In the Dark by Lila Rose (3 page)

Gripping the sink, I fought my emotions. I wanted to cry, to scream. However, all of it had to wait until later. When I was home… alone.

Waiting in the bathroom until break time, I made my way to my locker, yet another reminder our small country college was like high school by installing lockers.

It was hard to block out the students who whispered and giggled as I walked past.

Once I grabbed my lunch, I headed for my usual spot, the library.

Planting a smile on my face, I walked in and saw Jim, the librarian, at the front counter. He was the only person here who treated me as if I were normal.

"Hey, Jim." I waved.

"Miss Morgin. Lovely to see you, like always. How has your day been?"

My smile faltered. "Ah, okay."

He looked at me sternly, sliding his glasses down his wrinkled face to do so. "You lie to me, Miss Morgin. But I will let that pass. If you need to talk, I'm always here."

My fake smile fell from my face. His kind words made me want to cry even more. "I know," I managed. "Thanks. I think I'll just eat my lunch and read some. See you later, Jim."

"Maybe you will, maybe you won't. Nevertheless, remember, don't let anyone see you eating in here, young lady. Then others will think they can do it."

"I know." I gave him a quick salute and grin then headed up the back to my secluded spot in among the tall stands full of books. No one entered that far up, so I knew I was safe there.

It always made me feel better if I was able to eat and read in peace. My break was over far too quickly and I had double history next. My stomach dropped, and my food threatened to come back up.

I ignored the feeling, and with dread intact, I made my way to history, which wasn't far from the library. I glided into class and straight up the back with my head held high. Isaac already sat in the opposite back corner to my table. I dismissed the way he seemed to want me to meet his gaze. The way his head and eyes followed my every move, watching and waiting for me to glance at him.

Sitting down, I opened my book and thankfully, for once, Dr Keffen didn't take forever to arrive. I was happy to see he was in one of his moods, ordering silence throughout the room while we watched a documentary on Adolf Hitler.

Jenna turned in her seat from up the front to smile and wave at me. She laughed with her friends and quickly turned back around before Dr Keffen had the chance to say anything.

I glanced out the corner of my eyes, to see if Isaac witnessed Jenna's little show, but his eyes were glued to the television, which was probably a good idea. The documentary could stop my brain from working, for a while at least.

I zoned out, barely registering the words or images on the screen. Dr Keffen turned off the television and walked out. I looked around bewildered. Apparently, it was the end of the session. He was probably eager to get more alcohol into him. I quickly gathered up my things to leave before all the other students left me alone with Isaac.

I was lucky enough to leave without him saying anything to me. Although, deep down, I rather hoped he would have said something. I had an urge to give him a piece of my mind.

There was just one more double class to suffer through before I was able to head home.

At the end of the day, I went outside to find it was raining. Head hunkered down, I walked the short distance home, grumbling the whole way. My clothes were drenched by the time I arrived.

Finally, inside my house, I stripped off my soaked clothes in the hallway and headed straight for the shower. I sighed under the welcoming spray. After warming my cold body, I reluctantly stepped out and dressed in leggings and a tee. Although the temperature had dropped outside, it was always warm inside. Even my own body temperature ran a little warmer than most.

Making my way to the front door to grab the wet clothes I'd left, I bent to pick them up, but I froze. Inhaling deeply, the air from the gap under the door brought a very familiar tantalizing scent.

What was he doing here? Did he knock? If he had, I didn't hear it, and usually I heard most things.

Drawing in another deep breath, to try to steady my racing heart. I opened the front door, expecting to find Isaac waiting. When I saw he wasn't in sight, I stepped out and breathed in the air around me. He was close, but where?

Grabbing my big duffel jacket hanging on the rack beside the door, I slipped it on and yanked on my rain boots. Pulling the hood over my head, I walked outside, down the front steps and followed his enticing scent, which lead me down to the shed. I was about to open the door, when I heard a soft noise from behind me. I spun and came face-to-face with Isaac, wearing a long-sleeved black shirt and black jeans.

