“He’s fine. Every time any of us are late you imagine we’re dead. You are no longer allowed to imagine anyone is dead.” “I’m not imagining he’s dead,” I whisper, but I’m totally imagining him bleeding to death on the snowy forest floor. Crows circle above him. A pixie arrow juts out of his beautiful chest. It’s the same thing I imagined about Devyn last week when he forgot to check in. “You are such a liar-liar pants-on-fire.” Is kisses my cheek in her sweet friend way. “But I love you.” “I just worry about people,” I whisper back. “If I’m not the one out there I feel so helpless.” Coach Walsh notices we’re talking. “Girls, pay attention. And no kissing.” Everyone starts snickering. I let go of Issie’s goose-bump covered arm. My face gets hot, which means I’m in insane blush mode. Nick thinks insane blush mode is cute. I bend down and check on my ankle bracelet that Nick gave me. It’s gold and thin-chained. A tiny dolphin dangles off of it. The dolphin reminds me of Charleston because they swim right off the Battery. Next to it dangles a heart, which just reminds me of love—corny but true. I’m so afraid of losing the anklet, but I can’t take it off. I adore it that much.” ImaginationKissingZara WhiteNick ColtIssieAnkletCoach WalshImagine Dead Book:Captivate Source: Captivate
“So, I’m a bear,” she explains, eyeing us all. “Wait? Is Issie something?” “Nope,” Issie pouts. “All human. All the time.” “The coolest human ever,” Devyn says, reaching down and ruffling her hair.” HumanCoolBearWereIssieDevyn Book:Need Source: Need
“We teleported," Issie finishes. "Like in Star Trek or Harry Potter, sort of. No! Like in Dr. Who in that episode with the Sontarans and the brilliant human boy, or really any Dr. Who ever if you think of the Tardis! Holy canola! That is just the coolest thing ever! Wowie, wow, wow!” NeedDoctor WhoTeleportationIssie Book:Endure Source: Endure
“We all line up except for this guy in a wheelchair, Devyn. He smiles at me when I line up, introduces himself. He has a movie star smile, just white teeth and charisma, big eyes, dark skin. He’d be perfect looking if he didn’t have such a large nose, but the truth is it looks good on him, natural and powerful. He winks at Issie, who blushes. “You can do it, Is,” he says. She rolls her eyes, twists her lip, and says, “As long as I don’t pass out.” “If you pass out, I’ll put you in my lap and wheel you across the finish line,” he says, and it somehow isn’t sleazy because you can tell by his eyes how much he cares about Issie. I instantly like him. She blushes worse. Her face looks like she’s already sprinted a mile.” AppearanceHelpRunFlirtZara WhiteBlushWheelchairIssieDevyn Book:Need Source: Need
“Nick saunters into the gym and my heart basically stops. He’s ridiculously cute in his PE shorts and dark green T-shirt; and people that good-looking seem vulnerable, almost like they can’t be real. He’s real, though. He’s all dark skin and dark hair and dark eyes. Okay. His eyebrows, like Devyn’s nose, are a little big and if you stare at him long enough you realize that his lips are a bit lopsided. I have kissed his lips. I have felt his breath in my ear and I know without a doubt that he’s real, even if he is a werewolf. The massive muscles in his legs redefine themselves as he walks toward me. He waves a late pass at the coach and yells, “Sorry I’m late. I’ve got a pass.” “Not a problem, buddy,” Coach yells back. He and Nick are all jock bonding. Nick pockets the note, which is probably a fake. I can smell his deodorant even though he’s still far away. There are these things called pheromones, odors that guys give off to attract women. I swear his pheromones have my freaking name written on them. They hone in and attack. “You are getting all swoony faced,” Issie tells me with her singsong voice. She pokes me in the ribs with her elbow, gently. She turns to Devyn, who is smiling like a crazy man, just hanging back in his wheelchair watching the scene. “Dev. Look at Zara. She’s got her lovey-dovey look on.” As Is gazes at Devyn with her own lovey-dovey look, he says, “Yeah. Teen love. So obvious. So hormonal.” “I am not hormonal.” I fake glare at him.” AppearanceAdmireTeaseZara WhiteChecking OutNick ColtHormonalIssieDevynLovey DoveyPhermonesSwoony Faced Book:Captivate Source: Captivate
“Nick grabs the disgusting clump of soggy napkins off the table and says, “You’ve got to do it, man. She’s totally in love with you.” Devyn shakes his head. His eyes are hard. “I can’t.” It takes me a second to respond. “You better not like Cassidy, Devyn, because I swear I will kill you.” “Cassidy?” His voice is numb. “Dude. Everyone’s talking about it,” Nick says. “I don’t like Cassidy,” he says. “Then stop flirting with her.” I stand up. “Flirt?” Devyn looks at Nick, probably for help. “Yeah. Flirt. You’re always with her. She’s giving you rides to school. You’re always talking about her and messaging her,” I protest. “I don’t have the vaguest idea how to flirt. I’m a nerd. We have no social skills.” I can’t believe him. “Well, you are flirting up a freaking storm, Devyn.” “Zara, take it down a notch,” Nick says. “You sound jealous.” “Do not tell me to take it down a notch,” I say, and we glare at each other. “You can be so patronizing sometimes.” He looks away first. “I’m just trying to figure Cassidy out.” Devyn wipes at his hair, ignoring us. “Why? Why is she so fascinating? She’s always itching,” I ask. “And you have Issie. She is right here and she loves you. You know she loves you. I’m going to check on Issie,” I announce. I point at Devyn. “You better stop being an idiot and kiss her soon, or at least tell her you love her or I swear, Devyn, I will be the one who breaks your back and shoots you with an arrow next time.” LoveProtectiveKillLikeFlirtDefendZara WhiteNick ColtReprimandCassidyIssieDevyn Book:Captivate Source: Captivate
“Issie?“ After a second her voice comes out small and tired. “I'm not here.“ “Oh.“ I back up so I can stare at the bathroom door. No feet. “Then I should probably freak out because the toilet is talking back to me, huh? A little too many pain meds for Zara today.” ZaraIssie Book:Captivate Source: Captivate