Not really.
He answered himself. “Because I got a new car.”
Scarlet managed not to roll her eyes as she turned from her chemistry book and gave Aaron a forced smile. “From Santa?”
“What kind of car?” Kristy scooted her stool closer to Scarlet and leaned in as well. “A sexy one?”
Kristy was on the left side of Scarlet, clogging her nose with the scent of flowery perfume. And Aaron was on Scarlet’s right, brushing her shoulder with his over-sized bicep.
She was in a Kristy and Aaron sandwich.
Kill me now.
Aaron flashed Kristy a smile that was probably supposed to look charming. It came across as smug. “A Challenger.” His breath drifted across Scarlet’s cheek, smelling like chocolate.
In an attempt to be closer to Aaron, Kristy scooted even closer to Scarlet. “Ooh, that is sexy.” Kristy gave Aaron a flirty smile and leaned even further, her chest pressing up against Scarlet’s arm.
The sandwich was becoming a Panini.
A flower-and-chocolate Panini.
Scarlet started scanning the room for their teacher, Mr. Brady.
“I know,” Aaron responded with a chin nod. He was such a schmuck. “So, Scarlet.” Scarlet could feel his eyes crawling up her neck.
Reluctantly looking up at him, Scarlet noticed how tan his skin looked. Like maybe he’d been surfing all winter. Or applying bronzer.
Probably the latter.
Aaron lifted a cocky eyebrow. “I was hoping I could give you a ride.”
Scarlet blinked. There were just too many ways to respond to this.
You wish.
Not on your life.
Excuse me while I go puke.
Scarlet raised a cocky eyebrow of her own, making sure her body language screamed dream on. “You want to give me a ride?”
“To the town fair next month,” he clarified. “I thought we could go together.” Aaron had the decency to look hopeful.
Kristy shifted uncomfortably on the other side of Scarlet.
“It’s a fair, Aaron. Not a school dance.” Scarlet said as she looked around the classroom. Mr. Brady still was not there.
Kristy explained, “The Avalon Fair is date central, Scarlet. Everyone goes with a date.”
“Whatever,” Scarlet said.
When is this blasted chemistry class going to start?
“So, what do you say? Wanna ride?” Aaron’s smile was cheesy and fake.
Scarlet tried to look bored. “I’m with Gabriel, remember?”
Kristy and Aaron both scoffed at the same time.
“You’re still with that guy?” Aaron made a face. “Lame.”
Way to be articulate, Bronzer Boy.
The bell rang and Mr. Brady rushed into the room. Sure, teachers could be tardy. Just not students. That was fair.
As the class settled down, the bookends of Scarlet’s sandwich retreated back to their assigned seats.
After a long lecture on kinetic energy, the bell rang, releasing Scarlet from both the boring class and the suffocating scent of Kristy’s perfume.
Scarlet hurried into the hall and spent a few minutes at her locker before Gabriel came up and kissed her on the cheek. He always smelled good. Like mint.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey.” Scarlet smiled. “How’s your first day back going?”
He shrugged. “Fine, I guess. High school sucks.”
Scarlet nodded, thinking back to her Kristy and Aaron sandwich. “Tell me about it.”
“Nate wants to see you,” Gabriel said.
“About what?” Scarlet opened her locker and started shuffling her things around.
“I’m not sure. He just said he wanted to see you after school.”
“That’s weird, but okay. Wanna drive to your place together after our last class? I could drop my car off at my house.”
Gabriel sighed. “I can’t. I have to stay late today for this history thing.”
“Bummer.”
Gabriel nodded. “See? School sucks.”
Heather came up to them and, upon seeing Gabriel, stopped in her tracks. She smiled broadly.
Oh dear.
“Hello, Gabriel.” Heather examined him unashamedly, her eyes grazing up and down his body like he was a piece of meat and she was a shark.
Gabriel furrowed his brow. “Hello…?”
Heather gingerly poked at his arm, her lips parting in awe.
Gabriel stared down at his arm where Heather’s glossy fingernail had pressed against him. “Heather. Why are you being weird?”
Heather’s eyes brightened as she lowered her voice. “Because I know what you are.” She bounced on her toes for a moment.
Scarlet rolled her eyes.
Gabriel looked even more confused. “You know what—”
“I told her,” Scarlet explained, setting a hand on Gabriel’s arm. “Sorry. I should have told you sooner. But I just couldn’t lie to Heather anymore. So I told her everything.”
Gabriel paused. “You told her…everything?”
Scarlet nodded.
He looked at Scarlet, then Heather, then back to Scarlet. He nodded. “Okay. I guess that’s…fair.” He turned warning eyes to Heather. “But you need to be cool, Heather. You can’t tell other people.”
Heather reached a finger out toward Gabriel again. He caught her hand before it made contact with his arm. “And no more poking me like I’m a hands-on exhibit at the mall. Got it?”
Heather smiled. “Got it.” She winked and whispered, “Immortal boy.”
Gabriel dropped Heather’s hand and pinched his lips.
Heather laughed. “I’m just kidding. I’ll behave.” She stood up straight. “Promise.” Looking at Scarlet’s clothes, Heather sighed. “What happened to the blue shirt?”
“What blue shirt?” Scarlet looked down at her outfit of ripped up jeans and a cream-colored sweater.
Heather cocked her head. “The one I laid out on your bed yesterday and specifically called your ‘first-day-of-school’ shirt.”
“Oh, that one?” Scarlet said innocently. “I think it’s in a crumpled ball at the foot of my bed.”
Heather groaned in frustration. “Do I need to start inspecting your outfits in the morning before you leave for school?”
Scarlet scowled. “The blue shirt was way too tight. And low cut. Pieces of my body were falling out of it.” Scarlet thought about being in a Kristy and Aaron sandwich while wearing the blue shirt and shuddered.
“That’s the point.” Heather tossed her blond hair over her shoulder.
“You’re ridiculous,” Scarlet said.
“Yes,” Heather agreed. “But I’m also from this century. So you should trust me with your outfits. Besides, it would be a shame to let all those great clothes Laura bought you go to waste.”
When Laura first took Scarlet in, she’d bought Scarlet a stylish wardrobe. Much to the chagrin of both Laura and Heather, however, Scarlet preferred to spend her days wearing comfy jeans and T-shirts. She wasn’t a doll.
The thought of Laura reminded Scarlet of the weird suitcase incident.
Scarlet turned to Gabriel. “What do you know about Laura?”
He took a deep breath. “I know she’s a young executive at a European-based company called Corvus Technologies. I think she’s in charge of obtaining the chemicals and equipment needed for their tech products. She’s highly educated and has no criminal record.” He shrugged. “Tristan and I did a pretty thorough background check on her after she took you in. Why?”