Treasured Secrets (Coveted Saga #1) (The Coveted Saga) Page 5

  I scrambled around for the right thing to say, desperate to recover quickly. I tried to sound as casual as possible, but my hands twitched nervously as I responded. "It may have come up in idle conversation. Nothing detailed. I can see how it could be a good philosophy though."

  He smirked slightly. "I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. It's all a little pointless to go through at such a young age."

  I could feel my face blushing - actually, beaming red would be more accurate - as I squirmed around my seat. My discomfort had to obvious. Change the subject, girl!

  "It looks like we're going to be opening a coffee shop," I blurted out, considering I had nothing else to say.

  He glanced down at the paperwork in front of him, smirking lightly. "Looks like."

  I hoped he didn't realize what my discomfort meant. I hadn't ever dated anybody, so I had no idea what drama he was talking about. At least not from personal experience.

  I was too embarrassed to tell him that. I was hoping he couldn't pick up on that. Most of the other girls had been dating for years, and I hadn't even kissed a guy, or held his hand, or anything. I wouldn't even know how to start. It was Haluali. The choices were bare - too young, too old, unavailable, not my type... etc. It wasn't the buffet this place is.

  Then, as he flipped through the pages, he grabbed out his notebook and began writing. "Let's go ahead and make a budget based on the money allowance we have, and we'll go from there with our hypothetical coffee shop."

  I nodded and grabbed my notebook as well. "Do you want to take building costs and layout? Or do you want supply costs and projected profit margin to begin with?"

  Business yap is definitely a buzz kill, but it doused the flames I needed to be extinguished, so no complaints.

  He smiled yet again as he spoke to me in his heart melting tone. "I don't think we need to get too far ahead of ourselves. I think it would be best to do each task together. If we divide and conquer, it'll get done faster. However, if we do everything together, then we'll have a better overall presentation."

  I was actually happy to hear him say that, though I had no intentions of sharing that with him. I felt like an inarticulate idiot around him. I was starting to worry he was going to regret not pairing up with Elaina if I kept looking like such a stupid girl.

  "Okay, what do you suggest we start with?" I asked, sounding more respectable and less crackly.

  He glanced at his watch before putting all of his paperwork back in his packet. Then he spoke to me while he stacked his books together.

  "There's a coffee shop in town. We could go talk to them first. I want to be thorough. We can meet up after school soon and iron out some of the details there, if you want."

  The butterflies rippled through my stomach, making my breathing much more labored as I breathlessly said, "Yeah. That sounds fine to me. You'll just have to give me directions. I don't really know too much about this area."

  The bell rang and he stood to his feet, stacking my books on top of his as he did so. He carried my books out the door while still keeping his body close to mine. "No problem. It's not hard to find. If you're free this afternoon, we'll get started."

  This time the butterflies crashed into the walls of my stomach, making me feel almost nauseated. I was trying so hard not to let my sudden anxiety attack be noticed.

  "Yeah, that should be no problem at all."

  He winked at me as he handed me my books, and then he jogged down the hall, disappearing into the crowd. I exhaled a big sigh of relief, denying my inner girl the right to squeal.

  Finally. Some actual time alone.

  I started feeling queasy as soon as that thought had time to resonate. It felt like I was coming down from a hellacious adrenaline high. Just talking to him had made my blood pump furiously through my veins.

  "What's up, Aria?" Taryn asked, forcing me to jump a little in my distracted state.

  Her bubbly little personality never wavered. I was just trying to keep from falling apart at the seams.

  "Nothing."

  I could feel myself blushing. I couldn't even bring myself to answer the way I wanted to. I wanted to scream out in exuberance, but I fought the urge and remained calm.

  She rolled her eyes. "I'm guessing things went well with Tallis today." Her tone was very condescending in a playful manner.

  I smiled, though it wasn't the full-flashing, face-splitting grin that begged to be set free. I played it cool, sort of. At least I think I did.

