Balancer's Soul
Page 24
Sarah held the sides of the bags as they forced the wagon inside the front door of their home. As he sat down in the kitchen he said to Sarah “Last night was the first meal you cooked for me, but I forgot what you made me. I’m sorry.”
She walked over and sat on his lap in the kitchen. She looked at him with a wry, playful smile that was spirit lifting. “We had meatloaf. And I don’t blame you for forgetting. You probably had something else on your mind.” She rested her head on his collar bone.
Feeling playful Connor said lightly “Yeah, I saw a living goddess blushing at a raging erection.” Her head shot up and looked at him before her face flushed. Unexpectedly she wrapped her arms around her neck and pulled him to her lips. Her kiss was even more rejuvenating than getting energy directly from Jack.
“I was so worried about you after what happened last night.” Her eyes started to fill with tears and her voice quivered. “When we got home I saw how drained and weak you were. I wanted you to have something good for you to go to sleep with.” Tears spilled down her cheeks.
Using his thumb to wipe away her tears he said “Sarah, just being with you keeps away all of the nightmares.” And Connor thought of a way to get her mind off of himself. “You’re lucky you know that.”
“How was I lucky when you were the one to get hurt?” Her voice strengthened and her eyes began to harden.
“If I wasn’t so tired, I wouldn’t have been able to restrain myself in the shower with you. We’d be mated… or did you already forget my… reaction?” And it worked perfectly because she stood quickly and her face went red.
She looked around for something to take her mind away from the thoughts in her head while he enjoyed making them. “Umm… Umm…Connor, go to our room and I will show you what I bought.” He stood, walked over to kiss her head and then followed her order to reside in the bedroom until she came in.
Connor heard her quick footfalls in the kitchen along with the refrigerator door opening and closing a few times. With the sounds of the pantry door closing ten minutes later, she knocked on the bedroom door. He said “This is our home. You never need to knock.” She came in bashfully, holding two large bags of clothing. She handed over the two bags. Opening them he smiled up at her.
“These are for you, Connor. Please try them on for me?” She looked a little uncomfortable. Perhaps she was still daydreaming as he was.
“Before I do can I ask you a personal question?” She looked up at him with those soul searching eyes. She nodded, still slightly flushed. “Why did you choose to be a teacher? I suspect that you don’t need the money because these are top of the line designer clothes.”
“I hoped you wouldn’t notice that little detail.” She sighed “Why should I be surprised now? You notice everything.”
“Only because I am in love with the woman I’m noticing.” And he tapped the bed and she sat next to him and looked at the floor.
“This subject doesn’t leave this room. Not even Father and Mother know the exact reason why I’m a teacher these days.” Connor said “Ok.” and she went on by saying “Yes Connor, I do not need any money whatsoever. I have saved and invested much in my lifetime. But if I didn’t teach, I would never have met you.” She looked up at him with a happy smile and matching eyes. “I teach because it keeps me close to normal humans. I like meeting new faces and personalities. Since I have lived for over seven human lifetimes, I’ve noticed just how truly short life is. I need to feel like I can give something to my students during their short terms in this unjust world. I know it sounds foolish…”
Connor put his arm around her. “It is foolish…” She looked at him like he was making fun of her. “But it’s one of the things I love about you. You help while I protect. There will never be a better combo than the two of us.” He kissed her temple and she fell silent.
Connor stood up, carrying the bags she bought. “Where are you going?” He held up the bags and walked to the bathroom. He tried on all of the clothes she bought and remarkably they all fit comfortably. And Connor never thought he could look this good when he saw his reflection. She knocked on the bathroom door and asked “How do they fit?” She walked in and went speechless.
“You have outdone yourself this time.” He walked up and kissed her.
She shook her head to clear her mind and her hair went everywhere, but it was still so amazing just to watch. She mumbled “Greek God.” and looked up to say more clearly “Sit down.” He sat on the commode and she pulled out a pair of scissors and a cloth from the drawer beside the sink. She wrapped the cloth around his thick neck and gave a haircut. After she finished she left and walked in the living room with a pleased expression.
Following her he noticed on the table all of the graded papers she put on hold this weekend for him. “Princess, I have work around the house while you do your teacher thing…” and she laughed at his wording.
Later that night they slept soundly in each other’s arms.
Waking up early Monday morning and feeling normal again Connor put on his newly purchased clothes after he shaved. She bought all dark clothes and they were all mostly black, but all of the shirts were sleeveless and all of the bottoms were shorts along with boxers. Looking in the mirror he smiled at the reflection and thought “Wow! Is this really me? My arms are huge and so are my legs! This short haircut really makes my jaw more defined, but how will others react to my eyes? The armlet fits perfectly. I look like a hulking shadow.”
Connor stepped out of the bathroom to see Sarah leaning on the wall, wearing a green top and white shorts. “Well look who it is… My Knight looking more handsome than ever before.” She pushed herself off the wall and gave him a good morning kiss.
He loved living alone with her.
