Cursed Hearts (A Crossroads Novel) Read online

  Rome felt the metal at his back disappear as he spun them around so fast it left him dizzy. He’d put so much force behind the blow that Kaleb was now pinched between him and crushed steel.

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” he said.

  “I wouldn’t mind if you did.” Rome tried to pull away and Kaleb grabbed him, digging his fingers into his hips and tugging him against his body. “You can hurt me if you want to.”

  “I don’t want to,” he said, trying to make himself believe it, trying to make himself let go. The only thing Rome could think was that he didn’t want to be the very thing they created him to be. It was that thought alone that dulled the impulses firing in his brain – the ones making his teeth ache and his stomach feel like a black hole.

  “I’m not their puppet, and I’m definitely not your plaything.”

  “Maybe I’m offering to be yours.”

  “Do you have a death wish?” Rome asked. He tilted his head down, staring dangerously up into his eyes.

  Kaleb clenched his jaw, cheek twitching.

  “Don’t flatter yourself,” he breathed. “I’m not so easy to kill.” He shoved him back, stalking off down the hall. The game was over for him. The fun had reached its end. Now Rome was just pissing him off.

  ***

  Rome stepped onto the fourth floor with resignation. It had taken him several minutes to calm himself down after the altercation with Kaleb. That, and about a gallon of soap to wash away the blood under his nails.

  Even now, he could smell it.

  Rome wasn’t really concerned with seeing the Dean. He still felt like what he’d said was right, and he didn’t regret his choice to speak up in the slightest. Still, he knew getting kicked out of class on his first day was going to leave a lasting impression. The Dean’s assistant told him to wait in the teacher’s lounge, which was where he found himself sitting for what felt like forever. He was almost ready to fall asleep when he noticed Christian walking out of the counselor’s office. He reeked. The peculiar scent was so strong that Rome could actually smell it from across the room. His shirt was even off a button – a small, yet noticeable, detail.

  “Hey,” Rome said, watching him storm past. He sat there staring after him for a moment before getting up and wandering into the counselor’s office. There was a small waiting area up front and two doors just a ways behind it. One was open, and he could see an older woman sorting through tall stacks of papers at her desk.

  The other, however, was closed.

  Rome hesitated for a moment before walking right up to the door and opening it without warning. He stood there with his hand clutched around the handle, staring at a man latching his belt.

  “Sorry,” he muttered, turning to close the door as abruptly as he’d opened it. He blinked back the information trying to invade his brain. Had he really just seen what he thought he’d seen? He took a shaky breath, pushing away from the door just before it opened at his back.

  “Can I help you?” the man asked.

  “No,” he replied.

  He didn’t turn around. He didn’t say another word. He just left.

  Chapter 7

  Christian hated soup. He’d had enough of it growing up. It didn’t matter if it was homemade, or from a five star restaurant; he despised the stuff. Why he’d chosen it today was anyone’s guess. He glanced down at the brown muck on his lunch tray, letting his spoon slip into the mixture with a sigh. He was trying not to think about this morning. Trying, and failing. He picked up his fork, watching it descend into the bowl with the rest of his silverware. This was going to be a very long year.

  “Hey, how are the prospects looking?” Dallas said, plopping down beside him. Christian leaned away, uncomfortable with his proximity.

  “I got a little someone in mind,” he said.

  “Anyone I know?”

  “I doubt it. She’s a girl from my grade.”

  “I thought you only went after older girls? She must be…” Dallas smoothed his hands in the air, making the silhouette of a girl with the movement of his palms.

  “Dallas, you are always a welcome distraction,” he laughed.

  “Distraction?”

  Christian waved a hand dismissively at him. “I’ll admit, she’s cute, but I’m only going after her because that guy, Rome, likes her.”

  Dallas stopped smiling.

  “Point her out,” he said, his voice deceptively calm.

