A howl in the dark

an almost broken handle. A booming voice

er, for a minute, how he manages to find all this assurance, knowing that everything is going to be okay. There is no doubt in his featu

ter from his desirable lips. I take a deep breath, my eyes narrowing sli

, absorbing me, then immediately turn their gaze to the gorgeous, enticing man behind me. Every stud

is face, making some girls sigh with awe and boys seethe with envy. "I am Xavier, a transfer s

're

u get that

E YOUR

t accent, man? You've

ng a loser like Mo

be annoyed, his eyes lighting up, his mouth opening to defend me. "Don't," I whisper, touching

zes try to snag Xavier's glance, hoping that he will pick her out of the crowd. One girl in particular,

us all. Only sparing a second glance for the super popular jocks and her "girls", she is an a-list celebrity, only able to admire from afar. She is certainly pretty enough, with a heart-shaped face and huge blue eyes, coupled with a stellar fig

l the screams and lust-filled yells. There are a cou

e both head towards the back. Xavier leans his head towards mine, his face bent i

till disconcerted by the way t

ur seats, in the back of the classroom, and sit down quietl

ry to shake it off

n protest. "Mona,

my Social Studies binder out of my backpack, giving i

rch about three chairs away, she once again drinks in Xavier's enticing

n reels back in surprise as he looks at me and whispers, "that girl... is she one

me, but I barely notice, consumed by enjoyment at his words. The teacher pauses, his eyebrow cocked

e glaring at me in fury, the other with an unfamiliar expression I cannot distinguish. "She isn't speci

r electrifying gaze from me to absorb Xavier's words, then turns with a defeated huff towards the front. Ian, on the other hand, just

g the man says. Out of the corner of my eye, I take in his profile. Long lashes frame emerald eyes, leading into a straight nose and light red lips that are twisted into a light smirk as I sneak glances at him.

amused by my disconcertment. Girls shoot me hateful glares, including Sidney, who had turned aroun

ew how much of

her classes, surrounds him. I roll my eyes as he is immediately buried by his new fan club, girls and boys ali

ubmerged, then it forces itself to the s

*

ysically and menta

like a car that has just run out of gas. "This," he says, running a hair through his

????

lly