Pinehurst: A Magical Olympian Adventure-Young Adult Romantic Adventure/Fantasy Novel (10 page)

The sound of knocking at the door drew me out of my reverie.
I looked toward the source of the noise and frowned. “Go Away!”

“Evie it’s me!”

I sighed and rose from the bed. Iris wouldn’t leave me alone until she saw me. Iris was, if nothing else, persistent.

“I heard you were upset,” she pushed past me the moment the door cracked open.

“Won’t you come in?” I offered dryly, before swinging the door shut. “Who told you?”

“I saw Roland outside. He wanted to see you.”

“What? No! I don’t want to see anyone.” I planted myself firmly on the bed folding my arms. I wasn’t going anywhere.

“What happened? Roland said you started crying in class. Did you get hurt or something?” She eyed me carefully.

“Yeah, I got hurt.” It wasn’t exactly a lie.

She patted my shoulder. “You’ll see. The more you practice, the less it’ll bother you. You just need to exercise more.”

“I don’t think more practice is what’s needed.” My tone was surly but Iris didn’t seem to notice. She was all smiles and encouraging pep talks today. Sometimes I really hated cheerful people.

“Well, you should go talk to him. I think he wants to ask you something.” Her expression was all knowing.

I glanced at the mirror on the wall. “I look like a mess. Tell him I’ll talk to him tomorrow, if I’m still here.” I fell back on the bed, in a pit of despair.

“If you’re still here? Where are you going?”

“Home.”

“Evie, you can’t go home! We’re just getting to be good friends!”

“Iris, you don’t understand. I’ve had the most embarrassing day ever–the most embarrassing week, actually. I just want to go and leave this place behind me.” I didn’t really, but I couldn’t see any alternative.

“Well, clean yourself up. It’s about to get better.” She took a Kleenex from the box on my nightstand and began blotting my face.

“Iris . . . what are you doing?” Her fingers were moving through my hair now, fluffing it.

She leaned back, admiring her handy-work, and smiled. “Okay, you're presentable now.” She took me by the hand and led me downstairs and out the doors.

“Iris, what are we . . . ” I stopped dead in my tracks. Roland was waiting outside beneath a tree. He leaned up against it casually, still wearing his shorts and tight-fitting shirt from P.E. He looked amazing. Why couldn’t that be Antonio waiting under the tree for me? Oh yeah. He thought I was an immature schoolgirl with a ten-minute crush.

“Iris, I’m going to kill you later,” I growled under my breath at her.

“No you won’t. You’ll be thanking me later. See ya!” She literally skipped off down the path.

“Evie!” Roland smiled brightly at the sight of me. The sight. That’s exactly what I was. I pinched my cheeks subtly, adding some color to my face. Hoping to shift the attention from my red eyes—as if.

“Hey Roland, what’s up?” I tried to sound remotely enthused. I don’t think I fooled him. He studied me carefully.

“I wanted to see you. Are . . . are you all right now? You were so upset earlier.”

Understatement of the year! I waved him off. “It’s no big deal. Really, I’m fine.” I flashed him one of my award-winning smiles.

“Good.” He grinned, taking a step closer. “I wanted to ask you something.”

“Ask away.”

He fidgeted for a moment. His eyes for some reason not connecting with mine. “The spring dance is in three weeks, and I wondered if you’d like to go? With me?”

“Oh. Oh! Really?”

“You sound surprised?” He gave me a wry smile.

“Well, I just figured that I was the last girl any guy in this school would want to be seen with. Being that I crashed your P.E. class and all.”

“On the contrary, half the eleventh grade is pining for you. Do you have any idea how hot you look lifting weights?”

There was no need for artificial blush. I could feel the scarlet burn on my face. Why the heck couldn’t Antonio say something nice like that? I was glad Roland wasn’t able hear my thoughts. Sweet . . . privacy!

Unless of course you’re going with someone else?” His confidence wavered.

“Who else would I be going with?” I knew who I’d like to go with, but that wouldn’t happen in a million years. There was no way Antonio would be caught dead at a high school dance, especially with a Junior.

“Well, I thought maybe you and Antonio were . . . ” He didn’t need to finish. The suggestion was crystal—if only it was true!

“No. He’s just helping me in class, nothing more.” My words came out harsher than I’d meant. But Roland didn’t seem to notice. A smile overtook his face.

“So what do you say?” he asked.

“Sure. I’d like that.” My smile was genuine this time. I wasn’t going to let my earlier argument with Antonio ruin this moment. My first dance!

