Eternal Echoes, Emblem of Eternity Trilogy Book 2 Read Free Page B

behind me said. “She’s the smartest person in class.”
    I turned to see Hutch slide into his desk. He was a little taller than me with the lean muscles of a runner. His dark brown hair was spiked in the front, and his dimples offset the rough edges of his masculine frame. He was also a nice person—something most hot guys who know they’re hot lack.
    Vicki blushed. It was clear she had a bit of a crush on Hutch. He smiled at her as he took his textbook out of his bag. “Are you both ready for the test?”
    Vicki pulled her eyes away from Hutch, glancing back at her notebook. “I’d be happier if I had a few more hours to review my notes.”
    Hutch looked up at me, his hair frozen in place by hairspray, gel, or a combination of them both. I shrugged. “Nope. But I’ve reconciled myself with the fact, and accept it.”
    Hutch laughed.
    Our professor came in the room and everyone quieted as she handed test sheets to the first desk of each row, instructing us to take one and pass the tests back. I took my test—a combination of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions—and gave Vicki a reassuring smile from across the aisle. I liked short answer and essay questions. They didn’t have black and white answers, and allowed me ample room for BS.
    Almost two hours later, I was finally done. I thought I’d done okay, but knew I wouldn’t be getting an “A” either. I gathered my things, stuffing them in my bag as I heard a sigh from my right. Vicki seemed to be debating whether she should look over her answers again, or just hand it in. She inched forward in her chair as she continued analyzing her test. I watched her with interest, wondering if she knew how close to the edge of her seat she was getting. Her next scoot almost scooted her right onto the floor, but she caught herself and stood, taking the test to the front of the class. She grabbed her stuff and we walked out together.
    “That was rough,” she said, the door shutting behind us.
    “Yeah, the multiple choice questions were brutal, and I wasn’t expecting the essay question on the Ego and Id. I hope I did okay.”
    Vicki groaned. “Me too.”
    The door snicked open as Hutch walked out. “How’d you do?” I asked.
    He blew out a breath, shifting his backpack so more of the weight was on his shoulders. “I hate essays.”
    “I hate tests,” Vicki said.
    “You guys want to get some lunch?” Hutch asked.
    I saw a hopeful glimmer in Vicki’s eyes. Her nervous excitement made me happy. My own relationships had rocketed far past nervous excitement and straight into complicated confusion. I envied Vicki, Hutch, and everyone else on the planet who could be in love without the consequences I had hanging over my head. My romantic choices could have cosmic ramifications.
    Alex and Emil had been in my life for centuries, but I couldn’t remember everything that had happened in our past together. I still felt like I didn’t know them well enough—or have enough information about our history together—to make such a monumental life and relationship decision between them. On top of that, Alex and Emil had both protected me all that time in their own ways. After the incident with Caleb’s Clan, I’d decided the least I could do was wait to make a decision between them until I was sure of my feelings. It was the only answer that would be fair to Alex, Emil…and me. If I chose one of them now, I would always second guess myself and wonder if I was with the right person. I wasn’t ready to choose yet.
    I looked at Vicki and Hutch. Lunch sounded better than sitting somewhere alone, stewing over my relationship status. “Sure! I think today’s special is manicotti, and it actually tastes good.”
    Vicki’s smile brightened and we left for the College Center.

    The College Center, decorated in neutral, soothing colors reminiscent of the mountains in summer, was busy with students eating, talking, and studying. I grabbed water and a salad from