Freshman Firsts (Connerton Academy Book 1)

by Cassie Hargrove

  “What do you mean they aren’t my parents?” She looks at dad like she could rip his head off at any moment. “Of course they are, they raised me. If I was adopted, they would have told me!” She’s all but screaming now.

  “Harleigh,” Dad keeps his tone smooth and calm like always and I feel myself getting pissed off.

  This shouldn’t be a time to be emotionless, especially when the girl I care about is coming apart at the seams.

  “Mortal parents can’t have supernatural children, not when both of them are mortal. There are a few exceptions when it comes to witches and warlocks, but that isn’t the case with you.” He takes a deep breath and pinches the bridge of his nose before continuing. It’s the first sign of emotion he’s shown since we got here.

  “I’m sorry I had to tell you and your parents didn’t get a chance to, but your safety was in peril as long as you remained in the dark.” He gives her a pointed look that she gives right back. Fuck, it’s hard not to admire her when she refuses to back down from anything thrown at her. My dad is a scary dude, but she couldn’t give less fucks than she does right now.

  “Beautiful?” She slowly turns her attention back to me and I can see a heat in her eyes I hope to never see again. She’s furious, I just hope it’s not directed at me.

  “Did you know about this? That he was going to dump this on me?!” She looks so hurt and angry, like I betrayed her. I can’t have her believing that, so I shut that shit down quick.

  “No Harleigh, I didn’t.” I cup her face in my hands to keep her eyes level with mine as I say my next words. “I knew you were supernatural because you can’t be in this school unless you’re a half blood like me. I didn’t know what you were, and I sure as fuck didn’t know you were adopted. I figured your parents probably hid this world from you for your safety and peace of mind.”

  I lean my forehead against hers and breathe her in, wishing like hell I could absorb her pain and bear it myself.

  “I want to take all this pain from you. This confusion and uncertainty. I just wish I could make it all go away, but I can’t. What I can do is be here every step of the way guiding you, loving you and protecting you.” Her breath hitches and I wonder what I said to cause that reaction.

  “You love me?”

  Damn, did I say that?

  I mean it’s the truth. I do love her; I love everything about her. Her smile, her laugh, her eyes, her tough take no prisoners attitude. Hell, I even love her ability to make friends with some random fucking cat that shows up because she says it’s ‘begging to be loved and cuddled’.

  I am head over heels in love with this girl I have only known a couple of months, and I am okay with that…probably should have found a better time and way to tell her though.

  “Yeah beautiful, I do. I’m sorry I blurted it out like that though. I know this isn’t really the time or place, and you don’t need anything else to worry about…” I stop because she is all out crying now. Those tears she was trying so hard to hold back are now falling, and for a brief moment I truly hate myself for making her cry. She must see something in my face because she leans in to kiss me, grabbing my face in her hands.

  “I love you too Bry. This is a shit time to tell me, but I am going to need you more than ever right now. If this is real and not some sort of twisted fucked up joke, I am grateful I have you by my side to help me.” She speaks through broken words and tears, but she has a smile on her face.

  I can’t help it. I lean in and take her mouth with mine, cradling the back of her head to hold her close. She needs to know how deeply I feel for her, and words aren’t enough. Just as I move my tongue along her bottom lip, dad coughs and makes me pull back.

  Harleigh stares at me for a moment with those beautiful bright green eyes shining with unshed tears and then turns her attention back to dad as he begins to talk.

  “I can assure you dear that this is no joke. We are both here to help you in any way we can, but I have a few questions I need you to answer okay?” She nods and leans into my chest.

  She’s afraid of what is coming next. I can feel the slight shake in her body, and I wrap my arms around her tighter. I would kill for this girl. I hate seeing her like this because this isn’t my beautiful girl. This is someone who feels like they are going to break.

  “Has anything strange or unexplainable ever happened around you?”

