Chapter 14
(Alex)
I could tell she was lying. Whatever Nicholas said to her was bad. But she wasn t ready to tell me yet.
When we landed again, we were tucked away in the alley that lined the back entrance of the library. Snow was falling from the sky, making everything a sheet of slippery white. I ran my hand across the hood covering her head, sweeping away the snowflakes. Then we hurried to the back door. There were no windows close, so I couldn t see what was going on inside.
You think it s open?
she asked, bouncing up and down from the cold.
I shrugged, grasping the handle on the door. But it was locked. Of course.
You re skins turning blue.
Her violet eyes widened as she looked at me.
I m just a little cold,
I said and when she reached for the zipper of the jacket, I trapped her hand.
I m not going to take it back. I fine. I promise.
She got this weird look on her face and then she enclosed her hands around my wrists, her pulse slamming against her fingertips. She bit her lip as she rubbed her hands up and down my arms, creating friction, electricity, warmth.
Better?
she asked after she d finished.
Sure.
My voice cracked and I rolled my eyes at myself for showing how weak her touch made me. My gaze skimmed her from head-to-toe.
What about you?
I raised my eyebrow at her, giving her a look that made her hide a blush.
You need me to warm you up?
She shook her head and I turned for the entrance door, smiling at myself.
The front door ended up being locked too, even after I kicked it and shook the living daylights out of it.
She let her head fall against the wall.
Now what?
I don t know.
I glanced next door at the open restaurant behind us. I guess people had to eat.
Think they d have a computer we can use?
She shook her head.
Doubtful. Maybe we should just break the window.
The alarm would go off and draw too much attention.
Across the street, there were only houses and many of them looked as dead as a graveyard. But a few streets back, I could see the pointed roof of the school.
I think I have an idea.
***
She was fidgeting anxiously with everything she could get her hands on.
I can t believe it s still going you d think they d cancel it or something.
I m pretty sure hell could freeze over and school would still be mandatory.
I yanked the heavy glass door open, letting her walk in.
Hey, this is where we first met.
Yeah &
She bit at her nails.
You know, I didn t really feel the way I acted that day,
I dared utter the dangerous words.
She nodded, still preoccupied with the hall where people moved to and from class.
They won t even notice we re here,
I said, trying to calm her down, because her jittering was rubbing off on me a little.
And if they do, they ll think we re new students or something.
I know,
she muttered and started down the hall, with her head down.
I suddenly realized what the problem was. She wasn t scared of being caught. She was scared off being here, in the halls that had tormented her for almost four years.
I wasn t sure what to say to her really I didn t think there weren t any words that could take her ach away. So I did the only think I could think to do. I took her hand, entwining our fingers together. Her pulse was racing, but not from my touch. She clutched on, not wanting to let go.
But eventually, we d have to.
So this is what Iceland looks like?
She frowned at the computer screen.
I thought you said it wasn t cold there.
No, I said it wasn t as cold.
I tapped my finger at the screen.
There s still snow.
She tilted her head to the side, examining the photo.
What do you think that little roads for?
I don t know, but this is the best picture I could find,
I told her,
Plus there s a lot of bare space around, so we don t have to worry about anyone seeing us appear out of thin air.
And then what? We just roam around until we find the address? The place looks pretty big.
We ll get a taxi or something.
Seems kind of amateur.
She pouted.
Don t worry.
I gave her hair a playful tug.
I m sure they ll be plenty of times where we’ll need your wonderful Foreseer power.
Yeah, I guess.
She clicked the mouse on the print page button and then rolled back the chair to stand. As she waited impatiently for the printer to screen out the picture, I spotted the figure of a vaguely familiar blonde-haired girl walking toward me. Kelsey something or another. Really, I didn t get it. I didn t know if it was just a girl thing or what, but she really seemed determined to make Gemma s life a living hell.
Oh my God,
she exclaimed, springing up and down on her toes.
I turned my back on her, taking Gemma s arm, and whispering,
Code red.
She stared at me like I was a lunatic.
Shaking my head, I snatched the picture from the printer and dashed for the door, towing her along with me.
What are you doing?
She worked to keep up with me.
We ve been spotted,
I hissed, not wanting to draw attention.
Her violet eyes skimmed the room and then her lip twitched. I heard Kelsey yammering something, but I was already swinging through the door. Gemma didn t follow. She froze in the doorway.
What are you doing?
I asked, but she only stared straight ahead at the wall. Kelsey jaunted up, an evil look on her face as she narrowed her eyes at Gemma.
Well look who
Gemma let the door swing shut right in her face, her nose smashing into the glass.
Ready to go?
she asked, grazing past me as if nothing had happened.
Yeah,
I said with surprise.
Let s go to Iceland.