Page 28 of Zodiac Hybrids

What it would help, I wasn’t entirely sure though. This week had gone so peacefully, I was hardly in dire straits, and it’s not like I was hung up on Adrian Karras. I certainly hadn’t wanted a confrontation when I so rebelliously showed up against his wishes. This was much better and much easier. I wasn’t going to class to taunt him. I was here to learn.

I was the last to sit down in our evening club. Marcus was settled in, looking characteristically bored, up until I took my spot by his side. I loved the way I made him light up so easily. At least someone was affected by my presence.

Professor Karras started his lecture with more on the elements and planetary alignment. Not even a glance. No more little jabs about Virgos and Capricorns. No talk of compatibility. Instead, he was saying something about lucky numbers and colors and other ridiculous blah blah blah.

Why did I wish he would notice me so badly? It’s not like I had any reason to want him to talk to me. I already determined that I didn’t care that he took my virginity. That connection didn’t mean anything. It was emotionless pleasure through and through. He did me a favor, so the fact that I lost it to someone who didn’t even pay me a wayward glance when we were in the same room didn’t bother me at all.

I peered at Marcus, who was resting his cheek on his balled fist, with eyes half-lidded by boredom, as if he might be able to somehow help me out in my dumb internal crisis. His gaze tracked over to mine, and he smirked briefly before he sat up straight and raised his hand. He didn’t wait to be called on before he spoke over the professor. “Thrilling info, but I really want to hear more about the Capricorn’s love life, Dr. Karras.”

The professor’s eyebrow visibly twitched, and he turned towards our section of the room for the first time all day. If I was being honest, that was the kind of reaction I had been hoping for when I first showed up at the beginning of the week.

“What would you like to know, Mr. Emery?” Adrian’s voice reflected the subtlest of irritation. He didn’t seem to like Marcus much from what I’d seen of their limited but oddly strained interactions. I knew Marcus grew up here, so maybe they knew each other? Graves didn’t seem like a small town, but there were a million ways two people who lived in the same city could meet.

“You know. Air, fire, water, earth—tell me more about what makes Capricorns and Virgos so compatible.”

I deserved all of the awards for not gasping audibly at the request.

Another brow twitch from our leader. “I was just explaining the elements—”

“Yeah, right, the earth, the moon, energy—that’s all theory, but you’re actually a Capricorn. So tell me about your experience. Do you seek out other Earth signs when you’re looking for…” he paused for mortification factor, then finished with a classy and subtle “love.”

“I don’t think that’s appropri—”

“I’d like to hear about your personal experience with being a Capricorn too.” Linda cut in. She straightened in her seat and her whole face lit up. “Just because the stars say you should like earth and water signs, don’t you ever want to venture into the fire or air side and see what it’s about?”

Jesus Christ, Marcus, what have you done?

”Just wait, Baby Doll.”

I fought the urge to visibly jump, and it occurred to me that I might not just be imagining his voice in my head. Which would have sounded insane a week ago but seemed entirely plausible now. Has he legitimately been talking to me through my mind all this time?

I thought all of these questions, but got no further responses from Marcus, leading me to believe I was truly falling off the deep end over here.

Professor Karras cleared his throat, but I could see the first signs of sweat glistening on his temples.

“You don’t want to hear about my dating life, I promise.” He played it off with a chuckle that seemed natural and convincing.

“I do though.” Marcus stated flatly. Almost aggressively. “I think it’s important to understanding how the signs interact in the real world on an individual basis.” His eyes narrowed, while pure mischief was sparkling in their depths. “This is a club, not a classroom. We should be able to speak frankly and honestly. That’s part of building friendships we’ll take with us long after we graduate.”

“I agree with Marcus.” Linda added over her shoulder, batting her eyes in his direction. He smiled back at her, and I was not jealous. “I want to get to know everyone better, you included, Professor. Analyzing the signs of our past lovers could be a fun exercise.”

My heart was in my throat, absolutely not wanting to have to admit to the eight people in the room that I didn’t have a single person to analyze for an activity like that. How better to make new friends than to admit that I was a total loser, and the only reason I’d had sex at all by now was because I was at the wrong place at the wrong time for some uncontrollable moon magic.

“I feel like that could single people out if they haven’t had much dating experience, or potentially trigger bad memories if they have. Let’s stick to theory, at least as we’re getting to know each other.” Adrian spoke confidently in a way that didn’t leave room for argument. I knew he wasn’t saying that for my sake, but I was grateful for it.

I was less grateful, however, when Marcus spoke up again. “That’s fine, but discussing theory is interesting too. Like, take Lila, for example. She’s a Virgo, and you’re a Capricorn. So you two are compatible, right?”

Don’t choke on your own saliva. Don’t choke on your own saliva.

And I choked on my own saliva.

“I’m quite a bit older—”

“The stars are billions of years old. I don’t think a decade or so means much to the universe. Doesn’t astrological compatibility work regardless of age?” Marcus leaned back in his seat. “I’m just asking hypothetically, of course. She’s just an example since she’s the only other earth sign in class. You can talk about how you’ve felt about other Virgos if you’d rather. What sign was the last person you dated?”

I wanted to disappear. Sink into the desk, melt through the tile, and absorb into the earth where no one would ever hear from me again. My whole face was burning so hot, I was pretty sure I’d had a lower temperature the last time I got the pneumonia. My hair was not nearly thick enough to hide behind.

Though even in my frantic embarrassment, these two men glared at each other like they had guns to each other’s heads and both were prepared to fire. Marcus wasn’t what I’d call a class clown, but he wasn’t one to quietly go along with the lesson either.