  Harleigh

  Anything strange happen around me? Uh I don’t even know how to begin answering that question. “I don’t know. Strange how?” I ask, because I don’t understand what he could mean.

  “Anything. Even if you think its small or inconsequential, or even just coincidence. We know you are half succubus, but we have no idea who your birth father is so we are in the dark about any abilities you might possess.” My mind feels like it’s going to explode.

  How can this be my reality? An hour ago, I was leaving my music class to meet Bry for lunch, and now I am here talking about supernatural beings with an angel. An ANGEL! Like what the fuck is happening? I haven’t even started to process that means Brian is half angel. That is something him and I can discuss another time.

  I try to wrack my brain for anything to give him, but I honestly don’t think anything weird has ever happened, at least not that kind of weird.

  “Um, I have déjà vu a lot. Like I feel I have seen or dreamed something before and then it happens. Something like that?” I look to David and he nods.

  “Yes, exactly like that. That’s really good to know. It means there is a good chance you have premonitions. You don’t have control over them yet and you don’t remember them until after they actually happen, but it’s a start. Anything else you can think of?” I shake my head because really, that is the only think I can think of.

  “My life is normal and uneventful. I have a best friend, I get bullied, and I love my parents. Until today, I thought I was a normal teenager living a normal life.” I sigh.

  “I need to ask you both some questions about” he waves his hand at us and I blush, because fuck if this isn’t going to be uncomfortable. Isn’t it enough that Bry was my first kiss? Now I have to share details with his dad? Fuck me. “ your intimacy.” Brian stiffens under me before huffing out a sigh. He seems just as uncomfortable with this coming discussion as I am.

  “Brian, when you kiss her, do you feel different?” What the hell does that mean, does he feel different? I would hope kissing me meant more to him than whatever bitches he’s kissed before.

  Okay that’s not fair, I don’t know them…maybe they were nice?

  “Yeah dad, because I care about her. What are you getting at?” He looks a bit pissed so I think he knows what his dad is hinting at, but I don’t, and I want to know.

  “You know what I am asking Brian, don’t play dense. After you guys do whatever it is you do, do you feel drained? Lifeless?” The fuck?! He did not just go there!

  I pierce him with a look that I hope says he’s a complete dick and I dislike him.

  “I mean no disrespect Harleigh. As a Succubus, you have the ability to drain people of their lifeforce, and not just humans.” Uh…..what?

  “Bry?” I look to him, suddenly terrified I have hurt him in some way. He would have told me before now right? Surely if kissing me hurt him, he wouldn’t continue to do it right?!

  Brian looks at me and smiles and I feel a bit more at ease.

  “No dad, not at all. The only reason kissing her feels different is because she is different.” He kisses me on the lips to prove a point. Whether it’s to his dad or me I’m not sure.

  “Have you” he looks pained at having to continue “been intimate?” Nope, nope not letting him go there. I am shutting that shit down right now!

  “No, not even close. Until a few weeks ago, I hadn’t even kissed a guy, or girl for that matter so don’t even ask. I am not a whore. Until I came to this school, I hadn’t even been attracted to someone, so no. We have not been…intimate.” I feel my anger rising again. It’s
not really going to help anyone for me to go off on David, but how dare he think he has the right to ask us that question?! Brian pipes in next.

  “Dad, I wasn’t with anyone before I came here, why would you even ask that question?” Even he seems pissed. I wonder if it’s because I am upset, or if he is as appalled by the question as I am.

  “I asked because I needed to know. We don’t know the extent of her abilities. That being said, her stealing life force from you can only be done through a kiss. How hot and heavy have you gotten? The more passion involved, the more powerful the abilities can become.” Ugh, great. I decide tact isn’t my friend right now, so I go for blunt honesty.

  “We made out. I grinded against his dick, and we both liked it. It was hot, it was passionate and amazing, but I didn’t do anything to him and you’re terrifying the hell out of me! Am I going to kill him?!”

