Forbidden by Syrie James, Ryan M. James Read Free Book Online

they assigned me was filthy and in Siberia.”
    Before Alec could respond, the backstage door swung open and Neil peered at them eagerly. “Was that you guys singing?”
    Claire sprang to her feet. Her heart skipped a beat as she nodded wordlessly.
    A slow smile curved the edges of Neil’s handsome mouth, and there was a twinkle in his eyes. “I could hear you all the way from the lobby. You’re both awesome.”
    “Thanks,” Alec replied, abruptly packing up his guitar.
    Claire’s voice was still firmly lodged in her feet.
    “What a drag that we don’t have a guy’s spot left in Concert Singers this year,” Neil said, before turning his gaze toward Claire, “but Brennan, guess what? We’re short a soprano.”
    Claire could hardly believe he was talking to her, or that he knew her name. She struggled to unearth some words in response. “I—”
    “Do you know how to read music?” he asked.
    Claire nodded.
    “Great! We need you. I’m sure if you audition for Mr. Lang, he could petition to squeeze you in. We meet B track. Do you have a free period at all?”
    “Um, yes. But—” Damn it! She sounded as uncommunicative as Alec.
    “You might have to shuffle your schedule a bit, but please say you’ll do it?”
    Claire paused, dumbfounded. Was this really happening? Was Neil actually insisting that she join Concert Singers? Or was this another hallucination? “When … could I audition?”
    “You’re already warmed up. Why wait? Lang’s in the music room right now.”
    “Okay. Well—” Her heart racing, Claire turned back to Alec to make her apologies and say good-bye.
    But Alec was gone.
    “I’ll tell Mr. Lang not to leave yet.” With that, Neil raced off.
    Claire felt a sudden stab of guilt. Why had Alec left? She hadn’t been talking to Neil that long. But in that brief interval, she’d completely forgotten Alec was there. Did he notice how she’d been drooling over Neil? God, how embarrassing .
    But there was no time to think about it now. Mr. Lang—and Neil—were waiting for her.

six

    S panish III was Alec’s first class the next morning. As he took his seat, he couldn’t shake the image of Claire, sitting across from him on that crate yesterday, singing her heart out. She had been so shy and self-deprecating about it, and then it turned out she had a spectacular voice. For a little while, it was as if a quiet bond had formed between them.
    Then Choir Boy had shown up.
    Alec glanced at Neil, who was sitting on the far side of the classroom. If Neil had sat closer, Alec would have asked him about Claire’s Concert Singers audition. For her sake, he hoped they had accepted her.
    A twinge gripped Alec’s insides as he recalled Claire’s reaction to Neil the afternoon before. Alec frowned, cursing himself for falling into a cliché. A few other girls had made overtures in his direction since school started—perfectly nice girls, from what he could tell—but he had no interest in any of them. He hadn’t expected the whole dating question to come up so soon, but it was one of the parts of this human experiment that intrigued him the most. He wanted to try it.
    So why did he have to fixate on the one girl who clearly had no interest in him?
    He heaved a sigh. This situation, which he’d worked so hard to set up, and had looked forward to for so long, might end up being nothing but an exercise in frustration. He’d be forced to see Claire not just in his other classes every day, but at his locker as well— their locker.
    At that moment, to his complete astonishment, Claire herself darted into the room, out of breath and looking flustered—but still beautiful. Her dark brown hair shimmered with tones of red and gold, even beneath the harsh coolness of the fluorescent lights. He found himself staring at her again, just as he had on the first day they met.
    Claire’s gaze immediately fell on Neil, and a shy, delighted smile crossed her face. Alec pressed his lips together, the twinge in