“I’ll see you around?” Before I could answer, Roland leaned over and kissed me quickly on the cheek. He took off toward The Kitchen, a little spring in his step.

I touched my face. I could still feel the kiss beneath my fingers. Roland
was
cute . . .

“Evie.”

I spun around. Antonio walked out from behind a tree. The same tree I’d wished he’d been under moments ago.

“What do you want?” My words were crisp and unfriendly. He didn’t deserve them and I knew it. It was my wounded pride speaking for me. I folded my arms across my chest, giving him a haughty look.

“We need to talk.” He stepped closer, the delicious scent of aftershave moving with him. Crap! He heard that. I took a step back for every one of his advances. He stopped. His eyes pleaded with mine for understanding I couldn’t give.

“Evie.” He reached out as if to touch me.

“Don’t.” I warned.

“Evie, please, don’t be angry with me.”

“I’m not.” I lied. “It’s not your fault I’m a stupid little girl,” Or that you can read my private thoughts. Even though I hadn’t spoken the last part aloud, I knew he’d heard me. I could feel the tears building again, burning my eyes, and threatening to break free like a faulty dam. “I told you I’d be a waste of time,” I mocked, wiping away an escapee. “You should have never asked to train me.”

“You’re not stupid. I’d never say that. And you are
not
a waste of time.”

I half laughed. “Right.” Liar.

He threw his arms up in the air. An exasperated look hung heavy on his face. “I'm not lying!”

It was time to reclaim some dignity. “Hey, don’t worry about it. I’ll see you in class tomorrow, okay? Let’s just forget about the whole thing?” I forced a small smile for good measure.

“Can you honestly do that?” I could hear the doubt in his voice.

Good question. I could hardly stand up straight when he looked at me the way he was looking at me right now. All I could think about was wrapping my arms around him and planting one on those luscious lips. I glanced his way, meeting a skeptical look. “Yes, I can do that.” I could pretend not to be interested in him.

“You can’t hide your feelings for me Evie, I wouldn’t want you to.”

“You stay out of my head!” I shouted angrily. “And I
don’t
have feelings for you!” I knew it was a lie the moment the words left my lips. So did Antonio. Damn him! I fisted my hands at my sides.

“My apologies.” His voice was low and sober. “I misunderstood. I underestimated your resolve.”

My hands began to shake a little as I stood there. I held them, trying to steady myself. I knew he could see right through me. My heart fluttered at our close proximity. I wanted more than anything for him to reach out and hold my face like he’d done earlier. To stare at me with that look of what I hoped was longing in his eyes. I shook my head, pushing the picture away. The picture he was undoubtedly watching himself.

Antonio took a step toward me, his hand reaching out once again. He looked as if he wanted the same thing.

I stepped back, putting my hands out to stop him. I didn’t need his sympathy. “I’ll meet you on the field at three?” The words had come out as more of a question, proof of my uneasiness.

Antonio nodded, the silence cutting deep. But honestly, what more could he say. His eyes spoke volumes. There was a heavy sadness in them. He probably felt bad for the pathetic display of emotion I was throwing at him; probably cursing himself for offering to help me with my training in the first place.

I swallowed the hard lump in my throat; and without another word, turned and hurried toward The Kitchen. The further away I got from Antonio’s mind reading, the better.

Dinner was as to be expected: Iris was beaming. Her cunning ability to sneakily drag me downstairs where I received the ‘invitation of a lifetime’ was totally her doing.

“You can thank me. Come on . . . I know you want to.”

“Thank you, Iris.” I rolled my eyes at her, a slight smile escaping me.

“Ahahh! You must be so excited! How can you sit there and eat?” Gillian had just joined us. “The whole campus is buzzing about it.”

I eyed her with caution. I was afraid to ask what the “whole campus is buzzing about.”

As if sensing my confusion she added: “You and Roland . . . going . . . out . . . exclusively . . .” Gillian drew out each word as if savoring them.

“What? He asked me to the dance like . . . a minute ago. How did you find out so fast?” Too bad it wasn’t true. If only I had a ten-alarm crush on Roland instead of Antonio. Not that Roland was anything to sneeze at. He was super-cute. But he hadn’t stirred that something inside of me. That something that made my heart flutter. He also hadn’t made me feel like a child like Antonio had. Antonio. I growled mentally. I needed to push him out of my mind.

“Please,” Gillian continued, unaware that I’d drifted off to la-la land. “Nothing happens on this campus that I don‘t know about.” True. In the short time I’d been here, I’d quickly learned that Gillian was the eyes, ears, and
nose
of this place.

