Hidden (House of Night #10)(56)

"No, we're not a family. We're a group of kids who all go to the same school. That's it. The end."

"Our affinities make us more than that." She was shocking me-not just by what she was saying, but by her attitude. Erin was so damn cold! "Erin, we've been through too much together to ever believe that we're just a group of kids who happen to go to the same school."

"What if that's how you feel, but not how I feel? Don't I get to choose? I thought Nyx was all about free choice."

"She is, but that doesn't mean we can't say something when someone we care about is messing up," I said.

"Let her go."

Erin and I looked up to see Aphrodite standing on the bottom stair of the bus. She was leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed. I expected to see the familiar Aphrodite Sneer on her face, but she didn't look mad. She didn't sound sarcastic. She just seemed very sure of herself. Behind her I could see Stevie Rae and Shaylin. Each of them nodded, and that unspoken support for Aphrodite tipped me over as I realized that my Council had ruled-they'd decided what was best for all of us, even if it wasn't what was best for Erin.

"Thanks, Aphrodite. Who knew you'd be the one to agree with me?" Erin laughed, sounding petulant and childlike in the wake of Aphrodite's calm maturity.

"You know what, Erin, I'm glad you and Aphrodite reminded me," I said. "Nyx does give us free choice, and if you choose to live at the House of Night, then I'm going to respect that. I hope that doesn't change things with our circle. You're still water. Your element and you are still important to us."

Erin's lips smiled, but the expression didn't reach her cold blue eyes. "Yeah, of course. I'll always be water, and water can slide around from anywhere. Just call if you need me. I'll be sure to get right on it."

"Sounds good," I spoke quickly, feeling super awkward. "So, well, I guess we'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, right. I'll see you guys in class." With a flippant wave of her hand, Erin walked off.

I climbed the stairs into the bus asking Darius, "Are we all here?"

"All present and accounted for," he replied.

"Then let's go home." We all scattered to our seats-Stevie Rae beside Rephaim, Aphrodite in the first seat right behind Darius as the driver. Stark was waiting for me in the next seat back, and I leaned down, kissing him quickly and whispering, "I'm gonna go check on Shaunee, then I'll be back."

"I'll be waiting. Always," he said, touching my cheek gently.

I lurched in time to the potholes in the parking lot as Darius made a big U-turn and headed toward the school's long driveway, making my way to the back of the bus where Shaunee sat by herself.

"Mind if I sit down for a sec?"

"Sure, yeah," she said.

"So, you and Erin aren't so much talking anymore?"

Shaunee chewed the side of her cheek and shook her head. "No."

"She's pretty pissed." I was trying to figure out something to say that would help Shaunee open up.

"No, I don't think she is," Shaunee said.

I frowned. "Well, she seemed pissed."

"No," Shaunee repeated, staring out the window. "Go back and think about how she's been acting for the past couple of days, but especially today. Pissed doesn't describe her."

I did think about it. Erin had been cold. She'd been unemotional. And that's about all she'd been. "Well, you're right. Now that I really think about it she hasn't been much of anything except detached, and that feels weird," I said.

"You know what's weirder, she's showing more feeling than Erin." Shaunee pointed out the window at the little professors' courtyard not far from the edge of the parking lot. A girl was sitting beside the fountain there. As we drove past there was just enough light to glimpse that she had her face in her hands. Her shoulders were shaking as if she was bawling her heart out.

"Who is that?" I asked.

"Nicole."

"The red fledgling Nicole? Are you sure?" I rubber-necked, trying to get a better look at her, but we were already heading down the tree-lined driveway and my view of the girl was completely obscured.

"I'm sure," Shaunee said. "I saw her there on the way to the bus."

"Huh," I said. "Wonder what's going on with her?"

"I think things are changing for a bunch of us, and sometimes that just plain sucks."

"Anything I can do to make it less sucky for you?" I asked.

Shaunee looked at me then. "Just be my friend."

I blinked in surprise. "I am your friend."

"Even without Erin?"

"I like you better without Erin," I said honestly.

"I do, too," Shaunee said. "I do, too."

In a little while I went back to my seat beside Stark and let him put his arm around me. I rested my head against his shoulder and listened to his heartbeat, leaning on his strength and his love.

"Promise me you won't freak out on me and become some cold, distant stranger," I said softly to him.

"I promise. No matter what," he said with no hesitation. "Now, clear your mind of everything except the fact that I'm going to force you to try a different pizza tonight."