Fire & Ice

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Several months later

Journal Entry:

It's finally here. Today is Portia's sixteenth birthday.

***

Leaning against my motorcycle, I tried to remain calm when I saw Shelly's outrageous pink Mustang convertible pull into the parking lot. Today was Portia's birthday. Would anything be different between us? Would she feel me the same way I could feel her? I was both excited and terrified to find out. What if nothing changed? What if she told me to get lost?

I'd made up my mind not to try and approach her mentally. I didn't want to scare her and I knew her parents hadn't told her anything yet. She wasn't aware of it, but she would be introduced to the coven this evening. As of tonight, she'd know all the secrets I'd been hiding from her too...well, some of them anyway. Would she still find me attractive afterward?

She was smiling as she exited the vehicle, visiting with Shelly and waving to people who called out happy birthday greetings to her. I didn't take my eyes off her, watching the girls as they made their way through the parking lot.

A bit disheartened, I couldn't tell if anything was different between us. Shelly tipped her head and whispered something to Portia, who immediately glanced right at me. My initial instinct was to look away; I'd been doing it for so long, it was practically a habit. But today was the day I'd been waiting for. I wanted her to know I was interested.

She stumbled slightly and Shelly caught her before she could fall any further. Portia glanced at me one more time, her cheeks reddening before she flew into the building. I couldn't help but smile as I gathered my things and headed toward the school, feeling more relaxed than I had since I'd moved here.

Sedona was still home. I hadn't had to leave, thanks to the efforts of the coven and Sean laying false trails to be followed. Now, the girl I couldn't get out of my head was ripe for the picking; and believe me, I intended to pick.

Nervous energy coursed through me all morning and it showed physically. I was reprimanded for bouncing my pencil on my books, or tapping my foot repeatedly during enforced quiet times in class. I couldn't help it, though. The desire to sneak inside her mind and see if she could hear me was overwhelming. I had to force myself not to. There was no way I was messing this up—not after this long.

When lunchtime arrived, I left campus and went home to grab a sandwich, even though I was tempted to go look for her. I wanted to wait—to approach her tonight. If I could get a few moments alone with her, maybe we could talk a little.

Glancing at the clock, I groaned. It was official. Tonight would never get here because this day was going to last forever.

---

The bell rang. Finally. I grabbed my jacket and headed to the door, eager to dispel some of the building energy inside me.

"Mr. Mangum?" the teacher called, bringing me to a halt. I swung around to look at her. I liked Ms. Costner. She was a good teacher and easy on the eyes too, which always seemed to make science a bit more enjoyable.

"Yes?"

She waited until the last of the students had left the room. "Are you doing okay, today? You seem a bit jumpy or something, which is unusual for you. I wanted to make sure everything is all right."

I grinned. "Thanks. I'm doing fine. Just anxious to meet with someone this evening."

"Oh," she said, surprise lighting her eyes. "You have a date then? Who's the lucky girl?"