Shadow's Dangers (25 page)

Fifteen minutes later, the car pulled into the school parking lot. The mood had improved considerably since, as I have noticed these last days, Garreth and Leighton were now more natural in my presence and both didn't deprive themselves to bicker like little kids when they could. I, who had found their behavior strange for brother and sister at first, now I saw that they were more than normal sometimes. I envied them. I wish I had such a complicit relationship with my own sister.

We left the car and headed toward the entrance where Hayden and Spencer were talking. The latter looked away when he saw me coming hand in hand with Garreth, one of the things that made people think we were a couple. Spencer’s reaction made me feel sorry for him because I made him that uncomfortable. I thought it was serious between him and Hayden and he had moved on from me. Perhaps this was the case and it was only his male pride that manifested now. I was hoping to be right. I didn't want to see my best friend suffer because she was dating someone who loved another, I of all people.

“Hey!” Hayden exclaimed, cheerful as usual.

We saluted her and Spencer. Head bowed, he waved back. The feeling of unease I felt in his presence increased. My eyes met Garreth's and I saw the expression of fake impassivity he was wearing while staring at Spencer. At that moment, I understood that I’d really have to talk to Spencer. Because if his behavior bothered Garreth, who wasn't even with me, I didn't dare to imagine Hayden’s reaction when she realized her boyfriend was jealous of Garreth. Her usual good mood would soon disappear, I was certain. I didn't want everything between us to break apart because of Spencer, especially because I had never given him any hope.

“Where is Travis?”

Wrong question. Hayden could sometimes put her foot in it. Behind me, Garreth growled slightly before hugging my waist and nestling his face in the crook of my neck. I froze in surprise. Another one of those gestures that gave the illusion we were together, him behaving like a boyfriend from time to time. Leighton gave me a joyful grin and Hayden a mischievous smile and I could not help but do the same. After a moment’s hesitation, I put my hand on his. His mouth rested against the skin of my throat; I felt his lips stretch into a smile.

“Still sick...supposedly,” Leighton answered. “He's simply playing truant if you want my opinion. He often did in our former town.”

“Although both of us know he doesn't play truant, personally, I think it wouldn't be a bad idea for us to try it,” Garreth whispered in my ear.

I ignored his tone so painfully similar to the one he used in my damn dream. I imagined very well what great things we could do instead of being stuck here.

“We can always get away this weekend, when there will be no classes and no work to catch up on.”

“But where would be the thrill of the forbidden, the fun to be out when all the others are trapped here? I thought you told me you weren’t a bookworm, straight-A student.”

I smiled, amused that he remembered it. I wanted to give in but first, I didn't want to have trouble with Annabelle and secondly, I didn't forget we were still not a couple. I had to confess that it bothered me and I wasn't ready to follow him anywhere, no matter his desires, before we talked about our situation.

“So, you take your courage in both hands...or you duck out?” he continued in a low voice so I was the only one to hear it.

“Not today. Another time...maybe,” I answered and with that, I put a little distance between him and me.

He looked at me, frowning, trying to understand my reaction. He wasn't used to seeing me resist him lately. It was time for it to be otherwise and for Garreth to understand that nothing would happen as long as he and I didn’t have a serious discussion. Perhaps this was the meaning of my dream in the end, even if it seemed twisted. My subconscious might be trying to tell me to get away from him, not to let things go too far because I didn't know exactly where we were in our relationship. After all that had happened, I was determined to pay more attention to the meaning of my dreams and act on them.

“You'll go?”

Too late, I noticed the eyes glared at us.
Dammit...What are they talking about again?
Garreth saved me from embarrassment and answered for me.

“I think we will be going.”

The discussions resumed between Leighton and the couple while I was facing Garreth. Although I was confused over our relationship, I was lucky he was there to catch up when I was lost in my thoughts. Hayden was too busy with Spencer to do this, these days. Not that I complained about it. If she was happy, I was happy for her.

“Thank you,” I said quietly. He looked into my eyes and made a hand gesture in return. “What were they talking about?”

