Captivated (An Affliction Novel) Read Free

It looked like she was going for a Goth look that time because all her nails and clothes were in different shades of black.
    “Mindy!” Tanya screamed. She ran up to me and hugged me hard. I hugged her back equally as powerful. “Do you like it?” she asked with excitement.
    “It sure is different…” I said. I was used to seeing her in her variety of purple skirts and layered brown hair, but that was going to take some getting used to. I hoped she didn’t notice my last minute hair-do. “…I like it though.” I assured her.
    “Wow.” Tanya’s jaw dropped and her eyes widened. Following her gaze, I saw that it was Dean walking past us. He practically towered over all of the other students walking around him. And the way they distanced themselves, it was as if they were trying to avoid him. His aura seemed…darker. The details of his face were hidden underneath the shadows of his eyes. From what I could see, his face showed zero emotion. His black hair was short everywhere else but on top. It was combed forward and swooped into tiny spikes in the front. Cute. It seemed like he got bigger every year that went by. I knew everyone got bigger, but man, he must have worked out every day for hours to look like that.
    “Warning, the mean look goes with the personality.” I rolled my eyes.
    “He sure looks nice to me.” Tanya peeked over the students in front of her to catch another glimpse before Dean walked out of site. “But hey…he could be mean to me anytime he wants.” she winked.
    “You perv!” I accused and gave her a light push.
    “Come on, Mindy. Why do you hate him?” Tanya asked.
    “Cause he’s an A-hole,” I said. Dean wasn’t the same as he used to be. Years ago, before his parents died, he was kind and gentle. He always smiled, and it was the kind of smile that could bring anyone out of their lousy mood. It always worked for me and he knew that. Now, he acted like I never existed, like I was a nobody.
    Then, I felt someone wrap their arms around my waist and swung me around.
    “I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” exclaimed a familiar, husky voice. He squeezed tighter.
    “Ayden? Is that you?” I asked while he set me back down. I spun around to face him. “Wow, look at you!” I cried out. I hadn’t seen him all summer. He called me almost every day, but I never got the chance to hang out with him. His dirty blond hair almost matched his tanned skin perfectly. And the bronze on his face made his sapphire eyes more noticeable.
    “Hi, babe. Is this your first hour?” There was excitement in his voice. Ayden put his arm around my shoulder and roughly pulled me against him.
    “Yeah. You going to grab a seat next to me so you can copy my answers again?” I asked as I elbowed him.
    “Now, babe,” he leaned his face into mine, “you know it’s not your papers I’ve been looking at.” he said loudly, not caring who heard.
    “Charming.” I sarcastically added. He pulled me along with him as we stepped into class.
    I sat between Ayden and Tanya. Ayden started tickling the back of my neck with his pencil but I was too focused on my roaring stomach to care about the sensation on my neck. The pop-tart I inhaled earlier wasn’t enough and I didn’t even finish it. All the buzzing in the room seemed to irritate Mr. Shapiro as he sat back in his chair, staring at the class with his fingers massaging his temples. It was already five minutes after the second bell but I guessed he was still waiting for a couple of students. I was so glad to have him for a teacher again. I got along with him last year and he was actually okay, except for when he was irritated. Like right now.
    “Welcome back, everyone.” Mr. Shapiro announced. The class went silent. He nodded in approval. “For those of you who don’t know me…” He turned around, picked up the chalk, and started spelling his name on the board.
    The door swung open. In walked the palest person I’d ever seen in my life. He must