“I knew you had a reason for staying in sixth period P.E.” The sound of that voice . . . like nails on a chalkboard . . . I cringed. Stacy Wilcox and her witch squad were standing over me.

“It’s just a flippin’ dance. That’s all. We’re not ‘
exclusive
’.” I made little quotes in the air with my fingers. No doubt she’d heard that rumor as well. I stood up from the table to leave. I didn’t feel like listening to any of her crap tonight.

“Great. I suppose you’ll be at the after-party as well?” she glowered.

“What after-party?” I really hated feeling like Stacy knew more than me. She looked so smug.

“Oh please, Evie. Don’t pretend like you don’t know. Like you’re not planning on hanging out where you’re not wanted and wrecking
my
night.” Her haughty attitude was beyond just getting on my nerves. She may as well have been stomping up and down on them. The look of confusion on my face gave her more ammo. “The after-party at Chad’s you twit!”

Ohhh. That was
so
it. Stacy picked the wrong day to mess with me. I spied a busboy walking by with a half eaten plate of spaghetti . . .

“You idiot!” Stacy shrieked. The Kitchen erupted into a loud snicker. Stacy was standing with her arms extended, surveying her dress in horror. “It’s ruined! Absolutely ruined!”

“I’m sorry, Miss. I tripped!” The poor busboy looked like he was debating whether or not he should help her pick the spaghetti off her dress—he decided against it. The noodles had taken up permanent residence on her chest he knelt on the floor instead, retrieving the broken pieces of the plate.

“Oh Stacy, that’s too bad . . . and you were going to wear that to the dance, huh?” I didn’t even bother trying to conceal my happiness.

“Well, at least that ugly dress can be put out of its misery,” Gillian joked.

Stacy stormed out, leaving a trail of spaghetti and profanities behind her.

The girls hadn’t stopped laughing.

“Well, my work here is done.” I brushed my hands together, dusting them off. “I’ll see you guys later, okay?”

On my way out, I passed by Roland’s table. I laughed to myself, remembering Gillian’s gossip about how he and I were “
exclusive
.” He caught my eye and winked. In an attempt to push Antonio farther from my mind, I stupidly opened my mouth and said the first thing that popped into my head:
“Am I going to get a goodnight kiss?” I was totally joking. I mean, no way did I expect Roland to do what he did.

A look of shock and awe claimed him—not for long though. He jumped up; his chair skidded back into the table behind him. He had my face between his hands and his lips on mine faster than Gunny had slammed me to the floor. My guess, he’d been waiting for such an invitation—who knew?

My first kiss! If you could call it that, I wasn’t actually doing the kissing. I was in complete shock. His mouth moved over mine with such precision and skill. I stood there like a statue, unable to move or contribute.

I could hear the hooting and hollering from the gang around us. Even Gillian’s screech of excitement rang loud.

My lips responded, slowly, trying to mimic his. I knew that with the heat of his kiss and the way he pulled me closer to him, it was only a matter of time before they came to life. This was certainly an unexpected turn of events—I liked
Roland
?

He released my lips, but not his hold around me. A wide smile spread across his face.

I held onto him for support. I didn’t trust my legs at the moment. I stared at him, unable to speak. The eyes that I’m sure were still on us vanished. It was only the two of us standing there. My heart was pounding loudly, wildly. He had to hear it.

He dropped his arms and stepped back, his face still smiling at mine.

I must have still looked stunned because I heard Wyatt ask Victor if he thought I was all right.

“I’m just . . . gonna . . . go now,” I said, my voice sounding unusually high. “I’ll . . . see you later.” I gave Roland a small wave as I turned to leave, and tripped gracefully over a chair. The loud laughter behind me gave me the strength to keep walking, or staggering, depending on your point of view. I would never live this down.

The sky was darkening now. It was seven-thirty by the time I’d gotten back to my room. I really didn’t want to, especially since I’d just experienced my first kiss, but since my dad was basically incommunicado during the daylight hours, I decided it was time to give him a call. Besides, I needed to hit him up for a dress for the dance.

“Hey, Dad!” I was really happy to hear his voice. He actually sounded glad to hear mine too. Thank god he couldn’t see the still flushed cheeks I sported from Roland’s kiss.

“I’m better. I’ve made some new friends . . .”

George sounded unusually excited for me.

And now for the dreaded part: It’s common knowledge that fathers are fierce protectors when it comes to their daughters. It’s as if they’re admitting: I was a boy once. I know how they think. They are dangerous creatures and should be avoided at all costs. So, you can imagine that me asking if I could have a new dress, because some boy wanted to take me to the spring dance, would throw up a few of those dreaded flags. A barrage of questions came at me—my dad was a need-to-know every detail kind of guy!

