The Accidental Kiss

by Nicole Simone

  “Sky?”

  My chin jerked up. Mr. Tucker stood next to my desk with an irritated expression painted on his face. “Class is over.”

  Looking around, the desks were empty and the whiteboard was wiped clean. Somehow, I missed the bell. “Sorry.” I swiped my books into my backpack. “I got caught up in the discussion.”

  “Lying is not a flattering color on you, Ms. Noelle. If you want to doodle, I suggest you save it for your free time,” he said crossly.

  A heat crawled up my cheeks. “Of course.”

  He gave me a brisk nod and stepped aside so I could pass. I exited the classroom with my tail between my legs. Walking to my locker to switch textbooks, a current of whispers followed, stares were traded, and a group of girls gave me the side eye. It looked like I was the center of the rumor mill, which meant everybody had found out about Daemon and me in the hall closet. Should have figured. I tucked my head down until I got to my destination. My locker door cracked against the metal storage units as my anger sizzled. In my peripheral vision, I saw Emily approach cautiously.

  “Don’t worry, I don’t bite,” I grumbled.

  “You could have fooled me. You look like you’re about to viscously bite everybody’s head off.”

  I barked out a short laugh. “The only head I want to bite off is the janitor’s.”

  “Mr. Fogle? Oh man, no wonder people are talking. That man is the resident gossiper and head entertainer of this small little town.” Emily yanked out her phone and pulled up Facebook. “Check this out.”

  Shoving the screen in my face, a Facebook page titled “Not You’re Mamas Gossip” made my inner grammar freak cringe. People needed to start learning how to properly use you’re and your. I quickly scanned the contents. From what I gathered, it was a page dedicated to juicy information about local residents written by ‘Anonymous.’ Daemon and I were front-page news.

  Newcomer Sky Noelle is already heating up the halls of McCord High School. Yesterday she was found in the utility closet with local heartthrob, Daemon, their lips mere inches apart. Sky claims they weren’t doing anything but let’s not be naïve.

  I shoved the phone away in annoyance without reading the rest. Whoever wrote this didn’t know squat. Our lips were not mere inches from each other. Than again, everything at the end was hazy.

  “Let me guess, Mr. Fogle is Anonymous?” I inquired.

  “You are correct.”

  It made perfect sense. As a janitor you blended into the background and could eavesdrop on everyone’s conversations unnoticed. Mr. Fogle was the male version of Gossip Girl.

  I sighed. “Just my luck.”

  Emily looped her arm around my shoulders. She smelled like fried chicken and summer rain. It was an odd combination. “Buck up. Everybody will forget about these rumors in a week.”

  “I’m shocked you’re not beating the information out of me about what happened.”

  “I’m guessing, nothing.”

  A mixture of annoyance and relief shot through my veins. “Why? Is it because virgin is spelled across my forehead?”

  Emily shook her head. “No silly, because Daemon is like a chocolate you have to savor. Not eat right away.”

  Doubling over in two, laughter spilled forth from my lips. She joined in until we were both on the ground in hysterics. Wiping the tears off my cheeks, I took a deep breath and straightened.

  “Man, I needed that.” The tension I felt in my neck mere moments ago was gone. “You have no idea how badly I needed that.”

  Emily grinned wickedly. “I know something else that will make you feel better. Clothes shopping.”

  Although I was a teenage girl, I hated shopping. Nothing ever fit my petite five-foot frame, especially jeans. They were always too long in length and not tight enough in the waist. It was maddening.

  “Sorry Emily, but that doesn’t sound appealing to me. I would rather stick a fork in my eye.”

  Her eyes flitted to the ground, disappointed. I should have held my tongue and slapped a smile on my face instead. I didn’t want to lose her as friend because of my weird aversions to malls.

  Right when I was about to take my words back, she lifted her gaze. “How ‘bout pretzels? Do they also make you want to stick a fork in your eye?”

