Pinehurst: A Magical Olympian Adventure-Young Adult Romantic Adventure/Fantasy Novel (13 page)

He grinned, no doubt having heard my thoughts. Antonio turned his attention to a punching bag that lay in a corner across the room. My eyes followed. Without warning, Antonio had the bag flying at me.

Too shocked to move, I stood there. Waiting for the bag to collide with me and knock me into next week. It stopped short, dropping with a thud at my feet.

No. Freaking. Way! “That did not just happen.” I’d done small things like setting off the sprinklers, or tripping that busboy so he’d dump that plate of spaghetti on Stacy. I could even magic little items around me. But thrusting an object that heavy across the room at full speed and stopping it instantaneously? I’d never seen anything like it—not even me stopping that book mid-air, when Stacy had flung it at me.

“It’s the same idea,” Antonio promised. “Now, send it back.”

I stared at Antonio as if he’d spoke in a different language. “Did you just ask me to send it back?”

“I know you can do it. You’re stronger than you think.” A look of excitement claimed him.

I thought about that. “Even if I could, why would I want to? What’s the point?”

“Being able to move heavy objects with your mind has its advantages; especially in the Underworld.”

“Like I’ll ever be going there,” I pointed out sharply.

Antonio’s excitement slipped from his face.

Why was he looking at me like that? And why did I have the sickened feeling that Antonio knew something I didn’t? “Right?” My voice cracked. “Why would I ever be going there?”

He smiled. Not the dreamy, Antonio smile that made me want to eat him up for dessert, but a sympathetic smile. One that said: you poor thing, if you only knew. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply anything. We’ll pick up on this again tomorrow.” He started walking away.

I stood there, looking after him. He didn’t mean to “
imply
anything?” Was he kidding? This had nothing to do with finals. There was something going on and Antonio was going to tell me. One way or another, I was going to find out what he was hiding.

“But not today, Darling,” He shouted over his shoulder, still walking away.

I hated that he eavesdropped on my personal conversations in my head. I hated it even more that he knew something I didn’t.

I glowered at the punching bag that lay still at my feet. With little more thought than I used to collapse Stacy’s desk, I lifted the bag and hurtled it over Antonio’s head, stopping him short. He spun around; his eyes were as wide with surprise as mine.

“What else do you need me to do?” I breathed, afraid to doubt him now—I’d just hurled a punching bag through the air using my mind after all! If there was even the slightest chance Antonio was right, that I was going into the Underworld, I wanted to be prepared.

We spent the next several weeks training. Antonio and I met before school now as well. He was trying to make the most of the time we had left before finals. I, however, secretly hoped it was because he was madly in love with me and couldn’t stand being away from me—wishful thinking on my part. If Antonio was in love with me, he wasn’t going to let me know about it. I’d sure like to read
his
mind for a change.

Antonio ran me to death. Pushed my body beyond its limits in the weight room, and my mind . . . well . . . he was pushing that too. He had me throwing objects as fast as he did now. The point of all this . . . who knew? But something told me it unfortunately had to do with that little trip to Hell Antonio had hinted about. Could my life possibly suck anymore?

* * *

“Evie, I haven’t seen you in days.” Iris was in her usual mood—worried about everything! “The dance is next Friday and Roland said he doesn’t even know if he still has a date, or not. He hasn’t gotten to spend any time with you outside of class.”

“What do you mean he doesn’t know if he has a date or not? I told him yes!”

I hoped he was still taking me to the dance. My dad had a dress shipped a week and a half ago. I opened my closet and pulled out a garment bag. I still hadn’t let any of the girls see it yet. I tried it on when it arrived and it fit like a dream. Aside from that, I hadn’t taken it out of the bag. I wasn’t about to get my first prom dress dirty before I had a chance to wear it. I hung the bag back on the hook and closed the closet door.

“It’s not like anyone’s had a chance to talk to you lately,” Iris continued, not skipping a beat. She actually looked hurt.

“Iris, I’m sorry. I don’t have a choice. There are only two months left before my field trials.” What started as a defensive response, turned out sounding desperate: I really had no idea
how
I was going to pass those tests. Along with Antonio’s private instruction, Gunny had a sick sense of humor and thought it was time to throw me into the mix with the rest of the guys. Lots of protesting moans filled the room that day—the guys complained too.