  "We just got put on the same project is all." I could feel my whole body blushing then. Crap. Sold out by my own body.

  Taryn giggled, and then we were interrupted by McKee. He smiled confidently as spouted, "Alright, ladies. Enough giggling. It's gym time."

  I had borrowed Taryn's phone to call Grandma Iris and let her know of my afternoon plans. She had seemed reluctant to let me go to the coffee shop. However, she agreed that my studies were important.

  I was actually surprised by her hesitance to let me go, but I guess she just worried about me being in a new place.

  I pulled up to the coffee shop, and a knot instantly started forming in my throat, making it seem impossible to swallow. I took a deep breath, praying for a calm that never came.

  "Here goes nothing," I whispered to myself while walking in.

  Tallis was already inside, engaged in conversation with one of the waitresses. She was giggling and flirting. It almost made me sick at my stomach to see.

  He didn't seem to be reciprocating the same feelings toward her though, so that made me feel a little bit better. I sat down beside him at the table and received the worst look possible from the waitress.

  Tallis smiled at my arrival. I glanced around at the crowded coffee shop as the waitress took our order. I noticed Everett sitting in the corner. He looked away quickly and began typing on his phone.

  I glanced back at Tallis who was pulling out his packet of work for our project and a laptop. I did the same - pulled out my work, not a laptop. Then I whispered quietly as I motioned in the direction of Everett.

  "He gives me the creeps."

  Tallis chuckled slightly. "I think he's just a loner. He's a little too intense for me, but I'm sure he's not as bad as he seems."

  He leaned over to me and a smile spread across his face as he spoke with a charming air that made my heartbeat flutter. "So, I hear you are a bit of a genius?"

  I just laughed as I responded with an exaggerated dramatic touch. "Not even close. I just know a lot of the stuff already, due to the lessons I had in home school."

  He leaned back slightly in his seat. "Yeah, well that's not the word around school."

  My stomach tensed up. I thought of all the other things he might have heard about me as well. I was far from being on the most popular list.

  "Oh. Well, you can't believe everything you hear around there."

  His reassuring smile was just as breathtaking as any other one of his grins. "I only listen to the good gossip, not the bad. If people are spreading something good, then it has to be true. The bad stuff is usually just jealous tongues running amuck."

  I smiled back and laughed at the same time as I responded. "Are you sure you're a teenager?"

  "Sometimes I forget I'm supposed to be," he teased while offering a playful wink.

  I smiled at his humor. This was nice. Just him and me enjoying coffee and not having class, or students, or McKee lurking around. It was peaceful, and I was relishing the time alone with him.

  I was trying to think of a way to get him to break his no-dating rule, but everything I came up with sounded contrived and immature. And he seemed so mature compared to the rest of the guys at school.

  I had to think of a way to be impressive enough to make him want to go out with me. I started to speak three or four times, hoping something would come to me, but I had absolutely nothing.

  I finally just sighed in agitation and shifted my focus back to the project. I could see him smirking out of the corner of my eye. Perhaps h
e noticed my attempts to speak. I just hoped he didn't realize what I was desperately trying to do.

  We worked out all kinds of details, and we talked to the manager as well. We were making excellent headway on our project, when Tallis suddenly looked worried. His nostrils flared as if he smelled something he didn't like.

  I very subtly sniffed myself, worried I may have worked up too much sweat at gym class. Then the bell chimed over the door of the coffee shop, alerting them to a new customer.

  Tallis's eyes shifted toward the new silhouette darkening the doorway. A very tall man entered the coffee shop and walked to the counter. As I looked at the tall man, I noticed Everett was also staring at him. He too had a look on his face as if he smelled something foul.

  Then I finally caught a whiff of something I wish I hadn't. It was almost putrid. It was all I could do not to turn my nose up in disgust. I wasn't sure if it was the tall man or just something outside.

  Everett and Tallis seemed to think it was the tall man, given their staring. Then I noticed Everett's eyes close. His face was intense, as if he was straining to concentrate on something.

