Part 3 (1/2)

”You know. Surely you know,” he said softly.

Frantic to hear the truth, I gripped his s.h.i.+rt much like Emily had done earlier. The guy was going to be a wrinkled mess by the time he returned home. ”Tell me, Lewis. Tell me the truth.”

But he just stood there, merely staring at me, his face so close to mine his breath was warm across my lips. And I wanted him to tell me, and I wanted him to kiss me. Which I wanted more, I wasn't sure.

”Are you two coming back inside or what?” Emily's shrill voice echoed across the garden. I felt her anger like a slap, breaking through our haze of l.u.s.t. The vile words she called me inside her thoughts sort of ruined the mood. The entire garden glanced our way and I could've killed her for drawing attention to us.

I stiffened, but Lewis didn't move away immediately. He didn't fear Emily and her retribution. But I did. Reading minds wouldn't help if she decided I was her mortal enemy. I shoved my hands into his hard chest and pushed him back. The girl was as vindictive as she was arrogant. He finally moved aside and I got my first look at Emily. She was furious all right, that perfect face flushed red.

”It's one thing to invite your loser friends, but to have their loser boyfriends here as well?”

”What?” Lewis had made me stupid and I was confused for a moment, but quickly realized she was talking about Annabeth. George had arrived.

I pushed pa.s.sed the few students on the patio and made my way into the house, Lewis forgotten. Annabeth stood near the fireplace, clinging to some tall guy. I paused, surprised that he was as good-looking in person as he'd been in Annabeth's mind. He leaned down toward a beaming Annabeth and gave her a quick kiss.

”Ughh,” Emily sighed in disgust, pausing next to me.

She was p.i.s.sed that even someone as frumpy as Annabeth had landed a decent guy and she had no one at the moment. She'd already moved on, growing bored with Kevin. What else did she want?

”We'll leave,” I snapped.

She didn't want me to leave and for a moment I felt her panic. If I left, she wouldn't have anyone to torment, anyone to make her feel important. ”What are you talking about?”

I had to resist the urge to smirk. ”If you don't want Annabeth here, we'll leave.”

She laughed, a forced sound that came out shrill and annoying. ”You're so dramatic.”

Annabeth started toward me, her face beaming, her boyfriend reluctantly followed. My attention moved away from Annabeth and landed on George, focusing on his thoughts. He was nervous. He felt silly being around such a younger group. Good, he should feel silly. Still, I kind of felt sorry for him and I knew Emily would tear him down the moment she got the chance.

They stopped in front of us. ”George, this is Cameron.”

He smiled at me and shook my hand. Dead giveaway that he was old. No one my age shook hands. His palm was damp too, showing his nerves. I had to resist the urge to swipe my hand on my jeans.

”Hey, nice to meet you.” He had soft brown eyes. Nice eyes, I supposed.

”You too,” I said, giving him a friendly smile. Although I still had my misgivings about him, I'd been brought up to be polite.

”Lewis.” Lewis brushed by me, introducing himself and shaking George's hand.

I stiffened, surprised to see him. Usually I was warned by a person's thoughts when they appeared. But not Lewis, no, of course not. My mind went back to our conversation. He was going to admit he could read thoughts. I knew it. d.a.m.n Emily for interrupting.

”George and I are going to Lakeside. Wanna come?” Annabeth whispered, apparently hoping Emily wouldn't overhear.

”They reopened?” Emily asked, a sneer to her voice.

Annabeth blushed, the color clas.h.i.+ng with her red hair. ”Yeah, yesterday.”

Emily crossed her arms over her chest and looked away, as if we weren't good enough to stare directly at. ”Gross, I could never eat there after what happened.”

”She wasn't killed inside the restaurant,” Annabeth muttered, showing some backbone.

”It's still insensitive.” Emily brushed her hair back and sashayed away, fully expecting me to follow. As if her gossiping about the body wasn't insensitive. She was hoping I'd turn Annabeth down flat and scurry after her. She was contemplating forgiving me if I did. I admit for a brief moment the insecure me was tempted, but I didn't need nor want her forgiveness.

”Don't listen to her,” I said.

”You want to come with?” Annabeth asked, her large brown eyes pleading. She wanted George to think she had a lot of friends, that she wasn't some loser like Emily obviously thought.

”Sure we will,” Lewis answered for me like he had the right.

I jerked my head toward him. What was he doing? How dare he. Besides, I had no desire to hang out with Annabeth and George. I wanted to go home, where I could be alone with my thoughts, and only my thoughts. He glanced down at me and smiled. A knowing smile, as if he realized exactly what I was thinking.

”Oh, great.” Annabeth grabbed George's hand, the two of them more than ready to leave.

”Just a minute.” I latched onto Lewis' arm and pulled him a few feet away, where the music would cover our conversation. ”What are you doing?”

He shrugged. ”She wanted us to go with, obviously.”

”So, why do you care? You don't even know her.”

”Just because I don't know someone doesn't mean I can't care. Haven't you ever helped someone you didn't know?”

I looked away, ashamed. Not really. I played it safe, as Grandma had taught me. And yes, it made me feel guilty as h.e.l.l. Annabeth obviously was floundering for some support and I wasn't willing to give it to her. Here was Lewis, some new guy, helping out my friend when I hadn't.

”What will it hurt?” He rested his hand on my arm. His touch was warm, comforting in a way I didn't want to admit or really understand. ”We-”

I killed her.

I stiffened and jerked my head toward the dancing couples. Teenagers were writhing and squirming around the living room, laughing, kissing, talking in a big blur of movement and thought.

G.o.d, it felt good.

I shoved my hand into Lewis' chest, pus.h.i.+ng him back. My heart pounded frantically against my ribcage. The killer was here. I rushed into the throng of people. Music pulsed around me, beating heavily against my body, taunting me almost.

The urge is too strong. I have to find another.

I spun around, fear and panic bitterly cold. d.a.m.n it! Who was it? I wouldn't let the guy escape again.

So many to pick from.

The words whispered through my mind, barely distinguishable from the other thoughts in my head. But he was close, so close he was practically beside me. A cold sweat broke out between my shoulder blades. Slowly, I turned.

”Ready?” Annabeth asked eagerly.

I lifted my gaze from her excited, round face and focused on her boyfriend. George was smiling down at me, those soft brown eyes suddenly hard.

Maybe I'll pick her next.