So I checked Huntress and Bracken doesn't have to K's. Sorry for the misspelled name!

Chapter 9

Clara leaned over the sink and splashed water on her face, blinking wearily. She fumbled for the towel on the rack behind her. She felt the soft cloth beneath her fingers and brought it to her cheek, wiping the stray beads of water clinging to her skin. She glanced up at herself in the mirror. She lifted a hand to her cheek. Her face was pale and drained. Her hair hung limply about her shoulders, glistening from the few stray droplets that had managed to fly in that direction.

She still couldn't believe that she had fainted in Bracken's car. Of all the stupid and embarrassing things she could do! And right before he had been about to kiss her—or at least that's what she'd thought at the time. Why else would he have he been leaning toward her? But the thought that Bracken Redfern would want to kiss her was almost unfathomable. She was the least likely girl for him to choose out of a school that had so many beautiful girls, most who were a lot better verbally than herself.

Why did she have to go and faint? It's not as if she were all that distraught. She had been more miffed than anything else. After everything she and Drew had shared...and just what had they shared anyway? A delicious shiver ran up her spine just thinking about that moment in the living room. She pushed at the good feeling stubbornly. It had all been a part of her imagination—it must have been. No wonder Drew had played a trick on her. He must have thought she was so strange and so...gullible.

She didn't know why it upset her so much. Unconsciously, she must have been changing her mind about Drew. It was disconcerting to have all her preconceptions torn and dropped around her feet. She'd wanted to believe that he was different than everyone else said. She hadn't even realized how important it was to her until now. But she should have expected as much from Drew.

She grumbled slightly, pulling her hair back from her face. Her auburn air pulled up away from her neck. She tied it in a loose knot at the back of her head and began to apply an exfoliating cream. She'd bought it about six months ago but didn't use it faithfully. She'd never had skin problems. But right at the minute she felt like she needed to do something to her from her churning stomach.

When she had finally come to Bracken had been too nervous and helpful. He'd wrapped his coat around her shoulders and suggested he take her home. She had agreed—terrified and humiliated that such a thing had happened. It was scary to learn that she could faint for no particular reason at all. But Bracken had been so sweet about the whole situation, insisting on helping her into the house. The worst part was that he hadn't tried to kiss her again. Because that's what she wanted...at least that's what she thought she wanted. She didn't really know anymore. Her thoughts were all so jumbled and disjointed.

She frowned slightly as she caught sight of something on her neck. Two somethings. She leaned forward to see what they were: two tiny little red marks—kind of like mosquito bites. Funny how she didn't remember being bitten.

She shrugged to no one in particular, yawning. She really didn't have the energy to think about it right now. She padded down the hall into her room. As soon as she caught sigh of her comforter, she dove into bed, encasing herself in quilts. She fell into a deep, restless sleep.

Clara was just barely able to brush the knots out of her hair before she had to rush down to the breakfast table the next morning. She was feeling a lot livelier although she was still a little drained. She couldn't figure out what had brought that reaction out in her. She supposed it really didn't matter all that much since it was going away now.

She slumped down at the table, yawning big. Jim handed her the corn flakes after he was done with them. Stifling the yawn she poured some in her bowl. "Thanks," she managed.

Jim nodded, staring off in space again. Clara snorted affectionately, knowing he couldn't hear her. He was always staring off in space. People at school thought he was weird, but to Clara he was just her brother. So, he was a little different. So what? There was no crime in that. No one could exactly call her normal either. She could hardly say to words to a guy without her face turning red and having to wrack her brains for something to say. She wasn't going to condemn Jim for having an imagination.

"Good morning sleepy heads," their mother said, coming into the kitchen.

Clara nodded, taking a bite of her cereal. Jim just continued to look off into space. About ten seconds too late, his head shot up. "What?" he asked. Then he added without anyone replying. "Oh. Good morning."

"You guys ready for exams?" Their mother asked.

Clara nodded. "We'll be fine. Besides, exams aren't for a couple more days."

She took another bite of her Corn Flakes, chewing slowly. She just needed a few more minutes to get her head wrapped around the idea that a new day had started. She was still half asleep. Clara didn't get the chance to mull over her morning rituals because a knock sounded at the door, startling all the inhabitants of the room—except for Jim, that is.

Mrs. Goddard frowned. "Who would be here at this time in the morning?"

Clara shrugged and pushed her bowl of cereal away. Her mother was preoccupied with pulling a bowl out of the cupboard. She stood up, volunteering. "I'll get it."

