Chapter 14

I saw Denise standing and waiting for me in front of the school. We did our normal greetings and started towards the building, but the roar of a finely tuned motor stopped us in our tracks.

"Well, now," I said, staring. "Quite a car."

"Quite a Porsche." Denise corrected me dryly.

The sleek black Ford Thunderbird purrs through the parking lot, searching for a space.

When the car came to a stop, the door opened and we glanced at the driver.

"Oh, my God," Denise whispered.

"You can say that again." I breathed. Immediately, I became uncomfortable, as if someone more powerful than I was also in the academy. The aura became stronger. It was not normal.

From where I stood, I could see he had a lean, flat-muscled body, faded jeans, a tight T-shirt, and a leather jacket. His hair was wavy and dark.

He wasn't tall, though, just average height.

I let out a breath.

"Who is that masked man?" Jada asked as she stood with us. And the remark was suitable: dark sunglasses completely cover the boy's eyes, shielding his face like a mask.

"That masked stranger." Someone else said, and a babble of voices rose.

"Do you see that jacket?" Denise asked. "That's Italian, as in Roma."

"How would you know? You've never been to Rome, only New York in your life!" Jada commented rudely.

Denise ignored her. "Short-dark and handsome had better be careful."

"He's not short, he's perfect," Jada said.

Maddie's voice rang out. "Oh, come on, Jada. You've already got Chase."

Jada looked at me. "What can I do with one that I can't do with two?"

"You are such a cunt." Denise said as she rolled her eyes at Jada.

The boy had locked his car and was now walking toward the academy. Casually, Jada started after him, with Maddie right behind her in a close-knit pack.

We entered the hall, and the figure in jeans and a leather jacket was disappearing through the office doorway up ahead. I slowed my pace as I walked up to the office. Finally, I stopped to glance thoughtfully at the messages on the cork bulletin board by the door. There was a large window there through which the entire office was visible.

Jada and Maddie were openly gazing through the window and giggling. "Nice rear view," Jada said.

"You think he's out of state?" Maddie replied.

I was straining my ears for the boy's name. I didn't know why, but I just wanted to know why so many auras were coming from him. He was not human; he was too perfect to be one. But if he was not human, then what was he doing here? Why did he come here? What was his purpose in the academy?

The boy's sunglasses were now in his hand. I wished I could see more than the back of his head. He handed the paper to the principal. He emerged from the office. He set his glasses in place again.

Disappointment coursed through me.

Still, I could see the rest of his face as he paused in the doorway. I thought for a few: high cheekbones, a classical straight nose... and a mouth to keep you awake at night. The upper lips were beautifully sculpted, a little sensitive, and a whole lot physical. The chatter of the girls in the hallway had stopped, as if someone had told them to shut up.

Most of them were turning away from the boy now, looking anywhere but at him. I held my place at the window and gave a little toss to my head, pulling the ribbon out of my hair so that it would fall loose around my shoulders.