  Christian frowned, turning in his seat to point at Aria. “She’s the redhead.” Dallas smacked him right over the back of the skull.

  “Ow! What gives?”

  “Find a new target.”

  “I can’t; I’m like a torpedo. Once I latch on there’s no stopping me… until the moment of impact,” he grinned. Dallas looked like at any moment he was going to spontaneously combust.

  “Something’s going to impact, alright.”

  “What, do you got dibs or something?”

  Dallas thought about it for a second. If he was smart, he’d say yes. Then again, knowing Christian, he might take it as a challenge.

  “What was the first rule I taught you?”

  “Don’t go after girls who have brothers. She doesn’t, I checked.”

  “Well you got your facts wrong.”

  “Impossible.” Christian sat there in silence for a moment, letting himself buy into Dallas’s conspiracy. “Who?” he asked.

  Dallas jabbed a thumb toward himself. “You’re lookin’ at him.”

  A singular laugh crept up Christian’s throat. “You are not her brother. I know for a fact that you don’t have any siblings, and you are definitely not a redhead.”

  “I was adopted?” Dallas tried.

  The smile fell from Christian’s face. Dallas had struck a nerve and he didn’t even know it. “How about the truth,” he said.

  “…She’s my neighbor.”

  “Do you have any other neighbors I should know about? Seriously, Dallas, you know that doesn’t count.”

  “Alright, new rule: You can’t sleep with anyone I say you can’t sleep with.”

  “Nice try, but no. Don’t worry; I’ll show her a good time. Besides, wouldn’t you rather have it be me than—” Speak of the devil. Christian lifted his chin, nodding towards Rome as he walked into the cafeteria. “Than that,” he finished.

  “I don’t want it to be either of you. In fact, I think I just solved my own problem. I’ll just tell her what a player you are.” Dallas poked Christian on the chest, feeling smug and satisfied. There was no way he was getting around that.

  “If you want to help me out, go ahead, be my guest. Whatever you tell her to do she’s going to do the exact opposite.” Christian wasn’t entirely sure that was true, but he didn’t let his mask of confidence slip once. If he was lucky, Dallas might even put in a good word for him. Never underestimate the power of reverse psychology, he thought with a smile.

  ***

  Rome’s boots tapped against the tile as he approached, drawing Ariahna’s attention. He pulled out a chair, dropping into it and folding his arms over his chest. “Were classes really that bad?” she asked. Rome looked perturbed, and she had the sense that there was more behind his unrest than just a difficult teacher. Then again, it was kind of hard to tell; he always had that thoughtful look on his face. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s nothing,” he muttered.

  He didn’t know what else to say. He was dealing with a conflict that wasn’t even his own, and the fact that he could see Christian sitting across the cafeteria wasn’t helping him any. It was bad enough that he’d spent three of his classes worrying about a guy he didn’t even like. He certainly didn’t want to think about it with him staring at him.

  “Do you maybe want to get out of here?”

  “Sure,” Aria mumbled.

  Rome stood wordlessly, walking off towards the back doors that led out into the courtyard. Ariahna hurried after him as he slowed to wait for her. He really just needed some time to work throug
h this, away from everyone else. He found it a little funny that he wasn’t excluding her from that list. Rome held the door as she stepped out onto the sea of cement. Several stone tables littered the area. Other than a small collection of kids here and there, the place was mostly deserted. Apparently not many people ate lunch out here. Everyone who did seemed like they’d be his kind of crowd, if he was the crowd type. He hung a left around the side of the building, stalking past the track and making a beeline for the Performing Arts building.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Does it matter?” Rome asked.

  She didn’t reply.

  He took a moment to stop outside the building, turning around and pressing his back against the double doors. “Do you trust me?”

  “…Yes,” she whispered, surprising herself with the sincerity in that word. She watched Rome curiously as he pressed down on the handle. It jarred him a little, making an unappreciative sound. “It’s locked,” she said.

