Chapter 2

I wanted to say goodbye to Liam and go on the date with Jacob, but it was almost as if something was pulling to Liam. I couldn't explain it, but at that moment I didn't need Jacob. He was probably just using me anyway; everyone knew he didn't date girls.

I wasn't going to be one of his toys, no matter how much I wanted to. I couldn't look at Jacob, so instead I looked into Liam's soft, entrancing violet eyes. "I don't know what he's talking about, Liam. He never asked me."

I started to gain some confidence. I whirled around and looked Jacob in the eye. "Besides, even if Jacob asked, I'd rather go with you, Liam." Two emotions flashed before Jacob. I swore first there was a flash of pure animal-like anger, but I disregarded that. At the most, it was probably just a hint of jealousy.

"I know you like me, Jessica. Let me take you out on Friday. At least let me take you home." I can see through him, I realized. He was trying so hard to play it cool, but I saw raw desperation in his eyes.

Still, his words made me seethe. "I do NOT like you, Jacob! You are so full of yourself!" I turned back to Liam, who was looking at me with strained eagerness, which meant he probably just wanted to leave. I couldn't blame the guy; I didn't really want to be here much longer, either.

I got into his convertible while Liam held the door open like a gentleman. Jacob still looked confused and upset, but I couldn't resist what I said next. "Goodbye, I'm NOT falling in love!" When everyone turned to look at me, including Liam, I added "Yes, this is to you Jacob Parker!"

At that moment, Liam turned out of the school parking lot of the school. It was silent for a few moments before I turned to Liam again. He looked slightly tense, but I asked anyway. "Do you want to go out on Friday?"

"Seriously Jess, who are you going out with?" Trisha asked for the millionth time on Friday.

Again I hesitated. I wanted to tell her I was going out with Liam. He seemed so eager once he got over the surprise of me asking him out. He was so sweet to me; he even carried my books in the morning. Unlike Jacob, who wouldn't give me a second glance unless it was to make fun of me.

I should have been excited to tell my best friend about a guy I could really start to like, but again something was holding me back. I didn't know why, but Liam never was near me when Trish was around. When they passed, there was an unspoken hostility amongst them. It was almost like they were watching each other, waiting for one of them to step out of line.

The even more dominate issue (and the weirder one) was that going out with Liam seemed to be betraying Trish. That was absolutely ridicules, of course, but I still couldn't bring myself tell her.

"It's no one, Trish; he's not important." I tried to calm her down, but Trish didn't seem to be able to be calmed down at the moment.

"Why won't you tell me Jessica!" I couldn't believe her words for a moment. Trish had been one of the calmest people I'd ever met. She never ever got angry; one of the reasons we'd managed to stay friends. We'd always been able to work things out. Only now, she sounded like she was about to kill me. Not to mention she'd used my entire name; she'd never done that, no matter how angry she'd gotten.

Her eyes turned darker and her pupils seemed to get wider. I couldn't help but notice that the expression in her eyes seemed savage. I tried not to let my voice betray how scared I really was. "I don't know what your problem is, but it's none of your business! I don't think you're much of a friend at all! You probably just need anger management classes." At that moment the tardy bell rang for sixth period.

I stormed off, hearing Trish follow me until I ran into Liam. I looked up at him in surprise. "Liam, aren't you going to be late."

Liam seemed confused. "Didn't you hear about the fight; a bunch of the tenth graders are getting suspended. They told anyone with a car to go home." He smiled at me, and I felt my heart melt slightly. Even if I felt the fireworks with Jacob, it was different with Liam. It was like my mind was being clouded with comfort and security, maybe even a touch of love. Either way, I wouldn't deny that I loved the feeling I had when he was near me.

"…was wondering if you wanted to start our date a little early?" Liam finished. I hadn't heard what he'd said before, but I defiantly wanted to start the date now.

Of course, that was the moment Trish caught up with me. She looked better now; her eyes were exactly as they normally were and I felt stupid thinking that they had somehow magically changed. Instead, she had the same desperate look in her eyes that Jacob had conveyed a few days ago. She spoke in a hurried tone. "You can't go with him! Listen to me…"

Normally I would have listened, but I felt impatient. I looked back at Liam and the swirly nice feeling came into me again, boosting me with confidence. I looked Trish square in the eye. "I want you to leave, Trish."

I couldn't exactly explain what happened next. It was almost as if Trish was being knocked back, but her feet didn't move. One moment she was half a foot away, then she was turning a corner and leaving. I knew she must have run away, but I didn't hear one click of her high-heeled boots.

I looked at Liam again, my brain almost completely clouded. If I'd been thinking clearly, I would have noticed no other students were driving there cars away from the school. Maybe if I could get a single thought out, I would have noticed we were headed straight to the woods.

Finally the car stopped and Liam looked at me. Now the swirling in my brain was taking over. My voice didn't sound very much like my own when I spoke. "Kiss me, Liam."

He froze. "Jess, I don't think that's such a good…" He was cut off by my lips pressing against his. At first he lightly pushed me back, but finally he gave up.

His kiss was gentle, warm and the swirling clouds in my head completely took over. I barely registered what I was doing, but I knew that the soft lips on mine made me feel better. Finally he broke away and I let out a slight wine. "Blaise told me to use way too much yemonja root; you probably have no idea what you're doing right now."

I didn't register what he was saying at all. Instead I looked at his lips and leaned into kiss him again. This time he pushed me away and I whimpered. "I love you so much Liam. We have to be together."

Liam sighed. "Jessica, you aren't in your right mind and you are putting me in a very uncomfortable position. I want to kiss you," my eyes lit up, "but I can't right now. This is very serious." He pulled out a thermos from the glove compartment and unscrewed it. "Here, drink this; it should help you clear your mind."

I drank the liquid then spit it back into my cup. It was bitter and made my head hurt. I looked back at Liam who replied, "Drink." I swallowed the entire cup without complaint.

The liquid was like a really good fast acting medicine. In a few moments, all the swirly clouds fogging up my mind were gone and I realized what had happened in shock This was followed by a awful headache. As if reading my mind, Liam handed me a Tylenol. I swallowed it and my headache died down slightly. I opened my mouth to ask one of the million questions on my mind, but Liam cut me off.

"I know you're probably confused, but I'll explain it to you. First, you should know my actual name isn't Liam Cameron. It's actually Landon Harman. You see, I'm the last boy in a long line of very powerful witches." I waited to see if he showed any signs that he was kidding. There wasn't one.

"I believe you."

Good. It was Liam…Landon's voice, but it wasn't spoken aloud. Instead, his voice was inside my head. This time, I screamed.