“A party that takes place this weekend in a villa near Anchorage. They wanted to know if we were going. And...I think we're going. Of course, the choice is yours,” he hurried to add because of my surprised expression.

Okay, I wasn't the type to spend my entire weekend immersed in books, but I also wasn't the kind to go to a party when it took place at someone's home whom I didn't know from Adam. Even the prospect of being with Garreth, Leighton and Hayden didn't motivate me. It was horrible to see how the death of Tess had changed me to the depths of myself. I felt that I never would get back the person I had been before, when I was playful and ready for almost anything when it came to Hayden or any friend.

“I...I don't feel like it,” I replied, embarrassed.

Oh what a surprise he didn't want to officially be with you. You’re deadly boring, Deliah Morgan.
I refrained from lifting my eyes at the thought. Sometimes my mind truly sucked.

“But if you want to go, you can.” I blushed slightly, realizing that I was talking to him like he was my boyfriend and I had a say on his decisions. “I mean, it’s not as if you have to ask me my opinion or anything since we don't...”

I stopped, my lips pinched hard when I realized the nonsense I was saying. Meanwhile, Garreth looked at me like I was funny.
Oh, you think it's fun we're not together, huh, Garreth?
No need to say that I was upset. I turned my back on him, determined to follow the others who had already taken the way to class but Garreth's hand grabbed my arm to stop me in my tracks. I felt his breath against my ear and I repressed a shudder.

“All I want is to be with you,” he whispered, his lips moving against my skin. “Regardless of the location. And if Leighton goes, it will leave us the house for an evening alone together.”

The proposal was more than tempting, especially if I wanted to have the opportunity to discuss our relationship with him, since it was impossible to do otherwise, since someone always seemed to be around to keep us from talking privately about it.

“You’re sure you won't regret not going?”

“Oh no...”

He said that in a such promising voice I couldn't help but shiver.

“Deal for an evening for two, then.”

“Can't wait,” he announced with a big smile and a wink before taking me by the waist and taking me with him towards the school's entrance.

***

At lunchtime, I made a detour to the girls bathroom before going to the cafeteria. I had barely set foot inside when Leighton and Hayden were after me. I hadn't even seen them follow me. Leighton leaned against the door to keep me from going out or avoid us being disturbed, I wasn't sure. Hayden was smiling widely.

“What is... that?” I said with a hand gesture to the door, frowning.

My two friends exchanged a knowing glance, proud of the success of their scheme. I realized I was trapped miserably and I already guessed the conversation to come. Garreth was never far from me, so they had used my quick visit here to catch me and make me talk.

“Don't think we didn't notice the small gestures, the looks full of meaning and all this sex...”

“What?” I gasped, preventing Leighton from finishing her sentence.

“You're together and you didn't tell us!” Hayden exclaimed accusingly.

“We're not!”

Leighton no longer blocking the door, it opened, revealing a slender girl with dark brown hair. It was Elisha Campbell, one of the most beautiful and popular girls of Mensen. I had talked with her a few times, and despite the reputation that people gave her because she was popular with the boys and liked them a lot, I had to recognize she was friendly. She nodded her head towards us as a hello and went in front of a mirror to fix her make-up.

“So? Why didn't you tell us?”

“Because Garreth and I are not together, dammit!”

Leighton and Hayden stared at me, surprised. Elisha laughed.

“As usual, I surely meddle in what doesn't concern me but whatever. Seriously, are you sure you’re not together? Because even though it doesn't seem very clear to you, from what I saw, for him, it is.”

My friends nodded together at the words of Elisha.

“In your place, I would stop worrying. It's obvious you are his girlfriend and he’s crazy about you and believe me, any girl would give a lot for her boyfriend to look at her like Garreth looks at you. Me first,” she said, looking dreamy.

“You’re right,” I admitted after a moment of silence.

Yes, I had to admit, compared to all the relationships I had observed here from a distance, I was lucky to have found someone like Garreth.

“I’m always right,” she retorted simply, accompanying her reply was a radiant smile and a wink. Elisha took her things and left, waving at us before leaving.