  “Doubtful. You seem in complete control of that ability, even though you didn’t know you had it. I am a bit shocked actually.” He says and I look at him with a raised eyebrow. “Most younger succubi and incubi, the male version of yourself, cannot control this ability. It takes a lot of training to learn to control it.” I sigh but become hopeful.

  “Maybe I don’t have that ability then!” I’m temporarily excited until David opens his damn mouth again.

  “Every succubus, even half blood, has that ability. It’s a part of your DNA. It’s non-negotiable, just like Brian being half angel means he gets commands from above. It’s something we don’t have a choice in.” He looks thoughtful for a moment.

  “I have never heard of a teenager being able to control their powers like this. I can tell you’re afraid, but there is an upside to being able to steal others lifeforces.” I scoff, because I can’t see an upside to killing anyone. That shit is terrifying.

  “You can also give people some of yours and save them.” Huh, that’s kinda cool, I guess.

  I mean, I hope I never have to use this shit and can continue to live a normal life, but something in my gut tells me those days are long over.

  “So you’re saying I’m weird because I can somehow control this innate ability or power? Thanks, that makes me feel better.” Bry gives me a look like I’ve lost my mind. “No I’m serious! It means even if I am supernatural, I am still weird and abnormal. It means I don’t really have to change.” I beam at Brian and he chuckles at me.

  “Leave it to you to find comfort in still being different. Not that I mind. I love your uniqueness beautiful.” Swoon.

  “Okay, leave that with me for now. I will do some research and talk to some others and see if there is anything we can come up with, but seeing as how you are dating my son, I am thankful you can control it Harleigh, even if it does make you unique.” He smiles at me and it actually makes me laugh.

  “See Bry, I’m not the only one thankful for my being weird.” I tease before turning serious again. “What does this all mean? How do I know what I can and can’t do? How do we find out?” I’m almost afraid of the answer. I don’t want to be a lab rat or test dummy.

  “For now, it means you go on with your days, and if anything weird comes up or happens, you make a note of it and tell Brian and myself.” I sigh in relief. “Brian, have you noticed anything different about Harleigh as opposed to other humans you know?” David asks him and what he says next floors me.

  “Just one thing. There is a student here. He’s half demon and his family runs the school. He’s powerful, but he can’t possess Harleigh and it’s starting to really piss him off.” He looks at me a little shy, worried that I will be upset that he kept it from me, but I get it. It’s not like he could tell me this before I knew what I know now. I squeeze his hand to reassure him that I’m not angry or upset.

  I am confused though.

  Actually, now that I think about it, I am pissed off; at Colten.

  What a dick! He’s been trying to possess me this entire time. What the fuck?! Thank God he can’t!

  “He’s a demon? And he tried to possess me?” I speak slowly as I let the words really sink into my mind.

  “Yeah, and he hasn’t been successful. It’s not normal for that to happen. Even an amateur demon, possession is a basic instinct. Angels are protected against it, but everyone else is fair game…except you, apparently.” Well, okay then. Just chalk up another point in the weird column. Yay me!

  “That’s interesting.” David pulls me back out of my thoughts. “Anything else?” He asks and Brian shakes his head no.

  I really hope that means this conversation is coming to an end, because I need to lay down and absorb all of this, and I need to do that with Brian beside me. We have a lot to talk about, and not all of it is about this new world I have learned I’m a part of.

  “There is one thing.” I say and look over nervously at Brian. I really hope this doesn’t hurt his feelings.

  “Now that you mention Colten, I realize I feel drawn to him. Not in the same way I am Brian, but I feel connected to him in a way. It’s not love or even like, but it’s there. It’s like I can sense whenever he is near. It’s hard to explain and doesn’t make any sense, but yeah.”

  David looks thoughtful for a moment.

  “Are you attracted to him?” I was hoping to avoid that question, but the night is already weird as shit so what the hell.

