Demon Kissed - Katie May Page 0,74

William Washington.

Did I just jump through the multiverse? In what universe would William walk into the academic decathlon classroom willingly?

He’s in his rowing uniform, which is like a tank-top wetsuit that showcases his massive biceps. His golden hair falls enticingly over his honey brown eyes, and I forget to breathe for a second when he looks at me and smiles.

I blink, but then my responding smile is like a thousand suns smashed together into one brilliant ball of light.

“Baby!” an obnoxious voice sounds behind me.

Horror. I realize that William wasn’t smiling at me. He was smiling at Janie. Behind me.

Pit of Hell, open up. Take me now.

I close my eyes and pretend that I’m getting myself focused for the speeches, but really, all I’m trying to do is avoid facing my humiliation. God, I hope I didn’t look that excited…but I know I did. I know I looked like a kid entering the toy store with their stash of birthday money. Fuck me.

I blow out a small breath, searching for my Zen, my cool, but that damn bitch has packed up and left me behind.

And then, William says the last thing I ever expect to hear. “This looks so cool, babe. How do you join?”

My eyes pop open to see Janie lead William over to the board. “It’s easy. There’s a sign-up sheet. And a little competition. But I know how you like those.”

“Sweet.” William scratches his name onto the sign-up sheet for the tournament.

My throat goes dry. The guys must have done this, right? That must be why he was so insistent that I compete. Somehow, they got William to join. By some miracle (can it be called a miracle if it’s a demon doing it?), they roped him in. And now, I have the chance to go on an out-of-state trip with William.

An overnight, out of state trip.

Holy hell.

My eyes flicker to Kastros, ready to mouth “thank you” in his direction. The demons are trying, they really are. This is epic. But Kastros isn’t looking at me. He’s clutching the speech topic index cards tightly in his hand as he stares at William. His jaw looks a little tight.

I wonder if he’s annoyed that William waited until the last possible minute? Yeah, he was probably worried that William wouldn’t show up. Then he’d be stuck on a trip with just me and a bunch of other obnoxious teenagers with nothing to show for it.

Poor Kastros. Thank goodness he doesn’t have to take one for the team. I probably owe him ice cream.

I don’t even know if he likes ice cream. Note to self—find out if Kastros likes ice cream.

Kastros stands, shoving his seat back across the floor with a loud screech. Every eye turns in his direction. He’s the master of our fate.

I have to hide a smile. Because, frankly, I’m loving how he’s mastered my fate here. He can master my fate any time. Whoa. Wait. That sounded dirty. Rewind. Scratch that.

Everyone who is still standing, including Janie and William, take a seat. Kastros strides to the board and writes, There are three topics on each card. You must choose one of them. One minute to prep. A minute and a half to speak.

He turns to face us, and every back straightens just a bit. Who is going to have to go first? From all our previous practice, I know primacy and recency are the most important to memory. So you really want to go first or last. But if you’re last, you can get the benefit of a warmed-up audience. Or the detriment of one that’s been bored to tears.

My eyes scream, not me! Because I’d rather put off the torment and be one of the middle, forgotten speeches than first or last.

Kastros must be able to read my gaze because he walks by me and hands the first index card to William. Then he hits a button on his watch.

“Really? Shit. Okay.” William immediately hunches over his card and starts muttering to himself in this focused, unselfconscious, completely adorable way.

Kastros’s watch dings when time is up, and William stands, card still in hand. “Dang. That felt like zero time. But, okay. Yeah, I got this.” He blows out a breath and rolls his shoulders back, then strides to the front of the room.

He gives us all a dazzling smile.

And I sink onto my hands, determined to memorize every moment of this glorious speech and commit it to my stalker shrine.

“My topic was ‘What are five