“Well, you’re free tomorrow, right?” Iris interrupted my mental pity-party.

“Tomorrow?”

“Remember? Gina Von Rotmund is coming to announce the volleyball players that will go on to the Junior Division’s team!” Iris squealed excitedly. “She’s even bringing several of the star players!
I
heard Vlad’s going to be here, too!”

Iris was in near hysterics now. Not that I blamed her. Vlad Smirnov was the hunkiest hunk that ever graced the cover of
Mageian Beach Volleyball
. He was twenty-two. Blonde, blue-eyed, and all man! Dang! I’d spent so much time in that gym the last few weeks I’d missed all the playoff games.

I was glad however, that Iris’ mood had perked up. Mine wasn’t so glum anymore either. This event had been the talk of the school for the past three weeks. Many of the wannabe Slayers were so psyched up about it they could hardly concentrate in gym. Every one of them aspired to make the team and go on to be world famous players—they weren’t fooling me. Every one of these guys had visions of hot bikini-tanned girls fawning all over them.

“Yeah, I’ll be there,” I said. With the rest of the female population, drooling!

I left Iris for my after-school-practice. All the guys were there now. With only two months to go, everyone was on edge, desperate to push their bodies to the limit. They wanted to be Slayers so badly; you could taste it in the air. That and boy sweat—gross!

“Hollyander!”

I jumped. I’d been practicing my round-kicks on a punching bag and missed my target completely; thanks to Gunny’s sneak approaches. That man could make the dead jump!

“I want you over there with Bixby.”

“Sir?” There was no way he was pairing me up with Chad the Neanderthal. No way. No. Freaking. Way.

“Close your mouth Hollyander and move your butt!”

“But—” I met Gunny’s unwavering stare and slumped. There was no point arguing. Chad: the jerk, looked smug. I was so going to give him the whooping he deserved. I strode up to him, glowering.

“You want a piece of this, Hollyander?” he asked with smug confidence. “Come and get it!”

Chad’s face had a smirk that desperately needed to be wiped off. Antonio’s star move came to mind. I dropped to the floor and swiped my leg against his, knocking his butt to floor. Taking advantage of the dazed look on his face, I locked my legs around his neck, and smashed his head into the mat once more. OORAH!

“Nice work Hollyander!” Gunny boomed. “Bixby, maybe you should work with Thompson. Thompson! What
in the hell
are you doing boy? Get your pansy ass over here, this isn’t free time!”

I released Chad, jumped up and backed away quickly. He looked livid.

“Try that again,” he growled stalking toward me.

“I’d love to, but I can only bring myself to kick one mentally challenged Neanderthal’s butt a day.” I smiled sympathetically. “Sorry.”

“Bixby!” Gunny hollered.

“Don’t be too hard on Thompson, it’s not his fault you got your best side handed to you by a girl.” I smiled impishly before skipping over to Antonio. Who by the way, was smiling like a proud papa.

“Did you see me kick Chad’s butt?” I squealed excitedly, jumping up for a high five!

“The whole gym did. You were amazing!” He slapped my hand.

Amazing . . . I
was
amazing! I could be an amazing kisser too if
someone
would only practice with me. Like, let’s say . . . two times a day . . . seven days a week? If only Antonio wasn’t such a stick-in-the-mud. I mean, I acted
much
older than I was. Roland certainly thought so.

“Did you just roll your eyes at me?” Damn! He’d been listening again.

Antonio just shook his head, trying hard to suppress a laugh. I hated it when he eavesdropped. If only there was some way for me to block him . . .?

“Come on. You have laps to run.” He jerked his head to the side, motioning to the double doors that led to the track field.

I huffed loudly, storming past him. “Men! They can’t even let you savor a victory!”

“Hey Evie!” Roland raced up behind me, taking me up in his arms, and swinging me around. “Damn girl, you were hot, kicking Chad’s pride to the floor.”

I blushed. No one had ever said I was “hot” . . . I kinda liked it. The large smile that hung on my face was not leaving anytime soon. Funny, why did Antonio look so pissed? Roland was just being sweet. I liked sweet. Besides, Antonio sure wasn’t campaigning for the boyfriend job!

