by Leah Ross
“Yes, sir.”
Guinn gritted his teeth and pretended to pay attention to the lecture, glaring at the students bold enough to snigger at his embarrassment. Fools, the lot of them, he thought, Thank the heavens this is my last year here. They won’t dare laugh at me when I have my own ship. He couldn’t wait to graduate; he just needed to get through this one last year.
The classroom door opened suddenly and everyone turned their attention from Guinn’s humiliation to the new interruption. Guinn looked too, glad of the opportunity to deflect the attention to someone else. He was struck absolutely dumb by the beauty contained in the one slight girl standing in the doorway. In an instant, her features were permanently etched into his mind. Her golden hair shimmered in the light as it fell in unruly waves over her shoulders and faded into an unexpected blue at the end. Her eyes were blue too, though deeper and bottomless like the sea. She was rather small, short and slim, but her curves were well-defined and lovely. At once, Guinn knew he had to get to know this girl.
“For the sake of the heavens, what is it now?” the instructor snapped rudely, “Why can’t I get through a lecture without a damn interruption?”
The flush on the girl’s face was so red it extended into her hairline, and her eyes widened so big it looked like she would cry. Guinn felt his temper flash so hot he wanted to pummel the professor for frightening her.
“I-I’m sorry, sir,” she apologized, “I’m new here and I was looking for the administration office.”
“Does this look like the damn administration office?”
“No. No, sir. I’m sorry to have bothered you.” She bit her lip, lowered her head, and shut the door silently as she left.
The instructor began again where he left off, then glanced at the clock. “Damn it all, time’s up. Go on, get out of here!”
Guinn grabbed his things as quickly as he could, not even bothering to shove them in his bag, and ran out the door. He was determined to get to the girl before anyone else could. He looked down the hall and saw her consulting a map and looking around with a bewildered expression and tears in her eyes.
“Miss!” he shouted to her. He walked over, haphazardly stuffing items into his bag as he went.
She looked at him, blinking furiously to keep from crying, and tried to appear confident. She knew this was a tough school—it’s why she wanted to come here—and she needed to not take others’ rudeness so personally. She tried to smile and hoped it looked more convincing than it felt.
“I couldn’t help overhearing that you’re lost,” Guinn said.
She blushed. “Yes, the whole room heard. Can you help me?”
“Of course.” He led the way down another hall. “Don’t mind cranky Mr. Polk. He treats everyone like shit. Too bad he’s been here too long to boot out; everyone has to take his class. We can only hope he dies sooner rather than later.”
A tiny frown crossed her face as she regarded him coolly. “Indeed. What year are you?”
“Fifth. I’m almost out of this prison,” he said excitedly, “And you?”
“I’m a second-year,” she replied, “I’ve worked my whole life to get into this school.”
“Well, I... hope you like it here,” he fumbled awkwardly. Guinn, you idiot! he chastised himself, Some first impression you’re making! They continued for a few minutes in silence. He cursed his overconfidence and unintelligent conversation. She must think him an arrogant moron.
Finally, he stopped at an open door. “Here you are, the administration office.”
She smiled with genuine gratitude. “Thank you so much!”
He shrugged. “No worries. It was my pleasure.”
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“I’m Guinn McCabe.” He thrust out his hand.
She shook his hand gingerly, unaccustomed to his forwardness. “Nice to meet you, Guinn McCabe.” She smiled again and turned to leave.
Guinn was so captivated by her brilliant smile that he almost let her vanish from his life forever without a trace. “Wait!” he cried, “What’s your name?”
“My name is Laria. Laria Brookes.”
“Welcome to Holystorm, Laria Brookes.”
~*~
William caught Guinn later that morning between classes. “Lunch, McCabe, be there. We’re all eating together before our schedules get too crazy.”
“Huh? Oh. Yeah. Lunch. Got it.”
William halted his backward jog abruptly, staring at his friend intently. “What’s with you?”
“I just— Nothing.” Guinn glanced at his friend guiltily and continued on to his next class.
