How could he tell her he’d killed people?
Those beautiful eyes would look at him differently then.
She would see a monster instead of the boy who loved her, and he would lose her.
He couldn’t handle that.
Now he had a new worry.
Jersey had sent him a present but hadn’t told him what it was or where to find it.
He silently prayed it was just a book, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was something horrible.
Jersey loved to be mysterious.
Until Jack found the thing, he was going to be on red alert.
It was like having a sharp axe hanging over his head, waiting to fall.
******
Chapter Eight:
ANOTHER SURPRISE
Jack was still walking on air a few days later, a side-effect of finally turning eighteen.
He strolled across the parking lot behind Silver while carrying her books for her.
Before entering the school building, he turned to take a last look at his new car.
It handled like a dream, and it belonged to him.
If he lived to be a hundred, he wouldn’t be able to repay Billy for giving him such an incredible gift.
By the time he had driven home after the party, Isobel was gone.
He’d called Silver the second he made it to his bedroom.
Two voices whispering in the dark, they had stayed up until dawn.
Jack thought about suggesting they go to sleep a few times, talk in their dreams instead, but every time he started to say something about it, Silver would say something else.
He loved the sound of her voice in the real world too much to tell her they should go to sleep.
He’d been thrilled that she put aside studying for once to spend time with him, even if it was only on the phone.
They were both exhausted.
Silver stopped at her locker and yawned into her hand before opening the metal box.
Jack stood behind her for a second, peering over her shoulder.
Her books were lined up neatly in alphabetical order.
There was a small box with pencils, erasers, pens, a highlighter, and other assorted items she might need in the course of a school day.
He grinned.
Her locker even smelled clean.
It was kind of ridiculous to him.
“Silver Reign, I want to talk to you.”
Trina marched over, spun on one foot, and fell back against the locker next to Silver’s with an exaggerated sigh.
“Do you realize how long it’s been since we’ve had some serious girl time?
Well I’ll tell you.
Months.
It’s been months.”
Trina crossed arms over her chest and scowled at her best friend.
Silver’s eyebrows drew together.
“That long?
Are you sure?”
“Positive.
You’re either hunting, doing homework, spending time with Jack here or doing some
college
thing.”
“I assume you have a plan.”
“My house.
Tonight.”
Trina wagged a finger at Silver.
“And you’d better not tell me you’re busy.”
Before Silver could utter a single word, Jack said, “I think that’s a great idea.”
Both girls looked at him in surprise.
He added, “Just do me one favor.
Invite Isobel.”
Trina’s jaw
tightened,
and she shook her head vehemently.
Silver immediately understood what he had in mind.
A big smile lit up her face.
“That’s one way to get her alone so we can question her.
If you think she would show up for it.”
“She will if you convince her I haven’t told you anything.
Remember, she told you she wanted to have a slumber party?
This is our chance.
Just play it cool.”
Trina started complaining loudly about how much she hated that girl and how this was supposed to be her time alone with Silver.
She ended with, “I don’t want that witch in my house.”
“Better idea.”
Jack spoke directly to Silver.
“Invite her to your house.”
Silver nodded, reading his mind.
“The mansion.”
“It’s perfect.
You and I will go to your house after school today and prepare a little surprise for our mutual friend.”
“You’re going to give her a surprise?”
Trina stared daggers at both Jack and Silver.
“What do I have to do around here to get some attention?”
Jack got on one side of Trina with Silver on the other.
They both put their arms around the girl, drawing her close so only she could hear their plan.
Jack started by saying, “You were right about Isobel.
She’s evil.”
“She won’t be staying the night,” Silver said.
“We just need to talk to her, find out what she knows and what she’s up to.”
“Intense.”
Trina smiled, hopeful.
“Will there be torture?”
Jack and Silver leaned forward so they could see each other. They exchanged amused glances.
Maybe scheming together would help fix what had gone wrong with their relationship.
For a moment Jack wished Trina would evaporate so he could lean in close and kiss Silver.
It had been too long since his lips had touched hers.
Reluctantly Jack dragged himself away from the girls and went to his own locker.
Unlike Silver’s locker, it was a mess.
His eyes searched for his History book.
It took a while before he caught sight of a partial word: TORY.
It was tucked under an open notebook.
A torn page covered the first few letters of the title.
Jack removed it and clanged the metal door shut.
Meghan Welch was there in his face with her usual cheerful smile.
She handed him a pink flyer.
“Have you heard the big news?
I’m running for Prom Queen.
I hope I can count on your vote.”
Meghan linked her arm through his and pulled him along the hallway as if she knew they were headed for the same destination.
She continued to talk, reminding him of the Albino Vampire, another individual who enjoyed the sound of their own voice a little too much.
For the millionth time Jack wondered where Blaine was at, what he was up to, and if he planned on returning for revenge.
“No one has done more for this school than me,” Meghan droned on.
At least she had to let go of his arm to pass out flyers to passing students.
She smiled at them but continued to talk to him.
“I’m going to the prom with the quarterback because he’s sure to be king.
It wouldn’t be good idea for me to be with a loser.”
