Page 34 of Wylder & the Rising Rockstar
“Say Logan is awesome sauce.”
“Logan is cheesy.”
“Now you’ve done it.” He ran, carrying her onto the quad.
“Logan! If you don’t put me down I can’t tell you where we’re going.”
“You mean you didn’t bring me here to live your fantasy of breaking into a school building to ravish me?” He set her on her feet.
“No one says ravish, you dork.” She slid her hand into his. “But no, we’re going to the old campus.”
“Old campus?”
She led him around the administration building to where the library stood lit up like a beacon. It was the only building still open at this time of night. “I don’t know how much you know about the academy, but this school is old. Like really old. But the quad and the buildings around it aren’t.” They stepped onto the barely there path that led behind the library.
“I don’t get it.”
“You’ve never explored much of campus, have you?”
“Not really.”
“Well, the old buildings were never torn down. They’re too historic. I was obsessed with this place last year because I was convinced the school had a secret society that met back here. I never found any evidence, but it would’ve been cool, right?”
He nodded as the wrought-iron gates came into view, mostly obscured by the vines twisting around the metal. Wylder left Logan waiting and pried open one of the gates just enough for them to slip through.
Logan remained silent as they stepped onto the old quad, walking across cracked concrete almost completely overtaken by dead grass.
The ruins of the old buildings stood tall around them, looming reminders of past eras. In the dark, it was kind of spooky, but that was what Wylder loved about it.
Logan swept the flashlight around the open space, taking in every part of the old buildings. “How did I not know this was here?”
Wylder shrugged. “You’re oblivious.”
“Why didn’t you show me before?”
“Because I only come in winter.” This was her first visit of the year. Despite the frigid temperatures, it was when this place was at its best for one simple reason.
Logan’s flashlight found their reason. In the center of the quad sat a walled garden, the only part of the old campus still taken care of. “How…” He looked to Wylder.
Black winter flowers dotted the garden in full bloom, seemingly unaffected by the cold or the snow of the days before.
“Come on.” She tugged him closer. “Diego says it’s a seasonal garden so there’s always something in bloom, but winter’s my favorite. Isn’t it beautiful?”
Steam curled in front of Logan’s face as he pushed out a breath. “So, this is where you wanted our first date to be?”
Wylder looked down at their joined hands. “I kind of wanted it to be different, because you and I arenotnormal. This thing between us isn’t normal. You annoy the heck out of me, Logan, but I’d still rather hang out with you than anyone else. It makes no sense, just like flowers blooming in winter.”
“Can we go in?” Logan turned toward the wrought iron gate.
“Definitely.” She pulled him behind her. “It’s warmer inside.”
The garden rested under an enormous iron canopy filled with intricate vines. “It’s heated to help the flowers survive the elements, but all the plants are winter breeds that flourish in colder temperatures.” Wylder didn’t wait for Logan to respond as she released him and pushed through the gate, winding along the path to a cozy bench between two black rose bushes.
When he joined her, Logan set the backpack beside him and draped his arm around her to share his warmth. “I’d rather hang out with you than anyone else too. Just so you know.” He kissed her head. “Even when you’re annoying.”
“I’mnotthe annoying one,” she scoffed.
“But you are the shivering one.”
