Free Ever by Darrin Shade Page B

of several Populars talking loudly across the parking lot. The volume of their voices was calculated. I could almost sense their energetic feelers reaching out. I witnessed the smoky trails flowing from several girls to the one who commanded their attention. My pen came to a halt as I watched the phenomenon. My head fell into a now routine tilt, which helped me focus better on the swirling colors. Then a slight movement caught my eye. He was leaning against the side of the deserted bus…and he was looking straight at me as if he knew . I snapped back into my own head as Jaren Wilder walked a direct path to where I was sitting and then stood there, like he was daring me to ignore him further.
    “Um…hi?” It came out as a squeaky uncertain question although I had intended to come across as cool.
    “What are you doing?” It sounded like a challenge.
    “Um, I’m just working on a, er, an assignment here, you know, more extra credit.” I had become a babbling idiot again.
    “You’re a bad liar,” he said, trying to meet my eyes as hard as I was trying to avoid meeting his.
    His comment ruffled me. “I’m a damned good liar, actually,” I retorted, as an annoying flush crept up my neck. “For example, I really enjoy these random encounters with you.”
    I threw a sarcastic edge into my voice pretty successfully this time and then wondered at my bitchiness. Why was I so intent on being rude to Jaren Wilder? I guess maybe I was confused about his intentions—and about my uncontrollable reaction to him. There was also that nagging thought that maybe, just maybe, he did know my secret—that he knew I was totally losing it.
    I met Jaren’s eyes for a brief second and that intoxicating ripple washed through me, reminding me of the way I felt when he had touched my hand at Kamryn’s party. I forgot to breathe.
    “No, you’re not lying about that,” he said finally, an amused grin coming across his face. “You like these random encounters with me.”
    Oh my God, it was like he could read my mind! I jumped to my feet.
    “I gotta go.” I marched off in the direction of the restroom where the line of students had started to thin out. I took one peek over my shoulder and saw that Jaren was standing near the curb, his eyes on me like radar.
    I blinked a few times and then I heard Naomi’s voice just outside the door. Thank God they hadn’t seen Jaren talking to me again. Val would have made my life a living hell for the rest of the trip. We headed back onto the bus to join the others. I pulled my hoodie over my face, stuck my earbuds in my ears and turned away from the aisle, feigning sleep so I wouldn’t have to see Jaren pass me to get to his seat. My tactic did not work, because I felt him, when he walked by. I got this jittery feeling in the pit of my stomach, followed by that familiar tingle, and then a light scent of sandalwood greeted my nose. I knew he was close, and then I heard Val’s predictable reaction as confirmation.
    Soon, sleep began to claim me and I was grateful to be rescued from the disturbing thoughts I was starting to have about Jaren. I tried to push them out of my mind but it was impossible to do that. My last thought before I drifted off was that he was right. I did like those random encounters with him.

CHAPTER TEN
    Heat
    I t was dawn when the bus stopped again. The sky was starting to turn brilliant shades of orange. The chilly air sank into my bones like a blanket of ice, making me feel stiff and shuddery. We were at some sort of lookout point. Yawning, I followed the herd in the general direction of one of our chaperones, Ms. Hardwick, as she explained the layout of the valley below us. I yanked my hands into the sleeves of my sweatshirt and shivered, wishing I had pulled on my gloves before getting out of the bus.
    I never did well in cold climates. It seemed like no matter how many layers I wore, I was always freezing. I hated being cold, but I was willing to brave the frosty