First Magic by Raven Steele (ebook reader screen txt) 📖

you?” He bent down and picked up my bag. His dark, intense eyes, peeking out from beneath strands of blond hair, searched mine.

Christian grabbed the backpack from him. “What are you doing here?”

“I forgot something in my locker.” His gaze darted back to me. “Sorry about nearly running into you.”

“It’s fine.” I forced a smile and glanced behind him. Lockers weren’t anywhere near here. They were on the other side of the school.

“So you’re trying out?” he asked me.

May stepped next to me, sizing Matt up while chewing on a nail. “We both did. Pretty sure we killed it.”

“I bet you did.” He smiled, his eyes never leaving mine. “See you around. And let me know if you change your mind about that book group.”

He winked at me as he walked past us and into a darkened hallway.

May groaned a pleasurable sound. “That guy is creepy in all the right ways.”

I had to agree with her. Something about him both scared me and drew me to him. Maybe it was his I-don’t-give-a-shit attitude.

“What do you guys want to do?” May asked, as we walked outside. “Do you want to get something to eat?”

Christian glanced behind us back toward the school, his mouth pinched tight, but when he turned back around, a forced smile replaced it. “I’m game. Llona?”

My stomach growled at the mention of food, like it hadn’t been fed in weeks. “I could eat.”

“Where to?” May asked.

“Wherever you want,” I told her, tapping my fingers against the side of my thigh. Light’s energy had already begun to plague my muscles again.

“Let’s go to Johnny’s. I’m craving a burger.”

Johnny’s was a 1950s-style burger joint, and a popular hangout for high school kids. It wouldn’t have been my choice because it was always packed, but it fit May’s personality. And right now, I wanted a friend, someone I knew I could trust. Craved it even. It had been so long since I’d let anyone into my life.

May glanced over at me from behind the steering wheel of her car. “You’re quiet. You sure you want to go out? We could go back to my place and eat.”

“Or grab food and go to a park,” Christian added from the back seat. The two of them had been talking about movies the whole drive over to Johnny’s. I would’ve joined in, I loved movies, but this social situation felt so awkward to me.

But I should try. I mentally shook out my hands, attempting to drain myself of my nervous energy. “I’m fine. Really. Besides Johnny’s is right here, and they have the most amazing French fries.”

May’s eyes lit up. “Right?”

She pulled into the parking lot and noted all the parked cars. “Looks crowded. Hey, is that Adam’s car?”

Christian leaned forward between us to stare out the windshield. “Where?

I could feel the heat from his body, smell his musky scent. I inhaled deeply and leaned slightly toward him. Something about him felt so comforting. Intoxicating even.

As soon as May parked the car, she jumped out and rushed inside ahead of us. Christian stayed back by me, his hands stuffed into his pockets.

When I opened the door to Johnny’s, the smell of grease and vanilla punched me in the gut, making my mouth water. Surprisingly, there were still a few tables unoccupied. Fifties paraphernalia cluttered the walls, and Elvis Presley bellowed “Heartbreak Hotel” from a lit-up juke box in the corner.

“How many?” a waitress dressed in a poodle skirt and pink top asked. Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail; stray strands from a long day’s work fell to the sides of her flushed face. She looked exhausted.

“Three,” Christian answered.

“Right this way,” the tired woman said.

I tried to think of something to say that might lighten her burden, but I wasn’t used to reaching out.

“We’ll tip her good,” Christian said once we sat down.

“Huh?”

“Let’s leave a good tip for the waitress. She looks burned out.”

“You noticed?”

“Sure. She’s probably a single mom or something. I can’t imagine how hard that would be.” He opened his menu and scanned over its contents.

I stared at him, my mouth open. Who was this guy?

May bounded over with Adam next to her. She was in the middle of telling him about basketball practice. Adam pulled out a chair and sat next to Christian, while May sat next to me.

Just then the front door opened and in walked Mike. I shuddered.