"Effing hell, Isaac, sneak up on girls much?" I glared, grabbing at my chest.

"My apology." He smiled derisively.

"Yeah, sure. What do you want? How did you find my house?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
Do you want to stay for a coffee? A snack? An afternoon delight in my bedroom?
What was wrong with me?

"Can we speak in there?" He pointed to the shed. "I'm feeling like a drowned rat."

I heaved an annoyed sigh. He actually looked good standing in the rain, his black hair slicked down on his head. His clothes also clung to him so I could see the outline of his chest. Of course, I was a little reluctant to let him into the shed.

Still, I turned, opened the shed door and walked in.

"I came here to apologize for what happened today."

I spun back to face him.

He gave me a small smile. "For how I found out where you lived, well, when I moved here, I was warned to stay clear of you and this area, where you do your witchcraft or commune with the devil."

"Yeah." I snorted. "I do both. Look, I don't want your half-hearted apology and really, there isn't anything to apologize for. So you can take your pity kiss and stick it where the sun don't shine, because it will never happen again."

"It wasn't a
pity
kiss," he said in a whisper that held a hard edge to it.

Okay, I wasn't going to believe that for a second. I'd seen the look in his eyes.

Which reminded me that I was staring at Isaac. I turned my gaze to the wall.

"Yeah, right. Now, if you don't need anything else, I'm heading inside." I stepped around him, but he was soon in my way. "We could have been friends, Isaac. Then again,"—I shrugged—"I don't really need them."

I managed a couple of steps away from him before he called out, "Why can't we still?"

"What?" I asked, facing him, only with my eyes off to the side.

"Why can't we be friends now?"

"What kind of game are you playing at, Isaac? Why would you want to? If you're just trying to impress the other girls by taking pity on the freak, then you can forget it. They won't care."

"I don't concern myself with the others. They're childish."

"News flash: most people our age act like that."

He shook his head. "I don't believe that with you. I don't get along with many people, but I could with you. I don't pity you, Leila, and I'm not playing any games."

I moved my eyes to study him. He seemed to be serious. Then again, he always seemed to be serious.

Was it time I took a chance on someone?

Could I trust him? The new guy, the one guy that drove my senses wild and stole my first kiss.

Yes, yes, yes. Trust him, jump him, spank him.
I seriously needed some private time; he was driving my hormones crazy.

Sighing loudly, I said, "One chance, buster, and if you stuff me around in any way, I will stomp on you."

He let out a breath, which could have been a laugh, I wasn't sure.

God, what was I getting myself into with this guy?

"Wanna come inside? My show's about to start and I'm not missing it."

"Ah, I don't think that would be a good idea. Most parents don't like me."

"Don't worry about it. My folks aren't home."

He gave me a dubious glance, looked over my shoulder and then back to me before he nodded. Without another word, I stalked off, not caring if he followed.

Yeah, right.
I wanted to be that six-year-old girl again and jump for joy, yelling over and over, "I have a friend."
And a hot one I want to lick at that.

After I removed my jacket and boots, I noticed Isaac standing just outside, peering in.

"Coming in or what?"

"Thank you." He gave me his half smile, which made my stomach do flip-flops. I quickly looked away.

Was having Isaac in my home really a good idea? I hardly knew the guy for God's sake. He could have been a serial killer or something, or he could knock me out and rob the place. Funny though, if it came down to it, I didn't care too much. It was nice to have someone in the house with me. My always busy, always drinking and hunting uncle didn't really count.

Sitting down on the couch, I switched on the TV and ignored the fact that Isaac Grey was in my house. His gaze ran over the pictures hanging on the walls. I flicked through the channels.

"
This
is your show?" Isaac asked, standing behind the couch.

"What's wrong with
Glee
?" I glared. No one should ever diss
Glee
in front of me; the show always brought a smile to my face.

"No, nothing, I suppose. If you like singing," he said with a fake cringe, while trying not to smile.

"I don't know if this friendship can continue," I said, shaking my head at him. "You can either sit down and shut it, or leave now."

