by Carly Marino
I had never seen anything like them. Maybe the blooms came from a tropical island. Fiji or Hawaii—somewhere exotic. But despite the countless times I’d searched the Internet, I never found their origin.
“Thea!” Aunt Karen’s voice echoed in the stairwell.
“Geez, I hear you,” I mumbled. “I’m coming!”
I placed my treasured keepsake back in its hiding spot, grabbed my backpack from the pink bean bag chair, and jogged down the stairs.
“Morning Aunt Karen.” I avoided her gaze. My stomach sank at the thought of what I’d done yesterday. I tried to convince myself it was a fluke. Altering a memory? That wasn’t possible. Then again, walking in one wasn’t either. I frowned.
“How are you feeling today? Did you take some ibuprofen?” Aunt Karen handed me a strawberry pastry and a to-go cup of coffee.
“Better and yep. Are you working at the diner tonight?”
“I go in at nine. I’m pulling a double so I won’t be home until nine in the morning.” She tied her auburn hair in a low ponytail.
“Can I ask you something?”
A rose glow circled her prominent cheekbones. “Of course.”
“Why don’t we ever talk about my parents? There’s not one picture of them in the house. I don’t get it.”
“I thought you were over this.” Aunt Karen’s smile flattened and a haze entered her eyes. She peered at me but not really at me, almost, through me. She didn’t blink for a good minute. “They didn’t leave anything behind. Your father and I…” She picked at her chipped fingernail polish. “Wynter said there’s a party tonight.”
“What? Why are you avoiding me again? I deserve to know them.”
Aunt Karen slid some money into the front pocket of my backpack. “Wynter called to check on you, and we got to talking. She wanted to make sure it was okay if you went.” She straightened the empty fruit bowl on the counter. “Since you’re feeling better, I say go. Have some fun.”
What the hell is she talking about?
“You always do this,” I grumbled.
“What? Encourage you to make some friends. Enjoy your life?”
“Whatever.” I’d grown tired of asking her the same questions. “I’d rather stay home and paint.” I cursed myself for saying the last word. I painted when Aunt Karen wasn’t home. She had a hard time forgetting I used to paint after I’d “seen a memory.”
Aunt Karen rested her elbows on the yellow kitchen island, studying my face. Here it comes. “You aren’t having that dream again, are you, or”—Aunt Karen cleared her throat and removed her gaze from my face—“reading memories?”
Electric-blue eyes.
Electric-blue—
I chewed on my bottom lip and shook my head. “I don’t even remember that stupid dream … and reading memories? I’ve been over that since like forever.”
Her mouth pinched at the corners. “If you need to see someone—”
“No more doctors. I can’t take being prodded anymore. Especially when I’m fine. Everything is perfect. Except that I’m late.”
****
To my surprise, my performance in the auditorium didn’t do as much harm as I’d thought, and the day went on as normal. Well, as normal as any day in my life could go.
Wynter stood with me outside of my last class of the day—study hall. A beautiful waterfall braid held the ebony strands of hair from her oval-shaped face. “I’m so glad this week is almost over. I hated being at school without you, and Karen had you on lock down.”
I combed through my blonde ponytail. “She was afraid I was contagious.”
“I wouldn’t have cared. We’re soul-sisters. I want what you got.” She beamed. “How are you feeling? Do you think you’re up for the party tonight? Cuz, I really, really, really hope you come.”
The question I’d been waiting for all day. “I feel great.” I shrugged. “But I’m not sure about the party.”
“I think you’ll change your mind after study hall.” She smoothed her short skirt. “Can I ride home with you? My car’s in the shop and my dad’s out of town for the weekend … again.”
I adjusted my weight from one leg to the other. I hated when Wynter’s dad went out of town. I read his memory once. Finding out my best friend’s father went to Portland on the weekends to sleep with another woman broke my heart. The affair didn’t bother me as much as withholding the truth from Wynter.
“Thea? Did you hear me?”
“Oh—uh—yeah, sure.”
