My Soul to Steal
Page 50
I think you are embarrassed, cause youre afraid to let anyone have even a little taste of yourcandy.
My hand clenched around the strap of my backpack. You sound like a slut.
You dress like a prude.
Whoa, wait a minute. Nash rounded the car in a few steps and grabbed Sabines arm, pulling her away from me, and I had to wonder which of us he was trying to protect. People were watching us outright now, and Nash turned to yell at them, standing firm between me and Sabine. Go on in! Youre not missing anything. I felt the warm brush of his Influencenot directed at me, fortunatelyand probably would have been mad at him for Influencing our classmates, if I werent so busy being furious with Sabine. But his Influence workedit always didand this time no one got hurt. They all just turned and headed for the building, like a herd of human cattle.
When we were no longer the center of attention, Nash turned to Sabine. You were in her dreams again?
Oh, come on. Shes such a tease. Sabine shook her head, like I should be ashamed of myself. Those mommy issues were just crying out for attention.
Stay out of my head, I demanded, just as Nash said, Sabine, you promised!
She turned to him, eyes flashing in anger. I promised I wouldnt try to scare her away from you, and I didnt. It had nothing to do with you this time. She stuck her nose into my private life, so I responded in kind.
Nash turned to me, rubbing his forehead like it hurt. What the hell is she talking about?
Yeah, Kaylee, what could I possibly be talking about? Sabines eyes widened in fake wonder for a second before her gaze hardened into true anger. Why dont you tell Nash where you were last night?
My cheeks glowed like sunset on the horizon of my vision. Kaylee? Nash asked, but I couldnt say it.
Even when I cant see you, I can taste your emotions like a shark tastes blood in the water, Sabine whispered, leaning around Nash to make sure I heard her. You cant sneak up on me. You cant spy on me. I will always know youre there, Kaylee.
My face burned now, and I had nothing to put out the flames.
Someone tell me what the hell you twore talking about! Nash snapped through clenched teeth, as more students paused to eye us before heading into the building.
Sabine crossed her arms over her chest, smug and satisfied. Kaylee pulled the Invisible Man routine in your room last night.
Nash turned to me, suspicion and disbelief swirling slowly in his eyes. Kaylee?
Crap.
Im sorry. I just I wanted to explain, but I wasnt gonna blame it on Tod. Even if it was his fault. I dont get what you see in her, and I wanted to see you both together. I needed to understand. To besure.
To be sure of what? Nash demanded, his voice as low and hard as Id ever heard it. You spied on me to make sure Im not sleeping with her?
She doesnt trust you, Sabine said, like a snake hissing in his ear. And she never will. I cant believe you cant see that.
Nash whirled on her. Shut up! His irises churned with anger, roiling like storm clouds, but it wasnt all directed at her; a good bit of that anger was for me. Its my fault she doesnt trust me. He turned back to me. I know its my fault, but that doesnt excuse this.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, obviously trying to keep a handle on his temper. I cant believe you spied on me. His eyes flew open and his gaze settled on me with a bitter weight. Did it make you feel better? I hope whatever you saw justifies you violating Sabines privacy. And mine.
And just like that, my guilt was overcome by a spark of my own latent rage. Oh, right. Like you can claim the moral high ground here, after everything you did.
Im not claiming anything, Nash insisted. I just thought you were better than that. Better than me. Where were you hiding, anyway? In the closet?
I told you, she was invisible, Sabine insisted.
Nash shook his head. Kaylee cant He stopped, and his scowl deepened with understanding. Tod. Damn it. I take it hes been practicing?
I could only shrug.
Its bad enough that he goes around spying on people, but dragging you into it is way over the line.
Dont blame him, I insisted. I could have said no.
I hear youre good at that. Sabine grinned fiercely, bending to pick up her book bag.
I hear you cant even spell it, I snapped, infuriated by how vulnerable I felt, knowing she knew intimate details of my personal life. Maybe by eavesdropping, Id evened the score a little bit in that respect.
Okay, thats enough! Nash growled. Ive had it with both of you. He pulled his own bag higher on one shoulder and turned to me. You let me know when you decide what the hell you want from me. I love you, and I miss you, and Ill be waiting, whenever youre ready. But dont spy on me again. Ever.
I nodded miserably as he twisted to face Sabine. And you You come find me when youre ready to be my friend, because thats all I have to offer right now. But as badly as I need someone to talk to, I dont need another complication in my life. And as for the two of you He stepped away from us, already walking backward toward the school entrance. Work it out. Or dont work it out. But leave me the hell out of it.
