Prelude (The Rhapsody Quartet) (15 page)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I stumbled from the library. The darkness of the outside world felt more threatening than before. Glenn gripped my shoulders when I almost fell, propping me against the stone as my eyes adjusted. I wondered if this would be the routine every time I saw my tutor.

“Did you find what you needed?” he asked me when we started to walk back to Marin’s house.

“Maybe,” I said, chewing on my lip.

He didn’t press the issue. I headed straight to my room, flopping on the bed. I absently touched the ragged line on my forehead.

Glenn smiled lopsidedly. “Does it hurt much?”

I shrugged, “It’s a little painful. I’ll survive, I think.”

“Let me put more balm on it. With the herbs in place, it’ll be gone completely after tonight.”

I sighed, sitting up. Glenn methodically rubbed the ointment along the cut. I winced. It was still tender.

“There’s a tiny bit of poison left. That’s why it’s sore to the touch. As I said, after tonight, it won’t be a problem.” He pulled back.

He wore a mixed expression that I couldn’t pinpoint. Regret, with just a hint of longing. But beneath that there was something else, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

I was tempted to ask him where his thoughts were, but bit my tongue. I felt guilty.

From what I
could
read of his features, I’d determined that he regretted taking this assignment. I couldn’t blame him. In less than three days, I’d placed him in mortal danger. Glenn probably wished he was home, wherever that was.

“Thank you,” I said sincerely. I hoped he knew how much I meant it. I grappled for his hand, but he pulled it away quickly.

He turned from me. “I’m just doing my job, Sarah.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Will

On Friday, as Mr McGregor told us to pull out our text books, a boy burst through the door.

He was extremely handsome, with dark chestnut colored hair styled expertly, a black tailored coat, and some loose jeans in a dark wash. He carried his backpack in one hand— a guitar was slung over his shoulder. He fiddled with a small round object, flicking his eyes at it as he entered.

He had an exceptionally attractive face with soft full lips, a perfect straight nose, and an appealing strong jaw. His eyes were a dull brown color, lacking sparkle, but were rimmed with dark, beautiful eyelashes— the kind most girls would kill to have.

“I, uh,” he stuttered out, “I’m new here. Pretty sure I’m in this class,” he added, saying the last words to Mr McGregor.

Our teacher nodded, “Yes, you are. You’re late.” Mr McGregor paused, “Well, tell the class a little about yourself, then.”

I watched as the guys around me sized him up, the way they had with Glenn before. This new boy was a greater threat. Almost all of them squared their shoulders, puffing themselves up. The girls were already falling all over themselves to get his attention. A couple of the bolder ones even waved at him. Marin raised her brows at me suggestively, and I slid further down in my chair.

“I’m, uh, William. Will. Sanders.” He gestured to the guitar on his back, “I play guitar. It’s kind of my thing.” He ran a hand through his hair, nervous. “I also have this,” he pulled up the little gold disk. “It’s my grandfather’s old pocket watch. I, um, look at it a lot when I’m nervous… like now.” He laughed at his own joke, and a few of the girls in the class tittered along. “But, uh, yeah. We just moved here. My dad got a new job in the area… working for one of the labs around here that does all the marine biology? He’s not one, though. A marine biologist, I mean. But, uh… if any of you guys, like, need a guitar player for your garage band… I’m pretty good.” He glanced at Mr McGregor, seeking permission to stop talking. He nervously checked his watch again, and then looked up.

At me.

My face flushed. He was staring.

A few of the girls around me shot daggers my way, but adjusted their expressions when they realized it was me. Instead, they smiled. I looked down at the desk.

“Sit down, Mr Sanders. There’s a seat or two in the back still available.”

William nodded and made his way back, brushing by my desk on the way. He looked at me again as he passed, and I slouched down as low as I could manage. I didn’t really want to talk to him and have to tell him to ignore me. Truthfully, if I could manage to not say anything to him, I’d be happy. I tried to remind myself that, voice or not, I was suddenly one of the pretty girls— my looks were going to draw attention.

When the bell rang, Will rushed past me again, this time on the other side, staring down at the little watch. He chuckled softly as he brushed by me. I sighed, considering how I’d let him down when he approached.

