You’re not allowed to touch me, shit-head.
“Mr. Daniels!” the professor shouted, and the ash released me right before I was about to clock him one in the jaw.
Holy hell. I bolted to the bathroom, rubbing my arm.
They weren’t allowed to do that. They couldn’t touch a human without an invitation. Dammit, he had looked ready to eat me or something. Maybe it was feeding time and he’d zoned out. They weren’t supposed to be around us unless they had recently fed. But of course rules were made to be broken. I didn’t trust ash. They weren’t natural.
I shivered, washing my shaking hands. Tessa was crazy if she thought they were something to be desired. Those pulsing eyes were animalistic. I shook myself; I didn’t want to think about it anymore. Returning to class, I was totally ready to glare at that asshole and let him know who was boss. But the ash were gone. My face turned beet red as all eyes rested on me. The professor paid no mind and kept rambling. Reaching my seat, I sank low into it, wanting to disappear.
“What the hell was that all about in class?” Tessa crooned as we walked to lunch. “What did it feel like? Did you orgasm – I heard that when they touch you it’s like a mini orgasm.”
I snorted. “You’re flippin’ crazy, Tessa. You believe everything you hear about them. Did I look like I had a mini orgasm? I was a second away from smashing him in the jaw.”
Tessa sighed again. I was going to have to start thinning out her peroxide. She was losing brain cells far too rapidly.
“So did Professor Jennings kick them out or what?” I chewed my lip. I wanted to go for another run. I was starting to crave it, the pull on my muscles, the wind in my hair, the pumping of my heart. It was an adrenaline rush.
“Nope. The two ash shared a look and then they got up and left.” Her eyes were wide like she was telling me a horror story.
I shrugged. “Good, he broke a rule by touching me without permission. The other one probably went to take his ass back to the Hive, where I hope he’ll stay forever.”
I grabbed an apple and water bottle from the snack cart and sat with Tessa on the lawn outside.
She eyed my food. “You’re joking with the rabbit food, right? Where's my best friend and what did you do with her?”
I snorted. She had a point. I was a total foodie, but lately my appetite wasn’t there.
“Hey, bitches!”
I forced myself not to roll my eyes, but that overly high-pitched voice belonged to Valarie. She bounded across the lawn, her best friend Amber in tow. Tessa and I shared a look. There was definitely a bitch here but it wasn’t us. Amber was okay, but Valarie was like a mosquito, constantly buzzing around with an ulterior motive.
I finally managed to stop rolling my eyes and turned to the girls. They looked similar, long straight bottle blond hair, big blue eyes, fake tanned to the shit, and plastic parts from their rich families.
“Hey, Val … Amber,” I said.
Valarie threw me one of her famous glares. She hated being called Val. And even though Tessa was friends with them, she still grinned at my attempt to annoy the princess. Valarie sat down next to us, smoothing her short skirt over her toned legs. Bitch was perfect but so plastic. No one’s boobs were that perky.
“In honor of my birthday tonight, I’m renting out a large part of Stag. You guys should come.”
I whistled low. Stag was the hottest club in Portland. “That must be costing daddy a pretty penny.” That wasn’t exactly what I wanted to say. That was the nice version.
She glared at me and jumped to her feet. “At least I have a daddy.”
Ouch, the bitch strikes again. Valarie and I barely tolerated each other. I had no idea why Tessa liked her, but it was only because of my friend that I didn’t dropkick Valarie in her perfect teeth.
Tessa elbowed me in the ribs. “We’ll be there. Thanks.”
I glanced at my watch and jumped to my feet. “I have a stats class, so I’ll meet you after and you can talk my ear off about all of the ash you hope to see at the club tonight.”
Tessa also stood, then gave me a wink. “You know me too well.”
I really did. She was an open book, but absolutely solid as a best friend.
I jogged off in the opposite direction, dreading the thought of tonight, but knowing that Tessa definitely needed me to keep her level of stupid to a minimum. One thing was for sure: if there were ash at the club, and one of them grabbed my arm again, I was ripping it off. That was for damn sure.
Chapter 2
Tessa and I hopped on the MAX and took the train downtown. She put a hand on her hip and gave me a sultry look. “How do I look?”
She was wearing a short black fuck-me dress and bright red lipstick.