My Soul to Keep
Page 40

And Sophie, of course. Her conspicuous absence only fanned the flames of the rumor bonfire consuming the school, and for the first time, she found herself tied to a stake at the center of the blaze, condemned to burn alongside me.
I couldnt really blame her for skipping school. Especially considering she had no idea what had really happened between me, Scott, and Nash. For all I knew, shed actually bought the load of crap Laura was shoveling.
Just ignore them. Emma glared across the room at a couple of juniors whispering and staring at me while they waited for test booklets. Their own lives arent interesting enough to warrant gossip, she said, loud enough for the whole class to hear.
Mrs. Knott frowned and cleared her throat, and Emma avoided her eyes as she flipped open her test. But as soon as the teacher turned away, Em kicked my chair softly to regain my attention. Im really worried about Doug, she whispered. He didnt show up for his English midterm this morning. Ever since Scotts freakout at school, shed been watching Doug closely for signs that he was headed down the same path. Hes hardly eating anything. And this is going to sound stupid, but his hands are always cold.
I tried to smile and calm her down. She couldnt help him, so worrying would do her no good. Im sure that doesnt mean anything, Em. Nashs hands are usually freezing, and hes
No. I closed my eyes and swallowed thickly. It was a coincidence. Nash wasnt using. He was helping me get rid of frost for good. He knew how dangerous it was, and he was just as repulsed by the thought of sucking hellion breath as I was.
But Doug was using, and it would kill him.
I hadnt told Emma the truth about the Demons Breath, even after what happened with Scott, because Dad and Harmony agreed that the less she knew, the safer shed be from Everett and his Netherworld supplier. But watching her now, forehead wrinkled in concern for the first high school guy shed shown any interest in, I couldnt help thinking that Dad and Harmony were wrong this time.
I knew better than most that ignorance was neither blissful nor safe, and it didnt seem fair to put Emma through what Id suffered. Especially considering that Scott had turned out to be dangerous on Demons Breath.
What if Doug did, too?
Em, I need to tell you something. Her brows rose, and she nodded, but then Mrs. Knott walked down the aisle between us and Id lost my chance to speak. The test had begun. After class, I mouthed, then turned my attention to my midterm.
Unfortunately, Doug was waiting for Emma after class, and she waved to me apologetically as she wrapped one arm around his waist, promising shed catch me at lunch.
At first, I was surprised that Doughadnt asked me what happened to Scott. Until I noticed the half-eaten candy bar in his fist as they walked off. He held it without the wrapper, and despite his tight grip, the chocolate wasnt melting against his skin. He was frosted, and probably not thinking about anything but staying that way.
Tods hospital shift started at noon, so Id fully expected him to pop into class during one of my early midterms, demanding to know what hed missed when I couldnt possibly answer him. But I didnt see him all morning, and I couldnt help wondering why he was never around during his off hours, but would skip out on work to come bug me and Nash.
By eleven-thirty, my morning overdose of caffeine had worn off and I wobbled on my feet, flinching when I caught myself against the wall with my bad arm. Id survived my first three midtermsthough I couldnt swear Id aced themand had three still to go. But after only twelve hours of sleep over the past three days, I could barely spell my name right, and passing the remaining tests seemed like a long shot, at best.
So during lunch, Nash and I snuck out of the cafeteria and into the parking lot, where I slept in the reclined seat of my rental car while he devoured a cafeteria cheeseburger and crammed for his physics test, ready to wake me if I so much as hummed in my sleep.
I jolted awake thirty-eight minutes into our forty-five-minute lunch period, sitting straight up in the drivers seat with Nash staring at me like Id just recited the U.S. presidents in my sleep. An ability which probably would have come in handy during my history test.
What happened? I blinked, confused, until I remembered I was still at school, in a car I hadnt completely gotten used to yet. Was that why I felt sodisoriented? But exhaustion couldnt explain why Id evidently sat up in my sleep.
Nashs eyes churned steadily with fear and with some emotion I couldnt quite identify, and as I watched, his irises began to settle as he got a handle on the scare Id obviously given him. You were making weird noises. So I woke you up.
I was? I didnt remember having any dreams at all, much less the horrifying, recurring death dream. But something had obviously happened, and it had clearly scared the crap out of Nash.
In spite of my rudeand oddawakening, the short nap helped more than Id thought possible. Or maybe that was the Mountain Dew Nash handed me as we walked back into the building, just in time for fifth period. Drink fast and work hard, he said, giving me the sweetest, peppermint-scented kiss on the nose. Ill see you in the gym after school.
He was trying really hard to make up for our fight the day before, and the caffeine fix was good for several bonus points.