Silverlake

Chapter 14

"Whatever it is, I think we should be on the same side," I said. There was something about him that gave me more confidence.

"Mmhmm," he held my hand and played with my fingers. This couldn't be the boy made up of dark magic. He couldn't be the one that they all warned me about because this boy holding my hand was sweet and adventurous and even a little bit vulnerable.

~~~~

I didn't get back into the house until the sun started to rise. I could hear the alarm on my phone going off upstairs. Crap, was it really 5:30 already? I raced upstairs to shut off the alarm before one of my parents became suspicious.

Turning off my alarm, I simultaneously pulled clothes off my hanger and threw them onto my bed before jumping into the shower. 

Ten minutes later, with soapy hair, I had a mini panic attack as I glanced outside of the curtain and realized I had forgotten my towel. And to think this day started out so well. I glanced from the bare towel rack back to the warm shower. It would be cool to make a towel appear, but it would be fun if I could walk out dry, plus it would save me time on my hair. 

I turned off the shower and stepped out onto the mat. My tattoo showed through the fog on the mirror and still stood prominently against my skin. I watched the water droplets drip down my arms and silently land onto the carpet. Then, I blinked and held out my arm, watching the droplets disappear altogether. 

"Now, my hair," I commanded. I watched as the wet mess on top of my head straightened out and brown strands lay dry across my shoulders, just barely covering my tattoo. I could get used to this whole magic thing. 

I got backed to my room, dressed, and put makeup on with time to spare, but unfortunately not enough time for a nap.

I'll pick you up.

It was a text from Sterling. My heart fluttered and my stomach gripped with excitement. He'd been gone less than two hours and already it seemed too long. 

For school? 

Yes for school. Be ready.

I frowned down at my phone. His temper was something we would work on.

"Heading to school already?" My dad asked over his usual morning cup of coffee.

"Uh, yepp. I'm getting a ride with a friend, you know since my car is still in the shop." I slid past him, trying to get out the front door without him seeing the driver of the car. 

"Oh, well have a good day. And don't forget, Katherine goes home tomorrow, so we will all be going out tonight."

"Right, yepp, bye!" I called over my shoulder throwing the door shut behind me.

I slid into his passenger seat and frantically closed the door. 

"Good morning to you too," he winked at me before leaning his head down to kiss me. 

"Long time no see," I whispered as we both pulled away. He laughed and sped off towards school.

Sky's car was already in the parking lot and I subconsciously dropped lower in my seat. She'd find out sooner or later, but having her find out this way was not the way to keep a friendship. PLus, I needed Sky, she was my only friend here. 

Friend. Boyfriend. I looked next to me at the way Sterling's face hardened as he put the car into park and he put on his mask that seemed to always have on. He wasn't my boyfriend, but we were more than friends. Just somewhere stuck in between the two. 

He grabbed me lightly before I had the door completely opened. 

"I'll drive you home too." It wasn't a question. I nodded and took him by surprise when I reached over the console and gave him a quick kiss before grabbing my bag and jumping out of the car. A smile came across his face and I felt his gaze on me until I was inside the school doors. 

Sky soon met my stride with Carrie walking on the other side of me. They barely said hello before diving back into what seemed like an argument about the cheer team.

"No, but you don't get it, I'm cheer captain. I've been cheer captain. You can be co-captain...under me," Sky smiled sweetly but Carrie looked like she was about to cry. 

"I'm better than you." Her voice shook and I felt a little sorry for her, but there was no way she was better than Sky. 

"Well, why don't you two compete?"

"What?" The two replied in unison.

"What? I'm sure you've had tryouts and practice and whatever, but what about a one to one old-school movie style cheer off. After school today. In the gym, I'll spread the word."

They stared off at me, Carrie, still upset, and Sky somewhat awestruck as I bounced out of their stares and into my first class.