“What type of sand glows?” Laney questioned William.
The tiny light floated in the pool of water cupped in her hand. She let the water drain through her fingers, but kept the glowing piece of sand in her palm.
William only shrugged his shoulders.
“They seem unnatural, like they don’t belong in this world.” He bent down and picked up another piece of swirling sand. “When I feel alone, like I don’t belong, I come down here and reflect. Maybe all of us have a small part that doesn’t quite fit in.”
“Rex definitely didn’t belong here.” Laney cringed.
William tilted his head to the side.
Laney sighed. “The creature that attacked us at the meeting.”
“Oh.” He tossed a small rock across the waves. William’s nonchalant attitude toward the fantastical creature surprised Laney.
“I’m sorry for David’s behavior.” She dreaded this conversation. But for some reason when she looked into William’s eyes, she knew he’d understand.
“He’s just being protective of his little group. From what I saw tonight, it seems like there’s a good reason for his behavior.”
Laney tugged at the sleeve of her coat. “Yeah, about that reason.”
William reached down and held her hand again. Her heart lurched into a rapid beat.
“You don’t have to tell me anything.” He brushed a strand of hair out of her face, an act that felt as intimate as a kiss.
“You saved us tonight. I owe you at least that much.” She glanced away from his eyes and stared at the little pieces of sand dancing on the waves.
William squeezed her hand but remained silent.
“The thing you killed tonight was a beast that had the head of a lion and the body of a man.”
“I gathered that much.” The corners of William’s mouth upturned.
“It was a character from one of Mark’s books.” Laney stopped, letting it sink in. “Mark writes horror stories for a living and when he writes, some of his characters come into this world.”
Why was William still there and not storming back to his bike like any sensible person? Maybe seeing the creature for himself made the story more believable.
“Natalie and David have the same ability. They call themselves Weavers. They asked me to come to their meeting because they believe that I can do the same thing.”
“Can you?” William stroked the side of her hand with his finger.
It was difficult to believe that this guy would spend time with her on a normal basis, but now she sounded like some type of crazy fantasy convention fanatic.
“Did Jason tell you that someone attacked me in the subway station a couple of months ago?” For some reason the words flowed out of her mouth without reservation.
“No. What happened?” He leaned his body closer to hers.
“A man grabbed my bag and pushed me down the stairs. I ended up in the hospital.” Her hand instinctively touched the spot where she’d cracked her skull.
William reached over and placed his fingertips in her hair. His touch lingered, caressing her skin gently. She held her breath.
“Are you alright?” The lines on William’s brow creased.
“Yeah, but when I looked into his face I had the strange feeling that I knew him. He actually reminded me of a character in my book.” Laney lifted her eyes to William to see if he smirked, but his face urged her to continue. “He left me a note in my backpack as a warning.”
“What type of warning?” William faced her, placing his hands in hers.
“Something about the time being near and that I should be afraid. He also left me a note in the woods saying my friends would start disappearing if I didn’t come to him. I’m pretty sure he was following me the night I found the note, but someone else chased him off. I’ve been thinking about calling the police.”
“It sounds like you need to stay away from the woods for now.”
“Then . . . you believe me?” Strangely, his reaction was different from Jason’s, but she couldn’t figure out why.
“Of course I believe you.”
William was so different than any other person Laney had ever met. It was the first time she really felt comfortable talking about her writing and its strange nuances.
“The Weavers have something else in common with me.” Laney touched her shirt and felt the familiar stone beneath it. “They each have a piece of jewelry that they say identifies them as a Weaver.”
She reached back and unlatched her necklace. “Hold out your hand.” She laid the pendant in his palm, the golden spider sparkling in the moonlight.
William picked it up, rubbing his chin. Laney knew they had this strange connection between them after seeing his green pendant after the Frisbee incident.
“It’s a different color, and has a different symbol, but they must be made by the same artist.”
William still held the pendant, but he remained silent.
“Do you think you’re a Weaver?” The thought had occurred to Laney at the Recluse meeting, but she didn’t understand why William’s necklace was different from the others she saw that night. Richard had also mentioned a symbol in a black stone. Perhaps William’s necklace identified him as a Watcher. It was the only thing that made sense to her.
“Nah.” He handed back her necklace. “I’m not a very good writer. The similarities must be a coincidence, or maybe mine is a reproduction.”
“Oh.” She clasped her necklace back around her neck. She didn’t want to push too much, but she also knew that stellar writing skills were not a requirement for a Weaver, and from her brief glimpse of William’s pendant, she knew it wasn’t a reproduction.
The pendants remained at the forefront of Laney’s mind as William drove her home from the beach. He walked her back to her dorm, giving her one last hug before turning to leave.
Later that night, Laney tried to think about Jonas and his notes as she lay in bed. The new revelations provided by the Recluse helped her understand his threats. But her mind kept wandering back to William and his necklace. It drew her closer to him, knowing that somehow he was different, like her. And maybe he didn’t belong here, just like the swirling iridescent pieces of sand.
