Reaper's Novice (Soul Collector #1) by Cecilia Robert

vase on the computer desk in my room with a note from Rolf. Mom told me he brought the flowers up—which was a huge surprise. Mom and Dad rarely allow him in my room. Hope I wasn’t snoring, talking in my sleep, or drooling. Ugh! I sneak a peek over my shoulder. His eyes walk every inch of me, from my curly obnoxious hair to my heeled feet. His eyes are darker than three nights combined. He winks, but doesn’t break his conversation with Reiner. I shiver. Probably no drool. I smile at him and turn to face Lea, who’s smiling slyly at me.
    “So let’s hang out at Copa Cagrana tomorrow after school for a few hours,” I say, cutting whatever remark is bubbling on her tongue. My face has heated enough for one day. Anymore and I’ll explode.
    She grins. “Or you could come with me to the exhibition at Belvedere Palace. I have an assignment to complete on Gustav Klimt’s work.”
    I shake my head. “I’m on babysitting duty today. Mom and Dad have a date.” I smile, knowing I look all dreamy, but I can’t stop myself.
    “Things seem to be looking up at your place.”
    “You have no idea.” I laugh.
    “Fine. Tomorrow then. Copa Cagrana. Are we still on for Saturday?”
    I nod.
    “Good. Oh, I need help with bio and studying for my finals.”
    I smack my forehead and scoot away from my chair. “Yikes, I forgot. I’ll be right back.” I snatch my rucksack and dig inside for the music sheets I’ve been working on.
    “What’re you looking for?”
    I pull out the folder and skim through to check if everything is there. “I meant to take these to Herr Schuster on Monday.”
    “Another of his ‘niece’s music composing problems’?” I stop and swing around. I raise an eyebrow at her air-quoting. Lea’s the most wary person I’ve ever met. “Why can’t he just refer his niece to you? Would be easier if she came to you for clarification or whatever.”
    I roll my eyes. “It’s just a few corrections.” No need to tell her I composed the whole thing. As usual, she’d rant about how I’m too nice for my own good. “His niece was having problems with how some notes weren’t coming together. I promised to work on it over the holiday.”
    Lea shakes her head, unfolds her legs, and stands up. “His sixteen-year-old niece has had problems catching up every month for the last what… year? That’s how long you’ve been solving notes problems for her. You take your niceness too far, my friend. You should at least charge Herr Schuster for it.”
    “That’s like charging my grandfather. Besides, I’m planning on adding him as my reference in my Conservatory application. It’s a win-win thing as far as I can see.”
    She grunts in disgust and pulls her seat to where Reiner and Rolf are slouched in their seats, conversing. “He isn’t your grandfather. And you need that money if you ever dream of getting that violin you keep ogling.”
    I grin. “I have my tutoring class for that.”
    Lea shakes her head. “You need a cure, Ana. You think with your heart too much.”
    I frown, my hands propped on my hips, and tilt my head to one side. “And that’s a bad thing, how?”
    “Your heart needs a break every now and then. You need to try it sometime.”
    I roll my eyes. “Be back in a few.” I have seven minutes before break’s over. Enough to rush to the teacher’s lounge and back. I dash out of class, the tap tap of my heels echoing in the empty hallways.
    Probably it’d be better if I taught his niece. I’ve literally been tutoring her through the music sheets Schuster gives me anyway. Wouldn’t hurt to meet her face to face. Maybe I could suggest this to him.
    As I round the corner, I catch a glimpse of Herr Schulz and Frau Ivasec. Bulldog and Golden Retriever. They seem to be arguing. Frau Ivasec stretches on her tiptoes, nose to nose with Herr Schulz, whose eyes are narrowed at her, lips curled in a snarl. Oh, definitely juicy. At least I’ll have some gossip for lunch break.
    I take a few