Carrier of the Mark (17 page)

A smile crossed his face, but his focus was beyond me, out the window toward the school.

“Looks like Caitlin’s a better friend than you imagined. I’d say she’s ready to forgive and forget.”

I followed his gaze and saw Caitlin standing inside the gates on the green. “Caitlin,” I squeaked.

We got out of the car and he took my hand again as we walked toward the school. People were looking at us, but I couldn’t care less. I went straight up to Caitlin, grinning at her wide eyes.

“Hey,” I said. “I’m so happy you’re here. You’re the best.”

“I know,” she replied, never taking her eyes off Adam.

“I’ll see you in class,” Adam said, giving me a quick kiss. He turned to Caitlin with his most captivating smile. “Thanks for understanding.”

“Sure,” she mumbled as Adam walked away.

I turned back to her with an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry about last night! I got carried away and didn’t realize how late it was.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’d have dumped me too if I was on a romantic date with
that
! But I need details! You owe me that much.”

“That I do,” I agreed, laughing, thrilled to be forgiven.

“Thank goodness we have maths today, since I have you all to myself in that class. Too bad I have to wait through three other classes! Now come on or we’ll be late,” she said, grabbing my sleeve.

We ran to our first class and made it just in time. Adam was there sitting in the second row with two seats beside him. He surreptitiously tapped the one closer to him and I rushed to claim it. Caitlin gave me a meaningful look and sat in the seat on the other side of me. Jennifer turned around and took in the seating arrangement with wide eyes. Then she half smiled and flicked her hair over her shoulder as she turned around to face the front of the class again. Adam seemed to be enjoying the attention.

Finally, fourth period rolled around, and Caitlin and I headed to math. I couldn’t wait to tell her everything.
Well,
almost
everything
.

Caitlin was eager to get me to class early, so we could talk before we had to resort to writing notes. She ushered me into the back row. As I sat down, my stomach twisted a little. I wasn’t looking forward to lying to my best friend. It was made so much worse when her excited eyes looked at me and she smiled her gorgeous, open smile.

“Well?” she prompted, waiting for the floodgates to open.

“I don’t know where to start,” I replied honestly.
I guess lying by omission isn’t as horrible as all-out lies
.

“Start with how on earth you ended up arriving at the party with Adam!”

After everything that had gone on yesterday, I had completely forgotten about the egg attack on Saturday night. I retold the story about the boys, of course carefully edited, leaving out the part about me actually creating the tornado that ripped through the lane.

She started laughing. “I heard Blánnaid Flynn telling a story about her boyfriend, Tom O’Donnell, and his friend Mick. Apparently, they were found walking around the town all bloody and windswept, saying Adam used voodoo on them.” Suddenly she stopped laughing. “He didn’t, did he?”

“Definitely not. Adam arrived after that freakish wind kicked up.”

“It’s weird. There was no wind like that down at the bonfire.”

“Yeah, really weird. I couldn’t believe it myself,” I said, not quite meeting her eyes.

“Tom and Mick had been drinking cider since dinner, the idiots.” Caitlin frowned. “They must have been smoking something stronger too, if you ask me, with the stories they were telling. They made such eejits of themselves, everyone’s laughing at them, and Blánnaid even broke up with Tom over it. If her dad heard about what happened, she would be in serious trouble. Did they scare you?” she asked, concerned all of a sudden. “I shouldn’t have let you walk on your own.”

“No. Don’t worry about it. They were just acting like drunk morons,” I reassured her.

“Well, they won’t be bothering you ever again. They’re so freaked out.”

Just then Miss Moore, the math teacher, walked into the room along with the stragglers late for class, and Caitlin and I moved our conversation to paper.

That was totally true. I’d let her take from it what she liked.

I flushed and caught her eye. She took the paper back.

Time now for some serious editing. I thought for a moment, my pen hovering over the paper.

I felt like that sounded casual enough. If I told her the truth about how intense our relationship was she would think I was crazy.

“Caitlin, have you something you would like to share with the class?” Miss Moore inquired, peering over her glasses.

“No, Miss Moore,” Caitlin said sweetly, as she hid the sheet under her book.

We both tried to look suitably interested for the rest of the period.

As we walked to geography class, Caitlin gave me a play-by-play of her weekend. Killian joined us at one point and Caitlin nearly exploded with happiness. I was so excited for her, and I was thrilled the spotlight was off me for a little while. It was a relief to have a break from lying. Then, when we got to the door, there stood Adam leaning against the wall, smiling at me. I had to use every ounce of my willpower to stop from diving into his arms. I seriously had to get control of my emotions—and fast; otherwise I was going to flunk my exams. I forced myself to pay attention to the teacher, but I couldn’t help feeling hyperaware of Adam’s very warm and muscular thigh right next to mine.