Free Craved (Book #2 of the Vampire Legacy) by Morgan Rice

her head.
    “I don’t see him anywhere,” Maria said.
    “Who?” Scarlet asked.
    “Sage. I heard it on good rumor that he’s gonna be here. Have you seen him?”
    Scarlet’s stomach fluttered as she thought of him. She wanted more than anything to push thoughts of him out of her mind, to let him be completely Maria’s. After all, Maria was her best friend, and she wanted her to be happy. But try as she did to suppress it, she couldn’t help realizing she also felt something for Sage.
    “No,” she said back, nervously. “I haven’t really been looking.”
    “So like what did he say to you after class?” Maria asked, turning to her. “Did he say anything about me? Does he like me?”
    Scarlet could see how obsessed Maria was over him, could see that she wasn’t letting it go. She had never seen her this bad before. Scarlet couldn’t help wondering if Maria wanted to see her tonight to truly reconcile their friendship, or only because she wanted to get more information out of her about Sage.
    Scarlet felt bad for her. She knew that what Sage had said—that he didn’t like Maria—would devastate her. She didn’t have the heart to tell her that. Besides, she could see that Maria was lost in her own fantasy, and that she wouldn’t even believe it if she said it.
    “He really didn’t say anything. The bell rang, and I walked out.”
    “Do you think he was into our scene, when we were partnering up? I thought I saw him looking at you, and I got confused.”
    Scarlet didn’t know how to reply. She really didn’t want to let her friend down; but she couldn’t lead her on, either.
    “I really don’t know. I don’t know anything about him.”
    “But you were there. Tell me. What do you think? Was he into me?”
    Scarlet had no idea what to say, so she just took another sip.
    “OMG, I can’t stop thinking about him,” Maria continued, not waiting for a response. “I have to have him. I heard he still doesn’t have a date for tomorrow night. I’m asking tonight. I decided. I really am this time. I’m going to force him to say yes.”
    “Hey guys,” came the voice. They turned, and there stood Becca, arm in arm with her boyfriend, Jake. “Having fun?”
    “Hey guys,” Jake said.
    “Hi Jake,” they said. “Thanks for having us.”
    “You and the rest of the school,” he laughed. “It’s getting crazy.”
    “Are your parents gonna be pissed?” Maria asked.
    He raised a finger to his mouth, as if to indicate silence.
    “If my cleaning lady does her job, they’ll never know. Let’s just hope no one calls the cops.”
    They were suddenly grabbed by other people, and turned and headed off into the crowd.
    Scarlet’s pocket vibrated, and she pulled out her cell. As she saw the number, her heart stopped.
    It was her dad.
    It took her breath away. She didn’t know what to do. There was no way he’d be calling her, unless he knew. Somehow, he must have got into her room and saw she wasn’t there.
    Oh no , she thought. He must be freaking out.
    “What’s wrong?” Maria asked; she must’ve seen her expression.
    “My parents,” she said.
    Maria shrugged. “Whatever,” she said. “It’s not even that late.”
    But Scarlet was not so nonchalant; she wondered how she’d cover up the smell of alcohol on her breath, or cigarette on her clothes. She wondered if she should answer the phone or ignore it. Neither was a good option. She decided to ignore it. Better to try to explain later, in person.
    “OMG, there’s Blake!” Maria yelled, grabbing Scarlet by the shoulder and pointing to the far corner of another room.
    Scarlet’s heart started to pound as she spotted him, standing with his buddies by the keg, getting a refill. Luckily, he hadn’t seen her yet. Now that she saw him, here in the flesh, she wasn’t sure if she wanted him to. She was having second thoughts. After what happened, she wasn’t even sure how she felt about him. She had apologized and he had ignored it. That was