Deadly Desires
A Death Walker Novel
Book Two
By
Sarah Dieng
Smashwords Edition
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Deadly Desires
Copyright 2011 Sarah Dieng
Cover Art: Kimberely Lecumberri
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
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When I can no more stir my soul to move,
And life is but the ashes of a fire,
When I can but remember that my heart
Once used to live and love, long and aspire
Oh, be thou then the first, the one thou art;
Be thou the calling, before all answering love,
And in me wake hope, fear, boundless desire.
George MacDonald, Diary of an Old Soul
PROLOGUE
Your eyes are like windows to your soul Alexander,” she whispered to him. “They speak of so many things.”
Her fingertips traced over his cheek gently. She couldn’t get enough of just touching him, being near him. His very presence calmed her beyond measure.
“And what do they tell you Tia?” His voice was rough with feeling.
His voice always touched her and now was no exception. They lay face to face in the tall grass outside her family home hidden from the world, the night sky and all the stars their only witness.
“They tell me of your love for me,” she sighed. When his fingers brushed a curl from her cheek she closed her eyes.
“Is that all?”
She could hear the smile in his voice, but she kept her eyes closed, reveling in his scent and the jasmine that grew only feet away. “Mmmmmm...” she let a small smile touch her lips and she felt the tips of his fingers brush them. Then her smile turned to a slight frown and she opened her eyes.
“Why the frown, love?” he asked in concern.
“There is also a great sadness in them.” The hand that rested on his chest lifted and with just the tips of her fingers she softly brushed them along his temple.
He closed his eyes and sighed at her soft touch; she leaned closer and softly brushed her lips over each of them. She pulled back and studied his face. He opened his beautiful eyes and studied her in return, seeming to memorize her.
“Will you tell me of the sadness?” she asked softly.
“Tiiiaaaaaa,” a voice called out in the distance.
She sighed deeply and groaned. “Always the interruptions,” she complained, but smiled at him. “I won’t see you again for another week; father won’t let me stay here by myself. He says it’s not proper.”
The voice called again and she sat up looking off in that direction. “I’m coming,” she called back loudly. She looked down at him and smiled. “I will miss you Alexander.”
He sat up and gave her a small smile. “I will miss you as well my little Tia.” He took her face in his hands gently and brushed her lips softly with his. He leaned his forehead against hers. “Be safe, my love,” he whispered.
The voice called again, all patience now gone.
She groaned, kissed him quickly and scrambled to her feet. “I must go or he will come looking for me,” she gave him a smile filled with all the love she had for him. “Goodbye my love, I will see you soon,” she said right before she took off running for home.
That was the last time she saw him.
CHAPTER ONE
His eyes were green just as I had thought, and I knew those eyes. I also somehow knew that there was a stray gold fleck, just one, among the startling green of his right eye, and there it was. How I knew that really freaked me out.
They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. I’d have to agree. I swallowed hard and closed my eyes then opened them again when I felt the touch of his hand on my arm. I nearly jumped out of my seat.
“Are you alright?” he asked softly and then his eyes went a little wide and then narrowed considering. His eyes moved over my face and he pulled his hand away slowly and then stopped it between us. His hand rose again and I could tell that he wanted to touch my face, but he was afraid of frightening me.
Just then a crash sounded and I jumped and pulled away turning to face the front. One of the girls had tipped over her stool and was sprawled on the floor unceremoniously. She glared back at me and I realized that she had been staring back at us and not paying attention. Luckily for her she hadn’t been wearing her cheerleader skirt today.
One of the boys helped her up while another set her stool upright. Her friends were looking at her like she had grown another head while a couple of the other students who were not among their in crowd snickered and were getting a dirty look in return.
All through this Ms. Marx stood at the front of the room with her hands on her hips eyeing the disruption with disgust. Apparently the one girl was the only one that had noticed what was going on in the back of the class. The girls were whispering to each other and then they all looked back at us as I dropped my eyes again to my book. Just then the bell rang and I hurriedly grabbed my things and nearly ran out of the room.
I didn’t know what was going on, but I didn’t like it. How could I know things about him when I had never met him? It wasn’t possible. I didn’t recognize him at all I told myself. It was a trick of the light that’s all. Then a thought stopped me right in my tracks, literally and I was nearly run over by a group of girls heading for the bathroom to “touch up” their lipstick.
If he was who I thought he was things were only going to get worse here on out. Mitch wasn’t going to be happy.
~
By lunchtime my nerves were stretched to the breaking point and the headache that had threatened earlier in the day was beginning to make itself known in a big way. I walked into the lunch room and found Mitch waiting for me. I had left class early telling the teacher I wasn’t feeling well and had hidden in a bathroom stall long after the lunch bell had sounded. I needed to get control of my emotions.
The boy, whose name was Alex Haley, had shown up in my other classes as well, but he had chosen seats farther away from where I had sat. I was glad, but I knew from looking at him that when he saw me he wanted to sit near me. I think he was trying to ease my mind after what had happened between us in chemistry class.
I wasn’t sure if his name was just a coincidence, but I didn’t think so. Whatever it was that I felt he had felt it as well. My Alex had finally found me. I pushed that thought out ruthlessly because the thought hadn’t been mine, well...not really. Had it?