“Awesome. One more class and it’s the weekend.” A huge grin stretched on her face. “Oh, and by the way, I had Miss Rachel look up Cole Conway’s schedule. He’s in your study hall.”
“Wyn, that’s creepy and—”
“Have fun.” Wynter waved her fingers before sauntering down the hall.
Keeping my head low, I found an empty desk in the back of the classroom. Cole Conway’s smile had given me the chills, and worse, I fainted in front of him. Maybe I’d gotten lucky and he hadn’t seen. Not that it mattered, he must’ve heard the rumors by now.
I didn’t know why, but I had the strange feeling he knew something about me. Stupid. What could he possibly know about me?
If he had any idea I could read memories, I’d already be in a government facility with half my brain in a glass jar. I shuddered.
“You know, biting your fingernails is a really gross habit.”
I jolted into reality and blinked up at a sea of blue-green. Cole’s eyes were even more striking up close. He dropped into the seat next to me.
I waited for him to ask if I was okay after the chaos on Monday. Or make a rude comment about the circus-freak that sees memories. Instead, he stretched out a hand to me. “Hey, I’m not sure we’ve met. Cole Conway.”
My gaze flicked to his open palm. If I grabbed his hand, maybe he’d give me something about him. Plus, it was rude to refuse someone’s handshake … though I’d long since stopped worrying about seeming impolite.
I itched to touch his skin, find out his secrets, but instead, I reached to grab a book from my bag. Who knew what I’d learn. Invading someone’s privacy made my stomach turn over. Our memories were our prized possessions. A person should choose who they wanted to share them with.
I exhaled and smiled. “Are you always this charming, Cole Conway?”
He put down his hand, not seeming upset. “Usually. If you catch me on a good day.” Dimples pinched in both of his cheeks.
God, he was cute. “Today must not be a good day.”
His eyes met mine. “Trust me, it’s a great day.”
Tingles prickled up the nape of my neck to my ears. I placed my palm on my cheek, cooling the warmth of my skin. Cole smirked, and I spoke, not giving him the chance to call me out on my visible red-cheeked horror. “I’m Thea.”
“Nice to meet you, Thea.” He tilted his head and brushed his hand through his hair. “Your eyes are…”
“Are what?”
“Nothing. They remind me of someone. They’re very unique. Almost … gold.”
“They’re honey.”
A lopsided-grin rose on his face. “Well, either way, the color is beautiful.”
I bit the corner of my mouth. “Uh—thanks. They actually lightened the end of freshman year. They used to be dark brown.” Why did I tell him that? Nervous babbling. Shut up, Thea. “It—it was the strangest thing.”
The curves of his mouth ticked up, and his sigh-worthy eyes crinkled.
I scrunched in my chair. “Sorry, I’m babbling.”
“I like your babble, and I bet we have more in common than you think.”
I doubt that. I straightened the book on my desk.
“Astronomy, eh? You like it?”
I traced the cover-sized photo of planet Earth. “Not really. I’m kinda terrible at it.”
He chuckled, the sound tickling in my chest. “Really? Hmm … interesting. Well, I know a lot about the stars. If you need help, I can—”
Our study hall t
eacher’s assistant tapped on the podium with a ruler. “Please, study quietly.”
Cole arched a brow, mouthed the words—what the hell—then turned his back on me.
My pulse spiked. Was he trying to ask me out? Guys as hot as Cole didn’t hang out with the school’s crazy girl. I stole another glance as his fingers massaged his shoulder. If I’d just taken his hand when I had the opportunity…
He adjusted in his seat, catching my curious eyes, and I quickly averted my gaze to the tile.
For the remainder of the class, I doodled on my open notebook, concocting ways to get a crack at his memories. I envisioned everything from tripping to kissing him. What’s wrong with me?
I set down my pencil and studied the now lead-covered sheet of paper. The image drawn across the page increased the beat of my heart. I stared at the face of a young boy around six or seven. His dimples, angular jawline, and smile furrowed my eyebrows. I cocked my head to the side. The boy I had drawn was Cole. Much younger, but unmistakably him.