“All right, then,” William called after him. “See you at lunch, mate!”
William collapsed on the nearest horizontal surface with a groan. He hadn’t expected Guinn to become a celibate monk following his breakup with Shana, but he also hadn’t anticipated his best friend would find someone on the first day of classes either. And really, William couldn’t blame the man. He was young and virile and single… There was no reason why Guinn couldn’t find someone new right away.
The sense of loss that tore through William’s heart was cruel and completely unfair. He had no claim on Guinn at all. In fact he, William, was the one who had exercised his selfishness by taking what he wanted in the first place and then been cowardly enough to erase the evidence. Guinn’s immediate infatuation with someone else was fitting punishment, actually.
He sighed. It was better this way. Shana had already moved on; why shouldn’t Guinn? It would have been so much easier, though, if William hadn’t heard the words that Guinn had held back. The words that continued to echo through William’s mind like a death knell, filling him with a terrible sense of foreboding. He’d said, “I just—“ The words he’d thought after that, and that William had heard telepathically, as clearly as if they had been spoken, were, met my soulmate…
~*~
Here goes nothing. Laria stepped into the crowded dining hall. Then she lost her nerve. She didn’t have any friends to sit with, and she didn’t see any empty tables to sit by herself either. So she stood at the door, balancing a stack of books in one arm and her small lunch bag in the other.
She looked over at a full table of upperclassmen as a bout of riotous laughter drew her attention. Populated by eight large guys and one petite girl, Laria recognized the dark hair and moody grey eyes of the student she’d encountered that morning. Guinn McCabe. The echo of his name against the walls of her mind made her pulse race. She had absolutely no business even thinking about him, but she couldn’t deny the appeal of his dark sensuality and perfectly handsome face, not to mention his tall, chiseled frame and those damn enticing broad shoulders. He was everything she didn’t need in her life.
In fact, it would do her a world of good to stay away from that entire group. Looking like a representative sampling of Annali perfection, that bunch radiated charisma so strong that she doubted there were many instances when any of them didn’t get exactly what they wanted. They were definitely nothing but trouble.
Her mind churned with the interesting ways she could study the dynamics of such a group. Even the comparison between Guinn and those on either side of him was fascinating. The girl to his right had similar coloring as his, but whereas he looked dark and intense, her brown hair and eyes were warm and friendly. They would make a good-looking couple. The thought ignited a spark of jealousy deep in her soul that she didn’t understand.
The guy at Guinn’s left looked almost like a photo negative version of his friend, but was just as dangerously handsome. Blond with green eyes, his flawless ivory skin begged to be touched, and the spark of mischief that lit his face was irresistible. Light to Guinn’s darkness, exuberant humor against brooding introspection, the dichotomy between the two was both ridiculous and perfectly symbiotic.
Laria shook herself out of her reverie. Come on, Brookes. You’re here to learn magic, not whether you prefer your men in chocolate or vanilla varieties. They’re both bad f
or you, so focus on your work and keep your distance. She lifted her chin in determination and clamped her emotions down tight. She couldn’t afford to get sidetracked now.
~*~
Guinn poked absently at the food on his plate, deep in thought. He’d been working on the plans for his ship, and was having a hard time figuring out some of the more complicated architectural problems of his unique design. He knew he should just suck it up and consult William for help, but he was determined to figure it out on his own.
Then he noticed Laria step carefully into the dining hall, chewing on her lip, and looking for a place to sit. All thoughts of his ship evaporated, and he sat motionless, watching her intently. He desperately wanted to invite her to sit at his table, but he also didn’t want to intimidate the poor girl, so he was stuck doing nothing but staring.
His friends were accustomed to his silent pondering, so they generally left him to it, but his current state of watchful anticipation garnered their attention, and their chaotic babble faded to silence.
“What’s he doing?” Shana leaned over to stare at Guinn.
