Read The Seven Devils (YA "New Adult" Romance) for Free Online Page B

I knew that’s what he wanted of me. What did he mean by “or I’ll keep you away?” What was he going to do? What would he do to me? Where was Neil? I caught a whiff of whiskey and felt fingers closing around my throat. I gasped for breath but none came. I had to get out of there. I couldn’t breathe. I turned and broke free from whatever was holding me and went to run when everything went black and I began to fall.
     
    ***
     
    I woke up gasping for air on a couch that felt like it was just a pile of wood covered in cheap fabric. My head was pounding and I had no idea where I was. Suddenly I noticed a short, nervous-looking man standing across the room who introduced himself as Mr. Gregor, the guidance counselor. “We don’t have a school nurse, but Miss Horner from Science looked you over and said it was just a slight case of heat exhaustion. I keep telling them they need to install central air but no one listens. There’s supposed to be a huge storm later this afternoon and we’ll be forced to shut our windows. We’ll just have to see how many more people pass out before they’ll give me some A.C.!” He mopped his forehead with a handkerchief and looked around anxiously. “So, uh, are you feeling okay? Do I need to do something?”
     
    “Where’s Neil?” I asked.
     
    Mr. Gregor looked taken aback. “Neil Reynolds? You don’t want to be hanging around with the likes of him,” he said, shaking his head furiously like a bulldog. “I could call your brother down if you’d like.”
     
    “No,” I said, making a face. “And why shouldn’t I spend time with Neil?”
     
    Mr. Gregor’s nervous shifting intensified and he rubbed his hands together compulsively and shifted his weight from one foot to the other and then back again. “Well I have nothing on paper. On paper he’s the model student. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s even smarter than I am. But… one just hears things. You’d do best to stay away from him,” he said.
     
    “What things? What do you hear?” I asked, not bothering to hide my exasperation.
     
    Mr. Gregor wiped his hands on his pants and said, “Welp, you seem fine. Off to class you go! If you hurry, you’ll only be a few minutes late.” He opened the door of his office and waited expectantly for me to get up and leave. I stared into his eyes for a few moments, wanting to demand he tell me what he knew about Neil’s reputation, but in the end I gave up and walked out. I heard him sigh in relief as he closed the door behind me.
     
    Neil was waiting for me in the hallway, pacing back and forth. As soon as he saw me he ran up and wrapped me in his arms. I rested my head against his chest and felt immediately better. “The people here are useless,” Neil said. “If you think you might need to see a doctor, let me know and we’ll leave right now.”
     
    “I feel okay; just kind of dizzy and odd,” I said, rubbing my temples.
     
    Neil nodded. “I managed to catch you before you hit the floor, thank God… but I was so worried. Are you sure you’re okay? What happened?” he asked.
     
    I shook my head. “I don’t know. I was so lightheaded. Maybe it’s the heat like they said.”
     
    I thought back to all Mr. Gregor said and studied Neil’s face. “Everyone tells me to stay away from you, even the guidance counselor, but no one will say why. Erin said she and Melanie will tell me after band today if I stayed after a few minutes.”
     
    Neil’s jaw clenched and he looked away. After a moment and said, “I think you should stay after and hear what they have to say. I don’t want to keep you from what they think about me. I want you to know and decide from there whether you keep seeing me or not.” He ran his fingers down my arms. “I’ll wait for you in my car after school. If you don’t come, I’ll know. I’ll understand.”
     
    Mr. Gregor’s door opened and he saw the two of us standing there. “Get to class you two before I give you both