LOOK at me! That twice in one week? Woo...I'm on a roll.  Hope you like the latest installment. :)

Lydia groaned and let the door close. She wouldn't chase after me. If she didn't grab a piece of fruit or something from the cafeteria before class, her hypoglycemia would kick in, and she'd be shaking by lunchtime.

Shifting my weight, I swayed from one foot to the other. I leaned hard on my left leg and Jake mirrored me, then at the last excruciating moment, I deked around him. I bolted for the door, my ankle screaming in pain. Before I got halfway to the entrance, Jake reappeared blocking my path, right in front of the door. He was quick, I'd give him that. My only options left were to go through him, go around him, or God help me—face him.

None of those appealed to me, but I wasn't backing down. My throbbing ankle screamed for me to stop. I ignored the pain and ran full speed at Jake, hoping he'd dodge out of my way. I threw out my hand and reached for the door handle.

Jake smirked, squared his stance and held out his arms ready to prevent my escape. With the difference in our size, if he were in the flesh, I would've needed a bulldozer to move him.

My fingers brushed the metal latch, and a firm tug around my waist yanked me off my feet. What the?

"Got ya." He chuckled.

The school's brick walls and planters dimmed. His arms wrapped tight around me. How the hell did he do that? Astral plane blue tinted our surroundings, and the glow of my sword strapped to my back pushed the darkness away. I squirmed trying to breach his hold. He let out a triumphant laugh and pulled me closer.

"Jake McGee, let me go right now!"

His earthy musk scent laced the air and threatened to break my resolve. God, he smelled good. His muscular chest pressed against my back, and he breathed softly against my neck sending shivers down my arms.

He brushed my ear with the tip of his nose. "Now, if you promise to behave and not use that sword of yours, I'll let you go."

"No. I'm not telling you anything."

"Suit yourself. I have forever, you, on the other hand, are going to be late for class. And who teaches that class?" he said in a sarcastic tone.

Given we were both in first class together, he knew exactly who taught it—Mrs. Kennedy, and after last night's escapades, her tolerance for tardiness would be equal the grand sum of zero.

Jake adjusted his grip like he was preparing to hold me all day if necessary. Even though I wasn't facing him, I knew he a had a big smirk plastered on his face.

"You wouldn't dare."

"Maybe not yesterday—but today?" His breath tickled my skin as he spoke. "Anything's possible. How about you turn around and give me a chance?"

A chance to what, shatter the few remaining pieces of my heart already overcome by guilt? "What do you want from me?"

His fingers slid overtop mine. "You should've told me."

I licked my lips and swallowed. "I already said I'd help you."

"That's not what I meant, and you know it." He released his grip and took hold of my fingers.

"You don't have to pretend to like me." I spun, to face him but he wasn't quite ready to let me go and held my fingers in his.

"Who's pretending?" His lips brushed the top of my hand.

My throat went dry and my face flushed with heat. "Yesterday, I was invisible, but today?"

"That's not fair." He hung his head and stared at his feet, then looked up at me through his dark lashes. "I never know what to say around girls. It's not like I've dated anyone at Crossroads."

He isn't having any problem communicating now.

"Besides, what guy wouldn't notice a badass chick toting a glowing sword? I think half the male population at school has dreamt about that." The corners of his lips turned up into a grin, and he bowed his head, not taking his sight off of me. "So forgive me, M'lady, if I find your radiance most distracting."

"This isn't Comic-Con—it's my freaking messed up life. So stop making fun of me."

"I wasn't, believe me. I know exactly how real this is."

He winced and dragged his right hand from his pocket, then scooped my hand in his. My pale fingers rested in his melted burnt palm.

"Oh, Jake..." My eyes went wide, and I gasped. "That looks painful. Does it hurt?"

Another piece of my heart crumbled. How did I miss that? I'm so stupid. He tossed me my sword when we faced the garm, trying to protect me. He was lucky to have his hand after touching its handle. I cupped his hand in mine, wishing I could take away the pain, fix everything back to the way it was.

"Maybe a bit."

The way he'd gingerly taken his hand from his pocket I knew he'd understated that claim.

How about I leave the sword wielding to you?" He thumbed a tear from my cheek. "Besides, I always thought I'd make a great spy and being invisible has its advantages."

Brrring! The bell echoed off the brick walls.

Jake looked up at the metal speaker and sighed. Five minutes to get to class or I might wish there was a dungeon at school.

He led me by my hand through the doors to the alcove students had dubbed, Kisser's Cove. The little nook made it a favorite place for couples to hideout, shielded from onlookers.

"Jake, I—" I hesitated at the entrance.

His eyes sparkled with mischievous intent. "What, afraid?"

Petrified. Two days ago if he'd invited me here, my answer would've been different. But today?

"I can't." I could only imagine how many rules I'd be breaking.

"I like you." He cupped his hand to the side of his mouth and tilted his head as if letting me in on a secret. "Like—like you, like you. And I think you're into me, at least that what everyone says."

I shuffled my feet and looked at the ground. I didn't know what to say.

"I can wait for an answer, but until then—" He nudged me with his shoulder and pointed toward the area in the cove hidden from view. "Visibility is sort of essential for being marked present for class."

I nudged him back. "If someone hadn't yanked me into another dimension, that wouldn't be an issue. You're just lucky there was no one else in the courtyard."

"Or what? You'd teach me a lesson?" An amused smile spread across his face. "In Kisser's Cove?"

"Jake!" I swatted him with my hand.

He let out a soft chuckle and smiled. "Come on. I wouldn't be a guy if I didn't try."

I stepped back out of view and pulled the warmth of world over me like a blanket, letting each cell prickle with light. When the heaviness of gravity grounded me and the blue haze had dissipated, I knew I was back.

"I'm going to skip first class and do a little snooping around Kennedy's office. Maybe I can find something about the other student who passed away."

With his long legs, he was already five feet in front of me when he started walking backward. "I'll meet you after class."

He strolled down the hall, humming the Spiderman theme song and wiggling his fingers ready to use his new ghostly superpowers.

I couldn't help let out a laugh. "You're such a geek," I hollered down the empty hallway after him.

Without looking back, he threw his hand in the air and waved. "Geeky's the new cool."

Then he disappeared through a wall. 

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