I hadn’t given up on my plan to get Jack and Matt together, and the minute Matt’s concussion was healed, I decided I needed to stop putting it off. He still had a couple of bruises where he’d bashed his head, and a sore arm, but he was mostly okay. It was a relief to walk out of class a few days later to find him leaning against the far wall with an easy smile on his face–headache mostly gone, and his broken bone well on the way to healing completely.No one really spared his bruises a second look, and he didn’t wear a sling. Hockey players were often getting injured, and Matt’s friends seemed to take it all in stride. He still hadn’t told me what really happened, but I planned to ask him about it when w
“What the hell was that?” he said, his face slightly red with anger. I flinched away from him, and his gaze instantly softened. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” He turned away and ran his hands through his hair. “Why am I here Celeste?”I took a step toward him but stopped myself from reaching out. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you here. I just thought…” I trailed off and bit my lip. He was going to be so mad at me. The thought of it made me feel a little queasy.He turned to look at me. “You thought what?” I could tell he was still upset, but he was trying not to seem angry. Th
I had lunch with Fiona that Monday, eager to fill her in on the party and everything that happened after. Matt and I ended up just making out. He had to run out when he got a call. He wouldn’t tell me who it was, but I figured it had to do with the Peacekeepers.He made sure to promise me a rain check, though. Matt seemed as eager to have a repeat of the bathtub incident as I was.“So, I guess Matt and Jack won’t be besties again anytime soon?” Fiona surmised after I finished telling her about it. I told her everything but the stuff about the werewolves. It wasn’t my place to divulge that secret, and I doubted she’d believe me,
Alyx landed a punch. He was poised over my brother, blood running from the side of his head. I gripped Fiona’s hand in mine, desperate for someone to put a stop to this. No one made a move to help, though. They were all too intent on the fight, bets still flying around as people took sides. Alyx hit my brother again, and I tensed even further.Before I could do something stupid, like try to get between them, Jack punched Alyx in the ribs hard enough to make Alyx lose his breath. Jack shoved him to the side and climbed to his feet, his shoulders moving with his heavy breaths, and his face so red it was nearly purple.“If I ever see you talking to her ag
“None of this is your fault,” Matt assured me. Unfortunately, his kind words didn’t do much to get me out of my own head. I couldn’t help but blame myself for everything that happened with Alyx. I never should have trusted him.“Then why does it feel like it?” I said, my voice small.“You can’t blame yourself for any of this.” Matt took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. I couldn’t bring myself to hold his hand back, but he didn’t let go. “What happened with Alyx wasn’t your fault.”I turned my fa
AlyxAlyx could feel their eyes on him for the rest of the day. People he didn’t even see in the cafeteria were watching him, expressions on their faces ranging from disapproval to fear. It grated on his skin. All he wanted to do was talk to Celeste. Since when was that a crime?He strode through the hall, keeping his head high. If they wanted to hate him, then fine. It didn’t matter. He was here for a reason, and he still had a job to do. Failing wasn’t a possibility for him. Getting her to choose him clearly wasn’t working, so he just needed to find another way.“That was quite the fight,” a voice said, stopping him in his tracks.“I doubt it was that impressive.”Alyx had to hold himself back during the fight. If people weren’t watching, he may have unleashed himself on Jack. After all, he knew what family Jack really came from. But he couldn’t afford to lose his cool in front of the others.“Well, consider me impressed anyway.”Sabrina was leaning against the wall, her little cliq
Matt kissed my neck, and I turned my face into the pillow to give him better access. He trailed kisses down my throat, then along my bare collarbone. My t-shirt already lay in a heap on the floor, along with his. We spent the first part of the afternoon watching movies and talking, but that had quickly devolved into making out.I ran my hands up his bare back, his muscles rippling as he shifted his weight onto his left arm. He dragged his wide palm up my bare stomach until he reached my breast. He cupped me through my bra, his hot mouth finding mine.A soft groan escaped my lips, and he smiled.I placed my hand on his chest and pushed him back a little. He leaned onto his side to give me some room, and I sat up to take off my bra. I could feel his eyes on me as I undid the hooks and threw it to the floor. We hadn’t seen each other naked since the night in the hot tub, but I hadn’t been me then, not really. I wanted him to see me now as me, Celeste, and no one else.I undid the button
“The Schreibers,” she said, her voice laced with anger. A shiver ran down my spine as I realized what she meant. “Who else?”My gaze flew to Matt, but he was still looking at Nina. “How many?” he growled.“Three, but I took care of it. One got away.”“They got some good shots in,” he said.She glanced down at her bandaged torso. “Yes, well. They caught me off guard.”Matt ran his hands through his already messy hair. I took a slight step away. I knew this wasn’t my fault, but I still felt guilty. The Schreibers were still my family. Dear God, what if my brother had something to do with this? I suddenly couldn’t look at Nina.“Did you recognize any of them?” Enzo asked.Matt turned away from us and stared hard at the window. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes were distant. I looked at him for a moment before letting my eyes drop again.“No, but they were wearing masks. I called Seth to take care of the bodies.”“Seth?” I couldn’t help but ask. He was on the hockey team with them.Enzo