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pavement, completely distracted.
    "Jacob, do you think Mara is attractive?"
    "Sure. I guess," he answered without looking at her.
    "What is it about her that you find attractive?"
    This second question grabbed Jacob's attention more than the first. He turned toward Malini on the sidewalk and frowned.
    "I didn't say I was attracted to her, specifically. I said she was attractive in a general sense."
    "Well, what do you think is attractive about her in a general sense, then?"
    Jacob opened and closed his mouth. "Malini, I don't think I should answer that question."
    "Well, why not?"
    "Yesterday, you and Mara didn't really hit it off. No plans for a new BFF there I would say. So, I'm afraid my words can and will be used against me."
    "So, you do find her attractive."
    "Will you stop saying the word attractive like you looked it up in a thesaurus under 'ambiguous words to trap your boyfriend with'?"
    "Just answer the question."
    "See, this is what I'm talking about. You're leading me into something, Malini. What is it that you want me to say?"
    Malini crossed her arms in a huff and walked faster. "If I tell you what I want you to say, it's not worth hearing you say it," she blurted.
    "I see. So, either you're digging for a compliment or trying to trap me into saying I find Mara attractive." He laughed. He actually laughed at her.
    Malini rushed ahead. She refused to look at him even though a small part of her knew it wasn't because he was wrong.
    "Malini, if you want me to reassure you—" His arm shot out in front of her. She halted abruptly, swerving to avoid him. His other arm shot out behind her, corralling her on the square of sidewalk.  She ducked under it. He surrounded her again with lightning fast reflexes. His bright green eyes smoldered above his teasing grin.
     She refused to look at him. Retreating from his arms, she backed into the privacy fence that bordered the sidewalk. He moved in close. His hands came to rest on the fence on either side of her shoulders.
    "If you want me to reassure you, Malini, all you have to do is ask." His leg slipped between hers until his knee hit the wood behind her. Bending his elbows, he pressed into her. He wasn't laughing anymore.
    As Malini turned the full force of her deadliest look in his direction, Jacob lowered his lips onto hers. Soft at first, a mere brush of lip to lip, the kiss was an appeal for permission. She acquiesced, parting her lips. The kiss went deeper, igniting a slow burn that threatened to start the fence on fire.
    They were both sixteen, but becoming a Horseman had matured Jacob. He was all muscle and almost a foot taller than her. She felt his entire body wrap around her as he bent his neck to kiss her again. Every nerve ending woke up and sent little shock waves to the deepest part of her. Her skin flushed. Her heart pounded.
    She was so caught up in the kiss, she almost didn't notice the smell. The first licks of it came on a breeze, making her pull back a little. The second, stronger, caused her to push hard against Jacob's chest. She turned her head and inhaled the sickeningly foul smell of Watcher, a metallic sweetness like arsenic and aspartame.
    "It's here," she whispered into Jacob's ear and pointed her thumb behind her. "I think, behind the fence."
    He was gone in a flash, the warmth of his body replaced with the cool spring air. She tried to follow, but she wasn't nearly as fast. Yards ahead of her, he turned the corner. She caught up to him where the eight-foot wooden slats gave way to chain link. The entrance gate was chained shut.
    "A junk yard," she said, panting. "No attendant on duty. How do we get in?"
    " We don't. You need to stay here where it's safe." Jacob pulled up his pant leg and removed the flask of water that was strapped to his ankle. "I'll go over alone. I can take this thing."
    The top of the fence was lined with barbed wire. Visions of Jacob bloodied and tangled in its barbs had her searching for an alternative.
    "Break the lock,