by J. N. Colon
I lounged against an ancient oak on the edge of a clearing, the gnawed bark hard and uninviting against my back. A chilly wind bit my face, watering my eyes—well those might have been tears—so I snuggled inside my hoodie for refuge. I jammed in my earphones, blasting the volume loud enough to mute the entire world of Highland Academy. I thought if I closed my eyes and imagined home I’d forget how horrible and lonely this place was.
It didn’t work.
After an hour I gave up and opened my eyes—and what I saw made my heart stop.
A group of guys were in the clearing playing rugby, shouting and kicking up clouds of leaves. I was clueless about the game except it was kind of like football, but without pads and protection. Totally brutal. And totally hot.
Brant rammed his shoulder into Tristan, mussing his blonde halo of hair. The hot senior simply laughed him off and kept the ball out of reach. He was the same guy who seemed bored by Paisley’s antics in the common room and he was definitely one of those secret society kids like Brant. Trevor, Emmaline’s date last night, was roughing around with a few other guys. But the one who concerned me most was McCollum Davenport. His midnight hair was wild around his face and his jade eyes were flared with excitement. And he was shirtless!
Sweat glistened across his body, making me salivate like a starved animal face to face with a juicy meal. Heat consumed every inch of my skin and I wanted to lick him all over. I bet he tasted salty.
Oh those washboard abs… those rippling biceps… those manly pecks.
Stop staring idiot before they catch you drooling all over him!
I mentally shook myself, tearing my eyes away and breathing hard as if I’d just swam a couple laps.
What was wrong with me? I’d never even talked to this guy and I was totally crushing on him—hard.
I peeked back to see him effortlessly barrel though Brant and another guy. He looked like a Greek god fighting with gladiators at the Parthenon, swatting his opponents to the ground like flies. When Trevor tried a tackle he easily shrugged him off even laughing at his feeble attempt.
His laughter did funny things to my body, my belly suddenly quivering with butterflies.
Okay. Time to go before I get noticed—me and all my drooling. I didn’t want to give the school another reason to harass me.
I pressed my hands on the ground to stand, something sharp suddenly slicing my flesh.
“Ouch,” I muttered, surveying the fresh cut on my fingertip. Crimson pooled and dropped onto the ground.
A hot tingling rolled across my nape and my gaze flickered up to see three sets of eyes boring into me. Brant, Tristan, and McCollum stopped dead cold in the middle of the game, focusing solely on me.
My cheeks flared with heat, probably turning them the same shade of red as the blood currently coalescing on my fingertip. They held me captive in their gazes that were so far from a normal stare it had the hairs on the back of my neck standing at attention. There was something hungry and predatory gleaming in their eyes, especially Brant’s.
They were lions and I was a tasty gazelle.
I swallowed hard and stuck my finger in my mouth to stop the flow of blood and cool the stinging. McCollum unexpectedly smirked, shooting the other two a knowing glance.
My heart lodged in my throat and those butterflies in my belly turned to dragons. Why was he smiling like that?
Brant and Tristan shared a secret laugh before they all turned away and continued their game.
I grabbed my stuff and trekked through the trees, contemplating the whole weird, unexplainable situation that just occurred. This was the first time I’d even made eye contact with McCollum—so pathetic I know—and he looked at me like I was his next meal.
Of course me being me I couldn’t resist looking back, my heart tapping out a frantic staccato at what I saw.
McCollum was staring back at me, curiosity and something else unreadable burning in those hypnotic jade eyes.
Oh man.
Chapter 6
The longest week of my life stretched out and watching McCollum Davenport strut the halls with his arm around Paisley made it even longer. Everyone gushed over what a perfect couple they made. Mac’s carefree swagger and devil-may-care smile paired too well with Paisley’s sleek and polished appearance. His big stature made her appear more girlish and almost petite, softening her hard edges.
I wanted to barf every time I had to endure their flirting or PDA.
What kind of name was Paisley anyways? They made fun of mine, but at least I wasn’t named after a stupid ugly print that was oh-so-popular in the sixties.