  Then I felt fire shoot through my body when Tallis wrapped his arm around my waist suddenly. It was unexpected and confusing to say the least. But it felt... protective? Like he was trying keep me hidden? I didn't know. I really had no clue what guys and girls did. Did I miss something?

  He leaned in closer to me as if he planned to whisper something in my ear. His breath was radiating the most unbelievably wonderful heat against my neck. My breathing became labored again, almost painful.

  The seconds ticked by so slowly and my heavy breathing was all I could hear. Heat seemed to course through my veins, as though my blood had been replaced with lava.

  The tall man glanced in our direction briefly, and then he walked out. After a few seconds of him being gone, Tallis leaned back away from me and released his grip around my waist. His look changed from concerned to an unexplainable disappointment.

  I could feel my breaths growing even heavier now from the intense moment we had just shared. His body pressed against mine was unbelievably invigorating.

  I wasn't sure what had possessed him to do such a thing. I could feel the fever in my voice as I spoke. "So… What was that about?"

  He seemed incredibly uncomfortable suddenly. I got the feeling I had done something wrong, but what? He seemed distant when he answered.

  "I think we should go."

  I was baffled by the whole situation. One second he was wrapped around me so intimately, and the next second he acted like he couldn't get away from me quick enough. The confusion showed in my tone as well.

  "Okay. Did I do something wrong?"

  I had no idea how to interact with someone I was attracted to. I wasn't sure if I offended him, or if I should have returned some affection. I wasn't even sure if he was showing me affection. The entire thing was situation was extraordinarily confusing and completely frustrating.

  He began packing up all of our work as he spoke. "No, you didn't do anything wrong. I just… I need to go. You should get home as well. I'm sure your parents are concerned. It's later than I realized."

  I glanced at the clock, noticing it was only five-thirty. I wasn't sure what the big deal was. "It'll be fine if I get home around seven or seven-thirty. They realize this is an important part of my grade."

  I really didn't want to leave him at all now. It almost physically hurt to think of leaving him. I felt so inexplicably desperate to be with him. It didn't make sense.

  What's going on with me?

  He continued packing everything up and stood to his feet. "No, we really should go. I have things I have to take care of."

  I was starting to understand the whole mixed signals thing that girls my age were constantly complaining about. One second he grabbed me and held on to me in the most intense way, and the next he couldn't get away from me fast enough. His reasoning for doing such was vague and questionable. It felt like a blow-off. Guys really were just as confusing as I'd heard.

  I wished I had heeded the warning.

  I aimed for casual, but came off as tentative instead when I mumbled, "Okay, when should we… work on the-"

  Before I could finish fumbling around for the right words, he answered the question I was intending to ask.

  "Tomorrow." His answer was swift, and he deliberately avoided eye contact with me. Then his eyes changed, as did his tone, when he finally did make eye contact. "Your last name is Weislen, correct?"

  I was almost offended by the fact he didn't seem certain of my last name. Now I was even more confused as I replied with a slightly defensive tone. "Yeah."

  He nodded, but it seemed like he was confused by something himself. He didn't even take notice of the fact I had been offended.

  "When did you and your parents move to town?"

  I squinted my eyes in more confusion as I responded, "My parents haven't moved to town yet. I'm living with my grandmother."

  The intensity in his eyes grew. They almost seemed to fill up with angst, and his tone made it seem as if he was worried about something.

  "What's your grandmother's name?"

  Really?

  He was starting to irritate me with all the random questions. It was starting to feel like an interrogation. I answered him though. "Iris Nelson. She's the one with the Bradbury Manor."

  He paled instantly, and fear washed over his eyes for reasons unbeknownst to me. After a spell of silence, he finally drew in a deep breath, and it appeared that he was full of dread.

  "I know who she is." He paused for a second as he held the door open for me, ushering me out. "I'll follow you home to make sure you make it there safely."

