Page 36 of Bound By Earth (The Nature Hunters Academy 1)

“I said, could you please read the poem you wrote for the homework assignment lastnight?”

Tara inwardly groaned. She’d completely forgotten about the poem they’d been assigned yesterday. How in the world had she forgotten? She never forgot to dohomework.

“Um, I would, but I don’t exactly have the poem with me,” shesaid.

“And where exactly would it be?” Mrs. Thorton asked, her lips pursing as her eyesnarrowed.

“Somewhere in the part of my brain where ideas are formed.” Maybe that hadn’t been the best answer to give. She could have just said she’d hadn’t done it, but somehow, Shelly’s influence had taken over her mouth and she was spouting nonsense. At least that’s what she was going with at themoment.

“It would behoove you to take those ideas out of your brain, put them on paper, and turn them in to me tomorrow. Ten points will be deducted from whatever grade earn. I suggest that you make sure those ideas are quitebrilliant.”

“Definitely. It’ll be the best poem you’ve ever read. I plan to blow your mind. Completely.”Tara, you can shut up at any point.“It will redefine poetry as we knowit.”

“I’m sure it will,” Mrs. Thorton said dryly. Apparently she wasn’t buying Tara’s bull any more than Tarawas.

When Mrs. Thorton’s attention was no longer on her, Tara glanced over to Shelly, who sat two rows over and one seat closer to the front. Her friend was staring at her as if she’d grown a second head. Tara simply shrugged. What else could she do? Apparently, ever since she’d met Elias, her head had been shoved so far up her ass that she was promising to redefine poetry. Someone please shoother.

“Have you lost your ever-loving mind?” Shelly asked as soon as they were out of English class and headed to study hall, which was basically glorified free time for theseniors.

“Possibly. You have no room to talk.You—”

“We aren’t talking about me,” Shelly interrupted, pointing a finger at Tara as if she were an errant child. “We’re talking about you and your forgotten homework assignment. You’ve never forgotten to do your homework. And you sure as hell have never gone off your rocker with ridiculous promises about completely overhauling a form of writing that has been around since the dawn of time. I ask again, have you taken your brain out of your head, rolled it down a hill, and now can’t findit?”

Tara quirked a brow at her friend. “I really want to throat punch you rightnow.”

Shelly waved her off. “Like that’s front-page news? You’ve wanted to throat punch me since we met. Either fish or cut bait, but don’t keep making emptythreats.”

“It wasn’t a threat, you bratty-ass heifer. It was a statement.” As they entered the art classroom, Tara’s phone vibrated, and the whole reason she’d acted like a moron in Mrs. Thorton’s class came rushing back. She’d been so embarrassed by her word vomit that she’d forgotten about the text from Elias. She pulled out her phone as she set her backpack down next to her desk and slid her finger across the screen without even looking at who the message wasfrom.

As she stared down at the words on the screen, she heard Shelly ask, “Who’s E and why is this person texting you, and why don’t I know aboutthem?”

Tara ignored her as she read Elias’stexts.

Why a mountain?

Washe reading the test she and Shelly had turned in? Already? And why was he reading it? He was still in training. Tara groaned as she remembered some of her answers. She had thought that Jax would be the one to go over them, notElias.

“E is Elias,” she answered Shelly while also trying to keep her friend from grabbing herphone.

“How’d he get yournumber?”

“I’m guessing from the questionnaire that he is currently reading.” Taragrumbled.

“Oh, shizzle.” Shelly breathedout.

“That didn’t sound the least bit intelligent,” Tara pointed out as she tried to figure out how to answer the firsttext.

“My mind is blown. Don’t judge. Elias Creed is texting you.” Shelly’s face was full of wonder, like a miracle had been performed right before hereyes.

“Don’t say his name like he’s some famous person. He’s just aguy.”

“Just a guy who should visit infertility clinics so he can let all the women wanting children breathe in his pheromones and get knockedup.”

“Do you ever think before you open your mouth and let the words come out?” Tara asked, still trying to figure out if she should tell Elias why she’d chosen mountain or if she should tell him to bugger off. All the British television shows she and Carol liked to watch were finally paying off. She grinned toherself.

“Are you going to text him back or keep stalling by arguing with me?” Shellychallenged.

Shewasstalling. It greatly annoyed her when her BFFF was right. She finally texted himback.

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