complexion issues when itâs the first Iâve yet to see of him.
âI gave him some salve,â he says, turning toward me. âMiles and I are in homeroom together. Iâm Roman, by the way.â
I look at him, taking in the bright yellow aura that swirls all around him, its edges extended, beckoning, like a friendly grouphug. But when I take in his deep navy blue eyes, tanned skin, blond tousled hair, and casual clothes with just the right amount of hipster chicâdespite his good looks, my first reaction is to run away. Even when he flashes me one of those languid, easy, make-your-heart-swoon kind of smiles, Iâm so on edge, I canât seem to return it.
âAnd you must be Ever,â he says, retracting his hand, the one I hadnât even noticed was extended and waiting to be shaken until he pulled it away.
I glance at Haven whoâs clearly horrified by my rudeness, then over at Miles who is too busy mirror gazing to notice my faux pas. But when Damen reaches under the table and squeezes my knee, I clear my throat, look at Roman, and say, âUm, yeah, Iâm Ever.â And even though he shoots me that smile again, it still doesnât work. It just makes my stomach go all jumpy and queasy.
âSeems we have a lot in common,â he says, though I canât imagine what that could possibly be. âI sat two rows behind you in history. And the way you were struggling, I couldnât help but think, well thereâs a girl who hates history almost as much as I do.â
âI donât hate history,â I say, only it comes out too quickly, too defensively, my voice containing a sharp abrasive edge that makes everyone stare. So I glance at Damen, looking for confirmation, sure I canât be the only one who feels the unsettled stream of energy that starts with Roman and flows right to me.
But he just shrugs and sips his red drink as though everythingâs perfectly normal and he hasnât noticed a thing. So I turn back to Roman and delve into his mind, eavesdropping on a steady stream of harmless thoughts that while slightly juvenile for sure, are basically benign. Which pretty much means the problem is mine.
âReally?â Roman raises his brows and leans toward me. âAll that delving into the past, exploring all those long-ago places and dates,examining the lives of people who lived centuries before and bear absolutely no relevance nowâthat doesnât bother you? Or bore you to death?â
Only when those people, places, and dates involve my boyfriend and his six hundred years of carousing!
But I only think it. I donât say it. Instead, I just shrug and say, âI did fine. In fact, it was easy. I aced it.â
He nods, his eyes grazing over me, not missing an inch. âGood to know.â He smiles. âMunoz is giving me the weekend to catch up, perhaps you can tutor me?â
I glance at Haven, watching as her eyes grow dark and her aura turns a jealous puke green, then at Miles whoâs moved on from his zit and is now texting Holt, and then I look at Damen whoâs oblivious to us both, his gaze far away, focused on something I canât see. And even though I know Iâm being ridiculous, that everyone else seems to like him and I should do what I can to help, I just shrug when I say, âOh, Iâm sure thatâs not necessary. You donât need me.â
Unable to ignore the prick of my skin and the ping in my stomach when his eyes meet mineârevealing a set of flawless white teeth when he says, âNice of you to give me the benefit of the doubt, Ever. Though Iâm not sure you should.â
five
Â
âWhatâs up with you and the new kid?â Haven asks, lagging behind as everyone else heads for class.
âNothing.â I shake off her hand and forge straight ahead, her energy streaming right through me as I watch Roman, Miles, and Damen laugh and carry on as though