My hand clenched around the strap of my backpack. You sound like a slut.
You dress like a prude.
Whoa, wait a minute. Nash rounded the car in a few steps and grabbed Sabines arm, pulling her away from me, and I had to wonder which of us he was trying to protect. People were watching us outright now, and Nash turned to yell at them, standing firm between me and Sabine. Go on in! Youre not missing anything. I felt the warm brush of his Influencenot directed at me, fortunatelyand probably would have been mad at him for Influencing our classmates, if I werent so busy being furious with Sabine. But his Influence workedit always didand this time no one got hurt. They all just turned and headed for the building, like a herd of human cattle.
When we were no longer the center of attention, Nash turned to Sabine. You were in her dreams again?
Oh, come on. Shes such a tease. Sabine shook her head, like I should be ashamed of myself. Those mommy issues were just crying out for attention.
Stay out of my head, I demanded, just as Nash said, Sabine, you promised!
She turned to him, eyes flashing in anger. I promised I wouldnt try to scare her away from you, and I didnt. It had nothing to do with you this time. She stuck her nose into my private life, so I responded in kind.
Nash turned to me, rubbing his forehead like it hurt. What the hell is she talking about?
Yeah, Kaylee, what could I possibly be talking about? Sabines eyes widened in fake wonder for a second before her gaze hardened into true anger. Why dont you tell Nash where you were last night?
My cheeks glowed like sunset on the horizon of my vision. Kaylee? Nash asked, but I couldnt say it.
Even when I cant see you, I can taste your emotions like a shark tastes blood in the water, Sabine whispered, leaning around Nash to make sure I heard her. You cant sneak up on me. You cant spy on me. I will always know youre there, Kaylee.
My face burned now, and I had nothing to put out the flames.
Someone tell me what the hell you twore talking about! Nash snapped through clenched teeth, as more students paused to eye us before heading into the building.
Sabine crossed her arms over her chest, smug and satisfied. Kaylee pulled the Invisible Man routine in your room last night.
Nash turned to me, suspicion and disbelief swirling slowly in his eyes. Kaylee?
Crap.
Im sorry. I just I wanted to explain, but I wasnt gonna blame it on Tod. Even if it was his fault. I dont get what you see in her, and I wanted to see you both together. I needed to understand. To besure.
To be sure of what? Nash demanded, his voice as low and hard as Id ever heard it. You spied on me to make sure Im not sleeping with her?
She doesnt trust you, Sabine said, like a snake hissing in his ear. And she never will. I cant believe you cant see that.
Nash whirled on her. Shut up! His irises churned with anger, roiling like storm clouds, but it wasnt all directed at her; a good bit of that anger was for me. Its my fault she doesnt trust me. He turned back to me. I know its my fault, but that doesnt excuse this.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, obviously trying to keep a handle on his temper. I cant believe you spied on me. His eyes flew open and his gaze settled on me with a bitter weight. Did it make you feel better? I hope whatever you saw justifies you violating Sabines privacy. And mine.
And just like that, my guilt was overcome by a spark of my own latent rage. Oh, right. Like you can claim the moral high ground here, after everything you did.
Im not claiming anything, Nash insisted. I just thought you were better than that. Better than me. Where were you hiding, anyway? In the closet?
I told you, she was invisible, Sabine insisted.
Nash shook his head. Kaylee cant He stopped, and his scowl deepened with understanding. Tod. Damn it. I take it hes been practicing?
I could only shrug.
Its bad enough that he goes around spying on people, but dragging you into it is way over the line.
Dont blame him, I insisted. I could have said no.
I hear youre good at that. Sabine grinned fiercely, bending to pick up her book bag.
I hear you cant even spell it, I snapped, infuriated by how vulnerable I felt, knowing she knew intimate details of my personal life. Maybe by eavesdropping, Id evened the score a little bit in that respect.
Okay, thats enough! Nash growled. Ive had it with both of you. He pulled his own bag higher on one shoulder and turned to me. You let me know when you decide what the hell you want from me. I love you, and I miss you, and Ill be waiting, whenever youre ready. But dont spy on me again. Ever.
I nodded miserably as he twisted to face Sabine. And you You come find me when youre ready to be my friend, because thats all I have to offer right now. But as badly as I need someone to talk to, I dont need another complication in my life. And as for the two of you He stepped away from us, already walking backward toward the school entrance. Work it out. Or dont work it out. But leave me the hell out of it.