  Rome smiled at her, letting the door swing open behind him. “Really? Are you sure about that?” He reached out, offering her his hand.

  Ariahna peered inside before darting a paranoid look around to make sure no one was watching. The building was supposed to be locked, and they definitely weren’t supposed to be going inside. But she’d never had much fun doing what she was supposed to do. She took his hand and he tugged her eagerly after him. They went racing down the corridor in a burst of spontaneity, smiling as their feet slapped against the sparkling floor. The sound of her quiet giggling echoed eerily off the walls.

  Rome could hear her heart hammering in her chest. He could feel the nervous sensation of butterflies flitting around in her stomach. He was bathing in her excitement, her fear. It left his skin tingling. He rounded a corner and stopped, finally finding what he’d been looking for. The exterior of the music classroom was just a small wooden door with a glass viewing window and the name of the class painted over it in golden letters. He was hoping the inside would be a bit more impressive. Rome turned to Aria with a grin, cradling her hand still gently in his own as he backed towards the room, drawing her along with him.

  She was gazing into his deep blue eyes, and without her realizing it, he had gotten her backed against the door. Aria parted her lips in a subtle suggestion of what she’d like to come next.

  Rome brushed a palm down the length of her arm, caressing her softly and then threading their fingers together. Their joined hands dangled on either side of their lightly touching bodies.

  “I really want to kiss you right now.”

  “What’s stopping you?” she whispered.

  Rome leaned in, admiring her beautiful face as the distance between them grew smaller and smaller. He wanted this, badly, but he also wanted it to be right. He stopped a millimeter from her lips, so close the phantom sensation of touch was tickling across his skin. This had to last, he thought. He had to make this moment last.

  Ariahna was standing so very still, waiting so patiently that her chest was aching. She needed him to kiss her. It was all she’d been thinking about since the first moment they’d met. Rome pulled away abruptly, and the air left her lungs in a shudder of disappointment. But then, he was pressing his lips against her neck and sending a spark of heat, a slow building fire, spreading through her.

  Rome was kissing over her silky skin, each gentle touch like a silent promise. They were sharing secrets with their bodies, and his was telling her that he… he loved her. The realization was enough to leave him terrified, shaking, and desperate to express this overwhelming and unexpected affection. How was this even possible? They’d just met, and yet he felt as if he’d been missing her all his life – waiting for her to find him and make him feel this complete. A trail of slow, passionate kisses was leading him to his ultimate goal – the perfect curve of her lips. He traced her jawline with his mouth, and as he did, he could feel her trembling against him.

  Ariahna felt like she was falling, tumbling down a bottomless well of desire. It felt like he was the only solid thing she had to hold on to. Her fingers curled tightly over the back of his hands as a soft sound passed over her lips. And then he was pressing his mouth to hers, swallowing her hot breath and the beginnings of a plea. He was warming her from the inside out, lighting some long dead fire in her soul. His lips were soft, his jaw strong as it worked against hers. She was losing herself.

  Rome leaned in close, their bodies melding together against the door. He went to brush his tongue into her mouth as she parted her lips to let him in. They kissed in wet, gentle strokes, exploring each other without hurry. He slipped his hands away, letting them come to rest along the curve of her jaw. He felt her fingers clutching at the fabric of his shirt a moment later, pulling him even closer. They were already flush against one another, and yet it was as if she knew that it still didn’t feel close enough.

  The soft sound of a piano started seeping through the door, and Aria was smiling as it wrapped them up in its sweet, magical embrace. They were floating away with the notes dancing in the air, swept up in feelings of elation. She’d never been this close to anything so radiant. Kissing him was like soaring into the sun. She was burning alive right now, and nothing had ever felt better.

  Chapter 8

  Rome ripped open the folding glass door to one of the buses that had been left out in the parking lot for the field trip.

  “I can’t believe we just ran!” Aria whispered.

