Chapter Nine
Addie
Carly whistles when she opens my closet. “Am I in clothing heaven? Or am I dreaming?” She peeks out from the open door. “How do you have a wardrobe full of such fine clothes?”
“Um…well…my mom is a seamstress at a clothing boutique and when her boss heard I was coming here, she gave me all this stuff. She said she wanted me to fit in.” I cringe at another lie I’m throwing their way.
Sophie glances up from where she’s reading on my bed. “Meh. Clothes don’t speak to me.”
“Any good tops?” Raven asks as she joins Carly at my closet. “I never have enough tops.”
“You’re all welcome to borrow whatever you want,” I tell them.
“Thanks!” Carly disappears into my closet, squeals in delight, then sticks her hand out and yanks Raven inside with her.
I lower myself on the second bed, silently marveling at how Caleb made it up to appear like it hasn’t been touched. Someone would definitely get suspicious if the bed was untidy.
“So what’s that book about?” I ask Sophie, noticing it’s a different cover. “Another dragon?”
“Nope. This one is a shapeshifter romance.” Her eyes flit across the pages before rising to mine.
“Sorry.” She closes the book. “I don’t mean to bury my head in my books all the time.
I have to meet the kid I’m tutoring soon and I’ve been waiting forever to start this book.
There are just never enough hours in the day to fit in all my reading. ”
“That’s okay. You can read.”
She shakes her head and smiles. “I want to hang out with you guys.” She nods in the direction of my closet. “It’s oddly quiet in there. You think they fainted from pure bliss?”
That makes me laugh. “Let’s give them another five minutes before checking on them.”
I hear someone at the door. For a second, alarm passes through me, but then I figure it must be Caleb.
He’s obviously not going to hang out in my room during the day, so he has no choice but to guard outside.
Although, I have no idea how he’s managing to look unsuspicious just standing outside my room like that. But he has his ways. He always does.
“I died and went to heaven!” Carly cries from inside the closet.
“Looks like they’re alive,” I tell Sophie.
A few seconds later, Raven emerges dressed in a pretty purple top and jeans. She glances down at it and laughs lightly. “I know it might be a little too dressy to wear this to the rec room, but it was so pretty.”
“You look beautiful!” Sophie gushes.
“Thanks.” She looks over her shoulder and calls out, “Carly, let’s get moving before everyone steals the best games. You have time to discover Addie’s never-ending paradise of clothes later.”
“Just a second! I’m torn between two jeans.”
After a few minutes, she finally walks out of the closet in a cute shirt and jeans that look so frickin’ amazing on her.
“Addie, I can kiss you right now.” She stands before my full-length mirror and turns in different directions as she examines herself. “How do I look like I just fell off a runway?”
“Oh my gosh, you both look so gorgeous,” Sophie says.
“Thanks. Are we ready to go?” Carly asks.
As soon as I open the door, my eyes immediately scan the area for Caleb. There are many students flitting about, but I don’t see him anywhere. I can feel his presence, though. He’s probably hiding behind a statue or plant or in a darkened area.
“What are we looking at?” Carly asks as she sticks out her head.
“Bugs?” Sophie sticks out her head, too. “There are no bugs in here. Or mice. Well, other than the time when this girl called Henrietta claimed she saw a mouse.”
“That was just an excuse to get out of the test she forgot to study for.” Raven also sticks her head out. “So what exactly are we looking at? ”
I notice a shadow down the hallway. It’s definitely Caleb. I know I’m not supposed to feel bad because this is his job, but he’s just a kid like me. Why can’t he live a normal teen life?
“Addie?” Carly asks.
“Sorry. I was just curious what the students do after classes. Do most go out?”
“Some,” Raven says as we leave my room and I close the door. “Some do homework, some hang out in their rooms. Some just hang out around campus.”
Since Sophie has tutoring, she tells us she’ll catch us later—reminding me not to forget we’re meeting up later—and heads up the stairs to the student’s room.
As the rest of us walk down the hallway, I see the shadow move.
And when we’re at the exit, I peek behind me long enough to spot Caleb trying to sift through the throng of students to keep up with us.
I turn around and pretend not to see him, because that’s what he wants me to do.
I’m not supposed to draw attention to him.
Carly and Raven lead me out of our dorm and toward the rec room building. I assumed the place would be packed with students fighting over the TV and games, but it’s pretty empty.
