RUNES (A Runes Book 1)

Chapter 12

12.  PARTY PLANNERS

I entered Doc’s geography classroom and looked around for Eirik and Cora. Our coach also taught geography and psychology, and most members of the swim team often hung out in his class before the first bell.

Today they were in the back of the room, where Torin and the Dahl sisters were holding court in opposite corners. Cora was among the girls surrounding Torin. Jess hadn’t arrived yet, but as soon as she did, the other girls would melt away. Eirik and a few guys lounged in front of the class, so I headed their way.

He pulled me down onto his lap, his arm possessively around my waist.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“St. James is throwing a swim party tomorrow at his place and they,” he nodded toward the corner where Maliina and Ingrid were charming mostly guys, “are throwing one, too. They have a pool; he doesn’t.” Eirik grinned. “Can’t wait to see how this plays out.”

From the large group of girls surrounding Torin, Maliina and Ingrid didn’t have a chance of luring more students to their party. Guys tended to go where the girls were. Andris was still missing since the fight with Torin, so he’d be no help. Where had the silver-haired Immortal disappeared to anyway?

My eyes met Torin’s, and my stomach contracted. His expression was hard to read. I hadn’t spoken to him since the closet fiasco, and I felt like crap. It was as though a part of me was missing. As though someone had carved a hole inside my chest and every day it expanded.

He, on the hand, seemed to be enjoying himself with Jess. They were inseparable. He didn’t attend any of my other classes except math, but she always walked him to class. I had tried to keep from staring at them, especially during lunch, but like someone compelled, I always did. Each time, I’d find him staring at me. Part of me longed for him, wished I was with him, while another part knew it was better this way. I only hoped the pain would lessen with time.

I didn’t see him at home either anymore, except for the purr of his Harley as he came and went. Every time, I wondered whether he was going to Jess’ place or if he had been with her. At least he hadn’t taken her to his place. That would kill me.

As if dealing with the two of them that wasn’t bad enough, there was Maliina. Every time I turned around, she was watching me, waiting. Sometimes I wanted to yell at her to do her worst. Maybe then Torin would come to my rescue and my self-imposed exile would end.

“I’ll go with St. James,” Tim, a junior freestyle sprinter, said.

“He’s badass, so there might be booze,” someone else added.

“I just want to check out his Harley,” another said. “That ride is hot.”

“Aw, come on,” Tim said. “You’re going ‘cause he has the girls.”

They high-fived each other.

“Which party, Seville?” someone asked.

“Neither. I’ve plans.” Eirik’s arms tightened around my waist.

I heard him, but my eyes were on Jess who’d just entered the room. She headed straight to Torin, the other girls moving out of her way. She kissed him, and a sharp sting of pain sliced through me. I’d never seen them kiss before. Watching them hurt so much I couldn’t breathe.

As though aware of my reaction, Torin glanced at me, and I saw something in his eyes I hadn’t seen before—pain, an echo of the same pain crashing through me. Next second, he was back gazing into Jess’ eyes, smiling.