“My classes start in,” I glance over at the clock, “forty-five minutes.” I say with a pout. Looks like I am going to be late.
“Well, what are you doing after class?” Braylee asks.
“I have to work.”
Skepticism covers Braylee’s face. “Work like last night?” She looks between me and Briston with a suggestive smile. I laugh at her, but Briston is stiff, and has his hands deep in his pockets.
“Seriously Bray, I have to work today. If I miss again, Jim will more than likely fire me.” That would just top my whole week off. Finding a job in the first place had been a fretful task. Months of endlessly searching, turning in applications, interviews, and rejection calls, or worse yet no call at all.
“Fine, but we’re still on for dinner and movies tonight right?” Crap, I had forgotten about that promise.
“I can’t, Bray. I’m sorry.” I quickly try to think of a really good excuse that would appease her, but come up with nothing.
“And why not?” Braylee’s hard tone tells me she’s getting agitated with my constant blow-offs.
“I’m sorry, its just—”
“I didn’t know Emma made plans with you. I sort of twisted her arm into spending the night with me.” Braylee goes to say something, but Briston stops her by saying emphatically, “Just me.”
Braylee gives Briston a surprised look. “Wow, B, it’s about time you stepped up to bat.” Briston shakes his head, and meets my eyes for a moment. I silently thank him, before turning my attention back to Braylee.
“Why don’t you go ahead and come by the café. Tell the others to come too. It’s on the house.”
Braylee comes alive at the mention of free food. “I’ll be there. We have a story to share with you anyway.” Braylee tsks as she goes out the door. “You guys really missed the phenomenon of the century, while you were here…working.” She says as she strolls out the door.
Briston gives Tori a little shove. “Braylee, take Tori back home would you? And Tori, don’t look to her as a role model. Trust me she’s not much of one.” Braylee turns around to walk backwards, sticking her tongue out at Briston.
“Shut it, B. I’m an outstanding role model.”
“Yeah, for other loonies like yourself with an IQ of 1.” Braylee’s retort is silenced as Briston shuts the door.
We both release a sigh of relief. Getting rid of Braylee usually took more work than that. “Well, that went better than I would have expected.” I say, turning back to get the packed bag off the sofa.
“Yeah, I guess it did.” Instead of rejoicing with relief like I am, Briston slumps back against the wall with a droopy face.
I’m not stupid. Now that I have a moment to think, Briston has been acting weird all night and morning. When Braylee started making her normal hook-up jokes, Briston went rigid. Normally, he would brush Braylee off with a joke about her, or dismiss her outright. Not today. Today it bothered him. Then there was the jealous tone he had when I mentioned Kayson. Not to mention the looks and shy smiles.
For the first time in my life, I feel awkward around Briston. Never would I have thought that would happen. But it has. I glance over at Briston, who is covering his face with his hands. When did he start feeling this way? Why didn’t he just tell me? Maybe that’s what he wanted to talk to me about last night when he planned to come over. My stomach becomes heavy with nausea when I think about talking to him about this. Or was it knotted for another reason?
My thoughts swim with uncertainty. I have always trusted Briston more than any other person. To be honest, I knew a lot of my relationships didn’t last because of my close friendship with Briston and I didn’t care. I love Briston and no one is going to run him out of my life. He is practically a brother to me. The heavy knot in my stomach becomes tighter, which makes me nauseous. That is the problem. Briston is practically my brother, at least in my mind. Could I ever erase that kinship and replace it with a different type of relationship? Looking over at Briston, I’m not sure.
I decide to ignore this revelation and continue on like nothing has happened. It isn’t because I’m scared to talk to Briston about it. Okay, maybe just a little bit. But the big issue that is stopping me from confronting him is the bigger one out back. I don’t want to start a conversation about this without being able to put my whole heart into it. Right now, I just couldn’t do that. Plus, I need time to think about how I feel about Briston. With Kayson around it is kind of hard to do that.
Kayson! Thinking of him pulls me away from my other problems and back to what I need to do. Time is wasting. I am already going to be late for my first class. I’m sure there will be a lecture from Mrs. Camedon.