“Hey, Adam!” he called from across the diner. I thought I recognized your car, you big putz.” He waved the waitress out of his face and strolled toward us.

“What are you losers doing?” he joked, even though, to me, he sounded serious. He stole a chair from a nearby table and sat at the end next to May and Adam.

“We just ran into each other,” May said.

“Don’t you guys have anything better to do?” he sneered.

“Don’t you?” I shot back.

He glared at me. “What are you doing here? I didn’t think you had any friends.”

“We just came from Llona and May’s basketball practice,” Christian said, his voice tense. He shifted his weight closer to me on his chair.

“Did Llona fall on her face?” Mike asked. He motioned the waitress over.

“Actually, she was amazing.” Christian’s blue eyes met mine. My heart skipped a beat.

“Whatever. Girls can’t play sports.”

“We can too,” May defended. “In fact, I bet Llona I could waste you at basketball.”

He snorted and laughed out loud. “Girls and their dreams.”

I resisted the urge to kick him under the table.

“What can I get you?” the waitress asked next to him.

“Get me a double burger with extra cheese. And a large Coke,” Mike said, his lips wet with spit. The waitress turned to Adam, but Mike interrupted her. “And by the way, make sure the cook doesn’t drown the burger in ketchup. Last time I got one, I felt like I was drinking the damn thing.”

The waitress nodded, looking even more miserable. She moved around the table taking our orders, but when she got to me, her eyes glistened. Whatever she was going through, I had a strong feeling it went beyond her duties as a waitress.

Her suffering tore at my heart. Instinctively, I reached out and touched her arm wishing I could help. Without warning, Light’s energy passed through me and warmed the skin beneath my palm.

At the same time, I said, “Everything will be okay.”

Worry lines on her face instantly melted away, and her shoulders relaxed as if I’d injected her with melatonin. She smiled. “Thanks. It’s been one of those days.”

“I know what those are like.” I returned the smile, while inside I secretly rejoiced. I couldn’t believe I just did that. It had come so naturally, like learning to walk. I never knew what my mother had meant when she said she could comfort others—now I did.

“I’ll be right back,” Mike said, after the waitress left. He stood and walked over to a girl whose name I thought was Amanda.

“Why does he have to be such a jerk all of the time?” May asked the guys.

“That’s just Mike,” Adam answered. “He’s been like that for as long as I’ve known him. Everyone just ignores him.”

“Well, I think he needs his ass kicked,” May said. “The other day in Mr. Steele’s class—” my head snapped up— “Mike made a girl cry. It was horrible.”

“What did Mr. Steele do?” I asked.

“Gave him detention. He is the nicest teacher.” May’s eyes drifting toward the heavens.

Christian and Adam laughed. “I don’t think the girls like him because he’s nice.”

“He can’t help it if he’s also hot,” May snapped.

Christian turned to me. “What do you think, Llona? Do you think Mr. Steele’s hot?”

May answered for me. “How could she not? I think all the girls in his class are going to flunk. Hard to concentrate with him teaching.”

“So true!” I laughed out loud.

“I could tutor you if you’d like," Christian said to me. "I do okay in math, and since I’m not as hot as Mr. Steele, maybe you’ll be able to learn something.”

“I think you’re hot,” Adam said. He leaned in for a pretend kiss, but Christian shoved him away, laughing.

Ten minutes later, our food arrived bringing Mike back to our table. We dove in, especially me. It was hard to consume enough calories to make up for all the energy I burned.

Through a mouthful, Mike said, “Did you guys see that girl I was talking to?”

“Amanda?” May asked.

“I guess that’s her name. Anyway, she’s going out with me tomorrow night.”

“Why would you want to go out with a girl when you don’t even know her name?” Christian asked.

He grinned and waggled his eyebrows. “Because I hear she puts out. I know she’s kind of chunky, but I’ll try not to look.”

May tossed a French fry at him. “That’s horrible!”