EVIL LOVE

Chapter 4

No, wait, that is not —” Roseline groans as Sadie disappears into the flood. She sucks her lip between her teeth as she glances in the opposite direction toward the exit.

“Are you coming?” Sadie calls over the din of the crowd. Roseline can barely see Sadie’s head as she jumps up and down in the middle of the hall.

Roseline grits her teeth. What choice does she have? Sadie’s obnoxious call has already drawn attention. Deciding it is best to avoid further peering eyes, she ducks low and dives in.

Wading through the hall is less like swimming and more like carving a path through a wave. Teens on all sides part as she approaches—some pause to stare, others are too preoccupied with making party plans for the weekend.

“Rose? You back there?” Sadie asks.

“I am here,” she calls back, exiting the fast lane. She finds Sadie standing beside a wall of crimson lockers. A look of consternation pinches Sadie’s face. “Is something the matter?”

“Darn thing is stuck again.” Sadie slams her fist into the locker door. She swears and hops about, cradling her wounded hand.

“May I help?”

“Have at it. The stupid thing likes to stick in the middle,” Sadie mutters around the fingers she has shoved into her mouth.

Roseline surveys the door, noticing the hinges and general location of Sadie’s previous abuse. She places her palm against the metal. Careful not to dent the door, Roseline pushes her hand until she feels the click. When she pulls back, the door springs open and a flood of magazines pour from the overstuffed locker.

Sadie squeals and dives for the cascade of teen gossip.

“I am sorry.” Roseline stoops to help collect the stray magazines. She notices a pattern as a young boy’s face appears on several of the magazines. “Who is this?” she asks.

“No one,” Sadie grunts indignantly, shoving handfuls of the magazines back into their disorganized home. “I certainly don’t like Justin Bieber. I’m just holding these for a friend.”

Roseline smirks. She doesn’t even have to sense Sadie’s nervousness to know a lie when she hears one. Heat paints Sadie’s cheeks as she slips her hand back through the door to cram her school books inside. Maybe Sadie is not as badass as she tries to appear.

“I wanted to tell you that your offer for a ride is not —” Roseline’s attempt to turn down Sadie’s offer cuts off as a loud whistle rings out over the hum of students. Roseline turns. All eyes follow.

“Well, hello, new girl.” A handsome blond boy emerges from a huddle of guys farther down the hall, each one sporting puffed-up chests and lettermen’s jackets slung over their shoulders — the starting line-up for Rosewood’s football team.

A path through the crowd opens as the boy approaches. “Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?”

His groupies chuckle at his corny pick-up line. Roseline rolls her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “Does that wretched line actually work on the girls in this country?”

The peroxide-loving boy’s eyes narrow and his mouth tightens with annoyance, revealing a hint of a goatee. “I’ve never had any complaints before.”

Roseline snorts. “Well, consider this your first. You are revolting.”

She turns her back on him, surprised to meet Sadie’s gaping face. Her eyes flicker over Roseline’s shoulder, widening with shock a split second before Roseline feels pressure on her backside.

The boy howls in pain as she whips around and twists his hand up behind his back. “Lay a hand on me again and you will lose yours. Are we clear?” she growls in his ear.

His eyes water as he sinks to his knees, nodding. “Perfectly.”

Roseline releases his hand and shoves him away. He sprawls to the floor. His feet struggle to grip the freshly waxed floor as he scrambles back from her. When she looks up, every eye is glued to her.

“Pervert.” She shrugs to the crowds as she silently berates herself for making a scene.

Some heads dip in agreement while others stare suspiciously at her. All begin to move on as they realize the show is over. The boy’s friends rush to his aid. He swears, shoving them off as he stumbles to his feet. Fiery eyes glare at her as he turns and leaves without a word, his pride obviously wounded.

“Holy crap, Rose. That was amazing,” Sadie crows, patting her on the back. “I can’t wait to tell Will. Totally freaking priceless.”

“Who was that boy?” Roseline asks as she watches him storm down the hall and slam through the double doors.

“My ex.” Sadie grins. “I’ve been waiting four years for someone to put Oliver in his place. I knew from the first moment you started snoring that I was going to like you.”

“I do not snore.” Roseline sniffs indignantly as Sadie weaves her way back into the thinning crowd.

“It sounds like someone is holding a grudge.” She knows all about those.

“Duh. The i***t dumped me for my best friend, Claire, during the first week of freshman year. Can you believe that? Oliver is hot but he’s a total loser. I’m better off without him.” Sadie ducks around the corner.

As Roseline’s foot shifts forward to follow, she jerks ramrod straight. Her nostrils flare and her steps falter as a scent slams into her gut—sweet and utterly delicious. She inhales deeply, savoring the unfamiliar aroma. It is not like her to have a mortal call to her so strongly.

She whirls around, her gaze darting from face to face, in search of the human. No one stands out to her, but still the scent lingers. Her mouth waters as her thirst rises. The scent is potent, making her knees quiver with desire. Although she has never given in to the seduction of blood, her carnal nature longs for it. It is an urge that she has to daily suppress. Closing her eyes, Roseline inhales deeply, searching for the source. The scent is bold—definitely masculine. One heartbeat pumps louder than all the rest, calling to her, but it begins to fade away. Roseline’s eyes fly open as she frantically searches the crowd. There. At the end of the hall. A boy, buried in a large crowd of laughing teens, ducks out of the back doors. He is gone.