“Well, that didn’t take long.” She rolls her eyes, pressing her back against the wall.
“What didn’t?” I ask, confused by her sour demeanour.
“Pretty boy has set his sights on you. I knew it would happeneventually, but I didn’t think it would happen before the first lecture of the day.”
“Mauve, he was just being nice.” I chuckle. “Some girls were giving me a hard time, and he helped me out, is all.”
She scoffs. “Oh, he wants to do more than help you out. Reed doesn’t just do things out of the goodness of his heart. Be careful with that one. I can sense these things, and I’ve heard stories. Rumours and tales that go back through generations of Sullivans. Bad apples—all of them.”
I place my hand on her arm. “I’ve known a lot of bad people in my life, Mauve. I appreciate you looking out for me, truly, but he really was just being nice.”
She nods her head and gives me a weak smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Sometimes bad people wear masks to hide their truest selves from the good they take advantage of.” I nod and give her a side hug.
“You don’t have to worry about me, honest.” I try my best to give her reassurance, though the worry in her eyes tells me she truly believes he’s dangerous. “I’ll be careful, I promise. I have to get to class, but I’ll see you at lunch, okay?”
She nods. “Right. Just remember, Ren, salt and sugar are difficult to distinguish.” She gives me an incredulous look before spinning on her heels, and I watch as she disappears into the throng of people.
Walking through the threshold of the lecture room, my stomach sinks. Almost every seat in the room has been filled. My eyes scour the tables, looking for an opening. I spot Reed in the far corner of the room, waving me over, and excitement swells in my chest, though Mauve’s words have me a little on edge. Scouting for any other place to sit, I come up short. So I dip my head low, walk straight towards him and settle into the seat next to him, not wanting to draw any further attention tomyself, though I think that will be proven difficult with how Reed seems to carry the spotlight with him wherever he goes.
The whispers, the stares, I don’t know how much more of this I can take. Reed notices my discomfort and waves the other students off.
“Ignore them. They seem to be lacking in manners when it comes to making someone feel welcome. They’re vultures.” My head stays lowered, unwilling to meet his eyes, embarrassment creeping under my skin. “Verena,” he whispers, and I peer up at him beneath my lashes.
“Ren, just Ren,” I correct him.
“Ren…” His voice trails off. He reaches forward and twirls a loose strand of hair between his fingers that has fallen on my cheek. My breath hitches, and within that moment, everyone else in that room fades away. He brushes the hairs behind my ear, and we stare at each other for a long moment, unmoving. I know right then, how easy it would be to get lost in his gaze.
Professor Caldwell clears his throat and begins teaching the class, snapping us out of our trance. I feel a smile of my own crawling to the surface of my lips, and I scold myself for letting my guard down for something as simple as a charming smile.
He leans forward, scribbling something on a piece of paper. I try to catch a glimpse of the note he’s writing, but he covers it quickly with his other hand, grinning at me from ear to ear. He’s shameless. When he’s finished, he slides the paper over to my side of the table. I peer down to read his note:Can I take you out tonight?
I glance over at him and master my facial expression. Mauve’s warning rings in the back of my mind, and as alluring as he seems to be, I’ve only just arrived in town. Dating the most popular guy at Hollowcrest Academy isn’t the best way to keep a low profile. Sliding the paper back over to his side of the table, I shake my head slowly. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” Igive him a soft smile, hoping he will take my rejection gracefully. He slaps his palm to his heart with a small gasp as if I’ve wounded him, and the chuckle escapes my lips before I can stop it. I turn back to the lecture and continue taking notes, all the while being very aware of Reed’s eyes still lingering on my face.
SEVEN
VERENA GRAVENHURST
Somehow, I survived my first week at Hollowcrest Academy. Through the whispers, the daunting stares and the relentless pursuit of one infuriatingly persistent Reed Sullivan, I’m becoming accustomed to what my life could look like over the next several months.
My last lecture of the day dragged on, and when I finally made it off campus, I was in dire need of a hot cup of coffee. I decided to explore the town, making my first pit stop at a small eatery called Crest Cove Cafe. Sugary notes waft over me as I step inside. Freshly brewed coffee, vanilla and nutmeg fill the air. It’s a cozy space, with black-and-white checkered flooring and multiple booths lining the outer wall, each one filled with customers. Some are gossiping, sharing baked goods. Others are students, studying on their laptops while sipping lattes.
My eyes roam the cafe, and sure enough, they land on the furthest booth in the back, where Reed sits slouched in his seat next to his friends. He’s already staring at me, and when our eyes lock, he fuckingwinks. The way he demands attention is stifling. Heat creeps into my cheeks, and I return my attention to the front counter, ordering myself a cup of coffee with a splash of creamand a sprinkle of cinnamon—to go. I don’t look back at Reed, but as the door chimes on my exit, I can still feel his stare burning into the back of my skull. I exhale a breath and watch it dissipate into the air in front of me before taking a sip of my hot beverage. It warms my insides, melting all of the stress from my body.
It’s overcast today, the sun completely hidden by heavy clouds, but that doesn’t dull my mood in the slightest. I stroll through the small town, taking my time to admire the beautiful architecture and window shop, until I stumble upon a small oddity store called Hollow Curiosities. Strings of twinkling lights drape across the front window, and a multitude of small objects are on display—clusters of crystals, large and small, a stack of books, tarot cards, some strange-looking handmade art and antique objects. Just the place I want to be. Soft notes of sandalwood from the incense burning by the front door linger in the air as I step inside the dingy shop. There’s not a person in sight, not even a worker behind the counter, but that doesn’t deter me. My curious eyes scan the shelves as I wander deeper into the store. It seems nothing has a specific place. Everything is everywhere; it’s complete chaos, and I’m sure if I lost something in here, it would never be found again.
My fingers brush against the rough points of an amethyst, its colour a velvety purple with deep red undertones, leaving me mesmerized by its beauty. I move along, taking my time perusing the shop, checking out the ouija boards and pendulums, getting lost in the mystic madness. My footsteps come to a halt when I approach a display case near the back wall. Inside are tiny olive-green glass-like stones, with bubbles and pits throughout their forms. I can’t explain it, but the little rocks draw me in, like a cosmic pull that has my subconscious vibrating at an extremely high frequency. I long to hold one in the palm of my hand.
“The moldavite speaks to you, it seems.” I startle, snapping out of my fixation.
“Moldavite?” I turn towards the woman who just emerged from behind a narrow, beaded doorway. Her luscious, curly, black hair flows down to her hourglass figure, landing just above her hips, and freckles pepper the bridge of her nose, but her eyes are what hold my attention. The colour is exquisite—hazel with gold flecks scattered about and a ring of green surrounding her irises. She stares at me with a look so intense, I feel vulnerable under her gaze; it’s as if she can see every thought that travels through my mind, causing me to look away.
“The stones which you gaze upon are called moldavite. They are formed by the impact of a meteorite millions of years ago. They hold an immense amount of transformative power, which can be life-changing, removing obstacles from your life’s path, whether that obstacle is something positive or something negative. One should be very careful when handling something so energy-driven. In the hands of one who is unwilling to change, moldavite responds with chaos,” she explains, and I huff a laugh, looking back at her.
“I don’t think it would be wise for me to add any more mayhem to my life at the moment.”
She nods. “Your eyes tell me that’s surely the truth.” My eyes flicker to the sign hanging on the wall above the woman’s head.Tea Leaf Readings, $50.00.