“Do kids here not like recreational activities?” I ask as we enter the room.
“Usually the kids who drive go out to more exciting places than stay here,” Raven explains as she drops down on one of the black sofas. “Other kids prefer to game or watch TV in their rooms. But when it rains? The place is packed.”
I sit down next to her and gasp in surprise when I nearly sink into the sofa. “Oh, wow. This thing is so soft and comfy.”
“Yay! They fixed it.” Carly rushes over to a dance machine.
“No way! They got the latest version. Oh my gosh, I thought I would have to go to the arcade to play this.” She spins around and faces us.
“Who wants to challenge me? Ladies and ladies, I call for a challenger! Oh come on, is everyone too chicken to take on the great and mighty Dance Queen Carly?”
“You know you’ll whip our butts,” Raven says. “Well, mine. I don’t know how good of a dancer you are, Addie.”
“Uh…I’m not the best, but I guess I’m okay.”
Raven grabs one of the video game controllers. “I asked the school yesterday to buy the latest Zelda game…aha, yes!”
“Addie, want a dance-off?” Carly asks.
“What does the winner get?” I ask.
“Bragging rights?”
“Is that all?”
“Want my chocolate stash?” she offers.
“ Yes .”
“Then you’re going down!”
I’m about to get up, but Caleb walks into the room and marches over to the pinball machine. I guess he figured it was useless for him to guard outside when he could hang out in here. His eyes meet mine for a second before he yanks them away and starts the game.
“Are you chicken, Addie? Bawk, bawk, bawk.” Carly proceeds to bend her arms and cluck like a chicken.
“Okay, okay,” I say as I join her at the dance machine. “Best of three. If I win, I get your chocolate stash. If you win…uh, what do you want?”
“Bragging rights is enough for me. Let’s go!”
I used to play this game all the time with my old friends, so I’m pretty good at it. But I’m no match for Carly. Not only is she really quick on her feet, but she’s an amazing dancer. And she doesn’t even break a sweat.
“Awesome job, Carly,” I tell her. “You’re amazing.”
With a beam, she bows. “Thank you, thank you. Next round.”
Now that I’m more familiar with Carly’s dance moves, we’re more evenly matched. She’s pretty competitive, and so am I. I doubt I could be a talented dancer like her, but I’ll be darned if she demolishes me. So I try my hardest to put up a good fight.
As I’m doing the moves, I feel someone watching me.
I ignore it because I figure it’s Raven.
But then the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
I shift my gaze to Caleb and find him still standing at the pinball machine.
But his attention isn’t pinned on the game.
It’s fastened on me. His eyes are so intense that I stumble over my feet and totally mess up my dance move.
“You okay?” Carly asks as she keeps focus on her moves.
“Yeah, I’m cool. Thanks.”
I continue dancing, my gaze once again traveling to Caleb. I assumed he would focus back on his game, but no. His eyes are still attached to me. It’s almost like he can’t seem to remove them from me. Almost like he’s in a trance or something.
Would it be weird to admit that him watching me causes butterflies to flap around in my stomach?
“Yes!” Carly cheers. “I win.” She offers me a huge smile, holding out her hand. “Good game, Nelson. You’re a really good dancer.”
I throw my arms around her. “You’re so amazing, Carly. It would be a crime for you not to have a career in dance.”
“Tell that to my dad.”
I step away and lift a brow. “He doesn’t want you to pursue dance?”
“No, he does. He knows it’s been my dream since I was a little kid. But he wants me to keep my options open. You know, because I’m at this prestigious school and have the world in the palm of my hand. But my heart is married to dance.”
“You guys were both incredible!” Raven says. “Addie, you definitely posed a great challenge for Carly.”
“Thanks.”
Carly and I sit next to her on the sofa.
Without my permission, my eyes move in the direction of the pinball machine.
Caleb isn’t there anymore. Actually, he’s not in the room at all.
I know he didn’t abandon me because he needs to be close at all times.
He probably stepped outside or something.
Maybe my dancing was so horrendous that he had to bolt?
Ugh, why does that even matter?
“Anyone want to co-cop Mario with me?” Raven asks.
I’m about to tell her that I want to, but I’m distracted by the group of kids who just walked in. It’s Warner with Clarissa and a few other popular kids.
