In the Dark

Chapter 19 of Banished for Love

The next morning, Jeremy waits with me for Devin in the student lot. I lean against the side of Jeremy’s car, scanning for Devin’s Camaro. I see as he pulls in across the lot from us and set off for his car. Jeremy reluctantly follows, taking firm hold of my hand. Devin pops his trunk for his backpack and looks confused when he finds mine in there as well.

 

“Hey Dev,” I say when we’re close enough to him. His head snaps up in surprise before a grin spreads across his face.

 

“Forget something?” he asks, holding up my Gir backpack. I take it from his hand and sling it over my shoulder.

 

“Yeah, thanks,” I reply with a smile. Jeremy shifts uneasily beside me.

 

“I’ll see you in second hour,” Devin says stepping up to kiss my cheek before walking into school.

 

I shake my head to clear the shock and glance up at Jeremy warily. He is glaring at Devin’s back, nostrils flaring slightly.

 

“Come on,” I give his hand a squeeze and pull him toward Mr. Higgins’ class.

 

“I do not like him,” Jeremy says vehemently.

 

I sigh heavily. “I know.”

 

***

 

Jeremy’s Point of View

 

I sit in fifth hour, waiting for the bell to ring and silently hoping Devin had decided to ditch class. He hadn’t stolen Kelsey away today, seeing as she was still in third hour and at lunch earlier. Unfortunately, just as the bell is ringing, Devin strolls into our English class and takes the only open seat; right in front of me. I sink back in my chair and retreat to work on my research paper.

 

“Sup dude,” Devin says coolly a few minutes later. I snap my head up to glare at him; he only smiles back.

 

“Seriously? You’re trying to steal Kelsey from me and you think I want to chat with you? How thick could you get?” I reply irritably.

 

“I’d say I’m a little past ‘trying’ to steal her,” he responds cockily.

 

“It’s not like she’d choose you over me anyway,” I scoff dismissively, turning my attention back to my paper.

 

“I dunno. I can tap into the darker parts of her that you don’t even know exist. Being with you has put a huge target on her back. With me, she could be safe.” My clenched fists begin to shake and I get the urge to punch him. Then some of what he'd said actually sinks in.

 

“What do you mean I’m putting a target on her back?” I ask cautiously.

 

Devin leans toward me and lowers his voice. “It’s not every day an angel escapes Satan’s clutches, especially since she also got away with you. He’s pissed, and he wants her back,” an evil glint flashes through his eyes and my heart stalls in my chest.

 

“You’re working with him," I whisper, horrified. "Well good luck getting her to trust you when she finds out.”

 

“Oh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you. I’d really rather leave your life out of this. Kelsey wouldn’t be too happy if I were to beat you into a coma. Plus, she won’t believe you anyway. She’d just think you were having another jealous rant,” he replies, grinning wickedly. 

 

My heart falls through to my feet as I realize he’s probably right. I’ve let my feelings toward him get too heated up to this point without the reasoning I now have. It would just seem like jealousy taking over. There’s nothing I can do to warn her. I shake my head, determination setting in, I still have to try.

 

***

 

Devin’s Point of View

 

As I walk to our shared sixth hour, I keep close behind Jeremy. Once we turn into a deserted hallway, I spring forward at him, pressing him up against a wall.

 

“Hey man what gives?” Jeremy says angrily, shoving against my chest with surprising strength for a human, but not strong enough to budge me.

 

“Just to be safe, how about I make it so that you can’t reveal my secret to Kelsey.” Jeremy’s eyes widen and he begins to squirm under my grip. I look into his eyes and slip easily into his mind. I rewire some things so that any time he tries to tell Kelsey my secret, he physically can’t. I slip back out of his mind and release my hold on him.

 

“There, that ought to do the trick,” I say with satisfaction as he doubles over against the wall, looking dizzy and vaguely green. I turn on my heel and continue down the hall to class.

 

***

 

I sit in sixth hour, waiting for Jeremy to get here and class to start. He and Devin walk in at the same time, trying hard not to be near each other. They come into the room and sit down, Jeremy on one side of me, Devin on the other. I sink down into my seat and sigh. Great, I've been plunked squarely in the middle of a love triangle.

 

Ms. Karlton’s lesson on DNA replication does little to keep me occupied, considering I am already proficient in it, so I let my mind wander. A few minutes later, a note lands on my desk. I look over at Jeremy, but he is fully immersed in the lesson. I glance to Devin, who is watching me and smiling crookedly. His eyes dip to the note in my hand and back up to my face, indicating I should open it.

 

I don’t think your boy Jeremy likes me very much.

 

I write back sarcastically. No s**t Sherlock. He knows you kissed me.

 

Devin chuckles as he reads. Don’t pretend it wasn’t mutual.

 

I scowl at the note. Shut up…

 

Devin tries hard to contain his snickering, causing me to blush furiously. I notice Jeremy’s head turn toward me so I look over at him questioningly. He is glaring past me at Devin with pure loathing in his green eyes. I am startled, having never seen Jeremy look so furious. I reach across the aisle and brush my fingers across his cheek. He shifts his eyes to me and the look in them changes to extreme worry. I smile reassuringly at him, wondering what the hell I missed transpire between them, he hesitantly returns it.

 

The note lands back on my desk. Told you so.