I pulled out a chair across from Mitch and sat with a sigh. Mitch started to smile at me, but it fell away and concern replaced it. He studied my face.
“Headache?”
I nodded and then winced. I put my head in my hands and began to rub my temples. I knew part of it was from not eating so I grabbed my pack and pulled out the muffins from breakfast. Mitch handed me a container of milk and I smiled my thanks.
I ate my muffins slowly and felt a little better, but the headache was still there. I had let my emotions and anxiety escalate until they overpowered me, causing the headache to take hold. I carried some of the less powerful headache medication with me so I took out two and took them with a swallow of milk. I looked up and caught Mitch watching me.
“Don’t worry,” I smiled. “They aren’t the ones that knock me out.”
Just as I set the milk container down the table was shoved a couple of feet to my left. The milk tipped over, spilling across the tabletop and my pack slid and fell to the floor scattering pens and pencils out of the front pocket when it hit. The table leg just missed ramming into me.
Mitch and I looked up in shock and I noticed the girl from my chemistry class; the one that had tipped over her stool. Behind her were her friends all with scowls on their faces. Mitch and I both stood up and faced her and her friends.
“Hey mental case,” she said loudly with a sneer. The lunchroom quieted some. “Don’t even think for a moment I don’t know what you’re doing.” She took her long manicured finger and pointed it at me.
“What are you talking about?” I asked her.
“What are you talking about?” she mimicked me in a high squeaky voice. “You know what I’m talking about freak. You are crazy if you think he would even look at you. Stay. Away. From. Him.” Those last four words were punctuated physically with jabs to my shoulder.
“Leave her alone,” Mitch growled and took a step toward her. Someone shoved him from behind and he caught himself on the edge of the table. I looked over and saw one of the jocks standing off to one side laughing with his friends.
I saw the principal walk in at that moment and look around. When he caught sight of the crowd in our corner he headed over. The other students were scattering or quickly sitting back down at their tables. The group around us hadn’t noticed him and I wasn’t going to say a word. Principal Zach was a force to be reckoned with.
“You better listen to me closely mental case or you will get what’s coming to you. You and your freak boyfriend,” she threatened, sparing a glance for Mitch.
Apparently she didn’t care who heard her. I don’t know what she was so mad about and I had no idea what she was getting at. Maybe her spill in the classroom really embarrassed her or better yet I bet her friends told her that she embarrassed them and she had to make up for it by bullying me.
“And what would that be Miss Nielson?” Principal Zach said in an authoritative voice.
The group around us gasped in unison, some blushed red at getting caught and a few managed to slink away from the gathered crowd before Zach could reprimand them. Amanda Nielson however paled under her spray tan.
She knew she was in trouble and since the Principal knew her daddy, she would suffer. Of course my idea of suffering and hers were totally different. She would probably be grounded for about five seconds and her MasterCard taken away for the day. Then she would blame me even more, especially when her friends started ignoring her for embarrassing them yet again. Or they would all get detention. That was a better bet.
“Nothing Principal Zach,” she cooed with a winning smile in his direction. “I was only teasing the frea...uh...her, right?” she said looking at me quickly and a little desperately. She was hoping I would get her out of this? I think not. She didn’t even know my name. This was not really a surprise.
He gave her a look that said he didn’t believe a word. “All of you, my office.” He nodded at the girls and the jocks that were standing around. “Now!” he shouted. The girls jumped but raised their chins high and stood straight as they walked past him and the jocks followed suit.
Mitch and I picked up our stuff, stood and walked out ahead of the Principal. I caught sight of a familiar green t-shirt as we walked out and I looked up into Alex’s eyes. His eyes held something I didn’t want to think about. As soon as the lunchroom doors closed behind us Principal Zach stopped us in the hall.
“Why don’t you two go to the library and wait for your next class,” he offered with a smile and put his hand on Mitch’s shoulder. “Try to stay away from them for awhile and don’t get caught alone with any of them,” he warned.
That’s the best he could do for us. He knew what his students were like. He didn’t like it, but he too was a pawn of the system. However, he wouldn’t let them push him too far.
“Thank you sir,” Mitch said. “We will.” Zach nodded and took off down the hall toward his office.
We walked quietly to the library and found an empty table in the back. Mitch sat next to me and took my hand in his.
“How’s the headache?” he asked.
“It’s a little better.”
“Good,” he smiled. “Now what was all that about in the lunchroom?” he asked in concern.
I let out a breath. I wasn’t going to lie to him, but until I figured it all out I would leave out my personal thoughts and observations.
“The new guy showed up in my chemistry class,” I explained. “Ms. Marx partnered him with me since my old partner moved out of state. Amanda embarrassed herself in class by not paying attention. She was looking at us and tipped herself and her stool over on the floor.” I shrugged.
“And her friends razzed her so she had to take it out on somebody,” he guessed.
“That’s what I’m thinking,” I agreed.
“You would think they were in second grade the way they act sometimes.”
I laughed. “No kidding.” I looked down at his hand holding mine and hoped he didn’t ask any more questions.
“But why would she warn you to stay away from him? You don’t even know him.”
“Apparently all the girls are already in love with him. I don’t know why she would think he would look at me when he has all of them to look at.” If he was just a normal run of the mill guy I thought to myself.
“Dani,” he chided softly. I looked up at him. “You are beautiful. Any guy in their right mind would want to look at you.”
