I looked to my left to see Chris, hanging out by the lockers with his jock buddies. The ones who I'd convinced myself were playing the practical joke on me.
Of course, now I knew it wasn't a joke.
I really wished it was.
"Hey, yourself." I forced a smile to my face, trying to push away all other thoughts, and approached him. I prayed that no poppy seeds from my hastily eaten breakfast bagel were stuck in my teeth.
One of his buddies grinned. "Why don't we leave you two alone?"
The rest of the guys laughed and walked away down the hall.
I didn't know what to make of their reaction to me. Maybe I had one big poppy seed in my teeth. Maybe they were laughing about Chris asking me to the dance. Or maybe it was something completely different. Even on a good day, when somebody laughed around me and I wasn't in on the joke, I assumed that they were laughing at me. Sure, call me paranoid, but when you're the new kid it was true more than not.
Chris smiled at me. "You look great this morning."
I guess I looked more relaxed than I felt, but it was so good to see him-a wonderful, normal guy who made me happy just by his presence and didn't give me any problems. "You look pretty great yourself."
He leaned closer to me and kissed me. It was a morning greeting I could very easily get used to. After a moment he pulled away and his gaze moved to the right.
"Nikki, we seem to have an audience again," he said.
I turned around in Chris's arms and tensed when I saw that Michael stood about fifteen feet down the hall on the opposite side. He watched us, his face void of expression.
"Do you want something?" Chris asked.
Michael eyed him unpleasantly. "Nothing from you."
I tried to grab Chris's arm as he pulled away from me. "Chris-" But it was too late. Chris was already moving to stand in front of Michael. They were both the same height, around six feet tall. But where Michael was all sinewy, all lean lines under those loose-fitting clothes, Chris was solid muscle under designer threads. Michael's hair was shoulder length, dark and shaggy, but Chris's was blond, recently cut, and gleaming from whatever hair products guys use to get that controlled-but-tousled look.
"Do you have a problem with me for some reason?"
Michael's attention was now fixed on me. "I'm not sure yet."
"You're not sure?" Chris repeated. "What exactly do you think you're looking at?"
Michael was looking at me so intensely that I could feel it.
"I'm looking at Nikki Donovan," he said. "I need to protect her."
I found that I couldn't stop looking at Michael. It was as if he'd captured me in his green-eyed gaze and wouldn't let go. I wanted to tell Chris what Michael had said-all the crazy things about my father that didn't seem to make any sense. But I didn't say anything. I knew I should be looking at Chris, but the only person I could see was Michael-and that haunted, protective look in his eyes.
"I suggest," Chris's voice cut through, "that you look somewhere else and leave her alone."
"And I suggest," Michael said calmly, "that you mind your own business."
I bit my bottom lip. That was definitely not a good response.
Chris's eyes narrowed. "You need to leave now."
Michael's attention finally moved from me to Chris. "I'll leave when Nikki does."
"She's not going anywhere with you if that's what you're thinking." Chris's expression was becoming less friendly with each passing moment.
Michael glared at him. "I thought I told you to mind your own business."
Chris grabbed a handful of Michael's T-shirt and pushed him up against the lockers.
"You need to leave now" Chris growled. "I won't tell you again."
With one hand, Chris shoved him a few feet down the hallway. Michael's cool, slightly sullen exterior had slipped a bit. Under the line of his dark hair, I could see a glitter in his eyes as he looked back at Chris. Was it anger? I wouldn't be surprised. Nobody liked being pushed around first thing in the morning in front of a growing crowd of students.
But the look in Michael's eyes as he glared at Chris made a shiver run down my spine. It was more than anger. It was the look of a predator. Then he glanced at me for a moment-at my deep frown-and his expression softened.
"Are you coming with me or not, Princess?"
I looked around. Where had that come from? It definitely wasn't my thought.
"Princess? Can you hear me?"
My eyes widened. Could I read his thoughts? Were those Michael's thoughts?
I shook my head slowly. No, that's impossible.
"I'm staying right here," I said, my voice shaky.
"Fine. I'm not going to force you," Michael said out loud, and it didn't sound remotely friendly. When he turned and walked away I had the insane urge to run after him, but I didn't go anywhere. I stayed frozen where I was.
Chris watched Michael move down the hall. "Yeah, just like I thought."
Michael's shoulders went rigid, but he kept walking until the door at the end of the hall clanged shut. The crowd dissipated until only Chris and I remained.
The bell for first period rang.
He turned to me. "Are you okay?"
I nodded shakily.
"What a loser," he said, then he started to look concerned. "You don't already know him, do you?" I shook my head. "Not really."
"Thought for a minute he was an ex-boyfriend of yours. All obsessed. It happens."
"Definitely not." I tried to ignore the sick churning feeling in the pit of my stomach.
"It'll be fine. He won't bother you again."
"If you say so."