Free Seclusion by C.S. Rinner

grabbed my arm, pushing me toward the table. Damen was
gone.
    “Who was that?” I couldn’t
help but ask.
    “Oh, Damen?” she said with
a knowing look. “He’s just a friend. He sticks to himself, mostly. I saw him
give you the ‘What’s up, sexy?’ look! He usually ignores everyone, but he seems
calmer around me. I guess I have that effect on people.”
    I had a billion questions,
but we were already at our table. We sat down, and Chase and I started gabbing
about everything we wanted to check out on campus. I noticed that Connor was
fun and kind of goofy, which I thought was weird. E. could obviously get any
guy she wanted, including that hottie, Damen. I pictured him in my head again
and saw a replay of that smirk he’d given me. I blushed. I thought his name was
appropriate, considering there was only one person you could compare him to,
and that was Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries . I had to make
myself focus on my original thought that had led to him…Connor and E. I guess
they had been dating a long time. He did seem to treat her well. Then again,
seems like anyone would treat her well.
    The conversation at the
table had turned to basketball talk, and Chase looked like he was in his
element. I started zoning in the direction Damen had walked off in with his
to-go bag. I had this nagging feeling that his ability just might be some kind of
mind reading. The way he looked straight at me after he’d flipped through his
iPod, - at least I assumed it was his iPod - just as I would’ve done,
had me scared. How embarrassing. This school might be scary. Nah, E. didn’t
mention it. I wanted to ask her what his power was, though. However, I
didn’t want to chance sounding interested in him. I was pretty sure every
straight girl here would’ve given her soul for that guy. He was probably an
arrogant asshat. I mean, what was that smirk about, anyway? He heard me
mentally gushing about his hotness, then…what? He nods at me…?
    We finished dinner and
began the tour. We stopped at every level and walked around. Elsie and Connor
showed us the rec areas, the pool and spa, the classrooms, and the orientation
room for the next day. Chase grabbed my hand as we were walking. We looked like
two couples - Connor and E., and Chase and me. I felt semi-pleased, and a
little irritated at the same time.
    “Something wrong, Rae?”
Chase asked me.
    “No, no! Nothing’s wrong.
Just getting a little tired, and I still want to see the library,” I lied. I
had picked the library just because it was a better alternative to the sports
areas, where I would no doubt be bored to pieces.
    Elsie turned around and
smiled as she looked at us. “Hey Chase, why don’t you have Connor take you to
the sports center while I show Raegan the library and coffee shop?”
    “Sounds good to me! Take
care of Raegan for me, Elsie.” He pulled me to face him. “So, do you want to
meet in the caf at about nine, before our class?” he asked.
    “Oh, sure.”
    I really would rather call
in food from the cafeteria, but…maybe I’ll see Damen there again and figure him
out. I guess that wouldn’t be so bad. Ugh, why do I keep thinking about him? I told myself that it was
just because he seemed mysterious and he was the sexiest boy alive. In fact, I
bet there was at least one other girl who was also swooning over him at that
very moment. He definitely must have a girlfriend, or maybe a groupie. Oh
m’gosh, I don’t think I should get near him, my thoughts are uncontrollable.
What if he really can read minds?
    I figured that this must be
how others felt around me all the time. I knew Chase’s mind was centered on
athletic stuff the school could provide him with. Elsie had lists of things to
be done on her mind. Connor was thinking about a documentary on space he wanted
to record. I guess I was the only one who had thoughts I’d rather not share.
    Elsie grabbed me and
started walking with me arm-in-arm down some corridor to an elevator.