When he notices me, he smiles and walks over, flashing a charming smile. “Hey, Addie. You’re here.”
“Hi, Warner. Yeah, I am,” I say with a nervous laugh.
“Cool. Do you want to play pool?” He nods to the large pool table to our right.
“I’ve never played pool before, but sure.”
Carly sends me a thumbs up as I get up and follow Warner to the pool table. He hands me a cue stick and teaches me the rules. It seems simple enough.
I notice his friends, and especially Clarissa, watching us. Most of them don’t seem to care that Warner is hanging out with me, but Clarissa and some of the others look confused. Like why would Warner slum it with a scholarship student like me?
“Ready, Addie?” he asks.
I tear my gaze away and nod.
He goes first and manages to sink two balls. When it’s my turn, I actually sink three balls.
“Oh, wow!” I say.
“Must be beginner’s luck.” He winks.
Is he flirting with me?
We spend the next few minutes playing the game.
Whatever beginner’s luck I had has completely vanished because I play terribly for the rest of the game.
While aiming my stick at the ball, I once again feel eyes on me.
Did Caleb return? When I turn my head to the pinball machine, I learn two guys are playing the game.
I twist my neck around, searching for him.
Then I find him at the corner of the room where some older arcade games are.
Caleb’s focus isn’t on me. It’s on Warner.
Based on his expression, it appears like he wants to do nothing more than throw me over his shoulder and flee away with me to my dorm room.
I try not to roll my eyes. Does he still think Warner is a threat?
He’s been going to this school since the first day of freshman year.
“You did good, Addie,” Warner tells me with a smile.
“For a newbie?” I ask.
“For anyone.”
“Thanks.”
He bobs his head toward something in the distance. “Have you tried the claw machine? Some kids think it’s rigged, but I won a prize once, in freshman year. I’ve been trying ever since.”
“Sure. I love stuffed animals.”
“You need to play with real quarters, though,” he warns me. “I think all the money goes to charity.”
He leads me toward the machine, but Clarissa blocks our path. She smiles sweetly at Warner before shifting her green eyes to me. “Who’s your friend, Warner?”
“Hey, Clarissa. This is Addie Nelson. She’s new. Addie, this is Clarissa Thomas.”
“It’s so sweet how welcoming you are to the new students, Warner,” she says with what is an obvious fake and exaggerated smile. “I hope you’re enjoying yourself at our school, Abby.”
“Addie,” I correct .
She steps back and scans me from top to bottom. A slow scan that I know is purposely designed to make me feel less than her.
“Your outfit is so cute. Where do you shop?”
Is she trying to insult my clothes? Because if she knew these clothes were bought at a store she probably shops in, she’d fall off her chair.
“I’m not sure,” I say. “My personal shopper picked it out for me.”
Her jaw falls open. Based on her expression, she has no idea if I’m being serious or not.
Warner chuckles. “You’re funny, Addie.”
“Yes, so funny.” Clarissa clutches his arm. “You were supposed to come to my room so we could do that thing we were doing.”
His brows dip. “The what we were doing?”
“You know.” She gives him a flirty smile. “The stuff we were doing?”
“Oh, you mean the project. It’s due next week, right? We should really get started on it.” He gives me an apologetic smile. “Maybe we’ll hang out another time.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I try to say, but she is already hauling him away.
Carly rolls her eyes at me when I return to the sofa. “Don’t pay attention to Witch Clarissa. She can’t stand when other people are happy.”
“But she’s interested in Warner, right?” I say as I reach for the second controller and join Raven’s game. “Do I need to back off from Warner?”
“Does she rule the world?” Carly asks.
“No, but she might rule the school.”
“She’ll make your life miserable either way,” Raven says. “Might as well try to do whatever makes you happy.”
“And Warner is a good guy,” Carly reminds me. “He wouldn’t care what Clarissa says.”
“Well, we’re getting way ahead of ourselves,” I say as Raven and I play the game. “Who said he’s even interested in me?”
“He is,” Carly insists. “But in any case, you should be careful. He’s still one of the richest guys at school and you’re a scholarship kid.”
“If Sophie were here, she’d say ‘love conquers all,’” Raven says. “But life’s not always a book.”
“I guess we’ll see.” I lean back in my seat and smile at the thought of a cute guy being interested in me.