Eternal (21 page)

“Sure,” he said. “Okay, um . . . later.”

Aidan had started toward the door without me. I actually had to grab my bag and sprint toward him, catching up with him just as he stepped out into the hallway.

And then Jenna stepped into our path. “If it isn’t the little lovebirds,” she said, her voice dripping with venom.

“What do you want, Jenna?” Aidan asked, sounding bored.

“A run tonight, if you don’t mind. It’s a full moon.”

“Is it? I hadn’t noticed.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Just be there. You wouldn’t want me to go all wolf without a babysitter now, would you?” Her gaze slid over to me. “If you can manage to separate yourself from your little pet long enough, that is.”

“Whatever. You know there’s an entire security force out there watching the woods at night, right?”

“Yeah, and you better tell them to keep their distance, or else I won’t be responsible for any damage I do. I’ll see you tonight. Usual time and place.” With that, she turned and flounced off.

H
ow’d you do on the history test?” I directed at the back of Aidan’s head. He was sitting at his desk across the room, while I leaned nervously against the door.

“Fine” was all he said in reply. No elaboration, nothing.

“We, uh, probably need to get together with Joshua and Tyler at some point to finish up our art history project. You know, the
Girl Before a Mirror
thing. And the sculpture one, too.”

“I knew what you meant.” He opened up his laptop and reached for the mouse.

I took a few steps toward the center of the room, standing a
few feet behind him. More than anything, I wanted to hurry over to him and wrap my arms around him. Instead, I held myself in check, fearing his rejection.

“Did you turn in any of your paperwork for AUP yet?” I asked, my voice shaky. “I think the housing form is due soon. If we’re waiving student housing, we’re supposed to tell them where we’ll be living. You know, give them an address.”

His only response was a curt nod as he continued doing whatever he was doing on his computer. He wasn’t staying on any website long—it looked like he was just randomly clicking from site to site, just to appear busy.

“So, you’re just going to sit over there and ignore me?” I asked, sinking onto the edge of daybed with a sigh.

He nodded. “That was the plan.”

“C’mon, after all we’ve been through, we’re going to fight over
this
? I told you it was nothing. He was crying about Kate, Aidan. Seriously. What was I supposed to do?”

“How about
not
put your hands all over him?” I couldn’t see his face, but his voice was laced with jealousy.

I took a deep, calming breath. “This is crazy. You know that, right? Tyler is my friend, nothing more. And he’s helping with
your
cure, by the way.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? That I should thank him by
giving him carte blanche to feel up my girlfriend whenever the mood strikes him?”

“It wasn’t like that, and you know it. You’re just being difficult. What can I possibly say to make you believe me?”

“How about giving me a little time? Some space, maybe.”

“Are you serious?” I asked incredulously. This was a complete and total overreaction on his part. It didn’t make any sense. “Where’s this really coming from, Aidan? Because this isn’t you. You don’t do the jealous boyfriend thing.”

He let out a heavy sigh and then finally swiveled in his chair to face me. “I think you need to figure out what you want, Violet. What you need.
Who
you need. There are no guarantees with me—I told you that.”

I just stared at him, stunned by his words. He dropped his gaze, but not before I saw that same haunting emptiness I’d glimpsed before.

“I can’t believe you’re saying this,” I finally managed.

He busied himself with some papers on his desk, avoiding my gaze. “Yeah, well, I can’t believe I saw you with Tyler Bennett’s hands all over you, so I guess we’re even.”

I rose on shaky legs and headed for the door. “I don’t need time or space to think about anything. I know exactly what I want. Maybe
you’re
the one who needs to do some thinking. Figure out
what it is that
you
want.” I paused to catch my breath, one hand on the doorknob. “Have fun with your dog tonight.”

Without waiting for his response, I stormed out into the corridor, making sure the door slammed shut behind me.

I headed outside, my pace brisk as I walked aimlessly across the quad. I decided to head toward the river, my breath coming faster as I jogged down the path, desperate to clear my head.

Faster and faster I ran, my sneakers pounding against the pavement as I raced past the chapel. With each step, my anger seemed to dissipate, replaced with disappointment instead.

When I reached the bench at the end of the path, I paused, resting my hands on my knees as I caught my breath.

