Chris and Melissa entered the room, their heads bent close together as they talked softly. Chris grew quiet; his eyes darted toward him and Cassie. Melissa quirked a dark eyebrow, a smile flitted across her mouth. She gave Devon a brief nod before sliding into the seat in front of Cassie. Chris sat next to Melissa. The boy who had been assigned Devon’s seat hesitated for a moment, looking as if he wanted to argue with the new arrangement. Instead, he wisely closed his mouth and resigned himself to Devon’s abandoned seat.
Cassie’s grin widened as she chuckled softly. Unable to resist her any longer, he leaned across the aisle and took her hand. He was acutely aware of the fact that she had stopped breathing and was watching him in wide eyed wonder. She clung to him with a desperation that he recognized instantly, as it resided inside of him also.
He never wanted to release her again; unfortunately he didn’t have a choice as the teacher breezed into the classroom. She dropped her books on her desk, and turned swiftly toward the chalkboard. Though she had not noticed them yet, it was only a matter of time before she did. He released Cassie’s hand reluctantly.
Though they were separated, he kept his hearing attuned to every beat of Cassie’s heart. He was well aware of the delicious scent that wafted from her skin and hair. Now that they were no longer touching the hunger began to kick in again. His mouth started to water, the burning in his veins intensified. For a moment it took all he had not to grab hold of her and taste her. The temptation was almost more than he could handle. Clenching his teeth, and his fists, he forced himself to relax, to keep restrained. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her, to take her against her will, to have her know that he was a monster. He would rather kill himself first.
Fighting hard against his baser instincts, and the raging demon inside him, he eventually regained control and was simply able to enjoy her soothing presence once more.
He was beside her again the moment the bell rang. Her touch soothed him further, easing the aching tension and hunger coiled tightly within him. Her soft smile warmed him. “Would you like to show me all of the town hotspots tonight?” he asked, unable to stop himself from grinning at her like a fool as they made their way slowly outside.
Her laugh was enchanting. “Well you’ve already seen the number one spot, B’s and S’s.”
“Yes, and it was amazing.”
She laughed again, shaking back her golden hair. “Well, their shakes definitely are. But I’d be happy to show you around town if you want.”
“I do.”
Her long lashes lowered shyly over her eyes, a dull flush stained her cheeks. “Great, I’ll uh… oh crap.” The smile slid from her face, her light brown eyebrows drew tightly together. “I forgot, I can’t tonight, there’s something that I have to do.”
He tried to contain his disappointment as she stopped walking and turned to face him. Students milled easily past them, eager to get to their cars and escape the crowded parking lot. “Tomorrow night then?”
Her smile returned, but her eyes remained oddly troubled and distant. He could sense a fierce tension swirling through her, an odd sense of regret and loss seemed to fill her. “I would like that.”
Though she said yes, he sensed something behind the words, disappointment maybe? Anguish?
“Cassie come on, let’s go!”
She glanced over her shoulder to where Chris stood, leaning out of his car with his arm resting on the driver’s door. Melissa was by the passenger door, her dark eyes narrowed slightly as she studied them. “I have to go.”
Sadness still enveloped her as she met his gaze again. Her hand tightened around his before she released him, her eyes searching his face with an intensity that left him shaken. Loss seemed to envelope her as she took a small step back.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” he said softly, knowing he would see her before then.
He didn’t understand what was going on with her, but she seemed to be releasing him, for good. He had no intention of letting her go though. Not now, not after he had finally broken through some of her barriers. Especially not now that he knew the reality of her was far better than the dream version.
“Yes.”
She smiled wanly at him before turning and hurrying away. Glancing briefly back she hesitated for a moment, seemingly torn, before joining her friends and slipping into the beat up Mustang. Melissa and Chris watched him for a moment more, their eyes fiercely intense, piercing, and slightly unnerving. There was something strange about those two, something that he could not quite put his finger on. But strangely enough, their oddness was vaguely familiar to him.
He studied the car as they pulled out of the parking lot, wracking his brain for what it was about Chris and Melissa that plagued him. Deciding to put it aside for now, he headed to where he had parked his car. A group of students had gathered around it, most of them were female. He nodded and briefly returned their greetings, but barely paid them any attention as he hit the button on his remote. The car beeped in response and the locks popped open.
“Devon! Devon!”
He turned as Marcy hurried up to him, smiling brightly as she adjusted her books in her arms. “Marcy,” he greeted tonelessly.
She chose to ignore his lack of a warm greeting as she reached out to touch his arm lightly. He moved away from her grasp. “I was wondering if you would give me a ride home.”
He frowned at her, his eyes darting back toward the Mustang that was stuck in traffic at the entranceway of the school. He knew what Marcy was angling for, knew that she wanted to be seen pulling out of this parking lot with him. And though he was new to high school, he had quickly learned how fast gossip and rumors spread through the small social network. He didn’t want those rumors starting about him. Not now that he had finally reached Cassie, not now that she was finally talking to him, and acknowledging his existence.
“What’s the matter with your car?”
She frowned at him, her leaf colored eyes narrowing slightly. It was apparent she had not expected any kind of hesitance on his part. “Well I usually ride with Kara, but her car isn’t starting.”
Devon moved even further away from her, his hand rested lightly on his door handle. He didn’t want to leave the girl stranded, but he also didn’t want to let her in his car. He knew his affect on women, but there were some that were drawn to him even more than others. Marcy appeared to be one of those girls. It would not end well if he let her pursuit of him continue.