“Finn. Kind of ironic for a Reaper.”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Look it up in a French dictionary.”
Finn studies me with the weird look of curiosity I’m becoming familiar with. Then he shakes his head, as if shaking away a thought, and walks away.
With perfect timing, Stalker Boy Number Two comes storming through the door, luckily from the opposite direction to the one Finn went in.
Rain glistens on his open leather jacket, and his damp T-shirt sticks to his chest. Yes, all those muscles I’ve wondered about are toned. His untidy hair has curled in the rain, giving him a cute appearance which has attracted the attention of a couple of girls, too. Glancing in the direction Finn walked in, I’m relieved he’s out of sight.
I cross my arms as Alek approaches. “I see it’s still raining then.”
“Are you okay?” he asks quickly.
I pull my sourest face. Then I stand and steady the chair before I knock it over. “I said I don’t need you to watch me. I can cope on my own.”
I walk away, Alek in pursuit. This is my life, not his. Bad enough I have to live with him and his arrogant mood swings, now he’s encroaching into the part of my life away from the house of secrets.
Keeping ahead of Alek, I weave through the people in the corridor; damp visitors, busy nurses, and I almost trip over a kid whose parents aren’t supervising him. I get to the expansive sliding glass doors at the front of the building and groan; the rain is too heavy to walk in. I don’t want to be around Alek, but I’m not desperate enough to risk getting sick from a soaking.
Alek touches my arm. “I brought my car, come on.”
“Go away.”
“I suppose you’ve spoken to Finn today.”
Attempting not to get distracted by the proximity to Alek, I fix my stony stare on him. “Yes. He had some interesting things to say.”
“Mmm. Let me guess, he said he’s not going to kill you.”
I snort at him. “I was going to tell you what he said, but maybe I won’t.”
“That’s childish.”
“So’s calling someone Casper.”
Alek quirks an eyebrow. “Let me take you home.”
“It’s not my home! I hate it there; if you really want to help me, find me somewhere else to live.”
“I can’t. I can’t leave the house,” he says pursing his lips.
“I said me, not us. How the hell can you think I want you to come with me?”
“Are you listening to me? You’re in danger!”
“If you can’t leave the house, how come you’re standing here now?”
He moves his face close to mine. “Because I want you.”
“Oh, my God!” I swear to hide my embarrassment at his words and walk out of the doors. Hopefully, the rain will cool me down.
Alek laughs and runs after me. He grabs my arm and spins me around. “I meant your energy, Rose, but more if you’re interested?”
Arrogant, bloody…But then I was the one throwing myself at him the other night. Alek slides his hand down my arm, taking my hand is his damp palm. I jolt at the sensation, the flow of the energy he talks about spreading everywhere. Everywhere…
Alek closes his eyes and tips his head to the rain. “That’s me giving some to you.” He opens one eye and looks at me. “Normally, I just take from people.”
“Well, you won’t take from me, unless I let you,” I retort, aware of the ridiculousness of my comment.
“I’m well aware of that, and I don’t want to hurt you,” he replies. “Finn, on the other hand…”
“Why do you really want to help me then?” I interrupt.
“Because you make me curious. As I said, I’ve never met another Between before. Plus, I hate Reapers.”
“Why?”
“Probably the same reason you do.” He clamps his mouth shut. “Let me drive you home.”
The gathering dusk joins the clouds. I’m already damp from my last excursion across the car park and I’m getting soaked again now. Talk of demons seems closer in the darkness. I don’t want to hang around at the bus stop.
“Fine,” I mumble.
We sprint across the car park toward Alek’s car and climb inside. Alek starts the engine and turns the heating up high. I peel off my damp jacket and hold my hands in front of the air vents.
His half-answer plays on my mind. “Why do you hate Reapers?”
He scrunches his nose and I’m unsure if he’ll answer. “Two reasons - they took the person I loved and left me behind in this mess.”
Tears spring behind my eyes, and I want to reach out to touch his face. The same as they did to me. Finn did to me.
Eyes darkening slightly, Alek leans and brushes a wet strand from my face. My face heats at the exact point his fingertips touch. “It’s weird to have met another me.”
“I’m not you.”
“We’re two of a kind, in more ways than one.” He wipes a stray raindrop from my cheek. “Who did you lose?”