Secret Worlds (280 page)

How much had they overheard? I could laugh it off as some sort of game or practice for a play. Of course, if it was anyone I knew, that wouldn’t work since I couldn’t act my way out of paper bag. Or, if Aunt Jo was right, a daimones knew about the two of us and my little problem. I stopped and stared at the intersection of the hall coming up. Why the hell was I chasing after them?

Aunt Jo would laugh and tell me to handle it myself. I gritted my teeth. Blocked or not, I could at least get a peek at who it was. I pressed my back to the wall and peeked around the corner on the right and then the left. The hall was empty. I let out a deep breath and headed down the right. Muffled conversation drifted from one of the open classrooms. I tiptoed to the edge and leaned against the wall.

“You’ve only just arrived,” a man’s hoarse voice groused. “I already have claim on this place.”

“Find somewhere else.” Mercer’s voice was smooth compared to the other. “You’re not screwing this up for me.”

The other voice snorted. “And how do you plan to stop me?”

A door slammed down the hall, and I jumped, causing the door handle to rattle. Shit. I spun and quickly walked down the hall. Was that the only empty classroom?

“Cassi?” Mercer called.

I stiffened and froze. Well, no use running now. I turned around, gripping the strap of my backpack, and plastered a smile on my face.

“Hey.” My voiced sounded strained under the forced light tone. “Surprise seeing you here. Planning on enrolling?”

He chuckled. “No. I was looking for the Kellerman Conference room.”

A man stepped out from the room holding a broom. Wrinkles sagged his cheeks and caused the corners of his eyes to droop. As he studied me, one corner of his mouth lifted in a creepy smile.

“Pretty,” he mumbled softly.

Mercer gave him a glare and turned back to me. “I stopped to ask Stanley here for directions.”

But that wasn’t what you were talking about,
I thought.

“It’s actually in Waller,” I offered instead. “I’m headed that way. You want me to show you?”

He beamed at me. “I’d love that.”

The janitor’s eyes bored into my back as we walked down the hall, causing an itch between my shoulder blades. I breathed in the humid air once we stepped outside. The weight of the hall disappeared, and I grinned over at Mercer, leading him down the right sidewalk to Waller.

“You should get a map or something, if you’re going to be on campus a lot,” I said.

“Mmm,” he said. “I’m usually pretty good at finding my way around.”

“That janitor is really creepy,” I said. “It seems like you know him.”

He laughed. “I think he was the first person I met when I first came here a few weeks ago. He’s definitely an odd one. You should probably avoid him, if you can.”

“Why?”

“Like I said, I don’t think he’s all there.” He reached out and took my hand, pulling me to a stop. “I’m looking forward to our interview tomorrow.”

My heart fluttered. Minutes ticked by from the class I should be attending, but it didn’t matter. The warm pressure of his hand kept me rooted in place. His green eyes sparked an intense heat in my stomach. I knew fire well. It could spread in an instant, and once it did, extinguishing it was difficult. I wanted to nurture this flame within me, but I couldn’t let it become wild. I swallowed and stepped back.

“I’m looking forward to it as well.” Why wouldn’t my voice stay even? “I have a lot of questions.”

A smile played on his lips. “I have some questions for you, too.”

I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. “Who is supposed to be conducting the interview here?”

“It can be mutual, can’t it?”

I laughed as I started walking again. “I write the news, not make it. Trust me, I’m not that interesting.”

“I doubt that’s true.”

His gaze sent a delicious shiver down my spine. I cleared my throat and continued waling, using my hair to hide the heat creeping up my face. He had no idea how interesting my life was becoming, and I planned to keep it that way.

The red brick and domed entrance of Waller Hall was only a few feet away. My time with Mercer grew shorter the closer we came. As much as I wanted this time to last, he had places to be, and so did I. I could deal with Marshall, but skipping more classes was just crazy with as much as I had to do. He held the door open, and I shuddered at the cold air that blasted me as I stepped inside.

“The conference room is just up those stairs.” I pointed to an alcove to the right of the doors. “Can’t miss it.”

He gave my hand a light squeeze. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Seven, right?”

He leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek. “See you then.”

I gaped at him as he headed up the stairs. I touched my cheek, and a small giggle escaped my lips. I spun and almost danced to my Media Law and Ethics class. The rest of the day passed in a blur—I couldn’t even remember the lecture I’d tried so hard not to miss. My mind kept returning to Mercer’s soft lips on my cheek. Twilight was setting in as I walked to my car with a bounce in my step and hum on my lips.

A chill slithered at the base of my spine. Someone was watching me again. I threaded my larges key between my middle and ring finger as I scanned the near-empty yard. The janitor stood on the stoop of a side door to Waller hall with his arms crossed, leering at me with hooded eyes. His graveled laugh followed me as I hurried to the parking lot.

I stared at the screen of my laptop and tapped my pen against the keyboard. The rich smell of coffee and cookies surrounded me. One of the baristas called out a customer’s name, and a blonde girl at the table next to mine hopped up to grab her order.

I didn’t really know anyone here, but the hum of conversation impeded on the silence I would have had to deal with at home. Serenity was so engrossed in her code, she didn’t even know I existed.

The words on the screen ran together. With a sigh, I rubbed my closed eyes and took a long drink of my latte. I wrinkled my nose as the cool liquid hit my tongue. It had sat too long.

Last night, I’d forced Serenity to play video games with me until neither of us could keep our eyes open. It wasn’t that I’d been caught up in any of them. I couldn’t sleep. Every time I’d closed my eyes, I’d seen that janitor watching me with that leer. I shuddered at the thought of it. Of course I’d overslept and missed meeting Aunt Jo before classes, but she would just have to get over it.

I glanced at the clock. Four thirty. I shut my laptop and slipped it in my back pack. I had two and a half hours before I met Mercer. A light airy sensation fluttered in my chest. This was just an interview, a very intimate interview with a man who was clearly flirting with me. I chuckled as I climbed in my car and started the engine. What was I thinking? He was probably just buttering me up. Not that he needed to.

I parked and sprinted up the stairs to burst through my front door. The living room was empty with and one of our extra blankets flung over the back of the couch and plastic video game covers strewn on the floor in front of the television. I pushed open Serenity’s door and peeked inside. She sat in front of her computer, typing away with her headphones on with her head, bobbing along with the bass that emanated lightly in the room. I tiptoed behind her and yanked the headset off. She leaned her head back and looked up at me.

“Yes?” she asked.

“How’s the coding coming?”

“It’d be better if I didn’t have to redo everyone else’s work.” She peered back at the screen with her fingers hovering over the keys.

“Are you being nitpicky again?”

“No. This is a mess. How do they expect our code to blend?”

“Isn’t James supposed to coordinate that?”

She gave a sarcastic laugh. “That would mean James is worth more than just kissing Mercer’s ass.”

I crossed my arms. “I thought you were happy about him being lead.”

“Yeah, well, he’s not living up what he promised. And what’s worse is this pressure is making him even more of an ass.”

“Strange,” I said. “I don’t remember him being uptight.”

“Must be the pressure of leadership.”

I waved at her. “Have fun with your code. I need to get ready.”

She turned her chair to face me. “You’re meeting with Mercer tonight?”

I nodded. “This week has been so long.”

“Cassi, please be careful. His words are like honeyed poison.”

I sighed and looked at her. “I’ll be fine,
Mom.
I already figure he’s being nice to get a good interview, or to get closer to you.”

She scowled and turned back to her computer. “It may be more than that. And I’m sure the thrill is great and all, but it always turns out bad.”

I paused at the note of sadness in her voice. “Serenity, what happened between the two of you?”

“More like what didn’t happen,” she muttered.

I moved to her desk. “Okay, you’re gonna need to elaborate on that.”

“You need to get ready. You’re running out of time.” She placed her headphones back over her ears and focused on the screen.

After a few long moments, I sighed and walked out. Trying to wheedle it out of her would take all night. I was not cancelling this interview to play truth or dare minus the dare with my roommate.

