The Rush (The Siren Series) - By Rachel Higginson Page 0,23

replied without any edge in my voice. Yay for me. “Were you waiting for me?”

“Yep,” he grinned down at me. “Walk you to class?”

I wasn’t sure what to do with his chivalry so I just nodded. I was used to boys and boyfriends and all that came with them. It was like my after school job. But in reality I hadn’t had a boyfriend since last year, since…. Sam. And I felt awkward trying to get back into the pattern. There were instincts buried inside of me that would let me flirt freely and command attention with practiced skill. But right now I felt alien in this role, I couldn’t remember how to toss out smiles and demand flattery. Right now I just wanted to go back home and go to bed.

We took the long walk up the stairs in silence. I could feel Chase radiating with an excited energy that should be contagious, that should reinforce my self-esteem and pride. Instead, I sludged along next to him, holding back an epic sigh that would signify my utter dread for the day ahead.

Ugh. I was so messed up.

“So Calculus again?” I asked at the top of the staircase. We were as reluctant as most of our peers to actually enter the building, so we hung out collectively with the rest of the student body in front of the two story-stone façade.

“Nope,” Chase cut me a side glance as if he was surprised I had paid attention yesterday. “Applied Physics.”

“Even more fun,” I smiled at him, happy to have his full attention. There was something about being near Chase, having his eyes on me, standing in his shadow. He was like the sun, bright and happy and warm. He was exactly what I needed right now. Even if there wasn’t a spark from my end, I could still breathe when I was near him.

And I needed to breathe.

Besides, when were there ever sparks from my end?

He opened his mouth to say something but we were interrupted by a gangly arm that reached out to clasp hands with Chase. Phoenix emerged from the crowd around us all smiles and long limbs. He was wearing at least three different shirts all layered in chaos, a short sleeve, a long sleeve and then another short sleeve. His loose, low-waisted jeans were ripped at the knees and tattered at the cuffs and his hair was curlier than yesterday but I suspected that had something to do with the October drizzle this morning. He was also wearing big, pink framed, plastic sun glasses that I was sure were purchased in the Junior’s section of Target.

“What’s up, Phoenix?” Chase asked him, breaking out into a friendly smile.

I was surprised I had never run into any of these guys before this year. Although Central was a very big school, several hundred to each graduating class. Still, they were good looking enough and seemingly popular enough that they at least should have been on my radar last year. Then again, when I actually read the badges stitched to Chase’s letterman jacket I remembered soccer was his sport of choice and last year had been all about making my way through the basketball team.

“Not much,” Phoenix returned and then his attention fell to me. “Ivy,” he acknowledged happily.

“Phoenix,” I replied back in a mock imitation of his deeper voice.

“Kenna tells me you were at the show last night. You should have stuck around, you could have chilled with the band,” Phoenix’s smile widened with pride and I realized he must have been part of the band.

“You’re in the band?” I asked bluntly, a little disturbed that I hadn’t noticed. It wasn’t like I was into Phoenix for more than friendship, if that could even exist for me, but I still should have noticed him. Then again I couldn’t place faces to any of the band members.

Save for one, the stupid lead guitar.

Freaking Ryder.

He was seriously throwing me off my game.

“What? Yes! I’m the drummer!” Phoenix defended himself as if I really hurt his ego.

Oops.

“Sorry,” I gushed with a little bit of laughter. “I guess I couldn’t see you beyond the egomaniac in front.”

Phoenix nodded in agreement and gave me a look that said he forgave me. “So you’ll stick around next time? Hang out after?”

“Sure,” I conceded, hoping to avoid any future Sugar Skulls concerts and if at all possible run-ins with Kenna or Ryder in general.

“You went to see Sugar Skulls last night?” Chase asked. His eyebrows had drawn