The Gathering (Darkness Rising 1)

"You don't give up, do you?"

"Nope, so you might as well surrender now."

"And that's exactly what will make you back off, isn't it?"

He arched his brows, as if he had no idea what I was talking about.

"You like the chase," I said. "But once you get a girl, you back off before you can collect the prize. Kind of missing the point, I think."

"Huh. You're right. Tell you what, go out with me and you can show me how it's done."

I'd walked right into that. I headed to the empty classroom, set my books on my desk, and opened the blinds for Mrs. Morris.

Rafe sat on the edge of a desk. "You're right. I chase hard, but once I get to know a girl, I realize she's not right for me." He met my gaze, his eyes earnest and soulful. "I guess I haven't found the one I'm looking for."

I sputtered a laugh. "And you think I might be it. The girl you've been yearning for. Dreaming of. Your soul mate." I laughed even harder and shook my head. "Please tell me that line doesn't actually work on--"

"Rafael ..." said a voice from the door. "I should have known. Cornering girls in classrooms so they can't run away. Desperate. And kind of pathetic."

As Sam walked in, every trace of good humor drained from Rafe's face. The look he gave her sent a chill through me. And I don't chill easily.

"I'm talking to Maya," he said, his voice so low it was almost a growl.

r /> "Um, no, you're stalking her."

His whole body went rigid at that. His gaze flitted my way.

"We were just talking," I said. I didn't mean to defend him, but there was something about the way Sam lobbed her insults that got my back up.

"Well, I need to talk to you now, so ..." She flicked her fingers at Rafe. "Shoo. I saw a bunch of eighth graders outside. They're probably more your speed."

Rafe looked at me. "Is she harassing you?"

Sam choked on a laugh. "Me? Seriously? Dude, you're the one doing the harassing, and I'd suggest you give it a rest before Daniel rips you a new one. Which would be fun to watch, but I'd hate to see him get into trouble for taking out trash like--"

"Okay," I said, lifting my hands. "Enough. Rafe? I'm fine. I need to talk to Sam. I'll see you in class."

As he left, Rafe shot Sam the kind of look you'd give a rabid dog. What had she done to him? Maybe she'd spooked him with her crazy bitch routine, only he didn't look spooked. He looked pissed.

While I cleaned the board, Sam settled onto a desk and stomped her boots on the chair, dirt showering the seat. "What a freaking loser."

"What's up, Sam?"

"I saw you guys talking to a woman in the parking lot. Nicole said she's a reporter, asking questions about us. How we all got here, if any of us weren't born here. Nic says she's really interested in the ones that weren't. You, me, Rafe ..."

"Probably hoping we'll be less attached to the town and more likely to spill secrets. Why? Do you have outstanding assault warrants somewhere?"

"Ha-ha."

Actually, it wouldn't surprise me at all if Sam had a juvie record. She was even quicker with her fists than Daniel and, unlike him, she didn't try to hold back.

"So did she say anything to you?" Sam asked.

"About you?"

"About any of us. The ones who weren't born here."

Which wasn't what she meant at all. I could tell by the way her gaze shifted to the left. I walked over and lowered my voice.