I didn’t even bother to reply to him, I just sunk in to the driver’s seat and jabbed the keys in the ignition. I was halted in my getaway, though, when Jude yanked open the door leaning one of his arms on it and the other on the hood of my car. He bent down so our faces were just inches apart and smiled at me.
“What, Jude?” I shouted at him. I was so over this day.
He stared at me for a while without saying something. His eyes dipped from mine to my lips and then back up. He seemed a little confused.
“I just wanted to tell you to drive carefully.” His eyes danced with humor and I knew he was being ironic.
“Got it covered.”
“Your lips are swollen,” he said out of the blue.
My hand immediately flew to my mouth and I rubbed at my lips. I tried to decide if I was excited that Seth had kissed me like that or disturbed that his enthusiasm seemed to have something to do with his missing soul.
“Isn’t it interesting that even without his wiser faculties, he seems to recognize you as his?” Jude dropped a hand and reached forward. I sat stunned by his boldness, not thinking enough to make him stop. He rubbed his thumb over my bottom lip and then smiled at me. “Fascinating.”
When he pulled his hand back I couldn’t stop myself from asking, “Did you call Seven here? Were you spying on us?”
“Stella, my contract says that I protect you from every threat. If you don’t see your boy as a threat yet, then what are you waiting for?”
His words were like ice water in my veins- the reality check I was ignoring.
Taking in my stunned expression he laughed, “This is fun, isn’t it?”
“Screw you.”
And then I stomped on the gas pedal and let the door knock Jude out of the way. I sped
recklessly out of the parking lot and onto the highway, never once letting my foot off the gas. I was desperate to get away from Jude and the world he represented. I felt used tonight and somehow violated, and I hated it.
I just wanted to get away.
But by the headlights that stayed behind me all the way home, I realized I couldn’t get away. Jude, Aliah, Seven and the Darkness that consumed them would follow me everywhere.
And now that Darkness included Seth.
This wasn’t my lot in life, this was my battle.
And it was time to fight it.
Chapter Twelve
“You blew off ice cream?” Piper demanded first thing the next morning. “How could you blow off ice cream?”
“I was tired?” That sounded too unsure. “I was tired.” I repeated for good measure.
“I guess,” Piper huffed. She swiped at her heavy bangs. She was wearing at least twenty bangles on each wrist and they clanked together with her movement. As usual her outfit was half artsy-eclectic and half small-public-school-chic. She wore a baggy, red school shirt over a black cami. The t-shirt had been cut into a makeshift halter top and then she’d cut long vertical slits in the middle. She’d covered her shoulders, per dress code requirements, with a knee-length cardigan. She finished her look with black shimmery leggings and knee high boots that could have easily been a Jack Sparrow wardrobe option. Her eye makeup was dark and heavy and she had these huge, chunky gold earrings to complete the look.
She somehow managed to pull off her Bohemian high school student split personality and still look hot.
I used to think I could never get away with her daring style, but lately I was looking more and more Goth-cheerleader. My blonde hair would always belong in a shampoo commercial, but these days my outfits were becoming a uniform of short skirts and long trench coats. Daggers and swords and weapons; oh my. Anything to keep from showing up vulnerable and weaponless at the next Fallen fan club confrontation.
My eyeliner was a little dark, too, today. And I couldn’t explain that, except that I was also feeling a little dark today. After Seth’s epic kiss and then his equally epic brush-off, I couldn’t help but feel depressed. Plus the bothersome little fly that was Jude….
I was all Rebel without a Cause today.
And I think it showed more than I realized.
“We need to do something, Stel. We haven’t hung out in forever.” Piper whined. She pulled her books down for first hour class and looked at me sideways. “You’re always ditching me.”
“Because I’m sick and tired,” I reminded her.
“Sick and tired of what?” Jude interrupted.
When I looked up, he was leaning back against the bank of lockers to my left. He was holding two cups of coffee in his hand- as in latte’s, as in from Starbucks.
We didn’t have a Starbucks near here for at least forty-five minutes. That meant he somehow flew it back here this morning. Which would mean it would be frozen if he took it up that high.
“You,” I sighed, but my eyes were still on the confusing coffee and so I didn’t sound sincere.
Jude just grinned. “Coffee?”
“Isn’t it cold?” I raised my eyebrows and crossed my arms.
“It was cold,” Jude caught my meaning. “But I’ve heated it up. It’s actually the perfect temperature.” He nudged the back of my hand with it and I could feel how hot it was through the cardboard cup.
I frowned. Why was he being nice to me?
“Is it poisoned?” I asked dryly.
He grinned bigger. “It’s not poisoned. It’s hazelnut. Do you like hazelnut?”
“I prefer caramel-vanilla.” I accepted the hot deluxe coffee and pressed my lips together so I wouldn’t smile. “For future reference.”