  My stomach grumbled in response. Once again, I had forgotten to grab breakfast this morning and a hot pretzel dipped in fake cheese sauce sounded amazing.

  “I would stick a thousand forks in my eye for a pretzel.”

  Emily let out a cry of triumph. “I knew you had a weakness.” Her voice dipped low as she leaned in close. “Besides, Daemon.”

  Shoving her away, I guffawed. “He’s everybody’s weakness.”

  “Talking about me?”

  Somehow Daemon had appeared next to us without making a sound. I swear to God, the man had talents of a ninja. Feet crossed at the ankles, he leaned casually against the lockers. My eyes raked over his signature uniform of black on black but hot damn, he pulled it off like nobody else. A form fitting t-shirt molded to his muscular chest underneath a leather jacket and a pair of greyish black ripped jeans hung low on his hips.

  Emily blanched. “Nope we were talking about…” Daemon flashed her his signature smile and she trailed off. Lost in the depth of his dazzling green eyes.

  My previous statement was proven correct. Daemon was a hot fudge sundae everybody wanted a bite of.

  I completed the lie. “We were talking about Brad Pitt.”

  “Ah,” Daemon’s gaze shined with humor. “Brad Pitt, the man everybody wants to be.”

  I was pretty sure then that Daemon was the Brad Pitt of this little town. People were in awe of him. Case in point, Emily who was still mooning over him to the point where it was getting embarrassing.

  I nudged her in the ribs. “I’ll meet you in the cafeteria in a few.”

  She swung her gaze over to me than to Daemon. Getting the hint we wanted to be alone, she jogged a few steps backwards in the opposite direction. “Right, I’ll you see then.” When she realized her mistake, she turned on her heels and dashed down the hallway.

  “Your friend is cute when she’s flustered.” Daemon remarked.

  An expected hot stab of jealousy shot through my heart. Daemon wasn’t my mine in any shape or form. He could ogle, have sex with, or kiss whomever he wanted. So why did I, all of a sudden, want to change that? It had to be the knight in shining armor effect. Daemon had saved me from certain death, which in turn caused my brain to go in crush mode. I stole a glimpse his way and my breath caught. It had to be that.

  “I am surprised you’re at school. I thought you’d need more sleep,” I said, changing the subject.

  He threw me a naughty smile. “I got plenty last night. My cuddle buddy was extra comfortable.”

  I couldn’t disagree. For somebody who fell in the undead category, Daemon’s ice-cold body temperature had regulated my overheated one. Plus, his presence kept the nightmares at bay. It was the best night’s sleep I’d had in a long time. However, I wasn’t going to admit that to him. His over-inflated ego would explode.

  “Would you mind if we went somewhere to talk?” A couple of students glanced curiously at us when they passed. “Alone,” I added.

  “Sure, I know just the place.”

  He threaded his fingers through mine, yanking me toward the exit. When we got outside, the bright sunlight glittered off the sidewalk and the air smelled like freshly cut grass. I stumbled behind him as we headed in the direction of town. While I desperately wanted my questions answered, I would be in deep trouble if I missed history class again.

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  He looked over his shoulder at me without breaking stride. “Come on, you should be happy I’m not taking you to the janitor’s closet.”

  A smile tugged at my lips. “I guess but at least the janitor’s closet was a quick two minute jog to class.”

  We got further and further away from school. The green grass gave wa
y to soggy marshland. My boots sunk into the quicksand like mud, stopping me short. Daemon continued on, almost jerking my arm out of its socket.

  “Daemon! STOP!” I screeched.

  Concern etched the lines around his mouth when he turned around. “What’s wrong?”

  I wrapped my hand around my right leg and attempted to pull myself loose. The sludge made a gross sucking sound but didn’t loosen its grasp.

  “I’m stuck,” I said miserably.

  The concern in Daemon’s eyes melted into a pool of amusement. His bottom lip wavered as he held back his laughter at my sad state.

