by T. A. Brock
“Everything,” was his immediate reply.
The air left her lungs on a sad sigh. She knew exactly how he felt. Exactly. Sometimes being alone was the only thing that didn’t hurt, the only thing that felt right. It didn’t make sense and she couldn’t explain it, but…there were times when you just didn’t want to drag anyone else down into the pit with you. You needed—and wanted—to be there by yourself.
She looked him squarely in the eyes. “You’re right. I get it.” To Aiken she said, “About tonight, I can’t. My mom is expecting me home. But maybe another time.”
He grinned uncomfortably, but still, it was stunning. “Sure. Definitely another time.”
Cori had done enough pushing for one day. And going by the frowny-faced Mrs. Wan, she’d had enough of them talking in class.
Chapter 9
Peeping Zombie
BREATHE. JUST BREATHE. Grayson had come so close to losing it. There was no description for the feeling that had washed over him when he’d heard Aiken ask Cori out. It was sort of like taking a bath in acid. It was a real testament to his progress with temper management that he didn’t try to rip the Reaper’s head off. He hadn’t even growled. Even when her eyes got all foggy at the prospect of being alone with Aiken, he’d managed to hold it in.
But the truth was, he didn’t care if she liked Aiken or if she wanted to be with him. That was just too bad. He wasn’t going to let Aiken get close to her. No way. Something inside him just revolted at the thought of the two of them together. And so, it wouldn’t happen. He would see to it. The shrimp and the Reaper would never be.
He caught Aiken after class.
“What the hell was that,” he ground out.
Aiken flicked his gaze over before he sighed dramatically. “That was you interfering with my night out on the town.” He continued down the hall, Grayson trailing after him.
“We talked about this. She’s not here for your entertainment.”
Aiken cocked an eyebrow, which was apparently his trademark. “Maybe I’m here for hers. Ever thought of that?”
Grayson ground his teeth together. “Why exactly are you here?”
“Not like it’s any of your business,” the Reaper drawled, “but there was an incident with some rogues a couple hours north of here. Asher was a routine check along the way.”
Rogues. Grayson flinched. It was so rare. Most zombies ate strictly animal flesh. Like normal people, they bought it from the grocery store. They just…didn’t cook it.
But there were some who craved the living. Humans. Whether it was the taste or simply the power trip of being higher up on the food chain, he didn’t know, but the idea that these beasts were out there made him sick. The idea that he shared any commonality with them at all made his skin crawl. Made him desperate to be different. Drove him to consider using his Save.
“Routine, huh? Then why are you enrolled in school?”
Aiken kept walking as if they were discussing the weather and not slavering zombies. “Duh. Because we decided to stick around for a while,” was his cryptic answer.
“We?”
“Of course. I’m a ‘teenager,’ you know,” he said sarcastically. “I have ‘parents.’”
Grayson wanted to throttle him, but he wanted answers more. “Why are you ‘sticking around’?”
He finally stopped walking and faced Grayson. “You ask too many questions.” Another dramatic sigh. “There are some situations that need to be monitored here.” He grinned widely. “Therefore, I am.”
“What situations?” Couldn’t he answer a damn question?
“None of your biz.”
“Fine. Let’s discuss what is my biz. Cori. Stay away from her. And this is my last warning.” Grayson’s voice was made hard by his determination.
“Are you threatening me?” Aiken asked coolly.
This time it was Grayson’s turn to smile—even though it came out as something none too friendly. “Being a Reaper, you of all people should know what a threat sounds like.”
The stiffening of Aiken’s shoulders was the only indication that Grayson had gotten under his skin.
Aiken stepped up until they were eye to eye. “Being a civilian, you of all people should know better than to threaten a Reaper.” His words, though calm, held a menace that Grayson, for some reason, had no trouble ignoring.
“Ask me if I’m scared.”
Aiken stayed silent, his eyes telling of his restraint.
“I won’t let you use her.” Grayson meant it. Wholeheartedly.
“Funny,” Aiken gritted out, his face so close to Grayson’s their breath was mingling. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
As the Reaper stormed off, Grayson realized what the guy meant: he knew if Grayson learned how to save himself, that was exactly what he was going to do to Cori, use her. Oh, how the irony stung.
Shaking off the unease he was feeling, he decided he’d save that worry for later. Right now, he had to make sure Cori didn’t end up alone with a zombie—er, a zombie other than himself.
Following her home was easy once he rationalized that he should know where she lived in case Aiken tried to pull something. Luckily, she walked home, so it was nothing to stay hidden as he trailed her.
When Cori walked up to an average cottage-style house with an oversized front porch, he wasn’t at all surprised. It was nothing like his own—zombies loved expensive accommodations, the lush and ritzy. Something about wanting to be as far away from the stereotypical dead as possible. It was one thing to chill out in a graveyard, but when it came to living…well, they wanted to live it up. High style ideals. It was especially important if you lived in a bigger city where the zombie quota was higher. According to his brother and sister, no respectable zombie was without money.
He waited until she was inside before he snuck around to peek in one of the windows. She was in the kitchen, staring into the open refrigerator. She stood there a while before finally closing the door and plucking a banana from the bowl on the counter. Grayson couldn’t remember what a banana tasted like, but he could remember that he’d once liked them. And they smelled amazing.
