by Shelly Crane
“What’s going on?” Dad asked.
“Jim, I think we should leave them alone for a minute,” Peter suggested, putting a hand on his shoulder.
“Maggie, are you ok?” Dad asked ignoring Peter.
“I’m fine. Please just go so I can get up and get dressed,” I asked and he grimaced looking at Caleb.
Aha, right, no clothes and Caleb is gonna help her naked self get dressed, huh?
“Dad,” I protested with tightly shut eyes, “Please.”
He huffed in defeat and took off down the hall.
“I’ll get Rachel and Jen, we’ll get Bish and Jim out of the house,” Peter suggested.
“Good idea, thanks, Dad,” Caleb said, his eyes fixed to mine.
“Take care of her, Caleb.”
“Dad,” he looked at him over his shoulder, “I know, ok? I’ve got her.”
“I know, son.” He put his hand on Caleb’s shoulder and then turned to walk away.
Caleb lifted me immediately in his arms with the towel still wrapped around me, and carried me to the guest room with my stuff in it. He set me on the bed after kicking the door closed and knelt in front of me. He secured the towel around me and continued to look at me closely.
“I’m fine,” I said finally, hearing his thoughtful concerns in his mind, “really.”
“I know you are. You’re strong enough to handle anything but I hate that this is happening to you. How am I supposed to protect you from something that’s in you? Or something that’s happening to you?”
“You are protecting me right now. This is what I need. You.”
“You know it’s not the same thing,” he said softly.
“It is to me.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him close to me, between my knees. His arms were warm and soothing around my skin as he pulled me close, crushing me to him as I breathed in the familiar smell of his neck. I felt his calm invading me and I sighed in respite.
“You are still surprising me,” he said into my hair. He pulled back to look at me. “You’re still amazing.” He placed a warm hand on my cheek. “We’ll figure this thing out. It’s just like everything else we’ve been through. We’ll do it together. I’ll always be here.”
“I’m scared,” I whispered my admission and felt him wipe a tear from under my eye with his thumb.
“I’m not. I know that we’ll be fine. You are my life and I won’t let anything happen to you.” This reminded me of the extra sensitive protective barrier in his mind. I asked him the silent question. “It’s just something my dad said. He thinks the council might try to take you from me. Hide you away somewhere for your protection, because you’re so important.”
“But...they can’t do that-” I said in a panic but he covered my lips with a finger as he leaned in close.
“No, they can’t because I won’t let them. I’d have to be dead first before I let them take you from me.”
“Caleb, don’t say stuff like that,” I groaned.
“It’s true. I will never let them, you’re mine. I didn’t say anything to you because you already had so much going on, but you don’t have to worry.”
“Running away is starting to sound really good right now,” I mumbled.
He chuckled and kissed my forehead.
“You’re so funny,” he whispered. “Please don’t let this get to you. My family would never let anything happened to you and I guarantee my dad has already been on the phone with them to try to figure out the latest puzzle piece.”
“Thank you.”
“What for?” he asked.
“For always knowing what to say to make me feel right again.” I smiled and touched his nose with mine.
“Gah, I love you,” he breathed.
“Love you.”
He kissed me softly, taking my mouth with gentle pressure that was sweet and loving, not demanding. My eyes closed and I saw the ribbons behind him in the dark. He lifted me into his lap as he sat on the bed and cradled me against him. He moved his palm up and down my thigh in a soothing caress. I felt him run his hand all the way down to my ankle and back up before slowly laying us back on the bed. We stayed just like that with me snuggled protectively against him, breathing steady and slowly until we heard the doorbell downstairs.
“I’ll run and get that and let you get dressed,” Caleb murmured against my forehead.
“Ok,” I said and smiled when he got up as he straightened my towel to make sure it stayed secure.
I sat up and was amazed at how much better I felt. Caleb was my drug, Dad was right, but that didn’t mean it was a bad thing. He was like my... prescription drug, just what I needed.