I slumped in my chair. “Roland Vandenberg, I think his family lives somewhere in the Hamptons.” I answered George—the interrogation had begun.

After a brief conversation, I learned that Roland’s family owned an exclusive yacht club. George of course was a member—something else I didn’t know about him. My father seemed pleased that I had such a respectable date—wonder of wonders! The dress would be no problem. He was actually in Paris at the moment. His assistant, Veronica, would make a trip to one of the local shops and pick out a dress for me. Veronica had excellent taste. She was in her late twenties, and knew the fashion world intimately. She’d always stick in a few “fun pieces” as she liked to refer to them. “Fun pieces” were not George Hollyander approved wear. He’d have me in layers if it were up to him. But since he didn’t bother looking at the sales receipt, he had no idea what Veronica bought for me.

“Thanks dad. I love you too.”

And that was that. George got right to the nitty-gritty of my call, added the “I love yous” where applicable, and hung up before I could ask any questions. Why was he avoiding me?

* * *

It was Friday! Everyone seems happier on a Friday. With promises of a great weekend, no school, sleeping in late, and the occasional party . . . I was more than ready for a break.

I was still giddy when I ran into Roland after lunch on our way to Spells. I couldn’t help but blush at the sight of him. His unexpected kiss last night had left me frazzled to say the least, and the rumors that followed such a public display were in full force.

“Evie, I’ve been looking for you.” He was beaming at the sight of me. How cute!

“Yeah?” I wasn’t sure how to react. There was no protocol, that I knew of, explaining the rules of the day after an unexpected kiss from a guy you may, or may not, be dating because you only agreed to attend the spring dance with him. I smiled warmly.

He put his arm around me and continued on to class—I guess that answers the dating question.

“I hope I didn’t embarrass you last night?” He pulled me closer to him. My head slightly rested against his chest. The smell of his cologne was no doubt rubbing off on me. I didn’t mind. I inhaled the subtle scent of spice once again and smiled.

“No. You didn’t embarrass me. I just really didn’t expect you to kiss me in front of everyone. You just . . . took me by surprise.” I was babbling.

“I thought so,” he laughed. “You didn’t seem into it at first. It was almost like you’d never kissed anyone before.”

I stopped short, nearly causing Roland to stumble over his feet.

“What’s wrong?” He lowered his arm, stepping back a little.

I didn’t need a mirror to know that I was blazing red. I could feel it scorching my skin! Not because I was mad at him, but because I was too embarrassed to explain. Fortunately, I didn’t have to.

“You’re kidding me! You’ve never kissed anyone before?” His face was full of wonder.

I rubbed my forehead, feeling the onset of a killer headache.

“Evie, I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have done that if I knew.”

“What? You wouldn’t have wanted to kiss me if you knew I’d never kissed anyone before?” My voice raised a little like it always did when I was feeling threatened. Especially since Antonio’s sort-of-rejection still smarted.

“No! I would have kissed you. I just wouldn’t have done it in front of everyone. I thought by the way you came up to me— ” he stopped clearly rethinking his words.

“What? That I went around kissing boys?” I glared at him. Daring him to confirm my assumption, knowing he’d get an ass kicking of a lifetime if he did.

“No, of course not, I just thought—” His words came out all flustered. “I’m sorry.” I could see real regret in his eyes.

I decided to let him off the hook. “It’s okay. It was . . . nice.” I blushed. I couldn’t help the grin that found its way to my face. Roland really was sweet.

He smiled back at me.

We walked into class, his arm around me once again. I’d expected all eyes to be on us, but that wasn’t the case. No one even noticed us entering the room. The entire class was transfixed on an enormous black spider.

I jumped behind Roland, gripping his arms tightly—so much for being the brave Slayer-in-training. He stepped back, too. One of his arms wrapped behind him, holding me protectively against his back. The other—ready for anything!

“What . . . is . . .that?” I breathed.

“It’s a Ragno, one of the protectors of the Underworld.” Roland’s answer was almost mechanical. He was in as much shock as the rest of the class; who by the way were all petrified in their seats.

“Ah, Miss Hollyander, I see you and Mr. Vandenberg aren’t fans of the Ragno either.”

Ms. Spicer was in the front of the class, a good distance away herself from the hairy intruder. The Ragno’s body had to be a good twelve inches wide. As for the legs, there was a span of about three feet or so. It was perched on her desk, studying the group. We were the newest arrivals and the current focus of its attention—it was looking right at us.