Leaning against the counter, she ate. He watched, riveted, imagining what the fruit must taste like. And then an errant thought had him practically drooling: if he kissed her lips right now, would they taste like a banana? This led to other thoughts: what would her lips taste like? Feel like?
The spell was broken when she tossed the peel into the trashcan. Grayson scrambled to right his thoughts. He shouldn’t think like that. He couldn’t think like that.
Cori wandered out of the kitchen. Keeping to the bushes, Grayson went around to the side of the house to look in another window. This one opened up into the living room and he could see Cori sitting on the couch. From his vantage point, he could only see her in profile. She was just sitting there, stiffly, shoulders slumped, staring at the wall. How odd. There wasn’t a picture there or anything else of interest—or anything at all. Then suddenly her face crumpled and her head dropped to her hands.
Sobbing. She was sobbing, her body shuddering with each breath.
The sight terrified him. But why? He had no idea. He, who was truly afraid of nothing.
Just days ago he might have shrugged it off, her crying. He’d thought her weak, frail, easily spooked. But something was different now. He’d noticed a vein of strength in her that put his earlier judgment to shame.
He didn’t understand her. Not at all.
But why was she crying?
Grayson pushed away from the window. It wasn’t any of his business.
But he didn’t go home. What if Aiken showed up and convinced her to go somewhere with him? No, he would stick around until her mom returned.
Hours passed. So many that he’d had to go around back to find the garden hose for a drink. This part of the country got dark early so he spent a few hours in relative blackness before he checked his cell phone for the time. It was nine forty-five. Where was Cori�
��s mother?
He had several text messages from Leiv and Raina so he sent one back: Be home soon.
At ten twenty he wandered back over to the window. It was pitch dark inside, but he could see fine. Stellar night vision. One of the few zombie benefits. Cori was still on the couch, but she was curled up, asleep. He guessed she’d been like that since he walked away earlier.
More time passed while he watched her sleep. She was peaceful, her face relaxed, one hand tucked under her cheek. Whatever had troubled her earlier was gone. Grayson was…glad. It surprised him that he cared.
With a scowl, he shook off the feeling and went to the back of the house for more water.
As he returned to the window, he heard a cry, the noise coming from inside the house. Cori was still asleep, but she stirred fitfully and moaned as if she were in pain. The longer it went on, the harder it became for him to remain where he was. He cringed with each tortured sound. Then she was sobbing again, full out, in her sleep.
Why would she cry like this? So many tears, and for what?
The thought occurred to him that he should help her. He should do something to make it stop.
Grayson stared through the darkness as Cori huddled tighter into a ball, shivering, tears streaking her cheeks. He couldn’t stand it. She was clearly suffering, her dreams tormenting her in ways he didn’t understand. She shouldn’t suffer like this. He didn’t like it. Whatever the reason for his sudden concern, he hated to see her like this.
Grayson went to the front door and tried the handle. He was shocked to find it unlocked. He frowned. She should take more care with her safety. Anyone could’ve easily walked right through the door.
Just as he was about to go inside, a flash of light caught his attention. Headlights, to be exact. A car was pulling into Cori’s driveway.
Grayson jumped over the side railing of the porch and crouched down in the bushes. From there he could see that the vehicle was a tan SUV, but he couldn’t see who was driving it. They parked and shut off the engine. A middle-aged woman wearing periwinkle scrubs and a tired expression emerged carrying a large flat box: pizza. This had to be Cori’s mom.
For some reason he’d been holding his breath and now he let it out.
The woman went to open the door, pausing, frowning when she realized it was unlocked. After she went inside, Grayson moved back around to the living room window. He saw several lights get flipped on and then the woman came into the area where the couch was. She paused when she spotted her daughter. Cori had stopped crying, but telltale wetness lingered on her face. For so long, the woman just stared. Her face held a sorrow so deep Grayson knew something was terribly wrong. What was their story?
She blinked. Wiped her eyes. Then she pulled the throw from the back of the couch and draped it over her daughter. She stood there a while longer, watching Cori with her sad eyes. Then she flicked off the light and left the room. A faint glow came from the kitchen but then it was gone, followed by another one upstairs.
He waited until everything was dark again before peering one last time through the living room window. Cori was sleeping soundly, the lines that had creased her brow gone. With her eyes closed, the rest of her features weren’t as painfully average as they normally were, and he could see that there was something quite beautiful about her.
Grayson pushed away from the window and headed home before the thought could take root in his mind.
When he got there, he was grateful that his siblings were already in bed. He didn’t feel like trying to explain where he’d been.
He went to the refrigerator, snatched a hunk of beef, and went to his room. Sitting on his bed, he tore into the flesh, just realizing how hungry he’d become.
As he ate, he considered what he should do about Cori and how to keep her away from Aiken. The Reaper had already weaseled his way into her life with his oh-so-friendly demeanor and matching smile. For a moment Grayson thought maybe he could do the same thing. Charm her. But no, he wasn’t smooth like that. And he didn’t smile. The best he could do was distract her. Maybe if he kept her busy enough she’d stay away from Aiken. And maybe it could also help with whatever troubles she was dealing with at home.
