Nicole apologized the next morning for her outburst, but it wasn't one I would soon forget. Although Marie and I were now texting regularly, I didn't mention it to Nicole, and I didn't mention Nicole to Marie. I felt like the strangest middleman alive.
More pressing was having to go to school and face James in the wake of this new…something. I obviously couldn't avoid him forever, especially as he all but cornered me in front of my locker.
"Well?" he asked.
"Well?"
"I can only assume things went well with your sister."
I nodded. "Yeah…"
"So why aren't you happy?"
Closing my locker, I chewed on the side of my lip. "Mending fences with one broke them with another."
"Ah. Nicole, right? The potion-maker."
"Yeah." I squinted at him. "When did you get so interested in my sisters?"
"I've always known about them," he replied pointedly. "Just…making conversation. Sorry if I offended you with caring about your life."
"You didn't, I just…" Damn, but he was confusing me. I needed to change the subject—fast. "Did you spend the weekend sparring?"
"And then some." He cocked his head to the side, stretching out his muscles. "I'm still sore. I can't figure out who's more worried about it—me or Gavon."
"You? Why are you worried about it? You'll spar with Gavon, and that's that."
"I'm not worried about the match, I'm worried about what happens after it." He stared at an unseeing point in front of him. "Gavon reminded me last night that I'll be a fully independent member of the Guild. He won't be able to restrict my magic or order me around as his apprentice, though he'll still retain some control as Guildmaster." He finally lifted his gaze to me. "And in that capacity, he might restrict me from coming back here."
"Oh."
James might never come back? I wasn't sure what surprised me more: that I was upset about it, or that he was.
"Why would he do that? You're supposed to be learning, right?"
"Sometimes I think it was just a way to keep me out of trouble until the induction match. I feel like he no longer wants anything to do with me, so if I was over here, he wouldn't have to waste his time."
"What makes you say that?
"He's always criticizing me," James said. "I mean, you saw how he treats me. Everything is always my fault. I'm never good enough for him. Even when I do the right thing, there's always room for improvement."
I chewed my lip, unsure what to say. So I decided to go with humor. "And here I thought you were learning all the secrets of this world to take over."
His far-off look disappeared and he cracked a grin. "And what, pray tell, shall I do with my knowledge of social media and how to take an advanced placement test? Because, I assure you, that's all I've picked up in my year over here."
"That's not…entirely true," I said. "You also know the particulars of football."
He laughed, and I was glad to see some of the tension leaving his face. "I just don't see how it's in the Guild's best interest to keep me enrolled in high school. And Gavon is pretty particular about who he lets over here. He doesn't want to bring the wrath of the Carrigan Clan down on us needlessly. And seeing as Gavon doesn't quite believe I'm a good influence on you—or so he says…"
"It's been weeks since we got in trouble," I said with a huff. "He let us spar again. Besides that, I don't think Gavon would stop you from finishing the year. He values knowledge over strength, after all."
He glanced at me. "You think?"
"Yeah," I said firmly. Then, nervously, I asked, "You still aren't going to…challenge him for the Guildmaster, right?"
James snorted. "No. I'm not ready for that yet."
"Good," I said with a relieved sigh. "I'm actually starting to like you. I'd hate to have a reason to loathe you again."
He flashed me his charming smile again and my face turned into a tomato. "I'll try my best to stay on your good side."
James' induction match would be on his eighteenth birthday, the fourth of March, and while that was his main preoccupation, mine was checking the mailbox every day for my admissions decision. Both of us were nervous balls of anxiety, although we did our best not to show it.
At school, James spent more time talking with the friends he'd made, a little less time studying, although most of the teachers were well aware of the senioritis permeating the entire class. After school, we'd stopped by my house to check the mail, and when I hadn't received my letter, we'd go to the sparring beach. Most of the time, we read or did homework. Sometimes, we'd spar a little, or James would help me practice charms. I still didn't get them, but it made me feel better when he wasn't much better at it than I was.
My favorite afternoons, we'd just sit quietly and watch the sun set, content to be with each other in silence.
I began to wonder what life would be like with James not in it. He'd gone from my arch nemesis to the closest thing I could call a best friend in a matter of months. Sure, I had Marie back, but it wasn't the same. James got me, the same way Gavon had. And knowing I was facing the loss of such a friend hit me hard.
Especially because I hadn't moved forward on my feelings for him. Whenever I got the urge to take his hand or say something, I chickened out. By James' birthday—the last day I might ever see him—I was still waffling as to whether I should say something to him.
That day, he showed up at school with a grim expression, and I could only offer a sympathetic smile. He made no mention of the day to any of his school friends, and when I wished him a happy birthday, he just nodded.
