13 Ways to Midnight (The Midnight Saga) Read online

  “I…”

  He sighed. “It’s okay. I shouldn’t have dumped this on you. Obviously, I took something wrong. My bad.”

  “I’ll go,” I said, and his eyes lit up.

  “Yeah?” he repeated, and I nodded to him. “Great, okay, sure.”

  “A date,” I said as he stood up and tripped on the chair, barely regaining his balance and trying to appear in control. I looked down and then back up at him, and he walked away from me, backward at first until he bumped into someone and had to apologize. I rubbed the side of my neck and then ran my thumb along my bottom lip. Finally, he made it out the double doors and disappeared without accosting anyone else.

  I shook my head. I was happy to say yes to Daniel, but Thorn lingered in my thoughts. Maybe going out with Daniel would help stuff that away in a box where it needed to be. I mean, obviously, Thorn no longer has any interest in me. If he did, then he wouldn’t avoid me and stare at me like I’m a plague on the world. In fact, the more I thought about it, the angrier it made me. I didn’t ask him to follow me to the cemetery, and I certainly didn’t say kiss me. I shook it off and stood up, grabbing the book from the table and walking in between the aisles, out of sight and away from the other kids in the library.

  I lifted the book, nearly dropping it when I spotted two dark eyes staring back at me through the space on the shelf. Thorn parted his lips, and I slammed the book back in place, blocking his view. I walked down the aisle and just as I neared the end he stepped around, and I stopped dead, crossing my arms over my chest and contemplating turning around and running.

  “So, do you like him?”

  I tilted my head. “Who?”

  “That boy who asked you out?”

  “We’re you eavesdropping?” I asked.

  He stepped forward, and I didn’t move, not this time. He stopped about two feet in front of me, and my eyes quickly looked behind him, I saw two girls giggling and then they kept walking. He didn’t even bother to look. I swallowed hard.

  “Do you?” he asked again.

  “Why do you care?”

  He placed his hand on the shelf and ran his fingertips along it, taking a half step toward me. I took a step back, and he stopped, pulling his hand back and inspecting his fingers. He blew on them, and some dust escaped into the air like glitter. My eyes focused in on it until he spoke again.

  “I don’t regret what I did, Echo.”

  “Oh, you mean acting like you liked me and then disappearing? No, it’s totally fine and a natural reaction after kissing someone.” I spoke a little louder than I meant to. He seemed amused by my anger; I wasn’t. I sighed and turned away from him, but he caught my wrist and held on, stopping me from going anywhere. It wasn’t like I wanted to fight him, but even if I wanted to, I wasn’t sure that I could. His touch cast some strange spell over me. I turned back and stared at him as he moved forward. His hand slid into mine and held on. I tried to remain calm, but the primitive side of me wanted nothing but to run as far away as I could, yet here I stood, face to face with this boy that I longed to understand.

  I longed to be with him when I knew I shouldn’t.

  He licked his lip, exposing the tips of his white teeth. He leaned forward. “Like this?” he moved slowly, seductively; approaching my mouth with those full lips. Time stood still and everything became silent.

  “What did that woman give you?” I asked. He paused just a couple of inches from my mouth.

  “What woman?” he asked.

  “The witch,” I whispered like it was a huge secret.

  He straightened up. “Do you like him?”

  “What did she give you?”

  “You answer me first, and maybe I’ll tell you.”

  “No,” I said.

  “No, you don’t like him, or no, you aren’t going to tell me?” He asked.

  I grinned. He smiled. My stubbornness amused him. He lifted his hand and placed it on my side, sliding it into the curve. He pulled me forward. “Echo. Tell me.”

  We heard a throat clear behind us. I turned, and the librarian stood there with her arms crossed and a stern look on her face. The silver chains swung on each side that were connected to her glasses and disappeared behind her neck. “I would suggest that the two of you return to the main room,” I said nothing but the rosy color on my face spoke volumes.

  She relaxed her arms. “Thorn.” She spoke without remorse. He nodded to her. “Mrs. Smith.” She focused her attention on me. “Now, young lady and you too, Mr. Vega.” I sighed, and Thorn released my hand. I stepped back, and he smirked at me. I turned and walked away as quickly as I could, once again utterly bewildered as to why Thorn could make me forget the world and only see him. One minute I was so disgusted with him and the next I was fantasizing so deeply that all I wanted was his attention and another kiss…as many as he wanted to give.

  I was in serious trouble, and I knew it.

  I returned home, and Aunt Luna was busy trying on a few heels that lay in a large pile in the middle of the living room floor. She would place one shoe on and walk around, swinging her hips from side to side then she’d rush back to the pile and try on a new pair.

  I leaned in the doorway, and finally, she noticed me.

  “Oh! Honey. Red or black…or maybe hot pink?” She lifted one shoe, then another, followed by the last one. I pointed at the pile. “Black is a classic. Goes with everything.” She snapped her fingers. “Such a smart girl.”

  I made my way over to the couch and dropped down on it, letting my backpack slip from my shoulder and rest on the floor next to my feet.

  “So what’s going on?” I asked. She stood up and wobbled on a pair of spiked heels that must have been created by a sadist. She took one horribly unstable step, and I held my hands up. “Maybe not those.”

