Finally Crossroads High came into view and she breathed a sigh of relief. It was a new building, large and red, winding into a half circle. Cars meandered through the parking lot, Go Jaguars written on the windshields. Kids milled around outside, basking in the warm summer haze that would soon be replaced by an ice-cold fall. ExceptSome of her relief faded. Would the wolf attack them?
Tuckers truck sped past her, and then his tires were squealing as he jerked to a stop. Thank God! The wolf dropped her phone and backed up. When he was far enough away to ease her mind, she raced forward and grabbed the cell. Her gaze remained locked on him as she backpedaled, throwing open Tuckers passenger door and flinging herself inside. The wolf disappeared into the thick green trees and bushes that surrounded the school.
That last look hed shot her had been laced with disappointment. Even anger. She gulped. At least he hadnt sprung forward and started chomping at the truck.
This is new, Tucker said, deep voice drawing her attention.
He had shaggy, sandy hair and gray eyes, coloring that might have been dull on anyone else. On Tucker, with his boyish face, dimples and athletic body, it was heart-stopping.
Shed never understood why hed chosen to ask her out, much less why hed wanted to keep dating her, since they so rarely spent time together outside of school. All the cheerleaders adored him, especially their leader, Christy Hayes, the beloved beauty responsible for wet dreams statewide. But Tucker wanted nothing to do with her, was always brushing her off to be with Mary Ann. Which, she hated to admit, did as much for her self-esteem as Tuckers compliments.
Youre so beautiful, he was fond of saying. Im so lucky to be with you.
She would smile for hours afterward.
Tucker chuckled, pulling her from her thoughts. Now this is what Im used to.
What do you mean? The longer they sat there, the more her trembling faded.
Youre ignoring me, lost in your thoughts.
Oh. Im sorry. Did she do that a lot? She hadnt realized. Would have to make more of an effort to stay focused. So what had they been talking about, anyway? Oh, yeah. What is new? she asked.
The truck eased forward. Youre pale as a ghost and eager for a ride. Why?
To tell him about the wolf or not? Not, she decided without any deliberation. Didnt take a genius to know she would be laughed at and ridiculed. A wolf had escorted her to school? Please. Who would believe it? It wasnt something she truly believed.
Just, uh, nervous about my chem test tomorrow. Lying wasnt something she usually did and guilt quickly began to eat at her.
He shuddered. Chemistry sucks. I still dont understand why you signed up for advanced studies with Mr. Klein. Guy makes a doorknob look fun. Before she could reply, he added, You look smokin today, by the way.
See? Who else would even think of saying something like that to her? She grinned. Thank you.
Youre welcome, but I wouldnt say it if it wasnt true. Tucker parked.
And this is why I stay with him, she thought, smile growing all the wider.
They emerged, and she immediately searched the side of the school, peering into the trees. No sign of her wolf. That didnt lessen the sudden feeling of being watched, though, and she lost her grin. Note to self: research wolves. Maybe fear made prey taste better and this was some sort of new stalk, terrify into stupidity and then kill technique. If so, there was no better prey than Mary Ann.
Come on. Tucker wound an arm around her waist and led her forward. He didnt seem to notice her renewed trembling.
There, resting on the bike rails, was Tuckers group. Crew. Whatever. Mary Ann knew them, of course, but she rarely hung out with them. They didnt approve of her, something they made clear by ignoring her every time she approached. Each of them played football, though she couldnt have named their positions to save her life.
The boys slapped each others hands in greeting. And yes, they pretended that she wasnt there. Tucker never seemed to notice the disrespect and she never said anything. She wasnt sure how hed reactwhether hed side with her or his friendsand it simply wasnt worth her time to worry about it.
Did you hear? Shane Weston, the schools resident prankster, grinned and hopped to his feet, fairly bursting with the need to share.
Nate Dowling rubbed his hands together. Its our lucky day.
Let me tell, Dow, Shane growled.
Nate held his hands up, palms out, brow raised impatiently.
Shanes grin returned. Fresh meat, he said. Two witnesses, Michelle and Shonna, saw Principal White greet them.
Huh? Mary Ann gazed up at Tucker.