Marin, Glenn, and I walked out together, as we had the whole week. Sure enough, Will was waiting for me by the door.

“So, what’s your name?” he asked, addressing me. “I mean, you already have something to call me.”

Marin glanced at me and waved, weaving past us and into the crowd.

I didn’t really want to deal with the fascination again. Even the looks I got when I told humans to buzz off made me uncomfortable. I shook my head, smiling, and pointed to my throat.

“She has laryngitis,” Glenn said apologetically, lying smoothly. “She can’t speak at all.”

“Is that so?” Will asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Well now, how am I supposed to have a conversation with her?”

“You’re not,” Glenn responded, staring into his eyes. “Trust me, I’m doing you a favor, mate.”

Will rolled his eyes. “Are you her boyfriend?”

Glenn glowered at him, “No, just a friend, but—”

“Then let
her
tell me off, if she’s so inclined.”

“You have a problem with your ears? I just told you she’s got laryngitis.”

William dug into his backpack, produced a tiny spiral notebook, and flipped it open. He handed me the paper and a pen. “Simple enough,
mate
,” he returned spitefully.

I glanced at my bodyguard, hoping my eyes conveyed what I wanted.
Just let me handle it. I’ll try to blow him off gently.

Glenn shrugged, “Fine, whatever. I’ll see you next class.” It was a ruse. I knew he would stay close. He disappeared into the wave of teens rushing about to gossip.

I quickly jotted down:

My name’s Sarah.

“Well, hello, Sarah,” Will said.

I nodded back in response.

“You know, I find you completely fascinating. Here’s this gorgeous girl, and she’s somehow not surrounded by guys… well, that jerk not withstanding,” he added.

I shrugged, wrote,

I’ve always been more of a loner.

It was true.

“Yeah,” he chuckled, “until last year, so was I,” he looked a little wistful. “Tell you what, I’d love to talk to you someplace privately. Would you,” he hesitated for just a moment, “would you like to go out with me tonight?”

As I’d suspected. I smiled to soften my response. I shook my head, scrawling,

I’m sorry, I have plans.

“Is that so?” he said again with a grin. He cocked his head, staring into my eyes. I had a strange sensation that he could see me clearly. It felt like he was watching my eyes changing color, examining the shifts and swirls. That was impossible, but it left me with quivering legs for the seconds his gaze was on mine. “I guess I’ll be seeing you around,” he said after a moment.

Will turned on his heel and disappeared into the crowd, and Glenn slipped seamlessly back by my side. He scowled, “What did that ponce want?”

I shrugged, “A date with a pretty girl, I guess.” I hitched my bag up over my shoulder, and we walked to my next class.

Glenn shook his head, “You told him no, right?”

I glanced up at him, sputtering, “Of
course
I did!” Will was human. The moral implications of dating a human alone were enough to deter me. Morality aside, I’d be uncomfortable pursuing a relationship with someone so impressive. Will was dazzling, the kind of guy who’d never have looked at me twice before I turned into a siren.

“Good,” Glenn said gruffly.

We rounded the door of the classroom and plunked down into our seats.

Still, even if I knew it was all magic, it was nice getting attention from a guy so out of my league. I leaned forward, trying to listen to the lecture, but finding it difficult. The girls around me were all gossiping. Old Mr Jacobs being practically deaf, it was the norm.

Today the chatter was all focused on the new guy.

“I’ve never seen someone that beautiful before. It’s like he was sculpted by god and brought to life,” whispered Kalee Erickson. She was popular, one of ‘Stacie’s’ best friends, though she knew nothing about Marin.

“I know!” giggled Dannica Hansen, “I heard he’s skipping this period to get the rest of his scheduling sorted out. The office completely boned him and put him in classes for juniors.”

“Yeah, but I don’t mind if he still has a few classes with us,” Kalee said.“I hope they can’t fit him into some of the other ones.”

Dannica smiled, “Chances are we’ll be in luck— I mean, when have the admins ever done anything
right
before?”

