Forbidden

Chapter 3

An arm loops through Roseline's, pulling her around the corner. "What are you staringat?" Sadie asks, rising onto her tiptoes to see.

"Nothing," Roseline says, shaking her head."It was nothing."

Sadie's eyes narrow. "You sure? You look really freaking pale, right now."

Roseline waves off her concern. "What were you saying?"

"Oh, I was just telling you about Oliver." Sadie tugs on the strap of her bag. Roseline can tell she doesn't like to talk about it. "That was before the fall."

"The fall of what?" she asks, blinking as she forces herself to focus on Sadie's words. It's hard to pull herself away from the scent. It lingers in the air. Not as fresh, nor nearly as potent, but still enough to make her throat burn with need.

"The tragic fall of Sadie Hughes." Sadie swings her green canvas satchel over her shoulder. It's covered with patches, each one supporting a different cause or rock band. By the looks of it, Sadie has tried very hard to make the bag look worn. Roseline's keen eye notices the scissor cuts and the places where she has rubbed the material with a Brillo pad. Evidence of ample washes gives it a faded look.

"What happened?" Roseline asks, eagerly latching onto the topic-anything to help her forget the burning in her throat.

Sadie grimaces. "It's a long story. Basically I was in there, right at the top of the popular crowd, but my bestfriend Claire Scofield decided she wanted my boyfriend."

"Oliver?"

"Yep, but the stupid thing is she only wanted him because I had him. Claire figured out he was a loser pretty quick and dumped his butt on the curb. My reputation was damaged beyond repair." Sadie sighs, ducking back into the hallway's inner fast lane.

Roseline sticks with her, careful to keep her head down as she moves through the crowd. She allows herself to be jostled and bounced from person to person instead of clearing a wide path. Sometimes it takes a lot of effort to mask her abilities.

She is about to question Sadie further when the girl comes to a sudden stop, forcing Roseline to put on the brakes. Only her superior reflexes save her from bowling Sadie over.

"Will," Sadie groans, thumping a crouched boy on the shoulder. "Not again."

Roseline glances around Sadie, curious to see what has caused her to sound so put out. She can't help but giggle as the sandy-blond boy rises. His white sweater is completely stained with spaghetti sauce. "Who was it this time?"

Will's grin is wide and genuine, as if he could care less that he has worn the evidence of a tomato massacre since lunch. "It was just Conner and Oliver. You know how those guys are this close to a big game."

Sadie nods, looking less than pleased. "But do they always have to pick on you?"

Will shrugs, stuffing his physics book into his bag. "It's just for a laugh. You know I don't mind."

"Sounds like bullying to me," Roseline mutters. Two sets of eyes turn toward her. She blushes as one set widens in surprise.

"You've been holding out on me, I see," Will huffs, elbowing Sadie in the ribs as he sidles up to Roseline, offering his hand. "William Hughes. My friends just call me Will."

Roseline smiles, shaking his hand politely."What a tragedy. William is such a lovely name. You should never shorten it."

Sadie rolls her eyes dramatically as William flushes with pride. "Oh, great. Now you've done it. The dork won't go by Will now for a month."