I knew I wasn’t a prize by any stretch of the imagination. I knew what Mitch saw; it’s what I saw in the mirror every day. I was only five feet three and on the thin side. I guess I had all the right curves compared to some girls. Let’s just say that I wasn’t going to win any beauty pageants.
“You are the only sane person I know,” I admitted. “And you need glasses.”
He chuckled, but only shrugged. The bell rang and he squeezed my hand before he let go. We grabbed our stuff and headed to class hoping to avoid the newly punished crowd.
I felt a familiar tingling sensation as we walked through the library toward the exit. I was being watched...again. I glanced around me, but I didn’t see anyone. I shook my head; now I was getting paranoid...again. I thought I was entitled, but I didn’t want to lose focus. I had told Mitch that I was tired of it all. I had cried on his shoulder and said it didn’t matter, but really it did. I didn’t want to die and if there was any chance to change the outcome I wanted to know what it was...before it was too late.
I didn’t want to have anything to do with the new guy, but if he was who I thought he was then he might be able to help. Was the recognition that I felt only on my side? I wasn’t sure that he was “my Alex”, but something inside me said he might be. Did he somehow know who I was as well? Or was our response to each other only a coincidence?
There were too many questions and not enough answers. And I needed answers. I just hoped that I didn’t have to die to get them.
CHAPTER TWO
We managed to avoid confrontation of any kind with the elite. Unfortunately there were a couple of the students in our history class. We walked in and received dirty looks, but there was nothing said. Of course that might have been because Mr. Jenkins was already at his desk and was watching them carefully.
Principal Zach must have said something to the teachers, or at least to our teacher. I think they all hung around in the same crowd so they would all know sooner or later. Ultimately that would be bad for us. We would be considered tattle tales, teachers’ pets and any number of other insulting nicknames.
We made our way to our seats and as we sat I looked over at Mitch. His eyes were fixed on the front of the room. I followed his look and saw who had captured his interest. Alex was here, in another one of my classes. What is the deal? I thought. If he was in all of my classes I was going to need to take something just to calm myself. I saw Mr. Jenkins hand Alex back his slip.
“Take an empty seat, there is enough of them,” our teacher said waving toward the back of the room.
Yeah there was, I agreed silently.
I think the other kids thought we had mental cooties or something and tried to avoid being near us at all costs. That was actually fine with us, but it hurt sometimes to be social outcasts. We were already orphans, not wanted by our own families, so being shunned by our peers only added to the feeling of separation.
There were empty seats all around us and surprisingly there were too many desks set up in this room. I had a feeling that we could thank the jocks and cheerleaders for that.
Of course Mr. Jenkins didn’t notice how segregated we were; he stayed up front all the time. There were three empty desks in front of Mitch and four in front of me. I guess the mental freak was more of an unknown than the orphan freak. Then on my left and Mitch’s right there were empty seats as well.
We were in the back center of the room and it was a rather large room for as many students who were in attendance, but the school board always had “use our resources” in the forefront. It’s a wonder that they didn’t move three classes to the lunchroom at once and let the teachers fight for air time just so they wouldn’t have to turn on the heat in their respective classrooms in the winter time.
I watched with trepidation as the new guy made his way toward the center of the room. I also watched the cheerleaders eyeing him with wonder. They were smiling his way, but he wasn’t even looking at them. One of them had her purse on the desk behind her and she quickly moved it hoping he would sit near her. The jocks were eyeing him with suspicion and dislike. Their girls were eyeing the competition.
He turned down our aisle and walked past the cheer squad. I watched their faces fall and turn to disbelief as he kept walking toward us. I glanced over at Mitch and I saw that he was watching him suspiciously. He could have picked any of the empty seats, but he chose the center aisle. I was in a panic. Mitch had no idea who this was and I wasn’t going to let on or at least try not to.
I watched as he stopped at the desk just in front of the empty one in Mitch’s aisle. He glanced at Mitch and nodded, and then he turned those green eyes on me. They held me captive. I could feel Mitch watching me; and then Alex looked away and I was left trying to catch my breath.
I lowered my head and pretended to be absorbed in our history book. I could feel waves of concern, jealousy and suspicion coming from Mitch. I lifted my eyes and watched as Alex took his seat to the utter disappointment of his admirers. I caught some disgusted looks thrown our way; like it was our fault he picked that seat.
“Another academic, wonderful,” Mr. Jenkins said drolly. If I was a betting person I would have said that was a perfect example of sarcasm, but knowing Mr. Jenkins he actually meant it. For him that was one more person to answer questions and speak up in class. I’m sure he was as tired as I was of the uneducated responses from most of his students.
I felt Mitch’s glance on me and I looked over at him. I gave him a shrug. That’s all I could do. I didn’t want to open a can of worms until I knew what was going on. I just didn’t know how to find out what I needed to know.
I couldn’t just go up to Alex and outright ask him. There was something there between us for sure, but what that something was, was not yet clear. Maybe I should just wait and see if he came to me. That may be the way to go.
It was not possible to sneak around Mitch and meet someone and I didn’t want to, it was wrong and would only hurt him. I didn’t want that. I needed Mitch in my life; he was my anchor and my best friend. I didn’t know yet what Alex was.
