Luminescence (Luminescence Trilogy) by J.L. Weil

AFTER SCHOOL Gavin came over to study for the upcoming chemistry group test we had the following day. By group test, I meant Gavin and me. While I planned on studying, Gavin was another matter entirely. Honestly I would have preferred to study without him sitting across the bed from me; he was a distraction from even the simplest thoughts, let alone a chapter of science that didn’t make a lick of sense. But he had asked me and I had yet to refuse him anything.
    I had the textbook open and a spiral with bare minimal notes spread out around us on the bed. Biting the end of my pencil, I flipped through our study guide Mr. Burke had given us. It outlined the points in the chapter that we would be tested on.
    “Are we really going to study?” he asked complaining.
    “Yes,” I replied exasperated. “I have to pass this class. So do you.”
    He grumbled beside me, doodling on the notebook.
    I yanked it out from underneath his pen. “Hey,” he protested. “I wasn’t finished with that.”
    “Chemistry remember… we are supposed to be studying.”
    “You are a slave driver,” he stated, fumbling with his pen cap.
    “You are a slacker,” I contradicted.
    “Ouch, can’t we take a break?” He was bordering on whining and I felt like I was babysitting a two year old.
    I laughed. “We just started. Here look up question ten in the text.” Hoping that giving something to do would get him involved. I peered at him over the top of our study guide. He was flipping through the pages of our textbook looking so handsome. It was hard to believe that he was here in my room with me. When I imagined dated, I never pictured someone like him – dark, edgy, or with so many pierces. But now that there was a chance that maybe we could date, I didn’t want any other boy at my school. He ruined all other prospects for me.
    Yesterday’s tizzy in the hall was forgotten. We couldn’t seem to stay upset with each other and easily forgave our snags – snags that seemed to be me mostly my issue.
    Biting the end of my eraser he looked up and caught me staring at him. Of course my cheeks stained pink, he smirked and I quickly went back to our study guide. Now my concentration was all out of whack.
    “You’re not studying,” he playfully scolded.
    I kicked him light from across the bed. He grabbed ahold of my leg before I had the chance to escape his reach.
    “Hey,” I screeched.
    “Just remember you started it.” He pulled me by the leg towards him. I was laughing and squealing at the same time. As soon as he had me in his grasps, he picked me up effortlessly and tossed me to the other end of the bed on a pile of pillows. My laughter peeled out over the silence of the empty house, so much for studying.
    Sometime later I looked over at the clock on my nightstand. My stomach rumbled in response as I thought about dinner. My aunt wasn’t due home for a few more hours and it was my turn to make dinner. Even with her gone most of the time, she insisted on trying to make sure I had a balanced diet and was well taken care of. I know how much it grated on her that I was alone some much. On her nights, she usually had something in the fridge ready to be cooked or a cold pasta salad.
    Tonight the menu was Italian.
    “I’m starving.” My stomach protested with my admission. “Do you want to stay for dinner? I’m making lasagna.” I didn’t really want to eat alone and there was always so much, no matter how many nights I ate leftovers.
    “You’re cooking?” he asked and scrunched his nose.
    I tossed my pencil good-naturedly at him. “I’m a good cook, I’ll have you know.”
    He caught the pencil mid-air before it had a chance to hit its target and smirked at me. “Sure, under one condition,” he countered.
    “What?” I replied narrowing my eyes cautiously.
    “You let me help.”
    “Deal. Let’s go before I pass out from hunger,” I said grinning and climbed off my bed, the litter of notes forgotten.
    We walked into the