Chapter 16

** Candice **

I'm about to open my locker when I hear someone call my name. I know the voice and when I look up, I see Brad walking straight toward me. It's been two whole class periods since I last saw him and somehow he's managed to look even better than before. How is that possible?

"Hey, you," he says, already flashing me his signature grin.

"Hey." I smile back because I can't help it.

"Need a ride home?" he asks, looking at me with his incredible brown eyes.

I'm too mentally drained to check out the house anyway. After dealing with crowded hallways, my weird conversation with Mrs. Stephens, and at least one mini-panic attack, a ride home sounds pretty good. Besides, it gets dark earlier every night and the thought of looking around a mysterious house when its pitch black makes me beyond nervous.

"Sure."

**

We're several cars back, waiting our turn to exit the parking lot, when he reaches for my hand between shifting gears. Piece by piece, I can feel my walls starting to crumble. It seems effortless for him to show that he cares even though neither of us is talking. We don't have to. It's a strange yet amazing moment of companionship as we share space together and just be. I can take a deep breath and for the first time today, my stomach isn't tied up in knots..

Brad makes a right out of the parking lot, waving at the same dude in the truck who nearly rear ended him this morning.

"Is he that Nick guy?" I ask.

"Yeah. Good memory." He shifts into neutral because we've stopped again and then takes my hand. "He and his girlfriend are coming with us to the movies tomorrow."

"Okay. Glad I'm not riding with him." I laugh.

"Shit, I'm more afraid of his girlfriend. She's a trip." He shakes his head, shifting the stick into first.

"Really? Why?"

"For starters, she's up his ass constantly and she's jealous of every girl who comes within five feet of him," he says, shaking his head. "The chick wears me out."

"Wow, that's gotta suck."

"Yeah, it really does." He glances over at me and sighs. "She has to be home by midnight, though, so that's when we go off on our own. Otherwise, she'd be with us, too."

"We?"

"Oh, yeah. Me, Nick, and Paul," he answers, still holding my hand.

"Where do you go?" I ask, wondering where they could possibly go after midnight in this small town.

"Usually to the old Emory house. We can't always get beer, but Nick usually has pot." He laughs. "His parents don't know he's figured out where they keep their stash."

Where have I heard that name before?

"The Emory house?" I say, genuinely intrigued.

"Yeah, it's one of the old mansions on Oak Lawn." He pauses as if he's just thought of something. "You were right by it this morning. It's the one that's all boarded up, but you can get in if you walk around to the side."

My heart starts beating a little faster because I know exactly what house he's talking about and exactly how they got in.

Trying to sound oblivious, I ask another question I'm not sure I want the answer to. "So, no one lives there?"

"No, it's been like that for as long as I can remember," he replies.

I can't help myself and have to ask. "Do you know why?"

Brad's lips get tight and he drops my hand like a hot potato. "Kind of...I mean, you hear things over the years." He pauses and I see his jaw start to twitch. "I'm pretty sure the same family who built it still owns it." He briefly looks out the window and says, "Rumor has it, someone died there. I think that's why it was abandoned."

"Wow, how sad," I say, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible. "Do you know who died?"

"I think it was the son, Atticus."

I don't have time to think because he snaps me back into reality.

"Which turn is it? The first or second?"

"Oh, the first one," I answer, grabbing my backpack from the floorboard.

He pulls in and I point to the stairs that lead up to our door. He looks for a second as if making a mental note then asks, "What's your apartment number?"

"1316."

His lips curl up as if I've handed him a secret key, but he's clearly over what was bothering him before. He leans forward, bringing his lips only inches from my ear. "Pick you up tomorrow?"

I'm caught off guard when the intimacy of his gesture sends a sexual surge through my body. And I like it. "Okay," I say, a little out of breath as I reach for the handle.

"Wait." His hand is back on mine for a second before his door opens. He quickly hops out, jogging over to my side.

I can't pull my eyes off him and have to take a deep breath. I've never felt this kind of attraction toward any guy and again, want to bang my head against a wall.

"M'lady," he says again. Only this time he takes my hand and pulls me close. I can't help but smile because I'm torn between the need to run like hell and the desire for him-this-to become an everyday thing.

"Back to being a medieval prince?" I ask, trying to hide my sudden nervousness because old habits die hard and he just can't be for real. How did I not see it before? I'm not dealing with an ordinary guy.

I watched Brad awe everyone he talked to today. He's not just the Big Man on Campus, he appears to actually be a good person. He's funny, he's hot, and he's the kind of guy every other guy wants to be. And if he tries to kiss me right now, I'll probably melt into a puddle right here in the parking lot.

"Something like that." He leans down, lacing his fingers through mine as he gently kisses my cheek. I swear he's going to kill me with his slow movements; it gives me too much time to think about what he's doing. I look up at him and he waits a few seconds before opening his eyes.

Dear God.

"See ya tomorrow," he says, still holding my hand.

I'm biting my lip, trying to fill my lungs with air so I can respond. "Yes," I finally say, pulling my hand away from his as I turn to walk up the steps.