He gave a grin of his own as he and Shane nodded at each other in understanding.
New kids, Nate elaborated. Two of em.
While they laughed about all the ways to initiate the newcomers properly, the poor kids, Mary Ann wandered to her first class. Mr. Klien lectured on all the things that would be in their test, but for the first time that year, she had trouble forcing herself to concentrate. Shed caught several whispered conversations on her trek through the halls.
Both new kids were juniors, like her, and both were male. One was tall with dark hair and black eyes, but no one had spoken to him. Hed holed up in the guidance offices. Was itcould it beAden? Those eyes
The other was black, gorgeous, with green eyeslike her wolf? and a hard but quiet demeanor.
Wait. Had she really just compared a humans eyes to a wolfs? The thought made her laugh.
Ms. Gray? the teacher said reprovingly.
Everyone in the classroom turned to peer at her.
Heat flooded her cheeks. Sorry, Mr. Klien. You may continue.
That earned several chuckles from the students and a glare from the head of the class.
Throughout the rest of the day, she watched for new faces. It wasnt until after lunch that she found one. Shannon Ross was in her history class; she spotted him from the door. He was as beautiful as everyone had said, tall with eyes of light greenyep, just like the wolfand just as quiet.
Mary Ann had lived in Crossroads for a long time now, but could sympathize with being new, knowing no one. Hed taken a desk in back and she slid into the one next to him. Wouldnt hurt to warn him about Tucker and crew, either.
Hi, she said. Kids had been gossiping about him all day. Currently, the favorite story was that he was one of the troublemakers who lived at the D and M Ranch owned by Dan Reeves. Oh, and hed killed both his parents. By this time tomorrow, he would have killed a sister and brother, too, she was sure.
Mary Ann had seen Dan around town and had heard the stories about him. Supposedly, his parents had died young and hed lived with his grandparents. Hed been wild and in constant trouble with the law, yet hed also been magic on the football field and managed to go pro. Only a few years in, though, hed hurt his back and had to quit, at which point hed decided to open his home to boys as troubled as hed once been. Still. Most of the people in Crossroads still worshipped himeven though they disapproved of who he allowed to live with him.
Shannon flicked her a nervous glance. Hi.
Im Mary Ann Gray. If you need anything, I
III wont need anything, he rushed out. A clear dismissal.
Oh. Okay. Wow, that stung. Justmaybe stay away from the football players. They like to torture the new kids. Their way of welcoming them, I guess. Her cheeks were hot for the second time that day as she claimed her rightful seat. The rest of the class filed inside just as the bell rang.
Before Mr. Thompson discussed the age of imperialism, he had Shannon stand at the front of the class and tell everyone a little about himself, an exercise he stuttered his way through, kids laughing the entire time. Mary Ann lost the threads of her own humiliation. No wonder hed sent her away. He didnt like conversing with people. It embarrassed him.
She smiled at him as he made his way back to his seat, but he didnt see. He kept his eyes fixed on the painted concrete at his feet.
They shared their next class, too. Computer science. They sat close to each other, but she didnt try and talk to him. Not again, not yet. Hed probably just reject her again.
Tucker was in the class, as well. Hed sat next to Mary Ann until last week, when Ms. Goodwin had moved him for talking.
Hey, Tuck, Shane whispered from across the room.
Tucker looked. So did Mary Ann and a few others in the room. Not Shannon, though. As he had in the last class, he kept his head down.
Shane motioned toward Shannon with a tilt of his chin. Do something, he mouthed.
Mary Ann clutched the edge of her desk. Dont, she said. Please.
Miss Gray, the teacher admonished. Thats enough from you.
Im sorry, she managed to choke out. Shed gone nearly all month without getting in trouble, yet shed been reprimanded twice in one day.
Tucker mouthed, Dont worry and raised his hand, drawing attention away from her.
Ms. Goodwin sighed. Yes, Mr. Harbor.
Can I go to the bathroom?
I dont know. Can you?
He glowered. May I?
Fine. But do not loiter or youll find yourself in detention tomorrow.
Yes, maam. Tucker stood. He walked from the room and shut the door, and Mary Anns shoulders hunched in relief. Scene avoided.