Before they left he grabbed Sarah’s bag while she grabbed two thick sandwiches. They walked together through the trees and ate their breakfast. They talked about nothing in particular as they crossed the tree line of her parent’s property. It was still a dark morning, and as they came upon Jillian’s house they heard “Brother! Can I ride with Sarah this morning?” When she ran up to them she stopped and her chocolaty eyes completely widened. “Brother? Is that really you? It can’t be…”
“Yes Kara, it is.” Sarah said happily. His easily excitable sister squealed and ran up to hug him, but she stopped mid-jump and turned to hug Sarah instead.
“You are a miracle worker, Big Sister!” She laughed with delight as did Sarah.
“Big Sister huh… so that’s how you see her.” “Kara, what do you think of my new look?” Connor spun around just for her.
“I think no one will recognize you. That will be a given.” And Sarah agreed. “Sarah, you going to need to get a stick, a very big stick.”
“Why would I need one?”
Bluntly, Kara elaborated “To beat away the competition. Now my brother is Hot and the girls are going to flock to him like never before!” At her words, Sarah’s fear, insecurity and jealousy came to life in her eyes like she might actually lose him.
“Sarah, I am yours as you are mine. If anyone comes between us I will stop them if they are a guy and you do the same for the girls.” She smiled in acceptance.
Sarah looked at his obnoxious little sister and then towards him. “I think we need to go. Connor, will you ride with us?”
Connor shook his head. “No we can’t be seen so close together until this last week of school is over. After that, everything will be fair game.” She nodded in understanding, but still looked upset. He walked up and kissed her. All of her fears vanished instantly to be replaced with love. Connor felt grateful he could do so much to her. Then she began winding her fingers through his hair.
“Why don’t you two just get a room?” Kara said impatiently.
Connor pulled away from Sarah to look at his annoying little sister. “Why don’t you and Mark go do the same?” Her face went red and she stomped away silently and in embarrassment. He kissed Sarah’s head before starting his run.
Arriving at school Connor walked over to his favorite tree and climbed it.
Mark showed up later with a shout. “Connor, is that you up there?” Feeling better than ever he lunged out of the oak tree and in front of Mark’s path as he walked up. “No Way!” His jaw hung by its hinges.
“Yep, it’s me Bud. What do you think?” Connor smiled meaningfully at his best friend.
Mark spoke, wide eyed, with his silver eyes blazing with excitement. “I think that you’re now the manliest man in the entire school. It looks like I’ve finally gotten some honest competition. No one will notice who you are with that new look. I can’t wait till they realize...”
They talked continually until the first morning bell rang. Staring straight ahead through the hallways Connor heard what people were saying with his excellent hearing.
From some of the guys he heard “Who is that? Is he new here?” “What is up with those muscles?” “Is he a pro bodybuilder or something?” “What is he doing here?” “We need him for football practice.” “Could he be a student or a new teacher?” And on and on it went.
From some of the girls: “Who is that hunk?” “Is he a movie actor?” “Did you see his butt? What about those arms?” “Who is he?” “Do you think he’s nice or naughty? I’m hoping naughty.” The schools female population’s gossip grew more rowdy and racy from there.
During lunch, Mark sat beside Connor while he crossed his ankles on the bench and threw his head back to enjoy the sun with closed eyes. All this attention was new, but ever so fun to watch people trip over themselves. Everyone kept glancing at him as he looked around the courtyard towards the end of the allotted time before the next class.
One timid little girl approached the two of them while Connor glanced around her to see a flock of other girls telling her to go on and speak to him. “Excuse me?” She said quietly and timidly. She wore a purple top and beige short. She was cute, but nothing compared to his goddess.
“May I help you?” She almost jumped out of her skin as Connor spoke deeply and with unleashed confidence.
“Umm… Yes, my friends and I would like to know what you are doing at our school so late in the year. Where did you transfer from?”
Connor laughed as did Mark. They’ve been waiting all day for someone to have the nerve to come up and personally ask those questions. “I didn’t transfer in from anywhere. I have always gone to this school. I’m Connor.”
“I don’t understand? Connor who? I don’t ever remember you coming here. I would have remembered. No one around here looks like you do.” She looked honestly confused.
“Let me try another way. You might know me by my nickname.” Mark still laughed as his friend continued to tease the poor girl. Connor forced his expression to remain calm, but he wanted to laugh as hard as Mark was doing.
“What is your nickname?” She really wanted to know despite Mark’s incessant laugh.
Connor leaned forward and froze her with his stare, enjoying the reaction. “Everyone here Call’s me… The Black Sheep!” He said in an annoyed voice.
As she tried to remember the nickname and place it with her older memory of him, she froze completely still suddenly. Her face paled and she looked at him again, more closely. She then looked at Mark who no longer laughed and he nodded in confirmation. Her voice became shaky “Umm… Connor I… I have to… a… a…” She turned and ran as fast as she could back to her friends, and for safety. As she told them who he was, their faces paled and they looked at him and back to her like she just lied to them.
Connor stood up from the bench and Mark followed as he walked up to the girl’s table. The students in the courtyard followed his movements as he walked over to them. The little girl who had the nerve to talk, moved over, but stayed close enough to hear what he had to say. Connor leaned down so that only the girls at the table could hear what was to be said. He spoke softly, but they didn’t move or breathe. “Yes ladies. It is me Connor, the Black Sheep.”