William, who sat on Guinn’s other side, knew what was going on, and his heart sank. Only one way to get through this. Laugh it up, Hannigan. He smirked. “He looks like a predator on the prowl. Methinks a comely wench hath caught our friend’s eye.”
Shana followed the direction of Guinn’s gaze and grinned, slipping into the same haughty tone as William’s. “Well spotted, dear William! The new girl it is, indeed. Mayhap we should invite her to join our rabble?”
The whole table laughed at their wit, but Guinn remained still and silent.
“Guinn,” William said, trying to break through his friend’s trance.
Shana waved her hand in front of Guinn’s face. “Hello?”
“Ahoy there, Captain Lecher!” William hauled back and punched Guinn’s shoulder, hard, taking a tiny amount of cathartic pleasure from inflicting some of his inner pain on his friend.
“Godsdamn it, Will, you blighter!” Guinn roared, rubbing his shoulder. “That hurt!”
“It was supposed to, you idiot!” William laughed.
Guinn glared. “What the hell do you want?”
“You’re leering at her like a creepy stalker. She’s got you entranced, mate!”
“Aye, that she does. I met her this morning.”
“What’s her name?” Shana asked.
“Laria,” said Guinn, his voice softening with reverence, “Laria Brookes.”
“Oh, heavens above!” William gasped with mock horror. “He’s smitten!”
Shana giggled. “I’ve never seen you fall this hard, Guinn.”
Guinn scowled. “I’ve done nothing of the sort.”
“That’s bollocks, and you know it!” William cocked his head and scrutinized Laria. “Odd choice for you, though.”
“Why?” Shana asked.
“She’s so quiet and sweet and delicate, and he’s... well... not.”
Guinn punched William’s arm. “Ass.”
“So invite her over,” said Shana, ignoring the juvenile display of testosterone.
“And set an innocent before the ravenous hoard? I’m not sure I want to do that to her.”
William draped himself over Guinn’s shoulder and batted his green eyes. “Oh, come on, Guinn. We won’t bite her...” He grinned mischievously and winked at Shana. “...hard.”
Guinn shoved his friend off him and stood from the table. “Incorrigible ass.” He flashed William a grin.
William sighed contentedly. “I do try.”
As he walked away from his friends, Guinn saw Shana clap her hands in delight. Then she called to the rest of the group, “Look alive, mates! Fresh meat!”
Guinn rolled his eyes and shook his head at his friends’ antics. They were a rowdy, uncouth bunch, but they were all good people, and they made his time at school infinitely more entertaining. He strode purposefully across the hall, his eyes locked on Laria. A few students attempted to approach her, but when they saw Guinn bearing down on them, they beat a hasty retreat. It was clear to everyone that Guinn had staked his claim, and no one wanted to challenge it.
“Good afternoon, Miss Brookes.” Guinn held out his hand, offering to help her with her books.
She shook her head slightly in polite refusal and adjusted the stack. “Mr. McCabe.”
The rebuff caught him off-guard, but he smiled and continued. “My friends and I would like to invite you to sit with us.” He eyed her pile of books. “That is, if you’re not otherwise occupied.”
“Actually, Mr. McCabe,” she said, “I am busy. I have quite a lot of reading to do, so I’ll find a spot that’s a bit quieter. Thank you for the invitation, though.” She stepped around him and walked quickly across the hall and outside.
The room was deathly silent, every person in it having witnessed Guinn’s rejection. Then whispers and muffled snickers began bouncing off the walls, and Guinn felt the humiliation pressing in on him. He glanced across at his table of friends. Shana looked positively horrified, while William was literally in tears under the immense strain of holding back hysterical laughter.
Guinn’s pulse raced with rage-fueled adrenaline. He couldn’t blithely go back to his lunch now. Turning sharply on his heel, he stormed out of the dining hall, letting the heavy double doors crash shut behind him. As he escaped down the corridor, the sound of laughter echoed from behind him.
