Chapter 9

While the professor in my next course was much less distracting, I found myself still very much distracted.

My laptop sat open in front of me, and no math graced its screen. Jinn really weren't like the genie in Aladdin, unfortunately, and the more I read about them, the more I became certain that they were not only real, but Brady was one of them.

Tricksters. Beings of light with free will that lived and died the same as humans. One particular phrase kept popping up no matter which site I visited. God created Angels from light, men from clay, and Jinn from the tip of a smokeless flame. Whatever the hell that meant.

While western civilization had our sweet Robin Williams voicing character, Eastern civilization seemed to take beings like Brady much more seriously. Jinn, not Genie. Most of the things I'd read pointed towards the belief that all occurrences could be linked back to a Jinn. Aliens, angels, demonic possessions- that one made me grimace, hauntings, all of it, just Jinn entertaining themselves.

I was entertainment.

I closed my laptop just as the students around me began to stand. A whole class wasted. I needed to end this. All of my searching, an hour's worth, and I'd only managed to learn a bit more about him. Not once had anyone said, take this pill and they'll go away.

When I exited the door into the hallway, Justin stood waiting for me. "Hey. Still up for that coffee?"

Without thinking, my eyes darted through the crowds, searching for it.

"There's a Java Janes right on campus."

I turned back to him. Why was I worried about Brady? This was my life. My new start. I wasn't about to let it be ruined just so some mystical fucking asshole could have a laugh. "That sounds great. Lead the way."

Justin held out an arm, smiling, and I took it. We worked our way through the crowds of students and out the main doors.

The sun was bright, but the breeze was cool. A perfect day. A sign that things were going to get better now. I cast a glance over at the handsome boy beside me. College was nothing like high school. I knew, if I could just make it out of that town, things would get better.

Java Janes was a small shop with a bright blue roof. The same blue colored the umbrellas shading the outdoor tables. My mood lifted even further. This was nice. Normal. A normal guy, normal setting.

Justin lead us over to one of the tables and pulled out a chair for me. "I'll go wait out the line. What kind of coffee do you want?"

Never having tried it, I said, "Surprise me."

Justin smiled. "You asked for it. I'll be right back."

He walked away, and I let my eyes roam the setting, taking in the other tables, the groups of young people chatting and laughing. I wanted that. I wanted friends. I wanted to be normal.

"Hello, sweetheart," Brady suddenly said into my ear from behind.

I jumped, then tried to cover up the action. He wouldn't get enjoyment from his interactions with me anymore. Maybe, if I ceased to be entertaining, the problem would fix itself.

"Go away."

He stepped around and dropped down to kneel in front of me. Each of his hands gripped an arm of my chair, caging me. I swallowed hard.

Brady looked up at me with an innocent expression. "Shouldn't you be back there," he pointed, "learning."

"I'm on break, Professor Black."

His lips twitched. "You like that one, huh? Turns out, I didn't even need a degree for it."

Justin chose that moment to return. I started to explain, to make some excuse as to why our mythology professor was currently squatting in front of me, but my mouth clamped shut.

Justin didn't seem to notice the god-man before me. He reached forward to place my drink on the table, smiling at me. "Hope you like caramel."

Brady maintained eye contact with me, his look almost devious.

I forced myself to look away. "Thank you," I said, picking up the cup and taking a slow sip of the hot liquid.

Brady stood so swiftly, I choked. My coffee almost fell as I rushed to put it down, preparing to transform into a human shield to protect the poor boy beside me if needed.

Brady looked over at my startled reaction and lifted an eyebrow. He didn't make a move towards Justin. Instead, he stepped around and positioned himself behind me.

What is he doing?

"What are your plans after college?"

Justin asked, pulling my attention back to him.

Something about having an extra large magical presence at my back was very distracting, and I had to run his words over a couple times before I could register what he'd asked me. "Oh!" I finally managed. "I want to be a pediatric phycologist."

"Really? You must be really smart."

I started to shrug, but two massive hands prevented it. Brady's fingers splayed out, almost reaching my collar bone, while his thumbs rested against the back of my neck.

I couldn't react. If I did, I'd look like a psycho, but not reacting was hard. His thumbs moved, lightly, barely a touch at all but somehow enough to send electric tingles coursing down my spine. I shuddered involuntarily, then leaned forward in an attempt to escape.

Justin, unaware of my discomfort, continued on. "What made you decide to do that?"

Brady lowered his chin to my shoulder. "Why are you here, sweetheart?"

"None of your business."

"Huh?"

I jerked my head up, and Brady let out a chuckle as he straightened back away from me.

"Not you. I mean, sorry. I was just thinking about something else." Dammit. Now I looked crazy. He was looking at me like I'm crazy.

Justin reached forward, taking my hand. "Are you okay?"

No. I wasn't okay. I was anything but okay.

Brady grabbed my arm, jerking it backwards.

Justin's brow furrowed as he stared down at the broken contact.

"Sorry. My arm cramped." God I'm lame. So lame. The world hates me.

"Oh. Okay." He didn't sound convinced. He sounded confused.

"What are you studying?" Good. That was good. I could salvage this.

Justin started to answer, but my mind shifted back to the man behind me. Brady ran a solitary finger down the back of my neck, and a lightening bolt of electricity spiraled down my spine. The air exited my lungs in a whoosh, and an inhuman sound came out with it.

"There's a reason for that," Brady said, his voice deep and even. "Do you want to know what it is?" He leaned forward again.

"No."

"Yeah. I've had second thoughts about it myself. That's why I'm taking the other classes. Sort of like a backup plan," Justin said, taking my no as some comment on whatever the hell he was talking about, which I had no idea about, because– reasons.

Brady stepped around, blocking my view of the boy in front of me.

I swallowed hard at his intense look. Blue electric once again filled his irises, glowing like the neon of a bar sign. "I can't play this game, sweetheart," he said, his voice growing deeper with each word. "It won't end well for anyone."

I tried to break eye contact, but couldn't seem to look away. Like a magnet, he held me captive. Slowly, he reached forward, one hand coming up to rest against each side of my face, gentle, too gentle.

"You want to be happy?" he murmured, then in an instant, his lips met mine.

The world shifted, gravity disappeared, and I felt it, a power that couldn't be described. He made a noise, deep within his chest, and my traitorous body melted.

My brain shut down, all conscious thought leaving as I returned the kiss. Our lips moved together perfectly, as if the action had been choreographed and practiced a million times.

It was nice.

Too nice.

I loved it.

Then, it was over

Brady leaned back and took a long, hard look at me. His jaw clenched, and he seemed torn as he stood and took two large steps backwards.

Justin cleared his throat. "What the hell was that?"

Shit! My eyes widened, and I looked at Brady.

He didn't smile at my discomfort. Instead, he rolled his eyes. In one swift move, his hand came back then swung forward, smacking Justin upside the head so hard he almost fell out of his chair.

"Hey!" I shouted, but my mouth clamped shut.

Justin shook his head twice, then looked up at me. "What were you saying?"