Shift (The Neturu Chronicles)

by Sarah Kay Carter

  “Perv.”

  “Oh, I will admit to that. Yes, yes I am, but I am a nice perv, and I can be super romantic. Those counteract each other.”

  Kayla giggles. “Oh, really?”

  “Yes, I’ll buy you flowers and take you on dates…then try to get into your pants,” Damien declares with a grin.

  “Spoken like a true shmuck!”

  “Not if I care about you.”

  Kayla narrows her eyes at him. “Are you, like, a male slut?”

  Damien snorts. “Depends on what you consider a slut. Am I virgin? No, not even close. But that’s largely due to the fact that I haven’t found the right person.”

  “Not sure how I feel about that,” Kayla whispers, staring at him.

  “I have been on the search for the right person for a while.”

  Raising her eyebrow, Kayla says, “We’re seventeen. It couldn’t have been that long of a search. You’re not secretly a vampire are you?”

  “No, I’m not a vampire. And no, I don’t sparkle,” Damien quips. “My family is particular, and whomever I’m romantically involved with has to be a very…special...girl. I’ve had flings and a girlfriend, but not anything too serious. My family is just really…picky.”

  “Jackson said the same thing about his family. He keeps saying I’m the only one they would approve of. I don’t get that. Why me?”

  Taking a deep breath, Damien answers, “It’s your family line.”

  “What? There’s nothing special about my family. We are so beyond ordinary, it’s ridiculous.”

  Damien clicks his tongue. “Our families have known each other for generations. Trust me, your bloodline is special.”

  “Why?”

  “Good genetics,” Damien coughs out. “Do you want coffee? I want some coffee.”

  Without removing her gaze from him, Kayla says, “Sure.” He pulls into the parking lot of the coffee shop. Kayla reaches into her backpack for her wallet, and when she looks back up, Damien is opening her door. “Thanks,” she says.

  He nods. “My pleasure.” When he sees her wallet, his smile turns into a frown. “You don’t need money.”

  “Um, yes, I do. I want tea. Tea costs money.”

  “I have boatloads of money. Feel free to spend it however you please.”

  Kayla shakes her head vigorously. “No, I have money. I can pay for it myself. You want to buy me something, get me a car.”

  “Okay,” Damien replies, putting his hand on her back. “What kind of car would you like?”

  “Ha, ha, very funny. Anyway, I’m not into flashy things. Well, they’re not terrible, but I’d rather invest in saving the environment or feeding people.” Pointing back at his car, Kayla says, “That does nothing for our world but pollute it.”

  Damien chuckles. “An eco-friendly vehicle. Got it.”

  “Yeah right, I wish. I’ve wanted a car for a while, but my parents say I can’t have one until I graduate. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, but it would be nice to be able to pick up and go somewhere. I’m tired of waiting for a car, but I don’t have any other options.”

  “Mmhmm,” Damien replies. He opens the door of the coffee shop for her, and they walk in. All the girls in the coffee shop stop what they’re doing and stare at Damien.

  Looking at him, Kayla says, “Has anyone ever told you that you could be a model? Like one of those guys who pierce you with their eyes.”

  “I have something I’d like to pierce,” Damien teases as he winks at her.

  A disgusted look passes over Kayla’s face. “What is with you and Jackson? Is that all you think about?”

  “We are seventeen-year-old guys. Are you really that surprised?” Damien asks. He gestures to the counter and the person ready to take their order. “What do you want to drink?”

  “Jasmine,” Kayla murmurs.

  Walking up to the counter, Damien says, “Large coffee, black, and a jasmine tea.” The barista gives him the biggest grin possible. Kayla is surprised because he only gives her a polite smile in return. His lack of attention to the flirty barista makes Kayla happy. Damien spins around. “Do you want to sit down?”

  “Sure,” Kayla replies. She walks over to a table by the window. Damien slides into the chair opposite her. “So what brings you to our city?”

  Looking straight at her, he answers, “An impassible opportunity.”

  “Ah, I see,” Kayla whispers. She looks off to the side just as her phone rings. She looks at the caller and sighs before hitting the talk button. “Yeah.”

  “Listen, I’m sorry,” Jackson mutters. “I didn’t mean to run you off.”

