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Awesome. This is a socially awkward person’s nigh
tmare.
Summoning a tremulous breath, I round the front of the car toward the driver’s side where Foster is waiting for me.
“This is worse than I thought it’d be,” Easton comments as he climbs out and joins us, slinging his bag over his shoulder then slipping his hands into his pockets and glancing around at all the gawkers. “Gods, people need to get a life. So there’s someone new? It doesn’t give them the right to stare like a bunch of nosey fuckers.”
“Why are they staring?” I ask, sidestepping closer to Foster when a huge guy with bulky muscles and lavender eyes winks at me.
Ice. He’s an elemental protector of ice.
“Fresh meat.” Easton winks at me then grins when I pierce him with a look. He chuckles, but then huffs out a sigh. “It’s probably partially our fault everyone’s staring. We have some friends and everything, but we don’t spend a lot of time with anyone outside our family’s circle. And we’ve never brought anyone to school with us before.”
“Awesome,” I grumble. “I hope they stop soon. I hate being the center of attention.”
Easton rolls his eyes, his shoulder brushing mine as we walk. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen, sweetheart.”
“Unless maybe I’m not around you guys,” I point out. Although, the idea of starting this new school without them makes me want to barf.
“They’re still gonna stare at you even if you aren’t.” When puzzlement dances through me, Easton lightly tugs on a strand of my hair. “You’re new, which draws attention. And you’re pretty.”
I resist an eye roll. “Nice try, flirt, but I spent my entire life being either invisible or tormented, so I know you’re full of sh—”
He places a finger over my lips, shushing me. “I’m going to stop you right there. You’re pretty, and I’m sure you haven’t been invisible. You’re just shy. I got that from the first time I met you. But I think your shyness quickly wears off once you’ve been around someone for a bit, especially someone who’s sexy as hell and likes to push your buttons.” He winks at me, his grin cocky.
I disagree with him about me being pretty. Sure, I don’t think I’m ugly, but my looks are average. Not that I care. It’s not like my life is going to be easier if I suddenly become this beautiful swan. My life is my life, and I am who I am, whether I’m pretty or not.
“And as for being tormented,” Easton continues, lowering his finger from my lips. “My bet is it was from guys who thought you were hot but got pissed off when you wouldn’t give them any attention.”
My lips curve downward as his words sink in. “If that’s true, then some guys suck.”
“Some do,” Easton agrees with a nod. “Foster and I aren’t those kinds of guys, though. Just FYI.”
“You were pretty douchey when I first met you,” I remind him, adjusting the handle of my backpack.
He shakes his head. “Nah, I wasn’t douchey. I was just trying to protect something.”
“You mean you’re family?”
His attention fleetingly skates to Foster then back to me. “Sure.”
My brows crinkle as I glance between the two of them. Why does it feel like there’s more they’re not telling me?
Foster and Easton share another look, and then Foster shakes his head, the muscles in his jaw pulsating. Then his forehead creases as his phone buzzes from inside his pocket. Fishing it out, he glances at the message then stuffs his phone away and looks at me.
“My mom can’t make it today,” he tells me. “Her and my dad got called on a couple of different missions, and they’re going to be gone for at least the day.”
“What mission did they get called on?” Easton asks, glancing at his phone.
“I’m not sure.” He shrugs, but another look passes between them.
My gut warns me that they’re definitely keeping stuff from me. A lot of things.
“So, who’s going to check me in to school?” I ask, deciding I’ve had enough of their secret, silent conversations for now. “Or, should I just start tomorrow?” Please say the latter, because this is starting to become too much.
“My mom called the school, and they agreed to let her come in when she gets back from her mission and sign all the paperwork. So, all we need to do today is stop by the main office and pick up your schedule and class supplies. And you should be in all the same classes as mine. Well, mostly the human ones since a lot of my elemental-related courses have prerequisites.” He scratches the back of his neck. “But, if you run into any trouble at any time, you can either text me or send for help down our link.”
“You’re acting nervous right now …” I edgily glance around the parking lot, the building, and ultimately at the people. “Is it not safe here?”
