My Soul to Keep (The Soul Keeper Series - Young Adult Paranormal Romance) Read Free

bumps on my head.
    ***
    I stand in my room
wrapped in a towel trying to decide what to wear on the first day of my senior
year, in this way too big of a house, all by myself. I pull a peach floral sun
dress from the hanger and slip it over my head.   I tug on my well-worn brown leather boots. My dad always preferred me to
wear dresses, so this one’s for you dad.
           I’ve come to like Virginia a lot. My
grandmother bought this grand five bedroom house when my dad was stationed here
for a brief stint, before I was born.   It
has a stunning oceanfront view right on Sandbridge Beach, a small town just
south of Virginia Beach. I have moved around so much with my dad being in the
service that this is the one place that always felt like a real home to
me.   I like the small town vibe here.
Everyone knows everyone's business, except mine I hope.   I drive forty-five minutes to Norfolk to go
to a magnet school for politically minded individuals.
    ***
          I pull my
SUV into the lot at school and apply a touch of gloss to my lips. Inside, Emily
Reed bounds over to me and wraps her arms around my neck. She was the first
person to acknowledge my existence when I enrolled here my junior year. We were
still in the “getting to know you” phase of our friendship. She wore her
mahogany hair in a loose braid today, it suited her. She was on the heavy side
but carried herself with confidence and grace. I admired that about her.
    “Bren, oh my goodness
look at you! How was your summer?”
           “Emily, hi, you look amazing. My summer was
nice.” I shrug. I catch the small turn of her brow. She spots something off.   I am a horrible liar. I turn and hurry off in
the other direction, pretending to be late for class. “I'll see you at lunch,”
I trail off and make a B-line to my first class. Mrs. Cohen, my English
Literature teacher is at her desk.
    “Good morning Ms.
Hale.” The teacher speaks in a very proper British accent. I am going to love
hearing Jane Austen in that inflection.
    “And to you Mrs. Cohen,”
I respond.
      I walk down the center row of student desks
and take a seat in the rear of the class. The room is bright and cheery. She has
made it her own with posters of Victorian garden parties. On her desk sits a vase
of fresh pink roses positioned on a lace doily.   As the class begins to fill, the most popular girl in school Ari
Campbell sits in front of me. As she primps herself, her long unnaturally black
locks almost slap me in the face. I back away, knitting my brows together.
      A very tall, golden haired boy takes the seat
next to mine. I think he is new here. He brushes his feral waves back with his
fingers as he smiles at me. His well-worn jeans look soft and hug him in that
way that makes me wonder things I shouldn't be wondering about at seventeen. He
is in a plain gray t-shirt and black, scuffed as hell, western boots. Simple,
understated, he has no clue that every girl in this room is mentally caressing
his lean torso right now. I return a small smile and quickly look away. Wow,
his eyes are rich amber brown, the color of maple leaves in fall. They add
charm and kindness to his face. He has an athletic build for being so tall. I
wonder what sport he plays.
    It’s apparent that Ari
notices him right away too. She whips around almost side swiping me with her
hair again. I give her a look that screams –girl you are about to get a new
style if I have to unpack my scissors. She notices this time and apologizes by
mouthing sorry to me. I retract my claws as she turns to the new guy.
    “Hello, I’m Ari. Are
you new here?” She flashes her full red lipped mega-watt smile at him. Geez Ari, subtle much?
    I watch as he takes her all in. Yep she’s every
guy’s fantasy. In a barely there tank and short red skirt that shouts –I’m not
a hooker but I play one on TV.  
    “ Sam, and yes I am.” He stretches those long legs out as he relaxes in his seat. He
has a thick southern