  Kayla clicks her tongue. “That is quite all right. Your cousin and I are hanging out at a coffee shop. He was nice enough to give me a ride home.”

  “Just…I don’t know what to say. He isn’t a bad guy.”

  “He says the same thing about you. So why don’t you get along?”

  Jackson groans. “It’s not that we don’t get along. We just have different views on family matters…and you. I’m…nervous.”

  Looking at Damien, Kayla asks him nicely, “Are you going to be cruel or sacrifice me to some foreign deity?”

  Damien snorts. “Not at the moment. Maybe after the caffeine kicks in.”

  “Ha-ha,” Kayla deadpans. “Damien has already promised to wine, dine, and seduce me. I told him he better buy me diamonds and multiple houses first.” Damien bursts into laughter, and Kayla smiles in return.

  “Well, that’s good to hear,” Jackson says sarcastically. “I just wish you would listen to me. I do know what’s best for you.”

  “What! Seriously? Who do you think you are?”

  With a heavy sigh, Jackson replies, “Your friend.”

  “Well, you’re acting like a jealous boyfriend, not a friend, and we’ve had this conversation already. I’m hanging up the phone. When you pull your head out of your ass, you can call me back.”

  “Kayla, wait!” Jackson exclaims, his tone bordering on desperation.

  She hangs up and glares out the window. Damien exhales loudly. “Give Jackson a break. He’s trying to look out for you by his standards. Please understand that I will be respectful of you and whatever boundaries you wish to enforce.”

  “For some reason, I feel like I can trust you. Plus, I do have to admit, you are pretty to look at.”

  “Why, thank you,” Damien retorts with a cocky attitude. “I have to say the feelings are mutual.”

  Kayla blushes. “You make me nervous. I usually don’t get nervous. I have a pretty strong personality.”

  “I like that in a girl,” Damien declares. The barista appears with their drinks and sets them down. Damien takes out a twenty and hands it to her. “Keep the change.” The barista smiles broadly. Damien instantly turns his attention back to Kayla. “I think you and I will get along splendidly.”

  “You don’t even know me.” Kayla laughs. “Give it time. You’ll find something annoying about me. Jackson sure found it pretty fast.”

  Damien shakes his head. “I don’t think that’s true, and I doubt I’ll ever find a fault.”

  “I’m not perfect, so don’t presume that I am.” Kayla reaches into her wallet and takes out some money. She hands it over to Damien. “Here, this is for my tea.”

  With a look of disgust, Damien stutters, “I-I am not taking your money.”

  “Yes, you are,” Kayla states sternly, shoving the cash at him again.

  “No, I’m not.” Damien chuckles and crosses his arms. “My hand will not touch that money.”

  Kayla glares at him. “I’ll throw it at you.”

  “I would rather you tuck it into the waistline of my pants,” Damien replies with a devilish smirk.

  “Are you going to strip for me? I have some singles,” Kayla says, trying to cover her laughter as she pulls more dollar bills from her wallet.

  In an instant, Damien stands up and takes off his shirt. Kayla’s eyes widen and she gulps. Jackson may be muscular
, but Damien is lean and fit. Whistling echoes throughout the café. “Now, about those singles, where would you like to start?”

  “Put your shirt back on,” Kayla hisses, covering her face. “You’re making a spectacle.”

  “Either you let me buy your tea or you stick those singles down my pants, either way I’ll be happy.”

  Giggling profusely, Kayla spits out, “I am not putting anything in your pants.”

  “That’s disappointing.”

  “Hey, put your shirt on!” The voice can be heard above the whistles, and a guy comes out from behind the counter. “No shirt, no service!”

  “What about pants?” Damien asks.

  “Keep your clothes on,” the employee warns.

  The whole crowd starts to boo. Damien shrugs. “Always a party pooper.” He slides his shirt back on. “No tip for you, sir.”

  Kayla reaches across the table and pulls Damien back in his seat. “Seriously, you’re so embarrassing...but so incredibly awesome at the same time!”

  “So I’m getting more cool points?”

  “Yes, billions!”

  Damien smiles, “Glad to hear it. I’ll have to take my clothes off more often. Next question, boxers or briefs?”