  “Daemon, it’s not funny. Help me.” I flapped my arms at my side. “This stupid mud is like a clingy ex-boyfriend.”

  He watched me struggle. “You’re making it worse.”

  Frustration nipped at my nerves. I closed my eyes, sucked in a lungful of damp air and counted to three. Exhaling, the frustration ebbed.

  “And meditation won’t get you anywhere either.”

  Daemon’s smart-ass remark broke the peace. My eyes snapped open. “I’m gonna kill you…you pompous, egotistical…”

  “Those two words mean the same thing.”

  A growl escaped my lips as white-hot rage clouded my vision. I reached out to strangle him, except it was hard to commit murder when your feet were stuck. My body tipped forwards than back like a seesaw. Right when I was about to land on my ass, Daemon used his super human speed to save me…once again.

  His arm whipped around my waist. “I got you.” He lifted my feet out of the mud and cradled my body against his chest.

  I shivered against the cold radiating from underneath his t-shirt. “No wonder you chose to live in the South. You’re your own air conditioner.”

  Daemon’s grip tightened. “That wasn’t my choice.” A muscle in his jaw twitched as he stared straight ahead.

  I mentally smacked myself in the forehead for my slip of the tongue. Of course it wasn’t his choice because after he turned sixteen, nothing was in his control again. Since I couldn’t take back my statement, I used it to my benefit to find out who non-zombie Daemon was before the voodoo priest claimed his soul and stuck it in a jar.

  “Where did you live before Louisiana?”

  “Houston.”

  “Did you have any sisters or brothers?”

  “Sister.”

  “Was she older or younger than you?”

  “Younger.”

  Daemon’s one-worded answers were getting on my nerves but it was better than nothing. I barreled on. “Did you go back to see your family after your change?”

  “Yes. Once during Christmas.” He cleared the raw hurt from his voice. “I didn’t have the balls to knock on the door because I wasn’t the son they knew. Instead I stayed in my car and watched my family celebrate together through the bay window.”

  The image Daemon painted of a young man watching life continue on without him made my heart ache. “That’s awful,” I breathed.

  He ignored my admission of sympathy. “We’re here.” Swept away by Daemon’s story, I forgot I was in his arms and being lead to our destination. He carefully set me on my feet. “I’ll hold the boat while you climb in.”

  “Boat?” I repeated.

  Sure enough, off to my left there was a small dinghy floating on the murky water. It looked like it had seen better days. The white paint was chipped off, revealing the blue color it once was. A splintered wooden oar rested against the seat inside.

  I gulped. “I don’t think that thing can hold us. Let alone one person.”

  Daemon waved me over impatiently. “Come on, I don’t have all day.”

  When I said I wanted to talk somewhere more private, I didn’t think Daemon would take it so literally. Pushing my fears aside, I walked over to where he stood. He gripped the edge of the boat as I gingerly stepped on board. Daemon followed suit, grabbed an oar and paddled us to the middle of the inlet. A tranquil quietness settled over us like a heavy blanket.

  He leaned back onto his elbows. “So, I’m guessing you’re ready to hear the truth.”

  I nodded. “If you’re still willing to give me the answers.”

  “I am. We’re in this together.”

  His declaration perplexed me. Up until two days ago, I had no idea who Daemon was. Why did he feel as if he had to protect me and shed his loyalty to the voodoo priest? I opened my mouth and asked that very question.

  “I have lived on the side of evil for too long. I thought it was about time to see what being good was all about,” Daemon said.

  My gut told me he was holding something back. That there was another layer Daemon didn’t want to reveal yet. Nonetheless, I knew if I prodded him his lips would seal shut. So instead, I moved on to the next logical inquiry.

  “It’s plain as day why the Priest of Santeria wants my blood. It’s because of my gift.” I glanced in Daemon’s direction for confirmation.

  “That is correct,” he said.

  “But I don’t understand. My kiss is only unlocked if I love somebody and it’s not like I can kill somebody with my power of sight.”