Chapter 14
Jason closed his computer. It was no use trying to finish his biology homework. He sighed and tossed his Nerf basketball at the hoop on his door. Missed by a foot. Not only had he messed things up with Laney, he’d also lost his best friend. He punished himself by staying in at night and throwing himself into his studies; it was the only way to deal with it now that lacrosse season was over. His embarrassment prevented him from calling her. He knew the words he had used with Laney were all wrong.
Leaving his dorm on the way to biology, he saw a flyer someone had hung on the student board:
Manor Hill Formal
A Madison College tradition
Saturday, November 18th
Seven o’clock to Midnight
This was the perfect way to show her how he really felt. All girls loved to get dressed up like princesses for the night.
Tradition said the guy was supposed to ask the girl to the dance by giving her a piece of jewelry to wear, so That evening, Jason went with Nick to a jewelry store in Peabody to look for the perfect piece to ask Laney to the dance. Entering the store, the sapphires drew him in because they matched her eyes. Unloading his gas money for the month, Jason purchased a pair of sapphire earrings, hoping that she’d say yes.
He also geared himself up for rejection, knowing how much he’d hurt her that night in the student center. Was this the right way to apologize? Maybe he should call first — no, a big gesture would make up for a big mistake.
November ushered in the first real snowstorm of the year. Laney snuggled under her blanket with her writing. She lifted her pen to the paper, but hesitated with the knowledge of her newfound abilities. She wasn’t sure what would happen if she continued the story.
April 19, 1775
On the morning that changed my life, I awoke to gunfire. I could not see anything outside my window, so I dressed and left through the back door. Ignoring my own safety, I ran in the direction of the shots. I crossed a meadow until I reached the forest, thick with protective evergreens. Desperation overtook me as I heard more gunfire in the distance. How could I have let him go into battle? My skirt snagged on a log as I tried to jump over it. I ripped it free. He was the only thing on my mind and nothing was going to keep me from reaching him. Just as I saw the flashes from the battlefield, my foot caught on a rock at the edge of the forest. As it turned out, fate had more sense than me.
When I pushed myself up, I could see a man standing by a tree next to the clearing. I gasped as the figure turned toward me. It was Jonas. He held a musket in his hands as he walked in my direction.
“Haven’t you joined the fighting?” I said, backing away. “Our town is under attack.”
“No. I want the rebels to lose. We need to be loyal to our country, Great Britain. William Clarke will die in his worthless efforts.”
“I need to help him.” I lifted up my skirt and hurried towards the clearing. I stopped at the click of Jonas’ rifle.
“I cannot let you do that, Anne. One way or another, William will die. If the Red Coats do not accomplish it, then I will wait for him and do it myself.”
“Jonas! You are talking about murder. Your brother’s death was not William’s fault. It wasn’t Dr. Clarke’s fault. They did everything they could.”
“You know nothing, Anne. You are an empty-headed girl. What would you know about the affairs of men?” He shoved the butt of the rifle into my shoulder, forcing me to the ground again. I grasped my shoulder in pain. “Now sit on that rock and be a good girl.”
November brought about a lot of buzz for the formal dance, which was to be held in an old mansion on the ocean called Manor Hill. Gifts piled up outside Laney and Missy’s door, every single one addressed to Missy.
And she had a derogatory comment prepared for each suitor’s gift.
“Chase? He’s so boring. I thought he was going to ask Wendy.” She tossed the golden chain into her jewelry box and the invitation into the trash.
“I can’t believe Martin made this bracelet. How tacky.” The neatly woven work of art was thrown carelessly onto her desk along with the card.
“Who’s this? Do you know who Mike Shaw is? It doesn’t really matter. I’m waiting for Brian’s gift.” She took Mike’s earrings and placed them into her jewelry box with a half-dozen other rejected gifts.
Laney’s plan was to avoid the whole thing. It wouldn’t be difficult because the thought of her receiving a present was as improbable as a blizzard in Hawaii.
That’s why it shocked her one-week before the dance when Missy walked in the door waving a small blue package in the air. “What will you give me for this package?”
Laney’s hands paused on the keyboard of her laptop as her mind and heart instantly considered the possibility that it had William’s name on it.
“Now who could it be from? I gave up on your social life.” She held the box an arm’s length away from Laney.
She jumped up and grabbed it from Missy’s hands. The little box didn’t have a tag, so she tore the delicate paper along the tape and opened the lid. A note and a pair of small sapphire earrings were inside. Missy crossed the room and took the box as Laney unfolded the note.
“These are beautiful. Who are they from?” Missy sat on the bed next to her and leaned over trying to read the note.
Laney took the earrings and threw them on her desk. “They’re from Jason.”
Missy’s mouth hung open as she picked the gift off of Laney’s desk.
“I’m not going with him.” Laney ran her brush through her hair. This was where she drew the line. No more games.
“Why don’t you want to go with Jason? You told me he broke up with the witch. He’s really hot and a lacrosse player. Did I mention his body?”
“That’s not everything, Missy.”