  “Oh, I don’t want to know!” Kayla exclaims, trying not to smile.

  Leaning forward, Damien teases, “I bet you doooo.”

  “Noooo, I don’t, now drink your coffee.” Happily, Damien takes a sip, and it’s his phone that starts ringing this time. He looks at it and then presses ignore. “Ooh, who are you ignoring?”

  “My father,” Damien replies quietly.

  “Oh,” Kayla bashfully whispers. She takes a sip of her tea and looks out the window.

  With a heavy sigh, Damien says, “I get along with my family, but they are very demanding in what they expect from me.”

  “You are going to Yale at seventeen. What more could they want? My parents would have bought me a car by now.”

  “It’s other expectations that I can’t get into. Someday I’ll share all my secrets.”

  With a small smile, Kayla says, “I don’t tell anyone’s secrets.”

  “Good to know.”

  Kayla’s phone interrupts them again. “Really?” she yells. Picking it up, she squeaks, “Oh!” Kayla answers, “Hey, Mom.”

  “Hello, dear,” her mom says cheerfully. “We were just wondering if you were going to be home for dinner.”

  “Umm,” Kayla mumbles, “I think so.” Damien raises his eyebrows in question. “Hold on, Mom.” She looks at Damien. “Do you want to come over for dinner?”

  He nods. “If it’s not imposing.”

  “Hey, Mom, can I bring a friend over?”

  “Of course,” her mom chirps. “Tracy?”

  Turning red, Kayla whispers, “No, Damien.”

  Kayla is met with dead silence, and then her mom interjects, “What…how are you with Damien?”

  Kayla groans. “He picked me up on the street corner.”

  “Excellent,” Damien says with a laugh.

  With a stern tone, her mom says, “Kayla, don’t be silly. Do…has he told you who he is?”

  “An old friend of the family, yeah.”

  Her mom pauses. “Yes, he is an old friend of ours. Of course he is more than welcome to come. May I ask where Jackson is?”

  “Being a jerk somewhere. How did you know we were together?”

  “I talked to his mother. Anyway, when can we expect you here?”

  Kayla shrugs. “We can come now.”

  “We are not taking drinks into my car,” Damien states strongly. “I’m sorry, but no.”

  “Okay, I lied. We need to finish our drinks and then we’ll be there. So a half hour?” Kayla says.

  “Sounds good, we’ll see you then. Behave, dear.”

  Rolling her eyes, Kayla groans. “Yes, Mom. Bye.” She hangs up the phone and looks at Damien. “Are your parents intrusive sometimes too?”

  “Sometimes?” Damien laughs. “Or all the time?” Kayla joins in his laughter. “You have a beautiful smile,” Damien murmurs softly.

  Blushing, Kayla whispers, “Thank you.”

  “So after dinner, what are your plans?” Damien asks, taking a sip of his coffee.

  “Calculus homework.” Kayla sighs heavily. “I rock at calculus, I really do, but we just started to do these equations that aren’t making much sense to me. I think I may have to get a tutor, which is rare, but I won’t let my pride stop me from getting an A. I haven’t gotten a B since middle school.”

  Damien smiles. “I can totally help you. It’s no problem. May as well put my Doogie Howser skills to some good use.”

  “Good point. Yes, I would thoroughly appreciate help. I was going to ask Jackson, but he’s being stubborn.”

  “Maybe I can help you come up with your story idea too,” Damien says, leaning forward.

  She looks into his beautiful eyes and smirks. “How long are you planning to stay at my house?”

  “Until you kick me out.”

  “My parents will probably kick you out first. You know, it’s nice not to fight all the time. Jackson and I mesh and clash simultaneously so much. It’s tiring.”

  Damien sighs again. “I’ll say it one more time. Jackson has his reasons for doing things his way. It may not make sense, but just let it be.”

  “And you won’t tell me what those are.”

  Giving her a kind smile, Damien states, “No, it’s not my place.”

  “Even if it will win you a bajillion cool points?”

  “You just made that up; a bajillion doesn’t exist.”

  Kayla stresses, “I know that, but the answer is, obviously, still no.”

  “You’re right on that.”