  She looked down as her ankles shook. “Yeah, you may be right.”

  My eyebrow rose. “So?”

  She grinned and tried to balance herself. “Hot date, with James.”

  I leaned back and lost my enthusiasm. I had a date, too, but I hadn’t been tempted to rush home and try on everything. It made me feel awkward.

  “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

  I felt like I may be able to salvage it. “I’m going out on a date.”

  She started to fall, and I bolted off the couch and tried to catch her. I was too late. She landed in the pile of shoes and stared up at me with a silly grin on her face. Laughter followed it.

  “Daniel?”

  I nodded and extended my hand. She took it, and I helped her back to her feet. She fidgeted with her hair. “Maybe we can double date!”

  I wrinkled my nose, and she shook her head. “Oh, no. That’s not cool is it?” she added.

  I half grinned. She touched my face. “It’s okay; I’m not offended. Oh my God, a date! Echo is going on a date.”

  “Yep.”

  “Should I call your dad?”

  I shook my head and waved my hand. “No! I mean, no. There’s no reason to tell him.”

  “But honey, this is your first date! I’m sure that your parents would want to know.”

  I sat back down and stared at my hands. She took the shoes off and tossed them back into the pile. She sat down next to me and leaned into my side.

  “Okay, what’s going on?”

  I interlocked my fingers and rubbed my palm with my thumb. I wanted to spit it all out. Just come totally clean but then I opened my mouth and nothing about Thorn made its way into my vocabulary.

  “I just don’t want to make a huge deal about it; they’re busy.”

  “Oh, hon, you know that your parents love you very much.”

  I nodded. “I know they do.”

  She tapped my hand then gave it a shake. “Well, if you change your mind I will be happy to field that call.”

  I took a s
low breath and let it out. “Noted.”

  She eyed the pile of shoes. “You’re welcome to try some on.”

  I stood up and rubbed my hands on the sides of my skirt. She glanced at my legs.

  “Could I suggest pants?”

  “Aunt Luna!”

  She winked at me. “Just kidding.”

  I grabbed my backpack and swung it onto my shoulder. She stopped me right at the door. “I just can’t believe how much you’ve grown.”

  “I may get just a little bigger,” I said while pinching my fingers together.

  She tilted her head and waved a hand. “Daniel is a lucky boy.”

  I nodded and left the room wishing that I felt as excited as she did.

  But Thorn.

  He had a tendency to ruin everything.

  15

  Another week passed, and Thorn said nothing. He ignored me in the hallways and spent his time with Bri and Tailor, who followed after him like star struck groupies.

  They could have him. Seriously.

  I ignored it, or at least I tried to pretend that I could. The mere fact that it festered in my mind was a clear and concise reminder that Thorn had successfully made a fiery impact on my life, one that I couldn’t extinguish as hard as I tried. And I was trying, but the dreams kept haunting me.

  The visions seeped into my waking hours.

  The black buck with red eyes.

  The blue mist.

  Those fangs aching to be set free in my flesh.

  The sweet scent of iron clinging to the air.

  And me…wanting it so badly, wanting HIM and waking up in a cold sweat.

  I gasped as my phone rang during lunch. I white knuckled it. “Hello?”

  “Echo, how are you!” Molly’s voice was such a welcomed sound.

  I stood up and walked away from the table while Mattie and Daniel chatted away. I glanced back and noticed Thorn staring at me from across the cafeteria. He had a tray of food that he hadn’t even touched yet. I pushed on the door and walked down the hallway holding the phone next to my ear. “Molly, hi!”

  “I apologize for the delay. I had a situation to take care of with another client.” Molly liked to refer to her patients as clients. I wasn’t going to argue with her.

  “Is everything okay?” I asked.

  She paused. “Well, it will be.”

  I knew it must be serious. Usually, she wasn’t so vague. “So, I called in the prescription for you.” My eyes lit up and then I remembered the bag that the witch had given me. I hadn’t even tried it under my pillow yet. No matter, I knew that the pills would do the trick as they had for the last few months.

  “Great, thank you so much.”

  “So.”

  I paused and leaned my back against the lockers. “Yeah?”

  “How is everything going?”

  I looked out the window and watched a few students pass by. I held my breath hoping that I wouldn’t see Thorn. I didn’t.

  “Fine, everything is fine.”

  “That good, huh?”

  I let out a small chuckle. “No really, Luna is great, the house is great, and I’m getting used to school.”

  “Do you want me to come visit?”

  I tapped my index finger against my bottom lip and contemplated her offer. “You know what? You don’t need too. I’m doing much better. I think the medication will be a huge help.”

  “Well, that’s wonderful, Echo. Just let me know if you need anything, anything at all and I’ll be there in a jiffy.”

  I nodded. “Sure thing.”

  “I’m sorry, but I have to go.”

  “Bye,” I said as I lowered the phone and let out a sigh when I spotted Thorn standing across from me. I narrowed my eyes.

  “So, are you sick?” he asked.

  I shook my head and slid my phone into my pocket. I crossed my arms and started to walk away from him, but he quickly caught up and I refused to look over at him.

