploding. Conor stiffened. Before anyone could say anything, I let go of Conor’s hand and stood. I seemed to have lost my appetite.

I grabbed my tray and walked to the return window, eyes stinging. I blinked rapidly, forcing back tears. After dumping my leftovers, I turned, and ran right into Tre.

“Shit!” I exclaimed, more frightened than I wanted to admit. I put my hands out to keep some space from him. He gripped my arms just above the elbows, his touch cold, the opposite of Conor’s. I pulled away from him, uncomfortable at his proximity.

“Sorry,” he said smiling, not sounding sorry at all.

“Yeah, sure. No problem,” I muttered and moved to go around him. He moved with me, blocking my exit. I looked at him with irritation. “Tre. Excuse me,” I said with an edge to my voice.

He kept smiling. “You know vamp hearing is exceptional, right?” he asked conversationally.

Shit, shit, double shit. Had he overheard our conversation? I didn’t know what to say as my pulse raced. I stared at him with wide eyes. He wouldn’t dare attack me in the middle of the cafeteria, would he? He reached out and picked imaginary lint off my shirt. I shuddered.

“Peterson’s stupid,” he retorted. “Why’s he holding out on you?”

I stiffened. “It’s really none of your business. For the record, I have no desire to be your familiar, so leave me alone.”

His icy eyes melted into something dark, almost threatening. “Why not?” He brushed a finger down my neck. Repulsed by his cold touch, I drew away slightly. He continued. “I think we’d be good together. I’d want you for my consort, too, unlike Peterson.”

He jerked his chin toward my table. I followed his gesture with my eyes. Everyone at my table watched our exchange. Cora gripped Steven’s arm, her eyes wide with fear. Matt’s hard eyes glared at Tre. I knew he could be here in a matter of seconds, if need be. Conor’s hands pressed flat on the table, as though bracing to stand. Nobody wanted a scene, though, so we all remained hanging on the precipice of action.

Tre laughed, dragging my attention back to him. He cupped my elbows, pulling me closer to him. For some reason, I couldn’t resist. My power lay dormant, not responding to his threat. His body was an immovable force. He leaned into my right ear, shielding his face from my friends. “Think about it,” he whispered. “I think it would be hot between us. In fact, I promise it would be.”

 He placed his lips just above the pulse in my throat. I froze in terror. It must have been his touch keeping me immobile, because my body wasn’t even telling me to run, though my mind screamed. He couldn’t bite me in the cafeteria, he just couldn’t. His tongue tasted me, breaking the spell and I regained some control, pushing against him. My strength was nothing compared to his; he barely moved.

He chuckled as he backed away. So much for my protection spell. My power seemed useless against Tre. I had thrown Conor, but I had nothing to defend myself against Tre. My chest ached with the futility of a power that was nonexistent when I needed it most.

Conor was suddenly there, holding me behind him, protecting me with his body. I rested my forehead on his back, finding my breath again.

“Tre, man, you and I are friends. I don’t want to get hostile. She said stay away. If you keep bothering her, I’m going to have to do something about it.”

Tre laughed. “What, Peterson? You’re not her boyfriend. You’re not her protector. You’re pretending. I’m actually attracted to her. I’m not going to hurt her.” He sounded defensive, like he actually meant it, like he genuinely wanted to pursue me as his girlfriend.

Conor’s body stiffened, tensed. His voice came in a low growl. “Leave. Her. Alone.”

The tables around us quieted as people took notice of the commotion. I did not want a vamp fight at school. Something had to be done. I lifted my head and stepped between the standoff. I put a hand on each of them, keeping them separated.

“Let’s just forget it. Tre, sorry, but my answer is no. You’re just going to have to accept that.” I looked him right in the eye, fear of the boys tearing into each other giving me some bravado.

He shrugged. “We’ll see.” He gave Conor a look over my shoulder and left.

I turned to Conor, who was glaring after his friend with murder in his eyes.

“Hey,” I said softly, getting his attention. “Let it go.”

He looked at me briefly, then moved past me, taking my hand and pulling me along with him out of the cafeteria. He kept walking until we got to my locker where he finally let go.

I stared as he paced to the other side of the hall and back. On his third trip, he slammed the heel of his hand into a locker. I must’ve made a sound because his green eyes flashed to me.

“Sorry.” His tone was ragged. His eyes raked my neck, hands curled into fists at his sides.

I swallowed and tilted my head to the left, showing him my neck. “He didn’t bite me.”

“I know. I just…” He reached for me, caught himself, and looked at his hands as though confused at their actions. He shoved them into his hair instead.