  “Mmm,” Kayla hums. “I’ll trust your judgment. I won't give him the satisfaction anymore. He can be an ass all by himself.”

  Damien chuckles. “And I’ll be there to save the day.”

  “Thank you. So tell me something about yourself. What are your favorite movies?”

  “That’s easy,” Damien answers. With that, they sit and finish their drinks, getting to know each other better.

  Forty-five minutes later, they walk into Kayla’s house. “Mom! Dad! We’re home!”

  “Hi, honey,” her dad responds, coming around the corner. He sees Damien and falters a little. “Hello, Master…I mean, Mr. Blakely.”

  “Call me Damien, please.”

  “Yeah, Dad,” Kayla interjects with an annoyed tone. “Since when do you greet my friends so formally? Anyway, you know him.”

  Her dad wrings his hands. “Well, I was just being polite. Dinner is ready if you want to come into the dining room.”

  “Okay,” Kayla chirps, setting her backpack by the stairs. “Come on, Damien. I’m starving.”

  They enter the next room where Kayla’s mom is setting down a roast. “Hi, dear,” she says. When her mom looks up, she stands up straight. “Damien, pleasure to see you again.”

  Kayla stares at her parents like they’re nuts. “Why are you guys acting so weird?”

  “We aren’t,” her mom replies. “It’s just been a long day.”

  With a snort, Kayla asks, “Were the plants giving you a hard time?”

  Her mother gives her a hard look. “Kayla, be nice.”

  “Sorry,” Kayla says, trying to hold back her giggles. She points to the chair next to her. “You can sit next to me, Damien, as long as you promise not to steal food off my plate.”

  “I would never,” he says with a laugh.

  Kayla’s dad chuckles. “Actually, Kayla is notorious for that. Watch your dinner.”

  “Dad!” Kayla hisses.

  “It’s quite all right if she wants me to share,” Damien replies politely. Kayla is shocked when he pulls out her chair for her.

  She sits down and whispers, “Thank you,” somewhat awkwardly.

  Damien fluidly sits down in his chair and smiles at Kayla. His hand finds her leg, and he gently p
laces it there for a second, before pulling away, which sends Kayla’s heart skyrocketing.

  “Dinner smells very good,” Damien declares. “I really haven’t eaten much today. I was out running for most of the morning.”

  “You run?” Kayla asks, grabbing a roll.

  Her dad suddenly chokes on his soda. Damien looks at him with an odd expression and then replies, “I like to wander around the woods a lot.”

  “Oh no,” Kayla groans. “You’re like my parents!”

  “You don’t like to hike?” Damien inquires, pouring himself some water.

  “Not as much as my parents,” Kayla mutters under her breath.

  An awkward silence falls over them, and then Kayla’s dad asks, “So…have you seen much of Jackson since we all had dinner?”

  “Yeah, like non-stop.” Kayla sighs. “That’s who I was out to breakfast with this morning.”

  “Oh, most excellent,” her mom cheerfully replies.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Kayla sees Damien look at her mom. When Kayla follows his gaze, she sees the expression on her mother’s face change. “Yeah,” Kayla replies slowly. “He’s kind of…hard to get along with. I like him and all, but we kind of butt heads a lot.”

  “Oh, that’s disappointing,” her mom says quietly, not looking up.

  “But,” Kayla looks at Damien, “I think I’ve found a new friend in Damien. We’re slowly getting to know each other. He even said I could drive his car, but sadly, I don’t know how to drive stick. You know you could always get me a car with a manual transmission, and I could learn that way,” Kayla hints.

  Her dad gives her a look. “When you graduate, my dear. What do you need a car for anyway? You have ours during the evening. Tracy takes you to school every day, and you’re with her all the time anyways.”

  “Fine,” Kayla grumbles.

  “I did offer my services as a chauffeur while I’m here. Anytime she needs a ride,” Damien states nicely.

  Handing the plate of meat over to Kayla, her mom asks, “How long will you be visiting.”

  “There hasn’t been a set time yet,” Damien replies. “You very well know what I’m here for.”

  “What’s that?” Kayla asks curiously, handing the plate to him.

  Damien smiles and takes it. “I have some family business to take care of and honestly, I came to meet you.”