Page 10 of Bring me Back

He was gorgeous, with floppy light brown hair, a shadow of a beard and muscular build. His hands were gigantic when he brushed the hair out of his face and the corner of his eyes had wrinkles from smiling. More than being annoyingly good looking, his eyes were observant. My breath got caught just when he looked in my direction, like he was taking notes on my next move.

“I might need to add a few things to the school order. Principal made a mess with orders this year.”

“Just bring it over whenever you can,” Dad replied.

I cleared my throat. “I’m going in. Thanks again for the ride, Dad.”

Dad shook his blond head. “Don’t worry, bug. Call me if you need a ride home.”

“I can give her a ride.”

I caught myself before glaring at Miller, because I didn’t need any rides. The school was ten minutes walking distance to Dad’s house. Also, it felt weird to get into the car of a stranger. And Daniel Miller was stranger, my dad smiling at him or not.

“I’ll be fine,” I grumbled and turned around to escape.

I reached the metal door and got myself in, not a second later, walking down the hall, someone fell into step with me. Cedar and pine scent announced Miller’s arrival. Of course he smelled like wood.

“I only offered to be nice. Your dad gives the school a discount.”

Instead of looking at him, I faced my shoes, black Chucks with barely tied laces just an inch under my blue jeans.

“You looked like you were going to kill me out there, so I thought it was worth telling you.”

“Didn’t seem like neither of you needed my input.”

I heard his low chuckle as we turned right, lockers on both sides. I fought the shivers as we approached the theater’s door. I was trying to block them out, but there were kids everywhere. Their laughter was a trigger, but I was too proud to admit it, even to myself.

Stop, Hallie! People were just laughing, but the instinct to fold myself in a small ball was overwhelming.

A kid called Miller’s attention. I almost died praying that they didn’t mean to come over. I put more speed in my step; the theater was so close I could almost taste it. I soothed myself, promising never to arrive early again. I squeezed my eyes and let a slow breath out. My steps came to a halt as a student stepped back and bumped into me. I reeled back, looking down at my shoes. I edged away and willed myself not to bolt. I rushed a whispered apology that I wasn’t sure if the kid heard it or not, but I was at the theater’s door and I was stopping for nothing.

As my hand closed around the knob, I heard people whispering behind my back:“Why the hell is Delos Santos back?"

De los Santos, not White.

By the time I finished glaring at the kid who bumped into Hallie, she was already inside the theater. Quick as a cat, silent too. Nothing prepared me to witness the way her back stiffed once we were inside the school. Hallie’s silence was defying, but now, her eyes were cast down and her back curved. That kid knew her, even though she was obviously older. Preston wasn’t head of one of the rich families of Bluehaven; there was no reason for people to know her name, even in a small town.

“Delos Santos is back,”that was what he said. It replayed in my mind over and over again, my curiosity piqued.

I got inside too, closing the door behind me and muffling the noise from the hall. My eyes scanned the theater’s seats, trying to spot a pile of jet-black hair, but she was quick to hide. Why was I so interested in her? I couldn’t explain. Though there was an almost addictive quality about her.

The door opened behind me and I glanced back, expecting to see the kid who recognized Hallie, but it wasn’t him. Other kids came in, script in hands. It was the first day of casting and I almost forgot the biggest reason to stay away. I sighed when Helen came from backstage, smiling at the kids and then at me. I rubbed my face and cursed Hallie for distracting me, even if she never meant to.

“Oh great, Daniel. Staying for the casting?”

I had better things to do. Helen was using the stage, and I wasn’t going to be able to work, anyway. There was no reason for me to be submitted to high school theater. Still, I nodded.

There were worse ways to die, I guessed.

I met Helen as we both took a seat in the first row. She handed me a script. “How long?”

“How ever long it takes to make magic happen.”

I couldn’t stop my chuckle, “So a long time.”

She shrugged. “Usually it is.”

I looked one side to the other, still waiting to find Hallie. When I couldn’t spot her, I dared to ask. “So, Preston’s daughter?”