I threw a frustrated kick at the multicolored fallen leaves littering the ground, wondering why I even cared what Mac Dav was doing or who he was dating. It was ridiculous to be so consumed with someone I didn’t even know, with someone I hadn’t even exchange one single word with.
I was on my way to Madison’s room. She invited me over to watch a movie and I jumped at the chance. If I had to stomach one more moment of Brant and Aspen’s make out session I was going to hurl myself out the five story window.
I kept that bizarre scene between Emmaline, McCollum, and their two dates the other night to myself. Honestly I didn’t know what to make of it except something weird was going on. I also didn’t mention the rugby game and freaky glares Brant, McCollum, and Tristan gave me even though it was constantly on my mind. Well maybe just the stare McCollum had been giving me as I scampered through the woods like a terrified rabbit being stalked by the big bad wolf.
When I first arrived at Highland I thought the castle like buildings, gargoyles, and constant swirling fog were eerie enough, but add the odd behavior of the students and the almost unnatural beauty of some and Highland was in a league of its own. And I couldn’t forget the creepy someone-was-watching-me feeling I often got when I was alone.
In fact, I was getting that all too familiar sensation right this moment. My eyes shifted around the darkened campus, goose bumps crawling across my flesh as I searched for the reason being my paranoia.
Not one other person was around me—that I could see. For all I knew someone was hiding in the thick fog permeating the entirety of Highland Academy.
“What are my choices again?” I asked Madison, plopping on her twin bed that was draped in a deep purple eyelet comforter. Unlike my room splashes of colors all across the rainbow spotted the dark walls, bringing life to the stuffy décor. A shabby coatrack supporting an array of multicolored scarfs ranging from silk, satin, to knit stood in a corner and an abstract painting in blue, green, purple and black hung above a dresser. Madison’s desk was cluttered with paper, colored pencils, markers, and a red laptop sporting a vintage Ghost Busters sticker.
Even her roommate’s side of the room was an eclectic mixture of colors and styles that made my dorm look like plain vanilla ice cream compared to their Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia with rainbow sprinkles and whipped cream.
Jenkins Hall was smaller than my dorm building and less luxurious. No one had their own bathroom and there were only two common rooms as opposed to one on every floor like in Hampton Hall. And yet I’d trade all the opulence for this any day.
“Nosferatu or Dancing with the Devil?” Madison flashed a saccharine smile as she dramatically batted her lashes.
I chewed on my bottom lip, hoping she was joking. “There’s not a loud action movie in there somewhere?”
She scoffed. “Oh come on. Who doesn’t like scary movies?”
A grimace pulled at my face, picturing Highland Academy, the set of my very own scary movie.
“Just pick one already.” She dangled the two DVD’s side by side, her dark eyes sharpening as she scrutinized my face. “Which one?” Her voice seemed less humorous and suddenly more serious, maybe even analytical as if I was her test subject.
Cold confusion prickled my skin, wondering why my decision mattered to her so much. "Umm… you p…”
“You do it,” she interrupted before I could even get the word
s out. She shook the two cases at me, a smile stretched across her lips maybe a little too tightly. “You’re the guest tonight Ruby.”
My gaze flicked between the two choices again, thinking Dancing with the Devil was probably about witches while the other one, Nosferatu, was about vampires.
I tapped Nosferatu with my index finger. It was an old black and white flick so how scary could it actually be?
Madison clapped her hands and giggled, her momentary seriousness completely gone as if it never happened. “Great choice. Glad someone else is into vampires.”
My lips curled. “But don’t you have anything like that new Dracula remake where he’s a teenager and goes back to high school?”
Her mouth opened and expression turned incredulous. “That movie is ridiculous. Vampires wouldn’t go back to high school nor would they eat furry little bunny rabbits instead of tearing out your throat.”
I laughed and dramatically rolled my eyes. “Whatever Ms. Vampire Expert. Just play the movie.”
“That’s right.” Madison grinned. “I am the expert.”