I put on my blue puff sleeve shirt and a pair of jeans. Brushed my hair in the spare bathroom, I didn’t even peek in the one that I had destroyed, and flung on some blue and gold dangle earrings and a slick of makeup. As I walked barefoot downstairs I heard a girl’s voice. She was laughing and giggling and Caleb was talking excitedly. The voice sounded familiar and at first I thought it was Ashley.
I froze on the stairs.
Then descended slowly, guarding my expression, but then I heard her thoughts and smiled. I turned the corner to see none other than Beck and Ralph standing in the foyer.
“Mags!” she yelled and skipped to me in a girly scamp. “Omgosh, your hair!”
“Beck,” I gasped in surprise as she ran into me, forcing all the air out of me. “What are you doing here?”
“Caleb called me yesterday. He said you could use a friend right now and you missed me, so he booked us a ticket for the first flight out.”
I balked and turned to Caleb. He was leaning against the foyer wall with his arms crossed, watching me with a little crooked smile, his dimple making a necessary appearance.
“You flew her here for me?”
“And me too,” Ralph butted in grinning.
“Of course,” I said and went to hug him.
“It’s good to see you.”
“You too, and thanks for taking care of Beck.”
“My pleasure,” he said and glanced at her, winking slyly.
She blushed and giggled silently making me press my lips together to keep from smiling.
Caleb continued to stand there watching. I was completely in awe and enraptured by his easy smile and eyes that followed and caressed me from across the room. He winked at me and I couldn’t stop from going to him.
“Thank you.” I put my hands on his chest. “You didn’t have to do that,” I said softly where only he could hear.
“I know,” he answered, rubbing my upper arms with his palms. “But I wanted to. You haven’t seen her much lately, what with me stealing you away and all,” he grinned, “and you told me she’s leaving for school next week right?”
I nodded and reached up on my tiptoes to kiss him, a quick gentle peck.
“Thank you, you’re awesome.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Ok. Ok!” Beck shouted and flounced to us. “I can’t believe you cut your hair. It’s so frigging cute!”
“Thanks,” I said and let her believe what she wanted.
“You have to take us somewhere, Caleb. Somewhere that is littered with celebrities and all you can drink bars.”
“Uh...” Caleb’s eyes flicked to mine. “I’m not sure.”
She wants to go clubbing the entire time she’s here, doesn’t she?
Ahh, you know my friend so well already.
I smiled at him to show my amusement.
“Well,” he started again. “I went to a few clubs with Zeke last summer. We can try one tonight if you like? Then tomorrow night, I have a gig. You’re more than welcome to come out and see the show if you want.”
“You play, man?” Ralph asked.
“Yeah, sort of,” Caleb said modestly.
“He’s being modest,” I said. “He can play just about anything but in the show, he’s playing bass.”
“Sweet,” Ralph said in appreciation. “S
ounds good. Well, uh, can we get a shower or better yet, can we take a dip in the pool? I smell like a plane, dude, seriously.”
“Sure. Bathrooms up the stairs, all the way to to the end of the hall. You can change in there.”
They made their way up the stairs as he instructed them to go to the bathroom that I had not destroyed. I looked up to him as I walked into the circle of his arms.
“So we’re going swimming?” I asked and ran a hand through his hair making his eyes close. “And then tonight we’re going clubbing?”
He groaned before answering, keeping his eyes closed.
“We don’t have to. But it might work to keep your mind off things. Beck should do a pretty good job of entertaining you.”
“Yeah,” I agreed and twirled my fingers through his locks. He groaned again and laid his head against mine. “Ok I guess, I’m gonna go put on my suit.”
He nodded but held me tight.
“You ok?”
I nodded too and smiled when he kissed my nose. He went to put his suit on and I went to put on mine.
“Holy crap! A pool, a hot tub, a volleyball net and the beach in your backyard. Dude, I’m never leaving,” Ralph spouted to Caleb before playfully shoving him and taking off to do a cannon ball.
