Malice by Amity Hope

she’d realize sooner rather than later that lusting after a Necromancer just wasn’t a good idea.
    Neither was lusting after your best friend.
    We were both idiots.
    She sighed. “I know what you’re thinking. It’s written all over your face. And I know that you’re right. But you know that the heart can be a traitorous, stubborn, stupid thing,” she said dramatically.
    I didn’t argue because everything she said was right. “I need some sugar,” I decided as I hoisted myself out of the booth.
    Finola’s hand latched onto my shoulder and she pushed me back down in my seat. “Sit. I’ll get it. It’s the least I can do.”
    I didn’t argue. Not because I agreed with her but because I felt drained of any energy.
    I hadn’t picked Tristan up that morning. I had no idea if he’d been expecting me. Maybe he was smart enough to assume I wouldn’t show. I couldn’t face him. My emotions had been teeter tottering between wanting to cry and wanting to kick him.
    The moment my friends had shown up at my locker, they’d known something was wrong for the second day in a row. I couldn’t talk to them about Magnolia. But I could tell them about Tristan. I’d managed to avoid him the entire day. It hadn’t been easy. I needed to take new routes to every class. After school, I hung out in my Magical Methods classroom far longer than needed. I pestered the teacher with asinine questions about the assignment just to kill time. Then, just for good measure I killed a few more minutes in the bathroom.
    By the time I reached my locker he was gone. Whether he’d left with Julie, gotten a ride from Cecily, or found another way home, I had no idea.
    With a sigh, I realized that this was why I should’ve kept my feelings to myself. This was what I’d been afraid of all along. Now I’d ruined our friendship and I had nothing to show for it.
    I rested my elbow on the tabletop and propped my chin in my hand. My eyes scanned the street outside. I hadn’t thought anything would get my mind off of the Tristan debacle. Apparently I was wrong.
    Levi was in the parking lot. Talking to a girl. And while that in itself wouldn’t have been too surprising—I was sure that to most, Levi was very appealing—what did surprise me was that the girl was Bree Davis. Bree was a senior too. I didn’t know her well but I did know that she and Xavier had dated on and off most of last year.
    I wondered what Daphne would think of this.
    I also wondered what Bree and Levi could possibly be talking about. Tristan had mentioned that Levi had been spending time at The Rush. I wondered if he was interviewing Bree or if his interests were more personal.
    Finola returned with an extra large hot chocolate. It had a double heap of whipped cream that was decorated in candy sprinkles.
    “Thanks,” I said when she placed it in front of me.
    She had an identical drink. She immediately scooped off a hunk of the whipped topping and popped it in her mouth.
    “What do you think he’s up to?” she asked.
    I followed her line of sight. She’d spotted Levi too.
    “I have no idea,” I admitted. “Tristan thinks he’s trouble.” I winced. I hadn’t wanted to bring him up again.
    “How so?” Finola asked.
    I shrugged. “I’m not sure. He was pretty insistent that I stay away from him but he wouldn’t elaborate.” I cocked my head to the side, watching Levi and Bree. They were leaning against his car. There was definite flirting going on. Bree laughed at something and then Levi backed up, opening the passenger door for her. She slid inside, disappearing from my sight as he closed the door. In minutes, he was pulling out of the lot and they were gone.
    “What do you think that’s about?” Finola asked.
    “Don’t know,” I answered.
    She scrunched up her face in apology. “I hate to say it, but I agree with Tristan. There’s something about him that seems…off.”
    “ Off how? I’ve never noticed anything.” I realized then that wasn’t