Shadow's Kiss (Monstrous Hearts: Fleur's Story)

Chapter One

"Fleur Corrigan."

Fleur got up from her seat on the bleachers as the metallic echo of her name rang out over the football field. She hated the feeling of everyone's attention on her while she walked over to the podium, shuffling her feet to avoid tripping on her obnoxiously blue graduation gown.

She took the diploma from the principal and shook his offered hand, trying not to grimace at the sweaty grip. It was a brutal afternoon, already past 100 degrees, and there was nothing to shade them.

The audience bleachers were just as exposed to the merciless sun, and when Fleur sat back down, she noticed sweat glistening on all those distant faces. The principal continued calling names, voice soon turning into a drone that was easy to ignore, and Fleur scanned over the spectators in boredom until she found her family.

Her mom cried into a fistful of tissues. Her dad kept checking his watch. Alice wore that one pleasant expression she always used to hide her true feelings, and Alice's husband looked like he wanted to die.

Fleur couldn't blame him, and the first thing she did after the ceremony was finally—finally—over was to rip off her cap and get off the bleachers as quickly as possible. She wanted shade. She wanted water. She wanted to be away from all these stupid people.

As soon as she made it off the field, her mother swept her up into a hug. "Honey, we're so proud of you! Put your cap back on so we can take photos."

"I don't want any." Then Fleur began pulling off her gown.

"Just a few. It's your highschool graduation. Even if you don't want to take them now, in a few years you'll wish you had." Her mom must have noticed the lack of change in her expression, because she quickly added, "If not with us, then how about with friends?"

"Mom, I have no friends. Can we go?"

Her father spoke up while checking the time again. "Denise, the ceremony went over. We need to go if we want to make that dinner reservation."

"I know, but she needs to take at least one."

Fleur scratched at the back of her neck where her hair stuck to her sweaty skin, her irritation growing while her mother glanced around. She hadn't exaggerated about not having friends. It had been that way for over five years, and that was just fine by her. In another few seconds, her father would grow too impatient at the idea of missing an appointment, even a small one like going out to a restaurant, and urge her mother along. If she just held her tongue and waited, there wouldn't be yet another family argument.

She was a little surprised that Alice hadn't said anything. Her sister always acted as the peacemaker at times like this. When she glanced over, she found Alice talking quietly with Colton while wiping sweat from the back of her neck. He was the only one in their group who looked unaffected by the heat, not even wearing sunglasses.

Just then, her mother exclaimed and turned back to her. "Look, there's Hayley. Why not take one with her?"

Fleur felt her hand freeze mid-scratch. She didn't want to turn and follow her mother's gaze. She didn't want to see Hayley or her fake smile. "No," she said, unable to keep the anger out of her voice.

"Fleur." Her mother's tone also changed. "You were best friends for years. I know you went your different ways, but is a photo really too much?"

Now her cheeks felt hot, and she knew it wasn't from sunburn. "Yeah, because I don't want to do it."

Before the lecture could begin, Alice spoke. "We're all tired from the heat. Maybe we should wait to take pictures until we've cooled down again."

"And after eating," said her father, checking his watch again. When her mother gave him a frustrated glance, he added, "Everyone and their extended family will go out to dinner to celebrate, just like us. If we miss this reservation, we won't get a table at any place tonight."