"What's wrong?" Daniel asked, looking concerned."Bert's home," I groaned, eyeing his hideous yellow BMW in the driveway."Want me to come in with you? Parents usually love me," Daniel offered with a winning smile. I smiled back, considering it. Daniel was definitely built enough to make an impression, and maybe it would help if Bert saw I'd made a friend. Then again, a male friend? I grinned wider imagining Bert's face if I walked in with a guy. He'd definitely think the worst of me—he always did. But I couldn't drag Daniel into my family drama."Better not. Wouldn't want to be responsible for Bert's head exploding," I smirked. Daniel parked and I got out, walking around to his window as he rolled it down. I smiled and held out my hand. "Thanks, Danny."He just stared at my hand. "It's Daniel to you, Catherine," he said with a grin."Fine then," I dropped my hand as his came up."Actually, if I can call you Cat, you can call me Danny," he offered."Okay, Daniel," I said, grabbing his
Once we were safely outside and had walked a few blocks in silence away from the school, I was the first to break the silence, again. I always seem to be the one doing that."What is it that nearly got you killed Bobby?" I asked. "Or, what exactly can you do?""First off, I can do magic. Secondly, I can perform a spell that lets me speak with the dead," Bobby said, his voice dropping. "The last time I tried it, I went so deep into the darkness that I almost didn't come back. Annabella had Daniel break the circle I'd made. He severed the connection to the spell. All I really remember is falling through endless darkness." He shuddered visibly."Wow," I breathed, my mind reeling."Yeah," Bobby exhaled. Then he suddenly clapped his hands together. "Well, I've had enough excitement for one day. Later, lovebirds!" He bounded off laughing."Is he always like that?" I asked, watching him disappear around the corner."Pretty much. Whenever things get too heavy, he cracks a joke and runs," Dani
"You can open your eyes now," he said. I hadn't even realized I'd closed them. Daniel looked amused watching me."It's not funny, I'm just..." I couldn't find the right word. Nervous? No way."Nervous? I didn't laugh," Daniel said, still smiling."Not nervous—cautious," I corrected him. I started down the aisle toward the stage. Rows of seats lined both sides, dimly lit by eerie floor lights marking the path. As I approached the stage, a sudden chill wrapped around me. My breathing became difficult, my body feeling like I'd plunged into ice water. A warm hand grabbed mine, pulling me back into a warm embrace. I couldn't stop shivering."Hey, you okay? Maybe we should stop. You should go home," Daniel suggested, holding me, trying to warm me up, but some cold goes deeper. I pushed away, staggering slightly."No... I'm... good," I insisted through chattering teeth. Daniel tried pulling me back, but I resisted."No, you're not. Come here—you're shaking uncontrollably. Either let me warm
I slumped against the gym wall, waiting for Daniel to show up for our ghost tour. After a few minutes, a pink wannabe Barbie doll strutted over to me. Just what I needed."Stay away from Daniel or you'll regret it," Nancy warned, eyes flashing, fists clenched at her sides."Don't you have a boyfriend? Wonder what he'd think about your little crush on his friend," I shot back."You wouldn't dare," she shrieked, knuckles whitening."Try me. Keep threatening me and find out. I don't do well with threats," I said, staring her down despite my height disadvantage."You don't deserve him," Nancy muttered, her fists loosening slightly."Neither do you. You're not even his type," I fired back. Her face flushed red and those fists balled up again."How would you know what his type is?" she hissed, stepping forward. Daniel appeared behind her, silent and watching."Because he told me you weren't it," I replied. Daniel's presence made me feel safe—maybe even bold."Liar," she spat. "He loves me.
I turned to see Daniel standing there. Great. I could have handled this myself."Nancy, cool it," Daniel said, stepping between us. "She's new. No harm done."He caught my wrist and tugged me away. "Let's go before you start a war on your first day.""Whatever," I muttered. "She's the one who—""I'm coming to your party Friday, Daniel!" Nancy called after us, her voice instantly switching from rage to sugar-sweet flirtation.Daniel just nodded without looking back and steered me into a nearby classroom where a teacher sat at her desk."This is Catherine Blake, Miss Stein," he said, nodding toward me.Miss Stein looked up and smiled. She was tall and lean, probably mid-twenties, with a flowing floral dress and glasses perched on her nose. "Welcome to Sunnywalk's High, Catherine. Your seat is right in front of Daniel's.""Thanks," I said, dropping into my chair before turning to Daniel. "How'd you know this was my homeroom?"He pulled my schedule from his pocket. "You dropped this when
"Hey new-girl, wait up!"I kept walking even as I recognized Daniel's voice. He caught up anyway, turning me to face him."Why... didn't... you wait?" he asked between breaths."Because I didn't feel like it," I answered, crossing my arms and looking up at him—he had to be at least a foot taller than me—with my best bored expression."Hey, sorry about the bus. Bobby's just an ass," Daniel said."Hmm... I couldn't tell," I replied, sarcasm dripping from every word.Daniel smiled. "By the way, I'm Daniel Barns," he said, holding out his hand.I stared at his outstretched hand, mentally repeating: Don't befriend the hot guy. Don't befriend the hot guy."Don't waste your time trying to befriend me," I finally said. "I won't be here long enough for it to matter." I turned and continued walking toward the school.He matched my pace effortlessly. "How long are you staying?"Any other time, I would've told him to get lost, but something made me answer. "Four to six months, probably.""That's