He stood behind me quietly until the commercials came on.

"Isaac, what are you doing?" I asked without looking at him.

"I-I think I may be a little wet to sit on the couch, and I didn't want to interrupt your show. You seem scary when it comes to it."

A laugh escaped me as I jumped up from the couch and looked at him with wide eyes. He
was
still soaking. I averted my gaze to over his shoulder and cussed at myself for not being considerate enough to notice.

"True about the show, but still, you should have said something earlier. Hang on, I'll go grab a towel, and I'm sure I have something for you to wear that will fit. Wait one sec." I rushed off to the linen closet, grabbed a towel then dashed to my bedroom. I searched through my clothes for a hooded jumper and found some old tracksuit pants of my dad's. I ran back to the lounge, threw the towel at him and placed the clothes on the edge of the couch before sitting back down in time for
Glee
to start again.

Isaac cleared his throat behind me.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"A room to change in? Unless you would prefer me to undress here?" Humour laced his voice.

I pretended to think about it for a minute, tapping my chin with one finger. "Go down the hall to the end room. You can change in there."

It wasn't until the next commercials came on did I realise Isaac hadn't returned. Worried with what he was getting up to in my room, I went after him. The door was closed. I knocked before entering, in case he was that slow at getting dressed—or I hoped he was. I opened the door without a reply and found him over by my window, looking at the pictures that hung on the wall beside it
.

Dear God, he's not wearing a shirt.

Thank you, Lord.

In my dazed state, I froze and took in the glorious view before me. He was beautiful. He hadn't turned around, so all I could see was his back; still, his back was something to write home about. In fact, I could recite a sonnet about how his tanned skin shone from the wet rain. How his shoulders cried out to me and made me want to sprint over, just so I could run my hands all over them.

He turned around, and I found the front view was just as good as the back. Nice strong arms and a six-pack that yelled,
Hello, take notice of me.
And good God, I was. That was until he placed my hoodie on.

I let out an annoyed breath at him for interrupting my ogling. A blush rose to my cheeks and I looked away, but not before I saw the smile on his face. He knew I was perving, and he enjoyed every minute of it.

Oh, hell, what did I get myself into?

"I wanted to see what was taking you so long," I said after clearing my throat a few times.

"I hope you don't mind my looking around. But I thought if we're to be friends, it would be best to see how
my friend
lives." He grinned. Smiling suited him. I didn't understand why he didn't do it more often, even at school.

"You can just ask me questions instead of snooping," I lightly suggested. It wasn't like I had anything to hide. Well, not there in the house anyway.

"True." He nodded. "Do you mind if I ask one now?"

Shaking my head, I leaned against the door frame and teased, "You don't have to ask to ask me a question, Isaac. You just do it."

He let out a deep, carefree laugh. It was beautiful and caused goose bumps to appear on my arms.

"All right then." He studied me for a moment. "Why is your eye black?"

Biting my bottom lip, I moved my gaze to the floor and then back up. I knew it wouldn't take him long, like all curious people. "I don't know." For the first time, the lie felt bitter. "I was born this way. Believe me when I say I've had test after test and no one has any answers."

"Does it bother you?"

Another sigh escaped me. I met his gaze for a second, then it met the floor again. "At the start, yes, of course it did. Especially when so many people question it and they make their own assumptions from it, saying I'm a witch, or a demon child, or the one that never goes away: freak. But you soon learn to ignore all of it and continue on with your life… As good as you can anyway. So, no. It doesn't bother me now."

"You must get lonely." It was a statement, but I chose to answer it anyway.

"Look, I can understand that you feel sorry for the freak, but seriously, if that's all this is then get lost." I straightened and looked to him with a glare. He quickly moved his gaze from my belongings and focused back on me with his own glare.

"Leila,"—Damn him and his sexy voice saying my name—"I don't feel sorry for you. I only wanted to say that I know what being lonely can feel like. I haven't allowed myself a friend in such a long time. To a point, I can no longer handle being without companionship."