After he finished eating, he showered and consumed enough water to last him through the night, then climbed into bed. He stared at the ceiling, trying to come up with a good enough plan to keep Cori distracted. Before he knew it, the sound of blaring Whitesnake informed him morning had come.
Chapter 10
Of Marshmallows and Golden Retrievers
CORI WOKE UP ANNOYED to find herself on the couch. But at least it wasn’t the middle of the night. No, the sun was blazing through the window, landing on her face. She sat up and rubbed at eyes that felt like they had wool eyelids. She’d slept awfully. Nightmares. And the crick in her neck might as well have been the cherry on top of a crap sundae.
Cori made her way to the kitchen, rolling her shoulders to get the kinks out. Mom was already gone, but she’d left a note on the counter. And she’d brought pizza home again. Cori was sick of pizza, but her stomach was making an almost constant growl, so she started in on a slice, the same way she ate most of her meals at home now—alone and standing at the counter.
As she chewed, she forced her mind to still. If she started thinking about things, she’d cry again and she didn’t want to have cry-face for school.
When she was done, she went upstairs to get ready. She managed to shower, brush her teeth, and dress before random thoughts started tormenting her.
She’d decided she wouldn’t try to talk to Grayson again. It was clear he didn’t want to be bothered. And really, she didn’t have the energy to keep it up. After all, she was just a fragile breath away from breaking herself. It was dumb to think she could somehow help him.
As for Aiken…well, she didn’t have the energy for that either. Yeah, he was a total hottie and he was interested in her, but he couldn’t possibly understand her, not to mention all she was going through, and she just didn’t have it in her to make him understand.
At school she bypassed her locker in hopes of avoiding Peg. She didn’t feel like putting up a shiny front. In class, she busied herself with her notebook. Probably pointless, but she hoped when Aiken got there he wouldn’t try to talk to her.
Grayson walked in first, and she avoided looking at him. When he sat down behind her, she let out a relieved breath. At least she knew he wouldn’t bother her—
“Hey.” He said it as if he was trying to get her attention. Not like he was saying hi.
She ignored him. How the tables had turned. But she just wasn’t in the mood for being nice today.
“Cori,” he tried again a few minutes later.
She sighed. He’d get the hint.
Except he didn’t. “Cori.”
She was going to have to answer him. “Yeah,” she said without turning around.
But he was silent again. Fine, whatever. Jerk.
It was only when class started that she realized Aiken was absent. For that, she was exceedingly thankful.
When the bell rang she hurried out of class and to her locker. Peg was there with a smile as bright as her neon yellow denim jacket.
“Missed you this morning,” she said, eyes appraising. “You okay?”
Cori returned her friend’s smile, but she was pretty sure it was more like a grimace. “Yeah, fine. Just had a rough night.”
“Oh.” They started walking. “Have you seen Aiken?” Peg asked.
Cori shook her head. “He wasn’t in class.”
Peg’s crimson eyebrows furrowed. “So…last night? You didn’t have fun? I mean, he seems…”
“What are you talking about?”
“Uh, well Aiken told Rex he was taking you out.”
Cori ground her teeth together. “No, he asked me if he could take me out. I said no.”
Peg’s eyebrows went sky high and then came back down to register some other emotion. Something Cori couldn’t name. “Um, okay.
I just assumed, you know.”
Cori shrugged. “It’s no big deal.” But it sorta was. Why would Peg just assume she’d said yes? Because he was cute? Well, yeah, that made sense. And Aiken…presumptuous much?
In class, Grayson didn’t sit behind her as usual. This time, he sat in Aiken’s desk. She pretended not to notice. At least until he started talking.
“I thought about what you said yesterday,” he said abruptly.
She looked at him because it would be rude not to. And she wasn’t rude. Unlike somebody.
He still had that shut-off expression but now he was willingly having a conversation with her. What was up with that? And really, did he have to sound so grumpy all the freaking time?
“About what?”
He hesitated. “About lunch.”
“Oh.”
“I mean, I want to try not having lunch alone.” Each word was stilted, as if he had to force it out. As though she’d somehow coerced him. That got under her skin.
“Well, I guess you found someone interesting enough for you.” He could just go suck an egg as far as she was concerned.
“Yeah. You.”
“Me?” Her? Well, yeah…okay.
He nodded as if to say, Duh.
“I’m not that interesting,” she said and picked up her pencil. She didn’t feel up to playing games with him. And that was certainly what he was doing. Just yesterday, he couldn’t stand her, and now this?
“Look, will you…will you…have lunch with me today?”
She stared at him. Was he serious? She couldn’t tell. He was so frustrating.
“What about my friends? I sit with Peg and Rex and Aiken.”
He glanced away. “What about them?”
“So, you just want me to blow them off and sit with you. Why would I do that?”
His jaw was clenched tight as if to keep him from spouting something off. Something rude probably.
“Why?” she asked again.
“Because I want you to.”
Arrogant jerk. She was about to tell him no in a very creative way that involved a few colorful words. But then he added, “And because I asked you to.”