~
The day was finally over and Mitch and I were slowly walking home. It was whispered that the troublemakers in the lunchroom all got a one hour detention every day for a week and their parents had been called. At least we didn’t have to worry about them trying to waylay us on our way home.
I didn’t want another day like the one I’d just had. Alex had shown up in every one of my classes except for first period. When he had shown up in Study Hall as well Mitch had given me a look that had said “Are you kidding me?” And other than our little moment in chemistry he had avoided sitting too near me. I had been dreading every class waiting to see if he would show up. I needed to calm down, my stomach hurt and my headache was back. I felt a touch on my arm and I looked up.
“Dani are you okay?”
“Uh...yeah. Sorry.” I was guessing that he had been trying to get my attention for some time. I rubbed my forehead and sighed. I had too much going on in my mind right now.
“So did the new kid show up in any of your other classes?” He tried to ask it casually, but it fell flat and he knew it.
I looked up at him and he shrugged unrepentantly. “Mitch,” I started, but he interrupted.
“I saw the way he looked at you Dani. Like...like you two were the only ones in the room. He wanted to sit next to you, but he held himself back.”
Mitch saw too much when he wanted to, but his jealousy was not going to help the situation. I took a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh of air. I was going to have to tell him and he wasn’t going to like it, but he would have to deal.
“He is in all my other classes. His name is Alex and I knew his eyes were green and...there’s a gold speck in his right eye. I knew before I even got a close look,” I said it quickly.
Mitch stared at me a moment, processing what I had said. “His name is Alex,” he said in a slow voice. “And you knew things about him...”
“Just about his eyes...yeah.” I started walking again, but Mitch had stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. I turned and looked back at him. He just stared at me for a minute then walked up to me slowly.
“You weren’t going to tell me were you?” he asked.
“Mitch...”
“You weren’t going to tell me,” he repeated and it wasn’t a question this time. He took off walking ahead of me striding angrily. I followed, trying to keep up with him. “I thought that there were going to be no more secrets; nothing left out.”
We had just reached the edge of the property and he veered off toward the back yard. I didn’t see Ms. R’s car so apparently she wasn’t home. At least if Mitch decided to yell it wouldn’t bother anyone but me.
“I thought we were going to work together to find a way out of this mess,” he nearly yelled. He threw down his backpack under a tree and just kept walking until he reached the middle of the backyard. He then turned to me and gave me glare that was equal parts anger and hurt. “Don’t tell me that you were playing me all along.” Now that hurt and made me angry.
“Damn it Mitch!” I yelled and his eyes went wide. Apparently me cussing shocked him as much as me yelling. I never yelled or rarely ever and I never cussed, unless it was to myself or very quietly. “You know I wouldn’t just play you.”
I addressed his last accusation first because his jealousy was what caused him to say it and I needed to clear that one up. “I can’t believe you would even think that. And you can cut the jealousy crap too; it does not become you,” I added. He stiffened and I knew I had hit the mark.
“First of all no, I wasn’t going to say anything to you...” I continued and he smirked so I walked quickly up to him and poked my finger in the middle of his chest. He winced, but didn’t stop me.
“Because I don’t know one hundred percent that it is him. Nor do I know why I knew things about him or why he is acting that way. All of my thoughts are guesses and suppositions at this point. I didn’t want to say or do anything until I knew for sure.” I took a deep breath while rubbing my temples and then said in a lower, quieter voice.
“Please Mitch, just stop. I can’t deal with all this right now. I need you with me on this.” At that I looked up at him. I wasn’t opposed to using a guilt trip or two to get him to back off.
His face softened and he put his arms around me, pulling me to him. “I’m sorry Dani.” He buried his face in my hair and squeezed me tighter. “I’ll try,” he promised.
He pulled away and stood looking into my face. He brushed away a curl that had blown across my eyes. “Ya know when I thought he was a ghost it wasn’t so bad,” he continued. “He couldn’t touch you here and now; but if this guy is him...then he will take you away from me.”
I reached up and touched his face. “If it is him maybe we can get some answers.”
“I don’t want you anywhere near him,” his voice grew cold and unrelenting.
I smiled at him my anger gone. “It’s inevitable Mitch and you know it. I can avoid him all I want, but when it comes down to it...he and I will come together somehow...someday. If it is him then I have to play the part. I have to find out if there is a way out of this.”
“I hate this,” he growled.
“I know, but think about this Mitch. I have less than a month before I turn sixteen. Then...if my dreams are right...” He didn’t let me finish. He placed a finger over my lips.
“Don’t say it, please.”
“Alright,” I agreed taking his hand. “Let’s go inside, I’m hungry.”
He looked at me a little sadly, gladly letting me change the subject. Then he gave a soft chuckle. “You should be.”
We walked inside and foraged for something to eat then sat down at the table.
“Are you going to confront him?” Mitch asked.
“No. My first thought was to just let him come to me. I may have an idea of who he is, but I don’t know if it’s the same for him. There was some sort of connection, but I don’t know what it was.” I explained. He nodded and I knew he was trying.
“Besides he kind of avoided me the rest of the day so either he heard the rumors going around about me or he was weirded out by our first encounter.”
“If it is him I hope he has some answers,” Mitch offered.
