Crave by Melissa Darnell Page B

straightened up and walked away.
    I eased down in my chair and crossed my arms over my chest. But I still wanted to hit something.
    Once the guy was several yards away from Savannah, Emilyleaned over and threw an arm around my shoulders. “That was Greg Stanwick. He’s a junior. Plays on the varsity soccer team, so apparently he’s good. I’ve heard he’s pretty charming and doesn’t mind dating younger girls. Like freshmen.”
    A growl started in my chest. Not Savannah, he wouldn’t. She needed someone…taller. Someone who didn’t smile like a freaking game-show host.
    â€œYouch. Want to ease up on the energy level there, little brother?” Emily peeled her arm from my shoulders and rubbed her skin through her shirtsleeve.
    â€œSorry,” I muttered and glanced around our table. Everyone was staring at me. “Sorry,” I called out to the entire group. Several of them rolled their eyes and rubbed their arms or the back of their necks, but everyone seemed to accept the apology and looked away again. Everyone except Dylan, who kept watching me with raised eyebrows. I shrugged in answer to his silent question. He could be nosier than a girl looking for gossip sometimes.
    â€œYou know that wouldn’t happen if you would focus on your training,” Emily said.
    â€œAnd you know I don’t care about all that crap.”
    â€œToo bad. The energy doesn’t go away if you ignore it. It only gets worse.”
    I tried ignoring her.
    â€œTristan, don’t be moronic. If you don’t learn to ground better—”
    She nagged worse than our mother. “I grounded all weekend.”
    â€œAre you sure you’re doing it right?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œHmm. Then you might want to try grounding at school, too.”
    â€œAnd how do I do that without looking crazy?”
    She surprised me with a laugh. “Find a tree.”
    â€œAnd then what, hit it?”
    â€œNo, make like a car and gas pump but in reverse. Siphon off some of your energy through the tree to the ground.”
    â€œGood idea, sis. I’ll keep that in mind for next time.” I faked a grin, hoping a little charm would convince her to drop the subject and get off my back.
    She shook her head, seeing through me, but at least returned to her lunch.
    Relaxing in my seat, I finished eating then headed for the trash cans. On my way back, I saw Stanwick at a table with two other guys. The soccer jerk was staring in Savannah’s direction with a look on his face. The kind of look that said he was thinking about asking her out.
    I should hit the guy now and save time. Except Jacksonville High had a zero-tolerance policy against fighting on campus. I would get suspended if I got caught. It would go on my permanent record, and colleges weren’t thrilled about accepting students who went around beating up their classmates. And no college meant no chance of playing for the NFL.
    Too bad Stanwick didn’t play football instead….
    Scowling, I returned to my table and grabbed my books. Our entire table froze, their heads turning to stare at me.
    â€œTristan Glenn Coleman,” Emily hissed. “Outside. Tree. Now.”
    â€œI’m going, I’m going,” I grumbled and headed out the door for the nearest tree.
    I found one a few yards away between the cafeteria’s rear exit and the math building. Perfect. Now how to ground without looking like an idiot? I couldn’t exactly hug the thing, not with all those students at the outside picnic tables for an audience. But I had to touch the tree with my hands somehow for it to work.
    And then I figured it out. Leaning back against the tree like I was waiting for someone, I held my books against my thigh with one hand and let my free hand hang at my side. A turn of the wrist and my empty palm touched the rough bark. Taking a deep breath, I mentally reached inside, found the boiling flow of energy and