One thing about not being alone anymore, it convinced me I needed to do something about Sashenka. After a brief discussion with Sassafras, it was apparent I wouldn't get anywhere if I didn't know why she hated me in the first place."Grow a spine," he said with his personal brand of subtlety. "If you want to know something, ask already."Okay then. The moment the door creaked open, Sashenka's nervous face peeking through, I was ready for her."We need to talk." She flinched at my words, but entered, head down, book bag falling to the floor at her feet with a thud as she pushed the door shut behind her."I know," she whispered. "I'm sorry.""For not liking me?" I shrugged, going for couldn't-care-less casual. "Whatever. But won't room with you if you can't even be civil."Sashenka's eyes flew wide and she opened her mouth to speak, a few consonants stuttering out, but I cut her off."I have no idea what I did to piss you off," I said, "and frankly, at this point, I don't really c
It was my first visit to the campus café and I had to admit I felt pretty nervous, even with Sashenka beside me and Charlotte guarding my back. The place was packed with other students, mostly freshmen from the excited looks on their faces. I almost backed out when the stares and whispers started all over again, but by then a small group of girls were waving and smiling at us and Sashenka had a firm grip on my hand, pulling me toward them, Charlotte standing off to one side and doing her best to look like a statue."Syd," my roommate gushed, "these are the girls. Girls, meet Sydlynn Hayle."They stared a little, but were still smiling. The one on the right of the table with the curly dark hair and the palest skin I'd ever seen, offered her hand."Josie Ambrose," she said. "Hensley family. Nice to meet you."That broke the ice. All at once I was introduced to Nicci Mortimer (dirty blonde hair and a hand full of freckles on her cheeks), Donalda Pierce (tall and skinny, all elbows and
Class the next day was a totally different experience. Now that I had Liam and Sashenka with me, no one stared, or at least didn't stare for long. And I was able to escape the front row and Blanche Rhodes's attention by arriving early enough and hiding in the back with my friends beside me.I ducked when I found her gaze searching for me and almost laughed at the sad little frown on her face. Liam poked me with a grin when the coast was clear.He'd met us for breakfast and instantly apologized the moment he sat down."I was wrong," he said, eyes begging me to forgive him, big hands holding one of mine. "I just hate seeing him hurt you.""I'm sorry too," I said. "It's not your fault he's a jerk sometimes."I quickly introduced him to Sashenka who sat next to me, a small smile on her face. She seemed shy when he shook her hand, and I understood why. My Gatekeeper friend was pretty darned handsome and all that genuine sweetness oozing out of him could do a number on a girl.I had a
Lunch was quiet, though Liam and Sashenka both tried several times to pull me out of my funk. I didn't really want to dump all over them over our sandwiches, not to mention if I did open up I'd end up sobbing my stupid face off, so instead I just shrugged off their concern and sat in my own little dark cloud of misery until next class.This one I had with Sashenka, but it was easy enough to not talk while we focused on the work and the soothing sound of Isodore's voice, though the more I listened, the more I thought of Martin and Louisa and the worse my need to cry my heart out became.I was really looking forward to Maryanne's class, for a chance to laugh again, to absorb some of her snarky fun, but it turned out to be canceled, a sign on the closed door saying she was sick. I waited a little while, just in case this was another of Albert Dumont's tricks, but when she didn't show, I instead retreated to the main library while Sashenka and the girls went off in search of a cup of cof
By the time my day was over, I was in a better mood. Last class with Liam ended with him happily accepting my invitation to watch a movie later. Part of me felt guilty for making him my second choice again, but since we were just friends I didn't really let it get to me.He arrived with a box of microwave popcorn and a giant chocolate bar, all for me. It was hard not to love him for stuff like that.We curled up in the empty commons in front of the TV on the puffy leather couch with a shared blanket over our knees, laughed, stuffed ourselves on popcorn and just had fun. Charlotte had agreed to stay in her room and leave us alone for a while and I was very grateful. I forgot how much I loved spending time with Liam, how easy our friendship had become and was very, very thankful to have him in my life.Now, if only I could get Quaid out of my head.Sashenka disturbed us briefly, hanging over the edge of the couch with a big smile on her face."Party later," she said. "At one of the
Why are parties all the same? Indoor, outdoor, normals, witches-didn't seem to matter. Put a bunch of kids together without supervision and access to alcohol and kablooie, instant mess.I was beginning to accept the fact I was just a prude and there was nothing I could do about it. Or wanted to for that matter. Especially when I was in the kind of headspace where everything sucked.Oh, I tried to fit in with the upperclassmen, even accepted a glass of cold beer just so they'd stop offering. It quickly warmed, but that was okay because I had no intention of sampling the stuff. A few sniffs told me the bouquet hadn't improved since my first encounter with it, the night Suzanne, the cheer squad leader, had summoned up the spirit of Cesard and turned that particular party into a mass exodus of screaming teenagers.Still, it was better being here at the party, surrounded by a crowd of drunk people, often shoved or bumped into or toes trodden on than being back in my dorm, stewing over th
I couldn't make myself move. "There's nothing wrong with that," I said at last. "We're associated with a clan. Hell, my uncle is one of them."Sassy just glared at the house. "There's a treaty here, remember? No vampires allowed. And yes, it's only meant to protect the Yard, but all of the clans are to stay away from this entire school."Charlotte's nostrils flared as she snuffled the air. "I admit, I've been feeling uneasy," she finally said, "but there's been nothing concrete. I haven't felt any vampires, not blatantly. Perhaps the wards are old, left over from a former association."It was pretty clear from their strength how fresh the shields were, so she was wrong."We have to inform Miriam." Sassy finally turned away from his observation, meeting my eyes with his, the deep glow of his power shining in the darkness.I wasn't about to argue with him because I agreed one hundred percent. A quick slip through the veil put us back in the Yard. Surprisingly, there was no reaction
Charlotte kept her distance as I started walking. Not toward my dorm, not yet. I couldn't sleep yet. Instead, I began a slow circle of the Yard, head down, eyes locked on the path, but mind far away as I struggled with my emotions. Now that Sassafras was on the job with the boys, all of the pain and confusion came rushing back.We had only gone half way around the circle, tall trees drenching the Yard in deep shadows, when Charlotte's soft hiss pulled me to a halt. I looked up and caught sight of Quaid outside what had to have been his dorm.With her. The honey-blonde pressed against his arm, a low laugh reaching me through the dark and quiet. He laughed in return, head bent toward her. An intimate moment, one reminding me of the same connection he and I shared.I wanted to be angry, to be jealous. But as I stood there in the night and forced myself to gulp cool air while I watched the guy I loved with another girl, my heart, already in trouble when it came to Quaid, shrank and crac