HELLLOO!! Sorry for the wait for this chapter. (This is the story I'm ALWAYS itching to write. So don't distress, I plan on not only finishing it this year but also publishing it.) Hope you like the latest chapter.  Enjoy!

I flopped back on the bed and groaned. "Right, the investigation. After last night, Kennedy's going to have me under the microscope until the end of the year."

"By the way they were talking, I think you can count on longer than that."

Brrring...

The school bell echoed beyond my closed dorm room door, marking the end of my free class period. I dropped my fist on the bed. Killjoy.

"Do you have to go?" Jake washed his fingers down my arm. "You could stay here with me a little longer."

"Tempting, but I'm in enough trouble already."

"I suppose we can hang out later. I wouldn't want Kennedy shipping my girlfriend back home on the first day we started dating." Jake looked up under his lashes with his lips curling up into a faint smile. "After school then?"

My cheeks grew hotter with each passing second. Girlfriend... I liked the sounds of that.

"Sure, count on it," I replied.

I rolled over, got to my feet, and let the crisp grains of the astral plane drain from my essence like sands funneling through an hourglass. The warmth of the room enveloped me welcoming me back to the reality I wasn't ready to face.

"Come on. I'll walk you to class." Jake's image flickered, reappearing next to the door. He raised his brows and grinned, then shoved his arm straight through the door. "See you on the other side."

He walked through and disappeared from view. I stuffed the journal into my school bag, then tossed it over my shoulder.

Five minutes later, crossing the main foyer, we approached my classroom with my sore ankle protesting from walking I'd been doing today.

"Tessa!" a stern voice to our left called out.

"What did you do now?" Jake asked.

"Nothing that I know of..." I jerked my head to see who had called my name.

Mrs. Kennedy approaching at a rapid pace and with her lips pursed and brow furrowed, definitely said I was in trouble.

"Where's Matt?" She adjusted her tortoiseshell frames to sit more square on the bridge of her nose, and waited for my response.

It was tempting to say, I ditched him hours ago, but the truth layered in sarcasm wouldn't set me free from the wrath she'd unleash.

"Matt?" I stalled trying to think up a good reason to explain his absence.

"Yes, Matt. He's about this tall, dark hair. You were asked to show him around school today." She crossed her arms crushing her pastel floral scarf to her chest.

"Tessa, there you are." Matt waltzed up running a hand through his hair, tussling it to the side. "Girls sure take a long time in the washroom. I might have wandered off talking to Nick while I waited, hope that's okay."

What is he playing at?

Matt ticked his head ever so slightly toward Kennedy indicating I should play along.

"Sure, why wouldn't it be? It's not like I'm your girlfriend or anything, you don't have to wait around for me."

Jake let out a hardy laugh. "No, that's my privilege. Why is he covering for you anyway?"

Good question. But it wasn't like I could answer Jake without looking insane.

Kennedy hesitated as if she didn't quite believe our story. "So Tessa's been touring you around campus then?"

"Well, it's not like we've had much time outside of class to see the grounds yet." He gave a warm smile and adjusted the binder he held in his hand. "But I did see some of my Father's old trophies in the memorial case out front."

"There's lots of history within these walls." She glanced around the hall, then back to us. "Actually, both of your fathers attended here at the same time."

At the mention of my dad, my heart saddened knowing he wasn't around anymore. "They did?"

"If I recall, they were even friends." She nodded, and a rare faint smile graced her lips. "Make sure you show Matt around the rest of campus."

"Don't worry I'm sure she will. She's even offered to help me get caught up after school on the assignments I've missed." Matt tossed an arm over my shoulder. "Isn't that right Tessa?"

Jake glared at Matt's hand draped over my shoulder. "Do you think he needs that arm?"

Oh, geez... I shrugged off Matt's hold on me.

"A study date?" Mrs. Kenndy smiled.

I looked at Mrs. K, just clueing into the conversation. "Wait, what?"

Matt held his hand to the side of his mouth. "Don't say the D-word to Tessa. It makes her squeamish. Besides she's just helping, that's all."

Jake crossed his arms. He says that, but you and I both know he isn't looking for help getting his grades up.

"Oh, I'm so glad the two of you are getting along." She held her hands together like she couldn't be more pleased.

Matt gazed at his watch and nudged me. "Tessa, we should go if we want to be on time."

Mrs. K lifted her sight to the antique clock encased in carved wooden leaves on the wall. "There never seems to be enough time in a day. I'll see you after school." She gestured to me. "But until then, off to class with you."