He splashed Beck, lounging in her hot pink bikini by the pool side making her squeal and feign retaliation. We all knew she wasn’t getting up. This had been the same scene for over half an hour now. Caleb and I were sitting on the side of the pool beside each other. Ralph swam and jumped in, beckoning Beck and egging her on.
Caleb was worried about me still and hadn’t left my side. Although I was overjoyed to see Beck, I was upset about what had happened in the bathroom not a couple hours ago. My dad’s words came back to me, lancing through me with painful realization. I was a freak. This wasn’t normal. Even the Aces didn’t know what was happening to me and my mind reeled with scenarios and unforeseen events still l out before us. I knew things were going to change but this whole Visionary thing was blindsiding us.
It was causing things to be muddled and even more complicated. I was becoming very disgruntled about it all. I looked over at Caleb to see him watching me with concern. He wasn’t having any fun either. I felt even worse. We were on vacation for goodness sake…sort of.
I took a deep breath, pushing away images of breaking glass, tinkling shards on tile, energy ribbons dancing in the air, disappointed brothers, over protective fathers and most of all, my own body turning against me.
I smiled and slid off the side into the water. Caleb’s eyes lit with relief, hearing and seeing me, and he slid in with me wrapping his arms around me as we bobbed in the water.
“Mm, there’s that smile again,” he crooned and kissed me on the end of my nose.
“I’m trying.”
“I know. I’m sorry that all this is happening. I wish I could stop it.”
I shrugged and refused to say another word about it. I bit my lip and kissed his chin.
He gave me a look that said I was starting something, especially in that bathing suit, but I just chuckled and splashed him before taking off across the pool. He gave chase and we all ended up in a splash war, even Beck, who decided it was pointless to try to stay out of it anymore.
Kyle soon joined us, not having gone with his parents and my dad.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked but he was looking at me.
I remembered the last time we were in here together but knew he would never try anything with Caleb right there.
“Sure,” I answered. “Let’s play volleyball,” I suggested.
“But we’re uneven,” Beck whined.
“What?” I scoffed. “You scared, Rebecca? Let’s do Caleb and me against the rest of you.” I looked at him and he nodded, rubbing his hands in challenge. “How’s that for fair?”
I laughed at her face as we all took our places as Kyle pulled the net across the pool and clicked it together on the other side.
“Oh, you are so going down now, little miss perky. Ralph, set me up,” she said in determination, but her pink frilled bikini was refuting her tough-girl stance.
He did and she served a wide ball that knocked over my glass of tea on the table.
“Hey!” I yelled.
She looked surprised at first but then smirked.
“See? Mess with me and you get the horns.”
I rolled my eyes at her mistake and her bravado and we began to play. Beck was ok for someone trying not to break a nail the whole time and Ralph’s competitive spirit matched Caleb’s. Kyle was just normal Kyle. It was so nice.
We lost by one point. But that point made all the difference and the smack talk ensued as we went inside to get ready to go out to the club Caleb told us about.
~ Twelve ~
Once Caleb and I made our way down to the foyer to wait for Beck and Ralph – we invited Kyle but he said he had plans with Amber – I told Dad where we were going. He wanted us to take Bish with us.
“Dad, please. I can’t deal with this tonight. I want to go out to get away from Bish and everything else.”
“Maggie, I don’t feel safe with you-“
“I’ll be with Caleb,” I argued. “I’ll be as safe as I can be.”
“I’m not knocking Caleb, I just think the more bodies, the more protection. You and Bish could spend a little time together.”
I took a slow deep breath and spoke low with calm and conviction.
“Did you not see what I did to the bathroom upstairs? I can’t, Dad. He’s making me too crazy right now and none of us would have any fun. I need some fun. I need to take a minute and just be a teenager.”
“But, Maggie, you wanted this remember? You wanted this life with Caleb and all the things in it.”
“I’m not blaming you, Dad, I’m just saying I’m going out and without Bish.”
“I can’t allow it. I think he should go, end of discussion,” he said and went upstairs to fetch Bish, I saw in his mind.
I stood there and seethed. Caleb said my name but it sounded weird, muffled. I looked at him and there was a wall of energy ribbons between us. He gave me a surprised look.
