The Phoenix's Mark Book 1: Dogs of War

Chapter 4

"Excuse me, but do you know where room 205 is?" Sarah heard a familiar voice from behind her. She turned to find herself staring into the golden eyes of Laurence Dowes. She hadn't paid much attention before, but now she realized that his eyes were more of an orange color around the pupil, at the center of the iris. She stared at them, mezmorized. It was the first time she'd ever seen orange eyes.

"Are you gonna answer?" Sarah shook herself back to reality.

"I'm sorry, what did you want?" she asked as her cheeks turned crimson.

"Do you know where room 205 is?" he repeated, a grin stretched ear-to-ear.

"Oh, yeah. I'm going there now if you'd like to tag along," she offered with a pleasant smile.

"Of course. It'll help to have some friends," he responded, returning the smile.

Sarah jumped as fingers grased her sides. "Who's this, babe?" a voice sounded from behind her. She turned to see her boyfriend.

She smiled brightly at him. "Greg, this is Laurence. Laurence, this is Greg, my botfriend," she said, pointing from one to the other as she introduced them.

"Great to meet you," Laurence said, extending his hand, offering a handshake.

"Nice to meet you, too," Greg said, accepting his handshake.

"He's new and has the same first period as us," she explained to Greg.

"Cool," he said, with a fake smile. "Hey, I'm not gonna be at first period today, or sixth," he told her. Sarah frowned.

"Why not?"

"I have things to do."

"So I have to take the bus home?" she asked, frowning.

"I'm sorry babe. I'll make it up to you. I promise." He brought his lips hard on hers. He pulled her tight. As his tongue slipped past her lips, she pushed him off. "What?"

"I don't know. When you did that, my throat burned," she said, deepening her frown.

"Doesn't  it always do that?" He rolled his eyes to the back of his head.

"No. It usually stings a little, but its tolerable. That actually burned like I swallowed fire." Greg's eyebrow shot up.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to."

"Hey, Greg. You ready?" one of his friends called from behind him.

"Yeah, let's go," he called, turning to face them. "Bye babe," he said, kissing Sarah on the cheek before turning to leave.

"Great, there goes my ride," Sarah exclaimed, dropping her arms to her side and rolling her eyes.

"I could give you a ride if you'd like," Laurence offered.

Sarah smiled at the offer. "No thanks, its okay. I don't mean to be a burden."

"It's no burden, nor is it a problem. I live just up the street from you," he said with a smile.

She furrowed her eyebrows. "How do you know where I live?"

"My aunt and I left the restaraunt meerly seconds after you, and saw where you parked and got out of the car last Saturday," he explained instantly, as if he expected the question.

"Oh, right. I guess that makes sense," Sarah said, blushing slightly. The first bell rang, warning them that class was about to start. "Well, come on, lets go to class."