Waiting for Mercy (Cambions) by Shannon Dermott Read Free Book Online Page A

newest rival walked out at that point and assessing the situation quickly, her face quirked a smile. He abruptly changed directions striding down one of the perpendicular hallways out of sight once she linked her arm in Luke’s.  Tom must have noticed too because he said, “Shit.”  All I could think was that Nina was wasting her efforts on me.  There was someone else she should focus her on.
     
    Ms. Wright hearing the curse chided Tom on language.  I looked at Flynn who shook his head with a grimace then went down the same hall following after Luke. Maggie and Amber caught up with Paul and Sebastian catching sight of me.  Maggie narrowed her eyes then began talking to Paul backing him away from the scene.  Amber and Sebastian followed with nothing else better to do.  
     
    Finally, after being released with just warnings, thanks to Tom’s smooth words, the bell ending lunch rang. Tom and I headed into the mob of students heading to class.  Before we parted ways, Tom muttered sorry to me.  He’d obviously seen we’d been caught.  It wasn’t his fault.  But all I could do was to nod at him and headed to my locker before class.  Lucky for me, Maggie’s locker next to mine was vacant.  I needed to talk to her, but last I saw her, she was with Paul. 
     
    Afternoon classes would drift by in a blur.  I was surprised when Tom turned up in my history class right after lunch.  He’d entered right when the bell rang, so we didn’t get a chance to speak.  Then the teacher called him up after class, so I headed on to my next class without saying one word to him.  It was just as well.  If anything had been said about us, maybe the rumor mill would die down if there were witnesses to us not talking to each other.
     
    Second semester had changed classes around.  So I didn’t have the next class with Paul and Maggie.  Instead, I shared last period with them both.  Just when we sat down, before I could talk to her about lunch and her impending date with Brent, my earlier cupid girl showed up with the same glower on her face.  She gave Maggie six pink roses to add to the six red ones I saw her with at lunch.  I gave her a super smile trying to be happy that her relationship was rosy, pun intended.  While Maggie read the single hang tag tied around the bunch, the sour faced girl turned to me and handed me two yellow roses. 
     
    This time there wasn’t a mystery as to who had sent me the pretty flowers.  The tag said I’m sorry, your un-Valentine.  The writing was scrawled and I had to assume Tom had written it himself.  Apparently, there were last minute Val-O-Gram sales.  Who knew?  I smiled to myself.  Tom was a nice guy if not a little annoying with the whole ‘ I’m not interested in you ’ mantra.  Just then Paul sat down in his usual spot behind me.  Maggie had to ask at that exact moment, “Who are those from?”
     
    I didn’t have to see Paul because I heard him shift in his seat. I needed to think before I spoke but I also couldn’t think too long because then they may think I was finding an excuse.  I saw the anticipation on Maggie’s face and it started to slip.  Time was up, I had to answer. And for a second I wondered why I even cared what Paul thought.  To him, we weren’t even friends.  “Tom,” I said flatly. “He is apologizing for getting me in trouble for a big misunderstanding.” 
     
    “Eme,” Maggie said with a long sigh.
     
    “Maggs, there is nothing going on between me and Tom.  He was just being a friend.  And if you don’t believe me he will proudly tell you he has absolutely no interest in me.” 
     
    She frowned.  I didn’t have time to react because the teacher started class.  In a way I was happy because I hadn’t been subtle in my conversation.  In fact, I was hoping to be overheard.  You know the best way to start a rumor that favors you, is to start it yourself.
     
    At the end of class, I high tailed it to the parking lot after