Shadowed Strength: Shadowed Series Book One by Wendi Wilson Read Free Book Online

questioning glances her way
when they discussed Scout asking Atticus what “rape” was. Melanie felt eyes on
her, but kept her face down and focused on her note taking.
    After
an endlessly long fifty minutes, the bell finally rang. Mr. Hughes called out a
few last minute instructions for homework and students stood and started
shuffling out of class. Melanie glanced up at him and he caught her eye and
motioned for her to come to his desk.
    Jeremy
walked up with her and stood by her side. After a pointed glance from Mr.
Hughes, who then nodded his head toward the door, Jeremy mumbled something
about waiting for her outside and walked out the door.
    Melanie
watched Mr. Hughes while he organized papers on his desk, put away his pens,
and performed several other menial actions that seemed to serve no other
purpose than to make her wait. She started to fidget and pulled on the hem of
her sweater. This caught his attention and he froze, staring at her hand
twisting and pulling the garment. Realizing her ministrations were baring a
narrow band of her bare belly, she dropped the hem of her sweater and fisted
her palms by her side. This broke his trance and he raised his gaze to her face
with a shake of his head.
    He
still didn’t speak, so she asked timidly, “You wanted to see me, sir?
    “Yes.
I heard what happened this weekend and I just wanted see if you’re okay.”
    “Yes,”
she replied with a slight tremor in her voice. “I’m good.”
    “Good.”
He pressed his palms together and formed a steeple with his long, tapered
fingers under his chin. “Do the police have any leads? Do they know who
attacked you?”
    “Um,
no. Not yet.”
    Mr.
Hughes was making Melanie feel really uncomfortable. Sure, he was her teacher
and it was plausible for him to be concerned, but this whole conversation
seemed off to her somehow. He was staring at her intensely again and seemed to
be waiting for something.
    “Okay,
well, I have to get to second period, if there’s nothing else.”
    He
paused for another split second, then smiled. “Sure, go ahead.” She turned to
leave.  “And Melanie?”
    “Yes?”
She stopped and looked back.
    “Let
me know if there’s anything I can do, okay?”
    “Sure.
Thanks.” Turning her back on the strange conversation and weird vibes, she left
the room.
    Jeremy,
true to his word, was waiting right beside the door with one foot braced
against the wall and his arms crossed. Melanie’s breath hitched at the sight of
him and her step faltered. He immediately straightened and rushed to stand in
front of her.
    He
put a hand on either of her shoulders and asked quietly, “What’s the matter?
Did he upset you?”
    Melanie
got ahold of herself and sucked in a long breath. His touch was burning right
through her sweater, her t-shirt, and into her skin. The concern in his eyes
made her breath hitch again and she struggled to get her beating heart under
control.
    “No,
no, I’m good. It was just weird having him ask about everything. His concern
seemed so out of left field. Do you know what I mean?”
    “I
know, it was strange.”
    “You
heard from out here?”
    He
shrugged. “The sound carries in this old building. Let’s get you to class.”
    He
turned her towards the math wing and fell into step beside her. His class was in
the other direction, but she didn’t mention it. It was too amazing, having him
walk her to class. Every third or fourth step, their hands brushed against each
other and she felt the tingle all the way up her arm and then down her spine.
She wondered if he felt anything.
    Probably not, she thought. Stop being unrealistic, Mel. He’s just being a good friend.
    When
they reached the door to her class, he grabbed her hand and yanked her into a
hug. She almost started hyperventilating. He kissed her forehead, turned her
around and gave her a light shove through the door. She was in a daze and
almost tripped over a trash can on her way to her desk. Tara was waiting with a
huge