Page 46 of Firestorm
Skye
I fidgeted with my hoodie,slipping my thumbs through the ripped holes in the sleeves while I nervously waited for Aiden outside the dormitory. A darkened copse of trees not far from the entrance was holding my attention.
My shadow was here, I could feel it. It had only nudged me twice while I waited, and I finally reacted, pushing back with my mind just enough to show my strength. It’d worked. The nudging stopped for now as I stared directly into the shadowed clearing, hoping I was intimidating whatever it was that watched me.
“If you’re coming with me, you better behave,” I said. The shadow seemed to perk up. “I’m going on a date.”
A cool breeze whipped up around me and I cringed. I only wore a long-sleeve shirt underneath my purple hoodie. My legs were fine, covered in some fur-lined leggings and my feet warm in my boots. My hair was up in a messy bun, even though it exposed my neck to the cold, and I hadn’t grabbed a scarf.
I was beginning to hate this weather. The mountains behind the school were glorious, but they were nothing like the mountain of our atoll back home. I missed the year-round balmy weather. This constant chill was going to kill me.
I pulled the hood up around the back of my neck while my breath fogged in front of me. I’d chosen to wait outside because I didn’t want Aiden seeing which room I was in. He seemed like the type to come around and bother me even if I didn’t want to see him, and I definitely didn’t want that happening.
I had enough to worry about with my shadow looming close by. Although I allowed who or whatever it was to come into my room sometimes, I was still hesitant to let any other outsiders in. My room was my one safe space in this damned school.
“Hey.” I jumped at Aiden’s smooth, deep voice. I spun around to face him, barely reigning in how my stomach fluttered at the sight of him. Thankfully, he was also dressed casually, in a navy blue hoodie with one of his band t-shirts underneath, and some dark wash jeans with some winter boots.
I smiled softly at him. “Hi.”
Aiden held out his hand, taking mine gently and grinning. “Ready for our date?”
I huffed a laugh as we started to walk to the dining hall, hand in hand.
“This is really a date, isn’t it?” I said. “I didn’t have anything for dressing up.”
“I like it,” Aiden said, shooting me a quick look. “You always look good, Skye.”
I gulped, my skin heating with how his fiery brown eyes roamed over my figure. I was wearing several layers of clothing, but somehow I felt completely naked.
For a moment, I sort of wished Iwascompletely naked.
I eyed Aiden right back, taking in how tight the fabric of his hoodie was over his arms, how his jeans were low on his hips, how the perfect bit of his abs would show when he stretched.
Aidenwasa player. He’d know how to fuck.
I shook my head suddenly, as if that would dispel my dirty thoughts.
I couldn’t develop feelings for a playboy, what the hell was I thinking? I was still losing my mind over Wyatt, who I’d still yet to see even though he supposedly worked on campus. I was also constantly fieldingquestions from Willow, who was waiting for the go ahead from me to tell her older brother to find my mystery café man for me. I was glad I hadn’t told her Wyatt’s name yet. I already knew Willow would have gone behind my back to find out who he was whether or not I told her to.
Anyway. The last thing I needed to do was fall for the campus playboy.
He was making it really hard, though.
Aiden and I ate in the dining hall together, sitting at a table alone by one of the windows, watching the light drizzle of autumn rain that fell over the quad.
“You like the rain,” Aiden commented.
I nodded. “It’s so calming. I love when it rains over the ocean the most. Back home, it would create the most soothing sound with the waves.”
“So you lived by the beach? Which coast?” Aiden asked.
“Not a coast. The Gulf,” I said, then my stomach dropped.
I’d said too much. My hands began to sweat, and I nervously wiped them along my leggings, but if Aiden noticed, he didn’t say anything.
The next question out of his mouth would be about the massacre. I just knew it.
“I’ve never been,” he said casually. “The islands or the mainland?”