Two hours later and a stomach full of popcorn, Twizzlers, potato chips, Slim Jims and soda…
“That was totally creepy,” I said, brushing off the remnants of popcorn from my jeans.
“I know right.” Madison wore a wicked grin that turned her usual kind elfin features menacing. “The old movies are the best. Those bloodsuckers aren’t all hot and sexy with bedroom eyes and leather jackets, but totally evil monsters.”
“Yeah ‘cause they’re so much better that way.” Sarcasm laced my voice.
Madison hit me on the side with a throw pillow so I did the same, which inevitably ended in a three minute pillow fight until we were rolling on her bed, dying of laughter.
“I’m so glad you came to Highland Rubi,” she breathed between giggles.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I answered, hoping she missed that I hadn’t exactly agreed with her.
She sat up and shook her head, throwing choppy black and scarlet strands in her dainty face. “What do you want to do next?”
I shrugged and ran my fingers through my own hair, attempting to smooth it out to no avail.
Horror unexpectedly twisted Madison’s expression and she snatched my hand. “Oh no, no, no.”
“What?” I asked, panicked.
“We have to put some color on those nails. They’re hideous.”
I breathed a sigh of relief, grabbing my chest with my free hand as if it could halt my racing heart. Man. By the way she reacted I thought she was about say I had a horrible wart or something. “Go ahead. I’m terrible at painting my nails.”
“I get to pick the color.” She lithely trailed to her desk and rummaged through the drawer, tiny glass clanks echoing until she found what she was looking for. “Ah-ha. I’ve got the perfect shade.” She leapt back on the bed and presented the little round bottle. “Ruby Red. It’s so fitting, right?”
I nodded and gritted my teeth to suppress the ugly grimace my mouth wanted to form. The color looked more like blood red and after watching a vampire movie it turned my stomach queasy. But Madison was my only friend at Highland. Did it really matter my fingers were going to look like they’d been dipped in blood?
“Yep, bloody nails,” I mumbled, peering down at my new manicure with a wry grin as I ambled back to Hampton Hall. I supposed I was simply blending in with the creepiness of Highland Academy.
Speaking of creepiness… my gaze followed the low misty fog ominously curling and rolling between the groves of trees ahead of me. “What is with all the fog?” If I didn’t know any better I’d swear it had a mind of its own, swirling through the night to stalk a new victim to feed on.
A cold chill rippled up my spine and I froze in place, the sensation of being watched weighing heavily on me. “Who’s there?” My voice squeaked out through the darkness, the antique lamp posts doing little to light the path around me.
When I stood trembling in fear for several moments and nothing jumped out at me with claws or even a knife I relaxed and took a deep breath. I rolled my eyes and shook my head at myself, thinking I was like one of those idiot characters in a slasher flick. They called out upon hearing a noise and then went looking for its source only to be surprised to find the killer. Duh.
My legs unfroze and I stepped forward just as a twig snapped in the distance, the sound like brittle bones breaking.
I instantly halted, my heart already quivering erratically in my throat. My eyes peered through the darkness while my breath quickened, sending hot puffs of steam through the air. Someone was definitely out there, watching.
I balled my fists, wishing I had a weapon—preferably the wicked ivory hilted knife from my nightmare. I gathered the nerve to run for my dorm when something tapped me on my shoulder and I yelped.
Laughter filled the space around me as I faced Brant, the faint moonlight glinting off his corn silk hair. “Why so jumpy?”
I grabbed my chest to prevent my heart from leaping out my ribcage, still unable to find my voice.
“I didn’t mean to scare you Rubiks,” he chuckled and the glint to his hazel eyes made me think that was exactly what his intentions were when he snuck up on me.
“It’s Rubi,” I grumbled before turning heel and marching away.
“Hey, hey.” Brant grabbed my hand, easing me to a stop. “What’s the rush?” He was sporting that unsettling crocodile smile.
“It’s late.” I tried to pull away, but he only tugged back.
Brant held my hand up to his face, examining my nails. “Bloody good color.”