I dug through my closet, yanking several dresses out before tossing them aside. Finally, I chose one with gauzy layers of amethyst that would bring out the green in my eyes. I stepped in the bathroom and pulled my hair up into an elegant twist with a few strands hanging in curls against my right cheek. He was older, so he probably liked a more sophisticated look.

At seven, the doorbell rang. I slipped on a pair of sandaled heels as I hobbled to the foyer. He turned as I opened the door. A smile lit his face as his gaze traveled from my head and downward. My heart raced as my eyes lingered on the way his dress shirt hinted at the hardened abs beneath.

He held out a hand to me. “Beautiful.”

I took it with a light laugh. “Thank you.”

He glanced into the living room as I shut the door.

I shook my head. “She’s wrapped up in the code.”

He sighed and gave a sad smile. “I suppose I should be happy she’s dedicated to the project.”

“Whatever happened between you two must have been pretty bad,” I said.

“Are you starting the interview before we’ve gotten in the car?”

I shrugged with a grin. “Worth a try.”

He laughed. “Well, we should get this date started so you can grill me properly.”

My heart gave a quick patter as he led me down the steps. He’d called it a date. I took a deep breath. This was just a mind game for him. He wanted to have an upper hand in this interview.

Get your head straight,
I told myself.

He clicked a button on his keys and the lights of a cherry red Corvette blinked. He held the passenger door open for me. I ran my hand over the black leather of the seat before I slid in.

“Fancy,” I said as he climbed in and started the engine.

“It’s a rental. I figured go big or go home.”

“You don’t go big when at home?”

“Of course.”

He pulled out and turned on the street. The buildings passed by in a blur. The streetlights were just coming on as the sun dipped lower in the sky.

“Don’t take 635,” I said. “It’s under perpetual construction.”

“I was just going to Toll it up,” he said.

He merged on the highway and sped up, passing the slowpokes as he switched lanes. I tapped my fingers against my knee and bit the inside of my cheek. I had so many questions struggling to be free. I had to wait, but I needed something to fill the silence.

“What music do you like?” I rested my hand on the dial.

“Whatever you want,” he said. “I doubt you like classical.”

I raised a brow. “That wasn’t what I was expecting.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, I get that a lot. Most of the popular stuff takes away from the best part.”

“What is that?”

“The instruments.”

“So, what, you like harps and violins?”

“Among other things. Though, I have to say that electronic music is interesting.”

I switched the radio onto the classical station. “You’re not going to get a lot of electronica here, just remixed club stuff.”

“I don’t mind the other stations,” he said.

“This is fine. Soothing.” I stared out the window. “Where are we going?”

“There’s this restaurant I want to try in one of the Suburbs. Plano, I believe.”

We zoomed by a large mall with a line of traffic going into it. Somehow, it had managed to survive the technological age and hadn’t fallen like its siblings. However, it offered other amenities besides just stores. A hotel was connected, along with several rich restaurants and a skating rink. What else would become obsolete with Proprius? If people could experience the internet like they do reality, what would be the use of console games? Or even real sports? Many people preferred to live their fantasies than watch others live them out.

He pulled off the highway and traveled down a four lane street. We turned into a parking lot with several restaurants and an ice cream shop. He parked in front of a tiny eatery with a dark green fence around a couple of patio tables. The sign was lit up above the door.

“Zorbas,” I said. “You’re taking me for Greek food.”

He gave a half-shoulder shrug. “I have a craving for some spiced lamb and feta cheese.”

I snorted and got out of the car. Of all the places he could have chosen, he went with Greek. He had to be playing with me because of my name.

As a family exited the restaurant, the scent of spiced meat drifted to my nose, and my stomach rumbled. We stepped inside the greeting of upbeat folk music. The girl at the counter smiled at us and led the way to a small table in the corner. Her gaze lingered on Mercer for several moments and she opened her mouth to say something, but someone called her from the front, and she reluctantly turned away. A waiter came by, took our drink orders, and hurried off. I picked up my menu and scanned over the list of exotic names, trying to keep my hand steady and my nervousness off of my face. My cousin Madison had made most of these dishes. He was brilliant with a pan.