How could I forget, I'd only been dreading it all day. "Wouldn't miss it Mrs. K."

"Matt be sure to thank your father again for his generosity. We're so pleased to have you here."

"No biggie, I'm sure all the kids' parents help out in some way."

Mrs. K left toward her homeroom, and we headed in the direction of our calculus class, Matt, Jake and me. When out of earshot, I clobbered Matt's shoulder with my fist.

"Ow." He rubbed the spot with the heel of his hand. "What is with you and hitting me? I can still feel the dent you left on me from this morning."

"If he tries wrapping his arm around you again, there'll be a lot more than a dent," Jake responded.

"I never promised to tutor you," I said to Matt, hoping Jake got the point he had nothing to worry about.

"Look—the way I see it, I just save your butt."

"Did not."

"Okay then, I'll just go back and tell her I lied. While I'm explaining that, maybe you can tell her where you've really been for the past hour because it wasn't with me."

"That's because she was with her boyfriend." Jake waved his hands in front of Matt. "Man, I wish he could see me."

I tilted my head trying to sum Matt up. "You wouldn't."

"Try me." He stopped and crossed his arms. "I have to catch up, and by the way you know Hamlet, I figure there probably isn't anyone more qualified to get me up to speed."

We were just outside of our classroom, and two girls a few grades below us were chatting outside the room next to ours, giggling and fangirling over Matt.

"Ladies." He smiled and threaded his fingers through his hair.

They giggled again, and the petite blonde girl waved, before entering their class.

"Why don't you ask one of your fans to help you? It looks like you have volunteers."

"Not interested. I need someone who's familiar with the material." He smoothed out his t-shirt, showing off his abs underneath.

"He's unbelievable. His mouth says one thing, but his hands are saying another." Jake's hand balled up into a fist. "Just tell him you're seeing someone."

"Besides, like I told Mrs. K, it's not a date, it a tutorial." Matt smiled and shook his hair from his eyes.

"Uh-huh." Jake raised a doubtful eyebrow. "The question is on what."

"I really shouldn't..." I adjusted my bag so it stopped pressing my sword's holster into my back.

Being invisible and lightweight, it was easy to forget I even had the sword strapped on. But after what happened yesterday, there wasn't a chance I'd leave it behind in my dorm room.

"I'm pretty sure my boyfriend wouldn't want me tutoring some hot guy I just met."

"You think I'm hot?" He tilted his head and smirked.

Of course that's the word he picked up on. A few more people filed into class past us.

"Boyfriend?" Wynter halted next to me. "What boyfriend? I've been your bestie for three years and the only guy you so much as acknowledged the existence of is Jake—so I know that's not true."

Wynter. I wanted to stomp my foot in protest, but withheld my childish instinct. What are you doing? I squeezed my eyes shut and let out and a long sigh.

"Ahhh... You do love me." Jake grinned and shoved his hands into his back pockets.

I gave Wynter a sharp look, hoping to stop her from adding any more commentary to embarrass me further.

"What?" She looked at me like she had no idea what hole she'd just buried me in.

Matt's green eyes sparkled with confidence. "I think you're out of excuses Brackstone. I'll see you after school for our first official non-date tutorial." He turned hard on his heels before I had a chance to counter him. "I'll save you a spot next to me in class." He waved crossing the threshold of the room.

"Man, I hate this guy." Jake propped up his shoulder against the door frame. "Please say you're not going anywhere with him."

I cringed, wanting nothing to do with tutoring Matt. I still wasn't in a position to tell Jake that.

Wynter hugged her books closer to her, watching Matt take a seat inside the class. "Even if you're not over Jake, which I can't imagine you are, you have to admit Matt's hot." She linked her arm around mine. "Let's go find a spot before they're all taken."

But when we got inside, there were only two desks left. True to his word, Matt there was an open seat behind him with his book resting in the seat. Winter unlinked her arm and gave me a nudge toward the seat next to Matt.

"We can chat after class." She headed off to the other side of the room. When I got closer to the desk, I noticed a folded note on the center of the desktop.

"You're writing me notes now too?"

"What?" He looked at the paper. "No, but if you're into poetry, I'm sure I can come up with something sweet."

"Not necessary." I rolled my eyes and unfolded the note.

They say the ghosts of our past haunt us, but that holds a slightly different meaning for a girl who's dating one.

You're making this too easy, necromancer.

—Seth

Thanks for reading. I'm off over the holidays and am going to see how much I can get written on the story. Expect another chapter soon! In the meantime, VOTE, COMMENT and show some love.