“So, do you have an escort for the announcement dinner?” Roland glanced to Antonio, as if sizing him up, before looking back to me.

“Escort? No, do I need one?” Iris never said we had to have an escort for the award ceremony.

“Hell yeah! Unless you want every guy here knocking on your door,” Roland nudged me playfully with his elbow.

I looked around the room. Chad and Thompson were sparring. Well, Chad was.

Thompson was doing his best not to get his butt kicked. Victor had Wyatt in a headlock, giving him a world-class noogie—dorks. And John was picking his nose—eww!

No way. I did not want
them
knocking on my door. Hell no!

“I just thought since you agreed to go to the dance with me,” Roland began, “that you might—”

“I’ll take you.”

Roland and I looked at Antonio simultaneously.

“What?” My voice cracked. Did Antonio just say he wanted to take me?

“I’ll take you.” His tone was firm. Authoritative. Man he made my heart flutter.

“We’ll just be finishing up practice. I’ll walk you over after,” he shrugged, indifferent to the whole thing.

“Well, I don’t want you to put yourself out,” I grumped. Jeez. Don’t do me any favors. Don’t act like you really
want
to take me, or anything.

“I’m not.” Antonio said, answering my spoken and mental thoughts. “I’ll be heading that way myself. It’s no big deal. I’ll take you. Now come on. You still have laps to run and
you
have practice.” He gave Roland a long look that screamed, get lost!

Roland’s brave façade faltered. “I’ll catch you later, Evie,” he said, giving me a quick wink before he retreated.

I turned back to Antonio. He’d already gone out onto the track field.

“Hey!” I had to run hard to catch up with him. “What was that about?”

“What was
what
about?”

Who was he kidding, playing innocent? “Roland. You practically back-handed him for asking me out!”

“You’re imagining things.” He continued on, not breaking his stride.

“Well if that’s the case, I’ll just run back in there and let Roland know I’m available after all.” Who knows, I might get kissed again.

Antonio skidded to a halt, grabbing my arm as I threatened to pass.

“You’re not having dinner with him. Or doing anything
else
he has planned in that hormonal mind of his.”

“How do you know what he has planned? You read his mind too?” I scoffed. I knew Antonio could read my thoughts but . . . Wait! “What
does
he have planned?” What had Antonio’s panties in a wad?

“They are not in a wad! And I do not wear panties!” He spat each word with disgust.

Interesting . . . I wonder if he wears . . .

“Stop that! You shouldn’t be curious about such things. You’re too young!”

“Too young?” I was not too young. I was practically seventeen—almost a grown-up. I could feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment that he’d once again heard my wondering thoughts.

“Until you are, grown-up that is,” he held back a snicker. “We’ll keep our conversations G-rated.”

My mouth dropped open. I gave him my best haughty look, complete with hands on the hips. “I’ll have you know that in some cultures women my age are married; even having children!” Not that I wanted any of that, but hell, I
was
grown-up; even though I wasn’t experienced in such matters.

I stomped my foot for effect. I’d seen my mother do that with my father when she wanted to get her point across, so I knew this was a very grown-up thing to do. Right? Besides, a child wouldn’t have kissed Roland the way I had. And
he
obviously didn’t consider me a child.

“Like I said, you won’t be attending the Awards with Roland; or doing anything
else
with him for that matter.”

I scoffed. “You can’t tell me who to date!”

“Actually, I can.” He said this with unmistakable authority.

Oh no. He did not just tell me he’s the boss of me. I’d punched guys for less. The thought of damaging Antonio’s gorgeous face didn’t sit well, but it was for the greater good. No guy was going to tell me what to do. Ever!

“I’d re-think this if I were you,” he warned, not taking me seriously as a threat.

“Bring it.” I started circling him like a lioness about to pounce on its prey. He smiled, and joined in the dance.

“Evie, I’m just looking out for you,” he began. “You don’t know boys like I do. Roland isn’t as nice as you think. He won't be satisfied with just kissing.”

“Quit trying to distract me. You don’t even know him.” I started narrowing my circle.