Only, Tucker never veered from the door.
He peered through its small, square window at Shane. Shane held out his hands and Tucker nodded.
Shane stood, and he was suddenly clutching a slithering, hissing snake. Thin, with yellow and green scales and a bright red head. A lump of fear knotted Mary Anns throat, cutting off her gasp. Dear God. Where had it come from? How had it appeared seemingly out of thin air?
Shane glanced at Ms. Goodwin to make sure she wasnt paying attention. She wasnt, too lost in showing the twins, Brittany and Brianna Buchannan, how to create a password for their pages. Grinning, he tossed the snake at Shannon. It landed on his shoulder, then fell onto his thighs with a hiss.
Shannon glanced down. He jolted to his feet with a scream, patting down his body with frantic hands. The snake hit the ground and slithered to the wall, disappearing beyond the stucco.
Everyone looked at him and laughed.
How dare you disrupt my class, young man!
B-but th-the s-s-snake.
Ms. Goodwin anchored her hands on her padded hips. What are you talking about? There is no snake. You may be new, but one thing you need to know. I will not tolerate lies.
Panting, Shannon swept his eyes across the floor. Mary Ann followed his gaze. There was no hole, no way the snake could have escaped, yet it was gone. She returned her attention to Tucker, who was still at the door. He and Shane were smiling at each other, beaming at a job well done.
CHAPTER 6
Youhelped me. Aden emerged from the school building to wait outside for Shannonknowing the dreg may or may not want to walk home with him but willing to chance it. Good as he felt, he might have waited for the devil himself. Perhaps hed even see Mary Ann in the crowd.
The last class of the day hadnt yet let out, so for now he was alone. He pressed against the red brick at the side of the structure, partially hidden by shadows.
Why? he asked.
You want to attend this school, Eve said, and we want you to be happy. Of course we helped you.
But you hate Mary Ann.
I dont, she said. Like you, I want to spend more time with her. Shes a mystery Im determined to solve.
Well, I do hate her, Caleb said. Girl freaking shoves me into that black hole with barbed wire on the sides. But you like her, and I love you. The last was spoken in a grumble.
I love you guys, too.
Hed thought they would fight him every step of the way, screaming while he tried to take the tests, distracting him. Instead, theyd done something theyd never done before: remained quiet for an extended period of time. Hed read without interruption, solved equations without enduring commentary about how he was doing it wrong, and drew no notice from those around him because he was seemingly talking to himself.
Hed more than passed. Hed excelled.
He was smiling as a girl walked past him, her gaze nearly burning a hole in his forehead. She had the same glittery skin the woman at the supercenter had had, and Aden found himself turning away just in case she wanted to talk. And then talk some more. Thankfully, she kept moving.
And who knows, Elijah said on a sigh. Maybe Mary Ann can help us get out of here and into bodies of our own.
What a difference! Only last week Elijah had experienced that bad feeling. Aden wanted to ask what had changed, but didnt, too afraid the answer might sway his companions yet again.
A bell sounded.
Im proud of you, my man, Julian said. Youre officially a student now. Hows it feel?
Behind him, footsteps echoed. Even from here, he could hear the slam of lockers and the murmur of voices.
Feels great. But, uh, maybe we could try the quiet thing more often, Aden suggested.
All four laughed as if hed just told a joke about Caleb getting hot.
He stepped into the sunlight, watching the front door. Kids spilled out in a rush.
Julian was the first to calm. You, at least, can move around when youre bored. Were stuck. Talking is the only thing we can do. Our only distraction.
H-hey, a familiar voice said from behind him.
Aden whipped around, not liking having someone at his back. Shannon stood there, peering at the parking lot rather than Aden. Where had he come from and how had Aden missed him? Then he spied other kids coming out of other doors and realized there was more than one exit.
Hey, he replied. Bummer. No way he could watch every door for Mary Ann.
L-listen, Shannon said. There was a hard gleam in his eyes. Rough first day? I know w-we dont like each other and y-youve got no reason to trust m-me, but weve only g-got each other h-here. And, well, if youll guard m-my back, Ill g-guard yours.