The Wild One by Melinda Metz

humans,” Liz said. “But that was before he really got to know the wonderful us.”
    â€œI wonder if ‘the wonderful us’ will convince Nikolas that humans are people, too,” Maria commented.
    â€œI’m not sure. I don’t think Michael ever thought of us as
insects
,” Liz answered. She shook her head, and her long, dark hair fell back down around her shoulders. “I’ve got a really bad feeling about Nikolas. I know Max is worried about him, too.”
    â€œWhat do you think Nikolas and Isabel are doing right now?” Maria asked. She painted her thumbnail with clear polish and carefully placed a scrap of paper on top.
    â€œWhatever they’re doing, I hope they’re not using their power,” Liz said. “I’m not ready to do a face-off with Valenti again.”
    â€œDo you think we should tell Max that Isabel took off with Nikolas?” Maria asked.
    Liz thought about it. It would give her an excuse to call Max, hear his voice, torture herself a little. But there was nothing he could really do. There was nothing any of them could do if Nikolas and Isabel decided to go wild with their power.
    â€œNo,” she said. “I mean, it’s not like they’re going to do anything
illegal
.”
    â€œUh, do the words
breaking and entering
mean anything to you?” Isabel asked Nikolas.
    â€œHuman rules are for humans,” he answered. “What? You’ve never used your power to pick a lock?” Nikolas glanced over his shoulder at her.
    â€œI guess I’ve just lived a sheltered life,” she answered.
    â€œI can fix that,” he said. A slow, lopsided grin spread across his face.
    Isabel felt her stomach flip over. Oh yes. Nikolas definitely had it going on.
    â€œFocus on the molecules of the bolt and squeeze them together. It’s a no-brainer,” Nikolas explained. He swung the door open and pulled Isabel inside.
    The place smelled like … a bowling alley. Isabel thought bowling was basically disgusting. She’d only gone once, at some kid’s birthday party when she was little. But she remembered the whole process was gross. You had to wear shoes that a bunch of stinky feet had been in before you. Even the holes in the bowling balls felt grimy. There were always little crumbs or dirt balls or something inside them.
    The only reason she was here was because Nikolas wanted to go bowling, and Isabel wanted to be where Nikolas was. Which was a first. Guys always came to Isabel. But Nikolas is no ordinary guy, she reminded herself.
    â€œI think those big bowling balls make it too easy. I use these.” Nikolas wandered over to one of the pool tables and picked up a couple of the striped balls. He tossed her one, and she was surprised how heavy it was.
    He pulled up the edge of his T-shirt to make sort of a bag and piled a bunch of the balls inside. Isabel tried not to stare at his stomach. It was hard and flat, with each group of muscles clearly defined. He was perfect. He wasn’t too bulked up or too lean. Absolutely yummy.
    â€œCome on,” Nikolas said. He flipped on a row of light switches with his elbow and led the way over to the closest lane.
    At least the pool balls don’t have any grubby little holes, Isabel thought.
    Nikolas dumped his pool balls on the polished wooden floor and stretched out on his stomach next to them. He grabbed one of the balls and slammed it down the lane. The pins went down with a loud clatter.
    I forgot about the noise, Isabel thought. Another wonderful part of the whole bowling ambiance.
    â€œWoo-hoo!” Nikolas yelled. “A strike for me.”
    Isabel smiled. Maybe there were a few ways Nikolas
was
an ordinary guy. It was kind of sweet. “You cheated, though,” she told him. “I could feel you using your power to push the ball.”
    Nikolas sat up and shook his head at her. “Someone did a number on you,” he said. “Why is