DESCENDED

KISS

Getting ready for school, I know this is going to be another horrible day at Emerald Academy. And when I'm done, I head downstairs to have breakfast with Alex, Cliff, and Aunt Sarah. But Anna is running late, so we must wait for her.

"If anyone asks, I forgot she wasn't in the car," Alex winks at me.

He starts the engine and takes off for school. Leaving her behind. My mouth drops open and he laughs his head off.

"That's what she gets for getting you in trouble."

We make it to school twenty minutes early, and Samuel greets me at the car with a single red rose. At first glance, it seems like your typical rose. But when I smell it, I'm surprised it smells like the roses in my dreams.

"It's pretty," I smile.

"So are you," he smiles back. "And I'm sorry about the abrupt departure last night."

"I thought maybe I dreamt it because I got really tired after you kissed me on the cheek."

"After a nightmare like that, I'd be tired too."

"How do you know what I was dreaming about?" I frown.

"I don't, but you were tossing and turning pretty badly."

"What was with the snake?"

"It was a present. I named him Bob," he chuckles.

"You named a snake Bob?" I laugh too.

"Well, it's either that or Bruce."

"They're both pretty bad."

Laughing, he tells me, "I have a surprise for you."

"Another one? What is it his time? A poisonous spider?" I ask.

Samuel pulls his arm from behind his back and hands me a gold box with a pink bow on it. I quickly open it, and inside is a pretty pink dress. He's somehow managed to pick out the perfect dress for me to wear to the Winter Ball. And I'm delighted to see it isn't short or revealing.

"Look, about that, I-"

"You and Alex should have waited for me," Anna swings me around to face her.

"That was Alex's call, not mine." I tell her.

Anna shoves me into Samuel, and I would've fallen if he didn't catch me. But she's not done. She tries to swing on me, but Sebastian pulls her away from me. Staring at me long enough to show his disapproval of me hanging out with Samuel.

"Can I talk to you?" I ask.

"No," Anna answers for him.

"Actually, I'll catch up to you later," he tells her.

"Sebastian," she gawks at him.

"Anna, just go to class and I'll catch up to you."

Narrowing her eyes at me, she storms off to class. I look over at Samuel and he gives Sebastian and me some space. Once Samuel's gone, I turn my attention back to Sebastian, but I'm nervous. I give him my word I would stay away from Samuel, just like I gave Samuel my word I would go to the Winter Ball with him. And I need to get some things off my chest.

"I thought I told you to stay away from Samuel," Sebastian sighs.

"You did, but-"

"But what? Are you always this hard-headed?" He asks.