After school, we met by my locker and said nothing to each other while our classmates gathered their things and left. Some of them stopped to talk to us, asking if someone had died, to which I just shook my head.
When the halls were empty, James finally spoke. "Let's go see if you've gotten your acceptance letter yet."
"Really?" I shook my head. "I mean, it's not—"
He grabbed my hand. "Don't say that. I have five hours to kill. Might as well."
He didn't let go of my hand all the way to our secret transport spot behind the band room, nor did he let it go when we crossed the parking lot of my apartment building. But when I crossed through the barrier, he finally had to let go.
There was no mail waiting for me, and when I returned with the news, James actually looked dejected. "I wanted to see your face when you got in."
"I don't know—"
"You'll get in."
We stood on opposite sides of the barrier, and I took in just how far we'd come. This protection wasn't even necessary anymore—it hadn't been for months—but seeing James on the other side of it was jarring. He was about to become a fully-fledged member of the Guild that had tried to enslave the nonmagicals. He was on his way to becoming the next Guildmaster. There were no guarantees that he wasn't another Cyrus.
Except I knew him. I'd spent nearly every day with him, had countless conversations. I'd begun to see glimpses of the real James, the one who cracked under the pressure of being the future leader of his guild, the one who relished in the glow of popularity, but was still lonely from all the lying. And this person—who'd stuck by my side over the past few weeks, who cared about my sisters and my college applications, was the one I'd stupidly fallen for.
"Will you come sit with me?" James asked, not meeting my gaze. "At the tear? Until it's time?"
I reached through the barrier and took his hand. "Sure."
Unsurprisingly, it was still cold in March in Massachusetts, but I cast a warming charm on my shirt and settled in next to James. The tear was as violent as ever, but the old fear of the man who lay on the other side of it was tempered. I'd overcome that particular fear, thanks to James.
He wore a pensive look, the lines tense around his mouth as his gaze swept from the tear to the darkening beach. The dull, gray waves proved a better scene than the pristine green waters of the gulf, punctuated by a crackle or hiss from the writhing magical tear in front of us.
"I think I'm going to miss this," he said, breaking an almost twenty-minute silence.
"What?"
"The sun setting. I'd never seen it before until I came here. It's really beautiful."
Breathing shallowly, I reached over and took his hand. "You're going to be able to come back."
He glanced at our joined hands and smiled. "It's that, and it's also…I just keep imagining that Cyrus will come up with some backwards plan to force me to fight Gavon," he said, chewing the nail on his other hand. "That's what he does, you know? He finds your weakness, exploits it, and then makes you do his bidding. And—"
I gently reached up to pull his hand down. "He can't make you do anything you don't want to. You can choose not to challenge Gavon after the induction. And he, and the rest of the Guild, will have to accept your decision. What are they gonna do? There aren't any other Warriors to take your place." I swallowed. "Right?"
"Not that I'm aware of," James said. "But—"
"Stop worrying," I said with a shrug. "That's my job."
"Your paranoia has rubbed off on me."
We descended into silence again, and as the seconds ticked by and he didn't drop my hand, my pulse sped up. Was he holding on because because he needed comfort or because he wanted comfort from me specifically?
These thoughts were idiotic, especially in light of what James was worried about.
"I'm gonna miss you," he said quietly.
"Stop it." I rolled my eyes to keep the shock off my face. "It's not like the tear's gonna close for—"
He yanked our clasped hands and suddenly I was in his arms. I froze, because if I moved, I might wake up. James rested his cheek on my forehead and released a loud breath.
"I'm taking it as a good sign that you haven't blown me into the water."
I chuckled and relaxed just a little. "I might, still."
"You won't."
I lifted my head to look at him. "You know me so well?"
He didn't respond, but his eyes danced as they looked into mine. I waited for the nervous voice, the one that would tell me this was a terrible idea and I should back away while I still had the chance. But even it was silent in the face of James' sincere eyes and the sound of the tear crackling before us.
"Lexie, I…"
"What's the big deal?" I whispered, but only because I had no air. "You kissed me in New York, remember?"
"Oh yeah."
His lips brushed mine. Unlike in New York, which had been shocking and over quickly, this kiss lingered. I savored the experience, from the way his lips felt against mine, to the way his scent filled my brain, to the way my magic moved against his. And it was unique—our own special connection. I relaxed into his arms, and my magic moved against his, earning me a breathy chuckle.
"I've never made out with another Warrior before," he said against my lips. "What are you doing?"
"I have no idea."
He recaptured my lips, and this time, his tongue slid between my lips. I was sure I was doing it all wrong, but he didn't seem to care. His magic pushed against mine, and mine pushed back, until not-uncomfortable feelings started stirring in my stomach.