“Calm down, baby. It’s ok.” He walked through them. It was the strangest thing to see all those wormy little strings going through his skin. When he reached me he touched my cheek to draw off my anxiety. “Breathe, Maggie.” I did as he said and slowly the ribbons dissolved away. “It’ll be ok. I’ll keep you occupied and away from Bish, I promise.”
I needed to control my thoughts, my emotions. I nodded and tried not to think about it as I heard footsteps down the stairs and then their thoughts.
Ugh, Maggie looks so fantastic. What the heck is she doing to her skin? It’s like flawless. And her arms are so toned. No wonder Caleb can’t keep his hands off her- crap, forgot my hand bag. I wonder where we’re going. I wonder if I can trick the bartender into serving me, worked in Chattanooga. Now where’s the bag...there. Ok. Good. Ready. Now focus, Rebecca. She has something to tell you, she’s been hiding it for weeks. She’s gonna spill it tonight. I can feel it. She’s probably pregnant so school your face and don’t let it show how you think she’s ruining her life and is a complete idiot.
She took a big mental breath and descended the stairs. I shook my head at her and looked at the wall clock in anticipation. Bish joined us along with Dad, and to my dismay, Jen was with them as well…and she was dressed to go out.
“Dad, what’s up?”
“I figured Bish and Jen should go and be chaperones.”
Ah, no. I heard Caleb groan in my mind. Now what?
“Where are Peter and Rachel?” I asked.
“Oh, they went shopping. They always go to this little place when we come here,” Jen answered.
“Ok, fine, let’s go,” I said, not willing to dwell or think about any of it.
We went outside and I looked at the cars. We’d have to split up. Crap!
“How do we do this?” Bish asked.
&
nbsp; “Why don’t you ride with us,” I offered to Bish and Jen.
“But we don’t know our way around,” Beck said. “And I missed you and I want to ride with you.”
“Ok.” I thought fast. “Why don’t we ride girls and guys?”
Caleb’s dislike of that idea was evident in his mind but everyone else was fine with it. Beck was ecstatic and Jen and Bish were relieved, fearing they were going to be stuck riding together.
I kissed Caleb quickly and pulled Jen’s arm gently to guide her with me as we got into Peter’s rental Beamer and the guys piled into the Jeep. I sat in the back so Beck wouldn’t feel left out and Jen drove.
“So, Jen, how have you been? Oh, wait. I’m sorry, this is Beck, my friend from home, and this is Jen, Caleb’s sister.” After there ‘nice to meet you’s, I got back to my point. “Anyway, how have you been? How’s Maria?”
“She’s great. She’s staying with Gran.”
“Oh, boy,” I laughed. “She’s gonna be so rotten by the time you get back.”
Jen laughed too and nodded.
“Yeah,” she groaned playfully. “I know, that girl loves her some Gran.”
I saw how Beck was looking very lost so I changed the subject.
“Ralph is very sweet lately, Beck. How are you guys doing?”
“Awesome, he told his parents off and he’s going to school with me.”
“Really,” I gasped and laughed. “That’s awesome, I think.”
“It is, you know how he is about his parents. He stood up to them and for me.“ She pressed her lips together to keep from smiling or crying, I didn’t know which. “Maggie I am so totally falling in love with him.”
“Aww, Beck, I’m happy for you.” I reached over the seat to grab her arm. “Ralph is a good guy.”
“Yeah he is. I mean, I don’t wanna move too fast. We’re not gonna live together or anything, but the fact that he wants to go to school with me has to say something right?”
“Yeah, I think so,” I said slowly and heard Jen’s thoughts of longing and disappointment, but she kept her smile in place and she looked between us and the road.
Dang it, it seemed every subject we went to was making one or the other uncomfortable. So I told them all about Caleb’s gig the next night and how he’d been practicing all week. Beck thought Zeke was hilarious and fabulous, couldn’t wait to meet him while Jen concurred with my assessment that he was crazy.