“Yeah, me too.” I agreed. I just didn’t hold out much hope. I still couldn’t grasp the fact that Alex had finally arrived on the scene. Deep down I knew it was him, but I was surprised that I didn’t feel anything for him. I didn’t really know him even though I kind of knew what part he was supposed to play in my life. I wondered if I hadn’t known about any of the mess my life was and I had just met him if I would eventually fall in love with him.
This was just too much to think about-Mitch, Alex and my sixteenth birthday just to name a few. I was not looking forward to the coming weeks because if history repeated itself I wouldn’t be functioning all that well.
CHAPTER THREE
Alex
I can’t believe I found her already. I knew she was here...somewhere; I just had to find her. I was expecting to wander the halls looking into every shallow vapid girls face, but there she was.
I had been looking for her hoping to feel something or anything connected with her since I came here, but found nothing until now. Every class I entered goes completely silent and I have to suffer the looks and whispers. I don’t really care and most of the time I just find it annoying and somewhat unsettling at how much the girls do not change no matter what century I live in. You would think I would be used to it by now, but no one’s opinion has ever mattered but hers.
Once again I had entered another class, subjected to the same scrutiny and then I had felt it. That gentle pull on my soul that told me she was close. I searched the room, my eyes running over the girls in front quickly, and then I looked to the back of the room and gazed into the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. She barely spared me a glance before she was engrossed in her school book again. Since she was the only student without a partner I suspected that she didn’t want one or the others shunned her.
I had pulled my eyes from hers and took the slip from the teacher. The teacher pointed me toward the back of the room and I could see the girl tense; she knew that I was to be her partner. I noticed the looks that the others were giving her as I walked toward her table. The pull was coming from her I was sure of it.
She had kept her eyes on her book and I watched as she idly turned the pages as I took my seat. I pulled out my book and leaned a little closer to her to acquire the page number and I saw her stiffen even more. I moved away and turned to the correct page.
She was beautiful; long almost black curly hair reaching below the center of her back, pale milky skin and if I had to guess probably blue eyes. I couldn’t tell how tall she was in her seated position, but I knew I was taller. Apparently from the way the other girls looked at her she wasn’t really popular. The obvious over abundance of students situated toward the front of the room and empty seats in the back was very telling as well.
I had ignored everything around me and I focused on everything I was feeling in relation to the girl seated next to me. Vaguely I heard the teacher question the students and from the silence the students had other things on their mind when they should have been reading. I had a feeling that the girl next to me had read everything and as soon as I heard her resigned sigh I knew I would find out just how much more intelligent she was than anyone else in the class, probably the whole school from what I had seen so far.
As soon as she spoke, I think I knew, not without a doubt, but close. I heard the teacher ask her to elaborate on the required reading and she looked up at the teacher, nodded and smiled. It felt like I had been punched in the chest. She took my breath away.
“It covers the Absolutes,” her soft voice answered. I didn’t think her voice would have carried up front it was so soft, but the teacher nodded and smiled wider then wrote the word on the board, underlining it. I was watching her instead of the teacher and I know she noticed because she became flustered for a moment.
“Can you please name them?” The teacher asked happily.
I watched as the girl took a deep breath then answered. “Yes ma’am. Absolute error, absolute pressure, absolute temperature, absolute uncertainty and absolute zero.”
“Correct. Thank you Miss Mason. Now Mr. Jameson tell me what absolute error means.”
I had blocked out everything else and studied the girl. Apparently she had dismissed everything else around her as well because she relaxed slightly, but due to my study of her she couldn’t completely relax.
“I think I may need you to tutor me,” I had leaned closer and whispered. She smelled like fresh air and sunshine.
I must have startled her because she looked over at me with a sort of panic in her eyes and time stopped. She did have blue eyes and they sparkled with life. I watched as she studied my face. Her panic seemed to increase. She was shaking her head slowly back and forth, but I don’t think she realized she was doing it. She closed her eyes and it looked like she was either fighting for control or fighting not to faint.
“Are you alright?” I asked her touching her arm. She had grown paler at that point and I was afraid she just might pass out. Her eyes opened wide at my touch. I could feel some of the student’s gazes, but ignored them. I hadn’t been one hundred percent sure that she was who I thought until I touched her. This tiny dark haired girl was the one I had been searching for.
My hand rose without realizing it. I wanted to touch her face, but I didn’t want to scare her and I knew that would. She jumped when there was a crash in the front of the room and she quickly turned around and faced the front. I did the same and noticed that one of the girls had tipped over her stool.
Apparently from the look that she was giving the girl next to me she had been watching us. I needed to be more careful. A couple of the other students helped her up then she and her friends started whispering and glancing back at us.
The teacher just looked on in disgust at the interruption and I was in total agreement of her assessment. Just then the bell rang and the girl next to me abruptly grabbed her things and hurried out of the room like she was being chased. I knew I would see her again so I didn’t follow or try to stop her.
If she was the one and I knew now she was, we would be seeing a lot of each other. I just didn’t want to frighten her and I didn’t even know where to begin with telling her who I was. This was a different time and I didn’t think that she would just accept any of this on my word.
Her study of me though had me thinking that she knew something and I really wanted to find out what that was. Come to find out as the day passed, I was in every one of her classes except one. If that’s not a sign I don’t know what is.
