“Thank you.” I reached for my bag. Xavier slowly slid the strap up my arm and over my shoulder, letting his fingers graze the side of my throat. His hand moved to the back of my neck. He bent quickly and grazed his lips across mine. Stumbling back, I hit the doorjamb. I touched my lips before I held my hand up, palm facing him.
“Don’t… no… just… hmm…” I shook my head. “Don’t.” He’d completely caught me off-guard. I didn’t know what to say. Turning, I walked into my class.
Chay glared at me when I walked by his desk.
“I didn’t… ah… that wasn’t… I didn’t want him to.” He looked down at his desk, bouncing his pencil off his open book. He didn’t answer me.
Class dragged on. I didn’t think it’d ever end. I needed to talk with Chay. He needed to know that Xavier’s kiss was one-sided.
I didn’t want him to kiss me… right? No, I definitely didn’t want him to. I’m in love with Chay. Chay… the guy who I’m having dreams about killing me. This is totally messed up.
I didn’t get a chance to explain, though. As soon as class was over, Chay bolted.
***
My stomach twisted, and my head began to pound. Xavier and I were just leaving economics—I hated that class.
“Xavier,” I whispered.
“Yeah?” He grabbed my hand. I didn’t jerk away. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m going to have a vision.”
His step faltered. “Oh, um, what should I do?”
“Let’s go to the window and look outside. Maybe with my back turned, no one will notice.” Fat chance. I was already doubled over in pain. Xavier helped me to the window. I gripped the sill with both hands, holding myself up. My knuckles turned white from holding the sill so tightly, and my fingernails bent under the pressure.
Mr. Ferguson. The bathroom.
Gross.
He undoes his tie. Sweating. His face is red.
“I think something is wrong with Mr. Ferguson,” I said.
“What?” I jumped at the sound of Chay’s voice. I should have expected him to show up. He could sense when one of the team was in danger or pain. With me, he could sense when I had a vision.
Bathroom. He’s alone. His hand grips his chest. Sweating.
“I think he may be having a heart attack.”
Mr. Ferguson. Lying on a blue and gold tiled floor.
“Where is he, Milayna?” Chay asked.
“A bathroom.” My eyes were squeezed shut. I was trying to concentrate on the vision. Only one image played through my mind—Mr. Ferguson lying unconscious on the bathroom floor.
“We have to search every bathroom until we find him,” Xavier said quickly.
“He’s the principal. He has his own bathroom, moron,” Chay snapped.
Chay ran down the hall toward the school office, Xavier close behind him. They were only gone four or five minutes, but it felt like hours. I knew the second someone found Mr. Ferguson. The painful clenching in my stomach eased and my head cleared.
“What’d you do?” I asked when Chay and Xavier got back.
“I asked to see the principal,” Chay said. “When the secretary said he was unavailable, I asked a little more… forcefully.”
“He demanded,” Xavier said with a chuckle.
Chay rolled his eyes. “After threatening to call my parents because I was being denied my right to speak with Mr. Ferguson, she finally went to get him. When he didn’t answer his door, she got the janitor, who found him lying on the floor. They’ve called an ambulance. Is the vision gone?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Chay looked from Xavier to me and scowled. “I have to get to class.” He turned and walked away.
I stared after him, completely amazed at the transformation from charming, loving boyfriend to the distant, cold person he’d turned into. He knew how much the visions upset me. He always comforted me after one. Not only did he not comfort me, but he also hadn’t kissed me all day. The no-kissing part was completely unacceptable.
“Chay, wait up.” I jogged down the hall.
“I’m going to be late. The first bell’s already rung.”
“I don’t give a damn if you’re late,” I yelled.
He stopped and looked at me, letting his bag fall from his shoulder. “What?” he asked quietly.
“What’s wrong with you today? Did I do something? Are you mad at me? Because if you are, just say so.”
He looked at me so long that I didn’t think he was going to answer. Dropping the strap of his bag, he took two large strides toward me. Threading his hands through my hair, he bent his face to mine. He kissed me hard and deep until we were both breathless.
“I’m sorry, Milayna. I’ve been a jerk today. I’m just… I don’t feel like myself.”
“It’s okay—”
“No.” He looked at the floor. “It’s not. You didn’t deserve that.”
“Chay.” He looked at me. “Kiss me again,” I whispered.
He lowered his lips to mine, caressing them. I sighed when his tongue touched mine. He kissed me until he stole my breath. My head swam with the scent of him—my tongue craved his taste. Time stood still, and there was nothing but him, me, and the feel of our mouths moving in time with each other.
And then it was gone.
The bell’s shrill ring echoed through the locker-lined hallway. I looked at Chay. He grinned. “Maybe I should be in a bad mood more often if that’s the type of kiss I’m gonna get.”