It was probably just Lizzie anyway. Lizzie wasn't known for stopping by in the mornings, but Clara couldn't think of who else it could be. It wouldn't be one of her dad's friends because he had already left for work about an hour ago.

Clara took the doorknob and twisted it. She pulled the door back, bearing a sunny smile while still trying to blink some of the sleepy dust out of her eyes. The smile dropped from her lips in surprise the moment she caught sight of the figure on the doorstep. She quickly reinstated her grin so he wouldn't think he was unwelcome. His appearance was just so unexpected that she didn't know how to react.

"Bracken!" she managed.

Bracken smiled back steadily, the early morning light falling across his dark hair and dappling his broad muscular shoulders. The sun glinted off his eyes, seeming to throw the light back at her.

"Clara," he said. "I brought back your car."

She pulled open the screen door that separated them and moved out on the porch to join him. She looked over his shoulder, and sure enough, her car was sitting in the driveway. There was a sulky, dark-haired boy standing beside it with his arms folded across his chest.

Drew.

Bracken turned his face so that his lips couldn't be seen from where Drew was standing. He spoke in a whisper just inches from her ear.

"I'm sorry I brought him," he said. "But I needed someone to drive the other vehicle so I'd be able to get home."

Clara shrugged. Now that she'd had a good full night of rest, she was less inclined to take Drew's joke personally. Plus, she really didn't have the energy to be holding grudges right now. Exams were coming up.

Something about Drew's sour expression unnerved her. There was a dark glint in his eyes. Something told her that the dark expression wasn't tuned toward her but toward his brother. All the same, it sent a shiver down her spine.

Bracken seemed to notice her imperceptible movement and took it as fear for her safety. "Don't worry," he said. "I'll protect you."

Clara frowned slightly. "I'm fine," she said. He was putting on the protective bit a little thick. Drew hadn't even tried to hurt her.

Bracken took her chin then, and turned her face up to look at him. Clara's breath caught in her throat. There was a worried look in Bracken's eyes—a look of desperate warning. "Don't underestimate him," he pleaded in an undertone. "The only reason he agreed to come is because he didn't want me to be alone with you. He's taken an interest in you. I don't want you to get hurt."

Clara felt a sudden leap in her heart the moment that Bracken said Drew had taken an interest in her. She buried the rising hope with horror. What was she thinking? But as much as she wanted to deny the fact that the feeling had been there at all, she knew that it had been.

Clara swallowed. "Why me?"

Bracken shrugged, the dark look falling from his features. He smiled at her hesitantly. "Don't you know?" he asked, his fingers dropping from her chin.

She shook her head.

"Don't you know how beautiful you are? It's just…" Bracken floundered for the words. "There's something different about you. Something special."

Clara's heart caught in her throat.

"Drew's not the only one who can see it," Bracken continued with a significant glance. "I do too."

She was starting to feel a little bit faint. She couldn't believe she was hearing this. She must be dreaming or something because there was no way that this could be happening. As much as she tried to convince herself that it was a dream, she couldn't manage it. The sun was just too bright. The sound of the early morning birds chirping was just too real. Everything was in perfect and sharp clarity—a clarity that no dream could have.

Clara didn't know how to respond to Bracken's words. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. "Thanks," was all she could manage.

Then Bracken's head was dipping toward her again. Clara took a soft intake of breath, realizing his intent. Her chin rose slightly, expectantly, her body flooding with effervescent and giddy emotions. She didn't know how she was managing to keep them from showing on her face.

A sharp thought ricocheted through her head just as their lips met: I wish Drew weren't here to see this. The kiss was everything she would have expected it to be, but she wasn't able to enjoy it because her whole attention was focused on Drew and what he should be thinking. And she knew she was an idiot for it. She fought her guilty emotions.

Bracken pulled back with a smile, looking a little hesitant. He shot one backward glance—almost looking like he was searching for a rise out of Drew. Then his fully attention returned to Clara.

"Hey," he said. "I was wondering…well…I thought maybe we could try for that study session again today. Maybe it'll work out this time. How about if I meet you in the library instead of at my house?"

Clara was nodding automatically, almost giddily. Yet she still couldn't seem to ignore the sharp pang of guilt that was lodging itself in her chest.

Bracken leaned in close again. "Promise me that you'll try to keep away from my brother?"

She nodded. She knew he was right. As drawn as she was to Drew, he was a dangerous person. "I'll keep away from him," she promised.

She only hoped Drew would offer her the same courtesy. She had the feeling that he wouldn't.