Spellbound - Cara Lynn Shultz [91]
“Brendan, the last thing I want to do is be trapped in a roomful of those people.”
“Then do it for me so I’m not alone with them,” he bargained. “And so maybe you can get some peace from the rumors. If people see that we’re really together…”
“You have a point,” I muttered.
“Look, if they were just talking about me, I wouldn’t care,” Brendan said. “But I don’t want anyone talking about you and if you won’t let me tell them off, then let me do this.”
“Okay, fine,” I conceded begrudgingly. “As long as I’m allowed to go.” And can somehow get a dress to wear. No helpful woodland creatures or fairy godmothers here. Maybe Ashley will lend me something.
“I can’t believe it, but I’m actually looking forward to it now,” Brendan admitted, leaning against a building and pulling me with him.
“Well, I know that I don’t get enough of Kristin Thorn’s bitch-face during the school day, so an extra dose next Friday night will keep me going through the weekend,” I said sarcastically, and Brendan laughed.
“You won’t even see her,” he promised. “You’ll be in the deejay booth with me like a girl in a Jay-Z video.”
“I’m not wearing a bikini and a fur coat to this dance, Brendan,” I warned.
“Damn.” Brendan pouted. “Not even some booty shorts?”
“Isn’t this a semiformal?”
“So?”
“And it’s November?”
“Oh, I’ll keep you warm,” he teased, tucking his fingers underneath my chin and raising my lips to meet his. And the minute our lips touched, all my concerns about school faded into nothingness.
I had to hand it to Brendan; his kisses were a better mind eraser than that magic wand thing from Men in Black. We both lost track of time, and had to grab hot dogs from a vendor before running back to school. Still, I nearly floated through my afternoon classes, in a decidedly better mood than I was that morning. I didn’t even let it get to me—much—when I sat alone in chemistry and heard Kristin’s scathing remarks about my hairdo. Her Oompa Loompa skin is a color not seen in nature and she’s making fun of my appearance? I briefly considered attempting a spell, but figured with my luck, I’d end up turning myself into a chicken burrito. Besides, my last—and only—spell was probably only a success because Angelique, a more experienced witch, was with me. So I bit my tongue and toyed with my necklace, reminding myself that I had bigger things to worry about than Kristin.
After the last bell rang, Brendan was waiting for me when I finally made it down to my dungeon locker room after class.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, happily surprised.
“Just stealing a minute with you before basketball practice.” Here I was, worried about myself, when Brendan had more or less gotten one of the best basketball players kicked out of school and had to face his teammates.
“Is that going to be rough?” I asked, embarrassed that I hadn’t even thought to ask before.
“Nah, no one liked Anthony,” Brendan said with a smile. “They’ll probably vote me MVP—you know, when I’m actually allowed to play again.”
I grinned, relieved.
“So give me a kiss—I have to get to practice,” Brendan playfully demanded, bending down to press his lips against mine. It was hard to remember that we were in school—and to restrain myself from winding myself around him in a very un-scholastic way.
“I’ll call you tonight,” he whispered, kissing my neck. “Try to stay awake past sunset.”
The way I was feeling at that moment, I had no doubt I could stay awake past sunset on Thursday.
Ashley met me in front of the school, impatiently fussing with her blue headband.
“So Emma, did you ask about the cousins?” she asked excitedly.
“I’m sorry, I forgot,” I admitted, but vowed to ask Brendan about his cousins next time we were together.
“Good. Holy crap, he’s gorgeous up close,” she breathed excitedly. “I can’t believe you get to kiss him.” I blushed again when she said that.
“I heard he’s deejaying the dance, too.”
“Word travels fast,” I mused.
“It does when it’s about Brendan Salinger,