Page 56 of Shattered Heir
“So, you and Aiden? Are you guys like a couple yet?” We started walking toward my class as the bell rang,
“He didn’t ask me out or anything yet, but I am hoping he asks me!”
“I am sure he will.”
She smiled.
We said our goodbyes.
Oh, I know: Cookie Dough—Wait, Chocolate chip? Mint chocolate chip?Cade’s voice erupting within my soul made me want to rip his throat out. The monster was tame, however, pacified into a blissful state because of Shad’s stolen melody. So that anger was purely me.
You know what you are, Cade? You are a sickly, neon blue bubble gum ice cream that’s spoiled and melted from sitting out in the sun for two days because nobody likes you. If they eat you, they get sick–and you’re fake.
Ah, there you are, I was wondering when you would comment. You, my sweet,
want to know what flavor you are?
Don’t talk to me.
Strawberry ice cream.
I said,‘shut up.’
Do you want to know why?
I did not respond. He knew I didn't care. I shielded my soul, put my head down, and the monster growled in protest, but I needed space from the devil haunting my mind. I had a million questions and a dozen punches to make to Cade’s face as soon as school ended.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Miss Warren.”
I quickly snapped my head up to look at the person who was speaking. It was my teacher. How long had I been sitting there, staring off into nothing? I looked around, and the tan colored desks with their navy blue chairs were empty. I heard the loud chatter of voices in the hall.
“Oh, sorry, Mr. Andrews.” I quickly shuffled out of the room, feeling like an idiot. As I walked down the hall, I wondered again about Cade—wondered how I was going to steal Shad’s melody back from him.
If I take back the crystal, which holds the melody, will we really be able to put the melody back inside of Shad'? I mean, I knew that was the plan, that was the general idea, but what if it didn't work? That thought made my stomach churn. I needed to figure out what exactly would undo Cade enough to get him to give it to me. How would I steal it? I knew that those were dangerous thoughts to have at school where I was the worst at shielding my soul, but I couldn't help what my mind thought up, could I? I quickly pushed the monster out of the cage to concealmy thoughts, so that my melody would disappear. It worked like a charm. I looked up as I reached the door to math class. I realized that I had been so deep in thought that my body brought me there automatically, like I was on autopilot. Beside the door, I saw two students kissing. They really should have found a better place for that. As I grabbed the handle, I heard a groan in the couple's direction. When I looked to where they had been, I saw Shad cradling his own face in his hands, covering his ears beside Karen. My heart cracked. Had I just seen—is that—were Shad and Karen the ones I just saw in the hallway?I felt like someone had just tramped all over my heart. I was shattered all across the hallway floor.
“What's wrong, Shad?” Karen asked, looking all concerned. I wanted to punch her in the face. He wasn’t her concern at all. Shad righted himself. He stood, glaring at Karen. She slipped her hand into his, but I felt a small amount of joy when he removed his hand from hers and put it in his pocket. He looked at me with confusion on his face; it was as if he didn’t understand who I was, but he knew there was something between us whenever he saw me. I wanted to vomit and to cry and to run away, and I wanted to yell at him—I wanted to—
The warning bell rang, and Karen and Shad came to the door, but I stood between them and their access to the classroom.
“What’s going on?” I asked with my hands on my hips, unable to hold back anymore. That was not Shad.This is not my Shad.He would have never kissed someone else. Those must be the changes that Ryker had been referring to a few days earlier at lunch.
“What does it look like, Emma? Shad is dating me now.” She kissed his cheek, as if that were sheer proof, but Shad was staring at me, a confusion upon his brow, and a frown on his mouth, that mouth that had just been on Karen’s. I was going to be sick. That mouth was mine.
“Shad?” I asked, looking into his dark black eyes for something, for one speck of golden hope. Nothing.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Karen is pretty cool.”
“Pretty cool?”
“Yeah, she is, and she wants to kiss me.” I stepped back, and my back hit the door. He was dating her because she wanted to kiss him? Heck, I wanted to kiss him. We could kiss if that is all he wanted.Forget my corrupted soul; What is he doing? Is he still mad at me for not telling him everything; Is this payback?
“I want to kiss you,” I said in a whisper.
“He is mine now, so I will be the only one who kisses him.” Karen placed her hands on her hips.
I wanted to—I wanted to—