One girl bluntly said “But it’s impossible. Why would you look the way you did, if you look so…”
Mark spoke up and saved him because Connor was going to say something not appropriate to say in front of a lady. “He is finally done with everyone kicking him around. He’s now showing everyone who they’ve been messing with.”
The first bell rang a few seconds later. Mark and Connor walked away and as they did, almost everyone flocked to the girls table and stopped when they saw their stunned faces. It made the two of them laugh all the more.
Just before the last bell rang, signifying the start of science, Connor opened the door and walked into class. Mr. V. walked up to Connor with guarded eyes as he looked the student over. The old man stared directly at his knotted arms for a minute, probably trying to figure out if he was dangerous. In fact Connor was; if he dared cross him again. As he looked down at the teacher he asked sharply. “Excuse me, but I think you have the wrong class.”
The rest of the class watched him and he heard one guy ask quietly to his peer “Is the new guy in our class?” “Nah, this class is already full.”
“You’re wrong Mr. V. I am in this class and have been all year.”
“Bull… I think I should know all my students by now!” He snarled while getting a little red and sweaty.
“Really? Is that so? Hmm… I wonder?” Connor easily sidestepped him, making him gasp at the level of agility he possessed. He walked through the rows of chairs to his empty desk as everyone in the class silently watched the leisurely gait.
Connor sat in his usual desk in the back of class and as the sun hit him his armlet flashed its reflection in Mr. V’s face. The annoying teacher’s expression paled as he began putting the pieces together and his voice sounded in disbelief. “It cannot be! Connor?” Everyone in the class started mumbling his name to one another with mistrust and skepticism.
Connor silenced the crowd by saying “I’m back and not one damn person in this school knew who I truly was. I’m done taking your taunts and punishments because your personal lives are miserable. Now you can all see who I really am.”
Mr. V. hates cursing, unless he does it himself. Such a hypocrite. His voice steeled and took on a demeaning tone. “Connor, why do you look like that? Are you on drugs or something?” His face turned red with fury.
“Are you going to start class or are we going to start playing twenty questions?” Connor sounded bored because he was; especially with the teacher. A girl in the front of the class giggled at the forceful question to take the spotlight off himself and put it back on the teacher.
Mr. V. remained angry, but chose the right path and started class.
Mr. V. was doing the day’s lecture while standing behind the computer on his desk. During his lengthy speech he stated “There are only one hundred and sixteen elements in the periodic table of the elements…”
“Wrong! There are one hundred and eighteen currently known elements and it is still growing with each and every scientific discovery and manmade breakthrough! Science isn’t set in stone and is subject to change, you should learn to do the same.” His expression was in shock. Connor took it as a sign to finally put him in his rightful place. “The elements are separated into two broad classifications; Metals and Nonmetals. The Metals are then broken and divided again into Alkali, Alkaline Earth, Lanthanides, Actinides, Transition elements, Other metals and Metalloids. The Nonmetals break down into Other nonmetals, Halogens and noble gasses. Anything that hasn’t been classified yet is put into the Unknown category until it can be properly manufactured or found. Some have theorized that there are more than
two hundred and fifty elements, but until the theories can be effectively applied or discovered we’ll not know.” He spoke clearly so that Mr. V. and everyone else could hear him.
The entire class looked at him as if Connor had lost his mind for interrupting a teacher, while the vein in Mr. V’s forehead vein visibly pulsed. His face became even redder, if it could be possible. “Connor!” He yelled directly at him. “I will not be disrespected in my own class!”
Connor zeroed his eyes onto the balding hypocrite. “You mean like how you have always disrespected me in front of everyone!” Connor’s temper rose, but his voice turned to cold steel. The teacher looked like he was going to murder him until Connor stood up from his seat. He stared down the science teacher like he was a misbehaving child. His classmates took a quick deep breath and held it.
Mr. V’s. face began to pale and ashen as Connor walked around his table and stood in the man’s personal space. He stood with his back facing the class as Connor stood in front of him, staring down upon him with cold anger. To the students it must have looked like a fat, balding miniature poodle faced off an enraged and massive Great Dane. He set his angered gaze to look down the pompous fool in front of him. One forceful command passed Connor’s teeth that the teacher probably has never heard before from a student. “Move!”
As he obeyed and moved over from the computer Connor felt the atmosphere of the class change and actually heard the class exhale a deep breath, as one, with relief. As Connor bent down to work on his computer he went on the internet and pulled up an updated Periodic table. Once it was pulled up he stood tall, towering over the now weak man who was all bark compared to Connor’s bite.
“I said you were wrong Mr. V. Look here at the element chart and it back’s my objection to your outdated chart that is over forty years old.” Walking past him and back to his seat the teacher looked down at the computer and looked over the screen. Sitting down at his chair Connor caught his attention again. “Next time, study up before you look like a fool in front of all your students. Especially, if there is a student who knows more about the elements and sciences than you do!”