I broke the kiss first, these new feelings taking me down a path I wasn't sure I wanted to go yet. I licked my lips and regretted it, as they tasted like him still.
"I'm glad I got to do that before…"
I finally looked at him. His lips were red, as were his cheeks, but there was a bittersweet look about him.
"You're gonna be allowed back," I replied with just a hint of exasperation.
"But just in case I'm not…I'm glad." His eyes pierced mine as he spoke, his voice rough and full of emotion. "I, James Riley, request induction into the New Salem Warrior's Guild."
Just like that, he released me and stood, facing the tear. He didn't look back as he walked through it, leaving me with the ghost of his lips on mine.
James didn't show up at school the next day, sending my already frayed nerves into overdrive. I'd spent most of the night dreaming about all the horrible things that could've gone wrong (as well as spending more than a little time thinking about all the new feelings he'd stirred up). So as first period turned to second and he didn't show, then lunch and he didn't show, and then the day was over and he'd missed the entire day…
There was probably a logical explanation for it, but the anxious voice in my mind had taken all his fears and wound them up into a knot of panic in my stomach. I fidgeted and chewed my thumb. I barely paid attention in class. I even half-considered going to the tear and finding him myself, before the rational half of my brain reminded me what a stupid idea that was.
By the end of the day, I was exhausted from worrying and on the verge of tears. I wanted a nap, I wanted to—
I stopped, dropping my backpack. James sat under the oak tree in front of my house, napping in the early afternoon shade. As I approached, he cracked open an eye then let out a large yawn.
"Took you long enough," he said, checking the time on his phone. "You're late."
"Didn't realize we had an appointment," I replied, unable to keep the smile off my face. "So…?"
"I'm in the Guild," he said, pushing himself to stand slowly. "And Gavon says he wants me to continue learning over here." He shrugged. "Who am I to argue with my Guildmaster?"
I laughed, both in happiness that I'd have James for a few more months and that he'd resisted the urge to claim the title from Gavon. But I didn't run to him like I wanted to. Marie's voice sang in the back of my mind, egging me on to kiss him, but I remained where I was. I wasn't completely sure where we stood on that.
"I'm glad you're back. Things have been boring without you."
"Yeah. And you know, Gavon even mentioned he might want me to attend college." His happy smile turned into a smirk as he drew closer. "Tells me he can magically enroll me in a certain school—"
I shot him an icy glare. "Don't you dare."
"What, you don't want me to show you up in every class at Georgetown?"
"Like you could handle Georgetown. Please."
Despite my smile, I was panicking. Not because James was back or going to cheat his way into Georgetown. But because if Gavon allowed him to be in my life permanently…
"So…about what happened before I left…" he said, as if reading my mind. "I'm sorry if—"
"No, no…I understand." I chewed my lip, desperate to get off this conversation before my heart broke any more.
"I hope I didn't freak you out."
"N-No way…"
"So you wanna do it again?"
Something loud cracked in my mind, and I lost the ability to speak. Finally, I forced out, "You mean, like…as friends?"
His face flushed. "No, as…not friends?"
"O…oh."
"It's okay if you don't want to, but…"
"N-no!" What is happening? "I mean, I just…I don't…"
"You're inexperienced, I know."
My awkwardness evaporated and I glared at him. "You ass."
Instead of responding, he transported himself right in front of me. Before I could yell at him for using magic without checking, he took my cheeks in his hands and kissed me.
Full-lipped, open-mouthed, hands-on-face kissed me. Shock froze me at first, but it melted away. Somewhere between his tongue and his magic and his hands, I accepted this strange new reality. It was obvious how James convinced so many girls to date him (Gah, don't think about that right now), he was an expert kisser. Whereas I was—
"You kiss like you wield magic," he said with a shake of his head. "You think too much."
"Thanks for the—"
He kissed me again, this time soft, sweet, quick. "I've got to get back home."
"Do you?"
"You aren't gonna let me through that barrier, are you?"
My eyes grew wide and I used magic to smack him in the shoulder. "Pig."
He chuckled, but then sobered a little. "Look, let's just…not think too hard about this right now. I like what's happening." He turned his head in confusion. "Do you?"
Knowing I was going to sound like an idiot, I replied, "I guess I'm still a little confused what's happening."
"I like you."
"Oh."
"It's okay, I know you like me, too," he replied, with a self-satisfied smirk.
"And how do you know that?" I asked, still scrambling to find my footing in this conversation.
"I can read you like a book. See you at school tomorrow." He bent his head once more to kiss me before disappearing in a puff of green smoke, leaving me standing beneath the oak tree confused, exhilarated, and a little bit excited.