Free Shifter Magick by Stacy Kinlee

don’t have to worry about them taking you from me when you go home for break.”
    Kera’s heart shuttered to as stop. Hope soared inside of her. Was he asking her to be the girlfriend? Is that how this worked? Kera was speechless as she tried to process the implications of being with Maddox Howell. She hadn’t had a relationship before and here she was falling into a fantasy when she didn’t even know what it meant to be someone’s girlfriend.
    Could she even accomplish something so important when she couldn’t even tell him the truth?
    Maddox’s smile faded. “Sorry Kera.” He cleared his throat. “I didn’t mean to freak you out. I shouldn’t have said that.”
    “There’s no one else.” Kera whispered as her cheeks flamed. “I wasn’t freaked out just… caught off guard. I’m not good at relationships.”
    Maddox nodded. “Let’s just forget I said anything.”
    “You wouldn’t do that when I asked.” Kera goaded him. “Let’s just not put too much on this yet. I could turn out to be a different person then you think I am.”
    He watched her for a moment with a look of concern on his face. Kera noticed the pen in his hand and wondered if he did that when he was nervous. “I like you.” He said. Like that was enough. “So I’ll take this as slow as you want. Just promise me you will try. I can tell you aren’t comfortable with restraint. You’re headstrong and want to do things your way. I’m just asking for a chance.”
    Kera swallowed a lump in her throat. “ Okay .” she agreed. Again she lost all control and let him worm his way into her heart. She wouldn’t be able to keep him at a distance. Maybe everything would work out. Even if it didn’t she would at least have tried.
    Maddox let out a breath that she didn’t know he was holding. Did he really like her? She thought about it as he drove from one parking lot to another. The campus was small and most students walked. Maddox had a parking sticker that let him park anywhere on campus. That was usually reserved for someone who lived off campus.
    Did Maddox not stay at the dorms? They arrived before Kera got the nerve to ask him any one of the million questions she had running through her mind.
    She didn’t know how to break the tension but she guessed she didn’t have to.
    Maddox rounded the car and opened the door for her. He didn’t hesitate to help her out of the car and the strange feeling she experienced in his touch calmed her. He smiled at her and she blushed but returned the smile. Just like that the tension disbursed.
    They walked into campus together, her leaning on him, and Maddox playing the role of her crutch. Kera was shocked again by the reaction of people. During coffee she felt like she was with a celebrity and today was no different. Because of her impeccable hearing Kera heard the whispers.
    She didn’t even try to tune them out at first wondering if this would be a good way to find out more about the heartthrob sitting next to her.
    After ten minutes Kera felt sick to her stomach. What she heard was hate and jealousy. The girls in the room picked her apart from the color of her hair, lack of makeup and horrible taste in clothes. Kera began to feel embarrassment tattoo itself across her skin. She felt branded with it.
    Ever since the accident she had stayed as far away from speculation as humanly possible. Even more so because she was able to gauge people’s reactions to things she did. Their hearts beat faster with excitement or fear. Kera could dismiss herself before panic became a problem.
    She had now become public enemy number one and these girls were already plotting her demise.
    Anger followed after embarrassment and Kera wondered where her backbone was. Was she going to give up on a relationship with Maddox Howell because he wanted her and these other girls were jealous? She could use her abilities the same way if she was the center of attention.
    She might have a headache after listening to all the