Chapter 7

I shot to my feet, furious, “What is it, creep?!”

From the front of the middle aisle, the Librarian hushed loudly. Good thing she couldn’t see me, she would have likely thrown me out of the library if she knew what I looked like.

Colin made sure the book was safely secure, he almost touched it reverently like a sacred book before rising to his feet. His eyes were a sharp brown and I suspect those eyes miss nothing. Strangely I could almost feel his gaze piercing my skin down to my bones.

I tried not to feel uncomfortable so I wiped my frown and replaced it with a naughty smile. “I think I know what this is. Do you want to fuck the new student or are you here to fuck me up too?”

He raised his head and his eyes widened. “I would never think myself worthy of such a thing, my lady.”

Da fuck?

His response stunned me to silence and for a second I could only stare at him. Then the urge to laugh came and somehow I found the strength to staunch it.

Maybe Colin has a brain trauma or maybe he’s on the spectrum? Laughing wouldn’t be nice.

But he’s in A class, right? Certainly, he must have earned his position there, right?

“Are you alright?” I asked with much concern in my voice.

“I am and I am at your service.”

“What service? Staring? Drooling over me?”

He came close and lowered his voice as if he wasn’t already whispering enough. “I never thought this day will come. For centuries we have waited and almost lost hope but here you are. May Osiri be praised.”

“Okay that’s it, weirdo. You belong with the weird kids and I don’t even know why I’m talking to you right now. Have you lost your senses?”

Colin stared at me confused for a second, which is funny because I am the confused one here. What the hell does this kid want with me? Is this some kind of prank? I wouldn’t put it past Emerald to get an underdog to pull some kind of stupid prank. But a quick glance around showed no one else hiding, waiting to laugh at my downfall.

“You may not have regained most of your senses now,” Colin continued. “But…”

“That’s enough, creep. I see why you have no friends. Get the hell away from me and stay there.”

I turned to go and his hand shot out to catch me but it stopped short. “The time is not right…”

“Damn right it isn’t and the next time you try to touch me I’ll fucking break your hand. And I should warn you, I am more than strong enough to do that.”

He withdrew and just then Lindsay came running into the library and would have passed me if she hadn’t caught sight of my red hair. “There you are.”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “What now? Aren’t you weirdos sick of following the strange kid? First Colin now you?”

“What are you talking about? I ran after you when you stormed out of the library.”

“Yeah so did gingerhead here,” I pointed at Colin and stopped short. He wasn’t there. There was not a single sign that he had been there. It was as if he just disappeared in a puff of smoke. “H-he was right here.”

Lindsay had come to stand beside me. “Must have left when I came then.”

But how? I know he was there when Lindsay stumbled on us and I would have heard him leave if he walked away. The only explanation I can give is he somehow got carted away by a bird? No, I would have heard the flap of wings.

Did he disappear then?

No, even wolves can’t disappear.

Lindsay was watching my face and I don’t have to read her mind to know that she thinks I am crazy but I am not. Colin was there when I passed out and I passed out because…?

“Are you going to stand here all day or are you going to come back to class? Lunch break is over.”

“Yeah…yeah whatever.”

I shook my head to let go of the thoughts. Colin is none of my business. The stress of being in a new environment must be getting to me.

Lindsay and I went out of the library and even though I convinced myself otherwise, I couldn’t stop myself from looking back over my shoulder at the aisle. There was no sign of anyone there. And when we got back to class there was no sign of Colin either.

I must be crazy.

“Settle down, students. Welcome to senior math class.”

I went to my seat and slid behind my desk looking back at Colin’s desk. His books were on his table but his seat remained empty and while the teacher droned on about math problems, no one seemed to care that Colin was missing. As I turned away, I caught Emerald watching me with her eyes narrowed.

What is up with people in this school?

I frowned at her, silently asking, “Why the hell are you staring at me?”

I could read her thoughts from her facial expressions and what I could tell was she saw me as some sort of competition. What kind of competition? I am the outcast and I am not out for her boyfriend.

I looked away from her and turned my attention to the teacher.

She must be crazy.

I forced myself to focus on the rest of my classes and when the bell rang at the end of school I wasted no time grabbing my books and bags and my blazer, swinging my blazer over my shoulder as I headed for the door.

Lindsay was right behind me and in front of me was Leo with one of the bleached Rapunzels telling him she was there to help him if he needed any help with schoolwork.

“I can help him, thank you very much,” I said rudely. She made a face and went past us to go join Emerald in class.

“You seem to be very popular,” I said accusingly to Leo

He shrugged his shoulders. “I am easygoing. Unlike you.” Then he did the most unexpected thing, he put his hand around my shoulder. “I am sure you’ll settle right in.”

I leaned into him feeling happy at last. I hope Emerald and bleached blondes are watching. “Whatever I don’t care about being popular. I can’t wait to graduate already.”

We went outside and joined Noah.

“Did you stand here all day?” Leo asked.

“Aurora was kind enough to let me spend the day in her office.”

“And between her legs,” I remarked.

“Not that it’s any of your business.”

“It is if you insist on embarrassing us by shadowing us all day.”

“If you have a problem with that you can take it up to Mrs. Dark Storm.”

As I opened the door to the passenger side I stuck my tongue out at him. “I just might do that.”

Lindsay came over to my side clutching her bag. “You know having your bodyguard around you is not so bad. Many of the kids here have bodyguards and drivers looking out for them. Anyways, as a rich kid, you’re entitled to it.”

“Yeah, but I wasn’t born into wealth.”

Lindsay shook her head with a laugh. “Yeah yeah. Anyways, I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“If Noah puts a gun to my head.”

“That will not be bad. But you should come, I’m sure you’ll get used to being around here. Besides, we might end up becoming friends and who knows?”

“Yeah, whatever.”

As she left I started to get into the car when I saw Colin walking briskly over to a black car with tinted glass windows a few feet away from us. A rail-thin woman was waiting for him and without a word they opened the car door and got in. Colin’s eyes caught mine as he entered the car and for a second I expected him to show some sign that he had been in the library. But there was no recognition in those brown eyes. He silently got into the car and it rolled out of the parking lot.

“Are you getting in or are you going to stare at boys all day?”

I turned my unamused gaze to Noah. “I’m getting in.”

And somehow I have to get out of this horrible dream.