Dead Radiance (5 page)

I glanced at Aidan again, who managed to keep up the pace without running head first into the black gums dotting the sidewalk.

"What's so interesting?" I tried to break the silence, still thick with the memory and odor of Miss Barnes. The rich lavender scent of her perfume would give even a non-sufferer hay fever. I twitched my nose against a sneeze and waited.

"Nothing much. Just checking the news." Aidan smiled and shut the cover, shoving the tablet into his backpack. Faced with the full impact of his arresting smile I stared, unable to string any words together.

What an idiot.

I was drooling too. It took one sultry stare from Aidan to reduce me to a simpering love-struck mess to rival Cherise and all her handmaidens.

When I didn't respond he asked, "You don't like me much, do you?"

Funny you should say that right when I am busy drooling over you. "You are an anathema." I answered out loud, shaking free of those weak female thoughts.

"Huh?" He grinned, despite his confusion at my words.

"You go against the grain." I bit the words out, hoping to end the conversation.

"Sorry, you're going to have to expand on your train of thought there. I'm completely lost." He shook his head and I wondered if he'd already dismissed me as the fruit-loop of Ms. Custer's little foster house.

"You're not the typical foster kid," I said. "Foster kids don't fit in. Not with the jocks or the science nerds or the popular kids. Nobody likes temporary inmates. But Aidan Lee is unlike any foster kid ever known. He has the popular girls already panting at his heels." A nasty, cold bite laced my words, as if a viper now controlled my voice and swayed in silence, ready to pounce.

Aidan frowned, glancing at my face as we paused to cross a street. "I didn't ask Cherise out, if that's what you mean."

It was exactly what I meant but hell if I was going to admit it. And what did he mean he didn't ask her? I didn't dare to request further clarification. He'd get an even more inflated ego if he knew his new foster sister was vibrating with pure jealousy a foot away from him.

"That's none of my business. And it's not what I meant." I should have bitten my tongue. Maybe then my mouth would've stopped running loose, but things like this usually happened to me. Intention and action didn't always work hand in hand with me. Some sort of rebel I was!

"Well then, please feel free to explain any time this millennium." Aidan grinned but it did nothing to ease the sliver of annoyance and more than slight curiosity lurking in his dark eyes.

"You're here for one day and you're already amassing an entourage. Forgive me for not bowing and scraping along with the rest." What I'd failed to ask was why it was never that easy for me. He'd managed to insinuate himself into the student body with disgusting ease. Within a week, nobody would ever mention he was a foster kid. He'd just be one of the popular kids.

Somewhere within the functioning part of my brain, I knew it was unfair to blame him for my failings at this popularity contest or for his sudden rise to stardom within North Wood High, and I clamped my mouth shut before another snarky comment could emerge.

None of what I said rattled Aidan's serene composure until now. We passed under the cold shade of a huge black gum, whose wide, low branches hid what little sunshine had been warming my head and shoulders. He grabbed my arm, fingers brushing soft skin beneath my woolen jumper. I shivered. The cool shade or the heat where his fingers held on to my arm?

"What is your problem?" The question whispered on my cheek as he pushed me against the trunk. The branches hung low, providing a brief curtain of privacy.

"I don't like you," I stuttered. "That's my problem. So maybe . . . stay away from me."

"Fine." He growled the word.

We were close enough that a breath would bring our lips together. My heart thudded and tumbled within my chest so violently, I was terrified he could hear it. What were we arguing about again? I couldn't recall. I just savored the drug-like heat.

His own heart thudded where his chest lay against my arm. Our breath mingled.

Warm. Enticing.

Rapid.

Neither one of us moved and yet the distance disappeared and Aidan's lips grazed mine. As light as air, a whisper, sending me into a whirlpool of heated emotions. My breath vanished from my lungs, head hot and skin fiery. All this heat was undoubtedly dangerous.

His body pressed close against mine as he deepened the kiss. My traitorous knees were hot jelly and my head molten.

Skin sizzled.

More.

And then a girl's shrill laugh filtered through the low canopy from up the street. The noise, and the reminder that we were in a public place, jolted us out of our interlude. Heat dissipated as we drew apart, dazed and intoxicated with the heat and so many other things I didn't dare admit. Back on earth, I breathed again. What the hell was going on? My hands quivered and I tightened them around the canvas of my bag strap.

Aidan stared at my face.

Dazed. Confused.

Slightly angry.

Angry? Was he angry with me? Well then, why not? I wasn't the most desirable company. It didn't take a genius to figure out if we'd been caught, it would have ruined his little
date
on Saturday night.

I bit back the tears and turned, striding away fast. To get away. But I slowed my pace so no one watching would get curious. Too many rumors followed me around already.

I left him standing half-hidden beneath the tree and walked off without a backward glance.

***

I slammed the door to my room, dropping my bag on the floor. Faint wisps of the heat and the tingling in my body remained. But my anger hadn't dissipated. No surprise. Aidan was just another social-climbing kid. Too bad he'd lost control and made out with the school leper. I vowed never to entertain a repeat performance. But my traitorous body relived the encounter and a wave of bristling heat swam through me, mind and body.

A knock sounded against the wood panel of my door.

I froze.

I ached to rush to the door and flick the lock. Longed to dive out the window. Anything to avoid looking into Aidan's angry, embarrassed eyes.

Shadows moved at the base of the door. I remained still.

Another soft rap. "Bryn?" he whispered.

A minute went by and the shadows beneath the door hesitated, then disappeared, footsteps retreating down the hall.

I sighed, relieved.

And angry.

Angry he hadn't made more of an effort. How ridiculous. His interests lay elsewhere. Why would he waste any effort on me? Even if we were fostered in the same home, it meant nothing. No obligation, no loyalty.

