Chapter 35: Truth, Part 3

Zac gave me a crooked smile, got out of the car and opened my door, then flung his backpack onto his shoulder. Quite the gentleman. I doubt if it came from his father. Everyone watched in awe as we walked toward the front plate glass doors of the school, but I saw only him. Then Zac gently slid his hand down my arm, taking my hand, sending chills throughout my body with just this simple gesture. Man, if he only knew what he did to me.

Inside the school, I pulled Zac close to my side protectively as we made our way to our Government class. Zac subtly slid his arm around my waist as we walked, then glanced at me and grinned, dazzling me beyond belief. I had to shake my head to return my focus. My eyes darted down the hallway. I couldn't place it, but something was wrong. I took a deep breath, checking to see if I could catch a scent, but there was nothing.

"Good morning!" Ms. Parks greeted us with a warm smile as we took two seats together in the back of the class. The all-too-perky Ms. Parks called the class to order for the announcements, as Zac stole a glance in my direction. One corner of my lips raised into a half smile as I forced my attention back to Ms. Parks. The electricity between Zac and I was tangible, thick in the air. I tried to shake the impending feeling of doom and tried to pay attention to Ms. Parks. But the electricity between us and the impending feeling of doom made concentrating difficult. The class went without a hitch, although my eyes frequently darted toward the door.

"What's wrong?" Zac whispered, catching me looking at the classroom door. He was much more astute than I had imagined.

But I just shook my head, giving him a warm smile as a grin spread across his lovely face. After class, Zac took my hand as we walked to our honors History class. I still had the feeling of unease as Zac slid his arm around my waist again.

"Come on, Lisa," Zac said worriedly, his eyebrows pulling together. Then, he pulled me to the side and leaned on a locker and ran a hand through his sandy brown hair. His azure eyes bore into mine with concern. Then, he took my hand into his and asked, "Lisa, if I'm moving too fast ..."

I laughed and the sound of bells reverberated off the walls. If he only knew what had been going through my mind yesterday and last night, he wouldn't be saying that. All I could think about was sharing his blood and his body. I frequently had to remind myself to focus.

"What?" Zac asked innocently, eyeing with a look of concern.

"It's not you," I said, shaking my head, feigning a smile. "I promise."

Zac wasn't fooled. "What is it, then? What's bothering you?"

"You really notice everything, don't you?" I hedged, as one side of my lips curled into a half smile, then flipped my wavy brown hair over one shoulder.

Zac smiled, dazzled, then replied seductively, "I notice you." His beautiful blue eyes bore into mine, and at that moment I wanted to spill. I wanted to tell him everything, but knew I couldn't dare. I wondered what he would think if he knew I was a vampire? Would he turn and run? He would probably never want to see me again. I sighed at the thought. "Come on, tell me," he persisted.

I just shook my head, forcing another smile. What would I tell him? That I was a CIA agent sent here by his CIA head father to protect him from rogue vampires? He would think I'd lost my mind. "It's nothing," I hedged, pulling him down the hall. "Let's go to class."

Zac's eyebrows pulled together. He wasn't fooled, but let me lead him down the hall to our Honors History class. Zac and I walked to what was becoming our usual place in the back of the class to two desks setting together. And as Ms. Ross called the class to order and began her boring lecture, I wondered who could possibly want Zac. If the purpose was to get to his father, then how did they even find out about him? Why was there a million dollar price tag on Zac's head? That price tag would definitely make protecting him much more difficult. Throughout class, I considered the possibilities, but it just didn't seem to add up. What was I missing?

Then, I caught Zac's eye across the aisle, filled with concern. "Meet me in the hall in two minutes," Zac said under his breath, then rose from his seat and headed toward the door, taking his backpack with him.

Ms. Ross said nothing.

Panic rose from deep within my chest and I had to literally keep myself from rushing at vamp speed out the door after him. He was unprotected in the hallway with who knows what after him. My God! What was he thinking? Then again, I had to remind myself that he didn't know.

I sighed, then grabbed my backpack and headed for the door, as well, when Ms. Ross stopped me.

"Can it wait a minute?" Ms. Ross asked, her eyes filled with suspicion, as she indicated her lecture.

"No, really, it can't," I replied. Not waiting for an answer, I headed out the door.

Ms. Ross didn't try to stop me. Lucky for her.

As I rushed into the hallway, all kinds of scenarios ran through my mind ranging from Zac being kidnapped to killed within those few minutes, but in the hallway, standing lazily off to the side, stood Zac. I breathed a sigh of relief as he simply said, "Hi."

"What were you thinking?" I asked, my eyebrows pulling together.

"I was thinking about you," he replied, concerned, pulling me down the hallway. "We need to talk."

Well, here it goes. At least it was good while it lasted. As he pulled me into a vacant classroom, I had no idea what I was going to say or how much I was going to tell.

"Now," Zac said, then pulled me to a vacant seat and took one across from me, "what's going on?"

I sighed, leaning hard against the back of the chair as it cracked. Oops. "What makes you think something's going on?"

"For one thing," Zac said, raising his voice slightly, "you've been acting strangely all morning."

"How?"

"You look worried," Zac said, taking my cool hand into his warm hand, but he pretended not to notice. "What's going on, Lisa?"

And I wondered how much I should tell him. I was in love with him and he didn't even know my real name. I just shook my head and lowered my eyes.