I didn’t know how or why our relationship had taken a turn, but I wasn’t exactly mad. River was funny when he wasn’t being a dick. He’d never opened up like this, and something told me he probably wouldn’t again.
“It doesn’t hurt when I do it,” I replied. “I’d tell you to ask someone,but…I don’t really want to reveal who knows how good I am at telepathy.”
River nodded, his eyes darting from me back to the ground every few seconds.
“Why did you think I was in your head?” I asked.
River looked at me, his eyes skating over me like usual, only this time he didn’t end up scowling.
“It’s stupid,” he said.
“Tell me,” I said. “Please? What did I do to make you think I just go in people’s minds like that?”
“You’re telling me you’ve never gone inside someone’s mind?” River asked in disbelief, raising his eyebrows slightly. “Never, not once?”
I sighed. Obviously I had. I’d even looked into Lana during first term without any guilt.
“It’s been a while,” I admitted. “I only speak to my Links now.”
“Red?” River asked, nodding toward the affinity gym.
“Don’t call him that,” I sighed again.
River shook his head, and then his gaze hardened into a glare. I rolled my eyes, opening my mouth to say something about his hot and cold attitude giving me whiplash, and then a grating voice spoke from behind me.
“Hey, Wa–…Riv, can we talk?”
“No,” River replied immediately. “Get lost, Carla.”
Carla blinked, her brown eyes darting to mine before her lips twisted. “Him, too?”
I raised my eyebrows as River groaned from beside me.
“We’re paired up, Carla. I can’t control that.”
Her lips twisted further, then she shook her head in disgust. “Whatever. You two deserve each other.”
“What the fuck?” I hissed as she stormed away. I whirled around to find River glaring after her. “What does that mean?”
River scoffed as he stood. “Nothing? Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not interested.”
My jaw dropped as he stalked off, following the route Carla took.
Fuck. Him.
Chapter 50
Skye
I appearedin the hallway back at home with a shiver. Zephyr had the damn air conditioner on again. I could hear the crowd in the café on the other side of the door and I decided not to go through. I didn’t need any regulars asking where I’d been. I just needed some shoes, then I could go.
I slipped into my room, ducking down and reaching under the bed toward the short bin of my mom’s things. A thump sounded from downstairs, startling me enough that I bumped my head on the bed frame. With a growl, I pulled the bin out, then rubbed my head. I thumped my foot on the carpet, hoping Levi could hear it. I was beginning to think he was throwing shit to get our attention, and that would be bad if someone like Stevens happened to be here.
I pulled out my mom’s silver sandals, grinning when they flashed in the sunlight spilling through my window. Just as I pushed the bin back under the bed and stuffed the shoes into a bag, another thump sounded, this time a little louder.
What the fuck was he doing?
I teleported down to the basement, surprised to see several of our ceramic cups broken on the ground. Levi looked surprised to see me,his eyebrows to his hairline and his arms braced at his sides.