I rose, swiping the sweat from my forehead with the back of one hand. If he needed time, I’d give him time. Clearly, there was more to it than simple jealousy over a misunderstanding. Maybe he was scared. Worried. I knew he thought that he was putting me in danger, so maybe he was acting out of some sort of misplaced guilt. Whatever the case, I wasn’t going to let him push me away so easily.

A calm determination settled over me as I started back toward the dorm, my pace slow and easy now.

When I finally made it back to my room, sixth period had ended and Cece and Sophie were already there, sitting side by side on Cece’s bed with textbooks in their laps.

“Warning, Sophie,” I said sourly. “Your roommate is going wolf tonight.”

“Uh-oh,” she said, setting aside her book. “Does that mean Aidan has to babysit?”

“Yep.” I dropped my bag onto my desk. “Lucky him.”

“Bad day?” Cece asked with a frown.

“You have no idea. I have a headache, too.”

“You want to lie down for a little bit?” she offered. “Sophie and I can go to the lounge.”

“No, but thanks. I’ve got homework.”

“Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to do any more homework? I mean, now that we’ve already been accepted to college and everything.”

My gaze shot up at once, taking in Cece’s impish grin. “Oh my God! You got an acceptance today, didn’t you?”

“Tulane. Full merit scholarship.”

“That’s awesome!” I hurried over and wrapped her in a hug. “Wow, I’m so happy for you. And . . . any news on Joshua?”

“Duke—his first choice. He’s totally psyched.” She waved one hand in dismissal. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out. I mean, if it’s meant to be, it’ll be, right? Anyway, tell her your news, Sophie.”

“You got into Dartmouth?” I asked her, remembering that she was still waiting to hear from them.

“Yeah, but I already accepted at Princeton. Guess who else?”

“Someone else is going to Princeton?” I asked, confused now.

“Not just anyone,” Cece said cryptically. “Go on. Tell her!”

Oh my God. “Not . . . ?”

“Tyler,” Sophie confirmed with a nod. “Crazy, right? I didn’t even know he’d applied there.”

“So . . . is this a good thing?” I asked.

She chewed on her lower lip as she considered the question. “I don’t know. Probably not, right?”

“Depends, I guess,” I hedged. “But seriously, Princeton? Tyler’s grades are
that
good?”

“I know, right?” Cece plopped back down on her bed. “I wonder if one of his parents went there or something.”

“I don’t know, but his grades really
are
that good,” Sophie said. “At least, that’s what Dr. Byrne says.”

“Oooh, Matthew,” Cece said, wiggling her fingers at me like she always did when his name came up. “By the way, what’s up with Aidan? He seemed a little . . . uh . . .
frosty
earlier.”

“Oh, you know . . . he’s just being moody.” I cleared my throat uncomfortably, hoping they wouldn’t question why my cheeks were suddenly red.

“Hey, don’t forget Friday is senior ditch day,” Sophie said,
mercifully changing the subject. “We’re supposed to meet at the cemetery at sunrise.”

Cece mock shuddered. “That’s so creepy.”

“But it’s Winterhaven tradition, right?” I asked. “The cemetery and then Sunnyside.”

“Yeah, but it’s so lame.” Cece rolled her eyes. “I mean, Winterhaven delivers bag lunches to Sunnyside. Technically, that makes it a school-approved field trip.”

“Yes, but an unchaperoned one,” Sophie reminded her.

“Ooh, so naughty!” Cece was laughing now. “Think of all the trouble we could get into. You know, at an old cemetery and a historic site.”

“Uh-oh,” I said. “Matthew.”

“What about him?”

“There’s no way he’s going to let me go off campus without him, not after what happened in Atlanta.”

“Seriously?” Cece asked.

I nodded. “Seriously.”

She groaned loudly. “Well, forget the unchaperoned part, then.”

“I just won’t go, that’s all. I’ll stay here with Aidan.” Because there was no way Mrs. Girard would let him go. It was too dangerous, even during daylight hours.

“But you have to go, Violet. I mean, we don’t have that much time left together as it is.” Sophie’s eyes filled with tears. “There’s just this and then prom and graduation.”

“We’ve got the trip to England, too,” I reminded her. At least, I hoped we still did, what with Aidan being mad at me and all. My own vision was swimming with tears as I fit myself between the two of them.