“Now this is just creepy, Thea,” I whispered.
“Thea?” The teacher’s assistant loomed over me with a quizzical look. “Are you all right?”
I slammed my notebook shut and surveyed the room. Everyone, including Cole, had left already. “Uh—yeah.” Without giving her a chance to touch me or say another word, I scooted from my seat and hustled out of the room.
The school had cleared enough that I could relax while walking to my locker. Welcome banners had peeled from the concrete walls, and scuff marks covered the once-pristine tiled floors. I kicked a piece of crumpled paper down the hallway. One week down.
I opened my locker and tossed my homework into my backpack. I couldn’t wait until this year ended. Unbeknownst to Aunt Karen, I’d already received an acceptance letter to an online college. No more people, no more touching, and best of all, no more memories.
“Thea.” Wynter’s voice echoed in the hall.
As I slammed my locker, I caught sight of Cole talking with Macy Vargas, the voluptuous cheerleader, student body president, and most likely to succeed. She giggled, flicking her tight spirals of midnight curls. Her crooked smile brought out the peachy glow in her sandy complexion.
He grabbed her hand, and my heart sank to my toes. I hugged tighter to my backpack. Why did I care? I could never go out with him. No guy would want to be with a girl who ran from touching. This was high school, the land of first experiences. Wasn’t that the point?
I dragged my feet to the exit.
Wynter switched her messenger bag from one shoulder to the other. “You ready?”
I nodded.
Outside, the cool breeze brushed my cheeks. Fall would come soon. I loved the colder seasons. I could wear a hat, gloves, scarves, and layers upon layers and no one would question me.
I inhaled the scent of exhaust. A few students still lingered by their parked cars. Whistles rang from the football field as the Seaside Birds prepared for the big homecoming game in a few weeks. I never went to games or dances. Too many people crowded into a tight area sounded more like hell to me.
Wynter and I hopped into my car, and I started the engine.
She angled in her seat. “So, tell me about study hall. Did you and Cole hit it off?”
“He’s already into Macy.” I drummed on the steering wheel. “Not that I care.”
“Yeah, I saw him talking to a couple girls this week.”
“What? A couple? Really?”
“I’m sure Cole’s on every girl’s dream boyfriend list. They probably want him to ask them to homecoming.” She gave me a sardonic grin. “And don’t lie, you care, a little.”
I opened and closed my mouth. “A little. I don’t know why.”
“Of course you know why. He’s freaking gorgeous.”
I squeed like a teenage girl should. I couldn’t help myself. “Yeah, he really is.”
I whipped into my driveway, and we got out of the car.
“Wynter, will you be home for dinner?” Wynter’s mom yelled from next door. She brushed the soil from her hands. Mrs. Loman always planted flowers when Wynter’s dad went out of town. She didn’t have much space left in her front lawn.
“Hey, Mrs. Loman. I like the new flowers,” I said.
She straightened her yellow sun hat. “I thought some orange would brighten up the front yard. Tom was—”
“Bye, Mom. I’ll be home for dinner.” Wynter used her key to open my front door. “I swear she waits outside for me to come home.”
“Bye, Mrs. Loman,” I yelled, and then said to Wynter, “your mom’s lonely.”
“Yeah, because my dad’s an ass. He’s destroying my mom. I wish he’d just divorce her already.”
I gulped, wishing I could share what I knew and embrace her without invading her privacy. “I’m sorry, Wyn.”
“Whatever.” She dropped her bag on the carpet by the coat rack. “Let’s pick out your outfit for the party. I’m sure Cole will be there, and we need to find something totally on point. You have to stand out.”
I followed her up to my room. She rambled on about Ethan and the party. What she would wear, and how I should do my hair.
Going to a party could end badly. How would I avoid touching skin in a house full of people? Was it worth it? Viewing all those disturbing memories?
Cole’s adorable smile and beautiful blue-green eyes made my heart flip-flop, and a big part of me wanted to see him again and figure out why I felt this strongly about a stranger.
Drinking did lower people’s inhibitions, which would mean easier access to Cole’s secrets.