I rolled my eyes, annoyed at his lame joke and unaffected by his charm or lack thereof.
“No really,” he insisted, his hooded hazel eyes beginning to darken. “It’s my favorite color.”
“Awesome.” That damn sarcasm was back in my voice. “Bye now.” When I attempted to break free Brant pulled me closer until we were barely an inch apart.
The clouds thinned to let in more moonlight, a silver ray dancing across a gold necklace around Brant’s neck. Strange symbols were carved into the pendent dangling in the hollow of his throat. “You really shouldn’t be out here all alone at night.” His low voice sent shivers down my spine and not in a good way.
“You’re proving your point as you speak.”
If possible his smile turned even more menacing. “Maybe I should walk with you,” he suggested, towering over me.
My pulse thudded out a violent beat while Brant’s eyes seared holes in me, making my skin pucker and crawl. Again I was the terrified little rabbit in the grasp of a big bad wolf only unlike McCollum I was certain Brant would devour me.
He unexpectedly smirked and dropped my hand. “Relax.” He took a tiny step back. “I wouldn’t hurt you.” He winked a hooded hazel eye then disappeared into the fog as quickly as he had come.
“What the hell?” I breathed, my entire body trembling and not because of the frigid air. I turned and high-tailed it back to my dorm, not caring who I ran into as long it wasn’t creepy Brant.
Chapter 7
I tore my dorm room apart looking for my favorite red hoodie after it had mysteriously disappeared. The only mystery was who decided to screw with me today. I would have sought out Aspen if I didn’t already know she was spending her Saturday in the rec room, surrounded by her followers. Not even a big juicy ribeye could force me in there.
On my way to the dining hall, thinking maybe I absentmindedly left it there last night Madison’s roommate Tiffany stopped me. She claimed she saw a red sweatshirt discarded on the bleachers by the outdoor basketball court.
I mashed my teeth as I marched toward the west side of campus through a thicket of trees, their leaves crunching loudly under my stomping feet. Why did I have to be the never-ending target for those rich snobs? I’d been to the basketball court a total of one time and that was for PE. I certainly wasn’t wearing my Lone Star Burger Shack hoodie then. Obviously someone thought it would be funny t
o steal my hoodie and hide it. Or maybe they tied it up to the hoop like a flag to humiliate me further.
The distinct sound of rubber bouncing on cement and the swish of a ball flowing through a chain hoop echoed through the forest. Soon the trees opened to reveal a cement basketball court occupied by a group of guys. My eyes immediately sought him out, landing on that tall, broad form within an instant. His midnight hair was wild and damp with sweat around his perfectly chiseled face, a few pieces falling in those hypnotic jade eyes that looked like a warm tropical ocean at night.
I’d give anything to lose myself in that sea of green.
Fortunately McCollum was wearing a shirt this time so my tongue wouldn’t be threatening to loll out my mouth any moment.
Brant, Patrick, and Trevor were playing against him, Tristan, and another boy I didn’t know. Trevor dribbled the ball between his legs, showing off while the other guys argued about an out of bounds shot. He shook his golden brown hair out his face and shot the ball, sinking it in the hoop with ease. A triumphant smile split his lips.
Trevor’s blue eyes were alert and face animated, nothing like the boy who’d been attached to Emmaline’s arm that night with a far off, dreamy expression.
I shook the memory off and forced my gaze to the stands, hoping to see a scarlet clump against the metal seats. Instead Alyssa, Aspen’s friend, was perched in the middle, her attention solely on the basketball game. A lilac sweater was stretched tightly across her chest while her gray mini skirt should have come with an extra mini—or two. If it wasn’t for the leggings the whole world would have a clear view of her underwear.
“Alyssa?” I waved my hands to catch her attention without success, her hazel eyes locked on one of the guys. It wasn’t until I was a single row away that she finally noticed me.
“Rubiks? Come to watch the entertainment?” She tossed her raven curls over her shoulder and turned back to the game. “It’s totally fascinating.”