~*~
Guinn’s mood was black for days. He spent much of his time alone, avoiding the ill-concealed snickers of his fellow students. He was furious; he couldn’t believe that a girl, an underclassman, had humiliated him. Yet, he couldn’t seem to get her out of his mind. The way she’d politely brushed him off, refusing him as so few people had in his life, intrigued him. The girl certainly had nerve.
As he sat alone on a secluded patch of grass, leaning against the rough stone of the exterior wall of the dining hall, he poked at his lunch, not eating a bite. He’d bypassed the hall entirely, choosing instead to slip out a side door. He didn’t care at all what the students were saying about him, but he felt an odd protective obligation toward Laria; he didn’t want anyone teasing her. It was uncharted territory for him, and he didn’t quite know how to navigate it yet.
“I thought I might find you here.”
Guinn squinted up into the warm sunlight to see Shana standing over him. The sun’s rays played and danced in her brown hair, winking golden highlights at him. Her brown eyes were full of concern for him, but they sparkled with affection. His heart thumped heavily for several beats as he realized that he still found her deliciously attractive.
“You know me too well,” he said.
“I should.” She settled down next to him on the grass.
For several minutes, neither of them said a word. In the quiet, birds warbled in the nearby forest, and a slight breeze hissed through the stands of pine. The warmth of the sun combined with the heat of where Shana’s body grazed Guinn’s, and suddenly he felt overheated. He shifted away from her to break the contact.
“Guinn, what are you doing?”
Color rising on his cheeks, he guiltily prepared to defend himself from moving away from her. “I—”
“Why are you hiding from everyone? I’ve never known you to back down from anything.”
His shoulders slumped in a heavy sigh. “I don’t know what the bloody hell I’m doing anymore.”
“You have fallen for her,” she said softly, with a note of sadness in her voice.
“I don’t know!” He sighed. “I don’t even know her. I just know I feel different about her.”
“Love doesn’t usually follow the rules, Guinn.”
“I’m not— I don’t— Ah, hell, I don’t know!” He raked his hand through his hair.
She rested her hand on his forearm. “What do you know?”
He thought for a moment. “I know that I want to know her. I want to know why she intrigues me. I want to understand why her defiance is
so damn attractive!”
Shana smiled. “Well, there’s a start.”
“How am I supposed to get anywhere if she wants nothing to do with me?”
“I’m sure you can figure it out,” she said with a coy smile. “Start by finding common ground.”
“You’re not going to help me out here, are you?” He cocked an exasperated eyebrow at her.
“And deprive you of the thrill of the hunt? Surely not!”
He gave her a smirk and then he frowned and avoided her eyes. “I’m sorry, Shana.”
“Why?”
“It’s not fair. You’re being really nice about this whole thing.”
She shrugged. “Just because it didn’t work with me doesn’t mean that it won’t with someone else. I’m fine with it.”
“But you’re still not going to help me out, are you?”
“Nope!”
He growled low in his throat and pushed himself up off the ground. “You women are such blasted complicated creatures!”
Shana batted her lashes and offered her best impression of William. “We do try.”
He extended his hand to her and helped her up. “Thanks, Shana.”
She held his hand a few moments longer than she’d intended, then reluctantly let him go. “Anytime, Guinn. Good luck.”
He smiled and walked back into the building via the side door. She sighed and went the opposite direction, back into the dining hall.
~*~
Laria knew what Guinn was trying to do. He was seizing every opportunity he could to speak with her alone. She was doing everything she could to avoid him. She felt a small measure of guilt for humiliating him in front of the whole dining hall, but she was mostly just trying to stick to her studies and avoid distraction.
Guinn McCabe was definitely distraction personified to her. And it would devour her entirely if she allowed it. She stole as many glances as she could at his beautiful, muscular body, and the boyish way that his slightly over-long brown hair always fell into his face was entirely too endearing, but she could resist those charms if she tried hard enough. It was the intensity of his grey eyes and the keen way they always sought her out that did her in. In fact, everything about Guinn was intense, and she didn’t quite feel able to handle it. She was beginning to suspect that she didn’t have much choice about it, though; she couldn’t avoid him forever.