Cece shook her head. “Oh no. Don’t start. ’Cause if the two of you do, then I’m gonna start bawling my eyes out.”

I wrapped an arm around Cece; Sophie laid her head on my shoulder.

Just then, the door banged open. We all looked up to see Marissa standing there in the doorway, looking like she was about to cry too. “What’s going on?” she asked, her gaze sweeping the room.

Sophie’s breathing was ragged now as she reined in the tears. “We’re running out of time together.”

“I thought . . . never mind.” Marissa shook her head. When Cece held out a hand to her, she hurried over to the bed and joined in the group embrace.

“I’m going to miss you guys so much,” Cece sobbed, her face buried in Marissa’s hair now. “What was I thinking? I’m going to be all by myself at Tulane!”

“But you’ve got family in New Orleans,” I reminded her. “Your grandma and cousins . . .”

She shook her head. “It’s not the same. Marissa and Max are both staying in New York. Violet and Aidan are going to Paris. And you’ll have Tyler at Princeton,” she directed at Sophie. “Even if he
is
a manwhore. But me? I’ve got no one.”

“We can Skype every day.” Sophie sniffled.

“Yeah, a group video chat,” I agreed. “Every night.”

Cece shook her head. “You’re going to be in Paris, remember? Nighttime for us will be, like, butt crack of dawn for you.”

“More like the middle of the night,” Sophie corrected.

I reached for a tissue and dabbed at my eyes. “So, we’ll find a time that works for everyone. Maybe not every day, but at least once a week, okay?”

Sophie nodded, reaching for my hand. “Agreed.”

“Agreed,” Cece echoed, adding her hand to the pile.

We all looked expectantly toward Marissa. “Agreed,” she said. “What, did you think I wouldn’t?” She rolled her eyes as she placed her hand on top of ours.

Still, I couldn’t help but think how drastically things were going to change, and soon. Sophie was right—all we had left was prom and graduation and our trip to England.

Just a matter of weeks.

N
ever mind,” I said, shaking my head. “This was a bad idea.”

Cece sat up in bed. “C’mon, aren’t you curious? I’ll just project out there quickly and see what’s going on and then I’ll come right back. Five minutes, tops.”

I chewed on my bottom lip, torn. On the one hand, I wanted to know what happened when Jenna went wolf—and exactly what role Aidan played in it. But on the other hand, I was asking Cece to do something that was against the COPA. Plus, I didn’t want to be the kind of girlfriend who spied on her boyfriend.

Still . . . I was curious. “You’re sure you don’t mind?” I asked her.

“Totally. Anyway, I’ve done it before—gone astrally strolling through the woods at night. Remember?”

I nodded, recalling the last time she’d spotted Jenna and Aidan together, arguing. At the time, we hadn’t known Jenna’s story and hadn’t realized what was going on.

“I guess,” I conceded. I wasn’t worried about her getting expelled—not anymore. The snow I’d seen in my vision was long gone, replaced by the lush green of late spring. “But don’t go for long. I can’t stand seeing you lie there while you’re projecting. It totally freaks me out.”

“Now you know how I feel when you’re having a vision,” she shot back.

“Okay, okay.” I held my hands up in mock surrender. “You better get going before I change my mind.”

With a grin, Cece scooted down on her bed, lying back on her pillow with a sigh. “Why don’t you . . . I don’t know, read a book or something? No hovering.”

“No hovering,” I repeated, hurrying over to my own bed. “Got it. I’ll text Whitney, see what she’s up to.”

“Turn the sound off, though. I need quiet.”

“I know. Sheesh.” I flipped the volume switch on my cell to off. “There. Now go.”

I tried not to watch as Cece began the process of deep breaths and slow exhalations. A couple of minutes passed in relative silence, and then I couldn’t help but peek.

She was entirely still, a peaceful look on her face. My gaze slid down her body, looking for a twitch, a tremble—any sign of life. There was none. She might have been a statue, carved from stone. Clearly, her astral self was gone.

A shiver raced down my spine. I had to take a couple of deep breaths myself as I fought the urge to go over to her and shake her. I still didn’t quite understand exactly how this astral projection thing worked, but I couldn’t help worrying about what would happen if she somehow couldn’t get back to her body. She’d assured me over and over again that there was no danger of that, but it didn’t assuage my fears, not entirely.