“We going?” I asked them, opening the door, a minute later.

“We're coming! I just want to freshen up a bit...Leighton too, but you can go. Garreth is probably waiting for you.”

I exchanged a confused look with Leighton, who seemed just as lost as I was. She shrugged. I soon realized that whatever Hayden had to say, she didn't want me to hear. I was hurt to realize that, perhaps, the reason was that she wanted to speak to Leighton about me and Spencer. I walked out of the bathroom. My mood went gloomy all of a sudden because I was afraid Spencer would mess up my friendship with Hayden. I took the path to the cafeteria. At the corner of a hallway, I stopped.

Oh God! He
was
there! Travis!
He was only a few feet away from me and no witness was there to prevent him from harming me. I was paralyzed with fear, frozen in place, my heart pounding. He didn't move either, merely staring at me with his arrogant attitude, his famous wicked grin in place.

“Deliah?”

I jumped when a hand landed on my shoulder. I spun around and found Leighton and Hayden watching me with curiosity and suspicion.

“Is everything okay?”

Her psycho brother is here and Leighton asks me that?
I turned my head to see Travis again, but he was gone, disappeared into thin air.

“Deliah? Something's wrong?”

If she were asking me, it meant she didn't see the problem. Garreth had told me that between them,
Enimae
could “feel” each other’s presence and they knew if one or many congeners were around. Travis wasn't here. My mind might have tricked me. I could have let it go if only the strange things in my life hadn't always proved true in the last few months.

“I...no...no, everything's okay,” I lied. “I just preferred to wait for you two.”

Given the suspicious look Leighton gave me, she wasn't fooled but she let it slide, nonetheless. We went together to the cafeteria. I saw Garreth, alone at our table for six. He was in the middle of a conversation on the phone. He smiled at me and I gave him an awkward smile before sitting in front of him. Since I’ve known Garreth, I have never seen him use his cell phone, except for calling Leighton. But she was here, with us. I wondered who he was talking to.

“...is there. I’ll give her the phone,” I heard him say.

He handed the cell phone to his sister. She took it and quickly slipped a word in the ear of her brother, to which he responded by addressing me with a surprised look. I frowned in response. Leighton hurried out. My interest was piqued by her eagerness. Who was at the other end?

“Where is Spencer?” Hayden inquired.

In search of her boyfriend, she threw frantic glances in the cafeteria hall. She looked so serious. I felt my stomach knot, sensing that I was the matter she wanted to discuss with him. I didn't want to be the cause of a dispute between them or even make them break up. Worse, I didn't want all this to alter or break up my friendship with Hayden. She was my sister of heart, the only one who was always by my side. Although Leighton and Garreth meant a lot to me, she was the one who supported me from the beginning and helped me not to sink into a profound depression because of Tess’s death. Without her, I would have been lost to the world. I owed her everything.

“Talking with people in his class,” Garreth said pointing to a spot outside the cafeteria. “He told me to tell you to join him when you got here.”

“Thank you,” she gratified him before hurrying towards the French window where Spencer was.

“Alone, at last.”

Garreth's voice in my ear should have done something to me, but my mind was a thousand miles away, focused on Hayden. My eyes couldn't leave the spot where she might be with Spencer. I hoped that when the French door would open again, she wouldn't have her heart in pieces.

“You’re not here, with me.”

I turned my attention to him, but then the image of Travis in the hallway reappeared in my mind. I could hardly believe I had imagined his presence. The danger usually emanating from him was indeed real. But Garreth's features involved neither anger nor anxiety right now, what would have been on his face if Travis had been in town. Could it be possible that his brother has managed to come back without him or Leighton noticing? The crow this morning and now this. Two strange events in the same morning, it was too much to be a simple trick of my imagination.

“Can we go outside? Somewhere isolated? I need to talk to you. It's important,” I stressed in order for him to understand I wanted to talk about something related with his world.

He frowned, questioningly but nodded, nevertheless. He stood up as did I and we took the direction of one of the exits. He took me to an outdoor table, away from the crowd, hidden by some trees. We sat, facing each other, the table separating us.