  Daemon’s eyes drilled into mine. “You have no idea what your power holds, Sky. None.”

  The boat rocked unsteadily underneath us as I shifted in my seat, unnerved by what Daemon was implying. The fact that I had the potential to be clairvoyant was enough to send me over the edge. I couldn’t handle more power than that.

  “I didn’t mean to scare you,” Daemon said gently.

  I wrung my hands in my lap, overcome with anxiety. “Well, you did. I don’t like the unknown.”

  “Nobody does, but there comes a time when you have to choose between turning the page or closing the book.”

  The book had almost closed on me last night and I could say with certainty it wasn’t the path I wanted to take. I wanted to live until I was old and gray.

  “Do you have any clue what else I might be able to do?” My tone was hopeful, desperate.

  Daemon’s expression morphed into one of pity as he shook his head. I rubbed my palms over my face and groaned. “Then how am I supposed to stop the voodoo priest from killing me if I have no clue what I am capable of?”

  “What were you going to do? Kiss him to death?” I heard a smile in his voice. “It was once believed that when you consume the chosen one’s blood, you would absorb those powers. As time went on, the Santeria religion grew less and less popular until it basically became extinct. Your blood plays a bigger role in this than the gift itself.”

  Daemon’s history lesson brought up the biggest question of all. I removed my hands from my face. “Is it true I was born to be sacrificed?”

  “Maybe in the olden days when Santeria was in its golden years,” Daemon said, leaning forward. “You have to understand something though. The voodoo priest lives for the olden days—that’s why he is doing this. He believes that if he is ushered into the community, he can bring it back to what it once was times ten.”

  “But does anybody care? It sounds like he’s fighting a one-sided battle.”

  “Don’t underestimate the power of crazy.”

  I turned over everything he said in my head but it was a lot to absorb. “And how exactly am I the key again?”

  “Like I said, he lives by the rules of the olden days. In order to become a respected priest in the community you have to go through a ritual that involves draining your blood and drinking it. Then your body is sacrificed to appease the gods above.”

  My brows knitted together. “That sounds awful.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  It was unfathomable to me that I somehow got saddled with the one voodoo priest stuck in the past and with a thirst for world domination. Talk about having the worst luck.

  “Aren’t there other people out there who have this gift of mine? Can’t he sacrifice one of them instead?” I asked.

  Daemon ran his fingers through his hair, mussing it up into a sexy rolled out of bed look. “No. The chosen one is onl
y born once every hundred years. That’s why it’s so hard to become a respected voodoo priest in your community. And besides, the blood needs to be virgin.”

  “Virgin?” When it dawned on me what he was implying, my eyes widened. “Are you kidding me? Not only do I have to die. I have to die a virgin! That is widely unfair.”

  He laughed, letting his happiness shine through and boy, was it a beautiful thing to witness.

  “That’s what you’re mad about?” Daemon shook his head. “You are a funny girl, Sky Noelle.”

  The way he drawled out my name sent a blaze of fire to travel between my legs. Since the day we had met, Daemon’s allure had gotten harder to resist. I wanted to feel his mouth on my lips, his fingers in my hair, and his gaze become heady with passion as he claimed me as his…It was because of this, a crazy thought occurred.

  “Have sex with me,” I blurted out.

  Daemon’s eyes darkened as the smile slipped from his face. “What?”

  “If my blood has to be virgin, then unmake me a virgin.”

  “Don’t tempt me, sweetheart. That’s not something you can take back.”

  I met his predatory stare dead on. It sounded crazy but if I was going to lose my virginity to anybody, I wanted it to be Daemon. He was right. The sexual tension between us would never dissipate. Might as well use it to our benefit.

  “I am serious, Daemon. You want me. I want you. It’s simple math and the easiest solution,” I reasoned.

  Faster than I could blink Daemon loomed over me and the boat rocked unsteadily. “You want me?”