CHAPTER FOUR
His presence was giving me constant emotional ups and downs and I couldn’t get a handle on it. I probably should specify who...I meant Alex. Mitch was like a bear protecting a cub, so he would qualify as well. It felt like he was smothering me at times and other times he was the sweetest guy.
I traveled from class to class like I was on a covert mission. I hid in Mitch’s shadow when I could, but unfortunately that was only possible for three periods a day. It was kind of hard to pretend to be invisible when in all my other classes sat the person I was trying to avoid.
I tried to pretend he wasn’t there. I avoided his stare and when class was over I practically ran out of each room like it was on fire. I didn’t know if he tried to approach me or not because I didn’t give him the chance. I just didn’t want to know if he was the “real” Alex or not. I knew that I would have to confront it sometime, but I just felt now wasn’t the time.
I think Mitch wholeheartedly agreed with me because he kept me sheltered as much as he could. He would be standing outside each of my classes as soon as I shot out the door. He walked me to my locker and then my next class. It was a wonder that he wasn’t late to his own.
The other girls still watched me with their squinty eyes filled with jealousy and a healthy dose of disgusted confusion. They still didn’t know why the hot new guy would want to have anything to do with me. And since he ignored them they didn’t feel they had to make an impression anymore so they didn’t hold back on the name calling and whispers. Like whispers were really necessary when everyone could hear them anyway.
For some reason all of this really bothered me now and I didn’t want it to. I wanted things to be back to the way they were, which is saying a lot. He’s only a guy, I kept telling myself. Why should that make a difference? Because you know deep down that he is somehow connected to you, my conscience kept reminding me.
“Dani?”
I came back to myself with a jolt and realized that I had let my mind wander again. That had been happening a lot lately.
“Sorry.” I shook my head and I could have sworn that something rattled.
It was Saturday and Mitch and I had taken the bus to the next town over to cruise the miniscule shopping center they called a mall. It wasn’t much, but it was the biggest thing in the way of shopping for everything besides groceries for miles.
We each had money in our pockets, thanks to an allowance of sorts from the state to get whatever we needed for school or for personal use. Neither one of us needed much, so we always had some money stashed away.
Mitch held my hand, fingers linked with mine as we window shopped. Apparently he had been the only one while my mind had been taking a station break.
When I finally focused I noticed that we were standing outside the food court. The smells that floated on the air were amazing and my stomach growled loudly, causing Mitch to chuckle.
“Hungry?” he asked with a smile.
I smiled back at him. “Guess so.”
We made a circuit of the area, looking at the food offered by each vendor. “So what do you think?” Mitch asked glancing at me.
“Hmmmm,” I said, pretending to think really hard about it. I knew what I wanted, but really, did I want to look like a pig or did I really care? I decided I didn’t really care. I smiled at Mitch and pulled him over to the Chinese vendor. He raised an eyebrow when he followed me to the French fry vendor and then laughed out loud when I finished with a soft pretzel with mustard. I felt my face redden slightly, but I shrugged it off. All of my mental exercising was wearing me down.
He freed an arm and pulled me to him gently, kissing the top of my head. “You continue to amaze me Dani,” he whispered in my ear.
“Somebody has to keep you on your toes,” I whispered back.
He smiled and softly caressed my cheek with his thumb before he put a light hand to my back and ushered me to a table away from everyone.
I loved how normal everything felt to me. Eating lunch in the mall, walking hand in hand with my...boyfriend? Is that what Mitch was? I never in a million years thought I would ever say that about anyone in my life. That was a thought for another time I told myself, at that moment I wanted to just have fun and enjoy the day.
Mitch ended up helping me finish my lunch. I was still impressed that I was able to consume as much as I had. I hadn’t really been eating much since Alex had shown up and I know that worried Mitch. I don’t think he knew the reason why I wasn’t feeling great and I wasn’t going to enlighten him. I was supposed to be putting the other him out of my mind.
I leaned back away from my tray with a sigh. Mitch shook his head at me and smiled. “I don’t know where you put it, but I am glad you are eating,” he commented.
“The same place you do he-man,” I teased. “Mine just...distributes differently than yours,” I finished, waving my hands in an absent manner around my body.
He reddened slightly, but grinned at me. “You ready to walk?”
“Yeah, but I need to use the restroom and wash my hands first.”
“Okay, let’s go.” He picked up both of our trays and took them to the trash and then we left the food court.
The restrooms were down a long hallway that ended in two side hallways, so it formed a “T”. The men’s’ room was on the left and the women’s on the right.
“I’ll wait for you out by the fountain,” he said to me before we headed down our separate hallways.
“Okay.” The hallway was pretty dim and when I looked up I noticed that a good portion of the bulbs had burnt out. I shoved my hands in my jeans pockets and walked quickly down the hall.
There were lockers along the right hand wall, some with keys in the locks and some without. I assumed that these were for people that didn’t want to carry all their shopping everywhere they went.
I pushed open the bathroom door and noticed an elderly woman drying her hands. She looked up at me and smiled before she walked by me and out the door. As far as I could tell the place was deserted. I finished quickly and pulled open the door, wondering absently what Mitch and I would do for the rest of the day.
I pulled up short when I nearly ran into someone just standing mere steps away from the door. I looked up in surprise and then wariness when I recognized one of the jocks from school. His name was Jared and he was one of Matt’s friends.
“Well, well,” he drawled. “What do we have here?”
