At First Sight: Special Edition (13 page)

              She smiled and adjusted her green cap and gown, fixing her brown curls. There had to be at least two hundred people in her graduating class and at least five hundred people in the stands watching her every move. She took a deep breath and began.

              “Graduating seniors, parents and faculty, this is the day we have all been waiting. For some, it’s the day we have been dreading. We’ve grown out of our tricycles. It’s time for us to go out into the world on our own. Needless to say, we are scared.” She paused and looked out at the crowd. “Some of us are headed to college with scholarships.”

              She smiled at Jessica in the front row. Lola had found out that Jessica had been accepted to a college in Boston that was close to Harvard, meaning they would still be best friends. Freddie even planned on moving with her so they could remain close.

              “Others are studying abroad. Others may not be sure what they are doing,” said Lola. “It doesn’t mean we are meant to be alone in this world. We have friendships that will last forever. We have family that will always be there for us.”

              She smiled at Frankie and Katherine in the stands. Ever since the capture, she had grown closer to Dean’s parents. She basically considered the two her own parents.

              “No matter where we may go or where life may take us, we must always remember to stay true to ourselves…”

              Lola looked up from her notes and saw that everybody was gone. The chairs were empty and the stands were deserted. She glanced over her shoulder to see that the faculty was gone, too. She looked back in front of her and saw the colors fading to gray slowly but surely.

              She shut her eyes and sighed softly. “This isn’t real.”

              She opened her eyes and continued her speech, facing the full audience of students and parents. “Always stay true to your dreams.”

              Later that evening, Dean’s family decided to hold a barbeque for Lola’s graduation. He was so proud of her, but he had noticed her eyes had been closed for an unusual amount of time during her speech. He had made a mental note to talk to her about it later that night.

              To say he was worried about their relationship was an understatement. She was going to Harvard in a month. They still hadn’t talked about what they would do once she left. Would he follow her? Would he stay here?

              “Hey.” He looked up and smiled at Lola as she came outside on the back porch. “You looked like you were deep in thought.”

              Dean smiled and held her waist, placing his lips over hers. Every time they kissed, it was like a fire would ignite in their bodies. It drove them crazy.

              Lola pulled back and smiled at him. “Thank you for being there today.”

              “Of course,” he smiled. He looked away for a moment and rubbed the back of his head. “Did something happen on stage?”

              “What do you mean?” she asked curiously.

              “I noticed that your eyes were closed for an unusual amount of time,” said Dean. He lowered his voice. “Did you have another illusion?”

              Even after Lola’s capture, she had been having a lot of illusions. However, she was able to escape from them on her own. She was in control.

              She nodded. “Yeah. Everything was fading to gray, but I got out of it. I’m okay.”

              “Good.” Dean was worried that the orb might have touched her when she had been captured, causing a malfunctioning with the gift.

              “I’m not a robot,” giggled Lola.

              Dean rolled his eyes and chuckled. “I know. You know what I mean. We haven’t heard anything about Leo. I’m just worried about what’s going to happen.”

              “Whatever happens, we’re in this together.”

              “Speaking of which, we haven’t talked about college.” He paused. “Do you want me to go with you?”

              Lola hadn’t been avoiding the subject entirely. She just hadn’t been sure what Dean had wanted.

              He held her close. “I want you. That’s all that I want.”

              She nodded and smiled. “Then come with me.”

              Dean grinned. “Say it again.”

              Lola rested her forehead against his. “Come with me.”

              “Absolutely,” he murmured, preparing to take her lips again.

              “The ribs are ready!” shouted Freddie, poking his head outside with a smirk. “Save those lips for the barbeque sauce.”

              Lola laughed and began walking towards the door. “Food calls.”

              Dean followed her inside, pointing a finger. “Fine. But, you’re mine later.”

              Matthew faced the window, gazing at the Eiffel Tower outside. He held the phone to his ear and smiled. “It’s all being set.”

              “Are you sure? This could be the key to our success,” said the voice on the other line.

              Matthew turned away from the window and cocked a brow, the smile staying secure on his face. “Don’t you trust me, brother?”

“WARRIOR”

Mary Houston didn't expect to come home late at night to see her entire neighborhood in shambles; doors ripped off their hinges, windows smashed, trash on lawns. Her mother and little brother have both been captured by people who call themselves Warriors, who train humans to become a part of The Platform for World War III.
In order to save herself from losing herself, she must make them believe that she is one of them.
She meets Xavier, who is set to train her one-on-one at The Shelter where she is staying with hundreds of other trainees. Without warning, she learns more about him than she is supposed to know while growing stronger and uncovering the hidden secrets within The Platform.
Can she survive while hiding her true self behind this mask, risking her entire life in the process?

COMING SUMMER 2015!

“THE OPEN WINDOW”

The most unexpected love could be the truest of all.
Isabelle, a popular cheerleader, didn’t expect to start her senior year with a broken family. Her mother split for another man, leaving her father completely distant from the world. She definitely didn’t expect to meet Ethan Michelson, either. He’s the geeky, handsome new kid that should be completely out of her league. Yet, she falls for him unexpectedly in a whirlwind romance that sweeps her off of her feet and breaks her away from harsh reality.
Set during the time span of their senior year, Ethan and Isabelle learn that falling in love for the first time can be the scariest and exciting sensation with dangerous repercussions ahead.

COMING SUMMER 2015!

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About The Author

Heather Todd was born in Florida and currently resides in North Carolina. When she is not writing, she can be found reading while surrounded by her dog Chessy or brainstorming on her computer. She considers Barnes and Noble to be her second home. She is also an avid book blogger on Instagram, remaining active in many fandoms.