  His strange line of questioning and actions baffled me to no end. I was very confused by everything.

  "Okay."

  And that was it. He got in his Mercedes and followed me all the way to my gate. Tailing him was another car that followed us from the coffee shop. I could have sworn it was Everett.

  As I pulled in the driveway, Tallis continued driving slowly until he passed me, staring into my eyes intensely as he did so.

  Then he skidded around in the middle of the road and sped off back in the direction we had just come from. I wasn't sure why he wanted to follow me. The entire thing had exhausted my mind. The tailing car went on by, but I never caught a glimpse of the driver.

  Everything had been fine until the smelly man walked in, then Tallis threw himself on me, and became insistent on making a hasty departure.

  Nope. I still had no clue what happened.

  I walked in and smelled food cooking. Iris greeted me, her warm smile genuine and soft.

  "How was your study date, dear?" She seemed slightly worried. That too seemed odd.

  I decided to keep the bizarre events from the coffee shop to myself. "It was fine. What's for dinner?"

  She still didn't seem like her usual eccentric self. She answered my question, but she did so with complete distraction in her tone.

  "We're having pot roast." Worry riddled her aged face and her tone displayed the same signs apprehension as it had before. "Are you sure you're okay? Did anything happen today that might have scared you in any way. Did you feel… I don't know… threatened at any point this afternoon?"

  Her questions made me squirm uncomfortably. I wasn't sure why she was asking me that, and it started to worry me a bit.

  "No. I never felt the least bit threatened. I just had a meeting with my economics partner and then we left. Should I be worried about something?"

  Her face relaxed, as did her tone. "No, dear. I'm an old lady. Sometimes I overanalyze things. It's hard for me to just let you roam and do as you please. I worry. That's my job as your temporary guardian." She patted my back.

  My body relaxed, finally, and I made my way into the kitchen to grab a plate. I wanted so badly to go see Tallis and find out the truth about what was going on.

  Honestly, I just felt the uncontrollable
yearning to be with him again. He was like a craving that could never be sated. Since the moment I met him, he was all I could even think about. I'd never been addicted to anything, but I was sure that this is what it felt like.

  The next day at school was slightly awkward, but I was determined to find out what happened. I was new to the whole American teenage ways; however, I wasn't into playing games.

  Before first period, I saw Tallis standing at his locker. He was alone, so I quickly approached him to seize my opportunity to get some answers. I could hear my nervousness as I confronted him.

  "Hey, will you please tell me what happened yesterday?"

  He just smiled confidently as he leaned back on the lockers before speaking in a much too casual tone. "I'm sorry, Aria. That guy we saw yesterday is a bit of a creep. I wanted him to think we were together. I've seen him around town, hassling girls your age. I didn't want him doing you that way."

  Everything he said seemed slightly rehearsed, and he seemed very confident in his clarification as well. It all seemed too... conveniently effortless, when the day before he had been far too distressed to tell me such a thing.

  I knew I couldn't have just been imagining the absurdity of his reaction. I nodded slightly as I spoke in a disbelieving tone.

  "I see. Why didn't you just tell me that yesterday instead of acting so weird?"

  He laughed lightly before responding. "I may have overreacted a tad. I was just in a hurry to get you out of there before he got any ideas. I don't know why I didn't tell you that yesterday to be honest. Some girls like danger. Let's say I wanted to make sure you didn't get any ideas." He winked at me as he finished his sentence.

  I blushed slightly, but then suddenly I was off balance. A large guy had bumped into me, nearly knocking me down. Fire coursed through me as it had so many times before. Tallis's arms were wrapped around me, steadying me, drawing me into his delicious web of intoxication.

  Yet again, he had caught me before I fell. Then his eyes shifted toward the brawny guy who had run over me. "Watch where you're going."

  The guy stared at Tallis in an intimidating manner. Tallis didn't back down though. I’m not sure why, but suddenly the guy who had seemed so fierce at first cowered down from Tallis. He stuttered as he addressed me.