Chapter Four
Sitting in the back seat of Ethan’s rusted truck, I rubbed my clammy hands together. I never should’ve agreed to go to Nora and Drake’s house. Parties terrified me. Alcohol put people at ease and created a false sense of security, which made their memories transfer to me quicker—sometimes even through clothing. Time wasn’t my issue though. It was the nature of their memories. Alcohol was the bearer of truth. Dark, unnerving truth.
Wynter looked at me from the passenger seat. “I knew you wouldn’t wear the dress I got you for your birthday last year.”
“I love it, but it’s a little short.” I brushed my hands along the skinny jeans she’d given me.
“At least you curled your hair and wore a cute top. Yellow is so pretty on you.”
Ethan’s brown eyes caught mine in the rearview. “You look nice, Thea.”
“Thanks.” I tugged on the seatbelt strap, choking the heck out of me.
“Are you excited? Cole will definitely be there,” Wynter said.
“So? Why do you care so much?” I snapped.
Her pink-tinted lips pouted and she faced forward. “You haven’t went out with a boy since Matt. And now that Ethan and I are together, I thought… Cole doesn’t know about freshman year. Maybe you’ll feel comfortable in your own skin again. Like you did before … all the stuff happened.”
I shifted. “This is who I am.”
“We just want you to be happy,” Ethan said.
“I know. I appreciate you guys looking out for me, but I am happy. I just changed.”
Wynter grumbled something under her breath then turned to me, a grin returning to her face. “Well, I’m just glad you came. We can remember this night for always.”
I smiled as a response.
Ethan turned into a gated driveway with pine trees on either side of the winding road. When his car reached the clearing, I gasped. Nora and Drake’s brick mansion sat picturesque at the end. It had to be at least six bedrooms. Turrets with spiral rooftops flanked the entry way and gabled dormers decorated both sides of the house. I’d never stepped foot in a home that big before.
Rows of cars lined Nora and Drake’s front lawn, and Ethan parked close to the front.
I hopped out and trailed Wynter and Ethan. They snickered, swinging their hands between them. I rubbed my palms on my thighs. The closer we ambled to the entrance, the more my nerves shook
, and my heart raced. I could already hear the laughter from inside.
Please, let me have one night.
We walked past a circular stone fountain. Spotlights illuminated the deep-violet bushes that lined the front porch. Luscious green vines spidered up the red brick walls. Wynter’s heels clicked up the stone steps. She stopped in front of the black doors. I smiled, imagining how beautiful the inside must look.
As expected, the interior didn’t disappoint. White and black marble covered the floors as well as the winding staircase circling up to the second level. A crystal chandelier illuminated the paintings that adorned every wall. I grinned, forgetting about my shaking hands. I couldn’t wait to admire all of the fancy artwork.
“Let’s get a drink,” Wynter yelled over the loud music and chatter.
I held my breath and began to dodge the people jammed in every corner. I refused to let any gruesome memories ruin my fun tonight.
Wynter grabbed two beers from the cooler and handed one to Ethan. He held up his hand. “DD, bae. You guys have fun.”
A mischievous smile lifted the sides of her mouth. She exchanged the beers for the bottle of tequila on the counter.
Uh-oh. “Wyn—”
“No arguing. You’re doing a shot with me.”
Before I could protest, she shoved the shot glass in my hand. “To a fun and memorable last year and to getting a little silly with my very best friend.”
She put the glass to her lips and raised her eyebrows, urging me to do the same. I groaned, and we sucked back the drinks in one big swig. I did my best not to cough as the liquid burned my throat.
I failed. “That tasted awful.”
Wynter opened a beer and handed the bottle to me to wash the taste out of my mouth. I took a sip and set it on the counter.
“Get used to it, girlie. We’ll be doing another in a few minutes.” She motioned toward the other room. “Let’s dance!”
“I’ll catch up with you and Ethan in a few. I’m going to find the bathroom.”
“Are you—”
“Wyn, I’m fine. Go over there and make sure blondie doesn’t steal your man.”