Missy would tolerate game-playing for a nice body and popularity. “Then I don’t know what you are looking for.” She flopped down on her bed.
William’s words from several months before came rushing back, replaying their conversation in her mind as she recited them word-for-word to Missy. “I’m looking for someone who makes my heart pound just by uttering my name. I want someone who knows the inner workings of my soul. I want a connection that goes beyond the constrictions of time and space into a realm that few experience in this lifetime or any other.” Laney secretly repeated the words every night before she went to bed, imprinting them in her brain.
Missy stared at Laney with her mouth hanging open again. “That’s why you’re the writer. You’re so deep, but you’re also living a fairytale. This is the real world and guys don’t think that way.”
“I can’t take credit for the words.” She thought about the one guy who did think that way. Her mind was already elsewhere as she snatched Jason’s earrings from Missy’s hand. She knew it was hard for Jason to pay for the earrings, but she had to stop playing games with her own heart.
“Where are you going?”
“To see Jason.” Laney slipped the box into her pocket and put on her gloves.
“But I thought you were going to turn him down.”
Laney hated to keep confusing Missy, but she wanted to leave before she lost her courage. “I am.”
A light snow fell as Laney walked down the path to Morris Hall. Her nerves picked up at the thought of telling Jason that she didn’t want to go with him. She just wanted to salvage any friendship they had left. Several students walked out of the lobby door as she came in. It was strange going to Jason’s room, a place she’d never been. She searched for his name in the directory and climbed the stairs to the third floor of the east wing. When Laney got to the door, she barely heard the knock over the beating of her heart. Jason answered the door.
“You got my present.” He beamed. A few months before, turning him down would have been impossible. Even in his down time he was hot, but he no longer made her heart race.
William sat on his bed with his legs stretched out, a textbook on his lap, and his glasses perched on his nose. Glancing up from his book, he smiled, but didn’t interrupt Jason and Laney’s conversation. His smile empowered something deep within her, and her heart picked up its pace again.
She faced Jason and let out a breath. “Yeah, they’re beautiful, but I can’t go with you.”
William’s eyes flickered from his book momentarily.
“But there’s only a week left. I want to go with you. I’m sorry for moving too fast.” He touched her arm. “I promise to take it slow.”
William smirked, keeping his eyes on his book. She hoped Jason didn’t notice her frequent glances in his roommate’s direction.
The boy in front of her continued, “I want you. You’re smart, and funny, and . . . beautiful.” He lifted his hand to her face, but she took a step back out of his reach.
William shifted and then looked Laney directly in the eyes. Reaching down to pull the earrings out of her bag, she hid her face with her hair, hoping that Jason didn’t notice the blush.
“Jason, we’re not meant for each other. We’re friends, but that’s all it is.”
She thought she saw William smile again.
“I want to return your earrings. I’m sure you can find someone else to go with. Apparently, you’re quite the catch.”
“I still want you to go with me.” The smile she loved was replaced with a pout.
Even though Laney knew him so well, it still felt awkward having this conversation. She never imagined someone like herself turning down someone like Jason.
“I know.” She touched his arm, doing her best to console him.
His personality bubbled with optimism. His smile would return. He stared at the earrings, rolling them in his hand. “Yeah, okay.” The light from the room added to their sparkle, but the thickness
of the silence in the room made them difficult to look at.
He turned to the desk and set them down, before returning to the doorway. His voice fell to a whisper. “So, are you going with someone else?” He must have had a hard time facing her, because he stared at his own hand running up and down the doorframe.
“No, but I want somebody who knows for sure that he wants to be with me.”
Jason put his hands in his pockets, nodding.
As they stood there, a girl passed flashing Jason a knowing smile. “See you at the party Saturday.” She winked at him. Jason gave the girl a nod.
“And that . . . is exactly what I mean.” Laney was happy to prove her point that every girl fell at Jason’s feet.
“Well . . .” He leaned his head against the door. They stood there for a long minute.
Jason took in a deep breath and shook his head. “I’m being a jerk” He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the hallway. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Don’t worry. I’ll get over it.”
Laney gave him a thin smile.
He glanced around. “Anything new from the attacker?”
Relief swept over Laney, knowing he still cared about their friendship. “Not much. I haven’t heard from him since that night.”
Laney could see the hurt in Jason’s eyes, but she knew it was temporary. The girl from the hall would see to that — among others.
“Look. I’m still your friend and I’m telling you, running alone out there is dangerous. Please tell me right now you’ll stop.”
“I’ve been running in the gym.”
“That sucks. But good.” There was another awkward moment before he reached up to touch her face. This time she didn’t back away as his fingers ran over her skin, but her heart remained calm.
“I’d better get going.” Laney backed away. “I’m sorry about the dance. You’ll find someone else to take.” She forced the words out, trying to avoid a big mess.
“Thanks, I’ll see you later.” He opened the door as she turned around and walked to the stairwell. William’s reactions burned in her mind all the way back to her dorm. It was evident that he was interested in her conversation with Jason.
The Weaver Page 12