“You okay?” he asked.

I nodded my head a little, wanting his arms around me, and lied. “I…I guess.”

He stood in front of me. “We have a lot to talk about. Meet me at the front door right after the last bell, okay?” Again with the commands. Of course, I couldn’t turn him down. I just nodded.

Matt, Cora, and Steven approached. I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked in the other direction, pressing my hands into the metal behind me, letting the cool sensation ground me. I controlled my breathing and recited a calming incantation under my breath. The need to cry lessened a little.

Conor walked to Matt, put one hand on his shoulder, and said something in his ear. Then Conor kept walking, disappearing around a corner without a look backward. Matt’s brows drew together as he approached.

“What did Tre say?” he asked.

I turned, resting my forehead on the cool steel, my eyes closed. Conor said he’d protect me. He said he wanted me. Yet now when I craved comfort in his arms, when I yearned to feel safe, he left, putting Matt in charge of my protection.

“He offered to be my boyfriend as well as my protector. He thinks we’d be…hot…together,” I said without emotion. Matt’s jaw clenched. I straightened and opened my locker. “Then he kissed my neck, and I’m pretty sure he licked me.”

“Eeew,” Cora exclaimed.

Matt remained silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice. “I’ll be with you the rest of the afternoon.”

“Tre’s not going to hurt me. He actually wants me,” I protested. Unlike other, black-haired, green-eyed vamps I couldn’t get out of my head.

“Doesn’t matter,” Matt said roughly. “You’re stuck with me.”

I grabbed my books. “Yeah, why would my pretend boyfriend feel the need to protect me now that his secret is out?” I couldn’t help letting the hurt in my voice show.

I linked arms with Cora and pulled her with me. “Try to keep up!” I called to Matt.

“Tre is kinda hot.” She giggled at me.

“True, but he is totally creepy, and never even looked at me before all this started.”

She made a sound of agreement. “Okay, definitely creepy. But hey, three hot guys all wanting to own you? Don’t you feel lucky?” She remarked with a laugh.

“Uh huh, lucky me,” I said dryly. Matt coughed behind us, as if to remind us he was listening.

I glanced back at him. “Matty, what would we have done if Conor had never sensed the power I have, huh? If I’d never run into him last week?”

Matt shrugged and looked past me. “Guess some things are just meant to be.”

I scoffed. “Meant to be a pain in the ass.”

* * * *

Matt was my escort for the rest of the afternoon. I didn’t see Conor until after school where he had told me to meet him at the front door.

He leaned against the wall in the entryway. The afternoon sunlight streaming in the doors shone on his hair. Vamps and the sun—more myths. He didn’t sparkle, and he wasn’t bursting into flames, he may have been glowing, but that was probably just my infatuation.

My breath hitched a little as everyone else around me faded and my whole world focused on him. It was a dream come true, right? The hot guy I’d had a crush on for months suddenly wanted me. He’d said I was pretty, he’d kissed me. So why did my stomach churn with apprehension as I approached him?

He pushed away from the wall as I came up to him—no smile, no greeting—and walked with me to his car. He opened the door for me, as always, and I got in, my anxiety increasing a notch. Why the silence? Was he done with this? Was I just not worth the trouble anymore?

I could sense his apprehension and tension radiating off him in waves. I tried to swallow. “Are you going to talk to me?” My mouth was dry and the words seemed to stick to my tongue. I forced a half-smile. “It’s going to be a long eternity together if you never talk to me.”

His mouth twitched, the only break in the tense lines of his body. “I have a lot to say. I didn’t want to start in the car.” He kept his eyes on the road.

“Well, you could at least say hello,” I suggested.

His full-out grin helped me relax. “Hello.” He glanced at me, his emerald gaze searing in its intensity.

“Hey.”

“So your decision is made?” His soft question seemed loud in the tension-filled car.

I blushed. “Well, Matt bowed out, so that leaves you…or Tre, I guess. That one’s obvious. I mean…if you still want…I guess, maybe you changed your mind…” My voice trailed off, revealing my biggest fear at the moment. My face was on fire and my stomach threatened to churn up lunch. Luckily I hadn’t eaten much.

He pressed his lips together, not saying a thing. A dead weight settled in my chest, squeezing the air out of my lungs and constricting my heart.

“Oh,” I mumbled, staring at my hands twisting together in my lap. Awesome. I suddenly didn’t want to go to his house. I didn’t want to hear the words of rejection come out of his mouth. My face flamed with humiliation. Damn. I had told him he’d probably get tired of me after awhile. Of course, I hadn’t expected it to be a matter of days.