I pick up the duffel bag and turn toward the kitchen. “I’m going to go give this to Sabrina. Then I gotta bail.” Before I even make it to the kitchen, Briston is running around me and blocking my path.
“Why are you going out there?” He places both hands on the doorframe, blocking my path.
I give Briston a hard look. He’s really starting to get on my nerves with this overprotective crap. Yes, I get that this is out of the ordinary, but we’ve already talked about this. I’m helping and that’s that. “Sabrina was soaking wet when she came back this morning. I’m just taking her these clothes and telling them I’m leaving.”
“I’m coming with you.”
I start to protest but why should I? It doesn’t look like Briston is going anywhere. In fact, I am pretty sure he is going to stick to my side like we’re glued together. If that’s going to happen, he needs to meet the unearthly guests.
“Fine.” I nudge him with my shoulder as I walk by. I hope he can tell I am a little annoyed. I mean, I’m glad he’s here. I’m also glad that he wants to protect me. It’s not often someone can find another whose love is boundless and unquestioning. Someone who is willing to step in the crossfire to save you, even if it means his or her own death. It’s just a little irritating to be treated like a helpless dame.
I walk out the back with Briston hot on my tail. I’m a little nervous about how this introduction will go. With Briston’s chest already puffed and Sabrina’s eagerness to snap at anything that moves, I’m worried they will knock heads as soon as the door opens.
The little rock that I have been using to prop the door closed is lying to the side. For a moment I freak, but remember Sabrina’s inside now. I’m sure she’s locked the door from the inside with the sliding bolt. I lightly tap on the door and hope that she will answer. While we wait, I glance over at Briston. He has his hands in his pockets, kicking a rock around on the ground. Before I can say anything, I hear the lock rattling.
The door only opens a crack. Sabrina stands slightly back from the door to avoid the sun. I step forward to slip through the little slit but Briston places his hand on my arm, holding me back. “I’ll go first.”
I turn my head slightly to give him a good scowl.
“Oh, I’m sure that’s a good idea,” I whisper back to him. “I’m sure Sabrina the vampire won’t mind at all when some stranger barges in while she’s on high alert for attack. No problem.” I step back and gesture for him to go first. From the grim look on Briston’s face, I can tell I made my point.
“Fine. You go first. Just be careful.”
I fight the urge to remind him that I’ve already been in here twice. Sure my stomach knots a bit from lingering nervousness, but can I be blamed? Sabrina did attack me the first time I came in here. Then there’s the fact that she’s a vampire and Kayson’s an angel—well, fallen angel.
Kayson is sound asleep. His face is pale, and his black hair is sticking up everywhere, drenched in sweat. I instinctively move over to him to check on him, but Sabrina steps in my path.
“What are you doing?” she asks, accusingly.
Briston pulls me back once he hears the menace in Sabrina’s tone. I shrug his hands off and take a step forward. “I was going to check to see if he has a fever. He doesn’t look too well.”
Sabrina
looks over her shoulder at Kayson. After a few fleeting moments, she steps back, giving me the go-ahead. I walk over to Kayson and feel his forehead. He doesn’t feel like he has a fever, but he is warm. I pull the quilt down, uncovering his body to give him some air. Sweat trickles down his sides. I stare at his glistening chest as it slowly rises in a soft sleep. A warm flush spreads through my body. I lose all my focus as my thoughts start to wonder. I wonder what it would be like to be held in those toned arms, to settle my head on his chest, and to be held gently when you knew he could hold you so much tighter.
My vision of a moment in ecstasy with Kayson is interrupted when Sabrina steps up again. “What are you staring at? Is he okay?” I can hear a warning note in her tone so I take a step back, clearing my throat. Before I answer her, I take a peek at Briston. Shame is written on my face and he sees it. Briston squares his jaw and looks away. He may not know what I was thinking, but he could see I was gawking at Kayson.
