Bittersweet (Book #1 Evening Wings Trilogy)

Chapter 20

20

Xander was not in his seat beside me in English.

Great, I thought. Now she has him skipping class too.

Ten minutes later, I heard the chair scrape against the tile and there he was, his messy black hair shrouding his gorgeous eyes.

My pencil slipped out of my grasp.

There he was, notebook placed haphazardly on his desk, his pencil scribbling lightly on the paper. I knew he could sense me staring at him, our knees only just touching under our table.

Gulping, I went for my pencil, eyes scanning the classroom for her as I went. How utterly stupid, I laughed to myself when I realized she was not there. The worst move she could have possibly made.

My scheming came back into place when he looked directly at me.

“Hi,” I said, feigning shyness.

“Hi,” he replied softly, his irises melting softly. His usually sensual voice was lower and weak with struggle. “Haven’t seen you in a while.”

“I could say the same.” I replied, shifting in my seat.

We shared a moment of silence, only the soft buzz of other students’ voices and pencils running a marathon in between us.

“I missed you,” my eyes dropped to my hands, clenched on my lap.

“Hmm.”

“I was stupid.” I sighed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.”

He did not reply, so I forced my eyes off my hands and onto him. He was staring at me, a frown upon his brow.

“So you only realize how much you miss me when Naida takes your place?” he said harshly; it was true, but he without me hardly felt right.

“I—” I began and clamped my lips shut; my hand became immobile against the yellow pad paper I was using to write on.

We were silent for another immeasurable moment and then his hand closed over mine. I looked up at him and he smiled smally, tracing circles on the back of my hand with his thumb.

“Sorry,” he said apologetically. “That was cruel.”

I just stared at him until he realized I was willing him to explain himself.

He sighed.

“Naida… Naida has a very dark side to her. A talent that crawls on my skin whenever I get a chance. Other than that, I am completely unaware of myself, unaware of her. Just floating by in a dazed means.”

“I don’t understand,” I said softly, turning toward him.

He sighed again. “Elizabeth…” he touched my cheek with his fingers. “Do not believe this pretense between Naida and me. She’s using some strange… magic on me—using me as I used her such a long, long time ago. I don’t know what it is, and often times, I never remember, but you have to save me.”

“Xander,” I sighed softly, tears springing into my eyes. “I will.”

“Good,” he sighed, pressing his lips to mine, softly—just a touch.

Then he leaned away to finish his essay, shooting me solemn glances at every chance he got while still keeping his hand on mine. I hated to admit that I was sad, but I knew he could not have been trying to fool me, something really was wrong.

The bell startled us out of our reunited trance.

He turned abruptly and looked deep into my eyes, his sending an urgent signal through my body.