The Healer: A Young Adult Romantic Fantasy (The Healer Series Book 1) by C. J. Anaya Page A

unusual,” I mustered. Tie gifted me a small grin.
    “I was hoping for a little more encouragement than that.” Though he was clearly teasing me, he also sounded a bit serious. At a loss as to how to handle this bizarre situation, I stuck my hand out.
    “My name is Hope Fairmont,” I said.
    His smile widened as he took my hand in his. I did my best to ignore my body’s reaction to the contact. “I know who you are, Hope.”
    Okay, now that was definitely bizarre.
    I must have stood there for a full five seconds with my mouth hanging open like an imbecile before Angie came to my rescue.
    “How awesome—and somewhat creepy--that you’ve taken the liberty of memorizing the names of your classmates before your first day of school.” Angie inserted herself between us and pulled my hand away while wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “We’ll let your stalkerish behavior slide since you’re so nice to look at. I’m Angie.”
    Tie let out a low chuckle and then shook her hand.
    “Nice to meet you.”
    The moment their hands made contact I noticed Angie freeze. Her gaze grew distant like she was seeing something other than the hot guy standing before her. Complete and total shock registered across her face and then she was pushing me forward at a pace that practically required me to run.
    As we stepped out of the classroom, I heard Ms. Mori utter, “Well, that was a complete and total disaster, Tie. Are you trying to scare her?”
    I paused just next to the door, and Angie stopped with me. We both tilted our heads to better hear the conversation.
    “We don’t have time to mess around with this, and I don’t need to prove anything to you. It’s her. I promise you, it’s Hope,” Tie said.
    The sound of his voice, even from this distance, had the power to make me shiver. Why did it sound so familiar?
    “How can you be sure?”
    “I just am.”
    “Not good enough, Tie.”
    “It will have to be.”
    Angie and I waited a few more moments, but nothing else was said. The crowd had thinned enough that I felt it okay to lead Angie down the hallway.
    I contemplated the possible meanings behind this strange encounter, and I did not like the conclusions I came to. My breathing became ragged, and my heart rate picked up speed. They’d found me, just as I feared they might. Of course, I had no idea who “they” were, but obviously I’d been under surveillance, and now crazy people from the government were after me.
    Or I was reading into things and getting worked up over nothing. Maybe what Tie needed was one amazing Calculus tutor. I was definitely known for my nerd-like math skills throughout the high school. It was why I found Math so boring. Far too easy.
    When he said, It’s her, he probably meant, She’s the one who’s going to get me an A on my next exam.
    “That entire thing was so weird,” I stated, trying to pull Angie out of her unusual silence.
    “He’s just like you,” she mumbled. “I’ve never run into anyone else like you.”
    I stopped walking and pulled her to face me. “Angie, what are you talking about?”
    Surprise blossomed across her face, as if she’d momentarily forgotten my presence. Then she mustered up a fake smile and said, “Oh, I was just thinking how into you he is. You should definitely get to know this guy.”
    “Why would I want to do that? The guy was creepy and arrogant.” I hoped she might open up a little and let me know what she was actually thinking.
    “He was also extremely hot. Your virgin lips status is about to change,” she cheered.
    I’d lost her. Better luck next time.
    “I gotta get to class. Will you be okay or do you need me to block traffic?”
    Angie shook her head and gave my arm a squeeze. “The bell is about to ring so I should be fine. I’ll see you at lunch.”
    She headed in the other direction as I wondered what was really going on in that quirky brain of hers. Then I puzzled over the scene in Ms. Mori’s class as I made my way to