The Academy of Underachievers: Year One
Page 22
I rub my temple with my fingertips, trying to ease the pulsing feeling.
“Briar.”
Shaking my head lightly, I keep my eyes closed, the ache starting to ease. “I’m fine.” Slowly opening my eyes, I almost allow myself to be comforted by the concern on his face but quickly see him kissing Angie in my mind.
Turning my face to the side, I stare at the wall, unable to look at him any longer. “What happened?”
He lets out a heavy sigh, the bed shifting as he moves. I hear the water in the bathroom turn on, just as quickly shutting off. I keep my eyes averted from his as he moves to the side of the bed, offering me a glass of water.
I mumble my thanks as I take the cup in my hand, drinking the entirety and still feeling parched.
Jet sinks to his knees, his elbows resting on the mattress. “I’ve been so worried about you.”
I’m unable to suppress the roll of my eyes, scoffing lowly. “I’m sure. You and Angie probably had this whole thing concocted. Get the silly freshman to fall in love with you so you two could take me out.” I scoff, even though tears form in my eyes.
“Briar, you have to believe me. I didn’t know about Angie. I swear.” His voice is so sincere I have to fight myself not to meet his eyes. He rises, lowering to the edge of the bed, his leg pressed against mine that rests under the warm blanket. “I know it’s going to take time for you to process everything, but once you understand—“
My eyes snap to his, a tear slipping down my cheek as my brows draw together with anger. “I will never understand why you tricked me, why you want me dead, or why you didn’t just stay with Angie!”
His jaw slacks open, shaking his head slowly as his dark eyes fill with sadness. “I didn’t know about their plan. You can’t possibly believe that I would ever want anyone to harm you, much less that I would participate in doing so.”
I fold my arms over my chest, ignoring the pull of the stitches in my arm as I glare at him. “I do believe that. This whole time this,” I gesture my hand between us, “was nothing more than a ploy to get me to trust you. I can’t believe I was so naïve.” I hang my head, unable to look at him any longer.
“If I was in on it, why would I have tried to warn Colton?”
I shrug a shoulder, keeping my eyes away from his.
“Why would I have come to your rescue?” He lets out a shaky breath. “Why would I have killed my father?”
My head snaps up, my eyes widening with shock. “What?”
He nods slowly, his eyes welling with tears. “Dad was one of the men in the hoods.” Taking a deep breath, he rises, beginning to pace. “I had stopped by his office before I was coming to meet you to go to the bar to celebrate. When I opened the door, I overheard him, Angie, and Mr. Lewis talking about a sacrifice.”
Turning, his eyes meet mine briefly before he focuses back to pacing.
“I listened on the other side of the door, but they caught me. I was held in the Dean’s office while Angie went to find you. I tried to send Colton a message for him to warn you, but he didn’t understand.”
I nod, remembering us talking about that in the car on the way to the tavern. “Colton thought you were talking about that book.”
He smirks at me, but it has no sense of humor to it.
Stopping next to the bed, he faces me. “Yeah. What it meant was Angie is the witch, she’s the one responsible for everything that has happened to you, and there’s a dress that she’s going to want you to wear, but don’t.”
I think back to that night, remembering the red dress that she insisted I wear out. Shaking my head, I squeeze my eyes shut. “I don’t understand.” My voice comes out barely a whisper.
I feel the bed sink down beside me, Jet’s warm hand covering mine. “Please, babe. You have to believe that I would never do anything to hurt you.”
My chest physically aches at the remembrance of his lips on Angie’s.
I pull my hand from his, tucking it under the blanket and pulling it under my chin. “You kissed her.” My vision blurs with unshed tears, but I can see the pain on Jet’s face.
“No, Briar, I didn’t.”
I narrow my brows at him, opening my mouth to retort, but he quickly continues.
“That was all an illusion spell. Angie masked herself to look like you, and as soon as I pulled away from her, realizing it wasn’t you, I was able to snap out of the trance I had been put under, and I went after you.”
I think back to how Lana had insisted I was standing before Jet, then suddenly he was kissing Angie as if I had vanished into thin air.
Jet lifts his hand, cupping my cheek tenderly as he swipes a stray tear with his thumb. “I killed my father to save you, Briar. I would never plan to hurt you or let anyone else do so.”
A choked sob escapes me, not knowing what to believe in this mess that has become my life.
Jet gingerly pulls me to him, my face resting against his bare chest as tears soak my cheek. “I think I have something that will make you feel a bit better.” He slowly pulls away from me, letting his hands slide from around me as he stands, moving over to his dresser. Pulling the top drawer open, he reaches inside, palming something and moving back to my side.
As he opens his hand, my lip lifts as I reach for the familiar ring.
“Angie got away, but she left this behind. Mr. Lewis was able to flee, as well.”
I slide the ring onto my finger, rubbing the black stone as I spin it around.
“What I don’t understand is why you never told me who you are.”
I lift my eyes, finding Jet giving me an appraising stare. “What? You know who I am.”
His lip quirks up to the side slightly, his head shaking. “You’re a descendant of the First Family. That’s why Angie came after you. To steal your powers. Why you didn’t think to mention that is beyond me.”
I stare at him, completely dumbfounded. “I have no idea what you’re talking about right now. Or what you may be implying, but I don’t have powers, Jet.” A humorless laugh leaves me at the thought. “Of all the insane things you could say, this has to take the cake.”
He gently sits beside me, a small smirk to his lips. “Think about it, Briar. I’d imagine if you really think about this, you’d realize certain unexplainable events have always followed you.”
I sit stewing on his words. Nothing has ever happened to me. Sure, occasionally, the weather has changed suddenly to match my mood, and once I think I heard what the neighbor's cat was thinking.
I tilt my head to the side, my brows tugging together. There’s also been times when doors and windows opened just after I thought in my mind to open them, and items would move in my bedroom at home without me physically touching them. And the ghost children were able to brace my fall.
I shake my head quickly, attempting to rid the thoughts from my mind. “No. I’m a normal person who happens to be able to see paranormal beings with the assistance of my family crest. Just like everyone else at this school.”
Jet gently places his hand to my shoulder, a knowing look on his face. “I think you truly know differently. I think in a way you always have.”
I stare into his dark eyes, memory after memory of unexplainable events over my life assaulting my mind. Looking over to the side table, I focus on the empty glass I had drank from earlier, really concentrating on it.
As it spins in a slow circle upon the wooden furniture, Jet looks over to it as well, his eyes widening similarly as mine do too.
“I guess that proves my point.” His gaze meets mine, a small smile tugging to his lips as I softly shake my head in disbelief.
How have I not know about my power my entire life?
About the Author
Early in life, Alex found love. Reading. Books have always been a part of life, and when the writing bug struck, it was a natural fit. Alex is an independent author who was raised and still resides in small-town Alabama. When not writing, Alex will be found reading, cooking, or spending time on the lake with her husband, tw
o children, and friends.
Stay up to date with the newest releases by following on Facebook here.
Thank you for reading. Please consider leaving a review.
Other Books by Alex Dafney
Romance
The Girl He Left Behind
A Friendly Encounter
Home
What Could’ve Been
Fantasy Romance
Denounce
Safe Travels – Book One of the Shifting Through Time Duet