I rapped my fingertips on the science lab table. I was supposed to be trying to distill isopropyl alcohol from a mixture of water, but instead I was listening to this nonsense. I frowned, and glanced over. Next to me, Glenn was dutifully working as my lab partner, trying to coax the liquids to part from each other under the burner.

There was something about him, about Will, that had left me feeling… unsettled. I didn’t know what it was about him, but something felt— I shivered. His eyes were that mundane, flat, brown, but what they saw, or at least what they seemed to see, made them sparkle with life. Aside from being so attractive… I blushed. That was all it was, it
had
to be. I wasn’t exactly experienced talking to the opposite sex, even more so when they clearly wanted to date me.

“Sarah?” Glenn asked quietly, noting my scarlet features.

I took a deep breath and leaned forward. “Mm… it looks like you’re making some headway,” I said, pointing at the condensation building on the inside of the glass beaker.

He nodded, his eyes narrowing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The new guy was in my Algebra class that morning as well, leaning back one seat from my right. He looked bored by the lecture. Will kept glancing at me sidelong, his mouth playing up into a smile, and I would crouch lower and lower into my chair, trying to avoid his gaze. He seemed to think it was funny.

Glenn kept darting dagger-like glares his way. “He needs to back off,” I heard him mutter under his breath.

“He’s
looking
,” I mumbled, not sure why I was defending him. “Not exactly a crime.”

“Well, you should just tell him to stop, to ignore you, and we can get back to our lives. You have enough going on,” he said pointedly. It was a mouthful, but it was the truth. After the wraith’s attack earlier this week, I’d been trying to put my resources and time into figuring out which extra groups had incentive to want the sirens dead. So far, I hadn’t learned much.

Despite that, I found myself peeking over at Will. The girls seated nearby were all leaning towards him, smiling his way, trying to coax his eyes away from me and onto themselves. He didn’t seem especially interested, though once in a while he’d throw them a bone and crack a smile towards one.

They all practically swooned if they were lucky enough to be on the receiving end of one of those prized grins. I felt a strange prickling in my gut. I didn’t like it, but I couldn’t pinpoint why.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At lunch, Marin sidled over to the table Glenn and I were sharing, her eyes lit up and beaming.

“So the new guy, he actually
spoke
to you. Details,” she said, leaning forward. Her elbows rested on the table, her chin propped on her fists.

I blushed, but attempted to play it off. “He wanted to go out. I managed to turn him down without saying a single word,” I added, a little proud of it.

Her jaw dropped, and she waved a hand towards Will’s table like a model on a game show. It was surrounded by guys and girls alike. It was clear he was already popular. He was chatting and laughing with one of the guys— Ryan Anderson, a senior— and Kalee was going out of her way to keep touching his arm. Will kept brushing her fingers off, keeping his attention on Ryan. He said something with a smile, and the whole table laughed loudly and enthusiastically.

I stared into my PB&J, chewing slowly.

“You mean to tell me, you turned down
that
? He’s practically Triton!” she said, her eyes wide, appalled. “You
have
to go out with him!”

“She doesn’t,” said Glenn. “In fact, she probably should be responsible and
not
.”

Marin rolled her eyes. “Glenn, no one cares about your opinion! She’s sixteen! It wouldn’t kill her to get her cherry popped.”

I felt myself blushing a deep, deep crimson and sank into the chair, wanting to die. I hoped no one around me had heard that statement, but luckily everyone who wasn’t sitting at my table had their attention on Will today. I was suddenly grateful for the handsome boy’s distraction.

“If you like him so much,
Your Highness,
” Glenn said coolly, “then
you
date him. You have no qualms about meddling with humans like that. He’s exactly your type. Go for it.”

She grinned, shaking her head, “Oh, no. If he’s got his eye on Sarah, here…” She folded her arms in front of her chest. “Then as a sworn ally to the sirens, it’s my
royal duty
to create a union between them.”

I groaned, leaning into my hands. I covered my face, still feeling embarrassed. I didn’t have any aptitude for this kind of thing. Marin was trying to— to what?! Get me laid?! I didn’t want my first time to be meaningless— or any time, for that matter. I didn’t need a
wedding
, or anything, but… I wanted to be in love.