The Island Curse

Jealousy

"Excuse me," I hissed, my teeth clenching so hard it made my jaw hurt, which in turn made the headache grow worse. "But you nearly drowned me the first day I met you. I'm not sure you can go calling anyone trouble."

Tara said nothing, nor did she act surprised. I'd not mentioned the incident to her. Either she was good at hiding emotions when the situation called for it, or Kieran had spilled the beans. Kieran, for his part, winced as if I'd struck him physically. He looked to my forehead and frowned.

"Those healed quickly." His fingers moved along my cheek and stopped just above my neck. "The rest are gone?"

"For the most part," I lied. They were completely gone. Even the one I'd suspected needed stitches. They were gone when I awoke the morning after my first dip in the pool. Kieran wouldn't know that because I ran from him anytime he approached.

"Fast healer," he said, exchanging his irritation with Ewan for curiosity. His tone softened. "Are you okay, though? You don't look like you feel well. We can skip the party." He sounded almost hopeful.

"Would you two stop trying to get out of the party?" Tara shrieked, drawing attention from everyone in the coffee shop.

"I'll go," I groaned, "if only because I will then have a valid reason to not attend one again."

"Kieran?" Tara looked at him expectantly.

"You know I hate them."

"Ewan will be there."

A cloud crossed his face. "Fine."

"You're absurd," I snapped, grabbing my things and shoving them into a bag. "I'm going for a walk. Tara, I'll be back in time to go home with you."

She wagged her pencil at me. "Go ahead. Niko is supposed to show up in a bit."

I made a point to call out a goodbye to Ewan before exiting the coffee shop, but as I expected, Kieran was hot on my heels. "Isla, wait up."

"Afraid I might meet someone out here that you don't approve of?"

"I'm sorry for that back there."

I whirled around, my braid nearly catching him across the face. He halted, wide eyed and waited for me to speak. Overhead, thunder rumbled, and the first drop of an afternoon rainstorm struck my nose.

"What is with the caveman routine?"

"What do you mean?"

"That back there? You really had to calm yourself down over the thought of Ewan touching me?"

Kieran grabbed me by the arm, his grip light to keep from hurting. I let him pull me into an alleyway, but I remained silent. He needed to explain himself and fast. Or I was going to start walking again, and I wasn't slowing down.

He gripped his messy curls in one hand while he paced. "Look, I'll explain that mess, but then yer going to explain something to me. Deal."

I had nothing to explain. "Deal."

"I'm not trying to be an arse. McDuff really isn't someone you want to mess around with. There are...accusations going around that he drugged a girl at a party. He would've raped her if he hadn't been interrupted. Of course, he claimed he was just trying to help her when she got sick, but she says she doesn't remember drinking anything but the one drink he gave her."

"Oh god," I said, my hand flying to my mouth. The same one he'd kissed back there, and now instead of butterflies, I felt as if spiders were crawling across my skin.

"Exactly," he said, moving into my space. Completely absent was the regulated breathing, now his chest heaved as he struggled to gain control of himself. "His family is influential around here. They own several main businesses around here, and people don't do anything to piss them off. The girl-"