Jack stared at her, trying hard not to roll his eyes.
He nodded and pursed his lips together to keep from shouting at her.
A war was coming, and the oblivious girl only cared about gathering another meaningless title.
He shrugged.
“Sounds like you have it under control then.”
“Well I would much rather go to the prom with someone like you.”
Her eyes raked down his body in a way that made him a hundred times more uncomfortable than he imagined possible.
She batted her eyelashes at him.
“I don’t even like Robert Garrison.”
“Who?”
“The
star quarterback
of our football team.”
She shook her head at him.
“I know you haven’t been here a whole year yet, but when are you going to learn the names of the major players?”
His eyes slid over to Silver, silently begging her to save him from the most inane conversation he’d had in over a decade.
He mumbled, “I don’t know.”
Trying hard not to be obvious about it, he stretched both arms over his head, arched his back and faked a yawn while beckoning to Silver with his fingers, but Silver just smiled, amused at his predicament.
Trina had her locked into a conversation anyway.
She probably couldn’t get away to help even if she wanted to.
Jack realized he was going to have to extricate himself somehow.
If only he still had fangs.
One flash of those babies and Meghan Welch would leave him alone for the rest of his life.
He made a show of glancing at his watch.
“I don’t want to be late for class.
I’m sure you don’t either, being the best student here and all.”
“Oh, it’s no problem.
I just have typing class, and Ms.
Shurley
always lets me get by with being tardy or not showing up at all even.”
Her hand went to his upper arm this time.
She squeezed it and made a face as if she’d never felt a muscle before.
“I can walk you to class if you’re worried about being late.
Who do you have now?
Most of the teachers just love me.
I can even get you out of class for the entire day if you want.
I’ll tell Hardwick you’re helping me with the prom.
I’m on the decorating committee, you know.”
He hadn’t known that, but it didn’t surprise him, not even a little bit.
Meghan seemed to have her greedy hand in everything.
Speaking of her hand, it moved up and down his arm in a disturbing caress.
A flash of a hairy tarantula came to mind.
He had to find a way to get away from her.
Maybe it was time for him to be painfully blunt.
Before he could open his mouth, another hand slid over his shoulder and rested possessively near his throat.
He sighed in relief.
Silver had decided to come to his rescue after all.
“Are you flirting with my guy, Meg?”
That voice didn’t belong to Silver.
Jack didn’t have to turn his head to know it was Isobel standing next to him, Isobel’s hand on his shoulder, and it was the sight of Isobel that put pure terror in Meghan’s eyes.
“I-I’m s-s-sorry.
I didn’t know you two even knew each other.”
Meghan stared at them for several awkward seconds like a deer in the headlights before making a hasty departure.
Jack stood frozen to the spot.
The hairs on the back of his neck prickled near where Isobel’s heavy hand rested.
He thought about the candles on his birthday cake.
Too bad he hadn’t wished for this moment to never happen.
With obvious reluctance, Jack turned to face her.
At least it gave him the opportunity to step sideways so she couldn’t keep touching him.
He asked, “Are you happy now?
She’s going to tell everyone who will listen to her that we’re a couple.”
“Don’t tell me you were actually enjoying being handled by that creature.
Meghan Welch is as shallow as a saucer of milk.”
“So?”
The bell rang.
Jack looked around, stunned to find they were the only ones left in the hallway.
Great.
He was tardy for a second time in a month because of Isobel.
A little inner voice tempted him to ditch school altogether.
Why not?
If he moved quickly, he could be out the doors before anyone noticed.
Isobel smiled, reading his mind.
“Why don’t we go somewhere, just the two of us?
We can talk.”
“About what?”
“Up to you.
I’m game for anything.”
He rolled his eyes and headed for the office instead.
“I think I’ll take my chances with Hardwick, thanks.”
“Have it your way.
Just do me one tiny favor please.”
It was the word please that caught him off guard.
Coming from her mouth, it didn’t sound quite right.
He stopped walking, and she ran into his back.
With a mumbled apology, she moved to the side.
His eyes narrowed on her face.
“What?”
“Don’t tell anyone about me, especially not Silver.
She’s a hunter, you know.
If you tell her about me, her family will kill me.”
Without a word, he walked away.
“Jack!”
She followed him, an annoying dog nipping at his heels.
“Are you going to keep my secret or not?”
“I don’t know.”
“At least give me the opportunity to run if you’re going to spill your guts.”
He paused at the office door and smirked at her.
“Maybe I will.
Maybe I won’t.”
Then he stepped into the office, ignoring Isobel’s cry of outrage.
It was nice to have the upper-hand for a change.
Let her sweat.
She’d find out the truth tonight when she got to Silver’s house.
The secretary glanced up from the papers on her desk.
She stared at Jack through wire-rimmed glasses.
“Tardy again, Mr. Reece?”
Clicking her tongue, she shook her head at him.
“Well, I’m afraid you’ll have to talk to the principal before I give you a tardy slip this time.”
Turning on the charm, he said, “Come on, Ms.
Klecki
.
Just give me the slip and send me on my way.
You know you want to.”