Dark Secrets Read Free Page A

looked
back at me, straightening up a little, making my heart race as if
I’d just run a block, which seemed like a viable option, just...in
the other direction. “Are you nervous, Ara?”
    I nodded slowly. “I’ve
never been to a new school before.”
    “ Well, I tell you
what…” He touched his chin, then turned and signalled into the
class. “I think I have a solution.”
    “ Yes, Mr B.” A boy
stepped up before I expected him to, and a short gasp escaped my
lips, making my heart skip a beat that it would never recover. I
wanted to grab Emily, who stifled a giggle beside me, and shake her
for being right about a boy so cute you’d picture yourself in his
arms without even knowing his name. I really hoped this wasn't Mr
B’s idea of a ‘solution’ to my anxiety.
    As the boy settled
into his lean on the doorframe, his casually-dishevelled dark-brown
hair fell into his eyes; he swept it back, and any hope of
composure withered away with the hold of that smile; how his
dark-pink lips sat closed and turned up sharply in the corners, his
gaze fixing mine in place. He seemed completely unfazed by my
totally obvious ogling. I even felt myself rise onto my toes; my
inner fantasies wandering off to a world where I shoved Mr Benson
aside and stepped up to charm the hell out of this boy with my
sassy disposition. But the true, witless me stood, mouth gaping,
begging my skin not to drop my bones all over the floor.
    “ Ara? This is David,”
Mr Benson said, eyeing the proverbial drool on my lip.
    Time came rushing back
like a smack across the face; I snapped my gob shut and wiped my
chin, glad there wasn’t actually drool there. I already knew that
boy was David; my reaction completely mirrored the stupidity I
despised in Emily two minutes ago.
    David’s smile changed
then, became wider, drawing me in to his world, almost inviting me
to be his friend. But the dimples beside his lips made promises I
knew they’d never keep. “Hello, Ara.” He nodded, almost like a
bow.
    Breathe, Amara-Rose,
just breathe . I lifted my hand a little to
wave. No words came out, though. Pathetic.
    “ Ara, David is my
best student,” Mr Benson said, then looked at the boy.
“David?”
    “ Yes, sir?” The boy
stole his gaze away, his head turning before his eyes left mine,
and shoved his hands into his pockets, his shoulders lifting as if
he was some kind of shy guy. No freakin’ way.
    “ Ara’s a little
worried about coming to a new class,” Mr Benson said. “Would you
take her to the library and fill her in on last week’s lessons,
please?”
    A sudden wash of
relief brought my body back to life. I wanted to hug Mr Benson for
being so considerate.
    “ Of course.” David
smiled at me again, the sound of his voice running through me, like
milk for my soul—liquid with maturity, yet simultaneously
weightless.
    “ Excellent.” Mr
Benson went to walk away but stopped. “And keep your charms to
yourself, young man.”
    “ I’ll do my best,
sir,” he said, looking right at me with those smiling green
eyes.
    And my cheeks exploded
with heat, sending it to my ears. I looked down at my feet, biting
my spreading grin.
    “ Okay. Well, Ara, you
take care, and I’ll see you in class tomorrow.” Mr Benson patted my
shoulder.
    “ Thank you,” I said,
looking him directly in the eye this time.
    “ You are more than
welcome.” He turned to face the boy. “David, you can get your
stuff.”
    For a split second, as
David and Mr Benson walked away, I braved a glance into the room of
dread—seeing only a desk and a whiteboard. Looked normal enough.
I’d imagined fiery pits and wailing souls. Guess I was
wrong.
    Emily squeaked,
bouncing on her toes. I actually wanted to squeal, too. She was so
right. He was so hot!
    “ Oh
my God. You’re so lucky.” She waved two handfuls of
spirit-fingers.
    “ Lucky? I have to
spend forty minutes alone with that guy.” I pointed into the
class.
    “ Trust me, Ara. You’re going to love