39 Talkin' Heads

TITLE: Grim
GENRE: Paranormal romance
EMOTION: Totally freaking out


Set-up: Aeron, a boy Libbi has never seen before, was staring at her from the door of her English classroom during a test. He waited for her after class and, after a breif introduction, started following her.

I was almost to the road when Aeron’s fingers gripped my upper arm and he yanked me to a stop. My hand flew up by itself, balled into a fist and slugged him in his jaw. Hard. I heard the pop of his teeth smacking together.

“What is your freaking problem?” I said.

“What did you do that for?” He massaged his jaw.

“Leave me alone. That’s what I did that for.”

“I would think you’d be grateful.”

“Grateful? Grateful for what? The fact that you’re a freak and you haven’t murdered me yet?”

At that, Aeron laughed. He shook his head and raised his palms to the sky as if to say ‘What am I gonna do with this one?’

“What is so g*******d funny?”

“Libbi, I’m not trying to murder you.” He met my gaze directly. His pale-blue eyes penetrated mine. A chill stood the hair on my arms on end, despite the unseasonably warm weather.

“Then what do you want?” It was barely a whisper.

“I want to save your life,” he said. “And believe me, Libbi, that’s not something I say often.” He let go of my arm. “Your shoes are untied.”

I looked down and, sure enough, the laces of both tennis shoes dangled to either side of my feet like four lifeless, white worms. That was strange. In Mr. Winkler’s classroom, they’d both been in secure double knots.

“How did…” I glanced up, but the lawn was empty. Aeron was gone.