This is becoming a little weird. I never thought I would have to take his feelings into account when it came to checking out other guys. I never thought he cared. Now that I do, whether he knows I do or not, is unsettling.
“He’s fine. I was just making sure his bandages are okay.” At least Sabrina doesn’t know I’m lying, at least I don’t think she does.
I extend the duffel bag I have in my hand to Sabrina. “Here. I noticed you were wet earlier and I didn’t know if you had any more clothes.” Sabrina’s clothes look fairly dry now, but they’re covered in dirt.
Sabrina takes the bag and rifles through it. When she looks up at me, I’m surprised by the honest appreciation on her face. It’s as if no one has ever given her anything.
“Thank you.”
I tell her not to mention it, but I don’t extend the courtesy further by asking if she needs anything else. I don’t want her thinking she’s a burden or that I expect something back in return. “I’m heading out for the day. You should be relatively safe in here. I should be back around seven.”
Briston clears his throat. Right, introductions. I guess this is the time. “Where are my manners? Sabrina this is my friend Briston. Briston this is Sabrina…the vampire.”
Briston extends his hand to Sabrina. “Hi.”
I stiffen. What would he think if she didn’t shake his hand? If she did, how would he handle her cold skin? My first reaction was that of horror. Sabrina stares at Briston’s hand for a moment. I’m sure she isn’t going to accept. Then she surprises me by taking his hand in hers.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Sabrina gives Briston the faintest of smiles before she releases his hand. Briston shudders when she lets go. Again I stiffen. What would Sabrina make of that? She seems to take offense to everything. I chastise myself for being so tense over this, but it is a tense situation. If Briston got one bad vibe from in here there is no doubt in my mind that he will sweep me off my feet and go running for the hills.
But I should have known better. Briston is a gentlemen and is quick to explain his reaction to Sabrina.
“I’m sorry. I’ve just never encountered someone with such cold skin. If you don’t mind me asking, does it bother you? Being cold I mean.”
I’m about to slap him for asking such a question, but Sabrina doesn’t seem to mind. In fact she seems flattered. After staring down at the hand Briston just held with something that is as close to a smile that I’ve seen from her, she looks up.
“No, it doesn’t bother me. It’s actually very convenient. No matter what the outside temperature is, mine stays the same. I feel no aversion to the weather. I remember as a human always having to bundle up in the cold and wishing I could put ice cubes under my skin when it was hot. Now, I don’t even notice.”
Briston smiles, and miracles of miracles, Sabrina smiles back. It’s nice to see someone can bring out her nice side. She’s been nothing but nasty to me and snippy with Kayson.
“That would be nice.” Briston says.
Feeling a little awkward, what with Briston catching me staring at Kayson and Sabrina getting all friendly with Briston, I glance down at my watch. Great. I hate how fast time can tick away. I only had twenty-five minutes to get to class.
“Well, I hate to break up this friendly exchange but I really have to get going.”
Sabrina breaks the friendly smile she held for Briston and gives me her usual calculating look. “I will need to talk to you when you return. I have plans for moving Kayson to a safer location, which in turn, will return your life to normal.” She turns back to Briston. “I will need your assistance if that is okay.”
“Any way I can help, you just let me know.” Briston answers.
What happened to the guy that wanted to run this morning, the guy ready to leave them to the hounds and never look back? “Okay, we can hash out details when I get home.” I turn to leave again with Briston following behind me. Sabrina calls out after him.
“Will you be staying here today?”
I hear Briston stop, so I turn as well.
“I have a few things to do today, but I will be back this afternoon.” Sabrina gives him a small nod before he turns and follows me again. Sabrina shuts the door behind us. I hear the lock slide home before I walk away from the shed.
“What was that?” I ask Briston.
“What was what?”
I raise an eyebrow with accusation. Did he think he can fool me? “You were awful chummy with Sabrina back there. If I remember right, this morning you were all ‘leave them to hang, we must save ourselves!’”
Briston shrugs his shoulders, “I don’t know. She seems harmless.”
Ha, harmless my butt. I’ve seen her hissy attitude in action. That girl could take down a fleet of soldiers without blinking.
