Cursed by Wendy Owens Read Free Book Online Page A

overwhelming emotions.   As they cleared the rocky path and he stepped onto the sand with that first foot, he felt his heart start racing.   Looking over, he saw the sun shining behind Sophie, her auburn hair blowing out to the side.
    Her close-lipped smile, shining eyes, and slightly flushed cheeks made his heart warm.   He knew in that moment that he was one of the luckiest guys on earth.   Without giving Anthony another thought, he had reached out and grabbed hold of Sophie’s hand.   The day had been full of fun and frolicking along the shores, the waves licking their heels.   It was one of the best memories he had of the summer.
    “Michael told me he thinks the project will take up a lot of my free time as well, but it’s so worth it.   Don’t you think?” Gabe heard Sophie say as he came back to reality.
    Gabe felt flushed with anger again, but didn’t want to ruin this moment for Sophie.
      “Yeah, of course.”   he replied.   Afraid he would no longer be able to contain his anger at Michael, Gabe turned to walk down the hall, calling over his shoulder.   “I better get to class; I wouldn’t want to be late.   We will talk later.”
    “Gabe,” she called after him, but he kept walking as if he did not hear her.
    Gabe was having trouble thinking straight.   All he wanted to do was march straight to Michael’s office and accuse him of the meddling.   A crime in which Gabe was certain he was guilty of.   Gabe knew what it would do to Sophie if she were to find out about Michael trying to keep them apart.   It would devastate her to know she was given that job in an effort to tear them away from one another.   Though he wanted to confront Michael, Gabe decided he would go to his Elementals class and try to suffer through.
    “Hi there, Gabe,” Haim’s voice came from just ahead, down the hall.   As Gabe came closer, he saw Haim standing outside the door of a classroom.
    “Hi, Haim.”
    “How’s your first day of classes going?”
    “Don’t ask.” Gabe returned.
    “That bad?” Haim questioned as he laughed slightly.
    As Gabe came to a stop in front of the classroom, he looked up at the door and double checked his class list.   “Are you in this class?” Gabe asked, hopeful.
    “Yup.   Apparently everyone else overwhelmingly feels you can’t brute force yourself out of every situation, so they all pushed me into taking Elementals.   Waste of time if you ask me, I won’t use it.”   Haim replied, rolling his eyes.
    “Oh come on, Haim, how about keeping an open mind?”   Gabe said with a smirk.
    “Hi there, Gabe,” the small voice of Neru filled their ears as she passed by, waving at Gabe daintily with two fingers.   A moment later, she was gone.
    “Whoa, wait a second.   Who was that?” Haim asked, giving Gabe an elbow to the side.
    “Nobody, just some girl from another class.” Gabe defended.
    “Oh yeah, some girl, huh?   And does Sophie know about this 'some girl’?” Haim heckled his friend.
    “Shut up, Haim!   It’s not like that.” Gabe insisted as he started walking into the classroom.   “Come on; let’s get a seat before we’re late.”
    While Gabe had to admit Neru was attractive, there was only one girl for him.

CHAPTER SEVEN

    The remainder of the day's classes were a blur for Gabe.   His thoughts consumed by Sophie and her sudden tasking with cataloging the new runes from Iron Gate.   Gabe had only been aggravated with Michael after their conversation the other evening.   Now he found himself completely enraged over the idea that he was meddling in Sophie's and his relationship.
    Gabe decided after his final class that he would go by Sophie’s room to apologize for his behavior.   When at last the bell rang, he scooped up his books and darted for the open doorway.   Neru had been in his final class as well, but he hadn’t paid much attention.
    Neru called after Gabe as he rushed out of the room, “Bye, Gabe.”   However, her words