“No, really,” I sniff, gritting my teeth and willing it to be true, “I’m fine.”
Nolan grabs a messenger bag from the ground near his feet, slings it over his chest, and then walks around to stand behind me. He firmly places his hands on my shoulders and leans over so he can look at my face. I breathe through my jittering nerves and tilt my head back into his firm chest to meet his eyes. His hands are warm through my sweater, and his scent is an interesting combination of a spicy cologne with hints of black pepper and… engine grease?
“You just had a whole heap of crazy dumped on you,” he murmurs kindly, flashing an amused glance at Donovan. I much prefer this version to the playboy act I met earlier. “It’s okay to not be fine, and it’s way too early to be trying to figure this all out. Have you picked up your class schedule yet?”
I shake my head no, mussing his button-up white shirt and loose hanging, skinny black tie.
“Alright. How about Felix and I walk you down to the office to go get it?” he suggests.
Nolan turns me, so he can throw an arm over my shoulders and steer me toward the doors. This kind of touching is clearly normal for him, and I know he means it in a friendly way. My surface instinct is to shrug him off, but I refrain, wanting to learn how to make this normal for me too. However, it’s like my aunt’s hug all over again, and I don’t know what to do with my arms, so I leave them stiff at my sides. If he notices, he doesn’t comment.
Nolan throws up one hand to wave goodbye to the other guys, and gets nods back in acknowledgement.Boys.
Felix walks beside me on the other side. Luckily, it’s still early, so there aren’t a whole lot of students hanging about for him to dodge. Probably why the guys were okay talking about all that stuff out in the open. I want to balk about what they told me and what I saw, but I can heal any injury, I’m friends with a ghost, and though I didn’t touch the wings, they looked pretty damn real. What does it mean to be a witch anyway?
“I’m sorry about all that,” Felix says after a while. “That wasn’t how I imagined things going.”
Nolan snorts then squeezes my shoulder. “Kaleb probably should’ve left Donovan’s meet and greet for later. He’s not a bad guy,” he assures me. “Just born to a bullshit deal. It makes him pissy sometimes.”
It’s Felix’s turn to snort. “He also hates beating around the bush and loves shocking people. I don’t know what we were thinking.”
“That I was a demon hunting nephilim like him?” I offer, deadpan.Yep. The world is a very weird place.
“But you’re not,” Felix tries for jovial, but it falls somewhat flat.
I sigh and tug at my sleeves. “Nope. I’m a magic-leaking witch.”Sounds just as crazy, as I thought it did.
Nolan releases a bark of laughter and squeezes me more flush against his side. It actually feels kind of nice now that my heart has evened out a little, the heat of his body warming mine, and I attempt to relax into him.
There’s a gaggle of girls lining the lockers looking at me bug-eyed, before they turn to whisper frantically to each other.That can’t be good.
I look up at the Scandinavian model pressed to my side. “So, what are you?” I question only loud enough for Nolan and Felix to hear. “Human, nephilim, or witch? I’m assuming men can be witches.”
He smirks down at me. “Yes, there are male witches. And I’m D, none of the above.”
Honestly, I’m surprised that I’m shocked by this point. Ghosts. Nephilim. Demons. Witches. Why stop there?
“Are you going to tell me what you are, then?” I ask when we approach the door to the office.
“Do you really want to know what else goes bump in the night?” he shoots back, the amused, cocky smirk back on his face.
“It’s better than not knowing, I think.” I grimace, while memories try to claw at me. “Ignorance hasn’t really helped me in the past.”
Nolan reaches up and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. Answering tingles shiver down my skin.Oh no, I don’t. No crushing on the player of the group-- even if it’s only an act.
“How about I tell you at lunch? Spread out the bombshells of information some,” he whispers in my ear before propelling me through the door.
He casually holds the door open long enough for Felix to walk past, even though he could have easily walked through it. These small considerations for Felix endears these boys more to me than anything else.
Nolan places a gentle hand at the base of my spine under my backpack and guides me to the front counter. The office is small with one long counter that divides it, two office desks behind the counter, one wall full of shelves and cubbies, and a hallway that looks to lead to administrative offices.
“Good morning, Ms. Martinez,” Nolan purrs to the forty something woman typing away. “How’s my favorite office assistant?”
The woman looks up and giggles as she pats at her hair.Oh gross.
“Nolan, what brings you up here?” she titters, oblivious that I’m standing here.Double gross.“Not getting up to any mischief, I hope.” Her tone suggests she very much hopes he is.
I shoot a sharp glance at Felix, and he shrugs mouthing, “I’ll explain later.”
