Arkadia (Halfway House Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

it about that car? Why is it making me feel vibrantly alive and set on fire all at the same time? She didn’t have time to contemplate the answer as the door to the classroom opened and in walked what she could only describe as a god. He was tall, so very tall, must be tipping about six-foot-four, and his dark almost black, soft, curly hair messily kissed the tops of his shoulders. He was wearing dark blue jeans with a plain black T-shirt that looked stretched to its capacity over his broad shoulders and bulging biceps. Oh my Gawd! Arkadia’s eyes roamed back up over his bronzed skin, and she heard Mrs. Eckles say, “Class, we have a new student. This is Bohdan. Please make him feel welcome.” Arkadia looked into his eyes. Soooo brown. He seemed to stare straight into her soul, and Arkadia felt the room closing in on her, her skin aflame with electricity. Her very essence seemed to have been lit on fire. The world was closing in on her fast, and Arkadia desperately tried to reach out to Chey, silently screaming for mercy from the heat of the flames, her skin feeling like it was blistering from the intense pain. The last thing she remembered seeing was Chey's eyes looking at her, full or terror.
    Then, nothing but black.
    “Arkadia, sweetheart, Arkadia.”
    “Get her some water.”
    “Should we phone an ambulance?”
    A myriad of voices surrounded her as Arkadia began to surface back into reality Unable to pinpoint any one voice yet, her eyes stayed shut as she tried to focus on her soundings. She didn’t know what had happened and until she had her bearings again, she wasn’t opening her eyes. The voices continued.
    “Phone her mother.”
    “Does she have epilepsy?”
    “Is she on any drugs?”
    Suddenly a voice she knew said, “Don’t phone her mother. She won’t answer. You need to phone her guardian. No to the epilepsy, no to the ambulance, and a big HELL NO to the drugs.” Arkadia opened her eyes, and sure enough, it was Cheyanne. She looked worried, but she knew that if push came to shove, Chey would always have her back.
    Arkadia tried to sit up, and with some help from Chey, she was beginning to refocus and get her surroundings sorted out. Look of ‘what the hell was that all about?’ passed over Chey’s face, and Arkadia returned it with an equally expressive ‘your guess is as good as mine’ look. Mrs. Eckles asked, “Arkadia, are you okay, sweetheart? Do you want to go to the school nurse?”
    “No, thank you,” Arkadia replied as she sat back in her chair trying to regain some dignity. “I’ll just sip on this water and sit quietly here.” Mrs. Eckles didn’t look convinced, but smiled sweetly.
    “Well, if you feel woozy again, let me know straightaway, alright?” Arkadia nodded and took a sip of water.
    Both Vi and Cat had moved their desks so we could all sit in a long line, convincing Mrs. Eckles that if Arkadia fainted again, this way they could catch her. Somehow they got her to agree, and then spent the next forty minutes passing notes to each other about what happened. As the last bell of the day rang for the end of class, Arkadia stole a quick glance over to the new guy in the back corner. She instantly felt the warmth begin, and lowered her eyes quickly to avoid fainting again. Who is this guy? She kept her eyes low and made her way to the locker and got the hell out of school so she could think clearly about what to do next.
     

Chapter Seven
     
    Arkadia curled up on the lounge with her feet tucked under her ass, and her fingers wrapped around a steaming hot cup of chocolate, yes complete with marshmallows. Arkadia felt very fragile and confused about what happened in school today. Eloise walked into the room and sat opposite her in the recliner, taking a sip out of her own cup of cocoa. She let-out a relaxing breath and looked directly into Arkadia’s emerald green eyes. “Tell me. Tell me everything and don’t miss out a single detail,” Eloise said softly. “It makes