For most of the morning I floated to my classes. For the first time in a while I felt I had something to smile about. There was always one of the Archaic trailing behind me. Stacy and Kennedy had wanted to know everything and I'd given them enough details to feed their hunger for information.

From the beginning they'd suspected he'd had a thing for me so they were happy that things had worked out for me. Anyone with two eyes could see how happy I was.

"So, how does he kiss?" Only Stacy would ask something like that. I just smiled. It was hard to put into words what his kisses did to me.

"Okay, no need to give me any details, I can see from that smile on your face his kisses do crazy things to you," she teased.

"You're so lucky," Kennedy sighed with dreamy eyes.

News of the two of us dating had gotten around the school already, which accounted for the glares I was getting from some of the girls in the school. I left Stacy and Kennedy to go to my locker, telling them I would meet them in the cafeteria when I was done.

I was standing in front of my locker, organizing my books, when I felt familiar arms wrap around my waist. I leaned back slightly, loving the feel.

"Hey," Jared whispered into my ear, and I felt a shiver of awareness. I turned to smile at him and he pressed a kiss to my lips.

"Hey," I said, turning to face him, still feeling a fuzzy and warm feeling in my stomach as I looked up at him. He looked more carefree than usual; maybe that was because of me. I liked him this way.

"Are you ready for lunch?" he asked as he eyed out my open locker.

"Yes," I said while I turned and closed it.

He held my hand in his and walked me to the cafeteria. It felt like everyone turned to watch us as we walked into the cafeteria holding hands. Most of the looks were glares, but some were of curiosity. They were probably thinking, What the hell is he doing with her? Honestly, I didn't blame them.

Jared walked me to my usual table where my friends were already seated. Stacy and Kennedy sat next to each other on the one side. There were only two seats on the opposite side and Andrew already occupied one of them. I usually sat next to Andrew. I wasn't sure what to do.

Jared let go of my hand and I watched him walk to a table nearby. I saw him say something to the guys sitting at the table and then he picked up the empty chair and carried it to our table. So he was sitting with us now.

He motioned for me to sit in the chair he had just gotten and then he sat down in the chair next to Andrew, effectively putting himself between the two of us. He was acting a little possessive. Stacy and Kennedy shared a look. They raised their eyebrows at me and I shrugged. I didn't know how to handle the situation. Jared had no reason to be jealous. Andrew was my friend and nothing more. I would have to assure him that I didn't have those types of feelings for Andrew. What I felt for Jared was so intense it scared me. It went way past just liking him, but I wasn't ready to consider what that meant.

Andrew watched Jared as he pressed a kiss to my cheek.

"Can I talk to you?" Andrew asked him.

Jared turned to eye him out before nodding his head.

Andrew got up and walked out of the cafeteria and Jared followed closely behind. I saw the nervous energy around the nearby table where the Archaic sat. Tyler and Danny watched the scene closely. I was about to get up to make sure their little discussion didn't turn into a physical discussion that included fists, knowing it wouldn't be a fair fight. Stacy grabbed my hand and stopped me. "Let them sort it out."

Reluctantly, I sat back down. I was feeling so nervous I felt physically sick. It felt like forever, but it had only probably been ten minutes. I was seriously contemplating going to find them when Jared reentered the cafeteria and Andrew followed. I wasn't the only one who was relieved. The Archaic had been just as nervous and I could see the tension easing from their features. I glanced back to Jared and Andrew. It didn't look like their discussion had gotten physical.

Jared gave me a smirk and I felt my stomach flip.

They both sat back down at the table and started talking about football.

What the hell?

Boys were just weird. I was worried about them trading fists and now they were talking about sports like they were friends. It was the strangest thing ever. I didn't understand.

It was at the end of lunch as Jared walked me out of the cafeteria that I pulled him to the side.

"What happened?" I asked, wanting to know what had been said.

"Nothing, we just sorted out a misunderstanding," he explained vaguely.

"What misunderstanding?" I questioned further. I was getting annoyed because all I wanted was a straight answer.

"He told me there was nothing going on between the two of you and that he just considered you a good friend. I must admit I was angry this morning when I found out from Tyler that you got a lift with Andrew this morning. After what we'd discussed this weekend, I thought we were clear about where we stood with each other. Clearly I was wrong," he further explained.

"You hadn't made it clear at all. I didn't get a lift with Andrew this morning to make you jealous or anything like that."

He studied me for a moment.

"Okay, but in the future I'll be the one picking you up and dropping you off for school. It's my duty as your boyfriend," he stated in a teasing tone. Just the sound of the word boyfriend on his lips pulled at that part of me that felt more than I probably should. He took my hand and started to walk me to my next class.

"He also warned me," he added with a slight shake of his head, like what he was about to tell me he found slightly amusing.

"What did he say?"

"He told me that if I hurt you, he would beat the shit out of me." His smile grew.

"Oh. Why are you smiling?"

"Because, firstly, I won't hurt you and, secondly, I wouldn't lose a fight to him," he whispered to me confidently.

I hoped he was right about the not hurting me part. I didn't know if I'd survive emotionally if he hurt me. This love thing was great when everything was going well, but I had a feeling it could drag me down to the depths of despair if it didn't. Time would tell.

Surprisingly I managed to stay emotional for most of the school day. It was only in my last period of the day when the emotionless state crept in. I didn't have any of the Archaic in this class. Realizing there was only twenty minutes left of the lesson, I decided I had to move quickly if I was going to have a chance to escape.

I felt the familiar need to find Mason. I couldn't wait till the end of the lesson, because someone would be waiting for me outside my class. It would either be Jared or one of the other Archaic. I raised my hand.

"Yes, Ava?" my teacher asked.

"I'm not feeling well. Can I go to the bathroom?" I asked calmly. She nodded her head and I walked out of the classroom. A quick scan of the hallway told me that I was alone, so I hurried to the bathroom.

I didn't want to walk out the front door of the school. I also couldn't be sure that Jared hadn't posted someone outside.

Luckily I was on the ground floor, so when I entered the girls' restroom, I went straight to the window. With a bit of force I managed to open the window. It probably hadn't been opened in a while. I turned the trashcan upside down and stood on it. I peered outside but I didn't see anyone there. Now was my chance. I climbed through the window.

I dropped softly on the grass outside the bathroom window. I walked quickly toward the road closest to me, my eyes scanning for any sign of the person that every cell in my body hummed for.

Mason.

Suddenly he was there in front of me. His pale blue eyes connected with mine. There was no fear as he reached for my hand and took it into his, pulling me along with him. The moment our fingers touched, I felt a completeness engulf me.

Although we were calm, there was a certain urgency to escape before the Archaic realized I was missing. In my mind, I remembered the pain he'd inflicted on me. I should have felt fear but didn't.

He pulled me toward a white SUV. I wasn't sure what type it was because I didn't know much about cars. He opened the passenger side and pushed me in. He quickly climbed into the driver's side and pulled away so fast that the wheels squealed. I didn't look back; I was where I belonged.

We didn't say a word to each other as he drove away from the school. There were no words needed. The burning need was gone and in its place was a feeling of belonging. I looked straight ahead as I watched the scenery around us. He wasn't leaving the town. I wasn't exactly sure where we were, but it didn't matter—as long as I was with him, I was content.

Jared was forgotten.