Reaper's Novice (Soul Collector #1) by Cecilia Robert Read Free Book Online Page B

choke out the words. My heart thumps so hard inside my chest I’m sure if Rolf wasn’t distracted, he’d see the rise and fall of my T-shirt.
    He blinks. “Schulz?” He shakes his head. “You two were talking. You seemed to get upset. Figured it wasn’t a buddy chat.” I wince as his grip tightens painfully around my hands. “Sorry. I don’t like to see you upset.” He loosens his grip but doesn’t let go.
    I blink, stunned. He thinks Grim was Schulz? Whatever Grim did, I was the only one who could see him as he was.
     My lips begin to stretch into a smile at the realisation, but I stop and clear my throat. “I need to catch up with some PE hours to complete my credits. That is if I need a positive note on my final report form.” Lame. Very lame. If I’m going to play and not get caught in my own lies, I need to step up my game. I hold my breath, waiting for his eyes to narrow and accuse me of lying. Rolf stares at me with an expression bordering on suspicion. Or maybe it’s just my guilty conscious showing its head. I was never one to be nominated for the Glorious Lie Award.
    It’s not a lie.
    What is it if it’s not a lie?
    An excuse?
    I shake my head to clear it. I’m arguing with myself. Wonderful. As if I need my own company when my head is so crammed already.
    I glance around. “We’ll miss our music lesson if we don’t go now,” I say, turning towards the school building.
    Rolf tugs my hand slightly, pulling me back and links his fingers with mine. “Is that why you look devastated? Shouldn’t be a problem to complete a few PE basics, no?” Gah! I should have lied better. “Or is there something else going on?” His voice takes on a hard tone.
    “Of course there’s nothing—” I halt, run over the words again in my head. Is he insinuating… I jerk around so hard pain shoots from my neck, spreading down my spine. “What do you mean by something else going on ?”
    His jaw is clenched, his body rigid, but he doesn’t say anything, just stares at me. Lips I’ve longed to touch with mine since I walked onto this field fifty minutes ago are now pressed tightly in a thin slash.
    I untangle our and take a step back, waiting for him to explain himself. Say something to take away words still buzzing in my ears. Oh, dear Lord! Really? “You can’t be thinking what I think you are.” Heat dashes all over my body, prickling my skin. Right now all I want to do is punch him. “Are you serious, Ro? Me and Herr Schulz ?”
    He’s still staring at me, his eyes frozen chips of steel. “It’s been known to happen. Teachers and students. And you’re beautiful.”
    Gah! I need to blink right now before my eyes dry out. I think I’m about to vomit my heart out.
    He lifts a hand and starts rubbing the back of his neck, now spluttered with red patches.
    Something gathers at the base of my stomach and tickles its way up my throat. Definitely not nausea, it can only be…
    I burst out laughing. I’m starting to think I need professional help. Serious professional help. Wiping the corners of my eyes with my fingers, I blink up at Rolf, taking in the awful glint of his eyes. His paranoia is in direct proportion to his sweetness. Not a pretty thing to see when it roars.
    “I’m not the type, Ro.” My voice comes out harshly, something my laughter didn’t soften. His shoulders hunch as if to protect himself from an oncoming blow.
    I’ve never punched anyone before. But now… now, I want to do it. I’m dying to yell. It’d surely help release the tight knot of frustration lodged somewhere in my chest. Given the storm brewing in Rolf’s eyes, my yelling would also bring out the whole damn cavalry, plus cannon fire, ready to explode from him. If we’re going to fight, better in private.
    “Go to hell, Rolf.” I turn and stalk off.
    I hear him curse, then start after me. “Ana, listen.” I don’t turn around. “ Jesus , Ana. Just stop for a minute.”
    I spin around. “What, Ro? Do you