He took two steps toward me and I backed away from him. “What do you want?” I asked a bit shakily. I cursed myself for sounding so weak.
I didn’t see any of his friends around, which was a surprise. Maybe they figured that one person would attract a lot less attention and then there was the whole plausible deniability thing.
He moved another step forward and I looked around for a path of escape. He was corralling me toward the dark corner at the end of the lockers that I vaguely noticed when I went into the bathroom. I did not want to get caught here. I backed up another step and then moved forward quickly, hoping to catch him by surprise and move around him.
He was not on the football team for nothing. He probably saw the move before I even made it. He held out his arm and stopped my forward motion. “Now, now,” he said softly, like he was speaking to a child. “I don’t want you to go just yet. We haven’t even gotten friendly.” He herded me into the corner and then loomed over me, blocking any kind of escape.
I opened my mouth to yell out, hoping someone would hear me, but he covered my mouth quickly with his hand. “Uh, uh,” he said, shaking his head. “We’re not done yet and besides, your boyfriend wouldn’t hear you anyway.”
I was tempted to bite his hand, but didn’t know what he would do. He slowly lowered his hand from my mouth to my neck; his hand was so big that his fingers nearly encircled my whole throat. “What do you want?” I asked breathlessly.
He grinned and I wanted to drop to the floor. “That’s better,” he said. “I want to be your friend,” he whispered into my ear.
Where were the people coming and going when you needed them? I felt his other hand at my waist, his fingers slowly lifting the hem of my shirt. I wasn’t going to let him do this to me. I had been scared out of my mind by nightmares and assaulted by ghosts and I sure wasn’t going to let some idiot jock mess with me.
I raised my hands and slammed them against his chest as hard as I could with the limited space between us. “Leave me alone,” I ground out between clenched teeth.
I don’t think he expected me to fight back, because his hold loosened some and he took an involuntary step back. I took my chance to escape and using my hands and arms pushed him further away from me. I went to step out of the corner and around him, but he was too quick for me.
He still had a hold on my neck, so he tightened his fingers slightly and with his other hand he shoved me back into the corner...hard. My head hit the tile wall behind me and I saw stars for a second. When my eyes focused again his face had turned ugly and he had it inches from my own.
“Listen up you little freak,” he spat harshly. “This could have been painless, but now...” he added threateningly, lowering his head even closer to mine, while his fingers clenched even tighter around my throat.
I wasn’t sure what he had in mind in the middle of the mall outside the women’s bathroom, where just anyone could come upon us, but whatever it was I didn’t like it and I wasn’t going to stand for it.
Just as I opened my mouth to yell, no matter the consequences, three things happened. His mouth covered mine roughly; his other hand went up under my shirt to touch skin and a voice that could sharpen steel grated dangerously from someone’s throat.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Let. Her. Go.” The words were guttural and dangerous and I knew who that voice belonged to.
Jared froze and then he pulled his lips from mine. I tried to push him away from me, but he was pressed too close to me for me to move. The fingers on both of his hands flexed against my skin, squeezing, tightening.
He slowly raised himself away from me and I took a deep breath, or as deep as I could with him still half strangling me. He still had a hold on my neck when he pulled me away from the corner. He then turned on his heel to face the person behind him.
My hands were trying to pull his away from my throat as he pulled me to him, my back to his front. His grip never loosened and it was getting hard to take a deep breath. The fingers of his other hand played at my waist, slipping beneath my shirt to tease my skin. I shivered in revulsion and he laughed.
I looked up into the eyes of Alex. His eyes were a stormy green and he was furious. He was watching Jared very carefully. His eyes flicked down to me and I saw a softening before they went back to staring stonily at the jock.
“I said, let her go,” he repeated.
“And what are you going to do, lover boy?” Jared snarled. “I expected the other one, not you.” Then he transferred his attention to me and leaned down to whisper loudly in my ear. “So, you stringin’ along two of them huh? Naughty girl. You have enough to go around then right?”
I took my hands from my throat and uselessly grabbed at his other hand as it snaked under my shirt. I watched as Alex’s hands balled into fists at his sides. Just then another voice called out, nearly making me weep in relief. Two against one were better odds.
“Dani?” Mitch’s voice was confused and then very angry when he saw what was going on. I saw him quickly look at Alex before he came and stood side by side with him. “Let her go Jared,” Mitch ordered.
“You gonna make me freak?”
Mitch’s hands clenched at his sides and he mirrored Alex in stance. They both looked like angry warriors set for battle. I didn’t know who was going to break first. I knew the guys wouldn’t try anything as long as there was a chance I could be hurt. And me, well I was tired of being pawed and Jared’s hand kept moving closer to my chest.
Apparently Jared was itching for a fight, but didn’t think Mitch or Alex was up to the challenge, so he was making them angrier by touching me. Sooner or later they would attack him. Didn’t anyone have to go to the bathroom anymore?
Jared still had his face close to mine and he turned his head a little to plant a kiss on my cheek. I jerked my face away from him and he squeezed my throat a little bit tighter, pulling my face back to his at the same time he grabbed the skin on a portion of my stomach and twisted. I almost screamed in pain, but I couldn’t help the low moan from escaping my lips. Mitch and Alex took a step forward; Jared visibly tightened his hold and they stopped.
