Bound by Duty

Chapter Five

Bethany and I only shared one class, a class Micah was also in given the googly-eyes I watched her make at him for an hour and fifty minutes twice a week. Humanities was also the third class I shared with Aidan. I smiled a little when I walked in. He was at least sitting next to my normal back row seat, instead of in it, which had been his M.O. lately.

"I wanted to make sure you didn't miss me this time, doll, so I saved your seat." His mouth turned up as he tried not to smile.

"Well, aren't you a gentleman," I said as I rolled my eyes and scooted around him, "and I'm not your doll. I'm not anyone's doll." As I tossed my bag in the seat to my right, I saw a small, white daisy sitting on the built-in desk portion of my seat. I couldn't move, I just stood there awkwardly staring at the dainty, beautiful flower. The whole flower head was maybe the size of a golf ball, it was no dozen roses, but it was the first time anyone had ever given me flowers... or one flower. Ever.

Aidan reacted instantly to my stricken face, his hopeful look disappearing as he misjudged my emotion for disdain. He stood and tried to grab for the stem, but I simultaneously leapt for it, yelling, "No!" As skin met skin and our hands collided, I heard a crack like lightning hitting the ground and I flew backward, catapulting a few rows of seats below us.

As I came to, the first voice I heard wasn't one I expected. But, I knew that formal tone and squinted, my eyes opening to confirm Micah's scowling face inches from mine. "Amelia, we do not have much time before Aidan and Bethany get back with a nurse. You've got to get some control. I have no idea why you would expose yourself like you just did, especially to a human, but reign yourself back in. And for goodness sakes, change your eyes back!"

Through my foggy state I watched Micah's eyes blaze red for a split-second before they reverted back to blue. As what he'd just said and done sunk in and I realized what that meant, I couldn't stop myself — I fainted.

"Ame, come back to me, honey." I heard Bethany's soft southern lilt as something cool was placed on my forehead. I struggled to open my eyes and then snapped them shut again, remembering Micah's warning. Doing my best to shove the power pulsing through me back into the little corner it hated, I hoped my eyes were back to their normal color. As I slowly opened them again, I first saw Bethany hovering over me with a relieved smile as her eyes connected with mine, and then Micah and Aidan in the background.

We were in the hallway outside the lecture hall and I was lying on the same bench Aidan had been occupying yesterday. Bethany was holding my hand. "Cheese and rice, girl, you had me worried. One second I'm laughing at Micah and the next you're flying into the back of our seats. I know you're a klutz, but how in the heck did you manage that?" Her accent was more prominent when she got upset, and the words came out as one hurried sentence.

Before I even had a chance to respond, Aidan spoke. My head was still throbbing and I was afraid to even attempt to heal myself given what had just happened. I tried to look toward him, but couldn't focus between the slices of pain that accompanied every breath.

"Apparently she doesn't like daisies." I could hear his sarcasm, but what I felt was something else altogether. I could see the angry red aura pulsing around him, but his hurt and embarrassment radiated just as strongly. Before I could argue and explain, Micah stepped toward Aidan and put one hand on his chest, pushing him backward. "Montgomery, do you really think that's what she needs right now? Do you think the best plan is to further insult a girl who went so far as to do herself harm to get away from you? Maybe you should just take the hint."

I had to squint to focus through the pulsing pain but I saw Aidan's face transform. He looked down at Micah's hand and then slowly back up to his face. He stepped toward Micah, simultaneously wrapping his hand around Micah's wrist. Each movement slow and deliberate. Then, he shoved Micah backward, pushing at him with his own arm.