  “I wasn’t sticking around for that. Did you see the look on her face? I didn’t think anyone would actually be there.”

  “Anyone but us, you mean.” She hurried down the center aisle, quickly finding a seat in the back. He sat beside her and she wriggled down on the bench until the top of her head was nearly hidden.

  “What are you doing?” he laughed.

  “She could be looking for us.”

  “Somehow I doubt the music teacher is on the hunt for us. That’s probably above her pay grade. Besides, we weren’t doing anything wrong.”

  “If we weren’t doing anything wrong, then why did you run?”

  “Just because you didn’t commit a crime doesn’t mean you should hang around to be interrogated by the police.”

  Ariahna frowned at him.

  She reached up and grabbed him by his tie, tugging him down. “You should at least try and hide. Just in case,” she said, peeking out the window. “You know, we’re not exactly supposed to be here, either. If you were trying to avoid getting in trouble, running from one place you’re not supposed to be to another is a little counterproductive.”

  “Yeah, but it’s fun, isn’t it?” Rome twisted towards her, leaning in and smiling as she slid back against the window. He very much wanted to pick up where they’d left off. He licked his lips as he stared back at her.

  “You taste like vanilla,” he smiled.

  Aria blushed, swallowing around the lump in her throat. The next thing she knew his lips were on hers. She let out a startled moan, pressing her hands to his chest. “What are you doing?” she breathed.

  “…Kissing you? Do you not want me to?”

  She sat there uncertainly as a contemplative sound wiggled its way up her throat. His breath was gentle and hot against her skin, distracting her from the fact that they probably shouldn’t be doing this. After all, she didn’t even know him. She brushed her fingers over the soft stubble on his cheek, caressing his skin as he smiled against her palm. She looked up into his eyes as soon as she realized she’d been staring at his lips. It wasn’t until then that she noticed he’d been doing the same.

  Her lips came crashing over his without warning, completely stealing his breath. She was pulling him against her and making him practically climb over her to get closer. They were two seconds away from ending up sprawled across the seat with her on her back and him pressed on top of her.

  What they didn’t know was that Christian was standing just outside the bus with his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed. The sight of them kissing
was nearly enough to make him want to puke. He liked a challenge, but chasing after her now meant finding a way to distract Rome. Christian knew that until he did, the real fun couldn’t begin.

  He smirked when he saw Eliza walking out to her car. She was hands down the most popular girl in school, and for good reason. If her long legs and golden skin weren’t enough to make you drool, she had the figure of a model and the attitude to match.

  “Thank you,” he muttered towards the sky.

  “Eliza,” Christian called out. It was clearly the voice of someone who wanted something. “I see the summer sun has treated you well.”

  Eliza sighed at his lame compliment, not bothering to stop or turn to face him. “Not now, Christian.”

  “That’s not what you said the last time we talked,” he said, slipping himself against the door of her car.

  “Move,” Eliza said blandly. “I don’t have time for your games.”

  “What, is there a shoe sale in town?”

  “As a matter of fact…”

  “I’m cashing in on that little debt you owe me,” he explained. “Unless you want me to tell daddy you were the one who crashed his car.”

  “If you recall, that was Dallas, not me.”

  “And who gave him the keys?”

  Eliza relented. “What do you want?”

  “I need you to go after someone.”

  “Who?” she asked.

  “Rome Navarro.”

  “Not a chance.”

  Christian sighed. “You don’t have to actually do anything with him, I just need something pretty to keep him preoccupied.”

  “What’s your angle?”

  “What else?” he said, smiling lasciviously.

  “Right, stupid question,” she breathed. “Fine, I’ll do it. But this squares us, you got it? Don’t come to me looking for any other favors.”

  “Not even sexual favors?” he laughed.

  Eliza shoved him on the shoulder for the comment.

  “Stop, I’m going to get excited. You know I like it rough.”

  “So are you going to give me anything else to go on other than a name and a sense of nausea?”