“Now this is what we are going to do,” he began in a conversational tone.
I’d had enough of playing the pawn and figured that no matter what I did I would be hurt a little, so why not try to escape. I couldn’t fight ghosts, but I sure could give a stupid jock something to remember me by.
I looked at both of the guys, took as deep a breath as I could and planted my fist in Jared’s face. He reared back, howled in pain and pushed me away from him. “You bitch!” he screamed as I hit the wall on the other side of the hall and fell to the floor.
I heard the sound of a body thudding against the wall behind me. Mitch was immediately there helping me up off the floor and away from the other two guys. I looked back and Alex had Jared pushed up against the wall, his fists locked in Jared’s Varsity jacket and Jared’s feet at least four inches off the floor.
I looked at Jared, blood was running from his nose and it looked a little crooked. My knees gave out and Mitch caught me, kneeling down beside me while I relearned how to breathe. I broke his nose! I held my face in my hands taking deep cleansing breaths, trying not to throw up. The angle hadn’t been good at all. I was lucky I hadn’t hit myself since our faces had been so close.
I heard low, harsh words coming from Alex, but I couldn’t understand what he was saying. Mitch was holding me and smoothing back my hair. I could feel tears threatening to break through now that the danger had passed, but I refused to lose it now. I took a deep gulping breath and raised my head. I looked into Mitch’s face and he tried to hide the feelings there but wasn’t quick enough. Regret, anger, worry, love...it was all there for me to see.
I reached up and brushed my fingers along his cheek. “I’m okay,” I reassured him quietly. “Help me up please.”
While Mitch helped me lift myself off the floor I noticed that Alex had finished with Jared. I moved closer to Mitch as Alex pushed the jock from behind to get him moving. Jared walked by us without a second glance, holding his hand over his face. We watched as he walked to the men’s bathroom and went in.
I looked over at Alex and he was watching me intently. I saw his eyes travel over my body slowly, clinically. His look wasn’t lascivious; it was a perusal and study that told me that he was making sure I wasn’t hurt.
When he seemed to be satisfied he looked me in the eyes again. There was something there that I didn’t want to acknowledge. I cleared my throat, glanced at Mitch and then back at Alex. I had noticed that he was watching Alex as well.
“Thank you,” I whispered. I watched the remaining anger and detachment leak from his eyes until they were the eyes that I saw in my dreams. I knew I should say more, but what do you say to your supposed soul mate when your sort-of-boyfriend has clasped you to him like a lover?
CHAPTER SIX
He kept watching me until my skin started to itch. I know it was only seconds, but it felt like forever. I dropped my eyes from his and moved into Mitch and he in turn tightened his hold on me. When I looked back up he was gone.
“Let’s get out of here,” Mitch said on a sigh. I nodded and he led me back out into the mall and over to a bench beside the fountain.
I let out a deep sigh as soon as I sat down. I rubbed my face until I could feel it tingle. I felt cold, but knew it wasn’t the temperature in the mall that was causing it.
“Danielle, are you alright?” Mitch asked tentatively.
I looked over at him and saw how worried he was. I glanced down at my hands, turning them over. I noticed a bruise forming across the knuckles, where I had hit Jared. “Yeah, I am.” I looked over at him and gave him a small smile.
He studied my face with a worried frown then reached over and pushed my hair back over my shoulder. Then I felt his thumb gently caress the skin of my neck.
“Will it bruise more than it already is?” I asked, watching his face. The bruising on my neck from that last bad nightmare was finally fading enough I didn’t have to wear turtlenecks all the time. I didn’t want any more bruises.
His eyes moved to mine. “I don’t know yet,” he answered softly. “I’m sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault; you had nothing to do with it.” I knew he would blame himself, it was just so...Mitch. He looked like he wanted to argue so I leaned in and pressed my lips to his quickly, casually. He looked so surprised I almost laughed. “You can tell me everything on the bus. Let’s go home okay?”
We were having such a good time today and I didn’t want to end it this way, but I really felt like crying. My neck, my side and my hand were all starting to hurt and I just wanted to go home.
He nodded slowly and took my hand, keeping me close to his side as he watched the people around us. I knew he was either looking for Jared or Alex, and not necessarily in that order.
I ended up falling asleep on the bus, leaning my head against Mitch’s’ shoulder. When we got home I went upstairs to take a shower. I wanted the feel of Jared’s hands on me washed away. I had managed to hold in all the feelings that were now causing me to suck in great bursts of air as I tried to control my sobs.
Why would he do something like this, and to me? What was the purpose? Did some of his friends dare him to do it? Would he lie and say something happened when it didn’t? Would the whole school find out? This only made me cry harder. I was treated with enough disrespect and disgust as it was, I didn’t need another reason for them to talk about me.
I heard a knock on my bathroom door over the sound of the water. It had to be Mitch; I hadn’t fooled him into thinking I was okay. I took a deep breath and shut off the water. “I’ll be out in a minute,” I called shakily. Luckily I had brought my clothes in the bathroom with me.
I towel dried my hair, ran a comb through it and studied my face in the mirror. Yeah, like he wasn’t going to guess I had been bawling my eyes out. I pulled on my clothes and paused before pulling down the hem of my shirt. There on my stomach was a huge bruise. I ran my fingers over it lightly and then pressed gently. Yeah, it was sore.