I shuddered and sank onto the bed, squashing its precisely folded corners. The exhausted muscles in my legs alternated between solid and jelly. My heart hurt from the pounding and my head ached from the constant battle within the confines of my skull.

I hid in my room through dinner. Thankfully, my lack of appetite meant missing dinner was no issue. Anyone else and Ms. Custer would have screamed blue murder until they got their butts to the dinner table. But she already knew my eating patterns were off. I lay on my bed watching the sky go from pale blue, tinged with orange and reds, to inky midnight blue. At last, when it turned black as pitch, I closed my eyes.

And dreamed of fire and wings.

Chapter 7

A crazy haze of strange faces, bronze armor and angry glinting swords muddled my dreams. It didn't make much sense to dream of battles on muddy fields or blood-drenched, dying men. I woke with the pungent copper of fresh blood bathing my nostrils, permeating my lungs.

Such dreams were slow to fade. Despite my desperate morning shower, the odor of blood lingered around me for most of the day. The amber talisman provided weak warmth and bitter comfort.

That day and the next and the next crawled by and I remained as far from Aidan as possible. Leaving home early and arriving late, hiding out in a dark, musty corner of the town library, I pretended to study but all the while I seethed. The weekend drew closer, taunting me, and I seethed some more. What the hell was wrong with me? Aidan had no obligation to me; he was entitled to do his own thing.

But a twinge of guilt still picked at my conscience from time to time. I'd been way out of line, jumping down his throat. I hated his brand of instant popularity, but I'd been unreasonable to hold him responsible for dumb luck. He'd drawn the looks card and the luck card, and neither were his fault. I watched him arrive home late every afternoon, no doubt held back by an eyelash-batting, short-skirt-wearing airhead.

I could hardly blame him for my problems. My own personal bad luck magnet or good luck deflector was in perfect working order. Staying away from him was my safest bet. Besides, people died when they got too close to Bryn Halbrook.

Friday night arrived in all its lonely splendor, and I had the veranda, the swing and the pink rose bush to myself. I read by the fading daylight until the words ran off the pages into the darkness. When Aidan arrived home, I had nowhere to run. Or hide. I just sat there hoping he would head into the house and leave me to the night's silence.

Aidan parked and tipped off his helmet, staring at me through the rose bushes that walled in the porch, protecting it from the open street. He hesitated, then strode toward me, in that special Aidan way of walking, and set the swing in motion with his weight. I gritted my teeth. His thigh seeped heat and discomfort into mine and suddenly the swing, usually large enough for Brody and Simon and me to sit together and swing and sing kiddies' songs, was way too small.

No place to go. Nowhere to wriggle to. I forced my muscles to still themselves, held my breath and waited.

"Hey, stranger." He smiled, tossing his gleaming helmet from hand to hand.

"Hey." I kept my eyes on the roses.

"You got anything on this weekend?"

"Nope. No date in case that's what you're asking." The pathetic words slipped out before I could stop them. What was it about Aidan that forced me to lash out at him?

"Okay then. See you around, if you’re around." He moved and his leg shifted against mine and my heart tripped over itself to get the next beat out. In the darkness, I stared at him as he entered the house, tipping me a silent salute. Why was it the one guy who reduced me to a marshmallow mush turned out to be a hotfrickin' biker boy? Thank the stars he hadn't pitched up at school with the bike yet. The whole package was way too much of a crowd pleaser.

I waited half an hour and stole into the house. Friday night was Bingo night at Ms. Custer's friend Molly Barlow's. Brody and Simon were stuck to the Xbox in the family room and Izzy was most likely stuck in her room, her dark head bent over a book.

I sighed. An old movie may be the order of the day.

I passed the dining room with its light blazing, and went to switch it off when I noticed Mr. Popularity, head propped on his hand, eyes pasted to a book, studying hard out. He looked up and my heart tilted. He wore a pair of glasses that should have made him look nerdy but instead just made him all the more sexy.

I growled in silence, threw him a polite smile and forced myself to go in calm silence to my room despite the desperate need to stamp up the stairs and slam my door.

The hours ticked by and I didn't dare sleep, fearful of my dreams. Near midnight and Ms. Custer's low snores traveled down the passage to my room, despite the closed door. She indulged once a week at her Bingo session. I had no idea what she drank, but knowing my foster mom it would not have been much. She took her responsibility seriously and tried to ensure she set a good example. Coming home punch drunk would not be a good example.

I crept downstairs to the kitchen, hoping I wouldn't run into Aidan. It was pizza night for the kids, unless you were going out. But since I had zero interest in food, the menu had no effect on me. I longed for a soda or whatever sat in the fridge that fizzed.

I fished out a lone soda can, leaned against the sink, popped the tab and swallowed. The bubbles soothed me. I had no desire for water either, but it must have been a psychological thing 'cause I craved the sensation of the bubbles as they coursed down my throat into my stomach.

I sighed. And almost choked when I looked straight into Aidan's eyes as I brought the can down. Damn near jumped out of my skin.

"Crap!" I shrieked then coughed, thankful that none of the fizzy bubbles went down the wrong way. Nothing like choking to death to impress a guy. Not that I was planning to impress anyone anyway.

"Sorry." His bright toothy grin didn't look very sorry at all.

"Shouldn't you be out on the town or something? As opposed to scaring the crap out of me?"

"Nope, got work to do."

"Can't be more than what I have. We're in the same classes, after all."

"I have a part-time research job and I have some collating and writing up to do. Takes tons of time. Sorry if I scared you." He leaned past me to place a mug in the sink. Way too close for comfort.

And he stayed there.