“Plus, she’s pretty hot for a dead girl.” Briston grins.
What is he doing, trying to make me jealous? That’s kind of lame. Then again, he doesn’t know that I figured out how he feels for me. Or does he really feel that way? Maybe I’m overthinking his actions. He could have something else on his mind making him act weird like this. But even if he doesn’t and he actually likes me, the jealousy card is just plain stupid. Any person that plays the jealousy card to make a person see them, is just making a fool of themselves. Games like that just create hard feelings. The truth is the only way to go.
I ignore Briston’s comment and head to my car. Before I get in, Briston stops me. “Hey, I’m sorry for getting all weird this morning. It’s just a lot to deal with and I don’t want to see you hurt. I overreacted.”
I give his arm a slight squeeze. “It’s okay, B. I’m just glad you’re here with me.” We exchange a friendly hug. Briston squeezes me a little hard, almost like he’s afraid to let go.
“What time do you have to work today?”
“I go in at twelve and get off at six. I only have two classes this morning.” Well, technically one and a half, since I’m going to obviously miss the first half of my first class.
“Okay, I’ll stop by and check on you later.”
As I’m backing out the driveway, I can’t help but feel like someone is watching me.
Chapter Sixteen
Emma
My classes go by in a blur. I normally have a hard time focusing, but today was especially bad, for obvious reasons. All my mind is able to focus on are Sabrina and Kayson. Well, mostly Kayson. My daydreams of him holding me in his arms float through my mind all morning. And even though they are my dreams, Briston’s face kept popping up to bust those wonderful bubbles.
Of course, Mrs. Camedon called me out first thing when I finally arrived thirty minutes late to class. My right foot barely crossed the threshold before she started in on me. I had to explain in front of the whole class what was so important that I had to miss the discussion on administrating a proper IV. Let’s just say my excuse of oversleeping at my mother’s house thirty minutes away wasn’t an overwhelming success. The alternative was to tell her the real reason. Who knows, she might have given me credit
for originality. Or have me put in a strait jacket.
As I pull in at the café, my normal dreaded sigh heaves heavy today as I take my keys out of the ignition. Never would I have thought I would end up here. Not that working in a café is bad. I just imagined working at one in New York after coming from an amazing dance class, rather than here close to my hometown.
I picture arriving at work with my feet already aching from hours of practicing a new routine. The pain drives me with the feeling of elation because I was living my dream.
But here in the real world, there is nothing but the dread of another shift that goes to an electric bill rather than new dance shoes.
Jim greets me at the back door with a scowl. “I’m glad you could make it in today. That must have been some laid-back illness.”
“Come on Jim. I still don’t feel good. Yet, here I am.” This is true. I feel like crap. My lack of sleep makes my body feel like it’s weighted down by bricks and chains. He really should be grateful I didn’t call in again. Trust me, I had considered the thought as I made the drive across town.
Jim makes a rude noise as I walk by him to get my apron. Jackson is scrambling around the kitchen, filling orders like a madman. Jackson has worked at the café for eight years and takes his work very seriously. I’ll never forget the first time I saw Jackson lose it when an order was returned because the customer didn’t like it. Jim had to practically drag his cursing butt out back to calm him down. Jackson was like that with everything. He carried his feelings on his shoulder and when somebody punched him, he went crazy.
“There’s my Twinkle Toes. Feeling better?” I narrow my eyes at Jackson and give him my usual glare. Ever since Jackson learned that I was a dancer, he has called me Twinkle Toes. It’s not one of my favorite nicknames, and he knows it.
“Why yes, thank you, Jackson. And how have things been here?” Jackson’s face falls instantly. No longer is he the smiling chef behind his spatula. Now he’s the angry cook that’s had a bad review.
Jim comes up behind me. “It’s been a rough couple of days.” I take that as my cue to leave Jackson alone and get to work. Grabbing my pad and pen, I walk out into the café and start taking orders.
Broken Faith: Spiritual Discord, 1 Page 14
