Page 100 of Mistaken Magic

Chapter Forty-One

Istayed inKeir'sroom for another hour.Beforewe left,Imade a point of messing up my hair, which made him laugh.Then, just to keep the ruse we now had going,Ireached over and unbuttoned the top of his shirt before wiggling my fingers through his hair.Witha groan,Keirtried to smooth it back into place, butIgrabbed his hand and tugged him toward the door before he could fix it.

Helaced his fingers with mine the moment we reached the hall, because it was crowded.Guysleaned against walls, doors were open and people called through them to the room across the hall.Naturally, we got noticed.Idid my best to act likeIdidn't care, andKeirsmirked as he escorted me to the elevator.

Iexpected him to leave me there.Instead, he rode all the way down and walked me through the atrium and to the girl's side.Itwas the most visible way from one side to the other, andIhad a feeling part of this was for anyone watching.They'dsee a cute if shy couple.Whenhe offered to take me up to my room,Iwaved him off, making it clearIwanted to break this toAspenon my own.Henodded and stepped back, but there was a look in his eye which proved he wasn't completely faking this.

Theguy liked me.Me!Weird, boringLorraine.Thefoster girl who was never cool.Somehow,I'dended up at the most elite schoolIcould imagine, andI'dfallen in with the least likely group ever.Iwanted to joke around and say magic had to be involved, butIwas pretty sure it wasn't.Mostly.

ButwhenIwalked into my room,IrealizedAspenwasn't alone.Thesound of guys' voices ruined my plans to explain everything.Nomatter how close she was with her brother,Ididn't want to do this in a crowd.Instead,Iheaded to the bathroom to wash my face, but her door was open.Wilderturned, catching my movement.

"Rain'sback," he said.

SoIpeeked my head intoAspen'sside. "Hey.Iwas just going to get comfy."

Sheimmediately hopped up and hurried over. "I'msorry the guys were jerks at dinner," she said when she reached me.

Icaught her arm. "It'sfine, but um, when you're done hanging out,Iwanted to talk.Nota rush.Canwait until tomorrow."

"Youcan come hang out if you want..."Shetilted her head back in a clear invitation.

Ijust shook my head. "Ikinda have a lot to think about.Keirtold me aboutHarper."

Shenodded. "Ican come over when the guys are gone, if you want?"

"Yeah,"Idecided, catching her hand. "Andthere might be rumors."

Asmile claimed her lips. "Trueones?Becauseyour hair looks like a bad case of bed-head."

"No!"Iinsisted. "Imean, it was supposed to.Kindathe reason for the talking thing."

"Yeah."Sheshifted her fingers to hold mine. "Soyou know,Isorta want to kiss you right now, but turn around andIcan at least get your zipper."

Iturned, and she lowered it just far enough for me to do the rest on my own.WhenIturned back around,Idecided to just go for it.Leaningin,Ikissed her.Itdidn't feel graceful or elegant.Intruth,Ifelt stupid as all fuck, butIstill did it.Aspenquickly caught the side of my face with her other hand, and then her lips parted.

Thefirst time our tongues touched, it felt like a zing of electricity.Ismiled against her mouth and her hand slid against my cheek.Soft.Tender.Justa cautious moment of affection, butIfelt like my insides had turned to jelly and butterflies were pinging around at light speed inside me.

"I'llkick them out soon," she promised, the words whispered against my lips.

Therewas another one of those sparks shooting right up my spine.Whywas being with her so different?Soamazing and wonderful.Itfelt exciting and dangerous, but in the best way.Justbeing nearAspenmade me want to smile, and kissing her?Iwas a giddy, nervous wreck and loving it.

"Ihave a feeling they'll figure out how to stay well past curfew,"Iwarned. "Justdon't get in trouble, ok?"

"Wenever get in trouble," she promised. "Andyou're welcome to change your mind.You'reone of us,Rain.I'mnot sure how, but we all agree on that.You'rea part of the court."

Itook another step back without releasing her fingers, our arms stretching between us. "Explainthat to me later, ok?"

"Promise," she said, finally pulling her hand free.

WhenIstepped into my room,Iclosed the door behind me, butImade sure it wasn't locked.Ialso did a stupid little dance of excitement.Ifucking liked this girl.Somehow, she made me feellikeIwas on top of the world.Andyet liking her was completely different from liking a guy.

WhileIchanged into my sleep shorts and a tank,Ithought about why.ThemomentKeirhad leaned me back onto his bed popped into my mind.Hewas strong, big, and powerful.WhenIwas around him,Ifelt delicate and pretty.TouchingAspenwas easier, less intimidating, and actually felt safer.Therewas a happiness to being around her.Itwas definitely a thrill, but a different flavor than being nearKeir.

Touchingher was soft.Talkingto her was easy.Beingaround her made me feel seen, but not physically.Itwas as if she saw the real me, not just my tits or ass.Likethings between us were a little deeper than guys usually went for.Moreemotional, maybe?

Thenthere wasTorian.Hemade my pulse race, but it was always caught between anger and intimidation.Somehow, he always knew the right way to get under my skin.Wasthat lust or frustration?Theguy was as beautiful as they came, with his dark hair and neon eyes.Icrawled into bed trying to figure it all out.

Hawkewas sexy, but in a more brutal way.Hisfeatures were sharp, and "pretty" wasn't a word that sprang to mind with him.Hewas ripped, though.Muscledmore obviously than the others - evenKeir.Wilderwas the opposite.Hisdark skin was so smooth it looked impossible, like he had a perpetualInstagramfilter on.Whilehe was fit, his build reminded me more of a dancer or swimmer.Theguy was nothing but elegance.

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