  “Yes, but not like I am Brian. Brian is funny and sweet and caring and loving. I am attracted to all of those things inside him. Colten, I am attracted to his darkness. He scares the shit out of me, but his darkness calls to me.” I look at Brian to make sure he understands that I don’t want anything to do with Colten, not the way I do him, but his face is unreadable as he looks to his dad for answers.

  “Peculiar, but not unheard of. Succubi are a form of demon, but you have the ultimate choice to choose good or evil. Seeing how much you care for my son, I feel it is safe to say you are a good hearted person. Being drawn to his darkness could mean a number of things, but I will look into it more. Everything right now has an element of the unknown as we don’t know who or what your father is. It could mean nothing, or it could mean a great deal.” He looks from me to Bry, an unsure look passing across his face.

  “What is it dad? What is the worst-case scenario here?” It’s a good question and I’m glad he thought to ask it because I wouldn’t have had the guts.

  “It could mean she is destined to be with him. Soulmates.”

  No. I refuse to accept that. If I am going to be with anyone its Bry, and I tell them as much.

  “She’s my soulmate dad. I feel it deep in my soul, my bones. We are meant to be together.” He looks at me. “I can’t explain it, but when I’m with her, I feel this is where I am meant to be. Who I am meant to love and share my life with.” David nods, choosing his next words carefully.

  “And she clearly feels the same, but sometimes, souls get split into more than one piece. I’m not sure how it happens, but there are cases where someone’s soul, when created and separated from their other half, fractures and they are drawn to whoever shares the other pieces. It doesn’t mean you aren’t meant to be. There is a definite energy between you two that tells all of us above that you are, that’s why you aren’t in trouble for being with her like most would be. However, it might mean in order for Harleigh to be truly happy, that you have to share her. That is the worst case scenario I can think of and only time will tell.”

  I turn to Bry with tears in my eyes. “I don’t want anyone but you Bry. I love you. I can’t imagine loving someone else the way I love you. Not ever.” He softly wipes the trail of tears on my cheeks with his thumb before responding in such a loving voice, it instantly calms me.

  “Whatever happens, I will never think less of what we have Harleigh. You are my heart. My future is with you. If worst case scenario happens, I would rather share you to make you feel whole, than to lose you entirely. But like dad said, that is the worst case scenario. For now, we will just keep on doing what we are doing, because fuck beautiful, I love y
ou so much. I promised I wasn’t going anywhere and I’m not. Ever.” He leans in and kisses the tears on my cheek before softly planting his lips on mine.

  “Ok. Harleigh, it was a pleasure to meet you, and I am very sorry that this was all dumped on you today, but I need to be going. I will be back soon though, and I will have Brian give you my number in case of emergencies.” He turns to Brian. “Walk me out son?” Brian nods.

  “I will be back beautiful.” He kisses me once more and helps me off his lap, back onto the couch and I nod at him. I’m thankful we will be alone again.

  Brian

  Dad never asks me to walk him out, so he must have something else to tell me that he didn’t want Harleigh to hear. Closing the door behind us, I look at him,

  “What’s going on dad? What couldn’t you tell me in front of her?”

  “It’s nothing bad so wipe that concerned look off your face.” He tells me. “Did you mean what you just said to her Brian? About sharing her if you need to in order to make her happy?” I nod my head. Yeah, I meant it.

  Does it suck? Sure. I never imagined I would fall in love and then possibly have to share that love, but the pain of not being with her would be unbearable.

  “Good, because what you two share is what your mother and I have. It’s a love that will never dim or go away. It’s extremely special and you have to hold onto it.” He places his hand on my shoulder and squeezes in a supporting gesture that surprises me.

  Aside from mom, he doesn’t show affection to people, including me.

  “If her soul is fractured, I need you to remember that love is infinite. Her love for you will never dim or become less because she has to also be with someone else.”

  I feel the tears building up in my eyes as I look at him. I can feel the truth in his words, and it brings me comfort. I know that if I ever have to share her affection, it will be okay. If there is one thing dad knows, it’s love.