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course, that had been true long before she’d begun to experience fear.
    â€œHey,” he said, slightly nervous. Clearly the awkwardness of last night’s argument hadn’t completely passed. “You weren’t outside world lit before.” He gave her a half smile that said he wasn’t sure how to make things better between them, a feeling that Gaia could relate to.
    â€œOh, she let us out early,” Gaia babbled. He had waited for her? He wanted to make up? She haddodged him all morning, not sure of what to say to compensate for the awful conversation of the night before. “Jake, I—”
    â€œMe too” Jake agreed, cutting her off but looking visibly relieved. “I know we both said some stuff we shouldn’t have said. I mean, he’s your uncle, for chrissake.”
    Gaia was torn. Jake was obviously as eager to put last night’s weirdness behind them as she was, but she got the distinct impression that Jake was telling her he forgave her for being suspicious of Oliver. The problem was that Gaia didn’t want Jake to forgive her; she wanted him to understand her. She wanted him to trust her when she told him that she thought Oliver was dangerous. If Gaia and Jake were now headed toward reconciliation, it wasn’t exactly on Gaia’s terms.
    â€œJake,” Gaia replied quietly, wondering even as the words came out of her mouth if she was shooting herself in the foot. “I should tell you that I meant what I said”
    Jake’s eyes darkened. He looked distinctly displeased with this comment. “Jeez, Gaia, here I am trying to compromise, trying to make things right again, and all you can do is stick to your paranoid point? Nice.”
    â€œNo! It’s just…”
It’s just what, Gaia? It’s exactly that. You had a fight with your boyfriend, and now he’s trying to make up with you, and you can’t even meethim halfway
. Gaia swallowed. She knew that by agreeing with Jake, she was perpetuating the misunderstanding, possibly making things substantially worse in the long run. But she couldn’t bear to leave things on bad terms, and nothing short of pretending to see things his way was going to solve the problem, it seemed. “You’re right. I was overreacting, and I didn’t want to hear you tell me so. Let’s just forget about it for now.” She pasted a bright, conciliatory smile across her face.
    â€œDon’t just say that, Gaia, because you think it’s what I want to hear. That’s not going to get us anywhere.” Jake was not to be easily placated.
    So much for feminine wiles.
    â€œHey, don’t be so serious,” she chided, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m just saying, you’re right. Isn’t that what guys live to hear? That they’re right?” She slid an arm around his waist and directed him down the hall toward their next class.
    As Gaia laced his fingers through her own, he kissed her on the top of her head, sending shivers down her spine. “You’re right,” he conceded. “I’m a sucker for a beautiful girl telling me what I want to hear. You’ve figured out my weak spot.” Jake was obviously more partial to a contrite and touchy-feely Gaia than to a stubborn, hard-ass Gaia, with or without fear.
    Gaia allowed herself to relax as they walked down the hall. To the casual observer they looked like any other happy couple. She knew how to play the part these days; fear was good for that, at least. If she could keep it up, she’d have her wish: she’d be a normal girl with a normal—albeit amazingly hot—boyfriend.
    If
she could keen it up.

Living Dangerously
    â€œI CAN’T LET YOU DO THIS.”
    Chris Rodke looked up questioningly to see his sister gazing down at him with deadly intent. “Huh?” he asked. He couldn’t imagine what he was doing that would engender such a response.
    â€œSeriously,