Part 16 (1/2)

”I just bet. But seriously I'm confused. A few weeks ago you wouldn't talk to me. What changed?”

He shrugged. His hand skillfully turned the wheel as we rounded a corner, and then he blessed me with a killer smile. ”I realized that you were worth fighting for.”

My body went into shock.

I was at a loss for words. That was not the answer I had been expecting. He left me tongue-tied with my thumping heart echoing in my ears. The stupid grin was on my face all morning long.

By lunch I was dying to see him. We were all sitting in the cafeteria listening to Tori rant on and on about her holiday party. The whole blasted school was invited. Apparently she felt the need to throw the party of the year as her one last act of senior year. I didn't need to mention that we barely knew or could stand half the kids in our graduating cla.s.s.

She was over the moon excited.

I was dreaded it like a trip to the dentist but worse. Much worse.

My eye caught Sophie's. She was studying me like an algebra problem. Something was definitely nagging her. I was just about to ask her what was up when she gave me a little shake of the head. Whatever it was, she didn't what to talk about it in front of everyone.

That could only be one thing.

Magic.

I didn't dwell on it overly long. It was kind of hard to think of anything with Gavin next to me, driving me to distraction. My half eaten chocolate chip cookie was forgotten as our fingers played under the table. I sneaked a sideways glance at dark and gorgeous beside me. Our eyes locked, and a flood of heat rippled through me.

I didn't even think about where we were. Normally I was totally anti-PDA, but today there must have been something in the air. Or it was just the boy next to me. He made me want to do things lately that were out of character for me. I leaned into him, our fingers clutched under the table, and pressed my lips to his, but he took it to another level.

What started as sweet and simple turned down right wicked in seconds. His tongue swept over mine in a game of cat and mouse. I felt the kiss all the way to my black painted toes.

Sophie made a gagging noise. Austin was grinning. And Tori...well she had an opinion about everything.

”Ah. I'm so glad you guys kissed and made up, but I don't want to watch you two swap spit over lunch. It's not only unsanitary it's depressing. The rest of us don't have hot dates. Well yet...”

Sometimes Tori's untamed and loose tongue could be just too much. My stomach pitched. I knew what she was thinking or who she was thinking of. Her eyes got that glossy, starry look.

”Girl you better dish,” Austin demanded.

I groaned.

Her doe eyes twinkled. ”With pleasure. Our girl Brianna has been holding out on us.”

Gavin lifted that silver studded brow, suddenly more interested in what she was saying than in me. My stomach hallowed.

”I have been doing no such thing. He's just a friend,” I defended, my teeth clenched tight.

Austin eyes gleamed. He thrived on drama, and I could see the wheels turning in his over-styled head. It was all the encouragement Tori needed. ”Well this friend is yummy. I could eat off his abs. He is coming to the party, and my goal is to be feasting off those abs by the end of the night.” She nudged Austin in the arm. ”Sorry I already called dibs.”

I wanted to crawl under the table.

Hide in the darkest hole.

Sophie's eyes got as big as saucers, and Gavin whispered in my ear, ”Looks like I get to finally met the guy who consumes your dreams.”

I gave him a dry look. That wasn't even close to being funny, and the intense flare in his sapphire eyes said he was looking forward to it.

Though hardly in a good way.

Right after lunch Sophie pulled me aside literally. Dragging me into a corner of the library, she scanned the deserted rows before facing me. Somehow this had become our place to talk. Apparently it was our secret meeting place.

I hoisted a seat on top one of the empty tables, letting my feet dangle over the edge. They were all empty. ”What is going on with you? I swear at lunch you where dissecting me like a lab rat.”

She kept her voice low. ”You have a hole in your aura.”

”What!” I screeched.

She put a finger to her lips. ”It's small but a spot is missing.”

”Missing?” I echoed.

”Missing. Gone. Finito.”

I could tell by the puzzled expression on her face that it wasn't a good thing. ”I'm a.s.suming that's not normal.”

She shook her head. ”I've never seen it before.”

Of course not.

”But I've heard stories,” she continued. ”It usually only happens when someone has been touched with dark magic. Or...”

”Or,” I prompted quickly. This wasn't the time to leave a girl hangin'.

”Or if a witch has been practicing dark magic.” There was an ill-omened tinged to her words.

”I haven't done either,” I argued. ”That I know of.”

”It's so strange.” She reached out a hand like she wanted to touch the missing chuck of my outline. ”I can't tell if it is black or just a missing hole.”

”Should I be worried?” A hint of dismay laced my voice.

She shrugged her dainty shoulders. ”Truthfully, I'm not sure. This is out of my realm. Anyway, I think you have more than enough to stress about. Gavin and Lukas in the same house, we will be lucky if the structure is still standing.”

That's what I was afraid of.

The bell rang.

”We're late,” I sighed.

”Here take this.” A slip of paper appeared between her dainty fingers.