Free Charcoal Tears by Jane Washington Page B

seemed to have noticed.
    Quillan’s voice caught me as I was passing by the front of the classroom, en route to the door. I paused, causing Noah and Cabe to pull up too, but he waved them on. They hovered, and I touched Cabe’s arm. He drew his brother out.
    “You three are close all of a sudden.” Quillan didn’t seem to be asking anything, but his tone was a little off.
    “I guess.”
    “Take a seat, Seph.”
    I sat on of one of the closest desks and he moved to the front of his desk, leaning back and folding his arms. “You’re smiling more.” He watched my face, apparently not expecting a response, and then kicked off his desk. “Anything you want to talk about?”
    I shook my head.
    “Good,” he said, “Off you go.”
    A little shocked by the uncharacteristically short meeting, I collected my stuff and moved to pass him. His familiar scent caught me before I could move away, powerful and calming at once; it was citrus and wood, a light breeze carried on the spray of a playful wave, like I was at the beach. Strangely, it was much more powerful now , than it had been at any of our previous meetings. I swayed, the classroom wavering before me, and he caught my elbow as I leaned slightly into him. He turned, nudging me against the desk so that I could lean against it. He stepped hastily away as soon as I was supported, his eyes troubled.
    “Are you okay?”
    I frowned, confused at the scratchy feeling that had taken me by surprise. It was more uncomfortable this time, boiling up in my blood like poison. “Y-yeah.” I shook my head rapidly, trying to clear the haze that had descended. “I’m fine. Sorry, I was a little dizzy.”
    I walked away before he could answer, my arm burning. The end of the day came too quickly. I almost couldn’t bear to part with Noah and Cabe, which didn’t make sense at all. I had known them a matter of days, and they were quickly beginning to turn the normal world into something dark and empty. As soon as they were out of sight, I transformed. My smile faded away, my heart grew cold. I was afraid.
    I was myself again.
    They walked with me to my car and I saw Tariq waiting, so I switched directions and moved to their jeep instead.
    “Bye,” I said, feeling miserable. I tried to smile, but I was pretty sure that I failed, and I hated myself for it.
    Cabe turned so that the people milling around the car park had nothing to stare at but his broad back. He pressed a finger to my chin. “You’re making that face again,” he warned. He wasn’t joking; he was serious this time.
    Noah turned to the side, almost boxing me against the car as he looked down at me. “We should follow her home and make sure she doesn’t get into any trouble with that asshole.”
    I opened my mouth to argue, but it didn’t come out. Should I be insulted that Noah had just called my father an asshole? I wasn’t sure. I thought he was an asshole, too.
    “What time do you work?” Cabe asked.
    “I have a few hours,” I hedged.
    His finger had slipped against my chin when I spoke, and he traced it along my jaw now. He seemed very focused, his eyes sparking with a glare of intensity. Noah nudged him, and he dropped his arm, looking up at the sky for a moment.
    “Good.” His voice was gruff. “Tell Tariq to drive home, and then get in the car”
    He backed off me and I swallowed, a nervous feeling brewing in my stomach and making me feel sick. My legs were shaky as I approached my younger brother. I didn’t trust my voice, so I simply held out the keys to him. He flicked a look over my shoulder, his brows drawing together.
    “You sure, Seph?” He sounded like he didn’t know whether to be worried or not.
    “They’re fine,” I assured, but my voice came out a squeak. He narrowed his eyes on me, and I cleared my throat. “They’re fine,” I reiterated, with a little bit more steel. “Can you go shopping and hang out a while? We’ll still go home together in a few hours.”
    He nodded and I