“Just couldn’t sleep last night. All the talk of demons and Azazel got to me.” I wrapped the hem of my T-shirt around my finger.
She must’ve sensed I didn’t want to talk about it, because she changed the subject to more exciting news—school gossip. We caught up on everything that happened over the weekend on the short drive to the school.
Muriel and I grabbed our books out of our lockers. I turned to go to my first class when she grabbed my arm. “It’ll work out, Milayna.”
“Yeah.” I forced a smile. “It’ll be fine.”
I walked into AP chemistry, dropped my books on the table, laid my cheek against them, and closed my eyes. After my nightmare, I couldn’t sleep. I was tired with a killer headache, not the greatest combo. I took two painkillers before I left for school, but my headache just laughed at them and pounded harder. It felt like I had one of those toy monkeys that play the cymbals inside my skull. We had a lab to do that day in class or I would have slept through it.
I got three hours of sleep last night. Yeah, today’s the day I need to be playing around with dangerous chemicals. I hope the school is up-to-date on their insurance.
I didn’t pay attention to who was coming and going. Boyfriends walked girlfriends to the door. Friends gossiped. People filed in and out of the room. I tried to ignore them.
Just a few minutes of sleep. That’s all I need.
A large book bag slammed on the table next to me, and I jumped up in my chair, stifling a scream.
“I told you not to get too comfortable.”
What the crap? Who let him in here and why is his bag on my table?
“What are you doing here?” I glared at him.
“Getting ready for class. Same as you, I suspect,” Chay answered, unperturbed. He opened his bag, pulled out a mechanical pencil, and clicked it a few times.
I turned in my seat to face him, smacking the table in front of him. “You’re not in this class. Since when are you in this class?”
“Since now.” He pulled out the gigantic chemistry book we were forced to lug around all day. “We’re lab partners.”
Oh, hell to the freakin’ no! Put that book back in your pack and go away. Lab partners? I might just blow the school up just to get away from you.
“What?” I looked wide-eyed at him. “I don’t have a lab partner.”
“Do I need to use smaller words?” He looked sideways at me.
“Why are you here, and why are you my lab partner?” I bit out through clenched teeth.
“This is the only class you don’t share with one of the group. You need someone here. There’s at least two people in here you should be watching. I noticed them the first few seconds I was here. You aren’t paying attention, Milayna.”
Why does it have to be him? Why can’t Muriel transfer? Or Jake? Anyone but him.
“Oh, really? Who?” I folded my arms across my chest.
“Girl in the pink sweatshirt. She doesn’t want anyone to notice, but she keeps looking over here.” He flicked his eyes in her directions.
“She’s not looking at me. She has a thing for the guy that sits in front of me.” I turned and looked at her. Her eyes followed every movement the guy in front of me made. I bit my lip to keep from giggling. He was being ridiculous.
“Second, Robbie Reynolds. He’s been staring at you since I walked in. Now, he’s scowling. He either has a thing for you, or he’s picturing dragging you to Hell.”
“I’ve known him since kindergarten. He’s fine.” I looked over my shoulder. Robbie was looking at me. The tips of his prominent ears turned red when he realized he’d been caught staring. I waved my hand once. “Hey, Robbie. What do you think of this class, huh?” I made a face because everyone hated this instructor.
“The class wouldn’t be so bad if we had a teacher who actually knew something and did more than assign every damn problem in the book as homework.” He flipped the cover of his book.
I nodded, turned around, and glared at Chay.
“Doesn’t matter.” Chay shrugged a shoulder. “You need to be aware at all times. How many times do we have to warn you before it gets through?”
“Geez, you’re an ass.”
He laughed, and I jumped at the sound. I didn’t think he’d laughed since I met him. I wasn’t sure he was capable.
Why did I like the sound of it? Like fine silk sliding over rough rock. It sent warm waves down my spine and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and did a little dance. I wondered what I could do to make him do it again.
“I’ve been called worse.”
“Why? You’re so charming.” I rolled my eyes.
He laughed again. “You look like hell, Milayna.”
Evidently, I just have to insult him and he’ll laugh. Okay, I can do that. Because I totally want to hear that sound again.
“There’s that charm I was referring to.” I flipped my book open and pretended to be enthralled with the lab we’d be doing.
“Nightmare?”