  “I’m just concerned.” He added.

  I stopped and faced him, then walked toward him as he backed away from me. The grin that teased at the corner of his mouth only helped fan the flames. I stopped when his back met up with the wall.

  “Why?” I asked.

  He tilted his head. “Because we’re friends.”

  I snorted. “What?”

  “We are friends, aren’t we?” He asked.

  I frowned. “You have some nerve.”

  He placed his hand in his pocket. “You mentioned medication.”

  “It’s considered rude to listen in on people’s conversations.”

  He ignored my statement. “Are you?”

  “She’s my therapist.”

  He smirked.

  “What?’ I asked when my eyebrow shot up.

  “You mean she’s your psychiatrist.” He said while scanning the hallway.

  I answered immediately. “No, she’s my therapist, just like I said.”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Okay, call it whatever you want.”

  “I will.”

  He rubbed his neck and shrugged his shoulders. “I call mine a shrink.”

  I paused. I had no idea he talked to anyone.

  “I didn’t know you...”

  He cut me off. So infuriating. “So what’s the medication for?” he asked, totally ignoring my weak apology.

  “I have nightmares.”

  He paused and looked me over. “Nightmares?”

  “Yes, nightmares.”

  His stance shifted. “About what?”

  I bit my lip. If he only knew. “Things.”

  He leaned forward. “What kind of things? Are they about me?”

  I turned, and he spun me around until my back was pressed against the cold concrete. His face rested right in front of mine. “Do you dream about me, Echo?”

  I started to step to my right, and his hand lifted, he rested his palm against the wall. The same thing happened when I tried to step to the left.

  “Let me go,” I whispered.

  His facial expression changed. “Do you?”

  “Why does it matter to you?!”

  He leaned into my ear and his lips grazed my skin. I shuddered, allowing my eyes to close.

  “Because I dream about you.” He whispered.

  I ducked under his arm and ran away as quickly as I could. My heartbeat raced in my chest, and my body trembled. Every part of me ached for him, and I wasn’t even sure why. He infuriated me, but the more I fought against it, the worse it seemed to be.

  I spent the rest of the day in a daze. Everything he said haunted me.

  Finally, the bell rang and this day had ended, releasing us into the weekend. Tonight I would be out on a date. My first one and I was trying very hard to look forward to it and push Thorn out of my mind, but he lingered there like a broken promise of what could be and not what was.

  The nervous tension that boiled up in me every time we spoke was becoming a habit.

  I liked it, no…I loved it.

  I loved how it made me feel as if I were standing right on the edge, ready to jump.

  Or perhaps be pushed over.

  I grabbed my things and stood up, ready to escape. Mattie had enthusiastically offered to help doll me up…her words, not mine.

  I stepped out, and Daniel grinned at me. I bit my lip and walked up to him only to hear a voice come from behind me. It was Bri. I almost cringed, but held it together for the sake of not giving her the pleasure of visibly disturbing me.

  “Are you two lovebirds coming to the private party tonight?” she asked.

  I closed my eyes and then turned to face her. Tailor stood at her side. My eyes lifted, and she was studying my expression, the coy look on her face infuriated me. “They won’t come; it’s in the
pine.” She said mockingly.

  Tailor spoke directly to Daniel and I chimed in. “Sure, yeah. We can come.” I said. Tailor immediately looked at me and the muscles in her jaw flexed. I took a breath and she nodded to me.

  “I didn’t expect you to be so brave.” She muttered.

  “You don’t know me,” I said as the muscles in my jaw tightened then relaxed. She had dared me…dared me. She wasn’t going to win.

  His little cheerleader wasn’t going to best me ever again.

  “Here.” Bri handed me a piece of paper, and I looked at it. It had a longitude and latitude written on it.

  “No address?”

  Tailor laughed. “Use the GPS map on your phone.”

  I sighed. “Yeah, of course.”

  Bri smiled, and Tailor pulled her down the hallway. I stood there with Daniel behind me and finally he spoke up. I rolled my eyes as I turned. “I’m so sorry.” I waved the paper in my hand. “We don’t have to go there if you don’t want to. Honestly, it doesn’t matter to me. I shouldn’t have answered for both of us without asking if you wanted to go.”

  He paused and took one last look down the hallway.

  “No, we can go. Sounds like fun, right?”

  “Are you sure?” I asked, and he grinned. “Listen, whatever you want to do is fine with me, okay?”

  I lowered the paper in my hand and then felt an arm around me. I smiled as Mattie hugged me from the side. “What’s up?”

  “Party,” Daniel said, and her eyebrow cocked. “Oh, yeah?”

  “No address, just a map,” I added as I lifted the paper in my hand. “Oh, let me see!”

  She took it from me and turned it in her hand. “Oh, I’ve heard about this! It’s a private party and the location always changes every year. Wow, you two got invited to it? It’s super exclusive. I don’t know anyone who’s ever gone.”

  “Yeah, lucky us,” I muttered under my breath.

  “So, can I come?” she asked, and I opened my mouth. “Yes!” My voice echoed in the hallway.

  I had to look at Daniel, immediately regretting my enthusiastic sabotage of our first date.