Consume (The Devoured Series) Read Free

revolved around Dee. It didn't of course, but I didn't see Sarah coming to that realization anytime soon.
     
    So I tried to engage Ariel in another chat to distract her, but the bell rang. We all made our way down the hall to our classes. Eli asked the kid next to me in Math - asked, not used Devourer persuasion - if he could switch seats with him. He was fine with it and now Eli was my new neighbor. Which was fine with me because I sucked at Math.
     
    Math and I were not on speaking terms.
     
     
     
    ~ ~ ~
     
     
     
    In Art, we were supposed to paint today. Grrr. Paint and I weren't on speaking terms either. I never left painting with my clothes unscathed, no matter the amount of protective clothing. As I slipped my apron on, I laughed a little out loud at Eli. His apron was purple, making his eyes so much brighter, but not matching. He was glorious with his uniform on and apron, all ready for teacher's instructions.
     
    "What's so funny, Miss Hopkins?" he said and quirked a pierced brow while continuing to attempt the tie of the apron. "You laughing at me?"
     
    "Let me do it," I said with fake disgust. I tied it loosely and stayed close when he turned.
     
    "Thanks," he breathed. "So, where do you want to go tonight?"
     
    I knew he meant in the reverie. "Surprise me."
     
    "Do you mean that?" He grinned. "Because there're lots of places that I've never taken you that I'd like to." I must've looked confused so he clarified. "They have nothing to do with this po-dunk town."
     
    "Aah," I trailed off. "Well then take me away, Calgon. I'm game."
     
    "Calgon?"
     
    "Never mind." I smiled. "Something my mom used to say."
     
    "Ok," he said softly. "I'll surprise you then. But you'll have to stay awake after Ariel goes to sleep."
     
    "Or you could just come over and watch vamp shows with us," I suggested, but I could practically mouth his rebuttal.
     
    "Girls and vamp shows? No thanks." He played with the ball in his tongue ring with his teeth for a second. "But you gals have fun," he said sarcastically.
     
    "We will," I retorted and bumped his hip with mine. "We don't need the likes of Eli Thames to have a fantabulous time," I spouted as I pulled my plastic gloves on.
     
    "I'm offended," he said and held a green gloved hand to his heart. I laughed loudly just as the teacher turned. She glared at me with her precisely manicured eyebrows and I cringed in embarrassment. She always caught me doing crap in her class.
     
    Eli chuckled. I straightened and went to stand at attention at my side of the desk, waiting for instruction. After that I sat and watched Eli as he started on -no doubt- another masterpiece.
     
     
     
    ~ ~ ~
     
     
     
    Ariel met me eagerly at my locker. She lived near me somewhere, so she said she'd run home and meet me at my house in a few minutes. I agreed, and after stuffing my books into my locker, I slammed the door. The noise was so loud, resounding painfully in my ears.
     
    I covered them with my hands and waited for the ringing to pass. It did after a few seconds and I looked around to see if anyone else had heard it. Everyone just walked around me and acted normally. Weird.
     
    I brushed it off and headed for the street. Eli said he'd let me and Ariel hang out and didn't come walk me home. He said the bird was acting strangely anyway and he wanted to get home as soon as possible.
     
    So I headed home. I walked passed Mike. Some freshman girl was eating up his attention and just thankful to be in his general vicinity. I rolled my eyes and he yelled at my back. "Got a problem, Miss Goody Goody?"
     
    "Nope," I yelled over my shoulder and waved flippantly.
     
    I looked back to the street and was blinded. I squinted and threw my hand up to shield my eyes, but my eyes still burned and hurt. I turned and even felt myself crouch down. Then it stopped, just like that. I looked up and around, but no one was acting different. A couple of people were looking at me though, and I felt like a freak.